Category Archives: Needlearts

Free Pattern – Crochet Spider and Web Poncho

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By Guest Blogger, Liz Meehan, from the blog, Crafty Woman Shop

Hi! My name is Liz and I’m the woman behind Crafty Woman Shop. I first picked up a crochet hook during the spring after my daughter was born. With the help of YouTube videos, I quickly caught on to the craft and began making items ranging from baby headbands to amigurumi. The items I made were either for my daughter, myself, or as gifts to others. Time and again, friends and family would tell me I should start sharing and selling my creations. After a few years of telling myself I would open up shop, here I finally am! I design both free and paid patterns, and today I am sharing a fun Halloween design that I hope you will enjoy creating!

Well it seemed like it was finally summer, but now fall has quickly rushed in.

Not that I have anything against fall. It is almost tied with summer for being my favorite season. Mild weather, fall foliage, holidays, deliciously scented candles (apple pie, anyone?), seasonal desserts (again, apple pie anyone?)…. I’m sure we can all think of many reasons why fall is so great. The only drawback is the winter chill that begins to creep in, but I guess a positive to this is having an even better reason to crochet!

Halloween is also creeping around the corner, which is a good reason to stretch my creativity into designing some bizarre creations. This week I decided to sit down and design a spider web poncho. I even took it a step further and made a black widow spider to go along with it.

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Create for a Cause – The Snuggles Project

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Each month Think Crafts will feature an organization needing handmade items from crafters – like you! This month our focus is the Snuggles Project, a program of the Hugs Society – a nonprofit 501(3)(c) charitable organization.

What is a Snuggle?

The Snuggles Project definition is “a security blanket for shelter animals.” These blankets, or other comforting projects, provide a calming effect for frightened animals which in turn makes it more likely they will be adopted. As you can see below, some animals prefer their Snuggles to the bed the animal shelter provides!

The Snuggles Project website offers crochet, knitting, sew, and no-sew patterns. Snuggles may be small blankets to be used as a blanket, mat, or bed. They can be made of yarn, fleece, or fabric.

Suggested sizes are:

  • 14″ x 14″ for cats and small animals
  • 24″ x 24″ for cats and small to medium dogs
  • 36″ x 36″ for medium to large dogs

 

Not all the donated projects need to be blankets – some are “tubbies” made of yarn…

 

or toys.

Participants in the 22-year-old Snuggles Project program make Snuggles with the intention of donating them to an animal shelter to provide comfort and security to a homeless pet. The Snuggles Project website provides a state-by-state (and international) list of animal shelters accepting Snuggles donations. There is a printable donation form to accompany the Snuggle to increase awareness of the program. The Patterns FAQs answer many questions about appropriate projects and donation sites.

Why make a Snuggle?

There is joy in making and giving something which will provide physical and psychological comfort at a time when an animal feels the most vulnerable and hopeless. Snuggles can be a family, group, and intergenerational effort – the no-sew blankets can be made by children and seniors. The Snuggles Project does offer a membership (not required) which allows participation in the Snuggles Project Facebook Group and the Members Area.

Ready for a simple, fun project? Want a quick project to try out a new stitch or technique? Imperfections won’t matter to the animals. Someone is waiting for a Snuggle!

 

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