Amigurumi Elmo and More Free Pattern Links!

Hi everyone! I'm still plugging away on my crochet-a-long squares, as well as my little amigurumi doll, which is very close to being finished and ready to share with all of you - yay! During my blog hopping today I came across some really adorable and free amigurumi and crochet patterns that I couldn't wait to share with you.

Cosmo and Wanda dolls from the kids television show, "Fairly Odd Parents".

April Draven always has some of the most amazing crochet designs and these dolls are no exception! These are absolutely just too cute. Grab the pattern here, and be sure to check out her website while you're there! She is so talented!

This little amigurumi monkey captured my heart. I think his face is so sweet! Get the pattern here.

I have a thing for crocheted baskets. I just love them. I found the free pattern for these on the Design Sponge Website. I really like these colors, and the color could be coordinated to whatever room you will use them in. They're so perfect for small odds and ends! The pattern for these baskets is here.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I'm "hooked" on crochet dolls. In fact, they are my very favorite crochet projects. This doll is Abby from the TV show "NCIS", and it's an amazing likeness to her! She was designed by the very talented Maggie Vassie over at A Crochet Ninja.

"Link" from Zelda doll. Another fantastic design by Maggie Vassie. Get the free pattern and check out her blog here.

Look at this adorable Amigurumi Elmo Doll, also by Maggie Vassie at A Crochet Ninja. This is great!

This purse is so pretty and unique. If I start now I could finish it before Spring when the real roses start blooming! Want one? Grab the pattern here.

I love crocheted book covers, they seem to make reading even more enjoyable than it already is! You can get the pattern here.

Little Ducky Rattle...cute!

Be sure to visit the blogs of these very talented designers, you'll be glad you did.

Ok, time for me to get busy and finish my little doll. Thanks for visiting as always, and

Gourmet Crochet Mystery Crochet-a-Long Update

I'm having a great time with the Mystery Afghan crochet-a-long over at Gourmet Crochet. I've been a bit behind, but I'm almost caught up now. The group is on square #7, and I finished my 6th square today. Hopefully I will finish square #7 tonight, and do the edging and square #8 tomorrow. At that point I will be completely caught up!

I wanted to post a few pictures of my squares so far. (I haven't taken pics of 4, 5 & 6 yet, but here are the first 3). I'm using scrap yarn, as are many of the other participants, and I'm a bit nervous that they won't all match well in the end. But I do love these colors I'm using!

Square #1 in Turqoise. I love turquoise....it's de-li-cious and did you know that Pantone, which tracks colors in the fashion and home-décor industries, has named turquoise the "Color of 2010"?

Square #2 in Pale Pink, it looks white in this picture for some reason.

Square #3 in Orchid.

These squares work up really quickly, and the patterns are all variations on the shell stitch. I usually have such a torturous time crocheting an afghan! I just loathe the thought of sitting down and crocheting 50 or 60 squares exactly the same. I just don't have that kind of attention span. But because I do love the afghans when they are finished, I will once in awhile bite the bullet and make one. I think the reason I'm so excited about this crochet along is that making this afghan will be so easy, just crochet one square per day...that's it... and move on to other things until the next day's square. I'll still have time to work on my amigurumi projects, which I always look so forward to.

Speaking of amigurumi, I'm also finishing up another little amigurumi doll similar to my 'Emily' doll from a previous post. This one will be just a little different, but every bit as cute! I'll post pictures of her when she's finished, which should be within the week.

I hope all of you are staying warm and cozy during this recent cold snap. I know I am. We usually don't get a lot of snow here in Georgia, but this time we got a few inches. Here are some pictures that I took from my back window. It was actually snowing when I took them, but it doesn't show in the pictures.

That's all for now. Thanks for visiting as always!

Exciting News for Gourmet Crochet Fans!

I have long been a fan of crochet designer Carolyn Christmas of Gourmet Crochet, so needless to say I was really excited when I found out that Carolyn has a new blog! When I heard the news I visited her blog right away and was delighted to find that she is starting off the New Year with a Mystery Crochet-a-Long for an afghan project called "Variations on a Theme". Starting Tuesday, January 5, 2010 she posted instructions for the first square and will continue to post instructions for one new square every day until the afghan project is completed. Photos of progress will be posted to a Flickr group each day, as well as posted on a Facebook discussion and a Ravelry page. How exciting is that? Even more exciting is the news that each person who participates in the Crochet-a-Long will receive an e-pattern of the finished afghan instructions at the end of the project!

You don't have to do anything special to join the crochet-a-long. Just visit her blog every day to get the patterns. Carolyn is an amazing designer so the afghan will no doubt be awesome.

You can check out Carolyn's Gourmet Crochet blog here.