The Freedom to Create

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I don't get to experience the beauty of the snow falling anymore as I live in the south, but I remember all the beauty and fun of a good heavy snowfall growing up in the north.  This cold has put me in the mood to create beautiful crochet snowflakes. In my search for patterns I found a few good sites that off a nice variety with free written patterns with pictures. I wanted to share these links with you. https://snowflakepatterns.wordpress.com/crocus-snowflake/ . This blog has the largest selection of beautiful crochet snowflakes. http://themagicloop.com/index.php/2018/12/07/snowflakes-free-crochet-pattern-tutorial/   I enjoyed this blog with it's unique variety also. https://www.pinterest.com/artistllindall/crochet-snowflakes/ .  I've also created a board on pinterest solely with crochet snowflakes for some fabulous ideas. Let It Snow, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Happy crocheting!

If you enjoy creating thing ,this is a fun project to make. He stands at 11 inches tall and 8 inches wide. Making this Santa has many pieces but when you get the construction done, well, that's when the fun begins and you can decorate the tree with all the lights and baubles you can think of. The link to this pattern is at LollyLins  on etsy and you may also find him on Ravelry. Have a Holly-Jolly Holiday. LollyLin

Even if you've never made a fabric doll before, but have always wanted to try it, here's a video tutorial to get you jump-started on your way. It doesn't require fancy machinery. I have a simple light-weight Brother jx2517 along with a Brother Serger (not required). All you need is a large selection of fabrics to choose from. I used some new (fat quarters from Walmart for $.97) and recycled some clothing into scrap (clean). Sewing needle for hand sewing, thread, the pattern pieces which I have available as a digital download ($7.99) at LollyLins  on Etsy. Stuffing material and notions (ie: buttons, ribbon, etc) and last but not least an unbridled IMAGINATION. I hope you enjoy this video and you'll give this a try. Happy Creating, Linda, LollyLins

All the little pieces that go into creating something special. From the vision of designing, to layout, measure, and cutting. To bring everything together into a unique expressive creation. The weather is cooling down and has put me in the mood for sewing and creating cloth dolls.  This pair of unique Monster/Voodoo Dolls were my first creations which are now available through my etsy shop at LollyLins . The Monster pictured on the left is my frustration doll (resembling #45) while the one on the right is the Zombie of the Corn. With each creation I find myself more free to express by using various techniques with fabric. The denim on the Zombie is first bleached with rock salt added to give it a mottled effect. Marker was used in creating the eyelashes and charcoal around the eyes and face to give it a scruffy appearance. I found that making these dolls was very therapeutic in helping me break out of the norms by being bold and daring to try new things.  Dolls-they&

It's crochet baby! For that adorable little bundle of joy. All of mine are now grown but I definitely remember receiving all the cute things for each of my little bundles.  Warm booty and beanie gift sets beautifully colored for a fashionable baby. A new addition to this gift set is the playful lovey (this was something new for me-over a full sized blanket). The one thing these four sets have in common is that they were created using free patterns I had found on ravelry and through pinterest. I thought I would share those links with you here. A note on the lovey-in making the giraffe lovey I followed the pattern. As I continued creating additional loveys I did a google search and came upon images of the ladybug, dog and mouse to which I created not using a pattern but creating from the photo. Still using the same basic square pattern as the giraffe. Lovey   pattern link:   by Kelsy Bieker    https://ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-lovey-4 Newborn Hat pattern link

Molly the Goat Molly is a Boer goat. Their colors range from predominantly white with brown head to solid color or a mix of brown/black splash on a white body. The one that we had displayed a brown patch on her body that resembled a heart sideways. I tried my best to duplicate her in Amigurumi fashion. To start your herd of precious little goats the pattern for Molly is available through LollyLins .

The pattern for these cute little hens is available for free on another site, however I wasn't able to translate the page to English. So I did my best to interpret the pattern in English using the photograph provided. This pattern is worked in the round. What you will need : 4 colors of acrylic yarn- 2 contrasting colors and 1 complimentary color, and white     The head, collar, and wings are 1 color     The body and beak are both 1 color     The comb and wattles are both 1 color     6 dots are white Hook size 3.25 mm for an overall dimension of 6" tall and 4"wide. Yarn needle for sewing pieces together straight pins for holding pieces in place black safety eyes 8mm fiberfill for stuffing stitch markers Terms used: sc  single crochet                                DC  decrease                        MC   magic circle or adjustable loop hdc  half double crochet                      INV    invisible decrease      **  repeat dc   double croc

Making an Itty Bitty Bunny and Carrot Case. This little bunny is 3 inches tall and 1 inch wide, the carrot case is 6 inches long and 2 wide.. Using Amigurumi yarn or a sport yarn with a #2 fineness and a 2.25 hook. This is a free pattern. Bunny I began with making the head working in the round.       6 sc in a MC (magic circle) or adjustable circle. R2-  2 sc in each single crochet (12) R3-  *1 sc, 2sc in next single crochet * repeat around (18) R4-  *2 sc, 2sc in next single crochet* repeat around (24) R5-  *3 sc, 2sc in next single crochet* repeat around (30) R6-11 sc around (30) Insert 8mm black safety eyes between rows 8 and 9 R12-  *2sc, decrease 1*  (24) Using embroider floss sew nose and mouth on  and stuff head. R13- *1sc, decrease 1*  (18) R14-  Decrease around and finish off. Body Chain 15, join with a slip stitch do not twist. R1-4    sc around Divide in half at center and join with a slip stitch. F