Finished Sammy the Snowman- Crochet pattern from Annies 2018 Christmas special-- My Workbasket

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Is it too early to talk about Christmas and snowmen? My cold fingers and the electric blanket on my bed say no. My heart says yeah, it’s too early. I know crafts take time to make though, so if I want to talk about it, it’ll be too late! SO before it’s too late to talk about it, my cold fingers are typing this for you to enjoy. (My fingers are cold because it is cold and we keep our house a bit chilly. Save money and wear a sweater!) Recently I requested a review copy of the Annies special Christmas craft issue and theyRead More →

Four finished crochet projects on My Workbasket

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I haven’t been sharing a lot of crafty stuff, but I have been doing some! I’m working on a new crochet scarf pattern that I’m excited about. I also got some new yarn for Mother’s Day (two large Caron Cakes) and made a poncho from it. Remeber when I said that I like to make small things and things to prepare for winter? ( I said it in my 10 Perfect Summer Crochet Projects post.)  The only problem was that the scarf and the poncho were both big, so the crocheting combined with the shoulder movement of turning it around to work on took aRead More →

10 Perfect summer crochet Projects- All free and great for working on while on the go!

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Summer is here! Well, it’s supposed to be. I don’t know about you but the weather here does not exactly feel summery. It’s raining a lot (a nearby town had a catastrophic flood) and it surprisingly cool most days. I’m sure it will heat up though. In the summer there are two types of projects I try to work on. Small, handy objects that travel well and don’t cover you with yarn in the sticky heat, and large warm winter gear that is nice to work on in the air conditioning. The benefit of course to working on winter gear is that you aren’t in aRead More →

How to use "Woodchips" of time to enjoy hobbies -- My Workbasket

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I’m pretty sure that I’ve mentioned (probably many times) that I grew up in a crafty family, or at least surrounded by crafty females. I remember at a young age reading a story in a craft magazine that has really stuck with me. Keeping in mind that I may not have even been double digits when I read this that really means something. I’m fairly sure it was an old issue of Nutshell News, a miniatures magazine from many years ago, but I could be mistaken. It’s about finding time for hobbies, and I found it very insightful. I’ve told this story many times overRead More →

Beautiful, colorful, large roving braids from Needleclicks Etc

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Last weekend it was a quilt show and this weekend a fiber festival! I’m very lucky to live in a place where stuff like this happens fairly frequently. The best part of this festival, well besides the festival itself, was the location! About 30 minutes or so away (blasted traffic! sometimes it’s 30, sometimes it’s less, sometimes it’s twice as long) is this historic mill. It has been restored and is now the coolest shopping destination I’ve ever seen! I love this place, and dream of one day having a shop/studio there. Here is the link to the Mill if you want to read andRead More →

Step by step tutorial video for how to make the triple/treble crochet! -- My Workbasket

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It’s time for part three of the how to crochet series, how to do the triple or treble crochet! The stitch is the same, some sources call it the treble, and some call it the triple. In modern US terminology anyway. In other countries the terms are different, and I have encountered antique patterns that use the other terminology as well. If you are learning to crochet though, here is the step by step of how to do the triple/treble crochet! This video doesn’t feature the chain and basic steps, those can be found in the first part of the series. This video will showRead More →

How to make the Double Crochet Stitch, a video tutorial from My Workbasket

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Please don’t feel like I dropped a bomb on you and then disappeared. After posting about upcoming changes to my site I came back to visit my parents, and haven’t had much to talk about. I don’t usually pre-schedule many of my posts and just didn’t have content to share. I’d rather be quiet then blabber so I just haven’t posted. I did find a few neat thrift store items, mostly a big stack of vintage cookbooks, some of which are even from the 1940s! I’m hoping to try maybe a recipe a week and talk about it here. We’ll see how much I manageRead More →

Part 1 of Starting to Crochet. Video Tutorial shows How to chain, single crochet, and slip stitch!

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I’ve started a new tutorial series to teach anyone interested how to crochet! The first video for the crochet tutorial is already available and shows you how to chain, single crochet, and slip stitch. Practice these stitches if you want to learn and soon I’ll post a VERY Beginner  Project for you to make! I also have videos coming of how to double crochet, triple crochet, half double crochet, and eventually how to make a granny square, and the popular Corner to Corner (C2C) method. I love to crochet and find it very relaxing! Plus yarn shopping is FUN!!! I hope this helps you toRead More →

Free crochet pattern for this puff stitch cowl, WITH stitch tutorial video-- From My Workbasket

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I love single skein projects. I do. If a publisher approached me and said: “Alicia, we want you to design a book!” I’d say “Can it be single skein projects?!?!?!” (Hint hint to any publishers out there.) Well, of course, that’s if they specified YARN specific book, otherwise, I’d do a book with a bit of this and bit of that. I LOVE one skein projects though because you can spontaneously buy a skein of yarn as a total impulse purchase (or you know, on purpose with a plan, if that is your thing) and then you can sit down and work a bit, and WAHLAH!Read More →

Free pattern for the crochet Katherine Shawl, a shawl/scarf that uses a single cake of light weight yarn! From My Workbasket

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A while ago I released the Ann Shawl, a crochet shawl that was named after the aunt who tried to teach me to crochet, and here we have the Kathryn Shawl, named after my Mom who DID successfully teach me to crochet. Here’s the thing, they are exactly the same crochet shawl. The only difference is yarn and hook size used, and I have two more finishing ideas for you!Read More →

My finished doll from the Pookie Pattern! We've named him Junior.

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Back at Christmas, I won a wonderful giveaway from Pookie and Pals! I got to pick 10 free patterns from their collection. It really made my day because my husband actually had to work on Christmas, so while everyone was unwrapping and celebrating our celebration was over and my husband was at work. Pookie and Pals is on Ravelry here, and has ADORABLE doll patterns and lots of clothes for them! The original Pookie doll pattern is free, and she also gives away a weekly pattern on her facebook page!  So be sure to follow her if you like her designs. My son declared thatRead More →

A 1931 image of the Hit-or-Miss block, perhaps the original granny square! -- My Workbasket

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I’m having a snow day here and what a lovely snow day it is! Just enough snow to be pretty but worth canceling appointments, and the mailman brought a recent eBay score, 10 Needlecraft magazines from the  1930s. So I’m sipping coffee (will switch to hot tea after this cup) and flipping through my newest magazines. The January 1931 issue has this picture and directions that blew my mind! The “Hit-or-Miss” block, perhaps the original Granny square! The directions are the same and everything. Maybe “Granny” knew this original version. Have you ever heard it called a Hit or Miss?!?!Read More →

A wonderful tea cozy made by a reader! -- My Workbasket

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Recently my friend Heather, who reads this site and is learning to crochet, completed this tea cozy! She used the basic design of the Hygge Hat, and the ribbed stitch from the CAL (which she participated in and finished) and she completed this great tea cozy! She said she did two panels, 35 stitches each, and then just seamed them up. Way to go Heather!!! What She Used: The Hygge Hat The Rib Stitch Tutorial The CAL (We’re done, but it’s not too late!) Recently reader Leslie bought some amazing finds in a mystery bag, and I’ll be sharing those soon too! If you have aRead More →

Fun videos with a dose of yarny goodness! -- My Workbasket

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I made a Yarn Tube! Yarntube 2 is below. I show off the current Christmas Projects I have going, and more. Just a bit of goofy fun on this snowy day! Yes it’s snowing here again!!!   Some things I reference in this video: The Ann Shawl The Hot Mat Fail The Puff Stitch Hat The Tunisian CAL   I hope everyone is toasty and warm, and cozy, and just working on all your own projects and getting ready for the holidays! I love you guys, thanks for sticking around!Read More →