The Gabriella Blanket is now a FREE crochet pattern!

In light of all the new patterns I have coming out - and just because - I'm making The Gabriella Blanket a FREE PATTERN!

Named for my daughter, it's made with soft Red Heart Baby Clouds yarn (but you could use any chunky yarn) and can be customized to basically any size!I love the soft vintage tones and color combo.


Step by step instructions and suggestions for customizing when making your squares...

 And detailed instructions on joining and finishing the edging....

This makes a super soft, very durable blanket that my whole family loves. It has held up over the past year as well, even with toddler wear and tear, no frayed ends after lots of washing!

 

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! You can download the pattern from Ravelry HERE.

Happy hooking! Please share pictures of squares/blankets and I'll post them on Facebook!
--Claire

It's Done! My First c2c Afghan

Am so excited to have finally finished this corner to corner (aka c2c) afghan - it's definitely the biggest project I've done - and I love the way the colors turned out!I attempted to create a Moroccan jewel tone style - the jury is out on if that worked!

It started with this color palate:

...but ended up frogging the yellow and leaving it out.....

Crochet Pattern Launch Giveaway! The Posey Pixie Hood!

It's that time again! While my amazing testers are helping finalize the crochet pattern, which happens to be one of my favorites to date, it's time for a contest!






This is the Posey Pixie Hood, designed with my daughter in mind, inspired both by fairy tales and vintage charm. It comes in two sizes, and the smaller size will fit toddler - adult, but in case you wanted it bigger, I included a larger size as well. All pictures feature the toddler-adult size.

There are so many ways to customize this! And it includes loads of picture tutorials, a stand alone pattern for the large flower, and a bonus pattern for the coordinating headband.

 It's puffy and soft, and has interesting texture, and is made with under 1 skein of Homespun yarn!  Enter to win a copy below! There is a chance for a bonus prize of any two patterns as well!

GOOD LUCK! Contest runs through next Tuesday at midnight, and you can share and enter every day! Winner announced Wednesday, 3/19/14.
---Claire

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FREE PATTERN TUTORIAL: How to use fabric flowers with crochet and knit items!

I love crochet flowers, don't get me wrong, but I have absolutely fallen in love with the shabby/vintage style flowers that are so popular. When you combine the two, and add them to a hat, a create a clip for a scarf, shawl, or headband, they are luscious! In my opinion, they take your designs up a notch, add an extra touch of chic, and stand out from the "standard" adornments on handmade yarn items.


Are they appropriate for everything? NO. But they have their place. So here is a little tutorial with a simple free crochet flower pattern, and how to add layers of fabric flowers and rhinestones to finish the look.



Now - I'm not referring to the yucky fake kind of flowers that are trying to hard to look real, mind you, made of vinyl and fake silk looking junk. I'm talking the chiffon, the real satin, and the various prints and textures you just can't do with yarn.

Yes, these are all available in both The Gimpy Hooker for smaller quantities and mixes, and the Shabby Peacock Shack for bulk orders at a discount. The reason I started supplying these is because I love them so much, and my clients do to!

Gimpy Hooker with a Twist of Lyme

Cute "Lyme" pic from Neen Crochet

Just a quick update - we may have found what's causing (or at least exacerbating) my gimpy-ness. I'm putting this out there to both hopefully inform anyone who also struggles with a mystery disease, and account for any big lapses in posting.

A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with both Lyme Disease and Bartonella (another tick born disease). This is after having my first POTS episode 11 years ago, and a slew of chronic syndrome diagnosis and no answers. I wrote about my current health situation and the diagnosis journey in detail on my other blog HERE for anyone that wants more detail.

It's going to be an interesting ride from here on out - and to cope, I'll only be selling things that are ready to ship, no more "made to order" crochet, jewelry, or stitch markers. Everything in my shops is ready to go and already made. I'll be focusing on patterns and creating things for fun while I start this long treatment process. I hope to post lots of pretty pictures of new crochet creations, and fun free (and paid) patterns.

Next pattern in the Que!

I urge anyone that has mystery illness stuff going on to get tested! I have been misdiagnosed and left to get progressively worse for over a decade, and I was bitten by my first tick (that we know of) at the age of 12 - so who really knows how long this has been going on?

Cheers and healthy well wishes!
---Claire



 

Flowers and Rhinestone and Buttons, Oh my!

Wooden buttons in fun prints!

I'm so excited to have all this sparkly and colorful stuff stocked for The Gimpy Hooker shop! 

Here are some pictures of what just came in:

Super sparkly pearl rhinestones

HUGE polka dot chiffon flowers *swoon*

Bold Rosette rhinestones, 8 colors

LAUNCH CONTEST - Yarn, Stitch Marker, Fabric Flowers, Necklace & More!

Starts at midnight tonight! 

To celebrate the launch of The Gimpy Hooker Shop on Etsy, we are have a BIG giveaway!!! Two winners, two prizes! And since Valentine's Days is fast approaching, it is love themed!

(contest closed, winners announced!)