Happy Halloween from the One-Armed Voodoo Doll

Hope you have a Happy Halloween! I'm debuting my first crochet amigurumi project today, the one-armed voodoo doll. I thought this was so cute when I stumbled on the pattern while writing my Crocheted Halloween Decorations post last month. Well, I finally got around to making it last night. Better late than never, right?

10 for Tuesday: Free Sewing Tutorials for the Kitchen

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and baking. Especially now that is cooler outside and I can run my stove and oven without heating up the whole apartment. I admit that it's a bit drab in my kitchen with boring hand towels and old, burnt hot pads. It could definitely use a face lift and a bit of decor. So I've gathered 10 free sewing patterns for the kitchen. Grab a few yards of coordinating fabric and sew some matching hot pads and appliance covers.

The Lodge Pillow

Yesterday, I showed you how to make a zippered pillow form. Today, you get to see what I made the pillow form for! I love that this project mixed sewing and crochet.

I have been eyeing knitted blankets lately. The idea of having a big sweater-like throw for the winter seems so nice and cozy. I've seen some great ones at T.J. Maxx and Home Goods for about $30-$40, but couldn't bring myself to buy one. Part my thinking was I could make my own. However, I don't know how to knit and crochet just wouldn't be the same. Plus, yarn for a blanket could easily run nearly as much (or more!) money and hours of my time. So I have yet to get myself a cozy knit blanket until I feel like spending the money or learning to knit.

In the meantime, I still wanted to bring a bit of yarn work into my decor this fall. I found this pattern for the Lodge Pillow in the One-Skein Wonders book that I've been quite addicted to lately. This crochet pillow the perfect solution for now. You can see my review of the pattern on Ravelry. I used Lion Brand Heartland in Grand Canyon for it. It was an impulse buy because I just loved the color. It was my first time working with Heartland yarn and I liked using it so much that I've already bought two more skeins for future projects.

How to Sew a Pillow Form with a Zipper

The last pillow slipcover I sewed I bought a pillow form for out of laziness. I didn't have any fiberfill and had to go to the store anyway, so figured I'd just buy one pillow form instead of buying a bag of fiberfill. I really wanted the instant gratification of going home and putting the pillow insert right into the slipcover and being done with it. (Yes, I weirdly made a slipcover I didn't have a pillow form for). That worked just fine...until I wanted to make another pillow and had no fiberfill. I was again in the same position.

This time I decide to be smarter and more frugal and purchase fiberfill. Purchasing a pillow form last time did have another benefit though. The pillow form I bought has a zipper. This means I can take out the polyfill and wash the pillow form cover, and replace or add to the polyfill when it inevitably goes flat. I really liked this idea of being able to wash and re-use the pillow insert with ease. I decided to incorporate this into my own pillow form I was sewing.

10 for Tuesday: Crocheted Halloween Costumes

Halloween is just a over a week away. Do you know what your costume is going to be yet? (Don't worry, I haven't figured it out yet either!) In case you haven't, I've rounded up some ideas for you today. Many are pop culture inspired and great for group or family costumes.

Unless you live somewhere that's warm year around, it seems as though it's always cold on Halloween. So why not add a cozy crocheted hat to your costume? I've found some great, and totally free, crochet hat patterns that are the perfect for Halloween costumes.

Reversible Scalloped Edge Table Runner

I have to confess that I am not that great at decorating for the seasons. Part of that has to do with the very limited amount of storage space I have. I don't want to devote much space to storing off-season decor when I'd rather use that space for other things...like fabric and yarn! I did want to get into a more festive fall mood though, so I decided to make a table runner. It takes up very little space, and can easily be folded up and stored.

Crochet Pattern Review: Three-Round Lace Scarf

I have definitely been busy crocheting lately. My newest project is the Three-Round Lace Scarf that can be found in the book Crochet One-Skein Wonders. For this project, I used an 6.0mm 'J' crochet hook and Vanna's Choice Yarn in Linen.

10 for Tuesday: Fall Decor Sewing Tutorials

I've given crochet projects a lot of love lately, but don't worry I haven't forgotten about the sew-ers! Here are 10 free tutorials for decorating your home for fall. They are categorized by Halloween, Thanksgiving, and general-fall themed projects. Many don't even require a sewing machine, just a bit of hand sewing.

Crochet Pattern Review: Cloudburst Shawl

As you can probably tell, I'm on a bit of a crocheting kick right now. Last week, I showed you my finished crochet peaked hat, and I was excited to keep making things to wear for fall. Or rather, when the weather finally cools down here. California didn't get the memo that it is now fall and the temperatures have been in the 90s all week.

For my next project, I wanted to make the CloudBurst Shawl. I loved the fringe and how it looked worn bandanna style. I've had my eye on the pattern for awhile. In fact, I attempted it last year, but got confused and frustrated so I frogged it and gave up. Most reviewers said it was a quick and easy project, but I definitely got confused in the first couple rows.

Time makes you forgot a lot of frustrations and failures, however, so I decided to try it again. The pattern is both written and charted, which definitely helped me figure it out this time (not without starting over a couple times before I got the hang the pattern). It may be just me, though. Luckily I figured it out this time.