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Yarn Crafts

All Things Home

easy chunky crochet snowflake tutorial

I wanted to make crocheted snowflakes this year, but I knew I didn’t want to make little lacy, dainty ones.  I didn’t want to get into fine, tedious work with little hooks, but wanted something quick and simple to do while I was watching TV.  So, I worked on making a simple, chunky snowflake that would complement the chunky knit elements in my Christmas decor and would also make nice gifts, present toppers, and components for a garland, etc.  Here is the tutorial for the chunky crochet snowflake I ended up making! It is so sweet and only takes about 10-15 minutes to make each one.  You’ll get quicker as you learn the pattern, and this is a simple project that’s great for beginners. Before I share the tutorial and pattern, I wanted to share some yarn options.  My snowflake is chunky because of the yarn I used, but you

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a slice of life

needlework & crochet | it’s a winter thing…

I was crocheting almost every day since I learned how to make a simple hat at a women’s event at my church last October.  I finally had an excuse to buy yarn and I dove into that endeavor with gusto!  It was also great therapy for my hand, which had been hanging lifelessly at the end of an immobilizing sling for about a month.  (I had shoulder and bicep surgery last September.) I found it difficult or almost impossible to write, type, draw, paint, take pictures, and do most of the creative tasks I enjoy, so needlework and crochet came into my life at just the right time. I was able to loosely hold the hook or needle in my right hand and do most of the work and movement with my left. I crocheted hats, mittens, glass cozies, pot holders, and a sizeable stack of dishcloths. I made tutorials

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All Things Home

#happymailmovement giveaway | crocheted dishcloths

With the heaviness that’s hanging over our country right now, I thought offering up another #happymailmovement giveaway to my readers would be a nice way to kick off the week.  It doesn’t make anything right or better, but it’s an itty-bitty way to spread a little happiness. I’ve been spending a lot of time while under the stay-at-home/safe-at-home orders working on projects around the house and in the garden.  In the evenings, though, when I’m tired from the day, I’ve been crocheting dishcloths.  I’ve even come up with a couple of new and simple patterns to share!  But the point of adding to the growing stack was to give them away. So, I’ve accumulated ten crocheted dishcloths in a variety of patterns to offer up. They are all made of 100% cotton Sugar n’ Cream yarn in Ecru.  I have found that these wash up nicely and are great to

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All Things Home

ruffled-edge farmhouse crochet dishcloth tutorial (for beginners)

I’m so excited to share another crochet tutorial!  I know a lot of you are learning crochet or dusting off that skill to keep your hands and minds busy during this time at home.  I, for one, thought I would have so much extra time, but it just hasn’t turned out that way!  What I need to do for my business day-to-day hasn’t slowed and Jeff and the boys are home, which requires more help on schoolwork, cooking, feeding, and tidying-up.  We’ve also been more intentional about spending quality time together – playing games, going on walks, and just paying attention to one another.  Teen and pre-teen boys aren’t the best at expressing themselves, so them asking you to come watch them do pull-ups might be their way of asking for reassurance.  In a way, this time has been so sweet.  We haven’t been running from one thing to the

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Art

color samplers

Thank you so much for sharing your prayer requests with me and each other yesterday.  My heart aches for those who are already in crisis and have had all of these new developments added to the stress and worry.  I was also moved by my readers who wanted to help, encourage, and pray for those who left comments.  This is a good group of people.  I have been and will continue to pray for all of those who left comments and, of course, for our first responders, healthcare workers, all of the people who are serving us at the grocery stores, business owners who are facing tough decisions, and our leaders. I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I want to explore playing with combing yarn/thread and paint.  I know there are so many amazing artists already combining different mediums, including yarn and paint, but I want to find my own

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Favorite Things

the Scandinavian yarn shop

It’s hard to know what to write about at a time like this.  Even since I posted yesterday so many things have changed.  While I’m not feeling panicked, I do feel some anxiety about what the next few weeks and months hold.  Not just for myself and my family and friends, but for people who are hit hard by the virus or closures or quarantines. But, we can each only do what we can do.  We can keep “doing our verbs.”  I’ll keep writing, reading, painting, creating, and taking pictures.  I’ll continue to share, hoping it will be a welcome diversion.  I’ll prepare meals, clean the house, play games with the boys, and take walks when the weather is nice. One thing that I can do to support my community of readers is to pray for each of you.  Please let me know how I can do that.  Is there

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All Things Home

vintage/farmhouse-style glass cozy crochet tutorial

Years ago, I was shopping for inventory for the Lucketts Spring Market and found a ziplock bag containing some cream crochet work.  I wasn’t sure what they were initially, but I’ve learned how to hunt and peck to try to find things others might overlook.  I’m the one crawling into the depths of an antique booth, opening all of the cases and boxes and bags and looking at the bottom of piles!  When I pulled the pieces out, I knew immediately what they were.  Socks!  Not the kind you wear on your feet, but the kind you put on your glass. You see, I grew up using socks that my great-grandmother made.  We used them to identify our glasses and to prevent water rings on wood furniture.  I even still have a few of them in a ziplock bag in my butler’s pantry. But, I loved the style of these

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All Things Home

Crochet Potholders Tutorial for Beginners

I have another crochet project for you this week crochet potholders for beginners! A couple of weeks ago, my mom requested that I figure out how to make a pair of potholders similar to the ones my great-grandmother made her over 50 years ago.  I didn’t even have to ask which potholders she was referring to.  I knew the pair well, as I witnessed them being used and used them myself my entire childhood.  Through every move, in every military housing kitchen, those potholders were a constant. These crochet potholders were thick, white, and made with tight stitches and a loop on one corner that was frayed from time and use. So, I went to my yarn stash to see if I had a cotton yarn that would be suitable for the project.  I selected the Cotton XXL by Yarn Bee.  I have worked with it enough to know it

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

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