Author Archives: Donna Martinez

About Donna Martinez

Reader, Writer, Artist, Film-Lover, Cook, Knitter/Crocheter, Gardener, Cat Enthusiast, and Marketing Professional with a live and let live philosophy.

Crochet Socks Patterns – Free Crochet Patterns for Socks

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Crochet socks patterns are difficult to find; well, let me rephrase that; attractive patterns for crochet socks are difficult to find. I’ve scoured the Internet to find FREE patterns for crochet socks that I think are pretty and practical. I found seven patterns. I hope there is at least one here that you like!

Crochet Socks

Free Patterns for Crochet Socks

Here is your guide to the crochet patterns above.

Note: you may need a Ravelry or Lionbrand login to access a few of the free patterns.

A. Polka Dot Popcorn Socks - Decorative and festive!
B. Sonny’s Socks - Very practical and okay to hide behind pants and shoes.
C. 146-39 Lisbeth – Socks in Fabel - This is a pair you’d want people to see. They’d look cute with Mary Janes.
D. Heart and Sole Socks - I bet these could be crocheted in a jiffy. Practical gift.
E. 120-37 Socks with stripes and lace pattern in Alpaca - Showy and good for everyday.
F. 120-35 Socks in Alpaca - I think this pattern would be good for an everyday wear sock.
G. Cozy Crochet Socks - Another great pair for everyday and with just the right amount of flair.

Honey Bear Bottle Crafts – Recycling Craft

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After you look at these clever honey bear bottle crafts, you’ll never throw out a honey bear bottle again. The thought of plastic in landfills and floating in our waterways gives me the shivers, that’s why I really like these recycling crafts projects.

honey bear bottle crafts - recycling crafts

I think these are all beary good ideas!

  1. Honey Bear Bottle Bubble Favors - what a great party giveaway.
  2. Gold Leaf Honey Bear Bottles – these are pretty enough to keep for yourself, but wouldn’t they make a nice gift?
  3. Honey Bear Bottle Lamp – it gives off soothing light, perfect for a baby’s room.
  4. Honey Bear Candy Favors – another great party giveaway
  5. Honey Bear Get Well Kit – yes, this isn’t a recycled bear, but I thought it was a good use of a new one. If someone gave this gift to me, I’d perk right up!
  6. Honey Bear Bottle Opener – use the honey bear as a mold to create something practical. Maybe you can use this idea and mold bears for some other purpose. Garden bears?

Jester Hat Pattern – Knit, Crochet, or Sew a Jester Hat

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April Fool’s Day is just around the corner. It’s not really a day one thinks to celebrate in any particular way, other than playing a few minor jokes on friends and family. Why not make it more celebratory? There’s a jester hat pattern below ready for you to knit, crochet, or sew for yourself or someone else. Have a little fun, why don’t you?

jester hat pattern

Here is a guide to the FREE patterns above:

  1. Jingle Jester Baby Hat (knitting)
  2. Silly Court Jester/Elf Hat (crochet) – Ravelry link
  3. Fleece Jester Hat (sewing)
  4. B14-28 Hat (knitting) – Ravelry link
  5. Jester Hat (sewing)
  6. Jester Hat (crochet) – Ravelry link

Need a few harmless practical jokes to play? Here’s a few I’ve culled from the WWW.

  • Add a few drops of green or red food coloring to a carton of milk.
  • Superglue a few coins to the sidewalk or any spot that has a lot of people walking around.
  • Go into your spouse’s closet and steal one of each of their shoes. Watch them frantically try to find a match.
  • Balance a small disposable cup of water on the top of a partially open door and then wait for the splash.
  • Purchase some realistic-looking insects and place the creepy crawlers in ice cubes, socks, shoes, food, etc.

The point is to have fun without being mean or doing harm. Use your imagination!

Summer Crochet Patterns for Women

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Well, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to crochet for summer. Here are six summer crochet patterns I like. I’m a big fan of Linda Permann’s designs; three of the patterns below were designed by her. I hope there is a pattern here that you like.

Summer Crochet Patterns

I’ve listed links below to the crochet patterns.

28-9 Cotton Smile Vest

Chanson En Crochet

Orchid Lace Top

Pretty Petals Top by Linda Permann

Traveling Tank by Linda Permann

Gidget Tee by Linda Permann

I’m eager to crochet something in red, and I really like the Gidget Tee. I’ll have to think about what colors to choose for that pattern. What do you plan to crochet before summer arrives?

Upcycle a Canvas Tote and Tablecloth into a Pillow

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Why don’t you upcycle a canvas tote (or two) into a pillow? If you’re like me, you have a few canvas totes tucked away in a closet or drawer. If you don’t have a tote to upcycle, upcycle a tablecloth that has a pattern you like. I’ve re-purposed a tote and tablecloth for this pillow project.

Upcycle a canvas tote

Since the canvas tote was picked up in Amsterdam, the front of this pillow is a bit risqué; however, the other side is very tame. Each side of the pillow has its own personality!

My pillow form was 18×18 inches wide. After cutting the tote, I was left with a 14×14 inches wide image; therefore, I had to widen the sides to match the width of the pillow (plus 1-inch extra for 1/2-inch seams). I followed a great tutorial for adding sides to a square and mitering corners (picture-frame style). All corners of the pillow match – a miracle! The tutorial is very helpful!

Upcycle a tablecloth

I recycled a tablecloth to make the back of the pillow.

I love this tablecloth fabric, and its colors match those on the other side. Normally, I would have sewn a zipper into the bottom seam, but I did not have a zipper on hand that was the right color or length, so I sewed up the seam by hand. Here is an easy to follow tutorial for adding a zipper to a pillow cover. Zippered covers make cleaning so much easier.

My next project is to sew a smaller pillow with more of the recycled tablecloth material and red corduroy fabric. I’ll also add piping. I’ll let you know when that’s done.

If you recycle a canvas tote into a pillow, share a link in the comments section. I’d love to see what you’ve done.

Free Knitted Bunny Patterns | Knitting Pattern Bunny

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It’s the Easter season and that means bunnies, chicks, and lambs. Choose one of these free knitted bunny patterns and knit an Easter rabbit for a child or yourself. I love knitted and crocheted toys. Often it is hard to part with a handmade critter after they are made. A bit of the maker’s heart and soul goes into the animal, wouldn’t you say?

Free Knitted Bunny Patterns

Your guide to the free knitted bunny patterns above:

  1. Big Cuddly Bunny
  2. Bunny Nuggets
  3. Knitted Bunny Pattern (made from a knitted square – even a beginning knitter can make this bunny)
  4. Bouncy Bunny Sock Critter (on Lionbrand website, you may need to create a login if don’t already have one)
  5. Rabbit
  6. Edmund Bunny
  7. Knit Bunny
  8. Very Tiny Bunny and Very Tiny Bunny Clothes
  9. Knitted Rabbits

Here is a bonus link – Tiny Baby Bunnies

Happy Knitting and Easter too!

Easy Dill Biscuits

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These easy to make dill biscuits are tasty and a good bread to serve with salads, but I think you’ll like them enough to serve them with any meal. They are buttery and don’t need additional butter when served, but who doesn’t like extra butter?

Bake easy dill biscuits

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 can Pillsbury Grands Homestyle Buttermilk biscuits
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 tsp. dehydrated onion flakes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped finely (I use scissors and cut the dill.)

Instructions:

In a microwave-safe glass container, add butter and onion flakes. Melt butter. Add fresh dill. Open the can of biscuits, roll each biscuit in the butter-onion-dill mixture, covering both sides of the biscuit. Place biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet / baking pan. Bake according to the instructions on the can (350-degrees for 13-18 minutes).