Mikey Magazine: April 12, 2016

Mike y

Apr. 12th, 2016

In This Issue

It’s all about Charity 7 New Patterns 17 New Videos The Benefits of Charity

Stitch Stop across Canada

Hawt off the Hook with Mikey Heya Crowders:

Coming soon will be the 2016 version of Project Linus for the Crochet Cruises. We did things differently with a different presentation. Afghans were donated to Project Linus again this year!

We have another Project Linus surge happening for the Crochet Cruises for Alaska benefiting Project Linus Chapters in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada.

Helping others stay warm is so incredibly important. It’s our pleasure to continue to create and support charity initiatives.

It’s one thing to talk about charity, it’s another to physically put the effort into creating a momentum and following through so others can benefit from the time you put forth.

While charity work is generally free time and it costs many for people to participate, it’s the humanitarian side of ourselves that allows us to look at our yarn and get serious about whether it will stay on the shelves in our collections for years or whether some action can be created to take some of that yarn that may be sitting there way too long.

While there is absolutely no obligation that anyone should participate in charity, you just never know one day if you will be the person with the knock on the door receiving a gift of kindness that you never expected. It’s happened to me in my life when I needed it the most to get through a difficult time. It’s my pleasure to Stitch it Forward so others can feel the sense of community and reminder that others are out there thinking of me in my time of need. Even if they didn’t know who I was, a person recognized I as in trouble and needed a helping hand. It did great things for me to remind me others care, helped me in the moment and reminded me I wasn’t alone at the time.

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In This Edition

Contents

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Facebook Shares their Love Jeanne answers some of your Qs

Charity

The one thing we learned on the Crochet Cruises is that our people who love to crochet are all in when it comes to making their gifts for Charity.

No doubt , when we started Project Linus as our official Crochet Cruise Charity a few years back, people are most eager to sit down and start put granny squares together and whip up some conversations amidst all the amazing and colourful squares on the tables.

The atmosphere is high energy. So when we got back, we were thrilled to see that Yarnspirations.com newest Lookbook was devoted to charity patterns. If you haven’t seen this new Lookbook here it is. Simple and easy patterns that people love to do and including a few new ones that maybe you would love to try.

We took the time for this Magazine to feature our newest Crochet Crowd Challenge to be part of this Lookbook but most important being part of Charity and helping those in need.

- Diva Dan

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Mikey’s Videos Library Diva Dan, who just never know!

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19 16 20 Charity Blankets

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Crochet Cruises Updates *NEW* Blogs Knot to be Missed

More Charity Ideas. Pg 7

Our Feel Good Charity Challenge

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The BENEFITS of CHARITY GIVING

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Stitch Stop across Canada updates

31 10 Charity Locator

Charity Hats in All Sizes

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Support Your Favourite Charity

Help your charity by being part of our challenge.

PLUS Yarnspirations.com will be giving away in total 100 Yarn balls of Caron Simply Soft for being a part of our Feel Good Charity Challenge

Find out more information that can help YOUR Favourite Charity.

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Teeny Weeny Hat T

he Teeny Weeny Hat comes if four sizes and uses half double crochets resulting in a comfy and warmer hat.

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or your pleasure and resource Mikey did 4 separate videos for you to explore. Ranging from sizes up to 3 months to 3 - 4 lbs babies.

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ave fun with this pattern. You can be creative with colours. Imagine adding a single or row row strip to give it more interest.

Up to 3 Months 3-4 lbs 5-6 lbs 7-9 lbs 5

Baby’s 1st Hat T

hese cute little babys hats are easy to whip up and donate to charity. You can make a lot of thats with just one ball of One Pound Caron yarn

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ikey did four videos for you to enjoy. Ranging from up to 3 months to 3 - 4 lbs babies.

Perfect for the amazing range of newborns.

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great project for beginners or for those that never done a hat before. You will be amazed how fast you can have a box ready for Charity.

Up to 3 Months 3-4 lbs 5-6 lbs 7-9 lbs 6

More Charity Ideas!

Ideas

Slipper Socks

Striped Mittens

Boy’s Jacket and Blanket

Stripe and Squares

Prayer Shawl

Simple Scarf

Crochet Prayer Shawl

Basic Socks

Easy Street Hat

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Pebbled Texture Hat

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his hat is taking The Crochet Crowd like a winter storm is back. Well, it kinda was back here in Ontario! We don’t every remember such cold weather at this time and according to the weather network, we’ve got more snow then we got then December. Go figure!

Y W

ou will love the criss cross stitch that gives this hat it awesome texture. We personally love the pompom on this hat as we think it needs that cuteness but that is up to you. ith three different sizes mikey did videos for this is perfect for Charity giving!

2-4 years old

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8-10 years old

Adult

The Pebbled Texture hat is certainly popular. With just only a few days in, fans are building their collections of hats to be part of our Feel Good Charity Challenge. They are helping your favourite charities with the crochet items made with love!

These hat are done by the following, Andrina Leong, Barbara Jacobs, Dawn Brockett, Padmasudha Balkrishnan, Bekcie Young, Elena Tafuni, Elizabeth Edwards, Gladys Dannelly, Kat Dudley, Laura Bird, Marie Atkinson, Meen Kakar Urf Payal, Robin Bailey, Stephanie McIsaac and Shana McConnell (she converted hers into a Reindeer)

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Ridges Family Hat

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e are thrilled that Yarnspirations.com came up with a family size hat versions. The Ridges Hat stitch is as simple as a half double crochet working in the back loops giving it the ridge look to the hat.

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ith 3 videos lined up, you will enjoy making these hats for the whole family. For Charity, it’s perfect to give to a charity focused on families. With 1 ball of Caron One Pound yarn, you can make up to 11 hats! That is a lot of hats for the time and small investment to charity.

2-4 years old

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8-10 years old

Adult

North Carolina Tent Sale!

r y ya

bu Who o t Love es v o and s Ch l !

Who wants ho Disc e ag? a B p W ontin Yarn he to Meet t y u ?! b ed Mikey and Diva Dan?!

Who w an a Frida ts to have y Nigh t Stitch Social to Suppo rt War m up Americ a?!

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nt e t e sal e led h l t fi e leav age bag Garo t es k arb a few i l G ?! o e n e g h r b u a W y a h ?! May h t h i t w rn wi d a e y l l h Wh gs fi wit a b to o li bage

k Ch dona es ar ity te to ?!

May 2 to May 7, 2016 Washington, North Carolina at the Sprinite Caron Factory!

Get ready to Shop, click here for more information

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Please note that sale is for in costumers only. The sales at the North Carolina tent sale will not be an online special. The Tent sale is hosted by the Spinrite Factory therefore the reason why the tent is there and as a result can only be there.

March 27th, 2016

Creating Crochet Relationships One ‘Ship Stitch’

THANK YOU for being part of our Community!!

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We at The Crochet Crowd would love to say a huge THANK YOU to those for being part of the Crochet Cruises in the Caribbean 2016 on the beautiful Celebrity Silhouette.

We all had a fantastic time meeting, sharing and laughing with you all! For us, the time we have taken to get to know many of you was deep in our hearts and filled with pleasure.

We also hugely thank you for helping with Project Linus. We collected over 60 blankets that were all given to that wonderful organization.

Thank you to Pam Erickson for this letter. She indeed for us was one of the most positive spirited crocheters we have enjoyed through our week.

Cruise 1

Among others, we need to thank is Sherry Lebovich, our cruise planner, for doing the most incredible job organizing our cruises, hotels, and the fun, Fun, FUN shore excursions!

But our most important thanks as always goes to our sponsors Yarnspirations.com for all the wonderful yarn they provide for our classes.

Without them, The Crochet Cruises would not be possible.

You can see all the photos in our Flickr page

Cruise 2

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Crochet Cruises 2016

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Crochet Cruises 2016

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Baby Cluster Waves T

his Blanket has a great stitch that is very well worth the time and enjoyment to make. It is pretty easy for a seasoned newbie to try.

T

he best part of this pattern once you have finished your first row, from there it is just a 1 row repeat over and over again. How easy can that be?

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s you are creating this afghan, it create a very simple wave. The stitches consists of cluster stitch, chains and double crochets. A beautiful gift for any charity .

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Crochet Cruises Update Crochet Cruise 2017

We have a few spots left for an awesome 2 week Hawaii Crochet Cruise beginning February 2nd, 2017 Book Now!

AND Oct. 21-28 Once Upon a Crochet Cruise where a Little Crochet Magic can Happen.

For all the Information

Oct. 28 - Nov. 4, Wicked Step Stitches Crochet Cruise Halloween Monster Mash!

After our recent Caribbean Cruise, we have a lot of people returning, only a few seats left now!

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All Tent Sale Yarn

1/2 price ($2.50 - $7.00) April 11th - April 17, 2016 Ends Sunday Night at 11:59 pm (EST) While Quantities Last!

Spinrite’s E-Tent Try out these patterns from Yarnspirations.com with your new order!

Use Boucle to create this Striped Afghan

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Pipsqueak is super soft, perfect for Babies blankets

Chunky yarns create fast projects like this quick and easy Afghan

Easy Peasy Blanket F

or Charity giving this blanket along with the classical granny blankets are the two most popular to make.

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hy? They are the easiest and fastest to do.

Once you have mastered this pattern, it will become second nature for you and the next thing you know, you will be watching TV and realize that later you finished a blanket.

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his blanket patten leans itself very well to changing colours and being creative with it. Also great for using up some old yarn lying around.

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Big Granny Blanket T

he Classic Granny Square Blanket is the choice for many when it comes to Charity giving.

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hip it up fast! Fill that Box and help those in need quickly!

This is the blanket to do.

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reat for a first timer learning how to crochet. Like many of us, trying a blanket for the first time we want to get it done fast so we can see our accomplishments.

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lso, great for those who just want to sit back, relax and not worry about making a mistake.

This is the blanket for you.

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Q+A with Jeanne

Jeanne is looking for questions on Facebook to answer.

When I do the C2c blanket it turns out kind of pointy on one end and not a square. What am I doing wrong??? I made 2 baby ones and both had the issue. Thanks. From Cathy L.

I wasn’t sure how to answer this one, so I turned to Mikey for his advice. His answer, “Have a martini and all will be right!” LOL! I think what he is trying to say is that when doing the corner to corner, there can be a slight askew to the finished piece, but just block the best you can and relax. Remember it’s a handmade piece and sometimes the nature of the pattern will not allow for perfection.

I’m going to be starting a poncho for a friend and the pattern says to use a 9mm wooden hook. I’ve never seen it specified to use a wooden hook for a project...any idea why? I have one, and I’m happy enough to use it, but just curious. From Carol M. Crochet hooks are determined by their measurement and not what they are made of. I use wooden hooks and aluminum ergonomic hooks, will them being completely interchangeable. I do find it interesting that you have a pattern that suggested a wooden one specifically. It makes be wonder as to what year that pattern was written. That might be a clue as to why the wooden was listed in the directions. For more great information on crochet hook sizes, check out the article from The Crochet Crowd website: Crochet Hook Size Conversions When reading a chart how can you tell if the stitch is done in the chain or around the chain stitch?

From Donna S. I am more of a written directions kind of gal, rather than charts myself, but I think charts give more opportunity for your own expression of the interpretation of the design. So for working into chains specifically, my own personal rule of thumb is unless the the pattern says specifically to work the stitch into the chain itself, I will always work the stitch into the chain space, or as you say, around the chain stitch.

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Amazing work by Crocheters

Melissa finished her Stitch, Stop and Roll Afghan along with two pillows

The Granny Square Pillows are awesome De Lou!

This is Susan’s third Bavarian Stitch Blanket. The colours on this is canidilious.

Linda, This Spring wreath is fantastic! All the detail is amazing!

Jinty’s little fairy teapot cozy is imagination cuteness!

Love the colour combo for the Tartan Afghan by Marie. Love it!

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Trish did a great job on the Star Baby Blanket

Jewel work on the basketweave pillow that Mikey did many years ago. Nice!

Donna Bobble-licious pillows is full of texture. Nicely Done!

Amazing work by Crocheters

Marian decided to spring up Diva Dan’s Snowflake afghan. Great!

Amy finsihed her Mermaid Tears Purse! What a fantastic Purse!

Darlene use different yarn for her Chain link pillow. What a nice difference!

Linda did a superb job on the Rich Texture cable tote!

Deborah Turtle hatchlings on a beach is very well done!

Many of these patterns are ideas and inspiration created by the crowders themselves. Also you can go to our Facebook Page, Click ‘Photos’, them ‘Photos Posted by Others’ and scroll down to find what you are looking for. Don’t forget to say you love their Creativity!

The sunflower afghan by Red Heart was made by Gail. WOW!

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The BENEFITS of CHARITY GIVING It Allows Us to be Creative When it comes to donating amd making gifts, often enough and for some reason, it seems to allow us to break the general rules of design and colour, allowing ourselves to explore the limitless world of crochet concepts and designs. How many projects have you done using scrap yarn, or buying a yarn on sale or trying that new pattern? It does teach us to explore new patterns and discovering new yarns. You never know, maybe by not having the reason to donate you that you might never try a new pattern just for fun, or use up some yarn in weird funky colours.

It gives a reason to be creative without being selfish.

Activates the Positive Centre of the Brain.

Charitable giving can feel pleasurable.

It gives us a reason to start something, finish it and more so, a reason to give.

That crochet gift giving to somebody can be viewed as a fun feeling like going out for the night. The act of helping others can create an improve sense of well-being. Knowing that you sacrificed time to crochet, money to mail, materials such as yarn in the act to help others in need, can give you a sense of purpose in life/work and inner satisfaction. It activates regions of the brain associated with pleasure creating a “warm glow” effect.

Happiness is a Feeling Too Seeing someone wearing or using your crochet donated items does give you a sense of happiness and satisfaction.

Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of a gift, that gift can bring feelings of honour, acknowledgment and thankfulness. Gratitude is built into happiness.

Reduces Stress

Satisfaction comes with it.

We all heard this but crocheting and donating to charity can help decrease stress. According to some research studies, those who provided social support to others had lower blood pressure than participants who didn’t. Suggesting a ‘possible’ direct physiological benefit to those who give of themselves. Stress is often cause by troubles but helping others in trouble sometimes has a reverse effect.

We don’t live in a perfect world and there are always people out there in need of help. Donating to the homeless or even a nursing home does help with life’s little struggles for those in need.

Keeping a homeless person warm in mid winter or a nice lapghan for the elderly helps bring comfort to those that are struggling in todays economic life. It can also help improve the health for many of the less fortunate.

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Protect your Local Community Giving to a charity helps make our communities become better places to live. Helping areas to provide goods, services and accommodation to people who might not otherwise have access to them. When we raise the standard of living for the least able among us, we raise our own standard of living in return. These shifts can promote a sense of trust and cooperation that strengthens our ties within our communities. It can help those that are struggling to find a path in life.

Improve Moral Opinions

Likely Hood to Volunteer

When considering what charity to choose, many people tend to research the connections to that organization. As a result, you become more educated about social injustices around the world. You may discover new points of view and opinions on topics about which you were previously unheard of. This awareness may point you to help increase the awareness of social problems among those in your circle. Keeping a balanced and educated standpoint is important with all the world issues we are facing today.

By volunteering, you have the opportunity to build your sociable circles while gaining the physical, and mental benefits from the labor you contribute to your favorite cause. For many, it gives a reason to step outside our own homes, it can give us exercise by moving about more, speaking with others to develop more friends and most importantly improving and helping the organization that you are very passionate about.

Connecting to the Less Unfortunate When we give to others, we don’t only make them feel more neighborly to us; we feel more closer to them. Being kind and generous leads you to view others more positively and more charitably. We can understand them better therefore become a more inclusive society then an exclusion, segregation or even an integration society.

Exclusive Society

Segregated Society

Spiritual Giving Charitable giving is a key component to many spiritual and religious faith systems. Observing that you have taken action in line with your spiritual notions by offering your talents, strengths and resources to others in need can bring a sense of inner spiritual peace and personal commitment. Crochet can be reflective for many as a way to seek spiritual direction as we ponder our thoughts and prayers.

Integrated Society

Inclusive Society

The BENEFITS of CHARITY GIVING

Blogs ‘Knot To Be Missed Tips

Ideas

Thoughts

Spring Inspired Crochet Projects

If interested in donating Chemo Caps, here is a great information resource with video guide to what is expected

Jeanne’s Favourite Owl be Kind for Thomas

Crochet Super Hero patterns

What is a Twiddlemuff?

Find out here!

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9 Free Prayer Shawl Patterns

Congratulations to the Winners of our Stitch Is Right Game!

Yolanda Hawkins from Georgia

Sara Pearson from Rhode Island

Nancy Richey from Iowa Thank you to everyone that participated in the most creative and fun challenge yet. If you not done so, check out all the amazing examples what random creativity can do on our Flickr pages!

We hope you enjoyed this fun idea. We will have plenty of others fun and learning with some new challenges coming up later this year!

Come See Us Across Canada Stitch Socials Scenic Look 28

Calling ALL Canadians!

Our Website is Up and Running. Have a Gander.

We love what Diva Dan did.

Stitch Stop Happenings

- Visits to appointed Michaels Stores across Canada. We are thrilled that Michaels Stores are inviting us to drop by and spread the enjoyment of yarn through-out our travels.

- Yarnspirations.com will be giving away coupons through-out our trip. Great deals on some fabulous Yarns!

- We will have gatherings at major landmarks across Canada. Besides our stops at Michaels Stores, we will be announcing other stop plans on our website no later then May 15th 2016.

If you are near the area, please drop by. We will enjoy a stitch social and potluck with you and your friends!

- We will be visiting local artisans, yarn shops, and fans as part of our 12 part episode series ‘What yarn means to Canadians’!

If you want us to drop by, go to our website and fill out a request form under the menu ‘Stitch Stops’.

Project Maple, Diva Dan latest project will be a HUGE crochet Maple Tree representing the Emblem of Canada- The Maple leaf. So if you come by, drop off some maple leaves for Diva Dan! All that information is on our new website under Project Maple.

- Live video feed through-out our trip. You Know Mikey! He will always have something to talk about.

We are so super excited and can’t wait to see all of you. We even heard some Americans that live near the border will drop by too!

This will be a lot of FUN!

and so much more to come!

Be part of the Stitch Social across Canada Check out our Facebook and our Website for all the information!

We are super excited to see you this coming summer!

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Tutorials by Mikey

From the Middle baby Blanket

Women’s Peak Hat

How to do the Star Stitch

Chrysanthemum Dishcloth

Top Down Shawl

Big Wheel Afghan

If love the teaching, the patterns and the down to earth nature of Mikey, then take the time to subscribe to the Crochet Crowd’s YouTube Channel. You will get updated with all the latest videos that could spark your next project!

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Did you know that we have a Charity Locator on our website?

If you are looking for Charities in your area, go to our Charity locator.

This can be found On TheCrochetCrowd.com under ‘Community’.

Also if you are a registered Charity or know of one, you can fill out a submissions form and we can add the Charity to our map allowing others to find out more about them.

Looking for ideas to crochet? We have a dedicated section for patterns that are easy and reliable that Charities love having. We will continue to build on the pattern list for people to enjoy!

This can be found under The Crochet Crowd.com Website under the menu ‘Patterns’. Click Patterns, Scoll down till you hit Charity. There you can find and be inpried for idas that Charities would enjoy having donate.

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Facebook Picture of the Week Kim’s dog Morris is either inspecting her work or looking at the little orange ball. I am sure Morris is wanting play time and that ball of yarn would be perfect!

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Flash Sale Coming

Only 650 Left! Once gone, the kits will no longer be available.

Perfect Mother’s Day gift!

Stay tune on The Crochet Crowd Facebook for the Flash Sale. No date has been decided yet, once gone, these kits will no longer be available. First come first serve.

Diva Dan! A time away from home can say a whole lot when you reach your doorstep, open the door and say, ‘Boy is it every great to be back home!’ Home for Michael and I is work too. Not many would say ‘glad to be back at work’. Right?

But we did miss The Crochet Crowd while we were away. The daily conversations we have with our team, the interaction with members of The Crochet Crowd through Facebook and our social sites. We felt lost in some ways without having that communication, inspirations, and laughs through our cyber connections. We really have reached a new wave of interaction all because of the Internet. That tribe/ group that we have all found though that cyber world bonds us with a common like. When Michael and I finally did sit down in our office chairs, there was that feeling, ‘it great to be back home!’

We had a fabulous time meeting the faces and friends on the Crochet Cruises. If I had to describe in one word the time we had, it would be ‘Friendship’. The meeting of old friends gathering together for a special family reunion, new friends opening the doors to some really interesting new energy conversations and most off all, the volume of conversations and support that our little group of nearly 100 people can be for those that came on the cruise dealing with personal struggles such as a loss of a loved ones or personal changes of a loved one. We were all there! Crochet was our common ground and like stitches, we were all different, but together can be made into something amazing.

Now that I have had a couple weeks to get back into the swing of thing, it is hard to stay focus. Winter is almost gone but for some reason, the weather is teeter-tottering sending me into a craze to look for the garden rakes and then back to the snow shovel. I am itching to get outside and do some garden work, release my mind in the dirt and enjoy the sun’s rays before mosquito season.

Enjoy you week, crochet for the love of it and remember, it’s okay to release that creative side of you!

Diva Dan

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Next Edition A Spring Fling, Flower Power

Past Issues

To join our newsletters for our latest Magazine

You can download our newsletters from our website anytime you wish.

If you decide to print, the links will be not active.

In any case, most of all the patterns can be found again through our website.

TheCrochetCrowd.com

This newsletter is produced by Michael Sellick and Daniel Zondervan, Creative Directors of The Crochet Crowd. While we try our best to provide a grammatical error free newsletter, a few errors most likely will slip between the stitches. We are a very small company with a creative thirsty crochet following. If we are to produce a newsletter that has no errors, we would never be able to send one out.

Our team is also propelled by Laura Jean Bartholomew - Community Info Seeker and Jeanne Steinhilber - Community Chaperon.

Š 2016 TheCrochetCrowd.com

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