Jamie

Free Pattern – American Flag Throw PIllow

June 22, 2018January 4, 2023 Jamie

Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

Summertime is official here and the 4th of July is just around the corner. I feel that its really easy to decorate your house/apartment for the 4th. Like if you put out a flag and a red/white/blue tablecloth, everyone compliments you on how festive your place looks. Sometimes, however, you want to put a little more effort into your decorating. This throw pillow is a perfect addition to your 4th of July decor collection.

Here are seven facts about the Declaration of Independence that you may not know.

56 people signed the Declaration of Independence.
Ben Franklin was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence (70 years old). Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence (26 years old).
8 signers were actually born in Britain.
During World War 2, the Declaration of Independence was housed in Fort Knox along with the Constitutions.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but the entire Continental Congress edited the document.
The USA technically celebrates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence and not the signing. on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress voted to ratify the Declaration of Independence. The date it was signed is disputed, but most historians believe it was signed on August 2, 1776.
The names are not randomly oriented. John Hancock signature was in the middle as he was the president of the Continental Congress. The other 55 signatures are grouped by colony. The order of the colonies was based on geography. The most southern colony (Georgia) was first and the most north colony was last. The picture below is of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

This image is from the Wikipedia “Signing of the United States Declaration of Independence” page.

This throw pillow pattern makes use of 2 pieces (one for the front and one for the back). Each piece consists of a blue granny square and a red and white panel. This project is good for beginners as it is very repetitive. It is also a great project for more seasoned crocheter looking for a quick project that they can make in an afternoon. The granny square gives the appearance of stars. There are 13 stripes in the panel, to represent the 13 original colonies. You can purchase a printable version of this pattern here or a kit to make this project at thecrafteaze.com/individual_projects.

Feel free to sell any finished throw pillow that you make from this pattern, but I would appreciate credit as the designer of the pattern. You CANNOT use my photos to sell your throw pillow. Also please do not sell my pattern as your own.

Supplies

Abbreviations

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
* * = work directions between stars the number of time specified.

This is what the flag pillow I made looked like sitting on my couch.

Blue Granny Square (Make 2)

Round 1: Using the blue yarn, chain 3. 2 dc into the first chain (this makes 3 dc cluster). Chain 2 *3 dc, ch 2* 3 times. Slip stitch into the top chain of the first “chain 3” to close the round.

Round 2: Chain 3, 2 dc into the same corner as the ch 3. *3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc* in the next 3 corners. 3 dc followed by 2 ch in the last corner. Slip stitch to the top of the first chain 3 to close the round.

Round 3: Chain 3, 2 dc into the same corner as the ch 3. *Make 3 dc in the space and then make 3 dc, 2 ch, 3dc * 3 times. Make 3 dc and 2 ch in the last corner. Slip stitch to the top of the first chain 3 to close the round.

Round 4: Chain 3, 2 dc into the same corner as the ch 3. *Make 3 dc in the next 2 spaces and then make 3 dc, 2 ch, 3dc * 3 times. Make 3 dc and ch 2 in the last corner. Slip stitch to the top of the first chain 3 to close the round.

Round 5: Chain 3, 2 dc into the same corner as the ch 3. *Make 3 dc in the next 3 spaces and then make 3 dc, 2 ch, 3dc * 3 times. Make 3 dc and 2 ch in the last corner. Slip stitch to the top of the first chain 3 to close the round. Bind off.

Flat Red and White Panel (Make 2)

With the red yarn, chain 34.

Row 1: Dc in the 3^rd chain from your hook (this counts as the first dc). Dc in each chain, turn. (31 dc)

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as the first dc). Dc in each st to last st, turn. (31 dc)

Row 3: Attach the white yarn. Ch 2 (counts as the first dc), dc in each st to last st, turn. (31 dc)

Rows 4-12: Ch 2 (counts as the first dc), dc in each st to last st, turn. Switch back between the red and white yarn every 2 rows. (31 dc)

Row 13: With the red, ch 2 (count as the first dc), dc in next 13 st, turn (14 dc).

Row 14-26 : Ch 2 (counts as the first dc), dc in each st to last st, turn (14 dc). Switch back between the red and white yarn every 2 rows. Bind off the ends.

Finishing

Join the blue square to the red and white panel, with right sides together with a needle and blue yarn. The panel should now look like a flag.

Join the two flag panels with the wrong sides together with the blue yarn. Join with a sc around 3 sides of the panels. Insert the pillow and finished joining with sc around the last side. With a slip stich join to the first sc. Bind off.

Wine Review – Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling

June 11, 2018October 28, 2020 Jamie

Some links posted below may be affiliate links which means I’ll earn a tiny commission if you purchase through them.

I am a huge fan of Riesling wine. Riesling wines are made from a Riesling grape. The Riesling grape is originally from Germany but has since been planted in many other places including Washington, Michigan, and Ontario.

These wine can be paired with many different types of foods. I love to drink a glass of Riesling when eating Pad Thai add a local Thai restaurant that my boyfriend and I love to go to. I also like to order a glass of Riesling with my parmesan coated chicken breast dinner at ASM meetings (a professional organization that I am a member of).

So I was introduced to this particular Riesling when I was at home for Christmas a few years back. My dad knows that my mom and I both enjoy Rieslings, and so he is always on the lookout for new Rieslings to try. He found Chateau Ste Michelle Riesling at their local Walmart. The three of us (my sister was at her husband’s family Christmas) tried the wine and all like it. It is in the “Family Wine Book” as highly rated. My mom (who prefers sweeter wines) even enjoyed this wine.

I like to drink this wine with dinner. I had a glass tonight with my steak and shrimp dinner. This is a “medium” wine that has peach and pear notes. A medium wine is between a dry wine and a sweet wine. The winemaker states that this is an “everyday wine”. The reason for calling it an “everyday wine” is that it can easily be pair with many types of food. This is one of my go-to wines when at a restaurant. I have ordered it a variety of different restaurants including a Thai restaurant and a restaurant that served modern American cuisine.

I have been able to find this wine in a variety of places. I have bought this wine at my local grocery store. I have also bought this wine at Walmart. I have even seen a bottle at the gas station. You can find this wine by using this website: www.ste-michelle.com/find-our-wine. Be sure to select “Columbia Valley Riesling” in the wine option. One of my favorite things about this wine is that it is a delicious and versatile wine that is fairly inexpensive. Most places have this wine for less than $10. If you want to order this wine, you can order a bottle at Wine.com.

7 Movies That Are Perfect for Girls Night In

June 1, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

Sometimes it is nice to invite all your friends over for a girls night in. It’s an opportunity to break out the junk food and the wine while catching up. It’s also a chance to watch movies that you may not frequently get the opportunity to watch.

This is my personal top 7 movies currently on Netflix that are perfect for a girls night in. Some of the movies are added for nostalgia. Other movies are on the list because they are funny. And then there are some movies that are added because they are, currently, some of my favorite movies.

1. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Day

I remember this being one of the first movies that was a go-to at sleepovers in middle school and high school. So be ready for a nostalgic trip back to a simpler time! Andy is a magazine reporter who is writing a “How to Lose a Guy” how-to article. Ben is trying to win a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 2 weeks. How will they be work through their conflicting objectives?

2. Leap Year

So this movie may hit a little to close to home for some of your friends who have been waiting patiently on their boyfriends to propose, but hopefully, the beautiful Irish setting and the Irish accents will help them enjoy the movie. Anna has been waiting on her boyfriend Jeremy to propose for some time. He is going to be in Ireland on February 29, so she decides to fly to Ireland to propose. Irish tradition states that if a woman proposes to a man on Leap Day, he must accept. She has many detours along the way to finding her very own happily ever after.

3. I Give It A Year

This is one of my favorite Netflix finds! This is a British comedy that also stars Anna Farris. Nat and Josh meet at a party and fall in love at first site. They then marry a couple of months later. They have very different personalities and many quirky friends and family members. Even the characters know that they are very different. At one point in the movie, Josh even mentions that he is a thinker and Nat is a doer. This movie follows the couple through their first year of marriage. Will they make it to their anniversary??

4. Candy Jar

This is a Netflix original movie that came out in April 2018. Bennett and Lona are two ambitious high school seniors. They are each other’s biggest competition in debate even though they go to the same high school. At the individual district competition, neither qualify for the state competition. It’s very important for these two kids to qualify to compete at state so they can add it to their college applications. So their last chance is to work together and compete as a team. Through the movie, the two students realize that they are more similar than they originally thought and slowly became friends.

5. Definitely, Maybe

This is one of the movies that I can watch it over and over again. Will is going through a divorce when he picks his daughter, Maya, up from school. That night Maya begs to hear the story about how Will and her mother meet. He didn’t want to tell her the story at first but eventually gives into her begging with one big exception. He wasn’t going to use the women’s real names. So Maya would have to figure out who her mom was. The movie is basically told in flashbacks of how he ended up in New York and eventually marrying her mom.

6. 13 Going On 30

Jenna is a dorky unpopular girl in middle school. On her 13th birthday, she makes a wish to be 30. When she wakes up, she is 30 years old and living what she thinks is a perfect life. Over time, she realizes that the perfect life she thinks 30-year-old her is living isn’t quite what it seems. I remember watching this movie in high school when it came out, but it is a different viewing experience today. At that point, I was a dorky 14-year-old hoping that by the time I was 30 my life would be perfect. Today, as I am getting very close to 30 my life (for the most part) isn’t like the life I imagined at 14 and I’m totally ok with it. Like there is no way I can afford to fly in a helicopter to my 10-year high school reunion, nor would I want to because that is a huge waste of money.

7. When We First Met

This is another Netflix original movie that came out in 2018 that I found to be entertaining. Noah is hopelessly in love with his best friend Avery. They had chemistry when the first met at a Halloween party, but somehow he ended up in the friend’s zone later that night. He always wonders what went wrong, until he finds a magically photobooth that takes him back to that day. Will Noah and Avery finally end up together or will he figure out that the perfect person for him may not be exactly who he expects?

Now that you have a list of possible movies to watch, you can start planning your next girls night in!

June 2018 Crochet Box Unveiling

May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 Jamie

Hi! I unveiled the June crochet box today on Facebook live. Just in case you missed the video, you can check it out below. The June crochet project is an American flag throw pillow. This pillow can be used to decorate your living room for the 4th of July. The video will show you all the supplies in the box. If you think this box looks like a fun project, you can now buy this box as an individual project at thecrafteaze.com/individual_projects.

Free Crochet Pattern – Chevron Laptop Sleeve

May 30, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

I will be the first person to admit that I’m clumsy. I’m constantly finding new ways to break things or to hurt myself (I will find any hole in a parking lot to twist my ankle in). Just to show the magnitude of my clumsiness, here are a few examples. My first month of college, I broke my LG Shine cell phone (remember those phones that screen was supposed to be like a mirror but never really worked as a mirror) by walking into a table. This wasn’t just an excuse I gave my parents for needing a new phone, I literally walked into the corner of a table with the phone in my pocket and broke the screen. Then a few years back I hurt my foot getting out of bed one morning. I didn’t turn my bedside light on and walked straight into the corner post of my bed. Trust me when I say its pretty embarrassing to have to admit you hurt yourself getting out of bed when you are asked why you are limping.

So the reason that I told these two short stories is to give a little background information about why the chevron laptop sleeve was the inaugural CraftEaze crochet subscription box project. I made a few laptop sleeves in the past for my Etsy store and they sold fairly well. So when I mentioned the idea of CraftEaze to my boyfriend, he said the laptop sleeve would be the perfect first project! He thought the laptop sleeve looked cool and could be useful. If a person as clumsy as me can protect my laptop with a sleeve, then it should work for just about anyone.

This laptop sleeve pattern contains instructions for both a 14″ and 17″ laptop. It is also a suitable project for beginners as it is very repetitive. It is also a great project for more seasoned crocheter looking for a quick project that they can make in an afternoon. The laptop sleeve is soft and will protect your laptop from scratches. You can purchase a printable version of this pattern at thecrafteaze.com/patterns or a kit to make this project at thecrafteaze.com/individual_projects.

Feel free to sell any finished laptop sleeve that you make from this pattern, but I would appreciate credit as the designer of the pattern. You CANNOT use my photos to sell your laptop sleeve. Also please do not sell my pattern as your own.

Supplies

Size H – 8 (5.00 mm) Crochet Hook
~350 yards of Medium (4) Acrylic Yarn (I used 2 skeins of Premier Yarn Sweet Roll Yarn for this project because it naturally makes wide colorful strips)
4 5/8″ or 1″ buttons

Abbreviations

ch = chain
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
V-St = V Stich (1 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc all in same chain or space)
* * = work directions between stars the number of time specified.

My 17″ laptop in the chevron laptop sleeve I made myself.

For 17” Laptop:

Ch 71.
Row 1 (Right side): Work 2 dc in the 2^nd chain from hook, *dc in next 7 ch, skip 2 ch, dc in next 7 ch, V-st in next ch* 3 times, dc in next 7 ch, skip 2 ch, dc in next 7 ch, 2 dc in the last ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 dc in the first dc, *dc in next 7 dc, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 7 dc, V-st in ch 1 space* 3 times, dc in next 7 dc, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in the last dc, turn.
Rows 3-44: Repeat row 2.
Continue in the Finishing instructions.

For 14” laptop:

Ch 54.
Row 1 (Right Side): Work 2 dc in the 2nd chain from hook, *dc in next 7 ch, skip 2 ch, dc in next 7 ch, V-st in next ch* 2 times, dc in next 7 ch, skip 2 ch, dc in next 7 ch, 2 dc in the last ch, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 dc in the first dc, *dc in next 7 dc, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 7 dc, V-st in ch 1 space * 2 times, dc in next 7 dc, skip next 2 dc, dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in the last dc, turn.
Rows 3-40: Repeat row 2.
Continue in the Finishing instructions.

Finishing (for both sizes):

You should fold laptop cover like so. This will create a 2-row ledge that can be folded over and fastened with the buttons.

With right sides held together, sc the 3^rd row and the last row together. Sc the two sides together. Fasten off. Attach yarn to the other side on the last row, sc the 3^rd and last row together. Sc the two sides together. Fasten off. Weave in all ends. Turn the sleeve right side out. Add the buttons to the valleys on the shorter side between the top row and the 2^nd row from the top. The 17” laptop sleeve will require 4 buttons and the 14” laptop sleeve will require 3 buttons. The space at the top of the corresponding peaks are the buttonholes.

Cherry Limeade Wine Cocktail

May 24, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

I’m definitely looking forward to this weekend. First, it has been beautiful outside this week, and this weekend is also suppose to be beautiful. Secondly, I’m actually off work all weekend long! I have worked the last couple of weekends, so I’m pretty excited for the chance to sleep in a little. Finally, it’s Memorial Day weekend! Memorial Day weekend is the best because it’s a 3 day weekend and also the unofficial start of summer. It is finally time to spend time on the deck or by the pool with a nice cold drink and a good book.

One of my favorite summertime drinks is the cherry limeade. When I was high school my mom figured out how to make a Sonic cherry limeade lookalike, and we would make them in the afternoon after working in the yard. The other day when I was on Pinterest, I saw some wine slushie recipes and thought it would be cool to try to make a cherry limeade wine slushie. I looked and couldn’t really find a recipe for one, so I came up with this recipe. I used the Barefoot Moscato when I made this recipe because it was like $6. You can use any Moscato wine for this recipe. This recipe is easy to make and the result is pretty tasty.

Ingredients

1 bottle of Moscato (I used Barefoot Moscato)
1 can of frozen limeade
A little cherry grenadine

Pour the can of frozen limeade into the blender along with the bottle
The drink is colorful and looks tasty!

of Moscato. If you would like a drink that is closer to a slushie, then you can add ice to the blender.
Blend the frozen limeade and the wine using the slushie button.
After the frozen limeade and the wine are blended together, pour a little of the cherry grenadine in the blender.
Blend the drink for a 2 or 3 short pulses.
Pour the drink into your glass of choice and enjoy!

The 5 Things You Need When You Learning How to Crochet

May 23, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

Learning to crochet can be fun. I first learned how to crochet on a summer internship between my sophomore and junior year in college. A colleague who attended the same college taught me during that summer, and I was immediately hooked! In this blog post, I will talk about the 5 things that I feel you need when you are learning how to crochet.

1) Patience

Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t expect to be the best crocheter ever the first day. It will take a lot of practice and patience at first, but if you work hard and stick with it you will soon start to make some awesome projects.

2) Youtube

Youtube is a great resource when you are learning how to crochet or to learn how to make a new stitch. There are several great videos out there teaching the basics like how to make a chain, single crochet, or double crochet along with some more advance items like how to work corner to corner. I have recently been working on an outer space blanket corner to corner blanket. The pattern I am using for this blanket is from Whistle and Ivy (https://www.whistleandivy.com/, you should definitely check out this site because she has some really cute ideas. Since this is my first major corner to corner project, I have been utilizing Youtube a lot for refreshers.

This is a photo of my personal scissors. I love my flower scissors!

3) A Unique Pair of Scissors

You are going to want a good pair of scissors that is only used for your yarn. I personally like to use colorful items. The bright colorful items just have a way of brightening your mood. I currently have a pair of Fiskars floral scissors. Fiskars has floral scissors in pink and blue that you can buy on Amazon or at Joann Fabrics or Michaels. The scissors I own has large pink flowers on them, which makes it easy to use only for my yarn projects. And because of the large pink flowers, my boyfriend knows not to use these scissors to cut paper or tape.

4) A Pinterest Account

I know what you’re think, ” Jamie, where have you been the last couple of year, everyone has a Pinterest account today because where else will you find Joanna Gaines inspired decor projects or your DIY rustic wedding decor”. But it is also a great resource when you are learning how to crochet. There are tons of patterns available on Pinterest. Some of these patterns are for more experienced crafters, but a lot are simple projects for beginners. Its user interface also makes it super easy to search for particular projects. Like if you want to find a baby blanket, you can search for “Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns”. You can also find crochet blogs that can teach you how to make different types of stitches.

5) A Sense of Adventure

Once you start to crochet, you will be embarking a lifelong crafting journey. You will be looking for new patterns to try, new stitches, and new types of yarns. There are several times when I’m wondering around Joann Fabrics, Michaels, or Pat Catans where I will see a new or different type of yarn and will want to buy it just to see what I can make out of it. That’s the great thing about crocheting, you can always try new things. Here at CraftEaze we love this adventure so much that we created a monthly subscription service that will deliver a new project (with all of the supplies) directly to your door! These projects are good for beginners and also will introduce you to different types of yarn and patterns. Check out the subscriptions menu for more information.

Happy Crafting!

<3 Jamie

May Crochet Box Unveiling

May 23, 2018 Jamie

Hi! A few weeks ago we had a Facebook live video going over what could be found in the May crochet CraftEaze box. Going forward the May box will be a welcome box for all new subscribers! In case you missed the Facebook live video, you can check it out below. Thanks for watching!

Binge Worthy Netflix Series- Lovesick

May 21, 2018November 16, 2018 Jamie

As you know, each CraftEaze box comes with a Netflix suggestion. The May crochet box Netflix suggestion is Lovesick. This show was originally a British tv show for the first season and then Netflix picked up the series. Netflix has produced two more seasons of this show, with the most recent season being released on New Year’s Day. My boyfriend and I love to watch this show and typically watch the entire season within a day or so of it being released.

The storyline of the series is Dylan must contact all of his past girlfriends after a doctor’s visit. This may not sound like a very promising storyline, but trust me it is really an entertaining and relatable show. There are 3 main characters: Dylan, Evie, and Luke. Each episode contains a flashback to a past girlfriend of Dylan or an event related to the three main characters (like a friend’s wedding). So instead of giving any spoilers, I’m going to make a top 3 list of things that I love about the show.

1. The Characters

The number one thing I love about this show is the characters. Dylan, Evie, and Luke are relatable and so easy to like. Their friend Angus is hilarious. You can really see why this group of friends are together and why their friendship is definitely #friendshipgoals. It is also fun seeing how their friendship started and evolved over time.

2. Finding Love and Happiness

This show may not really sound like it will be about finding true love and happiness, but it really is. Dylan is really a hopeless romantic that is looking for the girl he will spend the rest of his life with., but he just seems to have bad luck when it comes to love. He jumps headfirst into almost every relationship, even if it really isn’t the best fit. Luke is who he is because of a girl in his past that really hurt him. Evie’s father died when she was young and this has affected who she is. All of the characters really just want to be happy and the viewer gets the opportunity to watch as they try to find happiness and love.

3. It’s Relatable

The third thing I love about this show is how relatable it actually is. Unlike other shows, the characters all have jobs that a person in their 20s might have (landscaper, app developer, photographer). They also do not live super extravagant lifestyles and almost everyone has roommates. Also unlike other shows that are romantic comedies, everything doesn’t always end up perfectly just like real life.

So these are the 3 reasons why I love the series Lovesick. Be sure to check it out on Netflix!

Winking Owl Moscato – Wine Review

May 21, 2018August 19, 2018 Jamie

Here at CraftEaze, we love crafts, Netflix, and wine. So each month our projects contain a wine and Netflix suggestion. Winking Owl Moscato was the May crochet pattern suggestion. You can find Winking Owl Moscato at Aldi. I love shopping at Aldi because they have some unique products and also have some good deals on essential food items like eggs. I remember growing up my mom would buy the pizza kits from Aldi and my sister and I would get to make our very own pizza.

The Winking Owl Moscato is a sweet white wine. The wine has a slight peach flavor. It pairs well with spicy food, cheeses, desserts, or a quiet evening watching Netflix. This is one of my favorite wines. This is my go-to wine to drink while binge watching Netflix and working on a craft project. Recently, I had a glass of this wine while working on a baby blanket for a friend.

For more information or to find an Aldi location near you with this wine visit: http://www.aldi.us/en/grocery-home/wine-cellar/white-wines/white-wines-detail/ps/p/winking-owl-moscato/