The creations have been created and are on their way, so come see what's popping up at The Crocheted Moon. Safety and Fun for all! The long-awaited arrival of summer is finally here along with all the great summer activities we love. One of the most popular activities involves pelting round, rubber globes filled with water at anyone who happens to be nearby. It is fun, refreshing, and even great exercise, but the clean up afterwards is NOT FUN! The little bits of rubber that you must hunt down always seem to purposely hide from you, leaving behind a dangerous choking hazard. That's when the solution hit me last year at a vendor booth I was at....soft, squishy reusable water balloons! They will be like the nerf water balls that you can use in the pool, or any type of water game. Like the nerf water balls, the Everlasting Water Balloons will not leave behind the mess of rubber balloons, can be machined washed and simply laid in the sun to dry. They are perfect for small children and safe for all animals, wild and domestic, and just better for the environment. They will be made from the super thick plush yarn and have their own storage container that allows them to be tucked away when you're not having a blast with them. I will be selling them as a set of 5 or you can purchase them singly. They will be making their first appearance at the Utah Kids Summer Palooza event on June 9th & 10th. #bloggingthemoon #comingsoon #everlastingwaterballoons Utah Kids Club Summer Palooza Event Get all the details here:

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place. What's the difference? In addition to the direction you crochet, the shape and style of your project will determine whether you crochet in rows or rounds. Keep reading and I'll show you how to crochet with both methods. Row, Row, Row your boat.... Boat meaning your crochet project of course! Rows are used for projects that need to be flat like, wash clothes, towels, scarves, blankets, or clothing. As you're crocheting using rows, this is what your fabric will look like: Looks pretty simple right, well it is. As you crochet your piece you will crochet from right to left and once you reach the end you turn your piece over to the other side. Once you've turned your piece over, you'll just starting crocheting right to left again. You will repeat this back and forth motion until you either reach the number of rows or length you need. Keeping track of your rows is just as simple as crocheting them. Below shows how you count each row and if we take an up-close look you can see how the rows look different every time you switch to the other side. This difference can also help you count. It is also important to keep track of the number of stitches so as not to increase or decrease them by accident. To do this you count each stitch, which looks like a little 'V', going across the top row. To recap...to crochet using a row you crochet from right to left, flipping the piece from front to back, count the rows along the vertical side, and count the number of stitches horizontally along the top...and that's all folks! PROJECTS I HAVE CROCHETED USING ROWS Round and Round the Mulberry Bush We Go! And like the Mulberry bush, when you crochet in rounds, your project is usually round. Rounds are used for projects that are cylindrical in shape like plush arms, legs, bodies, & heads. Also hats, Easter eggs, or balls. As you're crocheting using rounds, this is what your fabric will look like: Rounds are just as easy as rows, but as you crochet your piece you will crochet in one direction to the left...almost like you're driving a race car ;) You can start your cylindrical project by using the magic ring or by the chain method (click the link for more details) The magic circle is great if you need your project to have a top or bottom or both and the chaining method is perfect if the design is more open like the pic below: Real quick, to use the chain method you will chain the number of stitches you need, then fasten the two ends of the chain together by slip stitching the last stitch to the first stitch to make a circle. Counting your rows is as easy as 1..2..3, literally you just count 1..2..3 (he he :)) But seriously, if you are using the magic ring for your rounds this is how you count: You count your magic ring (which is the center) as the first round and then you move outward counting the rings. As your project gets taller you just keep counting the rounds. And like the picture to the left shows, you use a marker to keep track of where your first stitch was so you can count your rounds correctly. But there is a second way to crochet your rounds without using a stitch marker. You make your magic ring, but instead of continuing on with your stitches, you slip stitch into the 1st stitch of the round closing the gap. You then chain 1 (or 2, or 3, depending on the stitch you use) and single (or half or double) crochet in the same stitch you just slip stitched in. This will count as your 1st stitch for your next round. You can see the difference in the picture to the right: Now all you have to decide is do I row, or do I round! #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #rowsandrounds PROJECTS I HAVE CROCHETED USING ROUNDS

Check this spot for new updates or changes to The Crocheted Moon or our products. I'm loyal! As part of my commitment to all my existing and new customers at The Crocheted Moon, I have created a rewards program. In this program, you earn points to receive rewards when you complete specific actions. How do I earn points? To see how earn points and all the goodies you can use your points for go to: www.thecrochetedmoon.com Then on the menu bar go to more and select "Customer Loyalty Program". But I'm not a member... One of the best things about the loyalty program is it keeps track off all points earned on the The Crocheted Moon's website whether you're a member or not. This is great news because you may have already been earning points without even knowing it! The only way to use those points, however, is to sign up and become a member, which is quick and easy. Click the yellow "Become a Member" button and the black login screen will appear. Click the yellow Sign Up and it will give you 3 ways you can sign up. I did it with my email address. Enter your email address and a password, click the yellow button at the bottom. After you click the yellow button a confirmation code will be sent to your email. Check your email for the confirmation code. Go back to the website screen and enter the code from your email and click the yellow confirm and sign up button. Once you submit the confirmation code it'll take you back to the login screen and you can now login with your email and password you just set up. Keeping Track of Your Points Once you're a member and you login you'll be able to access your account info, reward points, profile, settings, and notifications. Just click the section you want on the submenu below your name. When you go to your rewards section it shows you how many points you've earned how close you are to earning each reward. Enjoy your earnings and please feel free to contact me directly with any questions about the program. I appreciate all our comments and business! #bloggingthemoonCM #CMupdates #customerloyaltyprogram Join the Customer Loyalty Program here!

The creations have been created and are on their way, so come see what's popping up at The Crocheted Moon. Welcome our next Mystic Friend! Magic the Unicorn is almost here. Magic will make a great addition to Little Bigfoot and of course they are made from the same fuzzy, extremely silky yarn. Our little Unicorn will mainly be a dusty purple shade, with silver metallic hooves, muzzle, and horn, and will be adorned with a great main and tail of rainbow yarn....and like our friend Bigfoot, Magic will also come with its own collectible quote card. Just too irresistible! And if you're on the hunt for a special friend, Magic will be here just in time for Valentine's Day and will be making their first appearance at the Lehi Farmers Market Vday Event on Feb 10th &11th. #bloggingthemoonCM #comingsoon #magictheunicorn Get your sneak peek here Valentine's Vendo Event Info Take a look at more of CM's squeezable plush

The world and especially our little piece of it is full of skilled and talented small business owners. Wilbert and Friends highlights the special people I have come across in my own business dealings and feel they are extremely worth mentioning. Pictures are worth a thousand words... Especially Maddie's! Maddie is certainly noteworthy and I just wanted to mention her. It was so much fun having her take my daughter's senior pictures. Her photography skills will make your event stand out and be memorable, and she has a variety of packages that will meet your needs. Chelsah's Senior Pics: Here's Maddie! She introduces herself the best so in the words of Ms. Foster....Let me introduce myself. My name is Maddie Foster, I've been a photographer for over 8 years, but have done it as my only job for the last two. I love what I do! I am from Arizona, and moved to Utah for school in 2017. I left for a mission trip for my church to Atlanta, GA for a year and a half, and am currently getting my degree in business. Somehow I fit all that in while being a SAHM to my cute little baby boy who was born in 2022. My cute family of three is who is pictured above! What do I capture? My specialty is couples, weddings, families, graduation, and lifestyle photography. But I do a little bit of everything, including births! #bloggingthemoonCM #wilbertandfriends #maddiefosterphoto Contact me today Need a great, personable, skilled photographer, check out Maddie's work here and book your session now! https://maddiefosterphoto.mypixieset.com/ Watch Me! Photo Gallery Shop for Halloween

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. What a mouth full! Besides being quite a mouth full to say the Wide Half Double Crochet Cluster Stitch (WHDC) The Half Double Crochet Cluster Stitch creates a dense but delicate looking fabric and seems to pair well geometric shapes, hats, blankets, or baby sweaters. Below are the written instructions and a video by Daisy Farm Crafts. I really like her style and think she makes great instructional videos. Written Instructions: YO, insert your hook in between stitch posts of previous row, YO and pull up a loop, YO, insert your hook into same space, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through all five loops on hook CHAIN Any number ROW 1 Starting in the 3rd chain from the hook, *YO, insert your hook, YO and pull up a loop. YO, insert your hook into same space, YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through all five loops on hook. Repeat from * in each chain to end of row. CH 2 and turn. ROW 2 Starting in the space between the 1st and 2nd stitch, *YO, insert your hook, YO and pull up a loop. YO, insert your hook into same space, YO and pull up a loop. YO and pull through all five loops on hook. Repeat from * in each space between stitch posts of previous row, ending with the last stitch in between the final stitch post and the turning chain. CH 2 and turn. REPEAT ROW 2 Video Instructions More stitch worthy ideas for WHDC #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #whdcstitch Check out The Crocheted Moons Fall/Winter Selection!

Below you will find unique creations and patterns I have designed exclusively for my customers. I go into the "hows" and "whys" you won't find them anywhere else. New and ready to go! You've heard me talk about this problem several times....discontinued yarn! But that is only half the problem...yarn stretches when weighted down, there was no pockets, the strap was too long, and the bag itself was too bulky :( What is a designer to do? The answer, keep trying my friends, keep trying. I have tested several different bag styles along with several different materials to make it more durable, but still cute and fashionable and eureka! We want to see! First, I started with the name of the bag. I thought Grandma's Roses would be an enduring sentiment to the past, but a bag like this needs a fresh, updated name like, ROSE GARDEN HANDBAG. I then chose a new silky, thread like yarn for the flower petals, a beautiful medium green yarn that accentuates the color of the flowers, and chose to stay with the great linen color for the overall bag. That's not all folks, I have also made the squares smaller (which makes the bag a wonderful medium sized purse), added a canvas lining with pockets, & at the behest of my daughter, gave the bag a leather strap instead of a crocheted one. The canvas lining and the leather strap will help tremendously with the yarn stretching out of shape. One last detail, I adorned the bag with a large wooden button for the closure, so no more pulling on your bag (and stretching further out shape) to fasten it closed. I didn't change everything though, the bottom of the bag is still made with a marled mocha color that hides the dirt and stains purses can attract as we toss them around and set them down in somewhat questionable places. #bloggingthemoonCM #CMexclusivedesgin #revisedrosehandbag Rose petal colors: Yarn for leaf motif: Bag color: Bag Straps: Get your new and improved Rose Garden Handbag here: As a whole, this bag looks beautiful, is more durable, and has a wide range of uses. It is with great excitement that I share with you the new and improved version!

In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place. The 3 little pigs...I mean stitches... There are three main stitches in crochet, and the rest are variations of them. Starting with the smallest stitch, you have Single Crochet (SC), Half Double Crochet (HDC), and Double Crochet (DC), which each increases in size and length to give your project a different design, thickness, and height. Throughout the rest of the blog, we will go over each stitch in detail so that by the end, you'll hopefully feel like an expert ;) **JUST A LITTLE TIP....while you are learning the names of the stitches and reading your crochet patterns, keep in mind the language it is written in. What!?...you say...the pattern already looked as if ancient aliens wrote it...well not to fret. Imagine you find a vintage crochet pattern for an awesome bag. Despite following the pattern, stitch by stitch, the resulting bag is off. What went wrong? Surprise! The pattern you were working from was written in British crochet terms. This happens more now than it did before because of the Internet, which provides access to crochet patterns from around the world. Understanding how the two styles of pattern writing matches-up can save you from future headaches. While chain stitch, is a chain stitch and a slip stitch, is a slip stitch, these are the terms that differ: Most people will list on their patterns if it's English or British terminology, but if it's not read through the pattern and see if you're familiar with the rest of the lingo, like gauge (English) or tension (British). If there's several other terms you don't understand it's a good indication it's written with British terminology or you can also "Google" the terms you don't know. Single Crochet Stitch Single crochet is the shortest and most basic of all stitches. It requires less yarn to make each stitch, but can take more yarn to do the pattern since the stitches are small and compact. Here is a picture of what the stitch looks like and below is a video posted by Crochet Guru in 2013. It's a great step by step of how to do the single. Half Double Crochet Stitch The half double crochet stitch is taller than a single crochet stitch, and shorter than double crochet stitch. You make the half double similar to how you make the single, with just an extra yarn-over (when you wrap the yarn around the hook) at the beginning. Half double crochet makes a solid piece of fabric without large holes. To the right is a picture of how the half double crochet looks and an instructional video by Crochet Guru posted in 2013 that will guide you through all the steps of making the half double. Double Crochet Stitch Double crochet stitches are basic crochet stitches that create an open, tall fabric and regardless of the project you are crocheting, this classic stitch will be your go-to stitch time and time again. Once again to the right is picture showing what a double looks like and below that is a video again by Crochet Guru showing the steps on how to complete the stitch. Keep Practicing! Now that you have learned 3 of the must-know-stitches your arsenal of creativity is armed and ready! The main thing to remember is that practice makes perfect. #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #threebasicstitches

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In need of a good DYI project or want to brush up on you crochet knowledge, well my dears, you have come to the right place. 1..2..3..to start There are 3 easy steps to creating what's called "the starting chain" or "foundation chain" or "base chain". So whatever the lingo, almost all crochet starts with a starting chain which is a series of loops that begins with a slip knot and once it's made, it is a long, straight piece that looks similar to a metal chain. You then work the first row of other stitches into the chain to start making your crochet fabric. Throughout the rest of the blog we'll go over the 3 steps that are the gateway to your creativity. First and Foremost, the Slip Knot Making a slip knot is the No. 1 step in many crochet projects. A slip knot is a type of knot that you use to attach the yarn to the crochet hook so that you can begin making your chains. You begin by making your loop (pic 1), slip the hook underneath the yarn that is connected to your yarn ball and bring the end of your hook around so the yarn is wrapped around it (pic 2), pull the yarn through the loop on your hook (pic 3), it now looks like a loose knot and all you need to do is pull it tight so the loop is the same size as the shaft of your hook (pic 4). Until you start your chain you can keep adjusting the size of the knot by either pulling up on the loop or down on the strand of yarn attached to your yarn ball. Coming in Second... Is yarn placement! Before we discuss yarn placement, here is some quick terminology: Working Yarn = the yarn that is attached to your yarn ball. It is the strand you use to crochet with; Tension = how tight or loose you hold your working strand of yarn. In your dominant hand you will hold the hook and in your other hand you hold the working strand and how you hold your working strand determines how tight or loose your tension is. Tension determines how your stitches look. If you hold your yarn too tight your stitches will be small and tight, they can pull and pucker your project, and it makes it hard to crochet the next row, but if your tension is too loose your stitches will be too big, your piece will not hold shape, you can't get the correct measurements, and the overall appearance of the project can look sloppy. Tension is not a hard skill to learn, it's just a skill that takes practice and finding the best way to hold your yarn. In the above pic are 4 different styles of holding your working strand. I hold my yarn like the picture on the bottom row, left side, where the yarn is only wrapped around the pointer finger. Here's a couple of tricks I've learned. One, once my yarn is in position, DO NOT hold onto the yarn. Let your fingers be more of a guide to hold the strand steady while you crochet. Two, even after you've practiced your tension and it's still too tight or loose, use a different size of hook. If you're too tight, use one hook size bigger than recommended, and too loose do the opposite, use a hook size smaller. Last but not Least And finally the chain itself. Just like that worm or frog you dissected in school, we're going to dissect the anatomy of the chain. Take a look at the pic in the middle, starting on the left you have your slip knot you just learned how to do and the yarn tail from making the slip knot. Then you have your front and back loops that make the shape of an 'V', the backside of the chain (back bump), your working loop that stays on your hook, and finally your working yarn strand. The picture on the right shows what the front side (right side) and the backside (wrong side) of your chain will look like. You'll want to pay attention to what side is facing you because as you are chaining, you can get your chain twisted. It won't have a huge effect on your project, but you won't have a neat straight edge at the end. Now onto the fun part, making your chain. Once you have your slip knot in place, and your working strand comfortably situated around the other hand: (1) you'll slip the hook underneath your working strand and bring the end of your hook around so the yarn is wrapped around it, (2) pull the yarn through the loop on the hook, (3) repeat steps one and two until you chain the number you need. Counting the number of chains you need is simple. Like the chart below, you just count the FRONT (or top) loop. Video Instructions If you're like me sometimes you need to read and see it for it to click. I found an easy to follow video that goes over slip knots and chaining...and remember practice does make perfect! #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #slipknotsandchaining

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. Boxed In This is considered a vintage stitch used in older patterns, but there's nothing out of date about the way this stitch looks. It is a simple stitch that makes a big impact and has gone by a few different names over the years, like, the crazy stitch, the crazy shell, or the brick stitch. It is also part of stitch collection called "brick stitches". Another example of "brick stitching" is corner to corner (C2C) crochet that is done on the diagonal, however, the box stitch is still done in the traditional manner of crocheting from side to side. To create this fun stitch you use basic crochet stitches to do it which makes it perfect for an advanced crocheter or an expert. Written Instructions: CHAIN Chain multiple of 5, plus 3 more (ex: ch 10 + 3 = 13 chains) ROW 1 Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1 SC. 1 SC into each CH across the row. CH 1 and turn. ROW 2 Starting in the 1st stitch, work 1 SC. 1 SC into the next st, CH 3. *Skip three stitches, work 1 SC into each of the next two stitches. Repeat from * to the end of the row. CH 3 and turn. (Turning chain counts as a stitch.) ROW 3 Starting in the space made by the chain 3, work 5 DC. Work 5 DC into each CH 3 space across the row, ending the row with 1 DC into the last SC. CH 1 and turn. REPEAT ROWS 2 AND 3 Video Instructions I found two great videos that shows a couple of different ways to crochet the box stitch. One is by Daisy Farms that was posted in 2021 and the second one was posted in 2019 by Kristina Crochet. Daisy Farms Kristina Crochet Breaking out of the Box No matter what style you choose to the box stitch in, it is a stitch that really does make a big impact. Here are some splendid examples. #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #boxstitch Check out The Crocheted Moons Fall/Winter Selection!

Ever wonder why certain crochet stitches are better for some patterns and not others? Does using a particular stitch really make a difference in the finished product? Even if you are not a crocheter, having a little bit of stitch knowledge can help you pick the best quality product. This year I want to find new stitches I haven't used yet. Come along with me as I explore new and fancy stitches and what projects they are best used for. Lovely, little, links This stitch has a wonderful woven look to it that is created by linking your double crochet stitches together in the middle of the post. By doing this you get the height of the double, but not the the thickness. It also eliminates the gaps and holes you can get with the double and makes a more solid piece of fabric. The written instructions to this handy stitch is below and below that from December 18, 2013 is video from Moogley that shows each step. Written Instructions: ROW 1 Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook, insert your hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, *insert your hook into the next chain, yarn over and pull a loop. Repeat from * two more times, (or until desired height of stitch.) Yarn over and pull through two loops 4 times or until you have one loop remaining on the hook. To begin the next stitch, insert hook under horizontal bar, YO and pull a loop back through. Insert hook under next horizontal bar, YO and pull a loop back through. Continue inserting hook under each horizontal bar in same manner until you reach the chain. Insert hook into next chain, YO and pull a loop back through. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops until one loop remains on hook. CH 4 (or however many you need to match the height on the first row) and turn. REPEAT ROW 1 Video Instructions What to do, What to do? When I first saw this stitch I immediately thought of edging. Edging for sweater cuffs and bottoms, for blankets, heat pads, and dish towels. But...there are several other items you can make with this stitch like, bags, hats, rugs and pillows! #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #linkedstitch Check out The Crocheted Moons Fall/Winter Selection!