Happiness + Harlequins = Happy Harlequin Blanket--Free Crochet Pattern

It's happy! It's made with diamonds! And it's colorful! I looove this blanket for a myriad of reasons, and these are just a few.

It's a Pansy Parade Blanket Crochet Pattern

Welcoming the Pansy Parade Blanket crochet pattern! 

I'm just a wee bit silly happy about this one! The texture, the simplicity, the fun! I worked this one up in 22 colors of Stylecraft Special DK--a lovely premium acrylic that is very affordable--but it could seriously be made in any yarns and any colors! A super-duper stash buster, I say!

Studying How Crochet Heals and Helps People

This is a guest post by Kathryn Vercillo, author of Crochet Saved My Life and blogger at Crochet Concupiscence. She has created a new survey to explore the healing aspects of crochet.

Have you seen all of the research lately pointing to the fact that crochet heals people? Studies show that crafts including knitting and crochet likely have a number of health benefits. The most commonly cited benefit is relief from depression, but crafting helps with many other mental health and physical health issues as well. We’ve just begun to explore the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how crochet helps people. A new survey has been launched to help dig deeper.


Some of the things that this new survey will help us to better understand include:


* What symptoms of mental and physical illness are people relieving with crochet?
* How much is crochet really helping people with these symptoms?
* What other benefits does crochet offer besides symptom relief?
* How do the benefits of crochet compare to the benefits of other similar crafts?


There are many important reasons to study this topic. First off, there are tens of thousands of people out there crocheting and it can help each and every one of them to know about the different ways that the craft can help them. There are also plenty of people struggling with health issues who might be encouraged to try to crochet to heal if they can see how it might help. And there are a variety of institutions and healing centers (hospitals, therapy groups, schools, etc.) that might be interested in launching crochet programs if the study can show that the craft helps to heal people.


The research from this study has the potential to create a great ripple effect. And you can help just by taking the survey and spreading the word about it to others. Please consider taking the survey now. Or you can learn more about it from this press release.

Thank you so much, Kathryn! It is an honor to have you guest post here! 

I took the survey and it was a wonderful opportunity to "tell my story" about how crochet has healed me. Go on folks...tell your story.

| On the Board | -- Instead of being "thankful for things" we should focus on being "thankful in our circumstances", whatever they may be. 

~~Dieter F. Utchtdorf

Want Some Rainbow Sprinkles?

If you have been following Felted Button around for a while now, you might know these things about my designs already:

I LOVE COLOR!
I LOVE JOIN-AS-YOU-GO MOTIFS!
I LOVE PROVIDING OPTIONS IN MY CROCHET PATTERNS!

This RAINBOW SPRINKLES BLANKET has them all!!

The Arlington Blanket Ta-Dah!

Introducing my newest crochet pattern...a blanket. Surprised? Probably not as I've been blanket-crazed lately. But it is now available! And I'm loving it!

The Arlington Blanket

Coming Home Blanket Crochet Pattern

Whether you are bringing a little newborn home, reminding a sick loved-one of the comforts of home, or welcoming someone to their new home--the Coming Home Blanket is just the gift.

Look closely...can you see the wee little houses alternating with trees down the street? See here...

Irish Sea Blanket Crochet Pattern

 Introducing...The Irish Sea Blanket!

This blanket makes me HAPPY! It is squishy and soft, but with this stitch pattern makes little breathable holes for a weather-versatile blankie!

And if you want to go to town with the colors--

Mama's Wash Cloths--Free Crochet Pattern

My sweet mom loves when I make her wash cloths and dish cloths. Someone asked me why crocheted wash cloths are so great. And although I love the possible textures, and the ease of wash and functional use, I think the thing I like about them most is that they are HANDMADE!! (right, Fauna?)

So I came up with this simple little textured cloth that works up without much brain energy but can be made in any colors or any size. Best part...

...I'm sharing the free pattern here.

Blocking it Out

Today's topic: BLOCKING

I'm not talking about blocking those telemarketers repeat phone calls, or building wooden towers with your little ones. I'm talking about the kind done to make your crochet work look fabulous! I mean, seriously professional vs. lumpy and amateurish. Do you ever wonder why your finished piece doesn't look like the one in that picture on the front of the pattern? It might just be because of BLOCKING!

Let's start with some squares. Since I'm all about motifs, and buttons, I thought these from my Bright as a Button Blanket might

Can You Hear the Song of the Sea?

Introducing the SEA SONG BLANKET!!

Ohhhh...the colors, the texture, the waves!!! This one makes me pretty gleeful! I've never seen anything like it--well, except inside my head! ;)

The sample shown is a baby blanket, but