Scrubby Yarn

We have new yarn!  This Scrubby yarn by Red Heart is fuzzy and soft and comes in a variety of colors.  It's the perfect yarn for a washcloth.  There's knit instructions on the inner label but you can just as easily crochet it too.  Adjust the instructions and make it to the size you want. 

I crocheted one and knitted one from one skein and still had yarn left over to make a another one!  These are easy projects for beginners because it can be made with just one type of stitch.  I made mine into squares.

For the knitters: Cast on the width you want.  Knit stitch across. Turn and continue to knit stitch across in rows until you get the length you want.

For the crocheters:  Chain stitch the width you want.  Turn and half-double crochet in each chain across. Turn and continue to half-double crochet in rows until you get the length you want.

This yarn can be used for fuzzy stuffed animals, sweaters, scarves or even lei.  Hmm... I'm going to have to consider all of these possibilities!

Scrubby on my mind!
Gloria @ HouseMart BFC Pearl City


                           

EZ Crochet Dishcloth

      
As seen on the Joy of Crafting show! This Saturday's "Crafting with Gloria" features an EZ Crochet Dishcloth!  If you know 2 basic crochet stitches...chain and single crochet....you can create this washcloth!  Register now!  The workshop is scheduled for this Saturday, February 28th from 2pm-3:30pm with a $5 workshop fee.  Bring a size H crochet hook and a skein of cotton yarn.  We carry the Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarns in a wide variety of solid or variegated colors and the Clover crochet hooks.  *Workshop is only at the Pearl City Ben Franklin store.  See you there!
gloria @ Pearl City

New Crochet Class at Enchanted Lakes: Learn to Crochet

Hey everyone. We have a new crochet teacher here at Enchanted Lakes (Kailua).

It consists of 4 sessions total for only $50. Classes are held on Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 1pm to 3pm.  Fran will teach you the basics of crochet and you'll eventually move on to her advance class.  You'll be making hats/beanies in the last 2 sessions of this beginner's crochet class.

If you're interested in taking her class come down to Enchanted Lakes and sign up!

Have a Craftastic Day!
Julie @ Enchanted Lakes

Crochet Owl

It was so much fun to make these crochet owls. Quick and easy. I painted a canvas to put the owls on for a nice display.

Supplies:

• Red Heart yarn or Sugar and Cream cotton yarn
• Size H/8-5mm Crochet Hook
• Yarn needle
• Buttons
• Moving eyes

Instructions:

First Round - start with a magic ring and hook 6 sc into the first sc to join.

Second Round – Chain one and then hook 2 sc in each stitch. Slip Stitch into the chain one and join.

Third Round – Change colors and then chain two. Hook a sc in the first stitch and then chain one. SC in the next stitch and then chain one. Repeat until you get to the end of the round and slip stitch into the second of the chain two.

Fourth Round – Change colors and chain one. DC in the chain one space and sc in the single crochet stitch, repeating this until you get to the end of the round and slip stitch into the chain one.

Fifth Round – Chain two and dc into the same space. Then hook 2 dc into the next stitch, one sc into the next three stitches and then 2 dc in the next two stitches.

Now, slip stitch in the next stitch, sc in the next three stitches and then hook 2 sc in the fourth, repeating around the rest of the body ending with a slip stitch into the last sc stitch, a slip stitch in the chain two space and a slip stitch in the first dc.

To Finish the top of the owl, you will hook a hdc in the next stitch in the next stitch, dc , chain one, dc in the next stitch, hdc in the next stitch, slip stitch in the next two stitches, hdc in the next stitch, dc, chain one, dc in the next stitch, hdc in the next stitch and finishing with a slip stitch in the next stitch.

Leave a long tail of yarn and cut to finish. Pull the yarn all the way through the loop on your hook and pull tight. Use the yarn needle to weave the tail up to an ear.

For the eyes, make a magic ring with 3 sc. Slip stitch in the first sc and join. Leave a long tail to stitch the eye in place. Choose a dark color, make a french knot for the eye. Instead of making french not you can use buttons or moving eyes. The beak is embroidered with yarn.

Beth @ Mapunapuna BFC

Crankin' Out Crafts Episode 234 - Guava Juice 2 – Crocheted Lei

Welcome back to our Guava Juice lei week. Today, Puna will focus on the crocheted parts of this lei. It is recommended that you have basic crochet knowledge for this section.

Use your crochet skills to create a beautiful lei!

Catch our newest episode on YouTube: Crankin' Out Crafts: Episode 234 - Guava Juice 2 - Crocheted Lei

Supplies:

Peach 1/8” satin ribbon

Moss 1/8” satin ribbon

Fern fizz yarn

Size 7 (4.5mm) crochet hook

Scissors

Each of these crocheted sections can be made into lei all on its own or wrapped around another lei like the finger lei we showed previously.

Don't forget to tune in on Friday for the last segment to finish off our Guava Juice Lei!

Crochet Bow

 

Who doesn't like a cute bow? I recently found a website where someone explained how to make these amazingly darling crochet bows. I made a couple of changes to the pattern, but I'm going to explain everything to you right here. By the way, these bows were made using our 100% cotton Sugar N' Cream yarn.

 

Now the first step is, using a J sized crochet hook, chain 30. Then, starting with the 3rd chain from the hook, half-double crochet in each chain until the end. Don't know how to do a half-double crochet? Read on...

The first step to a half-double crochet is to yarn over. That's shown in the really boring looking picture above.

Next, insert the hook in the next chain and yarn over and pull through. You should now have three loops on your hook, just like the picture above.Then, you yarn over again, and pull through all three loops on the hook. A half-double crochet looks like the last stitch in this picture:

Now the remainder of this bow is made of four rows of half-double crochet. Each time you get to the end of one row, you turn your work and chain two, then start making your half-double crochets all over again.

When you're done with your four rows, tie-off your end, and then weave the ends into your piece. Now, just like it shows in this picture, bring both of the short ends to meet together in the middle.

Scrunch this at the center and hot-glue in place. To make the bow look more finished, you need to crochet one more little piece to go over the center of your scrunched area. To do this, chain 10 and half-double crochet in the 3rd chain from your hook and in every chain across. Tie-off and weave in your ends then hot-glue this piece around the center of your bow.

I made one for St. Patrick's Day too! You can glue these to barrettes to make hair-bows or even to a piece of elastic as a bow tie. My green one here is definitely going to be a bow-tie.

I'm writing up an actual pattern for these and they'll be out in the store pretty soon. Make sure you stop by to check them out. How many of you out there like to crochet? Personally, it's one of my favorite things to do.

Don't get up to too many shenanigans this weekend, and see you next week!
Puna @ Enchanted Lake

For your summer days of crocheting...

Ben Franklin is well known for having a large variety of specialty craft items and unique products to feed all kinds of creative urges here in Hawaii.  In addition, Ben Franklin employees have a broad range of product knowledge as well as specialized skills.

For example, being an expert crochet lei maker and delivering fantastic customer service at Market City are just two of Cheri’s talents – She suggests the Clover Soft Touch crochet hook with the finger grip for even stitches and to prevent fatigue from long hours of crocheting.

Several people have been to Market City searching out Cheri and this crochet hook for their lei making.  Come and see what it's all about at the Market City lei demos on Saturdays throughout June.  Happy summer crocheting!

-Market City BFC

Bejeweled Floral Scarf

Aloha Crafters ~

Today's idea and inspiration is a fun & funky crocheted scarf. A great gift for Mom, your favorite graduate or even yourself.

Supply List:

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn - Orchid (073650763434)

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn -Pale Plum (073650900518)

Red Heart Super Saver Yarn -Medium Purple (073650918629)

Susan Bates Size G Crochet Hook (07721600710)

Butterfly 16MM - Lt Purple AB Beads (30087790)

Inspirations Purple Beads (78711754046)

Leisure Arts Book - Crochet Flowers For Every Wear (9781601400864)

-Kahului BFC

Crankin' Out Crafts Episode 82 - Lei Making Supplies

It's almost that time again - Graduation season! Time to start prepping and planning for Graduation Day and parties. It's also a good time to start making those leis! This week on Crankin' Out Crafts, we'll teach you some basics on lei making. Today, Brandon gives you an overview on lei making supplies.

Create your own handmade leis for Graduation, parties or special occasions!

View our episode here: Crankin' Out Crafts - Episode 82: Lei Making Supplies

Basic Supplies include:

Lei Books (Handcrafted Lei & Flowers Book X now available!)

Yarns

Kukui Nuts

Rattail Cording

Crochet supplies

Ribbon

Straws (for straw lei making)

Lei supplies are available at any of our stores and online on www.craftingisfun.com. Mix 'n match ribbon and yarn based on school colors or to create your own unique combinations! We also have lei supplies currently on sale - see page 4-5 of our "Celebrate Colors of Spring" Sale until April 6, 2012. 

And speaking of Graduation, you can also order your custom graduation posters and banners at our Hawaii BFC stores! Order a 20" x 30" laminated poster (matte or glossy paper) or a 2' x 4' vinyl banner (with 4 grommets). Customize the poster with your graduate's photo, name, school, and school colors. Four styles to choose from! See our stores to order and for more info.

TAWASHI

Cleaning for the New Year? Do you have a "tawashi" or, better known as the "scrubbie"! Usually found at craft fairs throughout the year, these scrubbies are everyone's favorite. Use the nylon ones for dishes, pots, pans & even the bathtub! Crochet one with cotton yarn for the more delicate china......or, as a body washcloth! Don't have one? Join us at the Pearl City store workshop this Saturday, January 29th from 1pm-3:30pm and crochet one (or two - one for yourself & the other to give away). Basic crochet knowledge is a must for this workshop. *Don't know how to crochet and want to learn? A beginner's crochet class is offered on the first & third Wednesdays of each month.