How to Crochet a Bookmark in less than 2 hours

I found this pattern a few years back and it is one of my favorite teaching patterns. It is quick,easy and it teaches all the basic stitches of crochet - chain, slip stitch, single crochet and double crochet.
As I mentioned in my last blog with teaching the Hackesttown Women, this was a project all can do and be able to compete in less than 2 hours if you are beginner and teach yourself the basic stitches of crochet.

So let us get started!
Materials:
Use any Yarn in your stash- worsted eight yarn.
Hook - For beginners I recommend size I or K

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
st - stitch
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
RS - right side


Bookmark Pattern:
Ch 22.

Foundation Row(RS): Sc into second ch from hook  and into each ch across- 21 stitches total. Ch 3, turn

Row 1: Skip first stitch, dc into each stitch across - 21 stitches total. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc into each st across - 21 sts total. Do not fasten off.

Finishing
Working along sides of row, (ch 20, slip st into next row below)  3 times. Fasten off.

THE End! What is not easy? :)

Enjoy!

 Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/NekiNaturals

Fun Filled Fulfilling Crochet Teaching Experience

A week ago, I had the pleasure of teaching crochet to a group of fantastic christian women at the Hackettstown Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hackettstown, NJ. They had contacted me months ago to teach crochet to them and I have to say that this teaching experience was very different from the other classes I have taught.

Since this was a way for me to give back to my surrounding community, I thought that there will be less  people and motivation to learn. Did they prove me wrong! They were twenty women of different ages ranging from pre teens to seniors and they had so much excitement! Most of the women wanted to either remember how to crochet or trying it out the first time so they can join other churches int he neighbourhood to crochet for charities. One of the groups that they wanted to join crochet baby hats fort the Hackettstown Hospital in New Jersey. Guess what? I had my son at the same hospital two years ago and I can tell you I have one of those hats!

There was food and christain music in the background. Everyone ate and I started to teach them how to crochet using a bookmark crochet pattern which I will share in the next blog.  Women who through this class remembered how to crochet started to help me with the beginners since there were a lot of people. People were laughing and crocheting. Young women who did other crafts wanted to know about ETSY and selling their products online. The Organizer of the event was Dora Martinez, a beautiful soul and quiet leader who went beyond to make this event a special occasion. At the end of the class, they had a raffle and all four winners received a huge ball of yarn. Everyone went home with a new crochet hook and full stomach.

To add icing to the cake, I received a beautiful thank you card that inspires me to keep going when I am having difficult days. There are so many reasons to crochet and to know that teaching crochet allows people to learn a new skill that thy can use to give back to the community makes my life rich and full of gratitude.


If you want to invite me to teach crochet to a group, church or organization, you can find me at twitter or facebook. It is free two hour event that will be fulfilling for all.

Enjoy!


Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/NekiNaturals

Submission Call for Second Edition of Neki Naturals Blog Carnival

We are accepting blog submissions for the second edition of Neki Naturals Blog Carnival @ http://blogcarnival.com. Share your most current, interesting blogs with everyone!

Submit your blog to the carnival for review as long it meets the criteria and it will be reviewed. Find out more information at http://blogcarnival.com and search for title "Neki Naturals handmade blog carnival"


 Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/NekiNaturals

Neki Naturals Handmade Blog Carnival. - January 2011 Edition

Welcome to the January 11, 2011 edition of Neki Naturals handmade blog carnival. We plan to publish a carnival at least once a month and sharing other great blogs. Enjoy!

• 3 fun and easy crafts for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year falls on February 3 this year and will be upon us faster than we think. It's time to get cracking on those New Year part two crafts for a festive start to the year of the Rabbit. These simple, yet pretty crafts are a quick way to liven up your Chinese New Year celebrations. More

• Handmade Crocheted Hat Gifts

I knitted and crocheted gifts for everyone in my family this year. Besides my parents, I have 2 sisters, 3 brothers, 3 nieces, and 1 nephew. My wrists are a bit sore…Read More

• Traditional Thai Crafts In Phetchaburi

Phetchaburi is the first province on the way to Thailand's southern peninsula and it's known for its master craftsmen. Read more...

• A Gift from the Un-Lonely Squirrel

My daughter "Ponytails" put this post together to showcase some of the crocheted gifts I made this Christmas. Read More...




This concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of neki naturals handmade blog carnival using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/NekiNaturals

All you need to know about Amigurumi - Crochet and Knitted Animals

Person: Oh! those are cute!  I did not know that you can do that in crochet or knitting! I want to make or have one of those. What are they called?

Me: An Amigurumi animal

Person:  Ami what?



Wikipedia defines amigurumi as the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and amigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurumi are typically animals, but can include artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features.

They are crochet or knitted with yarn and are usually done in single crochet and made up of parts and then sewn together. Felts and buttons are normally used for eyes, nose and ears. You can create your own style with different colors. Great project for leftover yarns.

There are many free patterns online, goggle the word "amigurumi crochet patterns". In addition, you can find tons of books either at craft stores such as Michael's or AC Moore or Amazon.com. If you are looking for buy finished products, Etsy and Zibbet are great online marketplaces to find them.


Enjoy!

Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook.

5 Great Items to Make with Granny Squares

A Granny Square is is a crocheted motif that can be created in limitless possible variations and colors.  When one thinks of granny squares, it is mostly about afghans and blankets but granny squares are quite versatile and can be used to crochet different items.

These include:

Pillow Covers: Granny squares are great for pillows colors  and quick to crochet.  You can use one or more colors to create a unique style and blend for your home.

Bags: Do you want to quickly crochet a tote bag?  Crochet two granny squares  and sew sides together and use cloth lining for the insides. Get creative with the lining colors to show your creative side. For example , two black and whit granny squares with pink cloth lining.

Clothing:  Recently, I crochet a halter top with purple and pink 3*3 granny squares. You can take a clothing item in your closet as a sample for measurement and line up the granny squares in the same fashion.

Scarfs:  Do you have crochet small granny squares lying around? Sew them up and use as scarf.  The first time I was trying to crochet a halter top , it went totally wrong so I just sewed it up a scarf.

Blankets and Afghans - This is mostly everyones' favorite. Sew one huge granny square or crochet multiple granny squares and sew them together. I am working on  a blanket with 25 Granny squares of 5 * 5  for my bedroom and will show you the pics when it is completed.

I hope this gives you some ideas on how to use your granny squares. There is so much more that can be done with the squares and colors.

Enjoy!


.Express yourself with handmade! Nnenna Pastor is a crochet designer and instructor. Other places to visit Neki Naturals are http://neki.etsy.com and join Neki Naturals on facebook