Our produce is finally starting to slow down in our massive gardens. Looking back, one of our most prolific crops was eggplant! It is one of my husband’s favorite vegetables. It takes a bit of creativity to come up with new recipes to use up our bountiful harvest. Thankfully he never seems to tire of the cooking experiments! This week, since I have so much inspiration around me, I decided to create this eggplant play food pattern just for the fun of it! It is a great scrap saver project. If you choose to use wool yarn you could even felt the eggplant. Have fun!

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As the final few weeks of summer wind down we are enjoying the last of our homegrown watermelons. At first it seemed like we would never run out of our favorite summer treat, but alas they are dwindling. We’ve even taken several to our state fair to be displayed along with the rest of our garden’s bounty. It is so hard to believe that we are approaching the end of August. Before we know it the cool winds of autumn will be blowing. Remember summer by crocheting this easy watermelon potholder. This project makes a great gift!

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Since it is unbearably hot outside I’ve been enjoying my AC and an afternoon with my crochet hook. I like to add new appliques to my craft stash to spruce up a gift, card, scrapbook or other project for gifting and the holidays. Now is the perfect time to stock up and this project is a great one to add to your arsenal. Cherries are the perfect way to top off a beautiful dessert. From cupcakes to ice cream, cold drinks and pies cherries have the reputation for being the finishing touch to a fine confection! Use this project for an extra sweet handmade accent!

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I have been harvesting strawberries like crazy in our garden. I simply can’t resist their tempting sweetness. If held to the sun their sugary flesh is almost metallic in color. This week I decided to take my love of strawberries one step further and create this crochet pattern for you to enjoy. There are so many uses for this pattern, from decorating kids apparel to a zipper pull on your purse. Or, if you don’t want your strawberry to be three-dimensional, just make one half of the berry and use it as a cute applique on kitchen linens! The sky is the limit!

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While digging through my boxes of holiday decorations I found garland after garland of holly. So, this week’s pattern is, you guessed it, a holly applique. I think this would look so sweet around the hem of a child’s dress. It could also be used to spruce up your Christmas gift tags. You could also turn it into an ornament and send it in your holiday cards as a small gift. If you give baskets of baked goods to your neighbors, you could sew this applique on the towel lining the basket. Your creativity is the only limit to the uses for this pattern. Have fun!

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It’s hard to believe the holidays are knocking on our door! I love Thanksgiving! It is one of the only days of the year when I get to see most all of my family. I love recalling childhood days and sharing those memories with those dear to my heart. This week my crochet project is a turkey applique in honor of Turkey Day! This little applique can be used in many ways for clothes, kitchen or dining room linens, cards or even as a pin to wear. I used a finer crochet thread for the feathers and a bit chunkier fingering yarn for the body to add definition.

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When I was young I knew an Amish lady who became a dear friend of mine. I loved visiting her small mercantile that was filled with every kind of calico and solid colored fabric imaginable. Amish ladies in the community made crafts to sell in her store to earn a little extra spending money. I love the simple color combinations of Amish crafts and created this potholder along the lines of what Lizzie might be selling in her store today. Since it is super thick it will guard against hot pots and pans perfectly. This project would also make a cute little pillow!

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I love visiting orchards this time of year and buying apples by the peck or the bushel. Growing up I have fond memories of making apple butter with my grandma in a giant copper kettle over and open fire. The woodsmoke and sweet apple scent filled the air. After cooking down for hours we canned the yummy treat to preserve for the chilly days of winter. This week, I created this applique which can be used hundreds of ways. It would look darling on kitchen towels! As a gift, I plan to sew this on a onesie and embroider, “Apple of My Eye” for a sweet little girl I know.

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During the holidays I love to give handmade gifts. I think it adds a sentiment that our society as a whole has devalued in the past. Something from the store new and shiny definitely has appeal. Whatever that item might be, it will grow old in time and it will need to be replaced. However, the afghan from Grandma is priceless and is still in use years later! Something handmade is like a hug from a loved one. You can put your heart and soul into this gift. Hand crocheted presents can boast something that no other store bought gift can and that is love… straight from the heart! read more »

When I take a break from making cute crochet toys, which is rare, I try to come up with “practical” projects to make. (Well, I think cute crochet toys are practical, but that’s another story). I tend to stick to things I can wear, such as scarves or hats, but in summer weather? No thanks! The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, the source of edible goodness and culinary creativity. It only makes sense to throw some creative crochet into the mix.

“Crochet for the Kitchen” immediately makes me think of dishcloths, because of the inevitable clean-up involved in all-things-kitchen. Here are five dishcloth patterns for whoever is on clean-up duty. Maybe they’ll actually make it fun?

How about some thick potholders? Crochet potholders are quick to whip up, even when they have multiple layers. And you’ll need those multiple layers, if say you want them to be…practical!

A cozy mug sweater and a pot handle cozy combine the best of cute and functional–keeping your fingertips safe from heat and dressing up plain kitchenware to boot.

Placemats are one of those “extras” that I may not ever want to spend the money on, but if I can crochet something to my liking using some multi-colored yarn? I’m in!

What do you like to crochet for your kitchen?