This Shit is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

This banana keychain is making me hungry... and happy!
Find it at Ma Chat Noir

I always eat so much fruit in the winter time. I think I must not be getting my vitamins so I crave it. I was once told that bananas were the perfect food because they are so nutritious and come in their own wrappers. On my cereal, baked into banana bread, or just peeled and chomped on, bananas are pretty darn good. So why not crochet a banana? It seems like it should be pretty straightforward and there are so many beautiful colors of yellow yarn available!

Check out all the banana action after the jump!

Birdwatching

Tooooooo cute! Find this guy over at Yarrrn It

My grandmother's favorite bird was the cardinal. She was from Vermont and she loved seeing the cardinals on the snow-covered branches. I think of her often this time of year and seeing cardinals always brightens my spirit. It's great to see that vibrant color this time of year, too.

Foxes!

I have an addiction and the only cure is more crocheted foxes.
Find this guy at Liukenko (I'm also finding some inspiration for photos of  my amigurumi)

I can't help it, I just love foxes. Their faces are the epitome of cute. Their big ears and fluffy tails get me every time. Plus, the red/orange/yellow area of the color spectrum has always been my favorite. So here are some more foxes!

Hit the jump quick before they sneak away!

Dashing Through the Snow!

This little guy just defines "doe-eyed"
Find him over at Wool and Whims

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season! As a promotion for one of the local grocery stores, a nearby farm brought their reindeer for kids to take photos with. Have you ever seen a Reindeer up close? They are beautiful animals! Red-nosed or not, this majestic beast is definitely crochet-worthy. Santa's caribou come in many different crochet shapes, sizes, and interpretations.

Hit the jump for all of the other reindeer!

I would keep my brains away from the one on the left if I were you...
Find these zombie-and-nice reindeer at Hey Hea Handmades

Rudolph the Reindeer-Puff! Come on over to With Knots of Love to find him.

Oh, the tininess! If he's pulling the sleigh, santa better take a running start!
Find him over at Handmade by Justin

Who's ready for the winter weather? This guy! Find him over at crochAndi

OMG it came right out of my TV! Serious Clown has the pattern
for this posable, jointed Rudolph. Check it.

Mitten Patterns Galore!

The pattern for these stunning mittens can be found at Luba Davies Atelier

Keep those hands and fingers warm this winter with some mittens you made yourself! They come in so many styles and if you lose one, you have the pattern to make another. Accessorize while you keep warm in mittens of every shape, size, color, and embellishment. We even have some fingerless mittens so you can wear them while you crochet!

Hit the jump for tons of mitten patterns to keep those hands warm all winter!

Curl Up with a Book

A rose by any other name will mark your Shakespeare collection as sweet.
Find this bookmark at KhinsBoutique

The weather outside may soon turn frightful (or maybe it already has for you), but a book is so delightful! I received a handmade bookmark from my boyfriend's family for Christmas last year and I use it every day. I never know what to buy the bookworms in my life--I don't know what books they have or haven't read or even what they would really enjoy. A bookmark is a great, handmade way to please your favorite reader and they will think about you every time they open a book!

Hit the jump for tons of creative, beautiful bookmarks of many shapes and colors!

Flake Out! (Free Snowflake Crochet Patterns)

The pattern for this beautiful, complex flake can be found for FREE at Orb Weaver

As much as I hate to admit it, winter is well on its way. I grew up in Wisconsin, and I can clearly remember wearing snow boots with my Halloween costumes more often than not! It hasn't snowed yet where I am (knock on wood), but I'm into the swing of crocheting snowflakes as ornaments and appliques for my winter projects. I was hunting for great free crochet patterns, and I found a few I'd like to try. Some look more complex than others, so let's try them out and see how they do.

Snowflakes like these make great additions to anyone's winter decor and they are also nice as a little bonus gift wrapped around the bow on the top of a package :).

Hit the jump for some more FREE FLAKES!

Craft Fair!

I'm prepping for a great craft fair in Iowa City, IA this coming weekend (Saturday, Nov 17). The Local Makers' Market will be featuring Absolutely Darling Crochet and I will be debuting many new crochet ornaments, housewares, decor, and of course, amigurumi friends :).

Check out the details on the Local Makers' Market facebook page.

I Want Your Two Cents!

Stick these magnets to your photos and write a funny caption (right after you leave a comment on Yarnacles, of course). Find them at Blue Sheep Goods

So I had a few people mention to me that they were having trouble posting comments. I looked into it and (silly me!) I had my settings all wrong. I fixed the problem and now everyone can comment! I will, of course, moderate to edit anyone posting ads, bad links, spam, or anything hateful. But I think all you readers are awfully nice people and I don't really anticipate any problems.

Point is, want to hear your comments and suggestions!

Fire!

Safety first! Don't forget to crochet your extinguisher and check it every year!
Find the pattern for this pair at Sky Magenta

Usually I lean toward the cute-and-cuddly in crochet, but I like the juxtaposition of crocheting something cuddly that represents something decidedly not cuddly. Fire, for example. As one of the many people who put their hand on the stove as a child, I appreciate fire that I can touch without having to cover myself in butter afterwards.

Burn it up after the jump!

Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger...

Awww, what a cutie! Find him lurking through the grass at nutsaboutcrochet13

A snaaaaaake! Some people think snakes are evil, slimy, creepy, scary and all manner of other bad things. I'm here to tell you snakes are great! They're quiet, relatively clean, cheap and easy to care for, and even cuddly (and not slimy at all!). I have had a corn snake named Bernard for about two and a half years. I also call him "squiggles." There are lots of ways to have your own crochet squiggler! Maybe with enough crocheted snakes around you'll realize snakes are just the best.

Hit the jump for some legless reptilian adorableness! (And some awesome Bernard action)

Trophies

I'm pretty sure hunting polar bears is illegal, so here's a nice way to have one on your
wall without going to jail. Find it at Smished Dominion

Here in Iowa, hunting is a way of life. I've never been hunting, myself, and I find mounted animal heads to be a bit macabre. However, as with most things, crochet makes it all better! Whether big game, fictional game, or downright bizarre game, you can crochet it and mount it proudly without bothering anyone involved with animal rights.

Find some great crocheted mounted heads and adorn your walls after the jump!

Can't See the Forest

Apple, birch and pine! I love the variation in bark and leaves.
Find them at Mamachee

I am working on a large Christmas crochet project that involves a tree (not a Christmas tree--a deciduous tree). I have been waffling on what type of bark, how to create the leaves, and whether to make it hollow or solid. So, what's a girl to do? InvETSYgate! Ha, just made that one up. I found tons more inspiration than I thought I would. Crocheted trees can be found in accessories, appliques, amigurumi, and even as a home for your ami-creations.

Find a lush forest after the jump!

Fantasy Land

Gnobody can crochet a gnome like Fresh Stitches

 Sometimes you just have to escape to another world; a world where dragons and gnomes and fairies exist. I have always been fascinated with fantasy stories. I loved reading about myths and legends and fantastical creatures when I was a child. I have collected here some "fictional" animals created with crochet. I use quotes because you can never really be sure! Personally, I think there must be a gnome living in my dryer stealing my socks ;).

Find more legendary creatures after the jump!

Technical Difficulties

I think CraftyDebDesigns' TVs are getting better reception than I am.

Sorry for the gap in posts everyone! I have been having some hellacious problems with my network connection and no one seems to be in a hurry to fix it. It looks like I'm up and running for now. I'm practically bursting with post ideas, so as long as I can keep my internet juju working I'll be posting!


Thank you all for reading Yarnacles. I have some goodies planned for November and December--think free patterns and a give-away!

Pins and Needles

This teacup pin cushion is so prim! Find it (and more) at Dreamspirations

I dabble in sewing and I'm always looking for the perfect pin cushion. I'm also constantly losing my yarn needles. I looked around and found a bunch of really creative ones that I could make on my own or buy on Etsy. They're not voodoo dolls--they're amigurumi pin cushions!

Hit the jump for some places to put your pricklies!

My Favorite Deadly Sin

This little guy is just hanging in there! Find him at Mysterious Cats

Sloth, of course! To borrow from my favorite cuteness blog, Cute Overload, they have such moist nosicles! They are fluffy and slow and oh-so-adorable. I looked around for crocheted sloths and din't find many. (I even searched for--gasp!--knitted sloths). I collected the best of what I could find, and now I want some more. Perhaps my next amigurumi project?

Hit the jump sllllllowwwwwwwly for some more sloth action, and hit up the Costa Rica Sloth Sanctuary Blog for some real-life sloths in need.

Be Someone Else for a Day

Yarrrr! Anyone can be a pirate in this great crochet costume!
Swashbuckle on over to Kylie's Crochet Corner

Halloween is now less than two weeks away! If you still don't have a costume, be sure to check out these crochet costume creations. (Or even if you do have a costume... They're really neat). It was difficult to find crochet costumes for adults. If you have a baby, Etsy can sure hook you up but I'll let you search for that on your own time. Most of the crochet costumes are hat-based, which I suppose makes sense, but I was hoping for a little more full-coverage. Regardless, any of these crochet costumes would make for a very festive Halloween!

Hit the jump to transform yourself into someone or something completely different!

Heart-Felt (har har very punny)

I want to try felting and I hope I looooove it as much as Christie's Stuff

I try to keep up on the trends in crafting and over the last couple years I have seen an explosion in the popularity of felting. Whether just straight up felted wool or crocheted-and-then-felted, the texture is awesome and the pieces created look so cool! I would like to take it up (it's on my long list of crafts to try), so I thought I would investigate some crocheted felting.

Hit the jump to see what I found. Fluff-tastic!

Organize it!

The pattern for this rainbow crochet hook holder can be found at Living in Amethyst.
Never lose your hooks again!
 

I have tons of crochet hooks, scissors, needles, stitch markers, and other bits of crochet equipment. They often get separated from the group and then I have to spend all afternoon looking under the couch and various other places because I need that size H hook for this or that particular project. I have seen various cloth and plastic crochet hook holders in craft stores and online, but none caught my attention enough to actually purchase.

As a crocheter and a big DIY'er, I thought it wouldbe better to make one of my own! To search for inspiration, as always, I turned to Etsy. Most of the holders/organizers are made of cloth, but of the crocheted ones ther is tremendous variability in design. Some fold, some roll up, some hold just hooks, some all of your crochet equipment, and they have tons of different colors and textures.

Hit the jump for some major inspiration that could lead to some major organization!

Leaves are Changing!

Like they just fell off the mos beautiful yarn tree! Find them at Susan Linn Studio

For my previous post on (green) leaves, click here.

Fall is my second favorite season after spring. I love the cool weather, the beautiful colors, unpacking my sweaters. I'm rather allergic to all those leaves, though. These leaves could be added to a wreath, a centerpiece, any number of fall clothing accessories, or just strewn about your house to give a sneeze-free version of the beautiful fall colors.

Find some autumn inspiration after the jump!

The Truth is Out There

Squee! This extraterrestrial is extra-cute! Find him at The Indigo Toybox

Aliens are among us! On Etsy, that is. These spacemen come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Some have space ships, some have multiple eyes, some have malicious intent, others are just plain adorable. Take them to your leader!

Beam me up after the jump!
 

Hole-y Moley!

I will never complain about holes in my socks again! Find it at Natzku

 

I used to be an avid cross-stitcher. I keep meaning to get back to it but I can never find the time with all the crocheting. Filet crochet comes awfully close though! Playing with void and filled space to create a picture is such a neat idea and creates so many possibilities. It seems as though filet was once a thing of the past, but I'm seeing some great new originals on Etsy!

Hit the jump for a mix of traditional and new filet designs

Say it with Crochet

Spell it out! Find the pattern for these at Bigunki

It's great to bea able to express yourself with crochet. But sometimes you need to be a little more, dare I say, literal. Crochet alphabets can be used in so many ways. Blankets can decorate a child's room; appliques can adorn a multitude of projects; stand alone pillows can declare a love of a particular sport, subject (think: "READ" in your favorite reading spot), or name.

From classic to original, small to large, check the jump!

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens

Rest your head on this pillow and you might find an egg underneath when you get up!
Find it at Jennifer White Designs

The dental office I work at has a special feature: Instead of a boring old fish tank in the waiting room, we have a coop of exotic chickens out back. In addition, nearly all of the art in the office is chicken-themed. So, I thought I would pay homage to my employer and post some chickens. Whether they are distracting you from your dental work, laying eggs for your breakfast, or roasted up on your dining room table, I think we can all agree that chickens are the best!

Cluck--I mean click--through the jump for a whole coop of them!

Bowled Over

Baby, I like your curves. Find this swirled, cobalt blue
yarn bowl at Leslie Hagen's Clay Laboratory

 More crochet equipment? Yes, please! Why did no one ever tell me about yarn bowls?! It would save so much frustration as my balls of yarn roll away under any and all of the furniture in my house. Also, they can be fantastic pieces of decor. There are tons of yarn bowls on Etsy. Big, small, ornate, simple, cute, mod--they're all functional AND beautiful. What more could I ask?

Hit the jump for more yarn-organize-y goodness

Shameless Self-Promotion

Hey there, craft buddies! I put a couple new things up in the shop so I figured I would post some photos.

This one is available as a pattern too!

Special SNEAK PEEK of what's coming next to my shop after the jump... Hint: They'll keep your ears warm :)

Tutorial Tuesday: T-Shirt Yarn

So it's not quite Tuesday yet. I like to play fast and loose with the rules!

Pop quiz: how can you get essentially free yarn while preserving something sentimental, recycling, AND making room in your closet? Did you say t-shirt yarn? Then you win a prize! (Contentment and a sense of accomplishment, that is).

Here's the story: I have a very favorite old t-shirt which has been worn and washed over and over for the last 17 years. While it is softer than any fabric known to man, it has now accumulated over 60 holes and I decided to retire it. While looking for  ways to repurpose old t-shirts, I found this tutorial and figured I'd give it a try. However, since my favorite shirt is swiss cheese, I needed to use another, more structurally sound shirt. I decided on another shirt of about the same age, that I tie-dyed back in the 3rd grade. It is a bit small and I hadn't worn it in a long, long time. It worked great so I thought I might elaborate on the above tutorial.

Materials: 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of sharp scissors, 1 ruler or tape measure, 1 strip of paper or cardboard (optional)

After the jump, you'll find my own version of the tutorial linked above and photos of what I made with it!

Just Water and Sunshine and Yarn

You know I couln't help but post a lily! So float on over to Planet June

I have what you might call a "brown thumb"--I have killed every plant that has ever been within my care, usually very quickly. However, I love the way plants look in a home and I have always wanted a collection of them. Perhaps I should turn to crochet instead. I had seen a few neat crocheted plants on Etsy which were mostly cacti. I could do a whole series of posts on crocheted cacti! But I thought I would present a selection of many different types of plants: Fruits, flowers, succulents, ferns, leafy ones, you name it.

Let's all be thankful I can't kill any of the great plants after the jump!

There's No Place Like Home

Click your heels together and then click this link to LuvKnotz

Last weekend I finally sat down and listened to The Dark Side of the Moon along with the Wizard of Oz. Mind blowing! For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, this is also known as "The Dark Side of the Rainbow". Anyway, in addition to being really neat, the experience re-introduced me to one of my very favorite movies from childhood. I even read all the books by Frank Baum and convinced my parents to get me a Cairn terrier like Toto. (She was a little psychopath of a dog but awfully cute!) Here are some Wizard of Oz crochet items, as well as... well, you know...

Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! After the jump

Eeek, a Bug!

Help! A vampire! Find this mosquito over at Katsie's Critters

I'm a little bug-o-phobic. Not "running out of the bathroom screaming if I see a spider" phobic, but I like to avoid them whenever possible. Perhaps due to the fact that I am delicious to biting insects. I mean, absolutely delectable. After a few years of summer camp in Minnesota (where the mosquito is considered the state bird), I wouldn't mind if I never saw another bug in my life. However, these cutie crochet bugs might swing my opinion in the other direction!

Hit the jump to become an amateur crochet entomologist!

iCrochet

How do you feel about your iPhone? Let the world know with this case from SILAYAYA

 

My boyfriend has an iPhone and he just updated to the new iOS. He's pretty bummed about the update. Apparently things aren't working the way the used to. If you're as put out as he is by the update, maybe you should treat yourself to a new iPhone case--brought to you by the crocheters of Etsy!

Check out how varied and beautiful the cases are after the jump.

Ready... Set... Crochet a Turkey!

This turkey is so cute I want to gobble him up (har har)! Find this pattern at Owlishly

 

Only 42 days to Thanksgiving--you better get to crocheting! As always, there are a ton of ways to express your Thanksgiving cheer with crochet. To help you along with inspiriation and even flat-out instructions, I have put together a collection of fall and Thanksgiving patterns from Etsy. Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, these patterns make adorable, wonderful fall creations.

Check out this great collection of patterns after the jump!

Boob-tober

Find the pattern for this whimsical awareness handbag at bubbihund

 

It was the end of the summer before my sophomore year of college. It had been a normal day of work as a "pack-and-ship pro" at the UPS store, followed by dinner with my parents. After the usual TV time with the 'rents, I told them I was going up to bed.

"Hold on a minute, your father has something to say to you," said my mother.

I stopped in the doorway to the living room and turned around.  "What?" I asked, irritated in that way that teenagers are whenever their parents tell them to do anything at all.

"Come sit down." All of a sudden I knew something was up.

I sat next to my father and he said to me: "I went to the doctor last week and it turns out I have breast cancer."  I was floored. As a biology major, I knew men could get breast cancer but I never thought it would happen to my own dad. "They caught it early and it looks like I won't need chemo or radiation, just surgery," he said.

It turns out he had felt a lump the winter before and though it was just a run of the mill cyst. In the spring, he slipped on some ice and fell on his chest, which left the lump irritated and red. Being a man (and a physician to boot) he did not go see his doctor until several weeks later. They scheduled a biopsy just to be sure it was nothing, but they found exactly what they weren't expecting.

My dad opted for a total mastectomy and his lymph nodes came back negative. After five years of Tamoxifen and multiple negative tests, it seems he is in remission. While his course of treatment was very short and the result was good compared to many other cases of breast cancer, it was still an intensely emotional experience for me. I was faced with my dad's mortality as well as fears about my own health. And tons and tons of questions: Will I get it? When should I get tested? Do we have the gene? Will the cancer come back in my dad? How did he get it?  Unfortunately there are no easy answers, but with my physicians on my side I feel confident that if I do develop breast cancer we will catch it early and treat it.

October is breast cancer awareness month. So many women (and men!) are affected by this disease, you are almost sure to know one of them. So take some time this month to give them a hug, remember those we have lost, and crochet something!

Hit the jump for ways to raise awareness with your crocheting in every aspect of life: Accessorize, keep your drinks warm or cold, jazz up your iPad, you name it. Let's get the word out and find a cure.

It Was a Monster Mash

Here's a Halloween decoration/pin cushion beautiful and functional enough to use all year!
Find it at ievish

Halloween is less than three weeks away! I know I have to get started on making my costume. Is there any holiday more exciting for crafters? I think not. I love the variability in Halloween themes: scary, cute, sexy, gross, funny. You can be anything or anyone you choose. I hope I have enough time and resources to really make a great costume this year. I feel like I phoned it in last year. At least now I have plenty of All-Hallows crochet inspiration!

Hit the jump for the Halloween gamut: From eeek! to awww-so-cute, decor, costumes for baby and adult, toys, you name it!

Gutsy

Breathe easy knowing your lungs are safely in the hands of the
undisputed Etsy Queen of Crochet Anatomy An Optimistic Cynic

 

Having personally disected many animals including a human, I think anaotmy is amazing. It has always been one of my favorite subjects. So why not crochet some? Some might find the subject matter a little morose, but with Halloween coming up I think it's just right. Not to mention you can learn a lot without all the squishy-wet-smelliness of real disection. No gloves needed!

Hit the jump for a head-to-toe (literally!) depiction of the human body in yarn:

I'm Baaaaaaack!

Even this polar bear can't describe how sorry I am. Source

I don't have enough excuses to fill up my absence. Suffice to say it has been a busy and at times difficult summer. I hope to fill your day with crochet blog posts now that I'm set up at work and have day-long access to my computer.

I also finally broke down and signed up for Pintrest. I'm finding it to be a convenient way to hold on to a piece of inspiration (inspiration which will certainly turn into more Yarnacles posts!) so I can go back later and turn it into something. Find my "Crochet Ideas" Pintrest board here.

Open Wide!

Find the pattern for "Morris Mouth"over at  Ess Haych
and don't give me any lip about it!

As a dentist, the mouth has always been fascinating to me. However, when I crochet i usually take the cop out of making an upside down "Y" with backstitch. I want to make more sculptural mouths with more potential for expression and shape. I have collected some of my favorite mouths under the jump--toothy, open, lippy, monstrous. It's a veritable oral menagerie.

Hit the jump and don't forget to brush your teeth tonight!

One is Silver and the Other's Gold

Don't explode just 'cuz I posted a knitting photo :).
Find this pattern and lots more over at cheezombie.

I'm back with a vengance. Let's get this blog party started with something we all need--friends! I'm intrigued by the idea of making pairs of crochet pals. So many possibilities: ketchup and mustard, raindrop and rain cloud, bear and honey bee, flower and watering can. I hope these friendly photos inspire you to try a pair of pals yourself!

Hit the jump below for more pics

Making My Brown Eyes Blue

This tiny blue car vrooms in from Silayaya

I was taking a look at my shop today and I realized something--There isn't enough blue! I have things in pink and green and brown and yellow and red but blue (and purple) are seriously lacking. Time to start my "Blue Period" like Picasso. I looked around for inspiration and I found plenty!

I think its because I tend to crochet food and animals. Not many blue options there. Guess I'll have to branch out!

Hit the jump to dive into some summer blues!

Book Review: Tasty Crochet

Buy it on Amazon here.

I was perusing my local library for crochet books (as I often do) and I stumbled across Tasty Crochet by Rose Langlitz (North Light Books, 2009). Amigurumi! Food! Glossy photos! I was in love. I took it home and gave it a good once-over, then started crocheting. It features 33 crochet patterns for all types of food at a beginner to intermediate range of difficulty.

First, the good: This book has tons of gorgeous color photos and a very pleasing layout. The book is broken up into four chapters: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. How cute is that? The patterns span many different type of food and cuisines. It also has a great "Basic Crochet" section in the back which would be a terrific resource for someone just picking up crochet and amigurumi. I also liked that many of the patterns had multiple ideas for riffing on the original pattern, which helps the creative juices get going. Also, you know how much I like a good index, and this book passes muster.

Now, the not-so-good: The pattern instructions were a little busy for me--I think they could have been stated a little more simply, but all of the patterns I tried were accurate and fun. Also, some of the patterns border on absurdly simplistic (i.e. "Pancake" and "Green Beans") but many of the patterns are a bit more complicated and have multiple parts, which is really fun. The materials lists are called the "Ingredients," which I found to be a bit cheesy.

Bottom line: Beautiful book that would be great for someone trying to get into amigurumi, but might be a little on the simple side for experienced hookers such as myself ;).

Hit the jump to see my interpretations of two of the patterns in the book:

Huge Apology Pig!

This capybara mom and her itty bitty capy-baby come from Animal Wildlife

Ok, so I know capybaras aren't technically guinea pigs, but these ones are so damn cute and I wanted to have a big pig for the big gap in blog posting.

So here's the good news: I'm a dentist! I have finally graduated dental school (after 23 consecutive years of school) and I'm ready for the real world!

Here's the really good news: I don't receive my license until July so I have lots of time to post!

Shining, Gleaming, Streaming, Flaxen, Waxen!

This mermaid is ready for some fun in the sun with her wonderful blue hair!
Find her at Craftelina

I've never been much for crocheting humanoids. Recently, however, I was working on a project and I wanted to add some hair. So I find myself with the question: Straight? Curly? Long? Short? Blonde/brunette/pink/purple/etc? I had to get on Etsy for some research! I found some great examples of crocheted hair. 

Fire up your flat iron and hit the jump for some more fabulous 'dos!