The Littlest Angel Christmas Ornaments: A Free Crochet Pattern for You

Instead of having a Friday contest this week, I am giving everyone a free pattern! This is one of my all time favorite designs, and I hope you will enjoy it!

The Littlest Angels Christmas Ornaments

by Elizabeth Ann White

for BellaCrochet

Size: About  5” tall including Halo.

Skill Level: Intermediate    For those who are familiar with working with size 10 thread and steel hooks, and who have a thorough understanding of the basics of crochet

Materials for One Angel:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yards green or red (called 'dress color' in pattern)

   50 yards green or red for trim (called 'trim color' in pattern)

   50 yards lt. Brown (for hair)

   50 yards each Peach and Cream

   25 yards Yellow

Small stitch marker or scrap of thread to mark rounds

Small amount of fiberfill (to stuff head)

White Chenille stem

Fabric Glue

9 Red Seed Beads (for Wreath)

Size 7 (1.65mm) Steel Crochet Hook

Special Stitches:

For Vst: (dc, ch 2, dc) in st or ch sp indicated

For beginning small shell (beg sm shell): (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in st or ch sp indicated

For small shell (sm shell): (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in stor ch sp indicated

For shell: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in st or ch sp indicated

Angel

Note: Work Rnds 1-9 in rounds, do not join. Mark first st of each round.

Rnd 1: Starting at top of head, with peach, ch 2, 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. (6 sc made)

Rnd 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12)

Rnd 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) around. (18)

Rnds 4-6: Sc in each st around. (18)

Rnd 7: (Sc next 2 sts tog, sc in next st) around. (12)

Stuff head with small amount of fiberfill, being careful not to stuff too tightly.

Rnd 8: (Sc next 2 sts tog) around. (6)

Rnd 9: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 10: Sc in each st around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 11: Join dress color with sl st in first st, (ch 3, 2 dc) in same st as joining, 3 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (Ch-3 counts as first dc; 18 dc made)

Rnd 12: Ch 3, dc in each of  next 2 sts, ch 2, skip next 4 sts for first arm opening, dc in each of next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next 4 sts for second arm opening, dc in each of last 2 sts, join. (10 dc, 2 ch-2 sps made)

Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in each st and in each ch-2 sp around, join with sl st in first sc. (12 sc made)

Rnd 14: (Ch 3, dc) in first st, 2 dc in each st around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (24)

Rnd 15: (Ch 5, dc) in first st (counts as beginning Vst), skip next st, *Vst (see Special Stitches) in next st, skip next st; repeat from * around, join with sl st in 3^rd ch of ch-5.  (12 Vsts made)

Rnd 16: (Sl st, beginning small shell- see Special Stitches)  in ch sp of beginning Vst, small shell (see Special Stitches)  in ch-2  sp of each Vst around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. (12 sm shells made)

Rnds 17-19: Sl st across to ch-2 sp of first sm shell, beg sm shell in ch-2 sp of first sm shell, sm shell in ch-2 sp of each sm shell around, join.

Rnd 20: Sl st across to ch-2 sp of first sm shell,  (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch-2 sp of first sm shell, ch 1, (shell-see Special Stitches- in ch-2 sp of next sm shell, ch 1) around, join. Fasten off.  (12 shells, 12 ch-1 sps made)

Rnd 21: Join trim color with sc in ch-2 sp of first shell, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3,  *(sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-2 sp of next shell, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3; repeat from * around,  join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Arm (make 2)

Note: Work in rounds, do not join. Mark first st of each round.

Rnd 1: With peach, ch 2, 6 sc in 2^nd ch from hook. (6 sc made)

Rnd 2: Sc in each st around. (6 sc)

Repeat Rnd 2 until Arm measures 1 ^1/2”. Fasten off.

Cut a 4” piece from chenille stem. Fold each end of stem over 1/2” so that it measures 3”.  Slide one Arm onto each side of stem.

Wing (make 2)

Row 1: With cream, ch 11, sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in each of next 8 chs, 3 sc in ch at end; working in remaining lps on opposite side of ch, sc in each of next 7 chs; leaving remaining chs unworked, turn. (19 sc made)

Rows 2-5: Ch 3, working in back lps only, sc in each of first 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 7 sc; leaving remaining sts unworked, turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, sl st in back lps of each of first 3 sc. Fasten off.

Halo

With yellow, ch 20, sl st in first ch to form ring; ch 1, sc in first ch, ch 2, (sc in next ch, ch 2) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

NOTE: Make either the Wreath or the Song Book for each Angel.

Wreath

With green, ch 12,   sl st in first ch to form ring; ch 1, sc in first ch, ch 2, (sc in next ch, ch 2) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Bow for Wreath

With red, (ch 2, hdc in 2^nd ch from hook) 2 times, sl st in first ch of first ch-2, (ch 2, hdc in 2^nd  ch from hook) 2 times, sl st in same ch as last sl st. Fasten off.

Song Book

Row 1: With red, ch 11, sc in second ch from hook, sc in each remaining ch across, turn.

Rows 2-7: Ch 1, sc in each st across, turn. At end of last row, fasten off.

Finishing

1: For Hair, cut 60 strands of lt. Brown thread, each 6” long. Wrap a separate strand of thread around center of all strands and tie securely. Fold top portion of strands down over tie. Arrange and shape upper portion of strands to cover lower portion. When you have the desired shape, glue to head of Angel. When glue dries, trim ends of all strands  (see photos.)

2: Slide Arms through arm openings on Rnd 12. Glue in place and allow to dry.

3: Place Halo and Wings on blocking surface. Spray with starch, shape and allow to dry. If using Song Book, place on blocking surface, spray with starch, fold in half and allow to dry flat. If using Wreath, place Wreath and Bow on blocking surface, spray with starch, shape and allow to dry.

4: Glue Wings to back of Angel. Glue Halo to back of head.

5: If using Wreath, glue Bow and red seed beads to Wreath. Allow to dry.

6: Glue either Song Book or Wreath to each Angels hands (open Book as shown in photo.) Allow to dry.

7: For hanger (optional) cut and 8" length of thread to match trim color of dress. Fold strand in half and glue cut ends to bottom of Halo. Allow to dry. 

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

                   Christina Rossetti

 

Special thanks go to E.J. Miller and  Jewel Fernly for testing these patterns. I am so blessed to have such wonderful testers!
If you would like to purchase an ad-free copy of the pattern for the Littlest Angels for a small fee, please visit my Etsy shop:  Littlest Angels
I am offering a paid version of this pattern for the convenience of  my customers who prefer an easy to read, printable and ad-free PDF. You will be able to save the pattern to your Etsy account as well as your computer or other device.

If you enjoy this pattern, I hope you will check out some of my other free patterns:

Country Christmas Doily

Little Gingerbread Boy and Girl

 Copyright BellaCrochet 2014. All rights reserved. Please do not distribute or post this pattern on any website, group or page; please share the Link to this page only. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love and many blessings (and some yummy food, too!)

I have a lot of surprises planned for the blog in the coming month, so I hope you will stop by often. I have something special planned for tomorrow (Friday) to start off the Christmas season. I can't wait to share it with you! See you tomorrow!
Love,
Ann

Penny's Clocks

Penny Freshour caused a sensation when she posted a picture of an amazing crocheted clock she had created in the Threadies Facebook group last week. Everyone loved the clocks, and wanted to see more. Penny not only posted more pictures of her clocks, she shared step by step instructions on how she made them. She has also kindly allowed me to post her pictures and instructions here on the blog. 

Thank you so much, Penny!

Penny and her husband  live in the Colorado Rockies. He is retired from the Air Force and she is a retired Home Health Care Provider. Since retiring, they enjoy traveling, crafting and fishing. 

Penny has been crocheting for almost 30 years now. She taught herself to crochet with thread by subscribing to the Magic Crochet Magazine  back in the ‘80’s. Penny was inspired by her great-grandmother who crocheted  beautiful heirloom doilies. The doilies were passed down to Penny and  other family members after her great-grandmother passed away.  Penny admired her work so much that she wanted to honor her by making doilies of her own.   Penny feels thread crochet is in her  heart and  blood!
You can follow Penny on Pinterest here:
KnotForgottenSudio  

Now here is Penny, to tell us how she makes her lovely clocks:

Here are the clocks I made earlier this year. Maybe you'd like to try your hand at making one or ten! (hehe!) They would make lovely Christmas gifts.

The clocks are Mainstays brand and can be purchased at Walmart for $3.88. Such a deal! Heck, you can't even buy the clock works by themselves for anywhere near that price. The clocks at my local Walmart come in four colors. White, red, black and a royal blue.

Here's how I made mine: First you'll need to make a small doily. No larger than 6.5 inches in diameter.
Note: When making your doily you will need to make sure that the starting center chain is large enough to allow the clock mechanism to come through. You'll also need some edging approximately 23 inches long. It should have at least 3-4 rows to it, if not more. The first row won't show because it's going to be hidden under the clock rim. After I chained my edging length, I double crocheted the first row. That row is going to be glued under the rim of the clock and won't be seen. You will need some clear drying glue for that and for the doily and paper backing. I use Aleene's Tacky Glue.

Now you'll need to take your clock apart. Take the screws out of the back and remove the rim and the glass. Carefully remove the hands of the clock by gently and evenly pulling them up. The back of the clock will remain in place. Now you will want to remove the paper backing that has the numbers on it. It's just tacked on and should come off easily. Keep it and use it as a template to make a new or different colored backing if you'd like.

To add your doily and reassemble your clock: Lightly glue your paper backing onto the clock. Insert the center of your doily onto the clocks mechanism and glue lightly around the edges of the doily. Replace the hands of the clock. You may need to carefully bend/adjust the hands slightly because the thickness of the doily may hamper the movement of the hands. It's easy to do. Next you'll need to glue on the edging. After all is dry, put the glass and the rim piece back into place. Put the screws back into the back of the clock and add a battery. TaDah!! 

Thank you so much, Penny! Now I am off to Walmart to get a few of those clocks!

All photos are used courtesy of Penny Freshour. 

Turkey Tracks Doily: A Free Crochet Pattern for You

I want to show my gratitude to all of you this Thanksgiving by sharing with you  this doily pattern. It went through many changes while I was designing it. At first, it was supposed to have rounds of little leaves, but somehow the leaves got turned into turkey tracks. Then I made it in two different color combinations and couldn't decide which I liked better, so I decided to include them both.

I hope you will enjoy the pattern, and I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love and many blessings!

Turkey Tracks Doily

By Elizabeth Ann White

For BellaCrochet

Size: About 15” across

Skill Level: Intermediate    For those who are familiar with working with size 10 thread and steel hooks, and who have a thorough understanding of the basics of crochet

Special Stitches

For 2 tr cluster:  (yo 2 times, insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, work off 2 lps, yo, work off next 2 lps) 2 times, yo, pull through  all 3 lps on hook

For 3 tr cluster:  (yo 2 times, insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, work off 2 lps, yo, work off next 2 lps) 3 times, yo, pull through  all 4 lps on hook

For 3 dc cluster: Yo, insert hook in st or ch sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook, (yo, insert hook in same st or ch sp, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook

For cluster shell (cl shell): work (3 dc cl, ch 2, 3 dc cl) in st or ch sp indicated

Materials For Doily A:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yds. each  Cream and Yellow

  75  yds each Green,  Rust and Orange

Heavy Spray Starch

Size 7 (1.65mm) Steel Crochet Hook

Materials For Doily B:
Size 10 Crochet Cotton Thread:
  100 yds. each  Cream and Orange

  75  yds each Green,  Rust and Yellow

Heavy Spray Starch

Size 7 (1.65mm) Steel Crochet Hook

Doily A

Rnd 1: With green, ch 2, 9 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (9 sc made)

Rnd 2: Join yellow with sl st in first sc, (ch 3, 2 tr cl-see Special Stitches) in same st as joining (counts as first 3-tr cl), ch 5, (3 tr cluster- see Special Stitches- in next sc, ch 5) around, join with sl st in top of 2-tr cl. Fasten off. (9 3-tr cls, 9 ch-5 sps made)

Rnd 3: Join green with sc in first ch-5 sp, (2 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in same sp as joining, (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in each ch-5 sp around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 4: Join orange with sl st in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, 2 tr cl, ch 3, 3 tr cl, ch 3, 3 tr cl, ch 3) in same sp as joining, (3 tr cl, ch 3) 3 times in each ch-3 sp around, join with sl st in top of ch-2 cl. Fasten off.

Rnd 5: Join green with sc in first ch-3 sp, 2 sc in same sp as joining, ch 1, (3 sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 1) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 6: Join cream with sc in first ch-1 sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 5) around, join with sl st in first sc.  

Rnd 7: Sl st to center of first ch-5  sp (ch 1, sc) in first ch-5 sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 8: Sl st to center of first ch-5 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-5 sp, ch 6, (sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 6) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 9: Sl st to center of first ch-6 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-6 sp, ch 6, (sc in next ch-6 sp, ch 6) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 10: Sl st to center of first ch-6 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-6 sp, ch 7, (sc in next ch-6 sp, ch 7) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 11: Sl st to center of first ch-7 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-7 sp, ch 7, (sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 7) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 12: Join green with sc in first ch-7 sp, (3 sc, ch 3, 4 sc) in same sp as joining, (4 sc, ch 3, 4 sc) in each ch sp around, join. Fasten off.

Rnd 13: Join rust with sl st in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, 2 tr cl, ch 3, 3 tr cl, ch 3, 3 tr cl, ch 3) in same sp as joining, (3 tr cl, ch 3) 3 times in each ch-3 sp around, join with sl st in top of 2-tr cl. Fasten off.

Rnd 14: Join green with sc in first ch-3 sp, 2 sc in same sp as joining, ch 1, (3 sc, ch 1) in each ch-3 sp around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 15: Join cream with sc in first ch-1 sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 5) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnds 16&17: Sl st to center of first ch-5  sp (ch 1, sc) in first ch-5 sp, ch 5, (sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 5) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 18: Sl st to center of first ch-5 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-5 sp, ch 6, (sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 6) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnds 19& 20: Sl st to center of first ch-6 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-6 sp, ch 6, (sc in next ch-6 sp, ch 6) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 21: Sl st to center of first ch-6 sp, (ch 1, sc) in first ch-6 sp, ch 7, (sc in next ch-6 sp, ch 7) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 22: Join green with sc in first ch-7 sp, ch 3, (3 tr cl, ch 3) 6 times in next ch-7 sp, sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 5, *sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 3, (3 tr cl, ch 3) 6 times in next ch-7 sp, sc in next ch-7 sp, ch 5; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 23: To complete this round, work Steps A-F:
A: Join yellow with sc in first ch-5 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp, (cl shell-see Special Stitches-in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 2 times;

B: cl shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp;

C: sc in next ch-5 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp;

D: (cl shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3) 2 times;

E: cl shell in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip next ch-3 sp;

F: repeat Steps C, D, and E around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 24: Join rust with sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-2 sp of next cl shell, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, *sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch-2 sp of next cl shell, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * around, join. Fasten off.

Doily B

Work the same as Doily A, reversing the use of yellow and orange on Rnds 2, 4, and 23. 

Finishing

Place doily on blocking surface. Spray with heavy starch, shape and allow to dry. 

If you would like to purchase an ad-free copy of this pattern for a small fee, please visit my Etsy shop:  Turkey Tracks
I am offering a paid version of this pattern for the convenience of  my customers who prefer an easy to read, printable and ad-free PDF. You will be able to easily save the pattern to your Etsy account, as well as your computer or other device.

Special thanks go to E. J. Miller, Jolene Ortiz, and Jewel Fernley for testing this pattern. I am so thankful for my wonderful testers!

Copyright BellaCrochet 2014. All rights reserved. Please do not distribute or post this pattern on any website, group or page; please share the Link to this page only. 

And the Winner Is:

 Charlotte Huffman

 if  you will send me an email  and let me know what pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you. Also, I am sorry for getting the "Let is Go" song stuck in your head!

Which reminds me, a lady wrote me last week to tell me she just loved my 'Frozen' doily! I wrote her back to let her know that my 'Snow Queen' doily was designed and published in 2011, long before the movie came out. I sure don't want any copyright issues with Disney, lol!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Friday Contest and Letting Go

I was blocking a new doily yesterday, and as I was pinning out the picots on the last round, I realized that I had made an error by not adding one of the picots (there are several dozen on the last round.)
I made myself a rule years ago, that if I make an error in a design, I immediately rip it out instead of just fretting about it. "Well, at least it is on the last round," I thought as I started to remove the doily from the blocking board.
But for some reason I stopped. It was one tiny picot, and it was in a spot where it was not noticeable unless you were looking for it. I doubt anyone is ever going to pick up this doily and count the picots, and even if they did, they wouldn't know how many there should be. So, I decided for once in my life, I was going to just let it go. I finished blocking it, without adding the picot.
But, I have to admit, from now on, every time I look at that doily I am going to think about that missing picot.

But it is Friday, so let's have a contest!  I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com or  my Etsy shop bellacrochetEtsy
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. If I do not hear back from the winner within 7 days, I will select a new winner. Failure to contact me will result in the forfeiture of all prizes. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.) You can also leave your email address with your comment so I can notify you if you win, but this is optional. 

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question: 

Do you rip out when you find a mistake in your crocheting, or do you just let it go?

This contest is now closed. Please stop by again soon!

Threadies FaceBook Group

I have started a new group on Facebook called "Threadies."
There are a lot of crochet groups on FB, but I was not able to find one that is specifically for thread crochet lovers. It is a place to show off pictures of your thread projects, either finished or in progress, and for sharing tips and resources, and links to your favorite patterns and sites. Several of my favorite thread designers have already joined, including Cylinda Matthews of Crochet Memories, Katherine White, and Carolyn Christmas.
The talented Pamela Tasny crocheted the gorgeous doily in the photo, and has kindly allowed me to use it as the group photo.
I don't want this group to be about me or BellaCrochet, I want it to be a place to celebrate all thread crochet and crocheters. I hope you will join us if you are on Facebook!

 Threadies FB Group

And the Winner Is:

Kenzie's gramma

Kenzie's gramma, if  you will send me an email and let me know what pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

I am working on the Turkey Tracks doily pattern, getting it ready to send out to be tested. I should be able to post it here next week sometime, so please be sure to stop back by!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Friday Contest and Turkey Tracks

I have been working on a new doily this week, and it did not go as I had planned. 

It is supposed to be an Autumn/Thanksgiving themed doily, and I thought it would be pretty to  incorporate  rounds of little Autumn leaves worked in different colors.  But I just couldn't seem to get the leaves to look right. After several failed attempts, I tried working groups of 3 tr clusters together. I thought the result was pretty, but it really  looked more like a bird foot or  track than a leaf to me. "It looks like a turkey foot," I thought. And the more I thought about it, the more the idea grew on me; why not have rounds of turkey tracks instead of leaves? That is certainly a Thanksgiving theme! So, the name of the doily was changed to "Turkey Tracks." I should have the pattern ready for you next week. 

But it is Friday, so let's have a contest!  I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com or  my Etsy shop bellacrochetEtsy
I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. If I do not hear back from the winner within 7 days, I will select a new winner. Failure to contact me will result in the forfeiture of all prizes. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.) You can also leave your email address with your comment so I can notify you if you win, but this is optional. 

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question: 

Do you have a crochet project going right now? 

This contest is now closed. Please stop by again soon!

And the winner is:

Conni

Conni, if you will send me an email

and let me know what pattern you would like, I will get it right out to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered my contest! I plan to have one every Friday, so please check back again soon!

Friday Contest

Thanksgiving is right around the corner (my favorite holiday!) 

I have so many things I am thankful for; my family, my freedom, my health. But, one of the things that I am most thankful for is being able to crochet. Not only has crochet supported me and my family for 30 years, it has brought me joy everyday. Honestly, I would crochet everyday even if I never made a dime from it. 
But, it is Friday, so how about a contest? I will give one person their choice of any PDF pattern on my site, bellacrochet.com. 

I will select the winner at random, and send out the patterns in the morning (Saturday.) I will post the name of the winner here, so be sure to check back in the morning to see if you won. If I do not hear back from the winner within 7 days, I will select a new winner. Failure to contact me will result in the forfeiture of all prizes. 

Also, if you post anonymously, please be sure I have a way to identify you (at least give your first name or a nick name in your comment; I have no way of knowing who is posting.)

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question: 

Are you crocheting any Thanksgiving themed items this year? Or have you in the past?

This contest is now closed. Please stop by again soon!

Blogging and Advertising

It has been almost 7 years since I started this blog in January, 2008. I needed a  a way to promote my designs and I wanted to get to know my customers better, and blogging seemed to be the way to go. So,  I have been blogging since then (although sometimes infrequently) and I am happy to say that there are now 860 folks who follow the blog, and it gets  an average of 750 visits a day (more when I release a new free pattern or have a contest.) 
Although I have always thought of the blog as a way to show my new designs and share my thoughts on designing and crochet in general, I  realize that the world of crochet is changing, and I must change with it if I am going to survive as a designer.
Pattern sales are down for most designers, myself included. The internet, which makes it so easy to set up a crochet business and sell patterns directly to my wonderful customers,  also makes it easy for those who would try to profit from the  hard work of others. There are several foreign sites which have all of my patterns posted illegally for distribution, and they make money by running advertisements. These sites blatantly ignore all copyright laws, and I have been unable to get my patterns removed. I am not the only victim of these thieves, almost all of the large publishing companies and independent designers have been affected as well.
This has hurt my sales to the point that I have considered giving up designing. I also thought about setting up my own site  and posting all of my patterns for free to get advertising revenue. I thought if anyone was profiting from giving my patterns away, it should be me. But, I know I still have many wonderful, loyal fans who appreciate my efforts and support me as a designer. I feel that giving my patterns away now would not be fair to all of my good customers who have purchased my patterns in the past (and who continue to support me now.)

So, I have come up with an idea. I have added advertisements to this blog, which will hopefully bring me some income. I get paid when someone clicks on an advertisement, so the more visitors  I get, the better.
I know most people really only visit this blog to get free patterns and to enter my contests, so those are the things I will be focusing on in the future. I will probably be doing a blog makeover, and adding a index to make searching for the free patterns easier as I add more of them.
I will also be 'retiring' some of my paid patterns, and after a waiting period, I will be adding them to the blog (kind of like Disney pulling an old movie out of their vault, but when mine come back they will be free!)
One thing I will not do is add so many ads and popups that it becomes distracting. I want you to always enjoy visiting the blog.
So, I would like to ask for your help. If you like one of my free patterns, would you please share the link  to it with your friends? If you have any ideas for patterns (or types) of designs that you would like to see in the future, would you let me know? Since there are already thousands of free patterns for hats, cowls and scarves out there, I thought I would focus more on thread designs, but I would love to hear your suggestions. Do you have any questions on designing (or crocheting in general)  that you would like to see a post on?
I know I have a loyal group of folks who regularly read and comment on my blog. I want you to know that I appreciate each one of you. I have a long list of designs that I am anxious to make and share with you, and I hope you will enjoy them all!