creative jewish mom

Crocheted Spare Tire Cover To Advertise Your Love For Crochet!

Isn't this crocheted spare tire cover a fun jeep accessory? Especially great for a summer vacation vibe, or in a beach town, which is where I spotted this one, namely in Pacifica, California in a mobile home park with the most coveted views ever! This car came all the way from Ohio to enjoy this spot! A crocheted spare tire cover is essentially a round doily with sides,  and could be made using so many patterns. One could also make a cover by crocheting hexigons or circles and then joining those, meaning it doens't have to be something crocheted in the round! I love that this one is airy, less yarn and less dust and dirt to worry about, and less time to make! Okay, I just googles crocheted spare tire cover, and wow, my head is spinning with all the ideas, and one can even purchase them on Etsy, so this look isn't only for those who can make one themselves. Hmmmm, now I think I need a jeep so I can crochet one myself?

Quick Crocheted Kid's Gift: An Adorable Tiny Cat Bed

As it turns out, when my son got married I gained a new adorable 4 year old in my life, who is the brother of the bride, and just as cute as can be. He loves all things white, and even requested a white cat, which I happened to have, but of course I just had to crochet another little pet bed for this cat, and the gift made him so very very happy. Apparently he keeps the little cat in its bed, next to his bed, and as of last night when I saw him (the child, not the cat) we finalized a name for the cat, which is Tuli, because she is a chatula, cat, in Hebrew. So dear friends, a combo gift like this one can bring so much joy and is truly so very simple to make, whether you go very small like this one, or bigger to accomodate a larger stuffed animal. Now i just have to figure out what else I can make for this tiny cat.......hmmmm, maybe an amigurumi tiny cat to keep him company? Keep on reading for a link to the basic instructions!

Crocheted T-Shirt Yarn Blanket, Rug Or Playkitchen Dishtowel, You Decide!

Pulling this one out of the archives, since if you decide to make a tiny t-shirt dog bed, you might want to make some other gifts for little ones as well, and this one is well, sweet!

Now that you know how to make adorable play cupcakes, tutorial here, let's make some things to use in a play kitchen. And of course you don't need an actual play kitchen, little ones can make that part up themselves. Add a cute t-shirt yarn dishtowel to the set up and maybe some wooden utensils, and let the imagination take them for a ride. No, I won't be letting anyone play with my new pink casseroles that I got recently for small change at 80% off, but they sure do complete the picture! And actually some pink casseroles like these would be simple to crochet with t-shirt yarn, okay, I guess I do need to go out and buy some more yarn (which I've been avoiding), as I think I need to take my own advice, it will be perfect. Lest I digress, we are here to learn how to crochet a play dishtowel from t-shirt yarn, so lets get started! Ah yes, and I might add that yes this is much thicker than a dish towel would be, but washes really well and can be used as a doll blanket or even a rug, which makes it super versatile for imaginative play.

Adorable Crocheted Mini Dog Bed Using T-Shirt Yarn

I'll admit, I have not been doing many crochet projects lately, (and I miss it!) but recently I just had to whip up some mini crocheted dog beds from t-shirt yarn to give as a gift together with two tiny puppies, and I have to say, the results were truly adorable. I'm sorry to say that I don't have time right now to write out a pattern, so I'll give you the link to the tutorial for the full sized dog bed that inspired this one. That said it really is so very simply, so you can do it! It is just a circular base with 3 rows crocheted like the sides of a basket, with rows 2 and three crocheted as rows not in the round in order to leave the space in the front of the dog bed. Okay, keep on reading for more info, and maybe a good dose of 'you can do it!"

Crochet A Cat Cave Or Cat Bed With A Free Pattern!

Is there a cat lover on your gift list that you'd like to treat with a fantastic DIY crocheted cat cave or bed? I'd say it is a great idea, as even if the cat doesn't quite end up liking it, it can always be used as a basket of sorts! (Especially the acorn shaped one I'm eyeing!) And some of these crocheted cat beds are so quick to make, you may just want to include it as part of a larger gift, like a custom pet portrait for example, which can be anything from an original painting, in either acrylic or watercolor, (there are many artists on Etsy that offer custom pet portraits, though plan ahead) or something that could be quite large, such as a printed photo portrait. I recently became aware of some really unique pet portraits that involve making the pet look like he is wearing a uniform or period costume, and truly this makes an epic gift. But getting back to crocheting that amazing cat cave, lets take a look at some of the free patterns I've gathered here, to send you on your way! Ah yes, and there are so many new chunky yarns out there, so take your pick and enjoy!

Simple Crochet Projects For Hanukkah!

Crochet projects for Hanukkah? Of course, because as you all know, I love to crochet, and so crocheting has often been a big part of my hanukkah crafting! (Now, I do not have time to crochet with my art explorations, but I have so many things on hand, that we only see once a year, so it is still fresh. Hmmmm, but maybe I need to crochet just a bit tonight for tomorrow's guests?) While tonight is the third night of chanukah that does not mean we can't have fun making things on chanukah to enjoy for the remainder of the holiday, to give as gifts or even save until next year! Here are some of my favorite simple crochet projects from the archives that are perfect for chanukah, try something new, or go get all those old t-shirts and use them to make the basket above, wouldn't it be a miracle of chanukah to clean out that draw a bit? Okay, enjoy!

Sunburst Granny Square Meets Color, Thanks To A Reader!

There is just something about a great color combination together with a wonderful crocheted granny square that makes my heart sing! I can't say I've had the time or inclination to crochet much lately (of course I did crochet doll clothes, and need to do a spring outfit pronto...yikes!) because, well, one can't do it all, and I'm putting most of my creative time into painting and art related endeavors. To see a reader, @hardknotlifecrochet,  take my sunburst granny square (available for purchase on my etsy store here) and give it color was such a wonderful surprise, I just had to share it with you!

When I designed this granny square, and used it to make a scarf, my yarn choice was black and white and gray, and unlike many of the items I've crocheted over the years, I did actually wear that scarf, but now maybe next winter deserves a new version in some earthy tones? Or maybe a baby blanket with this square.....? So many wonderful ways to fill our creative souls, and bring joy to others with crochet, and I do plan to continue doing just that, on a small scale, you know with doll clothes! Okay, keep on reading to see the original scarf!

A Fun Crochet Meets Plastic Basket For Spring

I just found this in my archives, and thought I'd post it again, as it is a great one! Any container with holes can be spiffied up with some t-shirt yarn and a crochet hook, so when you do your spring cleaning.......I just remembered I put something in the recycling pile that could be upcycled, good thing I'm taking my own advice! Enjoy!

Spring is here which means it is time to get started with the Spring/Pesach organizing and cleaning......but first of course as I was recovering from a very festive Purim I spied a cute little basket with holes in it, that could be much more useful if one could not see what is inside, for me the hoarder that is! So I present to you a quick crocheted spring basket using an existing plastic basket with holes, an idea that can be used on many types of plastic baskets!

And yes, to make this project "quick" one does need the proper supplies, namely yarn and hook sizes that are large, so keep on reading for those oh so important tips, since right about now time is of the essence.......well at least on my end!

How To Crochet Booties For An 18" Doll

Crocheting booties for a newborn baby is a quick gift, that I have been know to whip up in the car on the way to visit the new mom, so crocheting booties for an 18" doll? Piece of cake, just figuring out bootie patterns takes a bit of patience and willingness to just wing it. And yes, sorry, that goes for the pattern I'm providing you with, as well, I am not a professional crochet pattern writer. Not to scare you, just try to follow the directions and I'm sure it will be just fine. And if you use variegated yarn as I have, you really don't see the stitches anyway. The main thing is to keep track of what you've done, as you do need to make two that are somewhat if not altogether the same! 

The 18" doll that I gifted to a little loved one for her birthday came without shoes and minimal clothing, so I just had to whip up a wardrobe, with the yarn on my desk and someone what quickly. And of course you've got to cover those bare feet, so booties seemed like the way to go as they can look like winter boots, and they will stay on, onlike crocheted shoes that need to be the exact size to stay on those doll feet.

If you have not done so already, I'd recommend first making a crocheted 18" doll hat, and a crocheted 18" doll scarf, and then top it off with some booties, for starters that is! Okay, lets crochet some tiny booties!

How To Crochet A Simple Scarf For An 18" Doll

Thinking maybe it would be a good idea to crochet a simple scarf for an 18" doll that belongs to someone special in your life? I'd say, great idea, and even if you are a novice at crocheting, this is so simple, you can do it! And if you are not a novice and are making a hat and a scarf set, all the better, because this scarf can be whipped up in say 15 minutes give or take, and looks so adorable as a set with the crocheted 18" doll hat seen here! If you are thinking about crocheting some doll clothes, I'd recommend starting simply and seeing how it goes. I started with a hat and it was so much fun I ended up crocheted a sweater, a skirt and booties! And the end results were just so adorable I can't wait to make more. Actually I need to make more pronto as this doll needs an outfit for spring, and she does not live nearby, so I need to put that new outfit in the mail! Okay, but first, lets make a simple doll scarf!