OOps...

Nobody sent me pictures...so no Thank You Tuesday. LOL

Thank You Tuesday!

I am in need of a gimmick or two to get me blogging on a regular basis again. Too bad none of the days of the week start with C, because there would have to be a Coffee something or another. So I am going to start with hosting "Thank You Tuesday!" for all of my readers that would like to share a picture or two of my patterns that you have made with your very own fingers! :)

This week I have received pictures from Patty T. who did a great job on the AG doll backpack pattern. I love her color choice. It could go one of two ways...either super cute, serene and sweet or GO PACK!! :) Either way...Great Job Patty!!

If you would like to share your pictures with me so I can show the world how awesome you guys are...then please email them to me. You will find my email address in the bar on the right --->

And thank you for making my patterns!

Fantasy Tree w/Elves & Animals Pattern

Fantasy Tree with Elves and Animals Pattern

By Elizabeth Mareno 

Discover the Magic: Fantasy Tree with Elves & Animals Crochet Pattern

Step into a world of whimsy with my Fantasy Tree with Elves & Animals Crochet Pattern! This enchanting toy bag brings an imaginative touch to playtime, featuring a charming tree with a large knothole door that opens to reveal an entire magical world inside. Designed for children and kids at heart, this delightful crochet project includes two adorable elves (a boy and a girl), a bluebird, a fox, and even a unicorn!

A Magical Toy Bag for Play & Storage

This unique crochet creation isn’t just a fun project—it’s a functional toy bag that provides hours of storytelling and adventure. The tree itself stands as a home for the elves and their animal friends, offering a cozy nook for imaginative play. Whether it’s an adventure through the forest or a fairy tale in the making, this crochet set is sure to spark creativity.

Perfect for Kids (with a Note of Caution)

While this pattern is suitable for children of all ages, please use wisdom when crafting amigurumi for babies, as small parts can present a choking hazard. We recommend this set for ages 3 and up to ensure safe and delightful playtime.

Part of the March Geeks & Gamers Blog Hop!

Exciting news! This pattern is also featured in the March Geeks & Gamers Blog Hop, starting March 1st. This blog hop is packed with amazing crochet patterns inspired by all things geeky and game-related, making it a fantastic event for crochet fans who love fantasy, gaming, and storytelling. Even better, this pattern will be included in an exclusive bundle filled with incredible designs tailored for the geeks and gamers in our lives.

Available March 1-26

$16.00 for all 26 patterns!

Don’t forget to check out the Geeks & Gamers Blog Hop for more exciting patterns, and grab the PDF upgrade if you’d like a print-friendly version!

Available March 1-26

Make sure you visit the Main Event Page to get the coupon code to download the PDF for this pattern FREE on March 13th only!

Get the Pattern – Free & Upgraded Options Available

The Fantasy Tree with Elves & Animals Crochet Pattern is available for free on my blog, making it accessible to all crochet enthusiasts. For those who prefer an ad-free, printable PDF, an upgraded version is available for purchase on Ravelry and my website.

 

Create Your Own Fantasy Adventure

With the Fantasy Tree with Elves & Animals Crochet Pattern, you can bring a touch of magic into your crochet projects. Whether you’re making it for a special child in your life or just indulging in a bit of whimsical fun, this toy bag is sure to become a cherished treasure.

Happy Crocheting! ✨🧝‍♂️🦊🦄🐦 ✨🌳🧝‍♂️

Officially Published!!

And I didn't even have to ask for it! :)

Thanks to Christine over at AllFreeCrochet.com, who features my free patterns quite a bit in her newsletters (*SHOUT OUT to all my fellow free crochet pattern junkies*), I am now a published crochet designer.

Best thing? It's free. That's right baby, I prefer to keep my patterns free! Believe it or not, there are some of us out there that don't look at our talent, gifts or ideas as a way to make a buck. I'm not slamming anyone who does, but I don't feel like charging you would bring me any joy.

Don't get me wrong, I will be starting an etsy store here pretty quick, but not as a way to sell my paper ideas. It will be a way for me to sell my personally handmade items. Some of my etsy items will be patterns I already have, some of them will be new, original and exclusive to my etsy shop. Patterns that I will not make available to the public. Ya gotta give me that much. ;)

So, without further ado....17 Popular Free Crochet Patterns E-Book....Go get it!

Introducing the Woodland Elves Bag~Pattern Coming Soon!!

I sat here this morning with my cup of coffee and my freshly warmed lemon glaze donut from Krispy Kreme going over my Facebook stuff and realized...I have not told you about the Woodland Elves Bag that I have completed! 

Without the use of a computer on a regular basis, I forget to do things....like blog. I have been ever busy in the toy bag department again. I knew I wanted to do a tree, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to put into it. My son wanted elves with pointy ears and cookies. Think Nabisco. I was leaning toward gnomes and animals. As it turns out, we both got a little something out of the deal. He got his elves, I got my animals. 

As always, all of the toys are perfectly sized for little fists. :) Thank you to everyone who put their two cents in when I asked for advice. It helped! I, actually, love the way the bag turned out. It's got a great deal of personality and whimsy....in my humble estimation. I will post the pattern within the next week or so. Just have to clean up my scribbles and then get them on here. Until then, enjoy the pictures.

Woodland Elves and their Friends!

Gwinnet and Riven, the elves (complete with pointy ears!) Seata, the unicorn

Vulpini, the fox

Cristata, the blue jay

How did I come up with the blue jay and foxes names, you ask? I used foxes "tribe" and blue jay's "genus". I was a little worried that Pokemon might have beaten me to the name Vulpini for the fox. Their Vulpix, etc is a little fox based Pokemon.

Thankfully, Vulpini (sounds like an Italian acrobat or magician, doesn't it? lol) is not used as a Pokemon character. Bluejay is loosely based on a bluejay. It's hard to get all of the beautiful and amazing intricacy of God into a 2" toy. Really hard. So, he's as close as I could get him. ;)

My son, ever the story weaver, will be coming up with a story to go along with this bag. He loved the names and personalities I gave the Barnyard Gang and thinks that every bag I create from now on needs to have the same treatment. He is busy enjoying a few weeks with family back in Wisconsin, so it will have to wait until his return. However, I am quite sure the story will be chock full of inspired ideas! Can't wait!

Sunburst!! (A Sun Hat Pattern for Adults)

I have had quite a few requests for an adult sun hat. I hope this is what ya'll are looking for. :) It's only 26 rows and works up in an afternoon or less, depending on speedy you are.
Thanks to my model, Riley.

Cotton Sun Hat
by Elizabeth Mareno, 2011

Supplies needed:
1 ball 4 ply WW cotton kitchen yarn
I hook
Large eye needle for finishing
this awesome pattern!! :)

View from the front.
Finished brim with reverse single crochet.

Lots of breathing room for your head.

Pretty sunburst on top.

Row 1: ch2, 8sc in 2nd ch from hook, do not join. (8sc)
Row 2: 2sc in each sc around (16sc)
Row 3: ch1, sc in join sp, (ch3, sk next sc, sc in next sc) 7times, ch3, sk next sc, sl st to 1st sc of row. (8sc, 8-ch3 sp)
Row 4: ch1, sc in join, (3sc in ch3 sp, sc in next sc) 7 times, 3sc in ch3, join to 1st sc (32sc)
Row 5: ch1, sc in join, sc in 2sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 3sc, 2sc in next) 7times, sl st to 1st sc. (40sc)
Row 6: ch1, sc in join, sc in 3sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 4sc, 2sc in next) 7 times, sl st to join (48sc)
Row 7: ch1, sc in join, (ch3, sk next 2sc, sc in next) 15 times, ch3, sk last 2sc, sl st to 1st sc to join. (16sc, 16-ch3 sp)
Row 8: ch1, sc in join, (3sc in ch3 sp, sc in next sc) 15 times, 3sc in last ch3 sp, join to 1st sc. (64sc)
Row 9: ch1, sc in join, sc in 6sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 7sc, 2sc in next) 7 times, join to 1st sc. (72sc)
Row 10: ch1, sc in join, sc in 7sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 8sc, 2sc in next) 7 times, join. (80sc)
Row 11: ch1, sc in join, sc in each sc around. (80sc)
Row 12: ch1, sc in join, (ch3, sk 3sc, sc in next) 19 times, ch3, join. (20sc, 20-ch3sp)
Row 13: sl st in first ch3 sp, ch1, sc in ch3 sp, (ch3, sc in next ch3 sp) 19 times, ch3, join to 1st sc. (20 ch3 sp)
Row 14-20: Repeat Row 13
Row 21: ch1, sc in join, (3sc in ch3 sp, sc in next sc) 19 times, 3sc in last ch3 sp. join. (80 sc)
Row 22: in Front Loops Only, ch1, sc in join, sc in next 8sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 9sc, 2sc in next) 7times, join. (88sc)
Row 23: in both loops, ch1, sc in join, sc in each sc around. (88sc)
Row 24: ch1, sc in join, sc in 9sc, 2sc in next, (sc in 10sc, 2sc in next) 7 times, join. (96sc)
Row 25: ch1, sc in join, sc in each sc. (96sc)
Row 26: ch1, reverse crochet in each around. Finish off.

Visitors

I know that I mentioned this before, but I have a nephew and a future niece visiting till this Friday. It has been an intensely fun time! We have spent much time at the beach. I have just a few more pictures to share.

Riley and Stefani. BFF's sittin in the surf.

(essentially filling their suits to capacity with sand)

The sand castle. An ambitious bunch aren't they?


Kyle and Teo decided to save it and create a moat. Or wall.

Either way, it was a complete act of futility. The surf kept wiping it out.

We are planning one more trip to Arlene Williams BBQ on Pace Street in Pensacola. Oh yeah, baby! Best BBQ on the planet, bar none. (**What does bar none actually mean and where did it come from?) The kids and I are taking one more trip to the Naval Air Museum on the base today. We went there Monday and didn't make it to the second level. It's free, so why not go back? We are, also, going to be visiting the Pensacola Lighthouse today. It's apparently haunted. LOL...yeah, ok. It's going to be fun no matter what. The kids are stoked about going so that's all that matters.

It's breaking my heart that I have to send Kyle and Riley back. I cry when I think about it. I love those kids so much. BUT, they have people that are depending on them and they are going to be a man and a woman of God and fulfill their duties and expectations. I thank God for them and know that they will be blessings to everyone they come in contact with.

My kids are going to be going back to Wisconsin for a nice long visit with Grandparents and friends this Summer. They are excited about ditching their mommy for a few weeks. *sniff* My husband keeps talking about "oh, lets do this when the kids are gone"....and..."let's do that when the kids are gone"...and..."three weeks without kids, baby...." Really?!? I keep thinking..."oh my gosh, what am i going to do without my kids for three weeks?"...and...."my babies....they are going to be gone for THREE WEEKS!!!!!"....and..."i'm going to be so bored, i need to volunteer somewhere"-Obviously Mom's and Dad's run down two totally opposite thought paths. LOL

One thing I know I am looking forward to in their absence is the lack of mess. My house will actually be clean for three whole weeks! LOL

Log Cabin Lapghan finished

The Log Cabin inspired lap afghan that I've been working on I completed last night. I was SO happy! My hands have been aching because I couldn't find my circulars and have had to work on 14" needles. Boy did that get heavy towards the end!

I finished off with a crocheted border, which completed the look nicely and I am planning on giving this to Miss Dorothy at church tomorrow night as a late Easter present. :)

Cotton/Acrylic Log Cabin Afghan- WIP

Thought I'd share what I'm working on. I was making dish cloths. Thought cotton would be a good yarn to use in the new 80 degree, Florida weather I'm not yet accustomed to. I got Dish Clothed Out!! In the bottom of the box of cotton cones I found the beginnings of a cotton log cabin blanket that I had started at least 2 years ago. It was just the middle square and one round of "logs" made from left over stash yarns. I thought to myself "Yes. This is exactly what I need to be working on!"

So, I have embarked on another afghan. I found as I went along that I didn't have enough cotton colors, so I have had to throw about three acrylic logs in there. I know, I know....Integrity of the Project!! I'm just not stressing out over it. It is a scrappish afghan and I refuse to become bogged down with "rules". I needed coordinating colors and I was only going to get them from my acrylic bins, so that's what I did.

I don't know what is to become of this blanket. I know that I love how light and airy it feels, yet it keeps you so nice and toasty. As I started working on it a little, elderly woman from church named Miss Dorothy came to mind. I think I will give it to her. She wears a hat every service and she crochet's all of them. :) I asked her about her creations last Sunday and we got to talking about being cold. She said she is cold all of the time. lol. She is just a tiny thing. I know she likes bright colors based on her hats, so hopefully she will find a use for this blanket. I just want it to be a blessing to her.

Jar Covers Pattern (For Home Canned Gifts)

Jar Covers Pattern (For Home Canned Gifts)

by Elizabeth Mareno

I have made quite a few baskets of home-canned goodies for friends and family as Christmas presents in the past. The baskets desperately needed some "dressing up", so one afternoon I sat down and came up with this pattern. It's a 10 row from start to finish, easy-peasy, fast pattern. Color coordinate with the goodies being given or use holiday colors to complete your basket of blessings. I hope you enjoy!

Shown on a Wide Mouth Jar w/silver ring removed.

An ad-free version is also available on ETSY or my website.

Supplies:

#3 Yarn or Sport-Weight Yarn in 2-3 colors (Patons Astra used)

F & G hooks

yarn needle for finishing off

Scissors

With F Hook-(stripe as much or as little as you like)

R1- ch4, 16dc in 4th ch from hook, sl st to 1st dc skipping beg ch 3 (16dc)

R2- ch3 (counts as dc), dc in sm sp as join, 2dc in each rem dc, sl st to 1st dc. (32dc)

R3- ch3, dc in sm sp as join, (1dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc) around to last dc, 1dc in last dc, sl st in 1st dc. (48dc)

R4- ch2 (does not ct as hdc), working in BLO, hdc in sm sp as join, hdc in each dc around, sk ch2 & join w/sl st to 1st hdc. (48hdc)

R5-6- Repeat R4-Work 5&6 in both loops!

R7- (Loops) ch4 (counts as dc & ch1), *sk next hdc, (dc, ch1 in next hdc)*, repeat from * to * 23 more times, sl st to 3rd ch of ch4. (24ch1 sp, 24dc)

R8- ch1, sc in sm sp as join, sc in each rem ch1 space and dc around. sl st to 1st sc. (48sc)

R9- (Ruffle) join new color if you like, ch1, sc in sm sp as join, (ch3, sk next sc, sc in next sc) around, finish with sl st to first sc of row. (24ch3 sp, 24sc) Finish off, weave ends

R10- (Tie) using 2-3 strands(colors) and Ghook, ch 100, finish off and weave into the loop row.

© Bizzy Crochet and Design 2011

Socks and Tears

I started Teo's socks Tuesday night after work. I managed to get through the cuff watching tv. Thank goodness he likes a short cuff. Then yesterday at work, I got through the heel flap. And I worked through the turn heel and started on the foot watching tv, talking with Tony and snuggling in bed last night. I am determined to get these buggers done before the weekend is up. Stefani has declared she needs another pair of slippers. These are my favorites to make and they are the sturdiest little sock slippers! I just add a few stitches and use a bigger needle if I'm making them for a man. Otherwise they can be a little skinny for slipping on and off.

Bubba's Socks in Toasted Almond by Red Heart "Heart & Sole"

I have one thing to say about the next picture. You, people, humble me.


I can only attribute this to the free pattern sites that have picked up on my patterns...but all I can say is Thank You to those of you who have stayed and continue to come back time and time again. I received an email from a reader this morning that brought me to tears. Thank you for allowing me to talk and for giving me a voice. I hope that this blog helps your day in some way.

Be Blessed!!