Remix Friday: Bloomsbury Dress

Every once in a while we need a bit of glamor in our day. Sometimes glamor means adding glitter to your eyelids, sometimes glamor means a sassy strut while walking down the street, and sometimes glamor means remixing your crochet project in a new and fabulous way. Today I'm going to share a glamorous twist on an already wonderful pattern. Aleksandra made her project pop with amazing bell sleeves and other alterations. C'mon and vogue!

The Crocheter

Hi! I’m Aleksandra, I work as a software developer by day and a rabid crocheter(and sometimes knitter) at night. I live in the greater Chicago area with my two cats, Heath and Freya. I started crocheting a few years ago when I was working as a traveling consultant for a tech company. I was literally in and out of airports every week and I needed some sort of creative pursuit that I could easily travel with, so I ended up choosing to crochet and I’ve been loving it ever since.

The Original Pattern
Bloomsbury Top by Tammy Hildebrand

The Story
I seek a lot of inspiration from Art Nouveau, Baroque, and Medieval styles and I’m especially fond of the large flared sleeves worn in the middle ages. I searched for a pattern that I thought I could modify to suit the design I had in mind and I ended up choosing the Bloomsbury Top. 

The Remix
I made the Bloomsbury Top longer by adding an extra round of motifs and I used a basic trellis stitch for the sleeves. I used the edging for the collar on the arm holes also to give a sturdy base for the sleeves (they are very heavy). I started with a round of 15 5-chain spaces and then I made 5-ch space increases (evenly spaced out) on the 2nd round of the sleeves, and then did the same increases on every 4th round until I had completed 5 rounds with increases. After that I just continued the trellis stitch in the round until I had the length desired. 

Crochet is... Output for creativity

Look at that picture. Just look at it! So. Much. Glamor. Thanks for sharing your totally gorgeous dress with us, Aleksandra!

Remix Friday: Cheshire Cat Bookmark

TGIF! Have any fun plans for the weekend? I'll bet many of you are frantically working on holiday gifts. If you're still in need of something small and customizable for your co-workers, for stockings, etc, take a hint from today's Remix Friday project. It's small but completely creative and adorable. Think about how you could run with Rachel's idea and make your own Remix.

The Crocheter
Hello! My name is Rachel Ballew. I am known on Ravelry as yarnaddict12. Now here's the fun ones; my siblings call me Roach and Rachelina Ballerina(and no, I have never done anything with ballerina). I am 24 years old. I have been crocheting for several years now, I learned when I was a teen. I am left-handed. My favorite yarns would have to be Red Heart Super Saver and Red Heart Soft. I personally do not like the super soft yarns. I am weird about the way things feel. My favorite colors are purple, green, and turquoise. But I also love lots of color! I am happily married without children. My husband nor I want any. We have 3 wonderful dogs known as Alice, she is a 60 pound, 4 year old, bull terrier; Mia, she is a 70 pound 4 year old, wolf hybrid; and Scootie, he is a 14 year old, 25 pound mutt. I am a stay at home wife.

The Original Pattern
Cat Bookmark by Justyna Kacprzak

The Story
I made the cat bookmark as part of a Crochet Along(CAL). I am obsessed with all things Alice in Wonderland. Even my craft room is decorated with Alice memorabilia! The Cheshire Cat in the Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland inspired me to make it turquoise.

The Remix
I changed the shape of the tail so that it would be fatter and short to resemble the Cheshire's tail more. I also added craft felt to make the eyes, smile, ears, nose, and all his stripes.

Crochet is... Creativity, Inspiration, Imagination

Such a cute cat! Just think of all of the ways you could use felt to decorate your very own cat bookmark. Thanks for the great Remix, Rachel!

Remix Friday: Princess Crown

I love all things girly. I am certainly of the opinion that people of any gender can (and should!) enjoy whatever styles and fashions that they want. It just so happens that the styles and fashions I personally love best are always girly. Sparkles, purple and pink, lace, ruffles, dresses, jewelry... count me in! Today's Remix Friday project is delightfully pretty. It proves that no project is too small to remix the way you want it... or to girlify! Check out what Kris made.

The Crocheter
Hi my name is Kris Webb. I learned to crochet 8 years ago when my former coworker/friend
(Hey Amanda!) gifted another coworker a beautiful baby blanket. She offered or I begged her to teach me and I was hooked, literally. I also have Amanda to blame/thank for introducing me to Ravelry. As we searched Ravelry for crochet patterns for our new daughters, knit patterns were speaking to us. We vowed to teach ourselves that same year. Who picks a sweater and a dress as first projects? 

In 2010, my life was turned upside down. We welcomed our twin boys into the world and relocated 4 months later when my husband accepted a new job. I left my corporate career and some wonderful friends behind to be a full time mom to my 3 crazy, silly, needy, wonderful children. I remember feeling like I lost a part of me after my boys were born. I had very little time to create and I missed it. I decided that I would make time. I gave myself 10 minutes a night, just a few rows. I was so tired but I could sacrifice 10 extra minutes of precious sleep time to make me feel like me. I eventually learned that I could crochet and knit while I nursed babies. Yeah for productivity! 

Most days I can be found daydreaming about my next crochet, knitting, sewing, craft project in between loads of laundry and trips to the park. I’m that mom that knits/crochets while waiting in the pick-up line at school. My children are my number one inspiration in all of my creative endeavors. My go to yarns. I love Malabrigo and Berroco Comfort for knitting. I mostly use Vanna’s Choice and Berroco Comfort for crochet. You just cannot beat the color selections and affordability of both yarns.

The Original Pattern
Toddler Princess Crown by Leanne Growden

The Story
For some special mother/daughter time I purchased summer tickets to a local theater.  Children are encouraged to dress as characters from the shows. I made this crown for my daughter to wear to the show Pinkalicious.

The Remix
I used crochet thread because it was the only gold yarn that I could find at Wal-Mart. I added extra rows of single crochet to achieve a taller crown.  I opted to make all of the points equal. I used a sewing needle and thread to attach pink beads to the finished crown.  I used watered down Elmer’s glue and saturated the crown. I dried it overnight around a large bottle of vinegar. I did use bobby pins to secure it to her head the day of the show, but the crown did hold its shape.

Crochet is... “Like my Grandma”. In many ways I am so much like my Grandma. She taught me to crochet a chain in the back seat of my parent’s station wagon on family vacations. I could make some very long chain snakes back then. I still keep a crochet turkey pin in my jewelry box that she made me. Bless her heart, she made us all one every year.

You can find me on Ravelry and Pinterest as kprobst4 (I like friends). I have ambitions to have a blog.  I even registered for one last year. Maybe someday I will slow down in between projects and actually post something.  An Etsy shop, nope, but maybe someday. I just cannot seem to move beyond that long list of things I would like to create for my own kids. On very rare occasion (when people beg), do I knit or crochet for profit.

So freaking adorable! Makes me want to make a crown... for myself! Fabulous job, Kris. Have a pinkalicious Friday my wonderful readers!

Remix Friday: Snowmen

Do you get snow where you live? I grew up in Boise, Idaho which has very distinct seasons. The winters there are fairly snowy and icy. In fact, Bogus Basin ski resort was less than 20 miles away from where I lived! Now that I've been living in Oregon and Washington for the past nine years or so I rarely see any snow. Whether you see snow all of the time in the winter or none at all, today's Remix is sure to charm you. Take a look at these friendly fellows made by Rita.

The Crocheter
I learned to crochet from my Grandma Mae, who I was named for—Rita Mae Schaefer (Ravelry username RitaMae). I did a bit of crochet in grade school, a bit more in high school, then really didn’t pick it up again until about five years ago. Probably because it took me a full year of high school to make an afghan for my father’s Christmas gift! During the hiatus, I tried my hand at a hodge podge of other crafty things including stamping and cross stitch. Starting up again, I would find an easy crochet project, and then make a million of them for gifts. Currently I enjoy crocheting delicate, lacy items—usually shawls/scarfs—with specialty yarns purchased on vacations. I taught my youngest, LeeAnn, to crochet and she taught herself to knit—which she insists I should learn too. But there are still so many crochet projects out there calling my name! I have three grown children and 6 grandkids.

The Original Pattern
Amigurumi Black Cat Door Stopper by Lion Brand Yarn

The Story 
Our church has an annual ladies dessert event, Advent by Candlelight, in which table hosts decorate their tables in holiday colors and themes, including lots of candles. As a table host with LeeAnn, we decorated our table with homemade snowmen to match my Sakura Debbie Mumm Snowman dish set.

The Remix
I single crocheted every spare moment with Peaches & Creme white cotton yarn. I based my guys on the Lion Brand Yarn Amigurumi Black Cat Door Stopper pattern, using my dish pattern as a guide of what each snowman should look like. Unlike the LB pattern, I began at the bottom and would add stitches or sc2tog randomly to get the bumps and dips needed. To make sure each snowman would stand on its own, I put a heavy ceramic coaster (purchased at a thrift store) in the bottom before the opening was too narrow and then stuffed each with fiberfill before closing them up at the top of their head.

LeeAnn helped me with the accessories—so some are knitted by her (sweater, checkered stocking cap, & checkered scarf) and others crocheted by me (patch-work scarf, ear muffs, & black skillet/pan hat) in Caron Simply Soft. I hot glued buttons for faces and made “carrot” noses out of different size/type orange pipe cleaners. We foraged a wash by the house for some sticks, sprayed them with a glossy sealer and I made a broom (using raffia for the bristles) and the arms. The nest and birds were craft store purchases.

Looking back, it was a daunting project…but as each snowman took shape, it was exciting to see the transformation. Our table at the Advent by Candlelight was a wonderful hit. We served ice cream “snowballs” sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies and Christmas cookies to our table guests for dessert.

Along with the dishes, the collection will be nice to pass on to one of the kids or grandkids. Crocheting is timeless, unique, and de-stressing. Something else to pass on to the kids and grandkids!

Such amazing details and personality on those snowmen! These ladies did such an excellent job and their table looks wonderful. Thank you for sharing your work with us today, Rita. TGIF everyone!

Remix Friday: Circles Scarf

Happy Friday! How was your week? Mine was fantastic and I'm looking forward to a wonderful weekend. If you're looking for a way to spice up your projects on your days off, I'd advise you not to underestimate the power of embellishments. What are embellishments? Embellishments are small details that are added to a project to give them a nice finishing touch. A few examples of embellishments are buckles, appliques, beads, ribbon, fringe, pom poms, and buttons. Today's Remix Friday project shows how the right embellishment can really bring out the best in your work.

The Crocheter
[I'm] Kathleen Schorin. I live in Ann Arbor, MI with my husband. I have two college age kids attending the local University of Michigan right in town. I have been knitting and crocheting ever since I was about 8. I have a huge stash of yarn stored in at least 30 large, clear Rubbermaid bins in my basement. I love collecting yarn even though I have enough to last a lifetime! I like to make smaller projects...scarves, cowls, socks, hats and give them away as gifts. I don't have the patience to knit a sweater. I like to take a ball of yarn and turn it into something. Once I see how it turns out, I'm ready to move on to the next project.

The Original Pattern
Circles Scarf by Linda Permann

The Story
I first saw the pattern in a magazine, a crochet scarf designed with an interesting technique using self-striping Noro yarn.

The Remix
While I love Noro sock yarn, I didn't exactly like how it worked up in this pattern so I chose a solid color yarn in a heavier, sport weight...DROPS Alpaca. I also have a large button stash so I used different sized shell buttons to accent the bottom 6 rows on each end and was pretty happy with how it turned out. The buttons were purchased from the Button Lady, a wonderful eclectic antique store in Dixboro, MI. I mailed the gift off to a recently retired coworker hoping she will like it.

Crochet is... quick, creative, relaxing

I think those buttons bring so much fun and life to the scarf. Great color choice for the yarn, too. Thank you for sharing your project with us today, Kathleen!

Remix Friday: Tiramisu Scarf

A great feature of crochet is it's adaptability. With a little know-how and some creativity you can borrow elements from different projects and bring them together in a new way. You can take a stitch pattern and run with it in the way that you see fit. You can take a larger project and turn into a smaller one, which is just what today's Remix is all about. Alice saw a pattern she liked and tailored it to her own needs.

The Crocheter
Hi! My name is Alice, I'm a cognitive neuroscientist with a creative bent. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was very small, and I learned to knit early in grad school, and picked up weaving to de-stress during my dissertation. I love alpacas and alpaca fiber. My very favorite yarn to both dye and craft with is a 70% alpaca / 30% silk blend from Henry's Attic, and it's just heavenly.

The Original Pattern
Tiramisu Baby Blanket by Alicia Paulson

The Story 
It started as a baby blanket for a graduate student friend who was expecting. The Tiramisu pattern is just gorgeous, so I figured I'd work up the bulk of the blanket in it, and then add some cute granny squares around the edges. Baby blankets are best with very fine holes, so baby doesn't get fingers or toes stuck in it, so I used a small hook and worked pretty densely. However, I usually make light and fluffy scarves in big lacy patterns, or cowls in bulky yarn, so a dense baby blanket, in worsted, all in the same stitch... I was SO bored about 5 inches in. Sadly, a 5" x 30" strip of dense crochet is not useful for much.

The Remix
I had recently learned that you can block acrylic by steaming it. It's not quite like blocking wool, because acrylic-blocking involves a wee bit of melting, so it's permanent. I pinned out the 5" of blanket as far as it would go, steamed, pinned again, steamed, and it expanded by quite a bit. The stitch looked very different as a lace, and made a perfect scarf.

Crochet is...  relaxing, colorful, creative

Such a cute scarf and what a great way to reinvent a project to make it work for you. Bravo, Alice! You can find some neat yarn that she hand-dyes in her Etsy shop. Thank you for joining us today, Alice!

Remix Friday: Walking After Midnight Dress

Some folks are so creatively amazing that it boggles the mind. It seems like they have a special gift for looking at the world and seeing latent possibilities everywhere. Have you ever met a person like that? Today's Remix was hooked up by a woman whose creativity shines so brightly that it has recently been praised by ABC, Buzzfeed, and The Huffington Post. She's a fellow Seattle-ite and I'm so happy to share more of her creativity with you today! Let's take a moment today to learn about her and look at the alterations she made to an existing pattern.

The Crocheter
My name is Chi Krneta and I am an architect by day.  The design and graphics experience I have as an architect applies beautifully to other hobbies that I enjoy such as photography, apparel design, jewelry design, and crocheting.  I first learned how to crochet from my grandmother when I was 7 but haven't made much until the past few years.  I'm usually thinking of ways to make something function better and be more beautiful just like what I do at work when designing a building.

The Original Pattern
I was browsing Ravelry and saw Doris Chan's beautiful "Walking after Midnight" crocheted skirt.  I wanted to give it a try.

The Story
The dress originally was a skirt just like the "Walking After Midnight" skirt except it didn't turn out quite as nicely as Doris Chan's skirt because I'm terrible at following directions (I actually don't know how to read written crochet directions and rely only on photographs and diagrams).  I wore it for a while as a skirt and decided it was longer than I had liked for a skirt so I turned it into a dress by adding a top to it.

The Remix
I did not sew a lining to the dress because I wanted to make it flexible and to be able to wear it for different occasions with different things underneath.  I took a series of photos of myself to document and diagram how the dress could be worn for each season.  I love the flexibility of lacy crocheted garments that could be mixed and layered depending on weather and occasion.

Crochet is... beautiful, innovative, versatile

I use my Flickr album to document my design endeavors.

So pretty. How cool that she even styled the finished object! Check out her other projects too, they're amazing of course. Thank you so much for joining us today, Chi. Have a great weekend everyone!

Remix Friday: Jay the Bird

How often do you experiment with your projects? It doesn't take a big change to transform an already amazing idea into something that's all your own. A simple color switch and a few small details can completely change the outcome of your finished object. Let Svetlana inspire you today with the simple changes she made that had a big impact. Take a look!

The Crocheter
Hi, My name is Svetlana, I'm 31 years old. I'm from Russia, but now I'm living in Turkey.
I'm married, have 2 sons and a small dog. I worked in the past as a financial director but now I'm a housewife. I've been crocheting for nearly 5 years and I can't live without my hook :)

The Original Pattern
Jay the Bird by Stacey Trock

The Story
Actually I had yellow yarn and I didn't know how to use it. I looked through all of the popular patterns and found "Jay the Bird", so this bird became yellow like a chicken.

The Remix
I changed only the color and added a crest and legs with red yarn.

Crochet is... soft, fun, happy

So cute! I just love the little heart she added as well. You can catch up with Svetlana on her blog and on Instagram. Thank you for sharing your project with us today, Svetlana.  Happy Hooking everyone!

Remix Friday: Tree of Life Stone

Crochet covers have been pretty popular lately. There are covers for jars, electronic devices, chapstick tubes, and more. But have you ever thought of crocheting a cover for... a rock? How creative! There are several really interesting patterns out there for dressing up stones and using them as classy home decor. Today's Remix takes this idea one step further. Rae made her rock overlay even more special by using wire and incorporating a tree shape. Let's have a look!

The Crocheter

"Oh what I know about myself isn't really worth telling. If you'll only let me tell you what I imagine about myself, you'll think it ever so much more interesting" - Anne of Green Gables

My name is Rae - an 'UpNorth' Girl, from Northern Wisconsin. My love for knitting and crocheting all began when as a small girl I would sit with my 'Gramma Great' and 'help' her knit socks. Gram knit many pairs of socks for her family and would even knit new feet onto the socks when the feet were beyond darning anymore. Gram also crocheted new mittens every winter for all of us. The men in the family would use their mittens as liners inside their leather choppers.

My son who is 30+ still has a small pair of knitted socks that Gram had knit for him when he was a small child. I have passed on crocheted baby blankets that Gram had made for my son to his children, my grandchildren, who never got to meet Gramma Great but her blankets got to hug them tight for her many years later. Gram was the first to introduce me to the basics of these handcrafts and here I am now many years later carrying on the tradition. Thanks Gram!

The Original Pattern
Lacy River Rocks by Margaret Oomen

The Story 

Several years ago I happened upon a blog, 'Resurrection Fern', and fell in love with the crochet covered stones of Margaret Oomen's. I was so pleased to see in 2009 that 'Crochet Today!' featured Margie and patterns for 3 stones designed by her. I immediately purchased that issue and got out a hook and some thread and dove right in. I was Hooked! My love of stones and crocheting with thread were a perfect match!

Since that time I have created many covered stone projects, including versions of Margies Merfish. 

I love to walk the shores of Lake Superior and find just the perfect stone!

The Remix
Why not wire? My Tree of Life Stone was my first attempt crocheting with wire. I had seen some beautiful wire crochet art while surfing the net and was very interested in giving it a try. I did a little research, found some tutorials, gathered supplies that were suggested and Voila! My Tree of Life Stone.

I used a 1.5mm hook and Artistic Wire 28 gauge in non-tarnish silver. I crocheted around the stone first and then cut shorter pieces of the same wire to begin creating the tree itself onto the front of the stone. The small piece of sea glass was given to me by a dear friend. I inserted the glass to represent green leaves among the branches.

So thanks to Margaret Oomen for sharing so generously I now have my own collection of covered stones with many given away as gifts to friends and family. So give it a try and you too will be on your way creating many variations of your own just as I have.

Crochet is...  Memories of Gram

Wow, look at all of those neat rocks! Crocheting with metal is a bit tricky, so props to Rae for doing such a lovely job. Beautiful tree! Interested in what other creative ideas Rae has to share? You can find her on Ravelry and Flickr. Thank you so much for sharing your project with us today, Rae!

Remix Friday: Ghadah Blanket

Crocheters, really fiber lovers in general, are some thoughtful and generous folks. I have seen so many crafters go out of their way to bring something special and personal to a handmade gift. When Mana made a blanket for a special baby she didn't stop at the pattern... she took it to a new level of awesome with this creative Remix.

The Crocheter
My name is Mana (Manahil, actually), and I’m 23 year-old, from Saudi Arabia. After graduating high school back in 2007, my aunt gifted me some crochet hooks and yarn, and I didn’t know the slightest thing there is to know about crochet back then. I asked her to teach me and she showed me the basics. Then, I pretty much did the rest on my own!

The Original Pattern
Personalized Baby Afghan by Kim Guzman 

The Story

I loved the pattern from the first time I had seen it on Ravelry, and I always thought it was too special to make it for just about any baby!

In August 2011, one of my closest friends, Ghadah, passed away in a terrible car accident. It was truly a tragedy! Then two years later, her sister who’s also a friend of mine, gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl I know, and they decided to call her Ghadah after her aunt. It was the best news I heard, and right away, I knew that blanket was going to be made for her!

The Remix
I wasn’t too crazy about the heart border, so I decided to change it, but I wasn’t too sure of what else to make! I thought of afghan squares, and I had few designs in mind, but nothing really clicked, until I stumbled upon a picture of the Fantasy Blanket on Instagram, and I thought “yes, I want something like that!” also, the Mixed Stitch Stripey Blanket was another pattern I took inspiration from.

Crochet is... I can’t think of three words, I can only think of one... ART! Crochet is art, to me. ❤

What a kind and heartfelt gesture. The blanket is beautiful! Well done, Mana. You can connect with Mana as “manakhq” on Ravelry, Instagram and Pinterest. Happy Friday!

Remix Friday: Laptop Bag

Another Friday, another Remix! I know, sometimes it's almost unbelievable how many creative people there are in the world who bend the rules and make totally unique projects. Today's Remix is no different. It's colorful, creative, and best of all functional. Check out how Marina took a granny square pattern in a new and different direction.

The Crocheter
My name is Marina, last year from Hamburg, Germany, now I live in a very small village near the north sea. My two kids are grown up. I'm married and we live with a little dog and a great garden with vegetables. Sometimes I get pleasure to knit or crochet and then I'll think of something.

The Original Pattern
Sunburst Flower Granny Square by Kasa Amend

The Story
Last year I was traveling a lot and my laptop needed a discreet pocket. 

The Remix 
This bag is invisible because it looks like a pillow and it is soft. It is very simple to make. Crochet 35 squares, two loops, and two buttons. 

What a pretty way to keep you laptop cozy! Thank you for sharing your creative idea with us today, Marina!

Remix Friday: Baseball Blanket

Even though there are so many clever crochet patterns available it can sometimes be hard to find a single pattern that is exactly what you're looking for. If a few of them come close enough, why not combine them to form a totally unique object? That's just what Sherie did when she made her Baseball Blanket, today's Remix Friday project. Here's her story.

The Crocheter
My name is Sherie. I learned to crochet as a girl but never really started crocheting until I retired in 2012.

The Original Pattern
Corner-to-Corner Throw by Catherine J. Watson and Bouncy Ball Baby Blanket by Debbie Smith

The Story
I have two grandchildren and made the baseball blanket for my grandson.  

The Remix
I used the Bouncy Ball pattern on Ravelry to make the squares. I initially was going to make just the squares to fit a twin bed,  but my husband thought I should make a diamond shape. So I joined the completed squares into a diamond and for the corners, used the corner to corner pattern on Ravelry to simulate grass. I joined with the ladder stitch. Since my son-in-law is a Braves fan, I decided to make the baseball squares in blue. The result was a blanket that will fit on a queen size bed!

Crochet is... so very addicting!

What a cool gift! Thank you so much for sharing your project with us today, Sherie.

Remix Friday: Freeform Pillow

Hello, lovely readers! It's Friday once again and I'm so excited to show you this week's Remix Friday project. This remix was made by Akua Lezli Hope, a respected crochet designer and accomplished artist. Wait, you may say, I thought this was Remix Friday not Friday Focus! We're learning about a designer? Yes! Indeed. This remix is super special. Akua has crocheted a captivating object that was remixed from pieces of her own patterns. She incorporated aspects of nine different designs to make one awesome pillow. Cool, right?! It's got such magnificent texture. Check it out.

The Crocheter
I’m a creator who uses mainly fiber and words with a deep affection for glass, fire, and metal. I’m an award winning poet, a crochet designer, a handpapermaker, and the founder of a new paratransit nonprofit. When I was able bodied I also created kilncast, sandcast and flameworked glassworks. I just fell in love with straw and stick weaving and today my first peg loom arrived...
 
The Original Pattern
Lezli Paisley, Cat Spiral, Pretty Picot Paisley, Frost Flower, Swirling Square Motif, SunRays Shrug and more by Akua Lezli Hope

The Story
Every year Ravelry has a party for National Crochet Month and a group forms that sponsors a freeform crochet along where daily there is a new stitch or technique to try. This year I committed to finishing and making something for my home. Most of what I make is for others and my environment should share in the love. Why was my lovely yellow leather couch so bare? Well, no longer.

The Remix
Between the patterned motifs are total improvisation as well as an echoing effect that I call encasing, inspired by Ukrainian designer Lena Green. The motif is filled in and surrounded, making it easier to connect to other components and motifs. I like the echo encasing where the shape of the motif is replicated through ridged echoes.

Crochet is... creates profound joy

So sunny, so awesome! What a statement piece. Ready to learn more about Akua? Visit her on her blog, Etsy, and her website. 

Remix Friday: Noro Hexagon Blanket

The right yarn can take a project from wow to WOW! Think about it: You're spending hours on your project, you're handling the yarn the whole time, and you want your finished project to be as great as it can be. Sometimes a yarn splurge is necessary ;) Today's remix is certainly WOW. The yarn selection and sheer size of the finished object takes it beyond the pattern. It's something else entirely. Let's hear what Candice has to say about her stunning creation.

The Crocheter
My name is Candice Miller, 32 years old from Virginia, and I’m a graphic/web designer by day. I taught myself to crochet in 2011 because I wanted to make a 1-Up Mushroom from Super Mario Bros., but I really started getting into it I think to mentally compensate for my impending thyroidectomy. I got my thyroid removed because I had Graves' disease. (Long story short, I no longer have a thyroid, but I still crochet a lot)
 
My project list and stash on Ravelry are massive. This might border on OCD, but they help me finish projects! I love Ravelry.

I have 2 pugs named Lilu and Sprocket, and my husband and I live in the “country" where the little girls have plenty of room to roam.

I recently taught myself to knit (gasp) because I wanted to make the Katniss Cowl from Catching Fire. Crochet is still my favorite, though. My other hobbies include jewelry-making, sewing, leather working, and I love comic books and movies. (If I think I can make something I see, I usually go for it until I get it right)

The Original Pattern
Hexagon How-To from Attic24

The Story
I made a king-sized hexagon blanket out of Noro Kureyon and Silk Garden. And although it fits the top of our bed, it’s going to live on the back of the couch in the living room so we actually see it. (As long as the pugs don’t mess with it, we’ll see) 
I’d been inspired by this project and this project for the color changes.
And thought…what if I do something in between? And I have about 10 balls of Noro just hanging out in a box….and thus it started.

The Remix
The pattern itself is just for a hexagon, so you can do anything with it. I actually used the join-as-you-go method which supposedly makes for a stronger blanket and was also faster from what I’ve read. This method had its pro’s and con’s, for instance I was able to cluster like-colors together, but once I ran out of a color I’d have to wait until my order arrived before I could continue in that spot.

Join as you go method tutorial here.

I tried to control the color changes as best I could, it became more difficult toward the end, and I was splicing together different skeins of Noro to get the effect I wanted. (Noro just ties the yarn together sometimes! So I figured I could do the same) 

Crochet is... challenging, rewarding, beautiful.

Beautiful! What a statement it must make when viewed in Candice's home. You can find more of her creative endeavors on Ravelry, Pinterest, Instagram, and her website. Have a colorful day!

Remix Friday: Moorfields Dinner Eyeball

Have you been creative this week? Have you been busy? I've been both! I've been zipping all over the place this week even though I have a broken toe. I broke it by stubbing it really hard while I wasn't watching where I was going. Maybe I need to get my glasses checked or pay a visit to the eye hospital that Tracy works at! Tracy's re-imagining of a simple ball pattern is really eye-catching. Let's take a look! *ba dum ch*

The Crocheter

My real name is Tracy Lamb, hence my Rav username MintSauce, but everyone calls me Minty.  I live with my husband Steve 15 miles from London.  I have 2 cats, Nikon and Wilson and one adopted cat from next door, Ziggy.

My favourite colour is orange, and I have a few favourite yarns depending on what I'm making.  If it's an amigurumi then it's acrylic, but for hats and fingerless gloves, it has to be Alpaca!!!

I've been knitting for 47 years and crocheting for probably 20, although I put crochet down for many years and only started doing it again properly about 2 years ago.  I love learning new stitches, I have just learned crochet loop stitch and foundation chain.  One of my favourites is crocodile stitch.

The Original Pattern
Tiny Crochet Ball by Julie Kundhi

The Story
I work at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and they were holding a dinner/dance, and I just thought it would be fun to wear an eyeball round my neck!!  The original ball pattern looked perfect, so I used that and added my own adjustments.

The Remix
I changed the original pattern to make it look like an eyeball, using blue, black and white plus pink for the main ball.  I also added some red blood vessels to make the eyeball more authentic!!!

Crochet is... Addictive, relaxing, fun!!!

How cool! I really love the added blood vessels. Thank you for sharing your creation with us today, Tracy!

Remix Friday: Cockapoo Cozy

What day is it? Friday! What does that mean? It's time for Remix Friday! Join me as I celebrate another creative pattern adaptation. This one is particularly cute. Is your phone naked? Does it need a cute costume? Kate is here with us to share her awesome idea for clothing naked phones.

The Crocheter
My real name is Kate Wood, and my Ravelry username is tinypantswood (it's a college nickname). When I'm not crocheting, I'm creative director for a web startup, working mainly with small businesses to improve their websites and web presence. I do a bit of a bunch of things -- graphic design, writing, etc. Mostly though, I'm crocheting, and working on many DIY projects -- my husband and I just bought a house, and we're in full-on nesting mode.

The Original Pattern
Easy Sleeve by Neesha

The Story
So when my parents first got iPhones (and dropped their landline, making this the only way to get in touch with them), my dad was constantly losing his phone, just leaving it random places. Eventually it got lost lost, and since I had just upgraded to a new iPhone, I sent him my old one. To help him keep track of it though, I decided to make a case for it as well. I wanted to make something sort of funny/cheeky, and also that would make the phone harder to lose (so kind of big, easy to find). I decided to make a phone sleeve to look like my mom's Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle mix).

As soon as my dad got it, my mom wanted me to make her one. I wish I'd written down the changes I made either time I made it -- I've had people ask me for the "pattern," but I just winged it the first time, and the second time did the best I could with the photos I'd taken of the first one.

The Remix 
So basically, I was looking to make an iPhone cover that would be hard to lose. Working with eyelash yarn is a pain in the you-know-what, but I thought using a novelty yarn would help cushion the phone and make it more findable (my mom always says one of the main reasons she likes hers is because she can always find it by feel in whatever giant bag she's toting around). It also recreated Ruggles' (the dog's) fur pretty well.

I looked at a whole lot of different patterns for basic smartphone sleeves before I found one that worked for me (which is the pattern the Ravelry project links to) -- I also got a lot of guidance from another one too though, so it should get at least partial credit. I worked the pattern using the eyelash yarn held together with just a basic, easy-care acrylic (Vanna's Choice). Since both the yarns together were a bit bulky, I used an I hook -- even with that big a hook, the stitches still came out fairly tight.

To make it look like a dog, and hold the phone in place, I added a flap that continued off the back of the phone sleeve. Basically, after finishing the sleeve pattern (which was worked in the round), I switched to working in rows. I worked even for a few rows, then worked decreases at the ends of each row to taper it for the nose/muzzle. I also left a buttonhole where the "nose" would go -- I sewed a round black button to the sleeve which holds the head/flap closed, making it look like a dog face when the sleeve is buttoned closed. I also sewed little "eye" buttons to the flap -- this worked better than safety eyes, since the back side of the flap needed to be flat.

I don't remember if I made the ears as separate pieces and then sewed them on, or if I picked up stitches on the sides of the flap and went from there. They were just worked back and forth in rows, increasing a little at first, and then decreasing on the last rows to make a dog ear shape.

Crochet is... satisfying creative outlet (though the other 3 words I thought of were "stressful stress reliever"!)

I've gone from improvisation to pattern creation. I have some free patterns as well as some for sale on Ravelry, and I also have patterns and finished objects for sale on Etsy (which admittedly needs a major overhaul, but again, new house). My business name is Small and Great Crochet (since I mostly crochet creatures great and small).

Isn't that last pic so sweet? I realized after I contacted Kate about her adorable Cockapoo Cozy that I totally have one of her patterns in my Ravelry queue! How fun :) In addition to the links above you can also find her on Twitter. Thank you so much for sharing your creative cozy with us today, Kate!

Remix Friday: Klimt Babette Blanket

Happy Friday, friends! It's time for Remix Friday, a celebration of innovative pattern alterations made by everyday crocheters. I've been holding on to this project for a while, so I'm really excited to share it with you! Today's featured object is a beautiful intersection of crochet and art. Liz had such a glorious idea and made such excellent color choices. Here's the story of her stunning Klimt Babette Blanket.

The Crocheter
My real name is Liz - on Ravelry I'm Harrysmum and I'm Sew What? on Flickr.  I'm a bit of a textile craft tart - I sew, knit and crochet but my latest passion is quilting.  I work full time in a high school and have two children who do all the usual after-school activities so crochet is an ideal way to use my waiting time usefully!

The Original Pattern
Babette Blanket by Kathy Merrick

The Story
I fell in love with Kathy Merrick's Babette Blanket, I loved it's random appearance, which was a clever combination of different sized squares.  I'd only just learned to crochet so had to teach myself how to make Grannie Squares before I went on to learn how to make the Babette squares.

The Remix
When I first saw the Babette blanket I was reminded of Klimt's "The Kiss" painting.  I took the children to see an exhibition of his work at the Tate in Liverpool and was inspired by his use of colour and texture, especially the rich golden tones. It was easy to see how The Kiss could be captured in the Babette pattern, so I set to with a handful of gold wool and the all important black! I didn't have the technical skill to create the floral roundels in the painting but realised that splashes of colour would capture the essence just as well!

I designed each section with coloured pencils and graph paper, so not quite organic but I couldn't have planned it all from the start!

 
Crochet is... Versatile, colourful, fun

No blog, but feel free to follow my crafty makes on Flickr and Instagram.  

How absolutely inspiring! This blanket is the true essence of Remix Friday. Liz selected a good pattern, saw the potential for a custom creation, and then blended the pattern with her own dream to create a truly unique masterpiece. Wow! I just love it. Thank you so much for sharing this splendid finished object with us today, Liz!

Remix Friday: Chasing Chevrons Skirts

Hello there friends! It's Friday. That means it's time to celebrate another creative crocheter whose pattern changes made for a unique project. Today's post is short and sweet, just like the skirts made by Brittney Ragon. Her color choices and simple finishing touches turned an already beautiful skirt pattern into something truly delightful. These skirts show how something as simple as an applique combined with color choice can make a project personal and give it a whole new look.

The Crocheter
Favorite Color: Purple (me too, Brittney!)
Favorite Yarns: Bernat Super Saver, Vanna's Choice, Red Heart Super Saver
What Do I Do: I'm a stay at home mom.
Kids: 2 girls aged 4 and 2

The Original Pattern
Chasing Chevrons Skirt by Jennifer Pionk

The Story
I made two skirts, one for my 4 yr old and another for my 2 yr old.

The Remix
I added a cloud applique with a smiley face.

Crochet is... Exciting, Colorful, Fun

So cute! Is it weird that I want to make one for...myself? :p You can find Brittney on Ravelry, Facebook, and Etsy. Thanks for sharing with us today, Brittney!

Remix Friday: Seaside Theme Blanket to Annabel's Design

Hey, all! It's Remix Friday, the time when we celebrate creative crocheters who go above and beyond the patterns. I've already had such a great time sharing these special projects with you. Some of the stories are just so sweet that they need no introduction, like today's story of Mary, Annabel, and a wonderful crochet blanket. Here's how the Seaside Theme Blanket came to be.

The Crocheter
My name is Mary Walker and I have always liked to craft.  I used to knit when my children were young and then went onto cross stitch.  About 4 years ago I went back to crocheting and joined Ravelry and have been crocheting ever since.   My mum taught me to crochet when I was a young girl.

The Original Pattern
Noah's Ark Blanket by Michele Wilcox 

The Story

I have a long suffering husband of 35 years, 4 children [3 girls, 1 boy], and 5 grandchildren [2 girls 3 boys].   The blanket was made for Annabel who is my oldest grandchild, she is 9 and she designed the blanket after seeing all of the Noah's Ark blankets that I have made for all new family babies. She is a big fan of all things made by her Mummy or Nana.  Her Mum, my eldest daughter Libby also crochets and is on Ravelry.   I have put a photo of Annabel's design/drawing on my Ravelry page, also a photo of Annabel with her blanket.

The Remix

The changes I made are really what Annabel wanted.   To include herself, her brother William and her cousins Eva, Sonny, Oscar and Owen.  I enlarged the fish and turtle patterns, as the blanket was on a larger scale.  Annabel wanted a seahorse, starfish, beach umbrella, sun and clouds, so that is what she got.   She really loves her blanket and she made me a beautiful butterfly wind-chime in art class for me as a thank you. 

Crochet is... I LIVE CROCHET!

[Here is] my Ravelry Project Page where people can see my work.

Do check out her page! She has tons of awesome detail pictures of the blanket. It just tickles me to no end to feature this blanket today. What a beautiful family project. Wishing happiness to you and yours, Mary! Great job.