Granny Square Market Bag

This is a nice pattern.

Quick, easy, and simple to make. Both practical and economic.

I've seen other market bags, and there OK, but they all looked like they're about to pop any second from all those chains!!

I plan to make another one, but it won't be as wide, longer straps, and have a stronger bottom base.

A Student's Work

Got a nice surprise today.

One of my former senior citizen students (Rose) from a Senior apartment building I taught at sent a couple of photos of a afghan & bedspread she just had finished.

One was from a pattern I gave her, the other was just something she made up. I call her my 'Afghan Lady'. That seems to be the thing she enjoys making the most. Don't really need a pattern, I can just make up a diagram, suggest some colors, and off she goes!!

I'm no longer teach there, but stop by from time to time (it was my first official class 10 yrs ago), so some of the members are like family (the ones you really want to be around!!) ;-)

I's so rare that I get photos from my students, so I really wanted to share.

In a 'Poncho' Mood

Funny thing.

A former crochet student who now, along with her twin sister, teaches some beginners on their own time (and a different day), asked me about some poncho patterns.

Seems she wanted to make one for a good friend or relative (don't remember which), so I brought in some from one of those Jack Frost Gypsy Vest Accessory Books (Volumes 77 & 78) From that old website.

I remembered making some of these a few years back (don't remembered why, was just the thing everyone was making at the time,I guess.)

Anyways, I decided to make the same one as her choice, then, after she and a couple ladies were browsing thru some old pictures of my work, saw a variation of another type poncho I made (from the same old 'Groovy Patterns' book, I decided to make another one.

Well, here's some pics of both ponchos:

Crocheted Cape stole

Crocheted Cape stole, originally uploaded by b5sycop1.

I really would like to make this!!

National Crochet is Almost Over...

Like each year, whenever the National Crochet Month rolls around, I try to see if there's anyone else is interested in doing something, but as always....nothing!!


Most people either never heard of it, and couldn't care less!! I get those strange looks, "What the hell are you talking about??"


Maybe it's me.

Well, I tried to do my small part. I visited a couple of my old classes, and the only crochet friendly LYS in town (Jane's Yarn), to donate photocopies of instructional papers as well as some actual patterns(they loved that!!)

Offered to help some students with their projects, brought in sample swatches, demonstrated different stitch techniques, and brought in some of my own projects.

I enjoyed doing it. Guess it's the 'teacher' in me.

I also tried to encouraged the students to promote crochet(and knitting) to other people and invite them to come and learn....we'll see what happens ;-)

National Crochet Month-2

OK, I just came from a beginner knit & crochet class which branched
off from one of my regular old crochet class (that's on Thursdays). I dropped
off a bunch of old knitting (and some crochet ) papers and leaflets,
mainly to one of my old student teachers for the class.

Plan to go tomorrow and bring more.

Hopefully, I'll bring some each each this month.

I figured since I'm no longer teaching, I'll pass along all the papers I've collected over the years.

One person's junk is another's.......!!

Some People Got Nerve!!

Maybe it's me.

I seem to have this bad habit of whenever I see something online or a email that I think other people might like, I pass it along (I call it 'sharing').

Well, the other day I saw a baby hat online pattern that I thought some people might like. I'm not into baby stuff, but I know a few ladies who are.

So, after sending the pattern, I got a response from a old crochet friend ( who, by the way, I never hear from till I send her a email), who thanked me for the pattern, and then went on to say that she liked my website, particularly a 'Jeff' cap I designed, and requested me to 'send' her the pattern.

What's up with that!!

What does she think my website is? A 'free' online service? There's a clear difference between a free online patterns and purchased ones.

But because she knows me, she automatically thinks I'll 'give' her the pattern (then won't hear from her till the next time she wants something)..

Well, I tried to be nice, so I didn't respond.

After a week or so, she replied "Since you have not answered me I guess if I want that” JEFF” pattern I will have to pay for it."

Well DUH!!!

Like I said, maybe it's me!!

National Crochet Month

March is National Crochet Month.

Anyone have any plans? I asked this question last year, and most people had never heard about it. I guess it's not so much of thing anymore.

Here, in Philly, the only thing I ever hear about is the annual Knit Out in September. And that's starting to thin out. They're hanging by a thread lately (no pun intended).

Seems as though everybody's just staying in and just working on their own, sneaking out just to get yarn.

Was just in a Michael's the other day, and you could hear a pin drop in the yarn section.

Maybe it's the weather.....that must be it! ;-0

Hopefully, as Spring arrives, more people will get out of the house, and interact more.

We'll see;-)

'Jocelyn' Caplet (without Roses)

'Jocelyn' Caplet (without Roses)

I recently got this pattern from Annie's Attic (on sale at half price now!).

It says it only takes 3-4 ozs. of Caron's 'Simply Soft'.... I think she meant skeins instead of ounces!!

I didn't like the opening, so I closed it. And I also didn't care for the roses either.

I added a long chain and added it around the neckline.

Why use Red Heart Yarn?

I use Red Heart Super Saver for almost everything I make.
People always asked why don't I use 'better' yarn....well, here's a couple of reasons:

1: With as much stuff I want to make, it's just cheaper.
2: I make mostly women's items, usually just hats & scarves for guys.
3: Although I get compliments on my work, nobody's buying them, so why spend extra money when people only look at my pictures?
4: When designing, it makes sense to use a more 'durable' yarn.


When I first started crocheting, all I thought about was improving my technique. As a young teenager in college in the middle of nowhere, yarn was scarce. Besides, all I saw was Red Heart at Woolworth's (OK, I'm dating myself!!)

So, when I came home, I did go to this yarn store called Clivden's, where they had a large variety of different yarns, but they where mainly out of my price range.

I did try, from time to time, to use some better yarn (like when I made that ripple gown), but that was a special occasion. For the most part, I mainly crocheted just for my personal enjoyment.

I still had conflicting issues with me being a 'guy' crocheting, so there were times I just didn't bother with at all.

But, when I decided to teach years later, I found that most of my students used Red Heart. They were mainly senior citizens, on fixed incomes(like me!!), and mainly crocheted for the comfort it gave.

So, I figured that, for those who were interested improving their crochet skills, they could still use the same type of yarn.

Now, I'm at a point in my life, that I don't care what type yarn I use. It's more important on how well you crochet, not what yarn you use!!

3 Cables Scarf

Saw a photo of this online and decided to figure it out.

Click title to pattern.

Modular Cardi-Wrap

Just finished Doris Chan's 'Modular Cardi-Wrap' from the L.A. booklet#4269- 'A Style for You'.

Made a couple of her patterns, and I really liked this one.

But I did make a few changes.The pattern called for using Caron's 'Simply soft Heathers', but I just used RH SS 'Aspen Print'(thinner than most RH SS), and Dark Sage for the sleeves. I wanted to try it in 2 colors instead of just one.

She used a stitch pattern called 'herringbone hdc' on the front loop for both the back and sleeves. I tried it in a sample swatch, but didn't care for it, so I just did the back in plain dc and worked the sleeves(separately than what the pattern called for) in the diagonal box stitch. I did the front sections with the same ripple stitch pattern as per the pattern.

Tye Dye Boxes Top

Someone had given me Summer 2007 issue of Knitter's magazine, and I saw a nice top that was mainly made of 3 mitered squares in the front and back.

So I thought I'd give it a try in crochet.

Spending a Day With a Crochet Friend...

I was surprised the other day when my best crochet friend Pam (we call each other cousins be cause we have the same last name)emailed me about giving me a duplicate crochet book she had.

I misunderstood, thinking she just wanted me to see it, not realizing she was returning the favor I did a couple months earlier.

Well, she calls me the other day, saying where can we meet up, maybe on Saturday, so I said sure. So we decided to meet at a LYS downtown.

It's always a treat to see her, she so energetic, funny, and we relate very well.I've known her for over 8yrs, and she's always a joy.

We love talking everything crochet!!! From what's going on today, to stuff done years, and years ago.

As both former crochet teachers, we always have strange and funny stories to tell.

So, back to today, we went into this LYS(Loop) , browsing around. I didn't plan to buy anything (it's a little too high end for my taste), and she said she had some coupons she wanted to use.

But, we spend more time talking getting friendly with the store owner and workers.

Finally, we left, with me buying a magazine I really don't need, and her getting anything, go figure!!

So, we decided to stop by to another LYS, that we were more familiar with, Jane's Yarn Shoppe. I was feeling a bit tired, don't know if it was the diabetes, or my blood pressure (or both), but I didn't want to end the day so soon, was having fun, so I went on.

So we get there, and normally, the store doesn't have that many people on Saturdays, but today, she had 4 of her favorite ladies there, and let me tell you, they're a lively bunch.

Normally, it's like this if I stopped by during the middle of the week, but for some reason, today, the ladies showed up.

We all had a good time, telling stories, catching up on the latest news and gossip, laughing and just having a great time.

Although, for me, I was a little tired most of the day, I enjoyed myself, even when I fell off my chair, trying to squeeze myself in a tiny space, when another lady joined in(the space was near the 2 steps of the small landing where we all sat).

I was OK, too tired to even feel embarrassed, besides, I was among friends.

So, after a couple hours, we decided to go, and call it a day.

All in all, it was a fun day, which I don't have too many of.

'The Crochet Dude'-Designs for Guys book

Just got the book thru Amazon the other day.


I have to say I was impressed (as I thought I'd would be.)

Well written, well photographed, well organized.

The patterns ranged from easy to experienced, with a variety of yarns and colors.

I'm not a big fan of thin yarn and hooks, and he offers work with that in mind ;-)

Of course, there's a couple things with thinner yarn and hooks, but that's OK, I can live with that (hee, hee!!)

I'm also glad to see the book coming out now, just in time for the upcoming holidays (hint, hint for anyone who wanted to make me a sweater.)

I'm a Size XL, in case you were wondering!

Some of my Bags I've made in the last couple of years:

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It's great to be appreiciated!!

I was really surprised the other day when I stopped in on a senior citizen center crochet class hosted by twin sisters(Grace & Yvonne)that were former students of mine.

Some time ago, after I left teaching there, the twins (who were among my more advanced students), decided that with so many people still there, and no 'one' person could help, especially the beginner students, that they decided to give help to a much smaller class on a different day.

They started in a small room in the first floor of the newly adjacent senior apartment building, then eventually found a space and time (on Wednesdays) in the same senior center.


One day, I happened to stop in the regular class(on Thursdays) to see what the everybody was working on since returning from the summer break. While chatting, one of the twins (Yvonne) asked if I could help her understand how to read diagrams.

Naturally, I said sure. So I suggested stopping in on the Wednesday class, being they were less people.

So, when I showed up, I noticed that she had some copies made dealing with understand stitch diagrams, hoping to teach her students, once I explained it to her.

Well, I realized that she seemed a little flustered with getting things organized, as well as dealing with helping some of the students, especially a couple of beginners.

So, I kinda took the bull by the horns, and began teaching the class as a whole.
Normally, I would of waited at least till one or both would of asked for my help, but they seemed to be overwhelmed.

The sisters were relieved and grateful, so much so, that together, they gave a nice stypen to show their appreciation.

I was glad to help out, didn't expect to get anything, but when I think about it,

that just the thing they would do.

Philadelphia Area Knit Out and Crochet Event

Well we just had our Annual Knit Out here, and I had a good time.

Although it was an abbreviated version, at least we had a gathering space.

Times being what they are, we may not find ourselves flush with gifts and goodies, as in past years. But like all other Philadelphia Area Knit Out & Crochet Events, we can come together for an afternoon of fun, sharing, creative inspiration and camaraderie.


So, if you bing your latest project in progress to work on,
· your friend(s),
· some extra yarn and accessories to share and swap,
· and your enthusiasm and willingness to share your expertise and skill with others.

We should all have a great time together.

As a teacher,it always feels nice to help and share to eager minds what I know.

Of course, you'll get some who only reason there is to see what they can get for free, but for the most part, a good amount were there to learn and share.

Topsy Turvy Sweater/Shrug

I originally made this a heavier worsted weight yarn, but thought it might be too warm for the Summer, so I decided to make one using Caron's 'Simply Soft'

Pattern is available at: (click title)

Red Cotton Newsboy Cap

Great for the Summer.



Click link to pattern: