New Free Patterns: Divine Textured Throw & Pillows

Are you looking for an afghan project that you can carry with you even in the summer heat?  The Divine Textured Throw & Pillows is crocheted one square at a time and can travel with you where ever you go this summer! Make one for a Christmas gift, or use a neutral color for any time of the year!  If you aren't up for a large project, try your hand on a pillow two.  As always, if you need any help with these stitches, simply check out the free instructional videos (under Aran crochet) on this site.  

Crochet: A Guilty Pleasure?

How many of you have ever suffered from guilty feelings because of the time you take to crochet, or knit, or enjoy any other craft?  If this is you, I hope to free you of this by the end of this discourse.  As a woman past the half-century mark I have worn many hats in my lifetime:  daughter, sister, friend, student, band member, drum major, veterinarian’s assistant, secretary, clerk, teacher, wife, etc.  But honestly, none have been more rewarding or more demanding than being a mother in the home.  When I became a mom, I also became the family nutritionist & chef, nurse/doctor, hairstylist, fashion consultant, seamstress, educator, mentor, psychologist/counselor, interior decorator, driving instructor, diplomat, referee, not to mention the more than occasional & all purpose maid.  My mom used to say, “A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done!”  I dare say that in many ways she was right, making my seemingly forever unfinished work my main source of guilt whenever I crochet, or do anything that is mainly for my pleasure and not for the purpose of serving others.

 To get to the root of this issue, our first question should be, where is this guilt coming from?  From a family member?  Friends?  An unseen enemy?  Or our own impossible expectations?  When I think back to when I was a much younger mother, I think there was a combination of issues at work in my heart.  The main issue was very legitimate:  It was more important to take care of my very young children who had many immediate needs.  I was in an intense, yet wonderful season of life where my children needed help with everything from eating, diapering, bathing, to tying their shoes.  However, that season has passed, yet I found the guilt remained.  Why?   

I believe one reason why guilt remained was having unreasonable expectations of what my home should look like.  Try as I may, my home will never look like those decorator magazines at the supermarket because PEOPLE live in my house!  These inhabitants also have a tendency to leave many “signs of life” throughout the house as well.  (Since becoming a crochet designer, I may even be the biggest offender of this!)  Am I saying never to clean your house?  Absolutely not!  Please don’t tell others that I said we can abdicate our responsibilities here.  I just think it is self-defeating to not rest or pursue a hobby until every molecule of dirt and dust is removed.  They do have places like this, but they are usually sealed off rooms in laboratories, and they are not where people live!

 Another question to ask ourselves is this:  “Am I trying to please or impress someone else too much?”  Or how about this one:  “Am I competing with ‘the Jones’?”  If your answer is yes to either of these, I would encourage you to check your heart and ask why it is so important to please or impress these folks.  Once you discover the answer, you find that you can take time to relax and rest.  Even God rested on the seventh day after creating the universe!  If you are trying too hard to please other people, you may have created an idol in your life that is best destroyed, especially if it is running your life and controlling your joy.

Pursuing a craft or hobby like crochet makes us nicer, more joyful people to be around, and who doesn’t want this?  Medical research has also shown that crafts like crochet and knitting can improve your physical and mental health.  Many of us already knew this before researchers added their credence to the discussion, but this information does further encourage me and relieves any remaining residual guilt.

 Another thing I often hear from people is this question:  “When do you find the time?”  Here’s my abbreviated answer:  We all have extra minutes in our day that can be harvested and put to good use if you look for them.  Do you commute on a bus or train?  How about a doctor’s office where you will be waiting in the waiting room for 20 to 30 minutes?  Relaxing time watching a program on television?  What do you do for those 10 minutes while you are waiting for supper to finish cooking in the oven?  How about that time you may be spending on social media?  If you look, it isn’t hard to find the time.  When we make the most of our time we might just surprise ourselves with what we can accomplish, including ridding ourselves of misplaced guilt!

A Day at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2014

Whew!  What a fiber-filled fun day!  Today was my first trip to this local sheep and wool festival, and even after attending several knit and crochet shows, I've never seen anything on this large of a scale. Let me show you!

 Lots of yarn-bombing on the split rail fences near the entrance...

My friend and shopping buddy admires the Aran stitching...

 

Enjoying a wonderful day with a dear friend... 

This is my kind of cotton candy!

This nosey fella is what this festival is all about...

One of the more interesting things today was learning about the many different spinning wheels available on the market today.  This one has dual pedals, and is small enough to be stored in the overhead luggage department on an airliner.

I promise you that I don't generally pay much attention to men's legs or leggings, but today was an exception!  I guess these Aran beauties come in handy while wearing a kilt!

Beautiful buttons always seem to catch my eye and attract my camera!

 

These handmade buttons are made of ceramic.

There were sweaters and patterns available for everyone.

Even sheep puppets are shy!

 

This is my kind of shake:  no calories or cholesterol!  Mmmm...

More spinning wheels...

These were some of the most beautiful hand-woven ponchos I've ever seen!  These are made by Stewart-Murrell Handwoven Designs (msmurrell@gmail.com) from Malta, Ohio.

Of course I had to add one of these beauties to my collection.

Wouldn't this be a nice Christmas gift?  (HINT, HINT!)

Another perspective on these beauties...

This talented lady filled the building with her beautiful melodies on the hammer dulcimer...

Meet "Wanda" the baby Alpaca!

A New Spring Pattern to Help Celebrate National Crochet Month!

Today is day 24 of National Crochet Month (Can you tell I'm a Jeff Gordon fan?) and a month long blog tour of crochet designers sponsored by Crochetville!  To have day by day updates, please "LIKE" Bonnie Bay Crochet on Facebook, and I'll be sure you get daily reminders in your news feed of the new free patterns which will be available to you for the rest of the month, as well as other crochet news.  

The charity that we are sponsoring this year is "Halos of Hope", which is a wonderful organization that provides handmade hats to those suffering from cancer.  Should you wish to donate either money or your own hand crocheted hats, you can find the address to send them here.  If you are looking for hat patterns, you can find some on the Halos of Hope website, or choose your favorite pattern! 

Since the theme for this year’s tour is Spring, I am offering this easy “Spring Gig Bag” as a free pattern for a limited time.  Even a beginner could give this one a try!  I even have a video for this stitch here. You will need to scroll down to the fifth video on this page.  (A left-handed version is also available here.)  The pattern is below.  

I also recently posted a new video series for beginners on how to read a crochet pattern.  You can find them here.  By the end of the third video you will have read patterns to complete a matching hat and scarf set.

Also be sure to check out photos from our recent crochet demonstration at our local library to celebrate National Crochet Month.  

 

Spring Gig Bag

by Bonnie Barker

Description:  Bring in the spring with this colorful, easy to crochet gig bag!  Made of all natural, renewable materials, you will find it easy to clean, practical to use, and it won’t break your budget.  It is a great way for a beginner to learn the double stitch and crochet in the round.  Don’t forget to add a pair of stunning fused glass buttons by Diane  Irvine (diirvine.com) to really make your bag pop!

Skill Level:  Beginner/Easy

(Note:  Should you need help with any of these stitches, free instructional videos are available at BonnieBayCrochet.com.)

Materials:  2 balls of  Peaches & Cream in Bright Blue (#1742, 100% Cotton yarn, worsted weight, 120yds/109m, 2.5oz/70.9g)

Crochet hook size H (or 8) or size needed for gauge

 Yarn needle for sewing & hiding loose ends.

One pair of wooden handles (8” x 4”)

2 Glass Buttons 

Gauge:  7 sc = 2”, 4 rows = 1”

Let’s Begin...

Ch 25

Row 1:  Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across.  Turn.  (24 sc)

Row 2:  Ch 1, sc in each sc across.

Rows 3 - 6:  Repeat Row 2.  (Bottom of bag completed.)

[Note:  Row 7 will be worked around all sides of the bottom of the bag.  At the end of each row below, join with a sl st to first st of the row.]

Row 7:  Ch 1, * sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn 90 degrees, sc in same space as last sc (corner made), sc across end of rows to next corner (1 sc per row), ch 1, turn 90 degrees, sc in same space as last sc.  Repeat from * around.  (60 sc)

Row 8:  Ch 1, * [sc, dc] across row to corner.  Work [sc, dc] in next ch-1 corner, in each of next 6 sc, and in next ch-1 corner.  Repeat from * around.  Turn  (80 sts)

Row 9:  Ch 1, [sc, dc] being careful to work each sc in dc (of previous row) and each dc in sc (of previous row), thereby establishing the double stitch pattern.

Rows 10 - 34:  Repeat Row 9.  Do not finish off, but continue to handles.

Handles

Row 1:  Work [sc, dc] over first 24 sts.  Leave remaining sts unworked.  Turn.  (24 sts)

Row 2:  Work [sc, dc] being careful to work each sc in dc (of previous row) and each dc in sc (of previous row).

Rows 3 - 7:  Repeat Row 2.  At the end of Row 7, finish off, leaving at least 14” of yarn to sew around wooden handle.

 Opposite Handle

Skip 16 sts (on Row 34), join with a sl st in next st.  Repeat Rows 1 - 7.

 

Button Flap

Ch 9.

Row 1:  [sc, dc] across.  Turn.  (8 sts)

Row 2:  [sc, dc] across row, being careful to work each sc in dc (of previous row) and each dc in sc (of previous row).

Rows 3 - 14:  Repeat Row 2.

Row 15:  Ch 1, sc, dc, sc, ch 2, sk 2 sts, dc, sc, dc.  (Button hole made.)  Turn.

Row 16:  Ch 1, sc, dc, sc, [dc, sc] in ch-2 space, dc, sc, dc.  Turn.  (Button hole completed.)  Turn.

Rows 17 - 18:  Repeat Row 2.

Rows 19 - 20:  Repeat Rows 15 & 16.

Row 21:  Repeat Row 2.  Finish off leaving at least 10” strand of yarn to sew flap in place.

Finishing

Using a yarn needle, fold each handle flap over the wooden handle and sew to Row 34 of bag.  Sew button flap to one side of bag, and buttons on the opposite side to correspond to button holes of flap.  Hide loose strands.

Celebrating Crochet at the New Gaithersburg Library!

 

My daughter's monkey pointed the way to our room upstairs.

What a wonderful day!  Not only did the sun come out and the temperature finally get out of the frozen zone, but many people came out to learn how to crochet today!  Yes, it was just about perfect, but instead of telling you all about it, I'd rather show you!

From the moment we started at 11:00, it was hopping!  Thankfully a couple of my crochet buddies came to my rescue and were quickly put to work.  We had around 50 people come by throughout the day.

What a gift to be able to teach the next generation.  It was such a joy to see children and adults showing so much interest in this amazing art form!

Lily, one of my younger students patiently instructs a beginner in making a chain & beaded bracelet...

Here are some examples of Lily's work...pretty impressive for a 13 year old, huh? She has also interested some of her friends in this craft.

The only thing more beautiful that this lady's hat is her beautiful smile!

This young man enjoyed making one bracelet so much that he made another!

My hero, Vicki C. helps another new crochet student...

Our "Guess the Fiber" table where guests could feel different yarn samples and learn from where the fiber comes...

Bonnie helps someone become reaquainted with crochet...

I want to give a special thanks to Coats & Clark, (who make Red Heart Yarn and Susan Bates crochet hooks) for donating the crochet leaflets and crochet hooks. All of the crochet hooks have a new home and hopefully will be put to good use in the days to come!  Thanks also to Roman Santillan at the Gaithersburg Library for the generous use of the beautiful new room.

Stay tuned as National Crochet Month continues, and please stop by on March 24th when I'll be offering a new and easy crochet pattern for you!

March is National Crochet Month!

Today is the beginning of National Crochet Month and a month long blog tour of crochet designers sponsored by Crochetville!  To have day by day updates, please "LIKE" Bonnie Bay Crochet on Facebook, and I'll be sure you get daily reminders in your news feed of the many new free patterns which will be available to you.  

The charity that we are sponsoring this year is "Halos of Hope", which is a wonderful organization that provides handmade hats to those suffering from cancer.  Should you wish to donate either money or your own hand crocheted hats, you can find the address to send them here.  If you are looking for hat patterns, you can find some on the Halos of Hope website, or choose your favorite pattern! 

A Week of Giving Thanks...in February?

After reading the above title, some of you may be thinking, “Wasn’t Thanksgiving a few months ago?”  Well, yes, yes it was.  But I want to tell you about my past week, mostly spent in recovery mode following a back injury.  Last Saturday night, as I was attempting to stand up I also happened to sneeze...hard.  The next thing I knew I was on the floor rolling in severe neurological pain.  Those of you who have experienced this know exactly what I am talking about.  Any thought of moving the wrong way - in any direction - results in a form of sharp, sudden pain like being stabbed by something medieval style.  Instead of further complaining of my week, it occurred to me that I needed to do something radically different:  give thanks.  The Bible encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (English Standard Version).  Notice that it says “all things”, and not “just good things” or “only when I’m feeling like it and doing well.”  As a disclaimer, I must confess that this was not the very first thought that jumped into my mind and heart as I lay there on the floor wondering how I was to get off the floor, walk across the room and climb 15 stairs to get to bed.  I definitely participated in more than my fair share of grumbling, fussing, and faithless moments throughout this week.  The good news is that I didn’t stay there, by God’s grace!  When He calls us to give thanks in all circumstances, He also provides the strength to do so.  As I thought of how to do this, I was amazed of the multitude of things, big and small, that I have continuously taken for granted before the back injury.  Because of this I realized that this week has really been a gift in disquise.  At any rate, here’s my list, in no particular order, of what I am giving thanks this week:

1. For the ability to normally climb 15 stairs
2. For being able to dress myself - pain free
3. For being able to put myself in bed without assistance
4. For being able to take a hot shower, again without assistance
5. For the consistent availability of electricity that makes my heating pad (and countless other things in my home & life) work
6. For God’s wisdom to ordain Sunday (day after injury) as a day of rest
7. For learning that I was missed by friends at church that day (this warmed my heart in a surprising way) 
8. For a personally hand-written note from my pastor telling me that he and his wife were praying for me 
9. For words of encouragement from other crocheters via Facebook
10. For my sister who has spontaneously unloaded and reloaded my dishwasher this week
11. For my husband who cheerfully helped do the things I couldn’t do, even on his day off
12. For children who were willing to take my mom to her medical appointment for me
13. For the excellent doctors who cared for my youngest son in the emergency room in a timely manner this week (Yes, it has been an exciting week!)
14. That my son is getting better quickly at home and that he isn't suffering from a chronic or life-threatening disease
15. For waiting room chairs that were tolerable
16. For my student driver who cheerfully & safely drove us to the doctor and hospital and pharmacy and grocery store...
17. For the gift of legal pharmaceuticals that help bring healing
18. For a vehicle reliable enough to transport us safely where we need to go
19. For my children who were willing to help me put on my socks and shoes
20. For being able to find a pain free position at night time which allowed sleep (This was not my experience 8 years earlier and spinal cord surgery was required.)
21. For being able to tell that my body was slowly improving
22. For being able to put on my socks all by myself 
23. For being able to cook most nights, and to be able to afford to purchase the food
24. For the weekend visit by my daughter (who is currently away at college)
25. For the gift of crochet, which occupied my hands and mind while the rest of my body healed
26. For the delivery companies who delivered some amazing yarn for a publication project
27. For the time to complete a couple of crochet projects
28. For the local pizza companies and their gift of one of the most tasty foods known to mankind
29. For the world wide internet which allows work and other countless forms of communication to be accomplished from the comforts of a recliner
30. For being able to worship with my home church, pain free
31. For the down time to be able to contemplate how seldom I take the time to be thankful for all the blessings I have been given, and the grace to change