Three different containers can all be made with one ball of Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran Cotton.  Embellish the pieces with large sequin-like paillettes (found in any craft store).

Use them as "jewelry cozies" or desktop pieces to store little goodies while you're at your computer.

• Jo Sharp Desert Garden Aran Cotton (or 60yds of aran cotton yarn)
• Size F (3.75mm) crochet hook
• Large paillettes

You will be using a hook smaller than what the yarn calls for to get a tight crochet. You can use just about any yarn to make these boxes. Start with the box pattern, choose a hook two sizes smaller than what the yarn calls for, the crochet piece should be tight with a little bit of curl. Use the same hook for all three projects.

This was a one-day project for designer Kika. (Hint. It can be a one-day project for you, too.) She couldn't find a pattern for a triangle shawl that she liked, so she took matters into her own hands. Don't you want to take this matter into your own hands, too? Hook on.

• Two balls of Luxury Mohair by King Cole (202m/220yds, total), colour Valencia.
• A big fat plastic hook, size Q (16mm).

Designer Tiffany whipped up this scarf for her daughter Laura (see her over there, modeling?). Isn't she adorable? Aren't you inspired to make one up for someone pink you love? Or for someone you love who loves pink?

• One 5 oz. skein Bernat Softee Baby in “Baby Pink Marl” (color 30301), or color of your choice (A)
• One 1 oz. skein Bernat Eyelash in “Kiss”, or color of your choice (B)
• “J” (6.0 mm) crochet hook
• “P” ( 9.0 mm) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

One size.

Gauge is unimportant for this pattern.

With “J” (6.0mm) hook and one strand each of colors (A) and (B) held together, ch 17.

I designed this poncho for those of us who are a bit larger than the models in fashion magazines. If you are a bit 'paunchy' like me, this will be just the right size. If you're not, you can still enjoy the pattern using a smaller hook or by following the diagram at the end of the instructions for a better fit. If you have very narrow shoulders I also suggest following the instructions in the diagram.

• 250grams (250meters) / 9ounces (2 1/3yards) of a chunky yarn (I used Papillon by SvartaFåret in festive red)
• Q hook
• Yarn needle

This cheery, cuddly pillow is sure to brighten even the dullest day. It's a fabulous project for beginners, so come on all you newbies out there, show us what you got.

• Sport Weight Baby Yarn, 2 colors A & B (pick your favorites!)
• Size I hook
• Polyester Fiberfill for pillow stuffing
• Small piece of yarn, stitch marker, or safety pin to mark rounds

I used 2 colors for the front of the flower and one single color for the back.

The decorative domestic arts: the desire to cover everything in the house. Cozies for the toaster, tea pot, coffee pot, vacuum cleaner; doilies on all flat surfaces, antimacassars on the backs of chairs and couches (even though grandpa stopped using pomade 30 years ago when there was no hair left to oil up).

A standby in houses where I grew up was the toilet paper roll cozy, often made to look like a doll wearing a ruffled dress and matching hat. I wanted to do a next-generation version, and although I know I could make something fabulous involving a thrift store Barbie, eyelash yarn and sequins, I did a sushi roll instead, using leftover yarns in my stash box. The top is crocheted and then embroidered, the sides knitted. If you prefer to do the entire cozy in crochet, instructions are included.

• Worsted weight yarn in white and black (approx. 3 oz of each), scrap yarns in different colors
• unused roll of toilet paper (for use as a fitting model)
• size G (4.25 mm) hook
• size 4 (3.5mm) double-pointed knitting needles (set of 5, 7"/18cm long)
• tapestry needle

What's up with so many sock patterns calling for too-thick worsted weight yarn? Designer Pam says:

"I've seen a lot of crocheters looking for a pattern for crochet socks using sock yarn, so they can wear them in their shoes like the knitters do. That's what pushed me to make this pattern. I wanted to crochet my socks out of sock yarn, and wear them in my shoes." Right on, Pam.

• About two 1.75 ounce (50 gram) skeins of sock yarn (or fingering weight yarn)
• Size G (4.25mm) crochet hook (or size to obtain gauge)

5 sts x 5 rows = 1 inch (2.54cm) in single crochet. (Please be sure to check your gauge. I tend to need a larger hook than most patterns call for, so my patterns tend to call for a larger hook than you might need.)

I made this throw for my husband.  It's made in a very easy shell pattern with a border that has one round of single crochet and one round of reverse single crochet.  I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn in the color of Aran Fleck to add more texture.

• Size I (5.50mm) hook or whatever hook size gives you gauge
• 39 oz worsted weight yarn
• Tapestry needle

50" by 50"

7 shells = 4 inches/10cm

Ch 151.

Row 1:  sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across.  ch1, turn.

Oh, how these complete your Springtime wardrobe! Hook up some coordinating sets of this bracelet/hair tie duo*, give some as gifts, and use up your scraps stash. Can't get any better than that, eh?

* If you're on the Crochet me mailing list, you've already received a third member of the set. Isn't being on the mailing list, like, the coolest thing ever?

Bracelet:

• A small amount of worsted weight variegated yarn in two different colors
• A small amount of Lion Brand Microspun yarn in color Mango
• Size F (4.0mm) crochet hook

Hair Tie:

• One large ponytail holder
• A small amount of worsted weight variegated yarn
• A small amount of Lion Brand Microspun yarn in color Mango
• Size F (4.0mm) hook

Bracelet: To adjust the size of the bracelet, make a chain long enough to wrap around your wrist and add 8 chains.

By varying the total length and yarn type, you can crochet this scarf for any season. You can make a short, summer scarf with fun, novelty yarn, or a long, warm, winter scarf with chunky, thick yarn. Three versions are pictured below, to demonstrate how varied the same pattern can turn out just by using a different yarn. Each of the scarves pictured was crocheted to wrap around the neck once and fall below the waist (see lengths indicated below). Yours can be any length you want.

Version 1

• Two 1.75 oz/110 yds (50 g/102 m) skeins Berroco Zen Colors (55% cotton, 45% nylon railroad ribbon), Color 8117 Tsunami Blue
• Two 25g/93 yds Skacel Gatto (100% nylon furry effect yarn), Color 39
• Crochet hook, size N (10.0 mm)
• Yarn needle to work in ends

Version 2

• One 6 oz (170 g) skein Red Heart Plush, Color 9782 Wine.
• Crochet hook, size L (8.0 mm).
• Yarn needle to work in ends.

Version 3

• Two 4.5 oz (127 g) skeins Red Heart Light & Lofty, Color 9617 Pheasant.
• Crochet hook, size N (10.0 mm).
• Yarn needle to work in ends.

Version 1: 76" (193 cm) long

Version 2: 78" (198 cm) long with 4" (10 cm) fringe

Version 3: 81" (203 cm) long

Version 1: Beginning Section = 4" wide x 5.5" long (10 cm x 14 cm)

Version 2: Beginning Section = 5" x 5" (13 cm x 13 cm).

Version 3: Beginning Section = 4" wide x 7" long (10 cm x 18 cm)

It is not necessary to work in your beginning and ending tails if you choose to apply fringe.
Just be sure to leave them long enough so they will be the same length as the fringe.

Note for beginners: When crocheting into a ch-1 sp, do not insert your hook into the chain stitch itself, but rather around the chain stitch (into the space beneath it).

Version 1 only:

1. Work entire scarf with two strands held together, one of each type of yarn.
2. It may not be possible to find these exact yarns in your area. Any ribbon yarn and sparsely furry yarn will achieve a similar effect.
3. To conserve expensive novelty yarn, you could repeat Row 4 throughout the body of the scarf for a completely openwork look, instead of the alternating windowpanes.

This scarf should crochet up in no time at all, to get you through these last days of winter (or the first days of Fall, depending on your hemisphere of residence). It can be any length you want!

• Two different colours (referred to as A and B) of Lion Brand Homespun Yarn, 1 skein each. (You could really use any kind of yarn, but I used Homespun and it's incredibly soft.)
• 1 pretty large hook (I used a P/10mm hook)

You can leave the "tails" from your colour changes dangling until the end, when you can easily and painlessly crochet over them with the border.

Make a really long chain out of Colour A. Mine was about 10 feet long.

Join us in The Inaugural Project. Consider it almost a call-to-arms for all you crocheters itching for some fresh patterns.

With the permission of designer Pam, The Inaugural Project begins with her very, very simple pattern for a dish/face cloth. (And really, I'm a beginner and I immediately eyeballed this as a piece-of-cake, so I'm sure you'll have no trouble with it.) Without further ado, here's the project:

I've heard from many crocheters who haven't tried their hand at designing yet, whether due to intimidation, humility, or just not having enough time. Well, here's your risk-free, fun-guaranteed opportunity to give designing a whirl, because sometimes we don't even know what we have in us. And if the crochet world ends up with a few more funky designers in it as a result, so be it:

Using this pattern as a start, come up with your own, funky crochet design. You may maintain the goal of creating a dish or face cloth, or you may go wild and make up a whole new item (ear muffs? trivets? a furry friend bearing an uncanny resemblance to your cat? I shudder at the thought of writing it, but perhaps even a funky doily?). Use whatever gauge and/or funky yarn you want. Your imagination is your only constraint. In a world squirming for fresh crochet ideas, here's our chance to have a go at it for ourselves.

I've started a thread on Pam's Crochetville message board so we can keep in touch about our progress and creations (you'll find it under the topic for Crochetalongs). There's no time limit, and you're under no obligation to share your experiences or ask questions or meet new people or even to have fun. But I suggest you do.

Take this if you want it:

The small print: Please note that I will not accept patterns resulting from this project as submissions to crochet me. But, it would be very, very cool if you became inspired to design many more hip patterns after your experience with The Inaugural Project.

Happy tinkering, toiling, and otherwise - *gasp* - designing! Remember, start here, and go where your genius takes you...

• 2 oz. of 4 ply worsted weight cotton yarn
• Size J (6mm) crochet hook

(Ed. note: Use whatever yarn and hook size you want, and create whatever you want.)

This comes out to be a 9-inch-round dish/wash cloth for me. Everyone's tension is different, so you may want to adjust your hook size larger or smaller.