A Night Of Clicking Links

AOL has something called My Favorite Places which is where you can save links. I rarely use mine anymore but I have a bunch stored tonight I clicked on the very last link in the "Crafty Stuff" category and was taken to a tutorial for a vampire bat softie on Silver Bug Studio. That made me want to see what else I had saved. Some of the links are now dead but I found a few things to put on my To-Do list. Because it isn't already long enough.

How cute are these little felt chicks from Comfortstitching? As much as I love garlands, I totally want to make the version with a button and ribbon to hang them up. Filing this one away for next Easter.

Here's a huge list of crochet patterns to make sweaters, etc for your pets, I love this jingle bells dog collar.

You can find a tutorial make a dog pajama bag on Timeless Truths.

Did you hear me squeal when I opened this one up? A member of Craftster shared some vintage stuffed animal patterns that her grandmother had saved. I'm ready to go make a dog and a horse and an elephant and another dog . There are also patterns for a giraffe, lion, hedgehog, calf, ostrich, ape and two for ragdolls. I'll have to put the animals on hold until after I finish my Halloween stuff.

Happy Wednesday!

Click Us Part Two

Those Two Crazy Crafters, Twyla and Lindsey, are having a giveaway to celebrate their 100th post so go leave them some comments before next Monday for your chance to win some good stuff.

I would really like to make this cherry biscornu. To get the charts for the top and bottom, click the two pictures above the very last one. [link via LaGattaC]

There's a good tutorial for making embroidered and crayon tinted Xmas ornaments on Quamut. I really like the snowflake.

I have 17 windows open right now and have no idea how I got to The Knitted Toy Box but you will find the cutest knitted little blue bird and a pattern to make one there.

I say cute at least once in each post, don't I?

Samplers And A Needlework SlideShow

Nancy has a collection of stamped samplers from Vogart on Flickr. I may have linked to this before but it's worth another mention. And, Floresita has an interview with Nancy over at Vintage Transfer Finds.


The reason I was at Vintage Transfer Finds was to find the pattern of the girl with the huge knife because I had just seen a finished version in an online slide show called Threads of Comfort: The Work of our Mothers' Hands from the Lacis Museum of Lace & Textiles. There are photos of embroidered towels, dresser scarves and aprons, crochet potholders, quilts and more examples of vintage needlework.


Look at the pantaloons! I don't even know what this pretty thing is but I'd scoop it up if I found it for sale somewhere. Does anyone know what this was used for? I wish I could go see this exhibit in person.

Stitch N' Pitch

I just checked the Stitch N' Pitch schedule to see which Major League Baseball teams are participating this season and once again, the California Angels (I know that's not their name anymore but old habits die hard) are not part of it. That's too bad because I think it would be totally fun to go to a baseball game and embroider or cross-stitch (or knit, crochet or needlepoint). At a Stitch N' Pitch game, you can sit a special section with other fans and work on a project while cheering on your team. This year, some Minor League Baseball teams are also hosting Stitch N Pitch events. These events are put on by MLB and The National NeedleArts Association to increase awareness and raise funds for the Needle Arts Mentoring Program, a needle arts not-for-profit program.

Oh, this is good: there's a mentoring program at a school in Anaheim yet the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (as they are now known) are not hosting a Stitch N Pitch event.

Forgot To Post This One 3 Days Ago

I'm not a huge fan of clowns but this bear is cute. He's flipping a crepe. And, he's skiing in this one. (To help you Googlers, I'll add that these are free cross stitch charts.)

I'm pretty sure this blogger is a member of a Yahoo group for redwork that I also belong to but I don't think I ever linked to her blog (which I just found again through another blog that I did not save a link to). She has posted some of the embroidery patterns from the J.F. Ingalls catalog that John Governale put online last summer. There are owls, birds, peacock feathers, and what looks to me like Little Bo Peep since she's holding one of those curvy stick things. EDITED TO ADD: Some of the links no longer work. Please go to J.F. Ingalls for scans of the embroidery patterns that Mr. Governale shared a couple of years ago. Updated: April 29. 2010.

TipNut has started posting another days of the week (DOW) set of embroidery patterns. This time, it's puppies doing chores. The link to the pattern for Monday is near the bottom of this post. Thanks to TipNut for sharing these!

I found another cool link on my old blog: a knitted pie.

Did you know Kellogg's stopped making Hydrox cookies a few years ago? [link via Not Martha] I don't know if I ever even had one (and now I guess it's too late). I always was, and still am, an Oreo girl.

I saw the giant cupcake pan in the King Arthur catalog earlier tonight and now I'm not surprised I see it's on back order until February 18th.

Going Through My Saved Links

My project this month week is to go through my saved links to free charts and patterns, and post the ones that still work here.

Grilles et diagrammes is a French site with some free cross stitch charts. There are birds, alphabets, "Bienvenue" (that's Welcome, right?), a lighthouse, a windmill, and a couple with reindeer and trees. It's a great collection.

The Caron Collection has a bunch of kid's projects. I like the Sampler Bookmark. The instructions show you how to make fringe on the bottom of the bookmark too. I think this bookmark would be nice stitched all in one color, like red or blue. I might have to do that.

Hope Chest Legacy is an online store that sells books, embroidery patterns, paper dolls, and cookie cutters (and, other stuff as well). They have a page with a few free embroidery patterns (when you open the link, the pattern will be huge so use your arrow keys to see the entire thing), and instructions on making a pillowcase, a quilt block, and the one that got me all excited: how to do a snowflake stitch on gingham fabric. I have a pink gingham pillowcase that I planned to do some chicken scratch on. I really like how the snowflake stitch looks. (Chicken scratch is stitching on gingham. Read more about it at Pegasus Originals. There's a pattern for a chicken scratch heart there.)

Not something I had previously saved but just found via Write, Mama, Write: a knitting pattern for a mini mitten ornament. How cute is that?

I Must Learn How To Knit

Sarah at Penguin Knits is doing a craft-along for animal shelters. You can make things like blankets and toys, and then donate them to your favorite animal shelter. (You should contact your local shelter to see what they will accept.) It goes from January 1 through February 1, although Sarah says you can keep on making stuff to donate after that. She linked to a list of knitting patterns for pets and a list of crochet patterns if you need some ideas on what to make.

There aren't any details posted yet but earlier this month, Crafty Daisies asked if anyone would be interested in a learn to knit school. They have 55 comments so far so I hope they decide to do this.


I just found this blog, Crafty Beats, that has some nice tutorials, like this one for a crochet pig and for a puppet bear. I really like the flower pin and the t-shirt bookmark.

Very Cute Crochet Pom and Meerkat

I must learn to crochet. Why? Because I need to make one of these. Since I get a lot of visitors here who are looking for stuff, let me throw in these keywords:

Pomeranian
crochet
free pattern
so cute, my blood sugar just shot up to 300

More cuteness: make a meerkat! [link via Craftster via Craft Chat on Swap-bot] Look at him dressed up for Christmas.

I've wanted to link to this quilt for awhile but keep forgetting about it. I love it!

Brooke's Books has a new Halloween freebie out: The Haunted Tea Party door knob hanger. (You'll have to scroll down a little and then click the picture to get the chart.) It's cute and I love the way it's finished.

And, Wolfgang Will Be Playing Bass

I was just at a blog where the blogger was sharing pictures of some cross stitched Christmas ornaments that had bible verses on them. And, that's fine. I don't really care what people cross stitch -- I was going to mention one thing I wouldn't want to see but that will bring a bunch of perverted googlers here -- but I'd much rather see this than something biblical. Also, worth mentioning are these. (That reminds me: I need to put some Simple Minds on my iPod.)

And, I think I've already linked to it but once again, here's the best knitted project ever.

Did you know you can make Shrinky Dinks from a piece of #6 plastic aka polystyrene? You can! Directions are here. [link via Not Martha]

Tillamook is having a macaroni & cheese contest. [that link also via Not Martha] I don't want to enter. I just want the winning recipes. I like to use different recipes for macaroni & cheese and am always looking for new ones to try. The last time I made it, I used this recipe but I changed it a little because I didn't have all four cheeses that Emeril called for. I think I had two kinds and just used two others that were in the fridge. (I also left out the essence because the bam thing annoys me to no end.) Between the butter, the half & half, and all that cheese, it probably has a gazillion calories in it, but it was really good.

There are embroidery lessons over at Crafty Daisies for the next few weeks. It starts with the basics (supplies) and instructions for a few stitches (with good pictures).

Once again, the title of this has nothing to do with the subject matter. I'm just using the upcoming Van Halen reunion tour as material for naming these things.

I can't skip posting

I was going to count the last post as the 8:00 one too but I can't do that. So, here's a free pattern for Poodle Slippers to crochet. (Am I a freak for wanting these?)

Ok, 8:00 is done!

Canine Crafts

I still can't get to any images when I try to post them here. So, I'll just link to some things.

It's been awhile since I checked these links so I hope they're all working. Bella Online (I just remembered someone from there is doing the Blogathon today and I didn't visit her blog yet, dang) has a whole list of sites that offer instructions to make Canine Crafts. There are knitting projects, (like sweaters for Chihuahuas), quilting (like a floppy eared dog block), crochet and sewing, even a link to a how-to for knitting a Martha Stewart poncho for your dog.

Knitting-and.com also has free embroidery patterns, including a set with a cute little puppy in it.

Here are cross stitch charts for bookmarks with Greyhounds on them. And, one says "Home Is Where The Hound Is" which could be changed to a different breed -- Home is where the Tzu is, Home is where the Lhasa is.

Speaking of cross stitch, I am going to go do some. I'm going to count this as my 7:30 and 8:00 entries. I know I'm behind and I don't see myself catching up.

Free Crochet, Apron, Towels Patterns

Here's a free crochet pattern for a cute bunny. I think I'd do it with different colors like that grey heather shown below the pattern but it's still cute. I think I found this linked on Swap-bot but that was four hours ago so I'm not sure anymore.


Better Homes and Gardens has a pattern posted for a Cottage-Inspired Apron. I really like the fabric they used. If you ever look out your window and see a pig fly by, it means I actually made this one. Here's another cute apron from BHG. They also have an article on rick rack/rick rac/rickrack. They show you a few things you can do with it.

Speaking of rick rack, here's a pattern for some cute hen and chicks kitchen towels. [link via Niki's Ventures]

Free pattern for Hankie Apron

I've noticed you can use patterns for filet crochet for cross stitch too so I've been looking for freebies. I came across Karens Variety, a site that sells new & used patterns and pattern books for knitting, crochet, needlework and sewing. Every month, Karen puts out a newsletter. You can find directions for two simple aprons made out of hankies in the December 2006 newsletter. Click where it has "Beau Catcher Apron." I think I could actually make these. I wish I could make the Poodle slippers.

Canine Craft Projects

Not cross stitch related but there's a list of links to craft projects for canines, including knitted & crocheted sweaters, a couple of quilt blocks, dog boots, and a recipe for biscuit mix in a jar, at Bella Online (I didn't check every link so I don't know if they all work.)

They also have an article about making a sweater from your dog's hair. I don't know why but that sort of creeps me out.