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)