Number 1 is simple. If you are able to adopt an animal….. do it.
Number 2- Cleaning supplies- and better yet, cleaning supplies that are animal and environmentally friendly!
Number 3- Donate old blankets and towels.
Number 4- Depending on the shelter, you may even be able to foster the animals!
Number 5- Share share share!!! Sometimes it only takes ONE share on a social media site to open the eyes of hundreds!
Number 6- Donate treats, food and dog bones!
Number 7- Sponsor the adoption fee's for an animal.
Number 8- CROCHET!!! You can crochet simple dog sweaters, blankets, cowls, bandanas, blankets, toys…… the list goes on. You're creative!!! Use your creativity for good. 🙂
Free eBooks from AllFreeCrochet!
AllFreeCrochet is probably the most well known free crochet pattern directory online! They collect free crochet patterns from around the web and share them through email and eBooks on a regular basis.
Sign up and check them out!
Website
Blog
Pinterest
Facebook
Twitter
Newsletter
As a designer, when I get an email asking my permission to link or share one of my patterns, I find this to be very exciting! Not only does it get the word out about Stitch11, but it helps my views grow dramatically! Because of the crochet world I am able to be a stay at home mom, and pay my bills! Thank you, AllFreeCrochet for playing a part in my dream becoming a reality.
The most recent eBook AllFreeCrochet created using one of my patterns is called the Winter Fashion for Toddlers + Baby Crochet Patterns! As many of you know, I have a toddler. For the last year, the majority of my patterns have been designed just for her. I am so thrilled one of my patterns is part of this collection!
Winter Fashion for Toddlers & Baby Crochet Pattern
This eBook has a collection from many amazing crochet designers! Includes patterns from Stitch11, Cre8tionCrochet, Bernat, Yarnspirations, RepeatCrafterMe, Craft Cravings, Whistle & Ivy, Craftown, and CrazySocks Design!
Do not miss out on this beautiful FREE eBook!
To check out many more of their free eBooks, check out their archive or pinterest board!
A New TuTu For Princess Ella
My daughter has been begging me to make her a new tutu for months! A few weeks ago, we took a trip to Hobby Lobby and I let her pick out all of the supplies. We spent about 2 hours on it today… yes I say “We” haha she helped me almost every step of the way. I followed the free crochet tutu tutorial from Olivia's TuTu but I did have to start with fewer chains because I was using different yarn. I used I Love This Yarn Neon. I also skipped the additional bows but instead I added ribbon here and there while attaching the tulle. We bought 3 rolls of tulle from Hobby Lobby and used just about all of it. My daughter LOVES her new tutu! Just the way she carried herself around the yard made it obvious she felt like royalty!
Poncho For Ella
While browsing the RAKJPatterns Blog, I found a free crochet pattern for a toddler poncho!! If you are in the Yartist Facebook group you already know that I had been searching for an adorable crochet poncho pattern for a while now. There are 3 things I love about this pattern right away. 1- simplicity! You all know I love simple patterns/easy to follow. 2- Adjustable! Just by starting with more or less chains and making more or less rows… you can make all the sizes you wish… its that easy! 3- Its adorable! Only the cutest for my daughter!
While following her pattern, I crocheted rows 1-11 and then I repeated rows 4-7 one more time before continuing to the last row (row 12). I also not only trimmed the bottom, but also the top. I changed colors at the end of each row. But if you do not want to take the time to weave in your ends.. changing colors is an option. I find that I dread weaving in my ends so much through out my projects, but once it comes time to do it… it really doesn't take that long. It can be so rewarding to go ahead and make the color changes!
Be sure to not only check out RAKJPatterns free Poncho Pattern, but also her Facebook!
If you'd like some more inspiration for crochet poncho patterns, take a peek at some of my other blog pages here: 30 Free, Comfy, and Stylish Crochet Poncho Patterns
Stash Bustin’ Crochet Squares
Bust through your small amounts of yarn with these fun and beautiful crochet square patterns. I made myself a bag with the Kaleido Dreams. What will you be making?
Kaleido Dreams
Dahlia In A Square
Flower In A Square
Sunflower In A Square
6-12 Month Giraffe Hat
This free crochet pattern, for a size 6-12 month Giraffe hat, is a new personal favorite Stitch11 pattern! Thank you Sara for challenging me with this adorable and fun request! I hope all of you who love crochet get to work this pattern up. Its not as easy as my other patterns, but only because it has so many parts… but it is well worth it, and works up surprisingly quick!!! This crochet giraffe hat is simply YARNTASTIC!!! Check out the Adult version too!
[Read more…]
Toddler Sock Monkey Hat
After creating my 0-3 month sock monkey hat, I have had a lot of request for a larger crochet pattern of the same hat. So this pattern was written for all of my followers.(and people just stopping in ;)) Thank you for enjoying my crochet patterns! Enjoy this Yarntastic Toddler Sock Monkey Hat! Also check out the 0-3 month, 6 month, and child size!!
[Read more…]
AllFreeCrochet- Free Fall Patterns eBook!
As the weather changes and the leaves begin to fall, there is a crisp, invigorating bite to the air once autumn is upon us. The retail stores are beginning to gear up for the big holiday season, and everyone seems to be in a happy mood.There are so many wonderful free crochet patterns to choose from, including scarves, shawls, and afghans; it can be overwhelming at times. Let AllFreeCrochet help you find the perfect free crochet pattern that represents the beautiful season of fall. They have collected their favorite patterns for fall in their new eBook, Fall Crochet: 16 Free Crochet Patterns.
Choose from apparel, afghans, home decor, and more.
Patterns range in skill level from beginner to advanced.
Crochet an afghan to use on a hayride, or make an autumn colored dishcloth for the kitchen. There are also shawls and cardigans to wrap yourself up in, as well as neck warmers and scarves to wear as the weather cools.
The beautiful colors of fall translate nicely to almost any crochet pattern.
Browse through their latest eBook, Fall Crochet: 16 Free Crochet Patterns to find your next crochet pattern for fall. Make something for a friend or treat yourself to a new pattern.
The Sharp Crochet Hook
I was very pleased and surprised at how quickly I received my Sharp Crochet Hook. As soon as I opened the light weight package, I noticed it even included some GREAT patterns to help me get started. Not only did they come with the hook. But you can also find them on the Sharp Crochet Hook website.
Next, I wanted to test out how strong the hook was. So, I grabbed a welders sleeve (my husband is a fabricator) And worked a simple SC around the sleeve with the hook. And of coarse I unraveled it before he could see it, I do not think he would want to wear ruffles to work. 😉
Since the Sharp Crochet Hook worked so easy into the welders sleeve, I knew I had many options of what I could create first. I really really really want to make my daughter, Ella, and I both aprons and decorate the edges with pretty yarn using the Sharp Crochet hook. BUT I really do not like sewing so I will wait until I find a good deal on some already made (or beg my sis to help me make them ;)) Next up on the list was to crochet edging on my daughters pillow case to match her V stitch blanket I made her. 😀 And it worked up beautiful!
The Sharp Crochet Hook is a very small hook…. but I was still able to use simply soft with ease. I also tested out sport weight yarn with it and it worked great!! I would still like to try using some crochet thread when using it 🙂 Maybe for those aprons! I will let you all know how it works out for me. I would highly recommend the Sharp Crochet Hook to anyone who crochets and likes to try new things, and also anyone who plans on using any type of fabric with their crochet skills.
You can find the Sharp Crochet Hook Here
Also, be sure to check it out on Facebook!
Slouchy Hat for Children
Summer is coming to an end and the clouds are starting to carry a breeze. Hat season is beginning! What better way to let your children show their own style than with a slouchy hat?! This free crochet pattern is very easy to follow 🙂 And it is a personal Stitch11 favorite! This slouchy hat is designed for children ages 3 and up! ALSO check out the Adult Slouch Hat!!!
[Read more…]
Safari Garden
This sun hat is designed for ladies who likes to spend time out doors. Most crochet sun hats keep the heat in. The Safari Garden hat not only keeps the sun out of the eyes, it lets fresh air in and through, eliminating the issue of being too hot!
[Read more…]
Where Can I Sell Items Online
I have seen so many people asking others where they should sell items online. I have listed the top 7 ways to sell online. There is something for everyone!!
Etsy
Etsy is the #1 place for selling yarntastic creations. But we all know its nice to have options. The more market sites you sell through, the more your name is floating around the world wide web, and the more you will sell.
There are no membership fees with Etsy. It only costs $0.20 to list an item for 4 months, or until it sells. Once you sell your item, Etsy will collect a 3.5% fee on the sale price. Fees for listings and transactions will be on your monthly Etsy bill. At the end of each month Etsy will add up all your fees, and email your monthly stat.
Copious
If you have items that fall into one of these categories: Accessories, Clothing, Health & Beauty, Home, Jewelry, Shoes or Handbags; then Copious is for you! The site is very simple and easy to learn. Not only for the seller but also the buyer.
There are no listings fees, so it is free to post. When an item sells, you will pay 3.5% for the transaction.
Copious is a social marketplace, so grow your community(using other network sites like Facebook) to sell the things you create.
Tab Juice
Tab Juice is a 100% free, sales and social media application that allows businesses to offer their fans an all-in-tab shopping experience directly on their Facebook business page. This app seems perfect for just about anyone!
Artfire
“Have more fun selling online. Give your site a design unique to your style. With just a few clicks your shop is branded, launched, and you're in business.” Currently with Artfire your first 14 days free! Then your store is $12.95/month.
If you are new at selling, and depending on how many items you can sell through this site, this site might not be for you.
Ebay
Ebay, Ebay, Ebay. They are partially responsible for starting the online wave of selling things from home. We can stay inside the home and sell our handmade items while drinking our morning coffee. Founded in 1995, eBay connects a diverse and passionate community of buyers and sellers, as well as small businesses. In 2011, the total value of goods sold on eBay was $68.6 billion — more than $2,100 every second. While searching for prices to use ebay I found this nifty ebay calculator.
Craft is art
With Craftisarts, as a Basic Seller, you would Pay-As-You-Go. The commission fee would be 5.5% of your final selling price. When you reach the limit of items you can list in your account for free, you need to add credit to your account to continue listing for free. Regardless of how many active items you currently have in your account, even if you delete items, every item added counts as a listed item.
Or with the premium sign up you can list as many items as you would like, but you would pay $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year.
Hyena Cart
There's an inital set-up fee of $10 (unless you sign up during their penny promotion, then only a penny) then $5 per month after that.The $5 payment will unlock your stocking page for a month from the date that you pay. If payment lapses, your in-stock store will still be visible to your customers for two months, but you'll be unable to add or edit items to the database but then you can pick up the payments again at any time.
Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel is a fun way to earn rewards for shopping. Nielsen sends their panelists a scanner that is used to scan in groceries purchased. Nielsen uses the information to learn more about the shopping habits of Americans. The great thing about Nielsen is it is absolutely free to sign up and if at any time you change your mind, you can send the scanner back at no cost to you!
If you want to be involved just follow the link here or click their banner below
SC 2 Tog/ SC Decrease
This stitch can be used for things from ear flaps to making balls. I had spent so much time avoiding this stitch… but I have grown to not mind it so much after all. Its not a hard stitch… just not what I consider to be fun or as nice and clean looking as some of the others stitches.
Daniel in the Lions Den
After one of my readers used my snake puppet pattern , She contacted me asking for advice on changing it up to a lion puppet. She will be doing a puppet show at her church telling the story of Daniel in the Lions Den. What a great idea and thank you for letting me be part of this!
[Read more…]
Captain America!
Captain America! My son, Brennan, was super excited when he found out I was making him a Captain America mask. This hat is made to fit most children and is being worn by a 10 year old in this photo.
[Read more…]
Popsicle Cozy
A few weeks ago my nieces were at my house visiting. It was a hot day so I decided to give them each a Popsicle as they were about to leave. When my Sister was putting her girls in their car seats one of them cried out “Its burning me!!!” So I created this free Popsicle cozy pattern 🙂 I'm amazed with all the things you can create with yarn. Its yarntastic!
[Read more…]
The Mighty Jungle
This lovely lion hat pattern is in size 0-3 months. In this photo, it is being worn by a life size newborn doll <3 Looks so real doesn't it?! I tried to make this free pattern as simple and easy to follow as possible. And I must say, “I absolutely love it!!” I will be making many more of these in the future. Crochet on my hookers! Check out the latest version of this lion hat!
Hockey Helmet
After searching the web for hockey helmets, I decided to give it a try. This free pattern is for size 12 months. In this picture, my daughter is wearing it and she is 15 months old. Since its made from cotton, it stretches real nice. This is not one of my easiest paterns to follow. So, if anyone has any questions I would be more than happy to help all that I can. Happy crocheting!!
How to Crochet a Slip Stitch
I cannot think of one single pattern that I didn't need to do the Slip Stitch. This step by step video is very easy to follow.