Guest Blogger ~ HodgePodge Crochet!!!!

Today we have a special treat for you!!! We have a friend of mine and an amazing talented woman. Tanya from HodgePodge Crochet!!! When I first started REALLY following other crochet sites on Facebook, she was one of the first pages I started to follow. I have loved her work since day one. I was so pleased when she asked if I wanted to do a guest blogger swap I was doing my happy dance. So with out further ado I would like to introduce..............

My name is Tanya and I began crocheting as a young child. I never really had a passion for it but I would marvel over the freehand dolls my mother would create every Christmas, seemingly out of thin air. She didn’t follow a pattern or know what the stitches she used were called. She simply did what she loved and every year I delighted as the small army of dolls she crafted made their way out of our house and into the arms of her eager customers!

These days, her crochet style would be considered freeform by die-hards of the craft and I’m proud to say that HodgePodge Crochet (http://hodgepodgecrochet.wordpress.com) was born out of that organic beginning.

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time learning and mastering new techniques and building upon my own hodgepodge style to come up with something that represents the crocheter I’ve become. I feel that my style is reflected in every stitch of the patterns I put out. HodgePodge Crochet has become my passion—it defines my very lifestyle—and I mean that quite literally. My blog embodies that journey, and the response from those who read it, or come in to find something new, is what inspires me to write the next amazing pattern.

Ever since I started crocheting, I’ve been drawn to overly textured looks. You can see examples of that with my Diamond Mermaid Cocoon (http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/other/diamond-mermaid-cocoon-photo-prop/13240) 

or my Ari Wrap Wristers (http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/ari-wrap-wristers/64129). I love the way the light and shadows play on the surface of a beautifully textured crochet piece.

So it seems fitting that I’d do a tutorial on one of my favorites, the tunisian treble crochet stitch.

HOW TO WORK TUNISIAN TREBLE CROCHET

Ttc: Tunisian treble crochet: Forward: Yarn over twice, insert hook—from right to left—into front vertical bar of next st, yarn over and pull up a loop through st, [yarn over and pull through 2 loops] twice, leaving last loop on hook.

Return: Yarn over, pull through 1 loop on hook, *yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook, repeat from * to end.

If you’d like to work a fun neck cuff project with this stitch, head on over to HodgePodge Crochet (http://hodgepodgecrochet.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/ripple-stitch-nuff/) for a FREE pattern!

Where you can find HodgePodge Crochet:

Email: HodgePodgeCrochet@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HodgePodgeCrochet

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HodgePodgeCrochet/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHodgeCrochet

Blog: http://hodgepodgecrochet.wordpress.com/

Online Forum: http://hodgepodgecrochet.forumotion.com/

Craftsy: http://www.craftsy.com/user/400300/pattern-store

Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/hodgepodge-crochet-designs

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/thehodge

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/TanyaNaser/

 Check out my guest blogger spot over at HodgePodge Crochet!!!

I shared all my clay coloring tips. You won't want to miss it!!

Happy Crafting


Stephanie

The Great Pumpkin Contest

Hello I hope you are all having a great week. I have some things to share with you today.

I am currently having a contest on my facebook page.

I LOVE decorating for the different seasons throughout the year and fall is one of my favorites. All the warm rich colors. The idea of this contest is to make the Elegant Pumpkin and then use it around your house as fall decoration. We are looking for the best use of the elegant pumpkin as fall décor. 

The contest will start Oct 4th and run through Oct 25th at midnight. All photo submissions must be messaged to me or emailed to me by midnight Oct 25th. After you have decorated with your Elegant Pumpkin take a photo and either message them to me or email them to me at smalltowndreamz@gmail.com Along with your photo submission please include your First and Last name along with your shop name( if you have one) and the name of the 1 free pattern that you would like for participating. (The 1 free pattern will be sent out the first week of Nov)

I will upload your submission with your first name and shop name into this album. The album will close at midnight on the 25th. Then my family (not me) will look through all the submissions and they will pick out the winners. The winners will be announced on Oct 31st.

The 1st place winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to any Mad Mad Makers Shop of your choice.
The 2nd place winner will receive 6 patterns of choice from my pattern shops or a $10.00 gift certificate towards my Etsy Shop. 
The 3rd place winner will receive 3 free patterns of choice from my pattern shop. 
EVERYONE that participates in the contest will receive 1 free pattern of their choice. 

If you have not picked up your pattern it can be picked up at any time as long as yours submission is in by the 25th at midnight.

All photo submissions must be messaged to me or emailed to me by midnight Oct 25th. After you have decorated with your Elegant Pumpkin take a photo and either message them to me or email them to me at smalltowndreamz@gmail.com Along with your photo submission please include your First and Last name along with your shop name( if you have one) and the name of the 1 free pattern that you would like for participating.

More details about the contest are posted on our Facebook page in the album called The Great Pumpkin Contest.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.583504081713403.1073741838.249530925110722&type=3


If you have not picked up your pattern it can be picked up at any time as long as yours submission is in by the 25th at midnight.

http://www.craftsy.com/user/669481/pattern-store

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elegant-pumpkin-pattern

https://www.etsy.com/listing/113441535/the-elegant-pumpkin-patterns


Thank you to everyone that participates. I am so excited to see all your amazing pumpkins and how you decorate with them. 

A big Thank you to Kelly Smith Images LLC for taking the beautiful picture of the Elegant Pumpkin.




Happy Crafting

Stephanie

Mad Mad Makers Crochet Pattern Round Up

A while back I joined an amazing group called the Mad Mad Makers. This group is bursting at the seams with talent. Violet Buds had asked all the makers if we had a free pattern that we could share and a bunch of the designers got together sent her a copy to the link of all our patterns and she put together this AMAZING LIST!!!!!!!!  Let's give a Big Thank you to Violet Buds for putting this together!

"Chasing Chevrons" cozy pattern by A Crocheted Simplicity

Bows & Headbands 4-pack patterns by Heart for Your Home

Valentine's Day Heart pattern/tutorial by Stephanie for Smalltown Dreamz/KiKi Love Creations

 

Mason Jar Cozy pattern by The Sheepish Hooker

"Chasing Chevrons" Placemat pattern by A Crocheted Simplicity

"Chasing Chevrons" venti cup cozy pattern by A Crocheted Simplicity Keep reading for many more FREE patterns!

First Stuffed Animal Pattern

First I would like to say I am sorry for being MIA lately. The cold and flu season hit our house hard and we have been battling to get it out since the week of Christmas. I think we are all FINALLY on the road to recovery.

I have to admit as a designer you may fail more times than you may like to admit but each time is a new learning experience. A couple weeks ago I shared with you how I go about making my sewing templates. On many occasions that technique has worked strait off the first try.  However taking on something like a stuffed animal I should have known that I might be in for a bit of a disappointment thinking I would get it on the first try.

I am not saying that my elephant looks horrible I am just saying the pattern could use some adjustments. But that is the good thing about using the process I use to design my patterns. It is so easy to go back to the drawing board to make those adjustments and then just cut out a new paper template. I had to share this with you though. It so important not to give up. Look at parts of what you don't like about something and try and fix it until you do like it.

I do look forward to getting this pattern down to perfection but it is fun to see the process along the way. 

Happy Crafting

Stephanie

Jack-O-Lantern Pattern Released!!

Jack-O-Lantern Pattern Releases!!

I am very excited that over the next week I will be releasing the rest of my Halloween Collection. Today the Jack-O-Lantern Pattern has released. I hope everyone will enjoy making this as much as I did.

You can find it available in all 3 of my shops

Etsy

Ravelry

Craftsy

<--This pattern will fit the Mini Witch's Hat pattern that was released last week.




Here is a sneak peak at whats releasing next week-->









This weekend is Halloween and kids will be dressed up in their cute little costumes. I can't wait to see all the goodies my little one comes home with, on top of seeing all the other little witches, monsters, and ninjas running through out the town. Then at the end of the night the people in our community get together in the center of town at the baseball field for an awesome community bonfire. Last year was our first year living here in our little village and we had a good time. I look forward to seeing familiar faces and lots of fun the rest of the week. Wednesday is the last day of school for the kids out here so let the Halloween Festivities BEGIN!!!! What are you doing this Halloween?

Happy Crafting,
Smalltown Mama

Crochet Testers Wanted!

So lately I have been getting into designing my own crochet patterns for the Mario Character Inspired Amigurumi Toys. As of right now I have a small team of pattern testers and I am looking to bring on 2 more. Eventually there will be other patterns other than the Mario Character Collection.

Designing these crochet patterns is a new adventure for me. It all started because I wanted to make my son a Mario Mushroom, seeing how this was the in thing for my little guy at the time. The ball just started rolling from there. If you are interested in becoming a crochet tester for Smalltown Dreamz please email me with subject line Crochet Tester at smalltowndreamz@gmail.com.

I look forward to a great future in the world of crochet pattern designing.