creative jewish mom

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!

Crochet T-shirt Yarn Pears For Fun Home Decor

I have been living with these fun crocheted pears for a year and a half or so, and I can surely report they are just so very charming! And wouldn't a crocheted pear from t-shirt yarn be a great baby gift, it would look soooo cute in a baby's room, or just about anywhere. So with the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat, the new year for fruit baring trees, coming up in just a week, now is a great time to crochet fruit, and while you are at it, why not go with giant fruit!  Here is my original post:

I have been wanting to crochet a pear for ages, partly to go with my daughter's pirum parum poster, and partly because who can resist a crocheted pear? And who can resist a crocheted pear that is big enough to be a pillow or couch prop, certainly not me, and I am truly in love with the results of taking a regular crocheted pear pattern and using t-shirt yarn to make it something different altogether, yippee! So, as you can see, once you start crocheting pears from t-shirt yarn you really have to crochet at least three, as they look just so amazing together, right? I was crocheting that black pear on a car trip with my husband and he had no idea what I was up to, and only saw the results when I gave it to him as a chanukah present......of course he didn't appreciate my efforts, but that is okay, I didn't really crochet it for him, but rather as some fun decor for our bedroom or any little spot in the house in need of some giant fruit! Okay friends, lets get crocheting......

Hello Prague: Huge Crochet Applique Mural

One of the amazing visual treats that we experienced in Prague last year, was in fact a treat within a treat, though that describes just about everything in Prague, what a city! On our visit to Vysrehard, see  my post here, not only were there amazing views and ancient history, but also the biggest yarn bombing installation I've ever seen! Ever seen a crocheted mural, constructed on a base of recycled sweaters? Me neither, so I was very excited to capture this and share it with you. I'm not sure how many years something like this can hold up, especially in a place with cold winters, so if you decide to do something similar, I'd hang it in a way that it can be removed come rain and such. All this wonderful crocheted art is both a sign and an eye catcher at a place called Indigo Kids, which is a kindergarten. You can see the main sign in my post about signs in Prague, and here I've presented you with all the many ways to make pictures with crochet. enjoy!

Crocheted Flowers Garland For Spring

Somehow I wrote this post last year on Tu B'shevat but in the end did not post is, possibly because I was not happy with the photos? A year later, yes, the photos do not do justice to the project, which looks so much better in person, but as I'm too busy right now to photograph the crafts I have been making, crocheted t-shirt yarn flowers it is. Hmmm, wonder where those flower are now, they would look great hanging with all the white pom poms now hanging from that light! So here is the post I wrote last year:

It is still the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat in many parts of the world, so wishing you all a very joyful Tu B'Shevat holiday! A few weeks ago I shared my crocheted t-shirt yarn flowers, and guess what, I actually put them to use as birthday party decor that phased nicely into Tu B'Shevat decorations! So for the past few weeks pink crocheted garlands have been hanging over our dining room table, and some of the numerous guests have commented how lovely it looks, not realizing that it was actually a seasonal decoration. Truthfully most of the numerous guests did compliment me on the delicious food but somehow didn't notice these pink flowers floating overhead, or maybe just the idea is so foreign they didn't quite get it? Or maybe because most of the numerous guests happen to be young men, and wellllllll, not to generalize but they tend to notice less about interior decor. They do tend to notice the cow skin on the floor, but not too much else. In any case, once you crochet the flowers, assembling this spring blossom garland is oh so simple, and I just realized this would also be a perfect baby mobile.......another item that is somewhat "seasonal" as how long will that baby that baby stay a baby? And infact these crocheted glower garlands could make a nice wedding photo backdrop, look lovely hanging from a tree or really just about anywhere. Get a huge bunch of friends together, get lots of skeins of t-shirt yarn, and you can have yourself a great party backdrop that can then be repurposed into baby mobiles for the whole world, or floral lampshades, or one could even sew these flowers onto a blanket. Okay, enough babbling, lets whip up some crocheted flower garlands!

Crocheted T-Shirt Yarn Star Trivet

I originally posted this fun gift idea in 2016, and it still looks great, so dusting it off to share once again, enjoy!

It is pouring rain outside and I have the luxury of spending a few days to do some crafting for Chanukah, and the first thing that came to mind was to try and use up all the t-shirt yarn that I have (so that I can justify buying more, of course!) and that is how these crochted star trivets were born, and I just love them! This is a quick gift to whip up in multiples for holiday giving and would be perfect together with an assortment of teas, or even better a nice teapot. Of course you could also make a large garland or wall hanging, or sew a bunch together to make a table runner, or even a rug (which is what I'm dreaming of, only I don't have enough yarn, sigh.) Once you make one, I can almost guarantee that you'll want to make a bunch more!

I've got the pattern for you right here, so lets get started!

Crocheted Cotton Potholders Add Swedish Style To Your Kitchen

A Swedish cottage is not a Swedish cottage without the addition of some rustic crocheted potholders! Okay, admittedly I am no expert having only visited Sweden once, this past summer, but we did rent five different properties and the two that had crocheted potholders proudly displayed happened to be the lovliest kitchens to boot! So, if you have already tried your hand at a ribbed crocheted potholder, maybe it is time to try something a bit more adventurous, namely a checkerboard potholder or a basket weave potholder! I am not providing the patterns for either of these, but rather photos to inspire you to create your own rustic crcoheted potholders that will certainly delight this holiday season, if you can part with them that is! So keep on reading for a few tips and a closer look......

Simple Crocheted Coasters Are The Perfect Tiny Gift And Summer Take Along!

Someone just contacted me via the watermark on this photo, saying she saw the project on Pinterest, and the photo took her somewhere that did not link to my original post. She then couldn't find this project in my archives. Since she took the time to write to me, I figured I'd have a look in the archives! So I dug way way down and dusted off this sweet crochet project that is perfect for summer, and a great project for beginners with fantastic results. Enjoy, and make a bunch while you are at it, as it's always great to have some homemade gifts on hand, right?

Super simple crocheted coasters with rows of color applied on the surface, also with a crochet hook, are so fun to make! I haven't actually crocheted coasters in the past, as I don't have much use for them, but I realized that they would be a useful gift for a certain loved one who does have an antique wooden breakfast table. So these simple coasters were born, and sent off and I've already made another set for myself, which I'll share with you soon.

Crocheted Flower Mobile Is Perfect For Every Occasion

A few months ago I shared my crocheted t-shirt yarn flowers, and guess what, I actually put them to use as birthday party mobile that phased nicely into Tu B'Shevat decorations, that are now phasing into Purim decorations! So for the past few months a pink crocheted flower mobile has been hanging over our dining room table, and some of the numerous guests have commented how lovely it looks, not realizing that it was actually a seasonal decoration. The great thing about this crocheted mobile is that you can hang the strands from a light fixture, as I have done, or simply attach them to a hoop. And once you crochet the flowers, assembling this spring blossom mobile is oh so simple, gotta love that! This would also be a perfect baby mobile.......wedding photo backdrop, bat mitzvah backdrop, you name it! And the individual crocheted glower garlands would look lovely hanging from a tree or really just about anywhere, just a few or a huge amount, you decide. Get a huge bunch of friends together, get lots of skeins of t-shirt yarn, and you can have yourself a great party backdrop that can then be repurposed into baby mobiles for the whole world, or floral lampshades, or one could even sew these flowers onto a blanket. Okay, enough babbling, lets whip up a crocheted flower mobile!

Crocheted T-Shirt Yarn Dishtowel For A Play Kitchen

Now that you know how to make adorable play cupcakes, 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.