Mikey Magazine: Oct 29, 2015

Mike y 5 Oct. 29th, 2015

In This Issue

*NEW* Ticky Tacky Challenge

Great Home Ideas

Mikey’s Afghan Debut

You make me smile

Hawt off the Hook with Mikey

Many full moons ago, I saw a video on YouTube that was posted by a fan of The Crochet Crowd. She was raving on how much she enjoyed The Crochet Crowd.

She spoke with such integrity. What struck me the most is that she gave me a positive energy spike. She fumbled up in trying to describe why The Croche Crowd was so amazing. In tripping over her own tongue. She instantly reset herself and just said something so blunt.

“Tips… The amount of helpful tips from Mikey and people I don’t even know across the world helping me to be a better crocheter! It doesn’t get any better than that!”

People wanting to interview me always send me a list of questions to think about. “What are the best tips for crochet!” Somehow, I have to narrow down the best ultimate tips for crocheters. When you have a strong passion and have a sense of wanting to teach others, one tip leads to another. You want to embrace the creativity and share everything you know with the world. At least I do!

So let me try to share my ultimate tips and you may be surprised by what I say.

Your creativity is unique to you. It’s not about the speed, it’s about your own desire to learn, practice and grow. It’s a hobby, not a race.

Someone will always be a stronger crocheter than you. It’s a great thing because it shows you that you have a lot more to learn and you can keep growing. Trust me when I say, if you mastered crocheting in a matter of weeks, where’s the fun of the years of learning and constant evolution of skill building that will last you a lifetime?

With someone always being stronger than you, you are always stronger than the crocheters behind you. Not only are you learning, but you have the skills to teach the next wave of crocheters. You are a student, a teacher and most importantly, you are a mentor to someone somewhere, especially when are each connected through cyber waves.

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Contents 3 Yarn Talk 4 Oven Mitt 5 Colourful Scrubbies 6 Hot Water Bottle Cozy 7 Draft Dodger 8 Facebook ?s with Jeanne 9 MIkey’s Afghan release 10 Mikey’s Video Library 11 Spinrite E-Tent SALE

FREE SHIPPING! 12 Snowflake Candle Holder 13 Trio Challenge, Week 1 14 The Pumpkin Bash Reveals 15 Ticky Tacky Sweater 16 *NEW* pumpkin tutorials and shares 18 Facebook Shares Halloween 20 Ideas from Yarnspirations. com 22 Remembrance day Poppy 23 Facebook shares 24 *NEW* Jewelled Ornament and Shares 26 Facebook Meme 27 Aloha our 2017 Cruise 28 Diva Dan’s Thoughts 29 Past Issues

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This week

Unfortunately, I see more people beating themselves up for not being good enough with the crochet hook.

Instead, they should be grateful for the skills they do know because you cannot call yourself a crocheter if you cannot enough do a simple stitch. Embrace the skills you do have instead of what you are missing.

Listen… I’m not the strongest crocheter. There are so many skills I don’t know and some skills I excel at. I am just enthusiastic about creativity.

I’m obsessed with ensuring crocheters are getting help, tips and more.

While I cannot respond to everyone, I know there are people within our community that often step forward and offer advice and a helping hand when needed. That’s what crochet community is all about. Our team is small but mighty but we cannot do it all by ourselves in helping people.

We love the help and I know others appreciate receiving the help.

If you see a need, fill a need. Be the crochet mentor as it will be like our entire team here at The Crochet Crowd, the personal joy and enrichment you feel in helping others is joy that cannot be bought. It’s what keeps us working here everyday. It’s the joy! - Mikey

Yarn Talk

Crochet Comfort Rice Bag Crochet Project for Purrrr-Fect Cats Learn Tunisian New Crochet Snowflakes Series 3

Oven Mitts W

e personally have been looking for oven mitts for a while and came across these. Made out of 100% cotton and using 3 strands at a time, this is a great idea for those loved ones that are such good bakers!

A

dd the little embellishment of any flower or idea you want. The little pansy flower is perfect for Diva Dan! Now to get Diva Dan to make some more cookies and some pies.

After all he did win baking queen of the year at his local fair when he was little!

He is a bit out of practice.

N

ow get baking Diva Dan!

Pattern

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Scrubby Posey M

any of us love to use cotton to make dishcloths. This idea is ever so clever! Using colourful scrubbies found in a dollar store is a fantastic idea!

Crocheting into the scrubby and making a beautiful star pattern is a stylish idea for the kitchen.

P

erfect too for making a gift basket that is for the everyday person. It can be used anytime of the year.

J

une Clever may have used one of these way back in the old days!

Pattern 5

Hot Water Bottle Cozy W

e looked around for some neat but almost wacky ideas that could keep you warmer for the winter. Great ideas even as a gift if you know someone that could use a bit more warmth.

W

e haven’t seen hot water bottles in a long but many people still have the traditional unsightly rubber water bottle.

This idea is great! Beautiful and functional. This also keeps the bottle warmer too therefore lasting a bit longer. I like this idea, the first few minutes of hot water is just to hot, adding this cozy, you can absorb the heat without having to let it cool down a bit.

Pattern 6

Draft Dodger I

grew up in a house that was built in 1876. It was old and had its drafts. I remember my mom would coil up some sheets and place them along the windows. It helped to keep those nasty winter winds from cooling the house down.

T

his idea is even cuter and great for a gift to someone that has a few drafty areas. Whether on a window sill or the bottom of a door, let your imagination go wild with other animal ideas

M

ake it a bit bigger and and you can turn it into a long pillow.

Pattern 7

Facebook ?s with Jeanne I need some help/advice....I am working on a project that I have changed colors several times....I have long tails on the wrong side of my work....how do I secure them before trimming them. I did trim a few and found that I had holes that I had to fix. I know I am doing something wrong.....I want to do this right....thanks!! from Beverly B

I am new to crocheting and have caught on rather quickly!! I started doing the granny square blankets what is the best way to join them that will add to its durability! I’ve hand stitched the one that I completed for my son and wasn’t very happy with the turn out!! from Jessica W. Granny squares are so much fun to make and there are several ways to join them. Mikey has a video demo of 5 different methods of joining, but since you are look for durability, I would choose to join them with a single crochet thru all 4 loops. It is the method that the Crochet Cruisers will be using to join their square for the Linus blanket donations. Not only is it strong, it creates a really neat window pane effect when you use a contrasting yarn. Here is a link to Mikey’s video: 5 Ways to Join Squares

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Finishing off your project correctly can become the most important part.

After all your hard work, definitely don’t want threads popping out and stitches to become undone. Mikey’s best advice to use a darning needle and run the tail end through a section of the finishing area. You slide back and forth under the stitches 3 times.

Due the yarn being slid back and forth 3 times, the yarn will never pop out as it cannot wiggle its way out. And no one says you have to wait until the end. Try weaving as you go along so it doesn’t feel so time consuming at the end. Here is a link to Mikey’s video demo of the finishing technique. DIY: Crochet Finishing Technique

Someone on one of my groups posted earlier about having a hard time getting a signal on her phone in Joanns and she wasn’t able to bring up her coupon. If you do a screenshot of your coupon, you don’t have to worry about a signal, and the screenshot works just as well. I do this at Michaels, Joanns, Hobby Lobby, and other stores with online coupons. from Jackie P. That is a great tip and well worth sharing. I love not having to clip paper coupons anymore, but have to remind myself to pull up the coupons before I get into the store. I don’t know how many times that silly phone of mine just freezes up with no signal when I’m in any of these stores. Thanks for sharing!

Jeanne is looking for questions on Facebook to answer.

Mikey’s Afghan

Debuts Monday!

For More Information

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Beginner Tutorials by Mikey

Body Positions

How to Single Crochet

How to Half Double Crochet

Understanding Hooks and Gages

How to Double Crochet

How to Treble Crochet

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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October 28th, 2015 @ 9am (EST) to November 2nd, 2015 @11:59pm (EST)

Order online for amazing discounted or overstocked yarn through

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

Order large balls of Benat Baby Sport to make this Brlanket

This blanket is so very soft with Pipsqueak at the E-tent

Lots of Cotton on sale to make this Circles Throw

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Snowflake Candle Holder O

ur Jeanne came up with a great little decoration for around the home. A snowflake candle holder!

L

earn how to make this neat little decoration through our blog. She has a step by step photo gallery of making this cute snowflake candle holder. This is her first ever pattern.

Awesome Job Jeanne!

S

he couldn’t find what she was looking so, instead, she gave a whirl and came up with her very own version that is twirling in her head.

Pattern

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Headband Y

arnspirations newest challenge has begun.

This one is an easy pleasey.

Quick to do and it consist of three small items perfect for wearing . Learning a few new stitches is the best part!

T

hese headbands are the first of the challenge which have a great stitch pattern that you will love. Use a variegated yarn such as Caron Simply Soft Ombres.

S

tay tune next week for the wristers.

Both Right and Left version are available to watch.

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

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The Great and Scary reveal will happen on Saturday, Halloween Eve. Who will have the best and awesomist pumpkin. Will it be Carmi, the beading expert, How about Cathy, the blue ribbon fair Queen. Could it be Jeanne, the quick and traditional super star or Mikey! What will Mikey present to the panel of strict and driven judges!

I’ve seen Mikey’s version, he’s going to get clobbered!

Cast your vote on Facebook!

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Ticky Tacky Challenge

H B O

ave you ever made your own Tacky Christmas Sweater? Obviously, wearing a Tacky Christmas Sweater takes a bit christmas fun and laughs but you can be the life of the party too.

eginning Nov 15, 2015. We will be releasing the details to challenge you to make your own Ticky Tacky Sweater.

ur party is strictly cyber where the collection of your completed sweaters will come together in one mega gallery. You can opt to wear your sweater in the picture and/or display it in a fun way for the photo. You can expect your photo to potentially go viral. People love to see Tacky Sweaters. They will giggle and want to share it with their friends. It’s your opportunity to be in the lime light!

More Information 15

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We have 4 size Pumpkins

Learn how to crochet your own Pumpkin for Halloween, Fall or even Thanksgiving. These make for fabulous home decor items for a center piece or strategic fall decorations.

Both Right and Left hand versions are available to watch

Large size Pattern, Video, and Blog click here Small size Pattern, Video, and Blog click here Large Mini size Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

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Small Mini size Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

The Pumpkin Patch on Facebook

Pumpkins done by Elaine Young, John Paul Dennis, Wendy Chavalia, Dawn Cavanaugh, Jerri Maynard, Deb Wasnock, Bilene Wei, Carol Hughes, Rob Rohrman & Emily Hobson created the SUPER SIZE pumpkin

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Happy Halloween Shares of Halloween

Camella‘s Day of the Dead skull.

Awesome!

The OMG pumpkin by Jamie for her Nephew

Styrofoam head contest for Halloween! What a great idea Christine!

Zombie Owl is Colleen’s costume this year!

Snow’s granddaughter’s little doll is also going to be dressed up!

Ride em Cowboy! Brandi make chaps and a cowboy hat. Super!

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Ada’s little one has been trying to scare everyone with her costume.

Angela finished her fall wreath now the Christmas one! Nice Job!

Happy Halloween Ewok ! So lovable! Great costume Helen!

Shares of Halloween

Susan has Pumpkin Patch Fever!

Liz’s little dragon is ready for halloween too!

Hair and hat is done Very Cute Catherine!

Evelyn did a great job with the Robin from Batman Costume!

Punky Pumpkin and Cornelius Candy Corn! Love the names Karen!

These are many samples of what The Crochet Crowd Community is doing for Halloween.

This Scarecrow is fantastic! Nice work Michelle

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!

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Get Your Own Card Imagine free shipping anytime exclusively for members of The Crochet Crowd! Need an emergency order of yarn, get your code and keep it on file! Only at Yarnspirations.com.

Does not include any sales from the Spinrite E-Tent.

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Ideas

Wavy Ripple Blanket

Crochet Striped Mittens

Vintage Lace Bag

Granny Stripes Afghan

On the Lace Cardigan

Shawl Collar Cardigan

Triad Shawl

Cozy Kid Cowl

Huggable Frog Pillow

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Remembering with Poppies Remembrance Day is coming up. Lest we Forget! We have a Poppy pattern and video BUT please don’t forget to support the Veterans handing out the traditional poppy. If you choose to wear you own crochet poppy, do make a donation in honour of their fight for freedom. It is the least we can do.

Pattern Video I Think this is a neat idea. It is the Mystery afghan but with Flowers on it by Shay B Archi. The flowers look like Poppies. Very fitting for Remembrance Day (Canadian)/ Veterans day (U.S.) coming up.

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Shares from Our Community

A Halloween Peppermint Swirl Afghan! Cool idea Nica Julia’s First Big Project. She did the Dusty Snowflake Afghan! Congrats!

Jessica’s Halloween bags with reflective yarn used in Mikey Video

Denise made this with love. This is called The Tree of Life. Great work!

Kelly finished her winter blanket with a few changes to the joining and border

Mike the Monster by Trica.

As she says, Everyone needs a Mike(y)

This wreath is FULL of autumn ideas. Very nice Kathryn!

Denise has been busy doing two of our patterns. Diva Dan’s Scarf and the Texture Hat.

40 hats and 3 scarves off for donation. Good for you Kim!

Stephanie is learning Tunisian!

Looking good!

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Jewelled Snowflakes

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This absolutely stunning Jewelled Snowflake Ornament is fabulous and one of the most exciting patterns I have done in a long time.

I love how this ornament sparkles with Caron Simply Soft Party Yarn but also that it is three dimensional. The interior circle has thickness as there are two centre motifs put together to give it weight and structure.

You could put potpourri in between the two centre motifs for air scenting. I definitely wouldn’t put Cat Nip in this as your cat make go rangy all over your Christmas Tree.

I felt in this pattern that if you don’t have the hanger made, it would be an amazing topper for prepackaged gifts like tin cookies or even hang from the neck of a bottle of wine or champagne.

Give it a try!

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

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Stunning Snowflakes Jewels on Facebook

Snowflakes made by the following Michelle Adams, Caroline Martin, Anita Dahl, Mary Burket, Susan Cornish, Vivien Bichette, Diane Beadle, Tonia Warren, Ann Phillips, Maria Martins, Georgia Ray and 25 Sarah Thompson

Check in with us, we will post on Facebook, the photo Meme of the day.

We like you to come up with something clever for the photo. We will pick the one we like, then add it to our Magazine!

What would your meme say?

THBPBTHPT to you SANTA! I would make a great reindeer!

See the video of Diva Dan trying to spell THBPTHPT 26

Crochet Cruises Update ALOHA! We have announced our dream 2017 Crochet Crochet Cruise!

Yes, It is a trip to HAWAII! Can you imagine!

February 2nd, 2017 15 days! From San Francisco and back

For more information on staterooms and how to book please click here.

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Diva Dan! Are you getting dressed up for Halloween?

Michael and I always talked about heading off to a Halloween party. But what would be dressed up like? We have joked that Michael would dress up like a crochet hook and maybe I would be the yarn ball? That just opens up way to many thoughts!

The last time I ever dressed up with in University. It was music party after a concert we did.

I was quite the social butterfly back then and being in university, the party scene happened way too often.

I had one friend that insisted that she wanted to dress me up as a girl for Halloween. She ‘Don’t touch insisted that I would be the prettiest girl! So I decided to let her do her magic since her begging was getting too much for this music student to ‘Handel’.

the Bird!’ says Diva Dan

I was prized for such perfect girl legs, so that was another ordeal I had to deal with (to this day never again) I don’t know how women can stand the growth of hair coming ‘Bach’! We borrowed a dress, did my nails and the makeup was caked on like a wedding gone wild. To top all this, I seriously had the worst dollar store wig on. But something still was still not right, so my friend decided that it would be best to stuff cotton balls up my checks on my face to give more definition. I didn’t even have a mirror to see what was going on!

Well the show had to begin, I had nearly the whole orchestra waiting for the debut! The doors opens and the laughs begun! Yes I was NOT the prettiest girl I thought I would be! The night was fun! We all had a blast. Unfortunately I made it home with no phone numbers. My plan was foiled. (Sorry I lost the Photos) *wink* Enjoy your Halloween if you plan to have some fun! Be safe and enjoy the time dressing up!

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Happy Halloween, Diva Dan

Past Issues

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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 Colleen Barden - Samples & Show Support, Laura Jean Bartholomew Community Info Seeker and Jeanne Steinhilber - Community Chaperon. Š 2015 TheCrochetCrowd.com

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