Flower Circle Squares | Comfort at Home with Color

 For the next little while,

 to get through another season of staying home, social distancing and isolation,

working on these happy and bright colored motifs are a welcome and comforting treat:

Now that the days are shorter there seems to be more time

 in the evening for these fun motifs that I call 

the "Flower-Circle-Squares"...

yes, I know...very clever...😉

UPDATE:

This pattern is now available for download by clicking here.

They start with a blossom circle,

then they are converted into a square:

repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.

Many, many more to come...another stash-buster for the books.

These are crocheted with the 

Yarnsmiths Create DK, Stylecraft Special DK and Scheepjes Colour Crafter 

stash of many colors.

The pattern for this motif up to the circle can

be found in the Macaroon Blossom Blanket pattern.

You can find the pattern by clicking on the following

Apple Blossom Dreams Shops:

Etsy

Ravelry

Lovecrafts 

There are a few silver linings/good things/qualities that have come out of the challenges of 2020,

but unfortunately, my engine running even at full throttle is not one of them.

So for now, the thought of kicking back and simply enjoying the process of making something

just for the enjoyment of it, whenever the urge is there, sounds like a good plan.

No schedule, no deadline, no commitments...

Please stay well and take care, my friends, and remember as quoted from Jane Austen:

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."

 I wish you peace, comfort, health,

happy colors

and

Warmly,

Astri Elisabeth

P.S. I do understand that for some of you, staying home is not an option. 

My wish for you is that comfort and safety follow you wherever 2020 takes you.

The best to you and yours!

Towel Topper | Revised Crochet Pattern | Listed

The Towel Topper Crochet Pattern

has been revised, refreshed, remixed, and retested!

Check out the results from the lovely testers:

         This one is by Kitty.                This one is by Lisa.          This one is by Michelle.

Their help was invaluable!!!

Thank you so much!

The pattern can guide you to make several variations:

 

  

  

 

Easily customized to coordinate with the recipient's kitchen.

(Maybe the recipient is you!)

Most any cotton yarn will work:

The one on the left was crocheted with fingering weight cotton yarn (Scheepjes Catona).

The one on the right was crocheted with worsted weight cotton yarn (Scheepjes Cahlista).

You can find the renewed pattern for the Towel Topper 

 by clicking on the following link or photo:

Etsy

Ravelry

Lovecrafts

The pattern includes 13 pages of step-by-step photos along with a one-page abbreviated version for printing or for once you've made a couple and all that is needed are a few reminders.

The pattern also includes instructions for the rose-in-the-round; 

alternatively, that can be found separately by clicking here.

and as always, wishing you lots of

Warmly,

Astri

Granny Rose Pom-Pom Pillows | Crochet Pattern | Listed

Yay!

Finally, after nearly three months of working on the

Granny Rose Pom-Pom Pillows

Crochet Pattern

it has been listed,

and the pattern can be found by clicking on the following

Apple Blossom Dreams Shops

Etsy

Ravelry

LoveCrafts

The pattern includes information to make two different pom-pom borders... 

and two different color schemes are outlined:

     

The backs are a large granny square:

 

This has been an awesome opportunity to use up some of that Stylecraft Special DK and 

Scheepjes Colour Crafter yarn I resolved to reduce as a part of a 2020 New Year resolution: 

This super-duper yarn,

can be found at Wool Warehouse by clicking here.

This pattern definitely fell in the category of 

and I hope it will for you as well!

Warmly,

Astri

Granny Rose Pom-Pom Pillows | Crochet Pattern Writing

It's been a while since I've had a block of time to sit down and write a crochet pattern;

between holidays, guests, snow removal and house projects it's been a little hectic,

but it's all "good" hectic.

So this evening I sit and start writing the pattern for the

Granny Rose Pom-Pom Pillows:

2025 UPDATE:

Tthe pattern can be found by clicking on the following

Apple Blossom Dreams Shops

Etsy

Ravelry

LoveCrafts

The pattern includes information to make two different pom-pom borders... 

and two different color schemes are outlined:

     

One pillow has a small crocheted pom-pom trim and one has large pom-poms.

 

 And the backs are great big granny squares:

Yarn is Yarnsmiths Create DK, Stylecraft Special DK, or Scheepjes Colour Crafter.

You can find links to purchase these yarns 

by clicking here.

This new pattern is a modification of the Granny Rose Two-Color Afghan.

Crochet Pattern available on Etsy by clicking here.

(Just in case you can't wait or you already have that pattern.)

(Granny Rose Two-Color Afghan.)

Working on these pillows has been one of my happiest projects.

I'm excited to roll this pattern out soon.

I should wrap it up in a couple of days and then it will go out for testing.

Please stay tuned,

and in the meantime, I wish you lots of

Warmly,

Astri

Granny Square Napkin Envelope

Ya' know, in a previous post I mentioned how I did not know if it was appropriate

 to gift a crocheter with a crocheted gift or not.

Well, I'm here to tell you that as far as this crocheter (me) goes it is not only appropriate,

but very well received and appreciated.

💓💓💓

 Look at what the lovely Sandra in Switzerland of the

Reflections and Nature Blog sent to me:

Oh my, you can only imagine my joy and delight in receiving this gift from afar!

 Sandra has carefully coordinated the colors with my home and style,

and she made this incredible photo collage, as well:

She's a talented crocheter and photographer.

  I 💓 it so much!

It's absolutely perfect. 

Thank you so much Sandra!

And to all of you,

thank you for stopping by and 

Warmly,

Astri