Mikey Magazine: Oct 7, 2015

Mike y

Oct. 7th, 2015

In This Issue

5

most popular afghans on the TCC

Loads of Amazing Patterns

You make me smile

Hawt off the Hook with Mikey

Cover me, I’m going in and not allowed to come out until I get the job done! A yarn tornado has hit our home as we finish up the Nutcrackers. They have to be done tomorrow. Let’s be honest…

Daniel and I are overwhelmed with ideas with very little time to know what to do first. You know how it is. So many ideas, so little time. We have only one opportunity to impress.

When creativity strikes, our whole house turns upside down. We don’t put things away and we drag more stuff out of boxes for ideas and more. It’s embarrassing. If someone unexpected arrives at the door, we think it could possibly be the crew of hoarders giving us an intervention. I’m not a hoarder, I’m crafty!

A fan said to me yesterday, “Mikey, where is your craft room in your home?” Ummm… the whole house is my craft room. If I use the basement, I have to turn up the heat therefore to waste money on hydro. If I craft on the main level, I don’t have to crank the heat but then at risk of creating cow paths of yarn and potential tripping hazzards. I don’t get danager pay so I best be careful. We are tripp’n on balls and our vacuum will get a work out sucking up all those yarn tails.

We are living in our own creation. I envy people who can keep an exceptionally clean home and keep themselves organized. I start off with great intentions and then as creativity is sparking me, a snipping here, a ball there, bling over there and boxes everywhere… I am swallowed alive with disapproving eyes of Diva Dan! Diva Dan has this nasty habit of saying to me, which could end up him being single in the long term, “Look at my area, I know how to keep my working spaces clean!” My immediate come back is, “That’s because I am not playing on Facebook!”

Truth is, we are both directly involved and our stress levels can increase and we can become raging cats in heat! MEOW! By the end of the week, our home will be back to normal. We rarely have company. We did try to get a housekeeper once but she walked in and said “Hell no!” Daniel and I with our chins on the ground in shock! We get what she was saying. We

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:)

This week

would have to clean our home before she comes in to clean! My mother is a housekeeper and she says she cleans homes that are already spotless! Must be nice Mummy Dearest!

Well, I better get off this heap of metal on my desk and put my crochet hook into the wind and finish my Nutcrackers! If I don’t finish, I know Daniel will be crack’n my nuts! Think of me, I’ll be buried under my mess.

Contents

3 Yarn Talk 4 Fluffy Meringue Afghan 5 The Croc Afghan 6 C2C afghan 7 Entrelac Gone Beyond 8 Facebook ?s with Jeanne 9 Peppermint burst!

10 The Pumpkin off 12 Facebook Shares Halloween 14 Ideas from Yarnspirations. com 16 See Ya All at Creativ 17 Globetrotter 18 Facebook shares and the meme 20 Aloha our 2017 cruise 21 Thanks to Michaels Store 23 Mikey’s Video Library 24 Spinrite E-Tent SALE

Christmas Yarn Sale!

27 Diva Dan’s Thoughts 28 Past Issues

Yarn Talk

Shark Attack Crochet Patterns Dog Halloween Costumes

Shark Patterns

Giving Thanks with Crochet 19 Happy Hook’n for Halloween Patterns Last Years Christmas Lookbook

Giving Thanks

19 Happy Hook’n Christmas Lookbook

Doggie Halloween

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Fluffy Meringue Afghan E

ver since we did this afghan a while back it is STILL our top afghan for our fans to do. The unique colour combos and use of amazing transitional yarns really set this afghan apart!

I

f you have not done this afghan yet and maybe a bit afraid too, trust Mikey’s video. You will love how it turns out and so will the little one!

Both Right and Left version are available to watch.

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

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The Crocodile Afghan S

till one of the most popular stitches in the crochet world! This afghan does take a bit more yarn because of the technique so make sure you have lots. Find the sales and go crazy with the amount of skiens you need.

O

nce you get the hang of this fabulous stitch, come up with other items.

Don’t limit yourself to just this.

Both Right and Left version are available to watch.

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here

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Corner to Corner T

he Corner to Corner (aka C2C) no doubt is again one of the most popular afghans that our fans love to do.

We remember first releasing this afghan and this just went viral! Today we are seeing many different approaches to this technique.

B

e sure to also check out other ideas listed below using the same approach

Right hand version available to watch.

For Left hand you can use this video

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here Corner to Corner Scarf Perdido Baby Blanket 6

C2C Pillow

Entrelac Afghan W

e learned this stitch from our wonderful friends on our Crochet Cruises! When we got back and before you knew it, we had a finished afghan done!

S

ince then, Entrelac has been popular with many different version from doing a row, a rectangle afghan, or a square version.

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ur Crowders have been showing such amazing works with these patterns.

Colour combos and yarns are extraordinary!

Both Right and Left version are available to watch.

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here 7

Facebook ?s with Jeanne Sheryl Mason Shafer - Your talent blows my mind! I just wish I could learn to read a pattern! Can crochet like crazy ... Pattern reading and following abilities ..... ZERO! Karen Cockrell - Girl this is sooooo me too!! When I read a crochet pattern this is what my brain sees: If you have 3 oranges, 7 apples and a cow eats 10 of each, how many clowns do you have left?? LOL! Sheryl & Karen - According to my calculations, there are not 10 clowns but, in fact, 15 pink elephants floating on a kayak down the river!” LOL! Seriously, the best way to learn to read a pattern is to watch Mikey’s video series Read Crochet Patterns.

Mikey breaks it down step by step in this series of 8 videos. Check it out!

I have a question for you. I need a recommendation for yarn to use for a Minion hat for my girls Halloween costume. I cannot seem to locate to right yellow. What brand would you recommend? Melanie W. Hi Melanie. You need to check out the Minions Color Combo on The Crochet Crowd website. Mikey (or should I say Diva Dan) has the right colors picked out for all your Minion needs.

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Jeanne is looking for questions on Facebook to answer.

I’m struggling with being able to do a Magic Ring and not have it totally turn out wrong. Any tips? Lori R.

Do I have to go into the back of the chain? I notice you do that alot. Tonia C

HI Lori. I struggled a lot too when learning the Magic Ring (or Circle). But don’t give up because it is so worth it to learn it.

Anytime you are working a pattern that starts with Ch 4 and SL to form a ring, the Magic Circle can be used. Mikey has a series of videos for starting for MC Single Crochet, MC Half Double Crochet, MC Double Crochet and even MC Treble Crochet. Practice, practice, practice.

Hi Tonia. Yes Mikey started doing that technique of turning over the starting chain and doing the first row of stitches in the back bump a while back. It makes for a much nicer and cleaner edge. You don’t have to, but go ahead and give it a try!

The Peppermint Swirl T

he Christmas Peppermint Swirl afghans was one of those afghans that was a milestone for The Crochet Crowd.

When we were first ask by Red Heart to do the video, we were ecstatic! What an amazing pattern! There was a lot of thought put to this afghan.

Well done to the designer!

T

he making of this video took nearly 90 hrs to do!

We wanted to make sure that it was easy to understand since it was an advance pattern. Today we see thousands doing this pattern.

Both Right and Left version are available to watch.

Pattern, Video, and Blog click here 9

Women’s Peak Cap Ready... Set... Craft!

That's right my pretties... The Great Pumpkin, Design Off begins with four crafters in the corners of the ring! The boxing gloves are off as we pull out our hooks, glue sticks, sewing machines, scrap booking supplies and more. Oh my pretties, this is going to get ugly!

Meet Carmi

Her home studio should be a television set. You name it... she got it. She's got one of those gifts that sees something and instantly knows what to do to tweak or bling it. Her skills scare the fibers right out of me. Don't even get me started on what she can do with leather! I might just let her win!

Meet CathY

She's got years of experience under her belt. Whether she sew it, paint it, knit it, crochet it ah... why don't I just name all the crafts! She's highly competitive and happy to run us over with her car but is sweet that she will get out of the car later and help us up... Well after she wins, of course!

Meet Jeanne

Don't let that innocent look fool you. She's the type to tell us what she is up to but is secretly crafting in the closet ready to spring into action at the last minute. She may be our bff's to our faces and show support but secretly, she's Carrie from the prom night! She's not playing games and prepared to throw a bloody pumpkin or two!

And then there's Me! - Sweet, Virgin & Innocent

Mikey

With a Z-Snap in the air and a swish of my hip “Oh no they didn't!” I am prepared to strand these three up with a wiggle of my stick and make them suck their thumbs and cry for mommy while I dance a flamenco on their creations! I've got ideas and the balls to prove it! Someone's going to spitt'n pumpkin seeds and it ain't gonna be me.

The Battle

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Trash that Pumpkin!

Well, my dual personality (I am a Gemini you know!) is getting in the way. Still not sure which to use....crafty or classy??? HOWEVER, it doesn’t matter because once this creative machine gets into motion there is no stopping her. I will be steamrolling over the others, who for some reason think they can compete with this over abundance of creativity. I have weapons of craft destruction and I will use every darn one of them if that is what it takes. BE VERY AFRAID! - Cathy In the words of a famous Chief “we’re gonna need a bigger pumpkin....” I’ve been searching ideas at local places and found these two ideas. I’m not prepared to show those ‘stitchas’ my goodies yet but let’s just say, they better get in the game because I am going to ravage their pumpkins! Let’s just say, I got bling and I am not scared to use it. Carmi I am very traditional when it comes to Fall. Those artsy fartsy designers who have chosen those white or black pumpkins can kiss my orange pumpkin behind. ‘Leave’ it to me to be the winnah! I am needing some practice at 10 pin bowling and will be glad to use Mikey’s, Carmi’s and Cathy’s Pumpkins for the practice! Stand back wenches, mommy’s going to STRIKE! - Jeanne Okay… so I am getting a bit nervous at those three other pumpkin creations! I’ve got something in my pocket that they should be very afraid about. I have a Diva Dan with design and floral experience to consult with! He’s like my personal Pinterest without a search engine! Sticks and pine cones may break my bones but this pumpkin challenge really excites me! I’ve just picked up a mini wagon, that’s to help me roll their creations to the curb! - Mikey

The Battle We (our team) have one condition. Decorate a foam pumpkin that is 14” high by 11” in diameter. It can be any colour. Using the skills of what we know, decorate the pumpkin as a decor piece for our home. Oct 30th is when the dark lady comes out throws down the hammer for us all to be done! Halloween Day is when our complete projects will be revealed! A huge splash on The Crochet Crowd as we lift our secretive curtain.

This is intended to be a fun challenge with definitely a competitive edge!

Unleashing our inhibited creativity is the goal. If one or two of us are kicking some serious crafter's butt, too bad... so sad!

Take a front seat and watch us dual this out! It's going to get messy!

Who’s is going to be the best?

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Shares of Halloween

Even this coffee cup cozy is ready for Halloween by Sylvia.

Yvonne’s Little Pumpkin Patch!

BOO! a well done wreath by Jessica.

Each year Taryn creates her Daughter’s costume. This one tops the list.

Well done!

Jessica’s fall wreath for her mom.

Great Job!

Getting ready for Halloween with this radio active spider web by Jami.

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Tabitha crochet this scarecrow outfit for her Daughter! Awesome!

Arrrrrrh! Someone’s going to be a mighty Pirate! by Keti!

Pumpkin Pie Anybody? by Dixie Jo

Shares of Halloween

This is Zero from the Nightmare before Christmas by Dina

Angela’s first Halloween wreath!

The Creativity Explodes!

Awesome Witches Britches flag! by Heather

Love all the Pillows with the Halloween theme by Cindy Monkey with his Pumpkin by Christal!

Who’s the cute little Pumpkin Elf! Very Cute Corrie!

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

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

Snug with Clusters Hat

Ruffle Edge Wrap

Mousie Snood

Autumn Leaves Afghan

Chain Link Pillow

Hooded Cowl

Layered Leaves Wreath

Baby’s First Cardigan

Jewelled Snowflake

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Next Week

See yah at Creativ!

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Enjoy making the Globetrotter Shawl Try this amazing and stunning New Challenge A new Crochet Along featuring a brand new pattern with Mikey has begun. Mikey will be teaching the Globetrotter Shawl as seen in the picture provided.

The shawl features a technique called bruges lace and Mikey had never heard of it before being asked to do this crochet along for Yarnspirations. He learned new techniques and had a lot of fun expanding his own skills.

The crochet along is one video featuring all components involved with the shawl. It’s one of the longest videos in Mikey’s video collection with over 1 Hour and 40 minutes.

He left no stone un-turned so that you can be successful.

To learn more about this pattern and/or order your yarn supplies to make these exquisite projects, please visit

Yarnspirations.com Blog for all the Details

Right Hand Version and Left Hand Version

WIP by Ruth Percy

WIP by Joanne Prel

Finished by Nancy Schultz

WIP by Jeanne Steinhilber

WIP by Lynne Briers

WIP by Karen Price

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Mystery Amigurumi Don’t forget to add your photo to our Gallery! It’s a mob in there! A fabulous mob of crazy and fun Kangaroos!

Send in your Picture of the Mystery to MikeysHelpDesk@hotmail.com

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Pink Awareness Month With the boom of the internet, every day and every month seems to have a special meaning. Some of them seem pretty silly, like National Donut Day or Hug Your Hound Day. Yes, they are fun but this month has more of a special meaning for me... National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This was founded in 1985 to raise awareness in women that early detection is key to helping this disease.

It’s that time of year, to remind women everywhere to be aware and take care of themselves. There are 5K walks in many cities to raise funds for research and patients. The NFL will wear pink shoes and gloves to show their support. Even some Nascar drivers will paint their cars pink for a race this month.

I have a strong family history of breast cancer, so I take this subject seriously. My grandmother and 2 aunts all lost their battle with breast cancer. So friends, it’s simple. Do monthly exams and have regular mammograms as your doctor recommends for you. You have to take care of you.

Veronika shows her support with the Pink ribbon scarf

For us crocheters, lets make something pink to show our support. This quest is a personal side for me as members of my family and friends had to deal with this. I know many others can share the same feelings.

Too date, for me… well, I have just made my annual appointment for my mammogram. Have you had yours yet?

Showing supprt to all my friends that have gone through pink awareness- Jeanne

Check out 11 Patterns devoted to Pink Awareness

Michelle shows her support with the many examples expressing pink awareness month

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Shares from Our Community

Nearly 300 leaves, Sarah is final finish her super wreath for the Holidays!

Erin colours on her Triangle scarf looks amazing! Great Job!

Joyce did a superb job on her Lily Pond Afghan!

Patricia all the way from the UK made her Crocodile scarf. We are truly Global :)

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Erin Finished The Granny Ripple for her sister. She loves it!

Tylar first attempt of a yarn feather.

WOW!!

Sharon and her daughter finished this amazing afghan. She is looking for the perfect border

Sherry is working on the Bavarian Stitch, This yarn makes this look so fabulous!

Angie did the Stepping Texture hat for her Daughter. Love the yarn choice!

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?

Get adopted they said... It’ll be fun they said. HA!

Does this hat make my ears look BIG?

I asked for refried beans and Wienies NOT a Pom-pomed beanie.

The things I do for a treat!

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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 Franctisco and back

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

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Mikey Visits Michaels Store Last week, we had the opportunity to participate with Michaels Store chain. We were welcomed to celebrate a grand opening in Toronto Ontario, Canada. Located at 142 John Street, this new store is the first store to ever be three levels. Like a kid in a candy shop! Lots to shop!

The crowd showed up early to take advantage of receiving a Michaels Store Gift Card. The first 100 in line were given an envelope. Inside was a gift card with mixed amounts. One of our Crochet Crowders received $100.

Minimum cards were $10.

The yarn selection was massive with a fabulous assortment of everyday yarns and fashion trendy yarns. The knitters and crocheters were so happy to have choice.

Being in downtown Toronto, Torontonians don’t have to get out to the ‘burbs’ to shop for yarn. There were many expressing a sense of relief that they don’t have to commute very far to get yarn and/or shop online for yarn. As many said, they prefer to see and touch their yarn prior to purchase. We get it, it’s a crochet thing!

Congrats to Michaels Stores for seeing a need and filling a need! Michaels Stores, “Where Creativity Happens!”

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Mikey’s Videos and Tutorials

Tunisian Entrelac in Rows

Cottage Throw Afghan

Uplands Scarf

Chevron Baby Dress

Icy Scarf

Stepping Texture Hat

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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Christmas Sale‌ Bernat Christmas Yarn October 6th to October 12th, 2015 Ends Monday Night at 11:59 pm (EST) 5 brands to choose from...Prices

as low as $2.00 - $7.00

Order online for amazing discounted or overstocked yarn through

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

Use Sparkle Fur to make this Fur Trimmed Hat

Happy Holiday Yarn can make this Santa Pillow

Create stunning Stockings with Holiday Softee Chunky

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Notes from Diva Dan As you read from Mikey’s Hawt of the hook, our house is a disaster, I mean a real disaster!

I never in my domestic diva life been so OMG and do I have time to do a quick clean up and wave my magical wand! This wand is out of fairy dust this week and my head and neck is just a swinging. Much like the fairy godmother from Shrek, I can be evil too! I hide his balls!

To add to these OMG moments, our Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend. How can I forget this! The turkey, my grandmothers famous German stuffing and mash potatoes! Just fatten me up and send me to slaughter! OMG! Tonight (Tuesday) is a late night for both of us! He is working so hard on the 2nd nutcracker and doing a great job with my eye watching carefully. I am finishing the magazine. By Thursday, (I hope) we can sit back, get our hair done, be pampered and wind down.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Canadian Friends from Michael and I! I love Thanksgiving, fond memories, with many of them with beautiful weather, the smell of fallen leaves and that last bit of warm sunshine filling the soul. The wonderful smell of the thanksgiving feast and having a wonderful glass of wine to enjoy with company.

If you have time to do a little bit of last minute crocheting and decorating, here are some ideas that can be whip up in a snap! Bettet get crack’n though, it’s this weekend! Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Pilgrim Dishcloths for fun

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Pumpkins for the Table Display

Basketweave Tote to bring wine of course

Past Issues

To join our newsletters for our latest Magazine

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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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