Author Archives: amysolovay

December Crafts

This photo collage shows bunches of different December craft projects. These projects are all current for Christmas 2024, and are ideal for Christmas gifts or decorating your own home for the holidays. Ideas include Christmas tree motifs, wreaths, Christmas blankets and more. These designs are all available as free crochet patterns on the Internet.


December is here already! Can you believe it?!


Are you hoping to find unique, festive, interesting and useful craft ideas that are suitable for making in the coming month? If so, I invite you to consider the following suggestions:


I’ve put together a list of winter crafts that are seasonally appropriate for December crafting in many regions of the Western hemisphere.


Christmas is one of the more prominent December holidays on the Gregorian calendar. If you celebrate this holiday, or you want to make Christmas gifts for other people who do, you’re invited to check out this list of Christmas crafts.

Find Free Patterns for the Christmas Craft Ideas Pictured in the Photo Collage Above:

Pictured above are bunches of the free December craft project ideas you’ll find on our website:

Christmas Jewelry Patterns

Want to make Christmas jewelry for yourself or to give as gifts? Help yourself to these free Christmas-themed jewelry-making patterns and tutorials.

December Planner Ideas

December Planner Ideas: Find ideas for making December planner layouts

Snowflake Patterns

Crochet Snowflake Potholders

Crochet Snowflake Potholders


Snowflakes are popular winter motifs that have inspired countless craft projects! If you want your next craft project to be a snowflake design, you’re invited to check out this page of snowflake patterns.

So there you have it: A list of suggestions for December crafts. I hope these ideas are useful to you as you start on your December crafting. Thanks so much for your interest!

Over to You:

Which craft projects are you interested in working on next? Let’s talk about it in the comments.


If you found this page helpful, I invite you to return to this site often for more craft tutorials, project ideas and inspiration! You can make sure you keep this site on your radar by signing up for my newsletter and community at Substack. .



Basic subscriptions are free; I send out regular newsletters to let my subscribers know about new craft articles and tutorials as they are posted. I also share details about the craft projects I’m working on, and invite my readers to share their projects, too. So there is no need to feel like it’s just you, crafting all alone at home. I’d love to have you join us! You’re invited!!

By Amy Solovay

Please Visit My Ko-Fi Shop HERE to Find My Sample Sale, Destash Sale and Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

Please Visit My Ravelry Store HERE to Find Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

About the Author:

Amy Solovay

Amy Solovay


Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College; she has also earned a separate Associate of Arts degree in textile design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles). She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.


Amy learned to crochet as a small child, and she still enjoys crocheting all these years later.


I'm excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you'll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Both of them are gift-worthy and quick to make, which means they're ideal for Christmas crafting. Thanks for taking a look at them!

I’m excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! ! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you’ll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!


As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles.


If you’re interested in reading Amy’s personal blog, she invites you to visit her official website, AmySolovay.com.


This page was last updated on 11-17-2024.

Knitted Christmas Ornaments by Arne & Carlos

Is your Christmas tree looking a little bit bare? Or perhaps yours is beautifully decorated, but you want to make more ornaments to give as gifts to your friends and acquaintances this holiday season. Read on if you need some ideas for creative Christmas ornaments to knit — because I have suggestions for extraordinary knitted Christmas ornament patterns that I think you’ll want to know about.

If you enjoy knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, you'll want to get your hands on a copy of Arne & Carlos Favorites. This lovely book includes a spectacular selection of patterns for knitting Christmas ornaments, toys like the cute mouse pictured here, chic accessories, blankets, slippers and other items that make fantastic Christmas gifts.

If you enjoy knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, you’ll want to get your hands on a copy of Arne & Carlos Favorites. This lovely book includes a spectacular selection of patterns for knitting Christmas ornaments, toys like the cute mouse pictured here, chic accessories, blankets, slippers and other items that make fantastic Christmas gifts.

This cute toy mouse is named Magnus. You can knit him, along with bunches of different Christmas ornaments like the one you see pictured here, using patterns from the book called Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs, published by Trafalgar Square Books

A couple of ultra-talented Norwegian knitting pattern designers named Arne & Carlos are the guys behind these incredibly beautiful Christmas ornament designs. I highly recommend their book called Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs, which includes their Christmas ornament patterns plus bunches of other Christmas and holiday friendly patterns.

You can use some of the ornament patterns to create round knitted Christmas ornaments. Some of the other patterns included in the book are useful for making small knitted birds that could either be toys, or Christmas ornaments, or other types of ornaments. Like, if you decorate for Easter, some of the birds could be Easter birds, too.

In addition to all the ornament patterns, the book also includes bunches of other fun patterns for gift-worthy items ranging from dolls to slippers to blankets.

Want to Learn More About This Book?

Over to You:

Which craft projects are you interested in working on next? Let’s talk about it in the comments.


If you found this page helpful, I invite you to return to this site often for more craft tutorials, project ideas and inspiration! You can make sure you keep this site on your radar by signing up for my newsletter and community at Substack. .



Basic subscriptions are free; I send out regular newsletters to let my subscribers know about new craft articles and tutorials as they are posted. I also share details about the craft projects I’m working on, and invite my readers to share their projects, too. So there is no need to feel like it’s just you, crafting all alone at home. I’d love to have you join us! You’re invited!!

By Amy Solovay

Please Visit My Ko-Fi Shop HERE to Find My Sample Sale, Destash Sale and Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

Please Visit My Ravelry Store HERE to Find Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

About Your Book Reviewer:

Amy Solovay

Amy Solovay


Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College; she has also earned a separate Associate of Arts degree in textile design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles). She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.


Amy learned to knit as a teenager, and she still enjoys knitting all these years later.


I'm excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you'll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!

I’m excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! ! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you’ll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!


As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles.


If you’re interested in reading Amy’s personal blog, she invites you to visit her official website, AmySolovay.com.


This page was last updated on 11-17-2024.

Gift-Worthy DIY Christmas Bracelet Patterns

The holiday season is upon us!


This is a fantastic time of year for going out to holiday parties, dressing up in our most festive clothes and accessorizing to look our best.


It’s also a wonderful time for making the loveliest gifts we can manage and presenting them to our loved ones.


In either case, those of you who celebrate Christmas might enjoy making yourself or your loved ones some new Christmas-friendly bracelets or other jewelry.

In this post, I’ll share gift-worthy DIY Christmas bracelet patterns; but if that isn’t what you’re interested in working on right now, please check out this site’s main directory of craft project ideas to find a wide variety of other projects you might enjoy.

Southwestern Turquoise and Red Coral Chip Bead Bracelet: Free Pattern

Southwestern Turquoise and Red Coral Chip Bead Bracelet: Free Crochet Pattern

Southwestern Turquoise and Red Coral Chip Bead Bracelet: Free Crochet Pattern


Do you like making Christmas projects that only get used once a year?


Some people love doing that, while other people find it hard to want to invest the time it takes to make projects that aren’t useful all year around.


I designed this bracelet in hopes that this style would be wearable for the holiday season, but that it would also look lovely for everyday wear as well.

To make it work, I used traditional Christmas colors of red and green, plus I also added touches of turquoise.

Of course, if you make a bracelet like this one for yourself or a friend, you can use whichever bead colors you find most appealing, or the intended recipient’s favorite colors.

Wire Crochet Lace Cuff Bracelet: Free Pattern

Gift-Worthy DIY Christmas Bracelet Pattern: A Red and Green Wire Crochet Lace Cuff Bracelet -- Free Instructions

Gift-Worthy DIY Christmas Bracelet Patterns: A Red and Green Wire Crochet Lace Cuff Bracelet


This cuff-style bracelet is crocheted in two colors of wire, and it’s accented with contrasting yet coordinating beads.


I crocheted my sample bracelet in Christmas colors — red and green wire, with bronze-colored seed bead accents. As is, it’s a great look for those of you who would like to get a jump start on your Christmas crocheting.


But, if you’re not feeling Christmas-y right now, all it would take is a color change to make the bracelet in more of an everyday look. I can see making it in silver, gold and bronze, or in other hues of colored wire.


Grab This Free Crochet Bracelet Pattern:


Holiday Sparkle Bracelet

Holiday Sparkle Bracelet -- A Free Christmas Crochet Pattern

Holiday Sparkle Bracelet — A Free Christmas Crochet Pattern


You can crochet this glittery bracelet using metallic embroidery floss and faceted beads; if you use supplies similar to these, you’ll end up with a festive bracelet design that’s perfect for the holiday season but also wearable all year around.


Want to make one of these bracelets for yourself or a friend? Grab the free crochet bracelet pattern HERE.

The bracelets pictured above are all designs that I specifically intended to be Christmas friendly. I’ve shared free crochet patterns for bunches of bracelet styles other than these; most are made in everyday colors, but a color change is all it would take to make the others suitable for Christmas, too. So if you like the idea of making a Christmas bracelet, but you aren’t in love with any of the bracelet styles shown above, you are invited to check out the rest of the list of crochet bracelet patterns HERE.


If bracelets aren’t your thing, you could check out this list of DIY jewelry making ideas HERE; accessory patterns HERE; Christmas craft ideas HERE; our Christmas crochet and knitting patterns HERE, or holiday craft ideas HERE.


See Also: Best Christmas Craft Books for the 2024 Holiday Season

Perhaps you aren’t interested in making Christmas bracelets or jewelry right now. Did you know that this website has 800+ pages of craft tutorials, instructions and project inspiration? If you’re hoping to find other sorts of patterns and projects to work on, you’re invited to check out the blog and the main directory of craft project ideas to find other projects that better reflect your current interests!


If you found this post helpful, I invite you to return to this blog often for more craft tutorials, project ideas and inspiration! You can make sure you keep this site on your radar by signing up for my newsletter and community at Substack. .



Basic subscriptions are free; I send out regular newsletters to let my subscribers know about new craft articles and tutorials as they are posted. I also share details about the craft projects I’m working on, and invite my readers to share their projects, too. So there is no need to feel like it’s just you, crafting all alone at home. I’d love to have you join us! You’re invited!!

By Amy Solovay

Please Visit My Ko-Fi Shop HERE to Find My Sample Sale, Destash Sale and Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

Please Visit My Ravelry Store HERE to Find Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

About the Author:

Amy Solovay

Amy Solovay


Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College; she has also earned a separate Associate of Arts degree in textile design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles). She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.


Amy learned to crochet as a small child, and she still enjoys crocheting all these years later.


I'm excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you'll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!

I’m excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! ! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you’ll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!


As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles. Nowadays she uses online platforms for sharing her knowledge about textiles, crafts, current color trends and current design trends.


This page was last updated on 11-26-2024.

A Thank You Card for Fall Days

Thanks a Bunch Greeting Card for Fall Days

Thanks a Bunch Greeting Card for Fall Days

I often send thank you cards to the people in my life, so I like to make bunches of these cards to keep on hand and personalize when I need them.


Here’s the latest example of a handmade thank you card I created; it’s a mini slimline card featuring lovely retro-style flower and botanical graphics. These images are from the Harvest Market Collection by Simple Stories.

Need More Ideas for Making DIY Thank You Cards?

If this card isn’t your style, you might like to check out a bunch of other examples of thank you cards you could make. I’ve posted more thank you card making ideas besides just this one.

Thanks so much for taking a look at this project. I appreciate your interest!


If you found this page helpful, I invite you to return to this site often for more craft tutorials, project ideas and inspiration! You can make sure you keep this site on your radar by signing up for my newsletter and community at Substack. .



Basic subscriptions are free; I send out regular newsletters to let my subscribers know about new craft articles and tutorials as they are posted. I also share details about the craft projects I’m working on, and invite my readers to share their projects, too. So there is no need to feel like it’s just you, crafting all alone at home. I’d love to have you join us! You’re invited!!

By Amy Solovay

Please Visit My Ko-Fi Shop HERE to Find My Sample Sale, Destash Sale and Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

Please Visit My Ravelry Store HERE to Find Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

About the Author:

Amy Solovay

Amy Solovay


Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College; she has also earned a separate Associate of Arts degree in textile design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles). She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.


Amy began paper crafting as a small child, and she still enjoys paper craft techniques all these years later.


I'm excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you'll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!

I’m excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! ! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you’ll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!


As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles. Nowadays she uses online platforms for sharing her knowledge about textiles, crafts, current color trends and current design trends.


This page was last updated on 11-26-2024.

More Paper Craft Project Ideas Featuring the Simple Stories Harvest Market Collection:

Want to find more project ideas featuring the Simple Stories Harvest Market collection? If so, I invite you to check out this series of 6″x8″ scrapbooking layouts featuring photos of our visit to an organic farm.

More DIY Card Making Ideas:

Tap here for our main directory of paper crafts projects and ideas.

Posted By: Amy Solovay

Fun Toys to Make for Christmas

‘Tis the season for toy shopping, but shopping for toys isn’t your only option.


Have you given any thought to the possibility of making the dolls or toys you’ll give to the children on your gift list? It’s totally do-able considering there are many, many patterns available for sewing, knitting and crocheting adorable toys.


You aren’t limited to these craft techniques, by any means. Lately my niece has been begging me for tiny, cute needle felted toy animals (which I don’t know how to make — so I have no recommendations for needle felting patterns. Yet.)


Right now, knitting and crocheting are my top craft techniques, so this post will focus primarily on pattern recommendations for crocheted and knitted toys.

Knitted Dolls and Teddy Bears

If you want to knit a teddy bear for a special child on your gift list, consider using this cute teddy bear knitting pattern from Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs, published by Trafalgar Square Books.

If you want to knit a teddy bear for a special child on your gift list, consider using this cute teddy bear knitting pattern from Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs, published by Trafalgar Square Books.

If you want to knit truly wonderful holiday gifts for anyone in your inner circle, my top pattern book recommendation of the moment would be Arne & Carlos Favorite Designs. This book isn’t specifically intended to be a toy pattern book, but it does have some fantastic options for fun toys you can make — including a vibrant and colorful teddy bear, bunches of different dolls and doll clothes, plus assorted other toys.


The book also includes patterns for slippers, socks, and all kinds of other gift-worthy items.

Learn More About This Book:

The Woobles Crochet Amigurumi Pattern Book: Make Gifts for Every Occasion

The Woobles Crochet Amigurumi for Every Occasion by Justine Tiu -- Text © 2022 Justine Tiu, Photography © 2022 Weldon Owen International

The Woobles Crochet Amigurumi for Every Occasion by Justine Tiu — Text © 2022 Justine Tiu, Photography © 2022 Weldon Owen International


Are you a beginner to crocheting?


If you’d be interested in finding crocheted toy patterns that include video tutorials (for many of them — but not all of them) and are also easy enough for total beginners, The Woobles is a book you’re likely to enjoy.


This isn’t specifically a Christmas pattern book, but it offers you bunches of patterns that would make lovely gifts for different occasions, including Christmas and others.


Learn More About This Book:

Amigurumi: An Adorable Collection — Cute Crocheted Stuffed Animal Toys

Amigurumi: An Adorable Collection, a Crochet Pattern Book Published by Leisure Arts

Amigurumi, an Adorable Collection of Heroes, Animals and Monsters to Crochet. Leisure Arts is the publisher of this brand new crochet pattern book.

Reasons I love this book:

  • These patterns are super fun, super cool and super cute. Well, OK, not all of these designs are cute, but most of them are.
  • There are designs suitable for both boys and girls, so the boys are not left out of the fun.
  • The book format is totally logical and user-friendly, with gorgeous full-color photography and readable fonts.

Learn More About This Book:

Maybe you’re not interested in making toys right now. Did you know this website has 800+ pages of craft tutorials, instructions and project inspiration? If you’re hoping to find other sorts of patterns and projects, you’re invited to check out the blog and the main directory of craft project ideas to find other projects that better reflect your current interests!

See Also:

If you found this post helpful, I invite you to return to this blog often for more craft tutorials, project ideas and inspiration! You can make sure you keep this site on your radar by signing up for my newsletter and community at Substack. .



Basic subscriptions are free; I send out regular newsletters to let my subscribers know about new craft articles and tutorials as they are posted. I also share details about the craft projects I’m working on, and invite my readers to share their projects, too. So there is no need to feel like it’s just you, crafting all alone at home. I’d love to have you join us! You’re invited!!

By Amy Solovay

Please Visit My Ko-Fi Shop HERE to Find My Sample Sale, Destash Sale and Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

Please Visit My Ravelry Store HERE to Find Digital PDF Pattern Downloads for Sale.

About the Author:

Amy Solovay

Amy Solovay


Amy Solovay is a real, live, human content creator and educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Sweet Briar College; she has also earned a separate Associate of Arts degree in textile design from FIDM LA (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles). She is NOT a robot and does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to write book reviews or articles for this website.


Amy learned to knit as a teenager, and she still enjoys knitting all these years later.


I'm excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you'll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!

I’m excited about this book, Delicate Crochet by Sharon Hernes Silverman! ! I am super proud of the 2 patterns I contributed to this pattern collection. I hope you’ll check out the fingerless gloves and the beaded necklace I designed for this book. Thanks for taking a look at them!


As an educator, Amy Solovay used to teach in-person college courses in trend forecasting, marketing and surface design at California Design College in Los Angeles. Nowadays she uses online platforms for sharing her knowledge about textiles, crafts, current color trends and current design trends.


Happy crafting, and happy holidays to you and yours. I hope your family will have a delightful holiday season this year.


This page was last updated on 11-26-2024.