Level: Beginner Materials: E or F hook  worsted weight yarn in two colors for the stem and the cap. yarn needle Stitches: ch- chain stitch  sc- single crochet  inc- increase or single crochet twice into one stitch  hdc-half double crochet hdc inc- make 2 hdc in one stitch fl- front loop (half double crochet in front loops only) Instructions: Start with the color you want for the cap Round 1: SC 6 into a magic circle Round 2: Inc in each stitch to make 12 Round 3- In front loops only *hdc, hdc inc* around to make 18 Round 4-hdc 18 around  Round 5- sc 18 around and tie off Round 6- Turn the cap of the mushroom over and find the back loos from round 3. Pull your stem color through the loop, chain one and sc in the same back loop. Then sc in all the back loops around.for a total or 12. Rounds 7-14  (or until stem reaches the desired length) sc around. (12)

  Snail Finger Puppet Materials E or F hook for the body and and G or H for the shell worsted weight yarn tapestry needle Stitches: Ch - Chain Sl st - slip stitch SC - Single Crochet Inc - Single crochet 2 stitches into one Snail Body:   Row 1: Start by making 6 sc into a magic ring (6) Row 2: (sc, inc) around (9) Row 3: (sc, sc, inc) around (12) Row 4-11: sc in each stitch (12) Sl st into next two and fasten off  Snail Shell Row 1: Holding two pieces of yarn together start by making 6 sc into a magic ring (6) Row 2: Increase in all 6 stitches for a total of 12 stitches. Sl st into the next stitch and fasten off. Make two of these and sew them together. Attach the shell to the body and make cute little eyes/antennae by doubling some yarn and sewing in through the top of the head. Make a knot at the body on both sides to hold it in place and a knot at the top for the little snail's eyes.

My newest project is to make 1,000 octopuses. I have always been fascinated with folding paper cranes for luck (senbazuru)... Legend has it that if you fold 1,000 cranes it will grant a wish or give you a lifetime of good fortune... Sadly origami has never been my forte.... but amigurumi* TOTALLY is.... I love to make finger puppets and toys and I often have small bits of yarn and a crochet hook on hand to whip up little things on the go. These little octopuses have been something I have been making for years... they are easy and quick to make (I can whip one up in about 10-15 minutes) and they are like little 8 legged mandalas. I am not sure where my 1,000 octopus journey will take me... but I know that the first 100 are going to become a part of a yarn sculpture that I am working on...Here is a sneak peak. So far I am about 45 octopuses in to my 1,000... I am not sure that I will have them done by the end of 2025... but I plan on doing them as a series of smaller projects... the firs...

My first attempt at creating a picture on a coil basket. Teaching Coil Basketry at BOW 

This is what happens when your kids say...."give it long legs, elf ears and a butt....   

 This is my first attempt at making a coiled pendant. I'm preparing to teach a coil basketry class in a few weeks and I have been playing around with the flexibility of this basketry technique. What do you think?

 Easter  Basket Weaving This Easter during the stay at home orders we decided to make our own Easter baskets. So I brought in all my materials and we set to work. This was my youngest daughter's first basket, but she was a natural Paul has made baskets before and he's got skills! Some students have less patience than others! The finished baskets You can find out how to make your own basket right here on my blog. Just visit part one of my ribbed basketry tutorial.  These baskets aren't just for Easter and you can order everything you need online. Amazon has supplies, but in order to support small businesses I would check out other places first.  I have found good prices at East Troy Basketry, Royalwood, and Earth Guild.  Just do a search of basket supplies and shop around. Part 2 Part 3

Star made with basketry scraps. Christmas Tree woven with scraps of raffia, sisal, jute and seagrass. These natural ornaments are made with basketry scraps. I made them as a prototype for a class I'm giving in December.  Let me know what you think! Follow me on Pinterest for more basketry and craft ideas. 

Eight scary monster finger puppets.   Just in time for Halloween.  The pattern is available in my store. The set includes...Medusa, Jack O Lantern, One Eyed Monster, mummy, spider, ghost, black cat, and a little red devil. buy it here

I haven't posted anything in a while (about a year)... I thought I'd post some pics of my latest project. I've been doing a lot more basketry recently. Since moving back from Egypt I've started working so I haven't had as much time for my crafts. With Summer on its way, however, I hope to remedy that. I taught a basketry class at BOW right before Easter. I taught two sessions and I had some really great students. I will be teaching again around Halloween at the next BOW gathering. These classes always leave me feeling refreshed and inspired. I was feeling inspired after teaching the class... so I decided to weave my kids Easter baskets. After we dyed our eggs I used the extra dye to color some reed and other fiber. I'm not sure how colorfast egg dye is. But I'm not sure how many more years my kids will be hunting Easter eggs either so hopefully it will stay colorful for a few more years.       I hope everyone is having a wonderful...

I found a little inspiration while I was on vacation in Italy. Does anyone remember Macrame? That hobby from the 70s? When I was about 10 or 11 I bought all the materials and attempted to make a plant hanger, but after repeatedly tying my fingers in knots I gave up. That is where that hobby ended for me and that is where I thought it would stay. It has once again captured my attention, however. Just another thing to add to my long list of new things to try... Macrame Bracelets are everywhere in Italy I found these lovely macrame plant holders in Spello Italy What inspires you today? Cheers, Jenn

I'm working on publishing a new pattern. It will include instructions for making these Tiny Titans and 7 of their buddies for a total of 10 patterns. It will be available in my Etsy and Ravelry store later this month or early in April. I also added a new tab at the top of the page that links you to a list of all my free patterns .  I hope you are having a wonderful week. Cheers, Jenn

I was looking into the history of knitting in Egypt when I stumbled across a photo of these Coptic socks that were made in the 4th century. The divided toe is so that they can be worn with sandals. It looks almost identical to knitting, but it is really a very different technique called naalbinding. There are also ancient sample of Naalbinding found in Peru where the craft is still practiced today. In fact, variations of this craft have been found all over the world. There are many different types of stitches that you can do using this technique. What makes it different from knitting and crochet, however, is that instead of working loops into other loops you pass the entire length of your working yarn through each stitch. To do this you use short lengths of yarn and a large blunt sewing needle. This makes it a little unforgiving, but it also makes the fabric very sturdy and difficult to unravel. If you want to know more about the basics of Naalbinding you can check it out on Wiki...

This pattern isn't a new one... just a variation on my bunny finger puppet pattern .   Materials E or F hook worsted weight yarn tapestry needle Stitches: Ch - Chain Sl st - slip stitch SC - Single Crochet Inc - Single crochet 2 stitches into one Bunny Body:  Row 1: Start by making 6 sc into a magic ring (6) Row 2: (sc, inc) around (9) Row 3: (sc, sc, inc) around (12)  Row 4: to make the white eye slit in the ninja suit simply switch to white in any for any four stitches in rows 4 and 5. Add two black lines to make the eyes and you are done. I made the stitches in the back loops only to keep the stitches cleaner looking. Row 6-11: sc in each stitch (12) Sl st into next two and fasten off  Ears: Make ears by chaining 8 then sc into second stitch and continue to the end of the row. Fasten off and attach to the body. Weave in all ends.

Here is a great pattern for Easter. It is quick, easy, and a perfect way to use up scraps of yarn. Materials E or F hook worsted weight yarn tapestry needle Stitches: Ch - Chain Sl st - slip stitch SC - Single Crochet Inc - Single crochet 2 stitches into one Bunny Body:  Row 1: Start by making 6 sc into a magic ring (6) Row 2: (sc, inc) around (9) Row 3: (sc, sc, inc) around (12) Row 4-11: sc in each stitch (12) Sl st into next two and fasten off  Ears: Make ears by chaining 8 then sc into second stitch and continue to the end of the row. Fasten off and attach to the body. Weave in all ends. Sew on a cute face and you are done.

I haven't been posting lately because I have been at a bit of a stand still. I'm not feeling the creativity flowing in my crochet projects and so I find myself doing other things. I finished one cute project for Valentine's day... I made these little change pursed for a friend's daughter to give to a few of her classmates. I'm thinking about whipping up a couple more for my own kids for tomorrow. I also finished a cover for my husband's GPS receiver. I made a stuffed fox for my daughter. And I made a couple of early Easter friends... Today I am working on a knitting project. I usually crochet, but I thought  little change of pace might get me out of my project rut. I want to get back to feeling creative again. What do you do when you get in a project rut? Any creativity tips to share? Cheers, Jenn

I started this scarf while relaxing during the holiday at a resort on the Red Sea and finished it just a few days after my return.  I bought a really nice variegated brown and tan cotton yarn several months ago at a local yarn shop and I think this was the perfect project for it.  I have been wearing this scarf ever since I fastened off and weaved in the ends.  It has recently become chilly in Cairo and the added warmth around my neck is welcome.  This scarf is light enough to be worn during warmer months as well. It is just a simple Chevron lace stitch so the project was mindless and easy to do while lounging on the beach. Cheers, Jenn

I just got back from a trip to the Red Sea with my parents, my husband and my kids.  On my way to the beach I took the car ride as an opportunity to make this pair of barefoot sandals.  An old friend placed an order and I needed to get them finished before my parents headed back to Texas.  I am sending them back to the states tomorrow with my parents. I'm going to miss them (my parents... not the sandals)... I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  I am making lists and preparing for a new year of projects and resolutions.  I hope that this year will be filled with many finished objects and finished projects! Cheers, Jenn