The best thing about being part of a community, whether physical or virtual, is the support, creativity, and fun you can have as group. Here you can find testimonials of friends who have supported The Crocheted Moon and information for other local small businesses. It really does take a village to help us grow! An Interview with Bigfoot Even though I cannot crochet fast enough or have enough time in the world, unfortunately, it's the ideas and requests from friends and customers that give me my best creations. "So, Little Bigfoot your fans want to know how you came to be?" Well, that's a simple question to answer...it was all due to a very good friend, Ashley, whom I call one of the original believers. She has been a bigfoot fan since the dawn of time and for her birthday this year Bigfoot was made a reality. The thing that solidified the creation of Little Bigfoot in my mind was something Ashley said to me. "I think Bigfoot really exists because we all need a little magic in our lives." She is right! Magic can feel like it's in short supply, and I agree we all need at least a little of it. So, to share and spread forth this inspiring quote, when you purchase your own "Little Bigfoot" it will come with a beautifully done card featuring her quote. Also, with much begging and pleading, I was able to talk Ashley into doing a small testimonial video. Check it out, it's only a few seconds and super cute! How can I get my own Bigfoot? This mystically adorable creature will be available for pre-order during September 2022 and then a limited number will be offered at the upcoming Sandy Expo Center this fall. #bloggingthemoonCM #wilbertandfriends #ashleyandbigfoot Check out more from The Crocheted Moon!

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. Isn't Moss the green stuff on rocks? Moss is not just the green, squishy stuff found on rocks and trees. It's an amazingly versatile stitch that creates beautiful pieces, especially if you are using different thickness of yarn. You can use this simple stitch on the thicker yarn so that it doesn't bow out your design and make it look lopsided, like I did on the "Granny Square Coin Purse". To work the Moss stitch is an easy process of repeating (SC, chain 1, skip the next stitch) all the way across your row or round. When you start the next round you simply switch the order of the stitches (chain 1, skip the next stitch, SC) always making sure your SC is stitched in the chain space, & you chain and sk over the SC. Clear as mud... right?! What Else does it do? Not only does this stitch help reduce the bulkiness of thicker yarn, but it creates a fantastic woven design. It reminds of basket weaving with reeds or strips of fabric. I have used it on the "Country Stylin' Sunhat" for the woven look & it would be a great one to use on crocheted baskets. But...that is not all it's good for, if you use a thinner yarn it can create a lightweight mesh stitch that is perfect for hats and other summer items. I also used this particular stitch for the "Play & Go Child Sunhat" & "Little Sluggers Baseball Cap"...and also the Vintage Moss Beanie What can't this stitch be used for! #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #nonamestitche Take a peek at the Spring/Summer Collection

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. One loop here, one loop there, loops are everywhere! To simply crochet it is basically loops, twists, and knots, but when you put all those in the right place you can get some pretty amazing patterns. Two of these amazing stitches are the Single Crochet front & back loop. To make both of these stitches is simple. For the front/back loop stitch you: Insert your hook into front loop only, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two loops on hook & for the back it is the same except you Insert your hook into back loop only. That's it, that's all there is to it! Below is a sample of a regular Single Crochet, Single Front Loop, & Single Back Loop. You can see how the small change in where you insert your hook can change the pattern. The Front Loop is a wonderful stitch to use if you want variation in your pattern, but don't want a 3D look to it. It's a nice flat stitch that reminds me of railroad tracks. I have recently used the front loop in my Men's Cotton Ties, and Mesh Bowties. I have used a #10 crochet thread and am in love with how the stitch makes the ties look like a textured knit fabric. Take a look for yourself! What to do with a Back Loop Now the back loop is a very nice stitch if you are wanting a 3D effect such as ribbing around sweaters, vests, and hats. When you add your ribbing you can use a smaller hook size to give it a more snug fit and with sweaters it gives it that nice fitted look at the bottom. #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #frontandbackloops Check out more from The Crocheted Moon!

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. My Grandma isn't Square....! A granny square is a single square piece created with yarn by using the crochet method. It is done by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade & resemble coarse lace. There isn't a limit to the maximum size of a granny square, crocheters usually create multiple small squares (called "motifs") and assemble the pieces to make clothing, purses, Afghan blankets, and other household decor. The Granny Square apparel peaked in the 1970s. & went through the 1980s. Children & Adults alike could be seen wearing Granny Square vest, shorts, hat, & wrapped in the famous style of the afghan. Although particular color & pattern schemes for Granny Squares change with time, this motif is a staple among us crocheters. Multicolor Granny Squares are an effective way to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects and basic granny square motifs do not require advanced skills to make. Early History In wikipdia.org I found an early example of a traditional granny square, designed by a Mrs. Phelps, was published in the April 5, 1885 edition of Prairie Farmer.[3] She wrote: I have been trying a new crocheted pattern for an Afghan, which is on the principle of the crazy work so popular now. It is made in strips of the desired length, and with two of the blocks, which I have brought, forming the width (fig. 2). The long strips are crocheted together with a double chain stitch which is twisted, and of any two desirable colors. The small blocks can be sewn or drawn together, so as to make a perfect square, this joining being done on the wrong side. The idea is to have the blocks appear as one straight strip. Use Germantown wool, the colors of the block being bright and varied to one’s taste, but the outer edge of each is black. The "crazy work" she refers to is crazy quilting, which was a popular trend at the time. During this era, it was traditional for women to use black ribbon on the borders between crazy quilt squares[4] - much like the black borders of a traditional granny square. The granny square motif reappeared in the 1930s, and the pattern was featured in publications such as Fleisher's Afghans. Fly Your Stars & Strips In honor of our nation's holiday I found several great examples of patriotic Granny Squares. They're a simple and fun to decorate.....attached is an easy peasy pattern just for you! Once you master the pattern try switching up your colors for beautiful pieces like these examples: #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #patrioticgrannysquare

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. An Interesting and Industrial Beginning Crochet's origins and development are documented by CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) member Ruthie Marks in her article, History of Crochet. Ms. Marks originally provided this history of crochet in Chain Link issues starting in September 1997. Her complete history is posted with her permission. This article is a quick highlight on how crochet was started. If you'd like to read more about this versatile handiwork you can click on Ruthie Marks link above "History of Crochet". No one is quite sure when and where crochet got its start. The word comes from croc, or croche, the Middle French word for hook, and the Old Norse word for hook is krokr. According to American crochet expert and world traveler Annie Potter, "The modem art of true crochet as we know it today was developed during the 16th century. It became known as 'crochet lace' in France and 'chain lace' in England, but the bottom line is that there is no convincing evidence as to how old the art of crochet might be or where it came from. It was impossible to find evidence of crochet in Europe before 1800. There are several theories from researchers like writer/researcher Lis Paludan of Denmark. She has three main theories about the start of crochet: One: Crochet originated in Arabia, spread eastward to Tibet and westward to Spain, from where it followed the Arab trade routes to other Mediterranean countries. Two: Earliest evidence of crochet came from South America, where a primitive tribe was said to have used crochet adornments in rites of puberty. Three: In China, early examples were known of three-dimensional dolls worked in crochet. And for some countries, crocheting was a literal life saver for them. For the people of Ireland, it pulled them out of their potato famine, and threw them into abject poverty. They crocheted between farm chores and outdoors to take advantage of sunlight, and after dark, they moved indoors to work by the light of a candle, a slow-burning peat fire or an oil lamp. Ironically, buyers abroad were unaware that their delicate collars and cuffs were made in primitive dwellings under poverty-stricken conditions. However, this handiwork did not just belong to the women, but the men also joined in. They were organized into crochet cooperatives. Schools were formed to teach the skill and teachers were trained and sent all over Ireland, where the workers were soon creating new patterns of their own. Families relied on their earnings from crochet, which gave them the chance to save up enough to emigrate and start a new life abroad, taking their crochet skills with them. When these industrial emigrants arrived in the Americas, the women who were already busy with their spinning, weaving, knitting and quilting, could not help but be influenced to include in their handiwork the crochet skills of their new neighbors. Even though there are still some unanswered questions on how and when crochet really began, just knowing the small amount of history we already have, makes this beautiful, and wonderful craft, a skill worth learning! #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #historyofcrochet

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. Unusual & Quirky Crochet Facts In the late 1800s, men's and women's hairstyles required the use of oily pomade. Consequently, crochet became more popular as people put little sewn pieces on top of expensive furniture to protect them from the pomaded heads. Crochet became increasingly popular in the 1920s when women stopped wearing corsets and began to crochet lacy underwear. Artist Nathan Vincent crocheted and knitted an entire locker room. He has also knitted taxidermy busts, urinals, guns, and tools. His goal is to represent masculine objects in a new and softer medium. Over 2,000 women from 14 countries met in India to create the world's largest crocheted blanket. The mega-blanket measured approximately 120,000 square feet, or about the size of one-and-a-half football fields. While crochet has proven health benefits, injuries do occur. Health professionals even have a medical code to note when a crochet injury has occurred: CODE Y93D1...(I didn't know I was in such a dangerous profession! ;) ) **All the fun facts were gathered from: #bloggingthemoonCM #knowyourcrochet #crochetfunfacts And now for some Easter Fun! I came across and adorable little Easter pattern I wanted to share with you. If you are just starting to decorate or you just need a little something extra to add to your decorations, try this cute bunny pattern. You can turn them into ornaments to hang from a tree, make a garland, or stack them up in a an Easter Basket. Either way, it's a quick and fun way to add whimsy to your holiday.

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. Simple, but Splendid! Throughout the year I have been highlighting different crochet stitches, but I have not talked about the stitches that make all other stitches possible. It's a triple threat of the basic, but necessary. First comes the Single Crochet (SC), Second, the Half Double Crochet (HDC), and Third, the Double Crochet (DC). There are longer stitches besides the Double, like the Triple, however these are the 3 you use the most. As you can see in the very top picture each stitch increases in height and spacing which determines how solid your crochet piece turns out. "So, what increases the stitches height?", you ask....the amount of loops on your hook and how many times you pull the yarn through those loops. Single will only have 2 loops on the hook and you'll pull the yarn through both loops only once. Half Double will have 3 loops on the hook and you'll pull the yarn through all 3 loops at once. Double will also have 3 loops on the hook, but you only pull yarn through the first 2 loops, (leaving 2 loops on the hook) and then you'll pull yarn through again on the last 2 loops. OK OK...enough technical, what kinds of things can you make with these 3 fabulous stitches? You can make anything! If I need something to be more sturdy and solid, say like for plush, I will use the SC stitch. If I want something to be more soft and pliable, like a blanket, than you can use the DC stitch, which will also save you time because you are crocheting with a bigger stitch. The Cheron Rose dress and Paw Print Scarf were both done with DC stitches, the Static Wave Beanie was done with all 3 stitches so I could get the wave pattern, and Baby Yoda, Lucky the Leprechaun, and the Baby High-tops were done with SC stitch because I need I more closed off pattern that acted more like fabric. Once you learn these stitches there will be no limit to what you can create!! #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #CMtripthreat

This is the place for all your Spring Expo updates and the newest items. This is your Summer go to piece! On the go or a lazy summer day this cover-up will be your warm weather go to! Pefect for the pool, yoga class, over tees & shorts while running around town, or even used to add extra style to a cute summer dress. The mesh stitching makes it lightweight and airy, but gives you enough coverage when needed and will not feel heavy when damp. It has a scoop neck, poncho style sleeves and slits on the side for extra flexibility. The unique yarn coloring also makes it one of a kind. No matter the chosen color, you will not get the same design twice. So toss it in your suitcase, purse, or beach tote and feel confident you always have a piece that will make you look great! #bloggingthemoonCM #springexpo2022 #cmsplashandgo Amazing Color Schemes In order: Crimson Poppies, Obsidian Daydream, Peacock, Gerber Daisy Click Here Take a gander below at at the great items that will be offered this Spring at the Expo Facebook Countdown...25 days and counting!

This is the place for all your Spring Expo updates and the newest items. What a Dapper Little Gentlemen This vest is too irresistible to pass up! It's made with a lightweight yarn that makes it perfect for Spring and Summer weather. The design mirrors a basket weave and is accented with copper buttons down the front. It works well with long or short sleeve dress shirts, polos, t-shirts, slacks, or jeans. So, if you're little guy needs a comfortable way to dress up formally or casually, look no further. #bloggingthemoonCM #springexpo2022 #cmboyvest Click Here Take a gander below at at the great items that will be offered this Spring at the Expo Facebook Countdown...67 days and counting!

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. How to "V" Stitch The V-stitch (also called a rope stitch) is a simple and versatile stitch and what more could you want in a stitch. The V-stitch, is made by crocheting DC, ch 1, DC into the same stitch. It creates attractive zig zag pattern, crisp corners for square patterns, or amazing rows of columns or mesh work. Double, Double, Your Enjoyment! If you want a closer knit V-stitch pattern for things like blankets, sweaters, or washcloths you simply just add an extra Double Crochet stitch on both sides of the 'V'. Just like this... Double or single it's a fun stitch to use and play around with. Whether you're new to crochet or a long time crocheter and like to experiment with your own patterns, you can't lose! #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #vstitches

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. Berry-tastic! The crochet berry stitch is a variation on a cluster stitch (several double crochet stitches gathered together in one stitch). I love that it's fairly simple, but creates a fantastic texture. It's not as textured as the bobble stitch (see Flowering Bobble Beanie or Witches Hat), so it's a good in between. Coming up berries It's plain to see why choosing the berry stitch is a great choice. The pattern gives any item a wonderful "quilted feel" with it's square design. Which is why I chose this specific stitch to create items such as the Santa Baby Cocoon. #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #CMevenberrystitch

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. Picot Me Pleased! What is a Picot stitch in crochet? Picots are pretty little round-shaped crochet stitches that add a decorative touch to an edging. You can also use picots to fill an empty space in a mesh design. You see them quite often in thread crochet, but you can also make them with yarn. Picot 2 ways... As mentioned in the above paragraph, you can use picots as a pretty scalloped border or you can work it in throughout your pattern and it gives it a "knobby" sort of texture. I used this delicate, simple stitch on a summer dress and also on The Crocheted Moon's newest arrival, Wilbert the Lamb: CM's mascot. The picot stitch added a nice wool look and feel to the head and body. Below you can look at the diagrams to see how the Picot stitch is done. #bloggingthemoonCM #stitchofthemonth #picotmepleased