#Christmas Crafting! 20 Free, Masculine #Crochet Pattern Links

We all know that gender expression is a pretty relative thing, and nothing really could be defined as "for a man or a woman".  Well, that's what I think, anyway.  Even so, I personally have at least two men on my perpetual Christmas list that have a traditionally masculine style. 

Each hand-crocheted gift is an individual creation, from the moment you pick the pattern and yarn, until the finished item is gifted.  So, use the list below to choose projects for those people who can rock a masculine style.

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Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links.  All 

Ooo, cool!  The Brain Waves Beanie pattern comes 

in child & adult sizes at Playin' Hooky.

Link over to "Playin' Hooky Designs" for the free pattern.

Inspired?

 This earflap hat can be made in any color.

The design team at Lion Brand never fails.

Earflap Hat by Lion Brand. Click through to find pattern.

This guy's sly smile tells us one thing.
He loves this hat!

Streetwise Brim Hat by Red Heart.  Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart. 

A guy would totally wear this and it's totally in style right now.

Brimming with Fun Cap by Sharon Mann for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart

Ooo. Now this is an interesting one.  I could see the boys in my class loving this one.
Link to "The Convertible" free pattern by Deborah E. Burger for Crochet Uncut

The basketweave scarf is a classic. It's easy and adds texture.

It's great for practicing post stitches.

Winter Wear Accessories by Marilyn Coleman and Gayle Bunn for Red Heart. Patterns owned by Red Heart.

Cables are cute, too!

Starter Scarf by Coats and Clark. Link to free pattern owned by Red Heart

Rock this, dude.
Subway His or Her Scarf by Vickie Howell

I am all about this scarf in a bulky, non-fuzzy yarn.

Alternating Windowpanes Scarf Click for free pattern on Crochet Me.

For the interesting, pensive types, try Dave 2.0 by Vickie Howell.

Click for free pattern on Crochet Me.

I've made a Flexi Cowl and they RULE!  

It's an easy pattern with many possibilities.

Flexi Cowl by Alicia Ramirez of hookandneedles.com

Babies would love these!

Beep Beep Bib Free Pattern owned by Red Heart

Seriously- How adorable is this?Yeah. Sock monkeys know no gender. No age, either.

Free pattern by Linda Cyr for Red Heart.  Pattern owned by Red Heart.

 For the wee ones on your list- a cute turtle from Red Heart!

Turtle Pillow Pal by Nancy Anderson for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart.

This would look great on any guy's couch.

Diagonal Pillow by Kathy Wigington for Red Heart. Click for free pattern owned by Red Heart.

This would be a fun way to practice your colorwork while making a sweet gift.

Two-Color Pillow by Candi Jensen for Red Heart. Link to free pattern owned by Red Heart.

A music lover would love this, too!

Free Pattern: On the Record Coasters by Amy V. of Baroque Purls

Who doesn't want this cute rug in their home?

Whimsy Stripes Rug by Lion Brand. Click for Free Pattern.

Dishcloths or washcloths are quick, useful, and always appreciated.

Here's a cute one from Lion Brand.

Click here for the free pattern on LionBrand.com

Nosh.

Free burger pattern from Lion Brand. Yums!

#Giveaway! The Big-Ass Book of #Crafts 2 by Mark Montano!

I have exciting news to share today! Tuesday, Oct. 11 marks the launch of the next AMAZING craft book by Mark Montano.  Check out this video to find out all about it!

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts 2 (sample project link) is the sequel to the wildly successful Big-Ass Book of Crafts, which is now available digitally! 

You can be sure that I was incredibly excited when Mark's publisher contacted me to review the book.  Just a few days later, I had it in my hot little hands, before the release date!  Gallery Books was even kind enough to set up an interview with Mark Montano for the Art, Like Bread Podcast, which is still in its infancy, but how lucky am I to have such an opportunity.  Stay tuned to the blog for more on that.

Seriously, I LOVE Mark Montano.  I have always admired his aesthetic sense and I truly believe that he has an open, creative, interesting, and accessible approach to craft and design.  I have been passing his book around to my students and crafty friends and EVERYONE wants a copy.

Look how many bookmarks I added.  This book will get a LOT of use!

 Well, anyone can buy a copy at their local book shop or online retailer, but TWO, yes TWO lucky Art, Like Bread readers will win a copy of this amazing book for their very own!

Mark Montano's blog is one of my absolute favorites, and he updates it regularly with inspirational pictures and great projects to try.  Most recently, I was amazed by this beautiful flower, made from a recycled water bottle. 

In order to enter to win a copy of The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2 by Mark Montano, simply leave a comment on this blog post. :)  I will use a random number generator to choose the two lucky winners on November 11, 2011, and your book will be shipped to you directly from the publisher.

Trust me, you'll find something you absolutely have to make in this book.  You'll find great techniques you've never tried.  You'll find interesting ways to use normal, household items.  You'll be inspired. I am!

ETA:  The giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered. The winners are posted here.

In My Google Reader: Made By Girl

Need a little eye candy?

image source - http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-inspirationvia-made-by-girl.html

Want some original wall art for your home?

buy at http://www.madebygirl.com/product.php?sku=MM-11

Care to dream about living in a big, beautiful home? (Or find ideas for your current one?)

Images from http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/2011/01/graham-mossvia-made-by-girl.html

Then check out Made By Girl.  I've been following her blog for more than a year, and she's mad cool.  

image from - http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Enjoy!

31 Crafts for March, National Craft Month!

March is National Craft Month!

What will you do to celebrate?

For me, crafting is not a special occasion.  Crafting is a way of life.  I feel very fortunate to have a useful hobby that I enjoy and something that I can do every day.  Crochet comes with me in the car on my morning commute (in which I am a passenger, don't worry!).  I take it on road trips.  I've always got something in my bag to pass those minutes spent in line at the bank.  You'll see me out at cafes with hook, yarn and latte.  Although I feel completely capable of participating in a meeting or monitoring a test while stitching, I draw the line there.  The only stitch time I sneak in at school is during recess duty.


Were it not for being open to new crafts, I may have never found this wonderful hobby, which is practicality, art, and craft all wrapped up in one.


In order to share some great ideas, but also remind myself of projects I'd like to do, I am linking to 31 high-quality craft tutorials to fill your National Craft Month.

Enjoy!

A floral adornment to my new stash bag.
Pattern Link (to Crocheted Stash Bag)

Accessories

 Crocheted Daisy Earrings at Thread Bear's Picnic

Knotted Rope Flower Hair Clip by Craft Snob

Last-Minute Dressy Cuff by Sew A Straight Line

Super Sash Crocheted Belt by Double Stitch for Red Heart

Milk Carton Coin Purse by Connect the Dots Crafts

Washer Necklace by One Scrappin Johnson

Gifts

Crocheted Button Bookmark by GoodKnits

Mini-Fold Book by Poppy Paperie

Laminated Luggage Tag by Mark Montano

One-Hour Sewn Bag by Skip to My Lou

Home

Wooden Beaded Trivets by A Merry Mishap

Bulletin Board Organizer by Paper Source

Glittered Coke Bottle by the Modern Surrealist

Teacup Pin Cushion at You Can Make This

Sew a Business Card Holder by Quilt In Progress

Spoon Poetry by Ephemeral Alchemy

Sewn Mail Organizer by Noodle Head

Tea Wreath by Kojo Designs

Collapsible Storage Baskets by Sew 4 Home

 

Food & Drinks

Skinny Girl Mock-a-Mole

Lemon Basil Vodka Gimlet by Well Fed

Blackberry Smash by Bless Her Heart

Paper Goods

No-Sew Pencil Case by Craft Jr.

Origami Nesting Boxes by Martha Stewart

Cards Adorned with Purses by Little Birdie Secrets

Envelope Clutch by The Hybrid Chick

Make Lots of Cards from Just 2 Punches by CraftyPod

Clothing

Sweater Turned Shrug by Venus Zine

Yarn Crafting

Crochet the Alphabet! by Amamzing

Finger Knit Basics at WikiHow

Introduction to String Art and Patterns at String Art Fun

Bonus craft!  

Purl Bee Crocheted Stash Bag



What's New at Palacio?

In Mexico City we have a department store called Palacio del Hierro, which I think means "Iron Palace".  You can find everything from perfume to furniture to gourmet foods there.  Then there's Casa Palacio, which is located in Antara, is strictly for furniture and accents, and is FRICKIN' EXPENSIVE!

It had been a while since I'd visited either store, so I brought my camera along to see what was up. 

At Palacio del Hierro I spied a nature lamp, which looked gorgeous and elegant.

.

To make this, I would take some branches, christmas lights, floral tape, and paper shapes and go to town.  (Free idea! Please link back to artlikebread.com!) But it's a great idea.  I'd never seen this before.

There was also an interesting display made of paper cones that were burned around the edges.  I noticed my photography doesn't do it justice.  It looked very cool as a store display.  I love it when they use paper creatively!

Can you see how cool it is in the photo?

Then on to Casa Palacios, which should be named "Just Pay with Your First Born".  There I found inspiration galore!

This gives new meaning to string art.

This piece is begging me to hack it.  How easy!

The price?

It's in pesos, but still!  It's almost $300 USD!

I think the buyers had a thing for pendant lamps.  These are fab!

Bring the outdoors indoors.  ;)

Just a couple of smart accessories.  Isn't this glass piece interesting?

These pillows reminded me of a coral reef.  They change color with perspective.  Very cool.

This can be done DIY.  The light fixture combines unpredictability with structure.  I thought the touch of neon was interesting with the chunky, white ceramics.  It was 80s but updated and improved upon.

Well, I hope you enjoyed our little tour through just one of Mexico City's house ware empires. I was inspired.  I hope you are, too.  :)

From a House to a Home

On my recent trip to the US, I asked my good friend if I could take some pictures in her home and post them here for all to see.

I was so impressed with this hand-embroidered quilt (which I got to use in the guest room!).

My friend's grandmother made this quilt by hand (at considerable time and effort, as you can see.) It's completely beautiful and so detailed. I could easily tell how much love was put into this creation.

Think about the process from start to finish. Pattern design or selection, picking out fabric and threads, embroidering, cutting, sewing, and batting. And (how cool is this?) the quilt is also educational. The next time I see a Gnatcatcher, I'll know what it is!

Grandmothers rule!

<- My friend also had this awesome cradle that was made by her dad for her precious little baby girl. What a wonderful family heirloom.






<- And this is a cool collage-looking print from... Target! (Not everything has to be handmade!) It completely fits in with the baby's nickname: Monkey! :o)

I had a great time visiting, and I loved all of the beautiful, handmade (and just plain cute) touches.

Popcorn Pillow

I love this pillow I made!

It was easy. So easy, in fact,
that I'm not even going to tell you how I did it!

I can enjoy this pillow forever!
(The popcorn was good, too.)