Alina Crochet Doily in White, Blue, and Pale Green

This is my most recent design - Alina Doily (I name my doilies after my friends). 

Most of the time, I make my doilies in white, as it's at the classic color for doilies. When browsing through vintage patterns, you will see that they are exclusively white. 

But it's fun to experiment with colors! 

I have to admit I'm not very good at creating interesting color combinations. But I am pleased with the colors I chose for this doily. 

I really like it! Feels very fresh and crisp, just like the winter air outside of my home right now! 

The pattern is available in my Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry shops.

Alina Doily, My New Crochet Pattern

Finally I have a new doily pattern! I named this doily after a friend of mine. I now made it a tradition to name my doilies after friends, and I like this idea. 

This doily measures about 16 inches across (after blocking). I used Aunt Lydia's classic cotton thread size ten and a 1.5 mm steel hook. 

I like the way my doily looks in white, and right now I'm working on another Alina doily in blue, white, and green. It's coming out lovely. 

But just look how pretty it looks in variegated thread! The doily shown below was made by Jovette, who tested the pattern for me. Thank you Jovette!

The pattern is available in my Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry shops.

For the next few days, the price is 50% off. 

I'm also having a giveaway for this pattern on my Facebook page. To enter my giveaway, follow/like my FB page and leave a comment on the post about this doily pattern. I will draw three people at random and announce the winners on Wednesday morning (December 12). 

Blocks and Popcorns Baby Blanket, Free Crochet Pattern

I have a new baby blanket pattern to share! 

The design is very simple and even a beginner will be able to make it! 

One skein of Snuggly Wuggly Big by Loops & Threads is enough to make this blanket. 

I made mine in one solid color, but I can see it done in stripes. 

My free pattern is available on my website:

olgapoltava.com

Happy Holidays and Happy Crocheting! 

Pattern Giveaway: Pineapple Bouquet Doily

Hello blogging friends! 

Those of you who have been blogging or following blogs for many years probably have noticed that it has changed dramatically! 

A lot of wonderful bloggers have left the blogland, others moved to different platforms like Facebook and Youtube. 

Do you remember the fun times of link parties and giveaways? I don't see very many of those either. 

My own blog and blogging style have changed too! I started by blog as a way to connect with other women and share my work. 

But with time it grew from hobby to a small business. And of course, there is nothing wrong with making money from one's work; we all need to pay our bills and buy our food. But there are days when I miss blogging just for the joy of it!

Reminiscing for the past days, I decided to have a Giveaway!

This doily is called Pineapple Bouquet and I designed it earlier this year. I am giving away my pattern to three winners. 

To enter my giveaway, please visit my Facebook Page, follow me (if you are not a follower yet) and leave me a comment on the post about this giveaway! 

Olga Poltava on Facebook 

I will announce the winners on my Facebook page tomorrow morning, so hurry up! 

This Pineapple bouquet was made by Jovette. I really like the ombre color of the edging. Very pretty! 

And this one was made by Preetha of Pretty Expressions. I like it in this color too; very delicate!

Thank you for stopping by! 

Happy blogging and crocheting! 

Autumn Leaves

I designed this doily last spring and named it Spring Leaves. 

But it can be autumn leaves just as well!

My son picked up some colorful leaves on his way back home from school! 

And I set a little autumn display! 

The pattern for the doily is available in my shops: Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry 

I'm linking this post to

Link Your Stuff @ Annamarie's Haakblog

Home Sweet Home Friday @The Charm of Home,
Cooking and Crafting with J & J @ Julie's Lifestyle
Ginx Wooly Linx Part @ Ginx Craft

It's Cyber Monday! All of My Patterns are 30% OFF

It's Cyber Monday and I'm having a 30% sale in 

my Etsy shop! 

Easy Lace Throw Crochet Pattern, Impeccable Big Yarn

I can't believe I haven't posted for two long months. It feels like two days. Where does the time go?

It now becomes a tradition that every fall I make myself a new afghan to keep me warm and cozy. 

Last year I made Caron Big Cakes Cozy Fall Afghan, but this year I went with something lacy. Even though it's an open and airy stitch, my throw is very warm and comfy. I used Impeccable Big yarn, which is a medium weight worsted 100% acrylic yarn.  

This is not a difficult pattern. The stitch can be easily adjusted to other projects, such as a scarf or a rectangular shawl. There are four repeating rows, which are very easy to remember. 

The pattern is available in my Etsy, Craftsy and Ravelry shops. 

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I'd like to share information about a new Etsy shop of a crocheting friend. 

Karen makes beautiful baby dresses, and she just recently started her shop 

Knitty Kitty Store. 

Let's wish Karen best of luck with her shop. Starting a crochet business is not easy, so please show your support by visiting her shop and favoring it! And of course if you are looking for a crochet dress for a baby girl but don't crochet yourself, now you know where to find it! 

Thank you! 

Scarlet Crochet Skirt, Size 3 Crochet Cotton Thread, New Crochet Pattern

Hello crochet friends and fellow bloggers! 

What a busy, busy summer! But I'm happy to share with you my latest project. 

I started working on this skirt back in June. And now in end of September it's finally finished! 

Aunt Lydia's Crochet Thread Fashion Size 3 was perfect for this project. It created a fabric that is thick enough to hold shape, but it isn't too heavy or bulky.

I made this skirt in size Small, and it took me 7 balls of thread (150 yards each); that was about 1000 yards of thread in total. 

The skirt is crocheted in one piece. It fits loosely over the hips, then adjusted and tied at the waist with a thin cord. 

I worked with a hook size D/3 (3.25 mm). 

And I chose treble crochets instated of doubles, so that there would be fewer rounds to make. 

I loved the way my skirt looks on the mannequin. But then, pretty much everything looks great on a mannequin! 

But I must say I'm quite satisfied with the way it looks on me. 

I wore it with a black slip underneath, a black top, and black shoes. Red and black looks good together.  

The pattern for this skirt is available in my Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry shops. 

The pattern is written for size Small, however it can be easily adjusted to a custom size (the instructions are included in the pattern). 

Since it's a new pattern that I'm trying to promote, for the next few days it's available for 50% off. 

I'm joining this link party: https://annemarieshaakblog.blogspot.com

Fairy of Roses Baby Dress Pattern by Preetha Jeyaram Mohan

This adorable baby dress was designed by Preetha Jeyaram Mohan, and I had the pleasure of testing it. 

I used Caron Simply Soft Light yarn and a hook size E/4 (3.5 mm). 

The pattern is well written and easy to follow. The instructions for the headband are also included in the pattern. 

The pattern is written for size 0-3 months. I was delighted to see that it fit my dolly Lucy (Marie Osmond Baby Ashley collectible doll) perfectly. 

As a little girl, I loved it so much playing with my dolls, making them outfits, dressing them up, making their hair. 

And with the crochet work that I do now, I still sort of get to do that! It was such a delight to dress up my doll in this adorable dress and take these photos!

Fairy of Roses Baby Dress Pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry for only $2.00

Simple Lace Bookmark Free Crochet Pattern

I have a big collection of crochet bookmarks. And there used to be time when I actually used them! 

Unfortunately, no more! 

No matter how many times I've promised myself that I'll get back to reading, somehow I just can't. I start a book to read, and never finish it. 

But I continue making crochet bookmarks! It's just fun! 

I use the leftover thread from the doilies I make. 

This bookmark is super easy. No fancy stitches here. But still cute. 

I hope you'll enjoy this pattern! 

Simple Lace Bookmark, Free Crochet Pattern

Olga Poltava © August, 2018

Skill Level: Beginner

Measurements: about 8 inches long, 2 inches wide


Materials:
Steel hook 1.25 mm

Crochet cotton thread size 10, such as Aunt Lydia's, small amount


Gauge: not very important, but the tighter you crochet, the better your bookmark will look.


Abbreviations:
ch: chain

sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet

Ch 24.

Row 1: dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next ch, ch 2, skip next 2 ch, sc in next ch, ch 2, skip next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, ch 2, skip next 2 ch, dc in next 2 ch, ch 2, skip next 2 ch, sc in next ch, ch 2, skip next 2 ch, dc in last 3 ch.

Row 2: ch 3, turn, dc in 2nd and 3rd dc, ch 5, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 5, dc in next 2 dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Row 3: ch 3, turn, dc in 2nd and 3rd dc, ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, ch 2, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5, ch 2, dc in next 2 dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Repeat Rows 2-3 until the bookmark measures about 8 inches long (or your desired lengths), ending with Row 3.

Fasten off. 

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Thank you so much for all of your support, prayers and good wishes for my dad and my family. 

I'm happy to share that my dad is doing much better now. He is in a rehabilitation center right now. He's going to stay there until the end of the month, which is a long time, but the good thing is he is getting 24/7 medical care that he needs there. 

Again, thank you so much! Your comments meant a lot to me. I read and re-read them many times! 

Ziva Doily by Preetha Jeyaram Mohan

Textured doilies have become quite popular in the last few/several years. I've made probably over a hundred doilies, but I had never made a textured one until now!

This is my first textured doily! 

The pattern is Ziva by Preetha Jeyaram Mohan.

Preetha has tested a lot of my crochet patterns, and I was glad and excited to test a pattern for her. 

This was a challenging project and I learned a couple of new interesting stitches along the way. 

I absolutely love the way my Ziva doily turned out! I used aunt Lydia's classic thread in size ten and a 1.75 mm steel hook. My doily turned out 10 inches.

I was worried that when I block my Ziva doily, the dark blue color might bleed. And it did!

But I actually like the way it looks! 

Preetha's pattern for Ziva Doily is available for sale on Ravelry for only $1.00

You can also follow Preetha and see more of her crochet work on Facebook! 

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In my previous posts I've shared some personal struggles that my family and I are going through. A lot of you have been very supportive. I greatly appreciate that! 

This summer has been very difficult for me. I live in constant state of stress and anxiety. And now there is also so much worry and sadness in my heart. 

About a month ago, my father had an open heart surgery. The doctors said it went well, but his recovery has been very difficult. He was admitted to the hospital twice after the surgery. He had fever for many days and was very weak and fatigued, yet the doctors were saying it's just a part of the recovery process. 

Finally, when he was back at the hospital for the third time, they discovered there was an infection and they had to perform another urgent surgery. 

It's been a few days now, and my dad is still in the hospital in a critical condition. 

I'm really scared and worried. And I just don't know how to deal with all these feelings and emotions! 

Crocheting doesn't help at the moment as I can't focus and keep making stitching mistakes. 

I did a lot of gardening today. That seemed to help a little. 

Tomorrow I'm going to drive two hours to visit my dad. 

Please, keep my dad, my family, and me in your prayers and positive thoughts. Just knowing you are there for me helps. Thank you!