Follow Your Heart Pillow Pattern Releases!

Posted on April 27, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

Large Pillow: 24X21 Inches

Small Pillow: 19X14 Inches

The Inspiration: My children are most often my inspiration for my creations. These pillows were created for my own little sweet toddler, to match her Follow Your Heart Toddler Blanket. She has been my best model since birth and she is always ready to love (or steal) my creations before anyone else. She and my son are my biggest fans! I knew I wanted something special for her and cluster stitch hearts seemed to hit the nail right on the head.

Materials: To create the Follow Your Heart Pillows, you will need an I hook, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors for cutting the yarn, and a measuring tape to check gauge. The preferred yarn used in this project is Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn; however any worsted weight yarn will work.

Length and Width Options:
The finished large pillow measures 24 Inches X 21 Inches after the lace edging.

The finished small pillow measures 19 Inches X 14 Inches after the lace edging.

Embellishments and edge options: The heart square included in these patterns contain a graph/chart so that you can more easily to follow along and so that if you would like to use the squares themselves as pot holders, bath rags (using cotton yarn), or blanket that is created using the squares and sewn together, then you can absolutely do that easily!

These patterns utilize a plethora of post stitches including the front and back post double crochet, the elongated front and back post double crochet, the front and back post half double crochet and the front and back post single crochet. I have included a written walk through on each stitch in the abbreviations section and links to video walkthroughs for each stitch created by myself so they are sure to give you all the information that you need to apply these stitches to these patterns. I also include a written walk through on how to complete the 7dc cluster stitch in the abbreviations section.

The lace edging on these pillow patterns give them a very frilly look, but one of my testers has proven that even with the hearts and frilly lace edging, that if the color choices are masculine enough, these pillow patterns will work perfectly for the male toddler or baby!

Buy the Follow Your Heart Small Pillow Pattern on Ravelry

Buy the Follow Your Heart Large Pillow Pattern on Ravelry

Buy the Follow Your Heart Ebook for both pillow Patterns on Ravelry

Don’t crochet? Buy the Follow Your Heart Pillow in either type or size (finished item) by messaging me on Etsy (Custom orders are my specialty)

Other Pattern options available for purchase!

Buy the Follow Your Heart Matching Blanket Pattern on Ravelry

Buy the Follow Your Heart Ebook for small pillow AND Blanket Patterns on Ravelry

Buy the Follow Your Heart Ebook for large pillow AND Blanket Patterns on Ravelry

Follow Your Heart Toddler Blanket/Throw Pattern Release! (2 sizes/types)

Posted on April 10, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

MOST IMPORTANTLY about this pattern sale: You are getting TWO blanket patterns with this purchase! One pattern has more of a beveled look to it at the corners (Pink blanket) and one has fixed, square 90 degree angle corners. (Brown and pink camo) I did this because I goofed on the first one, but I really did like it! And then I fixed it with the other pattern. Enjoy my mistake! lol

The Inspiration: My children are most often my inspiration for my creations. These blankets were created for my own little sweet toddler. She has been my best model since birth and she is always ready to love (or steal) my creations before anyone else. She and my son are my biggest fans! I knew I wanted something special for her and cluster stitch hearts seemed to hit the nail right on the head. I also knew that I wanted this blanket to have the LOOK of a granny square blanket, but to be worked in such a way that I didn’t have to finish off and sew pieces together. This blanket pattern includes no sewing and no construction. It is worked in rounds so that (except for where you change skeins) there are only the end and beginning ends to finish off when you’re done!

Materials: To create the Follow Your Heart Toddler Blanket/Throw, you will need an I hook, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors for cutting the yarn, and a measuring tape to check gauge. The preferred yarn used in this project is Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn; however any worsted weight yarn will work. This calls for 4 skeins of I Love This Yarn for the actual blanket and about a ½ a skein for the lace edging.

Length and Width Options: When I first created this blanket, I did not use enough increases in the corners, so the finished product came out looking beveled and skewed. I did not like the look of it, however many others DID like this look. I recreated the pattern using more increases in the corners so that the blanket sits square. In my opinion, this is much more attractive. Take a look at my tester photos under the projects tab to see the different options available. I have tested both the beveled and the square cornered blankets, and I have included both blanket patterns in this purchase. The beveled blanket measures 52X40 inches, while the fixed corner blanket measures 56X44.

Embellishments and edge options: Every heart square included in this pattern contains a graph/chart so that you can more easily to follow along. These patterns utilize a plethora of post stitches including the front and back post double crochet, the elongated front and back post double crochet, the front and back post half double crochet and the front and back post single crochet. I have included a written walk through on each stitch in the abbreviations section and links to video walkthroughs for each stitch created by myself so they are sure to give you all the information that you need to apply these stitches to these patterns. I also include a written walk through on how to complete the 7dc cluster stitch in the abbreviations section.

The lace edging on these blanket patterns give them a very frilly look, but one of my testers has proved that even with the hearts and frilly lace edging, that if the color choices are masculine enough, these blanket patterns work perfectly for the male toddler or baby!

Buy the Follow Your Heart Toddler Blanket/Afghan in 2 sizes/types Pattern on Ravelry
Don’t crochet? Buy the Follow Your Heart Toddler Blanket/Afghan in either type or size (finished item) by messaging me on Etsy (Custom orders are my specialty)

Love is in the Air Ring Bearer Pillow Pattern Release

Posted on March 29, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

“Love is friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce,
but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes
as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.” Bruce Lee

Love is in the Air Ring Bearer Pillow

The Inspiration: The first thing I think of when I think love is: my husband. I am married to the love of my life. He is my soul mate, my equal in the things that matter, and my opposite where it counts. He completes me. If I had to create something that said “LOVE” to me, I would have to be inspired by my own marriage to him. I wish I crocheted more during the planning of my own wedding because I would have loved to have created my own ring bearer pillow. This set matches perfectly with the Love is in the Air Wedding Gloves/Wristlet pattern and the Love is in the Air Wedding Veil pattern, which both also utilize the solomon’s knot stitch or lover’s knot stitch.Materials: To create the Love is in the Air Ring Bearer Pillow, you will need an F hook, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors for cutting the yarn, a measuring tape to check gauge and about a yard of fabric for lining the pillow. The preferred yarn used in this project is Loops & Threads Woolike. It is a superfine or size 1 thread, but it has the feel and look of regular wool yarn.

Buy the Love is in the Air Ring Bearer Pillow Pattern on Ravelry

Don’t crochet? Buy any of the Bridal Set items (finished item) by messaging me on Etsy (Custom orders are my specialty)

Attaching Buttons to Yarn Items

Posted on March 25, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

At some point in time when you learn to crochet, you will need to know how to attach a button to a crocheted item.This can be used as a closure for wallets, bags or wearables. It is also frequently used as eyes or noses on character beanies and other amigurumi items.

I think the trick to securing it is tying the knot before weaving in the ends.

To learn how to weave in ends, see tutorial here

How to Make Graph Paper in Excel

Posted on March 25, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

I have found that using graph paper when drawing out graphs can be very helpful in crochet. HOWEVER, graph paper costs money, AND it can be difficult to find without going to an office store. If I can get away with going to the smaller store I will definitely do so! I also use excel to create the graphs I draw in my patterns. It looks MUCH more professional than a graph drawn in pencil and scanned in.

Here is another way to use excel to do the same thing.

Once you finish putting in your graph, you can highlight all the area of the graph and change the outline of the cells so that they show up nicely.

You can then print the pattern out onto paper, OR you can print the file to pdf.

To print to pdf: Click File –> Save As –> There will be a space for “File name” and “File Type”. Name it as you wish, but change the file type to PDF. Now you can push save and Adobe (If you do not have Adobe Reader, download it here) will open up and you will have a beautiful copy of your graph!

National Crochet Month 75% off sale!

Posted on March 15, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

Until March 18, 2015, all of my designs on Ravelry will be 75% off!

That is a considerable savings from me to you!

See my Ravelry page here: Articles of a Domestic Goddess Pattern Store

Listings not included are:

EBOOK – Halloween Candy Hauler Totes
EBOOK – Sherri Berry Reversible Cluster Pattern Pack
EBOOK – Skull Set
EBOOK – Stunning Shells Pattern Pack
EBOOK – Travel Pals
EBOOK – Sherri Berry Cluster Infinity Adult and Child
EBOOK – Love is in the Air Wedding Set

Stop by and check out the FREE patterns on my blog!

–Free patterns here!

Share this webpage with your friends so they can take advantage of the savings!

Coupon code Starts March 15th, 2015 at the beginning of the day.

Coupon code Ends March 18th, 2015 at the end of the day.

75% off!

Coupon Code – NatCroMo

Must click “add to cart” to see the savings!

See my store here!

Texas Flag Blanket – Baby to Bedspread Sizes

Posted on February 25, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

“I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.” John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

The Inspiration: I was commissioned to create a Texas Flag Blanket by my cousin and friend. She has recently moved to Texas after securing an reo bank owned property in a real estate auction and wanted a blanket to decorate the couch in her living room. Her new home looks absolutely gorgeous. She has been so lucky, as despite the fact that it is a foreclosure property, her new home seems to be in such good condition. It had clearly been a very well looked after house. Anyway, being from Texas myself this was a very special project for me. It was also very nice to see my friend start flying the flag of Texas over her new home, especially as she could have had the choice of her home state or other us state flags she has also lived in through her life. So, considering she’s flying that flag and now wanting to decorate her home further, why not create something for her?!

Materials: To create the Texas Flag Blanket, you will need an I hook, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors for cutting the yarn, and a measuring tape to check gauge. However, if this feels like it is beyond your skill set then you can always look at finding a personalized blanket (personalisierte decke for our German Texas enthusiasts) online! The preferred yarn used in this project is Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn. I used 3 skeins of each color to create the size in my photos. I had half or more of each of my 3rd skeins to spare. I then used more of the white yarn to create the star.

Length and Size Options: I have included in this pattern all of the measurements for baby blankets in sizes: Stroller, Receiving, Toddler and Swaddle and all adult sized blankets in sizes: Throw, Twin, Full, Queen, Super Queen, and King and all the information you will need to create this blanket in measurements very close to those sizes, as the proportion may not be perfectly in line with those sizes, but you can get close. NO MATH REQUIRED.

I take pride in the fact that my patterns are very versatile, and a plethora of sizing options or embellishment options are available with most of my patterns, and this one is no different. It is my greatest hope that you are able to use this pattern in a variety of different ways!

Buy the Texas Flag Blanket (Baby to Bedspread sizes) Pattern on Ravelry

Don’t crochet? Buy any size Texas Flag Blanket (finished item) by messaging me on Etsy (Custom orders are my specialty)

EU VAT 2015 – Where are we now?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

So a few days before the start of the year, everyone in the crochet community was worried about the “new” EU VAT laws. Really, these were not NEW laws at all, only that the European taxing agency would be cracking down on their enforcement of the tax law. EU VAT is an import tax that should be collected when selling any digital good to any European country.

For more information or if you’d like to do your own research on this subject, here is the blog I wrote before the first of the year in order to get as much information out there in the same place so that crochet pattern designers could protect themselves. I included all of the sites that I utilized to do my own research. You can do your own research, but I try to detail it as much as possible up top. The information has been updated as I learned new information on the subject.

I thought it time to do ANOTHER update, but this time I wanted to clarify a few things.

It has been determined that anytime a digital good is sold to an EU country, this tax needs to be collected and remitted to the proper authorities.

The question posed at my last update of the above blog on the subject matter was: Who is responsible for collecting the tax when you are using a third party site such as Ravelry, Etsy or Craftsy?

The answer is: The website by law, must collect and remit this tax. However they do so and justify it is fine, as long as it is collected and remitted. If you OWN your website and you do not use a third party site to collect your monies, you may be liable for this tax and you should check with a local Certified Public Accountant. Whilst in the US you may want to speak with a tax accountant chicago, you will likely want an EU accredited one for these issues in particular.

Ravelry:

Ravelry has offered a short term solution by allowing their clients to move their EU VAT purchases to Loveknitting.com with a promise of a long term fix within the Ravelry site – however, the loveknitting option has proved a very non lucrative move as well as a hassle. As of yesterday, Raverly has released new information on what they will be offering pattern designers to remedy this situation with their own site!

“Beginning May 1st, we will handle the new EU VAT requirements. If you are using LoveKnitting, we will continue to give you an easy way to publish patterns to LK and sell them there but LoveKnitting will not be part of purchasing on Ravelry….” To read more click here

Etsy:

Etsy has decided to take responsibility as well and they are noted here in their blog as saying:

“…your buyers will be paying VAT as part of their total purchase price. We will calculate the VAT based on the location of the buyer and determine the VAT at the time of sale. Etsy will then remit the VAT to the appropriate taxing authority as required. We’ll share the specific details of how we’ll handle the collection process as soon as possible (and well before the tax filing deadline).” To read more click here

Craftsy:

I am sad to say, that as of last week this is the most recent information that I can find on the EU VAT subject and how it relates to sales conducted through the Craftsy website. They are noted as saying:

“To date, Craftsy has acted as a venue on which individual designers can sell their patterns, with designers responsible for paying any and all required sales tax for their pattern sales. Currently, we are treating VAT the same way, with designers expected to collect and pay VAT.” To read more click here

Conclusion: At this time Ravelry and Etsy both have other options in line to help take care of this mess for pattern designers. Craftsy for some reason has decided to ignore the issue completely. I am not sure if it is because they are a free site and they collect no payment for themselves and maybe they are a different animal from Ravelry and Etsy who both take fees for sales conducted through their site? Who knows. I’m going to trust that they have done their tax research.

If you sell on your own website and you are collecting monies for digital goods to an EU country, you are liable for the remission of this tax. In this case you may want to contact a Certified Public Accountant. (If you use Ravelry buttons, then you are still utilizing the Ravelry site as a third party site.)

I hope this gives you the most up to date information on the subject and that you were able to take something away from this that will allow for the continued creation of wonderful works of art and masterpieces that make our little community so amazing!

20 Funniest Crochet Pattern Round up

Posted on January 18, 2015 by articlesofadomesticgoddess

Do a quick search on the internet and you’ll find the funny side to crochet pretty quickly! I have seen so many INTENTIONALLY funny crochet patterns that I decided what better way to honor the funny than to do a round up!

So here it is: 20 of the most HILARIOUS crochet patterns you will find on the internet today! If you find yourself asking “WHY?!” on some of these, rest assured that probably the designer doesn’t even know the answer to that question. Some of these the more appropriate answer would be “Why not?!” lol