Crocodile Clutch

Hunting for the perfect last-minute Mother's Day gift? Or maybe just looking for something pretty to make over the weekend? Look no further! The Crocodile Clutch is designed to be both a bit of a challenge and a fun gift! (For those of you who sew, this bag looks great lined and with a zipper!) This pattern makes use of the crocodile stitch, but if you are not familiar with it, no worries! This pattern works you through it step by step. It also includes a chart for the front design and pattern for removable strap.



Big hugs and lots of thanks to my testers, Sandra, Brook, and Deanna, and to my model, Rachel! ;-)

Spring Cleaning Maxi-Absorbent Rag

The ultimate dish rag of all dish rags! This great, multi-purpose rag, crocheted with double strands for maximum absorbency, is perfect for your spring cleaning needs. Save the earth (and your wallet!) by keeping a couple of these rags in your kitchen or with your cleaning supplies. You'll never use paper towels again! This is a fun and easy beginner project, using the half-double crochet stitch.

Medium Weight (cotton) yarn
crochet hook size G (4.25 MM)
Row 1: Using two strands from both ends of your skein, ch 24. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across.
Row 2: Turn, ch 1. Hdc in each hdc across.
Row 3-14: Repeat Row 2
Row 15: Turn, ch 1. Hdc in each hdc across. Without turning, sc down around the perimeter of the entire square for an even, finished look.

Finish with sl st and cut off. Weave in loose ends.


Natural Earth-Friendly Cleaning Supplies

Common household cleaning products are expensive, and they are full of chemicals that are bad for the earth as well as your family. Make your own earth friendly cleaners for a healthier, happier, cheaper life-style.

Vinegar is an excellent deodorizer and disinfectant. Mix an equal amount vinegar with water, pour into plastic spray cans, and you can use it for just about anything! Counters, cabinets, windows (yes, its streak free!) and floors. And don't worry about the smell...it disappears as soon as the vinegar dries!

To get rid of stubborn grime in nooks and crannys, add baking soda to your vinegar mixture. Try adding baking soda to your next load of laundry to help naturally deodorize your clothes! It also works as a great deodorizer to soak up odors if you sprinkle a little on your carpet just before you vacuum.

Any questions? Please comment!

Beloved Readers,

For three months now, I've been held by ball and chain to my desk, huddled over textbooks and paperwork, half-buried under mounds of laundry. My green box of crochet hooks lies dusty on a distant shelf, pushed aside for brighter days. Crisp new skeins of yarn lay untouched in drawers. Scribbled patterns that once littered my desk top and my bulletin board have been shoved into pattern books on the shelf, soon to be forgotten. My knitted artistic fancy has been clouded, and ravelry must have assumed I had been wiped from the face of the earth. I've been absent for so long, you must have thought so too. But never fear, I was only achieving greater things. Yes, readers, I was graduating highschool.

Anyone who has ever gone through senior year can sympathize. The last three months are nothing but last minute college applications, college visits, college essays, college scholarships, collegecollegecollege. But at last, as my classes come to an end one by one, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Spring is in the air, the end is in sight, and my fingers are twitching for a crochet hook. My mind is churning, brimming with new ideas, impatient to birth new patterns for you to enjoy once again.

I am excited to begin posting again! Thank you for your patience, and please check back for new patterns!

And now, I have a question which I would ask you to please comment on so I can get some feedback to get me going: what kind of patterns would you like to see for the end-of-spring/summer?

Looking forward to your comments!

Lots of Love,

~Tennyemaye

Advice Needed! How to Finish This Scarf...

For Valentines Day, my sister made me a beautiful, knitted scarf (in my favorite shade of pink!) and told me to finish it off however I'd like. It did have tassles on it, but I took them off and have been fumbling for a more lacy look to add both looks and length to the scarf. I've been playing around with shell stitches and a  simple fishnet look, but I'm not sure I'm happy with any of them.

I need suggestions! What are your thoughts? Please comment!

Sweet-Heart Appliques

For a fast, sweet little touch to Valentines Day, make these super easy, cute heart appliques! Tie them to gifts, or let them lay out as a decoration. They are beautiful and easy to make. This is a pattern I LOVE.

You can find the pattern here at Geeky Crochet.

Happy Valentines Day!!! <3

Appreciating Crochet in the Closet

The other day, I noticed I have lots of things in my closet that I wear without even thinking about how beautifully crocheted they are! Here are some things I found in my closet that are crocheted that I just LOVE.

This one is so beautiful and detailed!

This has a dainty, web-like nature to it. The body is crochet, but the base and sleeves are cabled and knitted.

I wear this all the time, and never stopped to appreciate the fancy shell patterns at the base!

So fine and detailed, I can barely see the stitches.

Found this in the under-bed storage. My mom made this when she was a little girl. Its a beautiful variation of the brick stitch, and has a lot of hard work and pride attached to it. ;-)

Whats crocheted in your closet? Please comment!

Beginner's Best Friend: How To Make A Double Crochet

Double crochet stitch (dc) is a vital stitch for all new crocheters to learn, because almost all beginner crochet patterns use it. Double crochet is very similar to single crochet. To learn how to make a double crochet stitch, view the short tutorial below.

Any questions? Please comment!

Beginner's Best Friend: How To Make A Chain Stitch and Single Crochet

As you begin to explore the world of crochet, you will often see the terms chain stitch (ch) and single crochet (sc) used in patterns. These are the basic stitches. This short tutorial will show you how to make a chain stitch and a single crochet stitch.

 
Any questions? Please comment!



Beginner's Best Friend: How To Hold A Crochet Hook

Is one of your new year's resolutions to learn to crochet? Maybe you've always admired you're grandmother's gorgeous afghans, or maybe you have a friend who's inspired you by crocheting some cute hats. Whether you're looking for something to do with your hands or you just want to pick up a new skill, this you've come to the right place! I'm starting a new series for new beginning crocheters called "Beginner's Best Friend", with both photo and video tutorials (because I know personally that sometimes the best way to learn something is to watch someone else doing it).  So, with that in mind...lets get started!

How To Hold A Crochet Hook

For those just learning to crochet, the hardest part is getting used to holding the crochet hook and the yarn. The crochet hook is held like a pencil, between your forefinger, your middle finger, and your thumb, as shown.


The yarn is held in your left hand. As shown below, the tail of the yarn is held between your thumb and middle finger, and the tension of the yarn is held with your forefinger.

Although the above is the correct way to hold your yarn, I learned to crochet by instead using my middle finger to hold the tension. Even though this is technically not correct, you can also crochet this way, though I encourage newbies to try it the correct way. However, in my tutorial videos, you may frequently notice that I hold my work as shown below.

For those of you who are left- handed, its debatable as to whether you should crochet left handed. As you become more advanced, you will stumble upon patterns that may trip you up if you crochet left handed. It wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and learn to crochet right handed, since this will make life easier for you in the long run. However, my younger sister is left handed and hasn't had much trouble, so its completely up to you!

Any questions? Please comment!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is Fat Cat Crochet's 1 year anniversary! To celebrate, I am officially going to start posting again! Haha, its been a crazy holiday season, for me especially. But I haven't forgotten you, my friends! And now I really am back for good. I am so thankful for all my wonderful readers who have enjoyed my patterns, shared with me your own work, and left a bazillion wonderful comments! You all mean so much to me. So whaddya say? Lets get this New Year crackin'!

Happy 2011! And Happy Anniversary to Fat Cat Crochet!