Inspired Creatives

While doing the Thing A Day Challenge for February, I’ve run across a ton of beautiful crochet heart patterns – all for free.  These are all first rate designs given freely by the creators.  Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing so generously with the crafting community.  Since I definitely want to keep track of all these fantastic patterns and tutorials, I thought I’d put them in one place for easy reference.  Bookmarking didn’t seem sufficient since I wanted to share the designs and give a shout out to the designers.    And of course, what better place to keep track of my life stuff than on my blog, right?  Hope you enjoy my little round up of some fantastic crochet and knit designs from some really dynamic designers.  As I’ve gotten absolutely obsessed with crocheting and knitting hearts and flowers, I’ll be continually adding to this round up, so bookmark it and subscribe to our rss feed.  Stay tuned for a Crochet and Knit Flower Pattern Round Up!

Tiny Crochet Heart Pattern

Wanting to make some really small Valentine’s hearts, Julie Kundhi of julie-k whipped up this cute little pattern. Visit her etsy shop at kundhicreative where she’s presently hosting a Flowers for Haiti sale. Proceeds from all flower pins will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

Mochimochi Land Easy Heart

Anna of Mochimochi Land offers up these cutesy little Amigurumi style hearts.  They’re fast and easy.  You’ll find yourself knitting  a bunch these for friends, family and luvas!

American Folk-Art Style Heart Motif

This free pattern is courtesy of Cocoa Cream’s Craft Closet.  I know you just want to grab your nearest yarn and get started on these.  They are just too lovely.  And do stop by Cocoa Cream Crochet’s etsy shop for some more crochet pleasure.

Detailed Video Tutorial on YouTube

Thanks Crochet-Mania for the great tutorial.

Excellent Magic Ring Tut

I found that learning the Magic Ring was a great alternative to starting crochet in the round.  Here’s an excellent video from KawaiiGurumi.  Although she’s targeting Amigurumi artists, this tutorial works for anyone working in the round, and was by far the most clear that I found.  I had my Magic Ring first time around.  Thanks for sharing.  P.S. If you’re interested in learning amigurumi crochet KawaiiGurumi has an entire Youtube channel on How to Amigurumi!

Heart Coaster or Mini Doily

This is a lovely crocheted doily brought to us by Leslie, the “Crochet Queen,” of CrochetDoilies.com.  I did mine in red and it simply screams romantic Victorian Valentine.  Leslie also specializes in Filet Crochet Name Doilies and has a special page full of some of the most detailed free patterns I’ve seen.  Do check out her Delicate Crochet Butterfly, Shamrock & Irish Knot, Halloween Spider, and Thanksgiving Turkey, just to name a few.

Sweet Heart Crochet Pattern

Coming to us from Bella Dia is this charming little (or big, who’s counting?) Heart Garland.  Cassi Griffin has written a tutorial that is extremely detailed and pleasing to the eye with tons and tons of close up pictures.  This tutorial was a breeze to follow.  Recommended for beginners.  This was one of the first hearts I was able to make without a hitch – no mistakes at all.  Thanks, Cassi, for a marvelous tutorial! Oh and BTW, Cassie also makes the cutest one-of-a-kind little mushroom houses.  You’ve got to take a peek!

Crochet Heart Garland

Now if you prefer crochet to knitting, Cindy at Skip to My Lou, adapted the basic heart found at  Suzie’s Stuff into this darling garland.  Check Cindy’s shop for a plethera of free crafting ideas.

Amigurumi Heart Pattern

This free pattern is an original from RoxyCraft. This one got me started on the Amigurumi craze.  If you haven’t been bitten yet, check out Roxycraft’s collection of  free patterns.  These make up so quick and are so much fun.  They’re absolutely addictive!

Crochet 3D Heart

It’s really another Amigurumi heart, but I like to compare different patterns.  Sometimes just a little twist in phrasing can help you understand a pattern so much better.  This one comes from Sandra who creates limited edition or one-of-a-kind  Pepika Dolls.

How to Crochet a Heart Video Tut

Mandy of Little Birdie Secrets teaches you how to crochet these little lovelies with embroidery floss in a great 4 minute video with assurances you’ll be making them in 2. Check out her site to see how she’s incorporated these hearts on cards and scrapbook pages as well as on baby accessories.  She’s also got a how-to crochet a flower video that I’m eternally grateful for.

Heart Pattern in Knit

Knit this heart, from Renee Blixt of Suite 101, using any size hook and any type yarn.  Make appliqués, pillows, sachets, and more.    I made this.  Very fast and easy.

Crocheted Amigurumi-Style Hearts

Here’s another amigurumi style heart that Patricia Kruep of  Little Berry Studio so graciously shared here on Instructables.  Look how cute these look in that cup.  Thank You Patricia.

Big Heart Dishcloth

Thank you, Jill of Wool’s Happenin’ for sharing this cute little knit heart dishcloth.  I think this cutey pie would brighten up any kitchen all year long, not just Valentine’s Day.  While you’re knitting this up, don’t forget to congratulate Jill on following her passion and focusing full time on her business, Starstruck Cat Design, which offers one of a kind hand-crafted items.  Good luck in all your endeavors, Jill!

My how time flies.  We all know that and we all experience days, weeks, months, even years slipping through our lives without us barely noticing.  Well, we usually notice the years.  If you’re not noticing those, maybe you’re somehow related to Rip Van Winkle.  I’ve done my share of procrastinating, of putting things off till tomorrow, of being absolutely positively stuck in my tracks with no motivation to move forward.  I want this year to be a little different.  I want to be as productive as possible (don’t we all?).  I want to complete more projects (don’t we all?).  Yes, that means start to finish.  Not start to “just need to put the clasp or the zipper or the button or the glaze on and then it’ll be finished.”  No, no, no.  Got enough of those lying around.  To kick start my year I’ve joined two challenges.  One is Creative Every Day (#CED2010 on twitter) which goes all year.  The other is Thing A Day which lasts through the month of February.

I know both these challenges will help me out.  I’ve already started thinking in terms of integrating creativity into my daily round instead of viewing it as something separate, detached from my life.  I’m also becoming more forgiving of myself.  I’ve got a lot of interests.  I’ve found out that’s not a bad thing.  I can jump from one thing to another without feeling guilty and still get things accomplished.

The pics above are just a sampling of what I worked on in January (in other words, what got finished).  There’s other bits and pieces, trials and errors lying around, but some things really aren’t ready for prime time.  Maybe they’ll make the cut this month.