Illinois Crafter

Winter is nearly over and it's been a long one. I have been keeping myself busy working in doors on my specialty items!!! I have become well know among my family and friends for my crochet name doilies. I have several styles, I would like to show you a few of them.  This WALLESER Doily was the first one that I have ever gifted. I was extremely nervous to give this to my cousin and her wife for a wedding gift. Some people find these doilies are boring, but I find that, as the years go by they become a cherished household item.  I am going to try to break down the price for everyone;   Side Lilly - (Edge #1) : $19   Plus $2 for each letter (Font #1) Click on the link below to head over to my Etsy Shop to order! Edge #1 - Font #1   This edge is my second most popular:     Small Dots - (Edge $2) : $12   Again- Plus $2 for each letter (Font #1)   Click on the link below to head over to my Etsy...

Happy 2017!  I have been on a VERY big coffee cozy/sleeve kick, I love them! I mean, why not everyone loves coffee. Here is one of my "Valentine" styles. My plan is to make at least 1 coffee cozy design for every major holiday!  I make with red or pink hearts. Band colors are grey, black or white! To get one for yourself visit my etsy shop here!  Halcraftem-Etsy Hope you enjoy, Until Next Time!

I know that I am a little late for the puff stitch band wagon and I know that their are patterns and tutorials out there but this is how I did mine. I used 2 colors of  Caron-Simple Soft(white and blue[Go Colts]), but you can easily use only 1, and a H hook. With White,  Row 1: Chain 10, Sc 9 across. Turn Row 2: Sc in front loops only.  Repeat row 2 for a total of 70 rows.  Cut yarn and sewn ends together.  With Blue, Row 1: Sc in between each side row around band sl st in beginning sc (70 sc)  Row 2: Pull up ch 1, Puff stitch in 1st sc, ch 1, skip stitch one sc, *puff stitch in next, ch 1; repeat from * across, sl st into top of first puff stitch.  Row 3: Sl st into ch 1 sp, pull up ch 1, puff stitch in same ch 1 sp, ch 1, *puff stitch into ch 1 sp, ch 1, repeat from * across, sl st into top of first puff stitch Repeat row 3 for 10 more rows (12 rows)  Cut yarn with 12" of end For closure fold...

With many encouraging words from friends I finally attempting to run a store front via Etsy. Now, I now everyone and their mom has shops on Etsy. I mean why not? Its so convenient and everyone does everything with the tip of there fingertips. I have see people order toilet paper online so why not my hats to. Keeping in mind I know that I will not become a millionaire or be able to quit my day job with this shop, but I am interested to see if I can sell a few items and with Christmas coming up the extra $5 cant hurt. I am always making something whether it is a DIY craft or knitting or crochet that I have bought I storage bin to keep all of my finished projects. when ever someone has a new baby I just pull something out and have an instant gift! I love coming up with new project to mainly this store is for an excuse for me to make something new. Here are a few things that can be bought from my shop:  Santa inspired baby booties~ These boots were inspired for the upcomin...

So this is me entering the blogging world. I am so far behind on the internet trends! My hope is to use the social world to get my craftyness out there. I learned crochet a very long time ago from my Great Grandmother Halvorson when I was little. I played around with it throughout high school but never really got into crocheting until she passed away in April of 2013. I only wish that she should see what I do now, this is all thanks to her. I also knit but not as much as I would like to, I am still new to that world as well (since late 2012.) This week in the spirit of fall/halloween season I made up a couple of Pumpkin Hats for toddlers. So cute...   My next was going to be making Turkey Hats but I have MAJOR ADD when it coming to my crafting ideas so I started graphing out pattern charts for some of the SuperHero geeks in my family. So far I have made Green Lantern, Batman i had Superman done but I decided I didnt like it so back to the drawing board I go. ...