I recently found that some of my original artwork has been stolen and is being sold without my permission. I’m working on getting this frustrating situation resolved. I’ve also included information of the steps I’ve taken so far. Continue reading
Find These Cartoon Monsters Creeping All Over Your Favorite Products!
My latest design features cute cartoon monsters of every shape, size & color! It’s great for kids and the kid-at-heart!
Remember the crochet Clutter Eating Monsters I made? The free PDF pattern is decorated with all sorts of little creatures that were just begging for more attention! So I’ve unleashed these monstrosities on tons of fun products in my Zazzle store. Head over and check them out!
UPDATE 11/17/2016: It was brought to my attention that there was an error in the pattern on round 12. It should be R12: 17dc, (dc dec, 4dc) x 3, 13dc (45 sts). I have updated the PDF file to reflect the change.
FEEEEEED MEEEE!! This little monster loves to eat plastic bags and other household odds and ends!
This guy wants to eat clutter!!
After I made my pup her dog wallet, I had to do something about the plastic shopping bags in the kitchen. They were getting out of control, and shoving them all inside another plastic bag just wasn’t cutting it. I knew the bag holder would have to visibly hang in our kitchen, so I wanted to make something cute. I ended up with this charming crochet monstrosity who just happens to have an appetite for bags!
MMmmMM!! Lunch bags!!!
Of course by the time I sat down to write this post there wasn’t a plastic bag in sight for the little guy to munch on. Between keeping the dog wallet stocked and making a conscious effort to remember our reusable grocery bags, the collection had long since been depleted. Plastic shopping bags are terrible for the environment anyway, so this monster has adapted to eating all sorts of miscellaneous household items instead!
He proved to be so useful that I made him a monsterette…
Purple Monsterette
…and baby monster to hang out with!
I’m the baby…gotta feed me!
They love eating everything from hand towels to kitchen clutter – just don’t ask them to eat their vegetables! I personally think a giant monster would make a fabulous clothes hamper 🙂
Have some clutter of your own that needs to be eaten? Make your own Bag Eating Monster with my free PDF pattern. This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, reprinted, or copied in any way without my express permission. If you decide to sell something you make from one of my patterns, I ask that you give credit to me as the pattern designer. I also ask that you include a link back to the free pattern, so that others may have the opportunity to make the item themselves.
Beware: They multiply…quickly!!
I’ve added this as a free pattern on Ravelry as well. If you’ve got a camera and a minute, pretty please upload your monster pictures. I’d really love to see the finished projects! Good luck with your own little monster(s)!
Can’t get enough of these cute monsters? Check out my Colorful Cartoon Monsters design – inspired by the creatures lurking around on the Clutter Eating Monsters PDF pattern 🙂
I was recently asked to make a couple more crochet Bath Mitt Buddies, and I’m so glad too because they’re super cute and fun to make! I was really happy with how the hippo turned out before, so I decided to make another one. In case you missed it, you can make the hippo ears by following the How-To instructions from my other post.
Happy Hippo
This time I gave him some hippo nostrils. I used the same color yarn as I did for the mouth to embroider the nostrils. I was going to try and add a of couple teeth too, but in the end I couldn’t get them to look right.
Hippo With Nostrils
For his buddy, I wanted to try changing up the pattern and making a monkey. I studied the free Bath Buddies pattern from Sugar ‘n Cream for a few days before I finally figured out how I would modify the pattern. I followed the first part of the instructions as if I was making the whale. When it came time to add the chin extension, I went back and followed the instructions for the frog.After more pattern decoding, I found that if I made the frog mouth it would still line up with the top of the head, even though I had followed the hippo instructions. Yay!
So long story short: body & front of head = whale; chin extension & mouth = frog. Easy 🙂 Too keep my bath mitt from looking like a brown whale with a frog chin, I added a couple of ears. I made a minor change to my hippo ear pattern and ended up with this:
This Bear Is All Smiles : )
Monkey/ Bear Ear How-To:
(make 2 using same size hook from bath mitt)
Row 1: sc, 4dc, sc into a magic ring; ch1, turn.
Pull almost all the way tight. (6 stitches)
Row 2: sc increase in each stitch; fasten off leaving
a tail long enough to use to sew onto your bath mitt buddy (12 sts)
Pull the magic ring tight, sew one ear to each side of the head just
below where it starts to slope down for a bear buddy.
Sew them right onto the point (a little higher than the bear ears) to make a monkey.
After attaching the ears it was pretty evident that the little guy looked more like a bear than a monkey, hence the post title. I think he would have looked more like a monkey if I had attached the ears a little bit higher, but either way he’s totally cute!
Just Hanging Around
It’s been really busy around here lately and I’ve been neglecting my blog a bit. OK. A lot. To get back on track, I thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve been working on lately.
It was Mother’s Day a little over a week ago here in the US. I really enjoyed making special goodies for my mom and mother-in-law. I sent them each a personalized card and some crochet coasters. My MIL loves the ocean and everything beach related, so I went with a seashell theme for her Mother’s Day gifts.
Scallop Shell Mother’s Day Card and Crochet Coasters
Inspired by the beautiful colors of spring, I decided on a floral theme for my own mom. I made her some colorful coasters and a card with some pretty, paper flowers. Thanks to almost a whole bottle of glue, the 3-D roses arrived safe, sound, and still attached to the card! Since my mom is the one who inspired me to crochet, I just had to send her a “Captain Hook” t-shirt too!
Pretty Flower Mother’s Day Card and Crochet Coasters
I started working on this crochet Deep V-Top a few months ago. Bernat offers it as a free pattern on their website. It’s my first real attempt at crocheting something wearable. I’ve had to alter the pattern quite a bit to keep it out of crop-top territory. Somewhere along the way I got all mixed up and crocheted the cap sleeves backwards. Luckily I don’t have to undo a million rows to fix the problem, but I’m still a little embarrassed at my total “D’oh” moment!
My First Attempt at Something Wearable…Keyword: Attempt!
The other day my Meema (maternal grandmother) asked me to crochet a baby blanket on her behalf. Her only request was that it be for a baby girl. After getting sucked into Ravelry for what seems like a life-time, I finally decided to crochet a basketweave stitch blanket. I’m thinking about adding some flowers to one side, so the little one can play with the petals! I picked out some Caron Simply Soft yarn in Grey Heather and Watermelon. I can’t wait to get started!
Super Soft Baby Blanket Yarn
Before starting the baby blanket I really wanted to try out the basketweave stitch. Since I have tons of cotton yarn on hand, I decided to make a dishcloth for our kitchen. It’s gone surprisingly fast and I’m already almost halfway done! I just love the basketweave stitch now that I’ve gotten the hang of it!
Cotton Crochet Basketweave Stitch Dishcloth (Try saying THAT 10 times!)
These projects are only the tip of the iceberg! I’ve been doing tons of gluten-free baking, and have more t-shirt designs and crochet patterns on the way. I’ve also re-listed some of the products in my Etsy shop, and have new items to add soon. Stay tuned!
Get your official Designs From Scratch gear from the official Zazzle store!
Whether you crochet, knit, sew, or are just plain crafty, there’s something for you in my store. There will always be new products and designs, so please check back often! I try to come up with ideas that are uniquely attractive and designs which look good on a wide variety of products. A great deal of work has also gone into making sure my online store looks good and is easy to navigate.
From time to time people ask me how they can repay me for providing free patterns, recipes, and information. The easy answer is to buy yourself a shirt or get yourself some stickers! I make a very modest amount of money off of each item sold in my Zazzle shop. I assure you as a fellow, budget-friendly crafter, I will never list anything for more than what I’d be willing to pay for.
Go ahead and check out the store! If you don’t see a product or style you’re after with the artwork on it, please just let me know. I’d be more than happy to make you a custom design!
I made these adorable bath mitts for my two young nephews who live in Germany. My husband and I love to video chat with the little guys since they live so far away. We always seem to catch them before or after their bath time, so I thought they’d enjoy having a couple buddies to play with in the tub.
I found this free Bath Buddies crochet pattern on the Sugar ‘n Cream website. I used Peaches & Creme 100% cotton yarn for both mitts. The pattern includes instructions for making both a frog and a whale version of the bath buddies. I made the frog first and followed the pattern without changing much. Rather than adding the puffy, bug-eyes, I chose to hand embroider them with some black cotton yarn instead.
I changed things up a little more when I made the whale. Rather than working in the round, I turned between each row on the main piece. That way the body matched the row turns on the head and chin extension pieces, and the whole thing looked uniform. I really liked how the bath mitt looked with the turns, but they’re both so incredibly cute! After I finished the whale, I took a step back and felt like something was missing from the little guy. His eyes were sewn on, all the yarn ends were hidden, but he just didn’t look complete. Then it hit me.
EARS! The whale didn’t look quite finished because he was actually a hippopatamus! He just needed some hippo ears.
Since the pattern obviously didn’t come with instructions on how to make ears, I had to create my own. After a bit of trial and error, here’s what I came up with:
Hippo Ear How-to:
R1: sc, dc, 2tr, dc, sc into a magic ring; pull tight into a half-oval; ch. 1 turn (6sts)
R2: 2sc, 2sc increases, 2sc; fasten off – leave enough yarn to sew ear to head (8sts)
Repeat for second ear.
Sew one ear to each side where the head edging starts to slope down.
This bath buddy is ready for his trip around the world!
UPDATE: These little guys were so cute I was asked to make more! This time around I made another hippo and a bear. Check them out here in my new post which includes a new how-to for the bear ears.
This Bear Is All Smiles 🙂
It’s no secret that dog is man’s best friend. Sometimes our furry companions show us their love by leaving some not-so-special “treats” while out for a walk. It’s easy to forget to grab a plastic bag on the way out the door and, take it from me, it’s not cool when you do! I came up with this Crochet Dog Wallet so that I’d never be without a way to retrieve Rover’s precious gifts.
I made the wallet a little bit stretchy so that I could cram quite a few bags inside of it. This way I don’t have to remember to refill it every other day! The front opening is partially sewn shut on each side to keep the bags from bursting out.
I also added a small loop to one corner of my doggie wallet so I could clip it to the dog’s leash or my backpack. The loop could easily be lengthened to make a “doggie wristlet,” so you can keep your hands free on those long walks.
Ready to make a wallet of your own? Here is the Free PDF pattern for my Crochet Dog Wallet! You can also find this pattern on Ravelry! This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, reprinted, or copied in any way without my express permission. If you decide to sell something you make from one of my patterns, I ask that you give credit to me as the pattern designer. I also ask that you include a link back to the free pattern, so that others may have the opportunity to make the item themselves. Enjoy and happy crocheting!
UPDATE: After making this dog wallet I needed something else to hold the rest of our plastic shopping bags. I crocheted a bag eating monster to devour them all. Of course by the time he was finished, our bag collection was pretty much extinct (from all the wallet refills!). So he adapted to eating all kinds of household clutter instead! I’ve added the free PDF pattern here, but beware – they multiply!!
Beware: They multiply…quickly!!
UPDATE: After almost a year on Etsy, I’ve decided not to re-list or add any more products to my shop. I realized that I was using my store as a way to refer people to my work and general prices of items that I make. This is obviously something I can easily do on my blog! I would have stuck it out, but I really disagree with the allowance of so many resellers on Etsy. When it started, Etsy was a great way for individuals to sell their one-of-a-kind, handmade creations without worrying about competition from big brand companies that mass produce items. Since this is no longer the case, I’ve decided to close up shop. If you’re interested in one of my custom creations, please contact me and I’d be happy to work something out! You can also find my craft-inspired artwork on a range of products in my Zazzle store.
I’m proud to announce the grand opening of the Designs From Scratch Boutique on Etsy! I’ve started off by listing some of my favorite crochet items. This high quality messenger bag is made to order and comes with a sturdy, cotton liner. The roomy design makes it a great everyday purse to protect all of your essentials. Personalize it by choosing your own colors, and I’ll have your custom bag on its way in no time!
Magnificent Crochet Messenger Bag
Looking for something a little smaller? This clutch purse is the perfect accessory for any occasion. You can make it yourself using my free pattern or order the ready-made version and have it shipped to you for free!
Ice Blue Crochet Clutch Purse
Children, pets & elephant lovers alike will enjoy having these adorable elephants around. Since they’re too cute to just have one, these little buddies come in a set of two!
Crochet Amigurumi Elephant (set of two)
Feel better about transporting your laptop with this cotton laptop case. It’s made as one piece for added durability, and has a simple three-button closure.
Cotton Crochet Laptop Case on Etsy
Love your iPad? Then you’ll love this cotton sleeve made specifically for tablets! The inside of this case is ultra-soft, meaning it won’t damage your screen. The top portion of the sleeve folds over to keep your device in and everything else out!
Crochet iPad/ Tablet Case
Crochet Broomstick Lace Handles
Can you believe this delicate, crochet broomstick lace was made using only acrylic yarn, a crochet hook, and a large highlighter?! I chose broomstick lace for the handles of my Orchid Crochet Purse From Scratch. The straps turned out so well I just had to share the technique! I originally found Sandra from Crochet Cabana‘s tutorial on how to crochet broomstick lace. The only thing? I didn’t have a “jiffy” hook or even a thick knitting needle like Sandra suggests. Feeling crafty, I decided to improvise. Since the hook Sandra uses in her tutorial looks like an oversized pen, I searched the house for something suitable. The closest thing I could find was a permanent marker, but it proved to be a bit too small.
Permanent Marker = Too Small
Since the marker wasn’t right for the job I kept trying. I got it right on the second try when I used a thick highlighter. The holes of the broomstick lace ended up being nice and big due to the highlighter’s large diameter. I began my handles with a foundation chain of five. This produced one lace loop per row and allowed me to build my rows up to the length I wanted for my strap. I used a size G/ 4.25mm hook for my broomstick lace, but you can always experiment and choose the hook that is right for your tension and/ or yarn.
Highlighter = Just Right!
I was a little nervous to attempt this stitch since it looks so complicated, but it ended up being a lot easier than I thought! When I finished the straps my husband asked if they were going to be strong enough to hold up such a large purse. That’s the beauty though, the lace only looks fragile! In reality it’s actually quite a durable stitch, as so much yarn goes into each loop of lace. My broomstick lace handles were the perfect addition to my basic Orchid Purse.
I’m absolutely in love with broomstick lace! It’s so pretty and simple to make. What’s your favorite use of broomstick lace? Have you ever turned random household objects (like highlighters) into crafting tools?
Designs From Scratch 
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