My Top 10 Thankful List for 2024

Seems time has flown once again and the holidays are upon us! I thought I’d revisit my thankful list as I’ve done in past years, only to find out that it has been way too long since I’ve done this. Please know that I realize just how inadequate this attempt is and far too incomplete, yet I find pleasure in it nonetheless. So at this point in time, these are the 10 things for which I must give thanks:

1. I get to live in a free country where I have a say in my government, which is something the majority of people on earth will never experience.

2. I am thankful that I have the freedom and physical stamina to travel and visit family and friends.

3. I am so very thankful to have been blessed with two wonderful grandsons who are a delight!

4. I am so very thankful that I get to do what I love for a living, and get to meet some of the most amazing people in person and online (i.e. YOU!).

5. I am thankful for being able to travel to Pittsburgh, PA this year for an in person fiber festival and teach crochet classes!

6. I am extremely thankful for being able to celebrate 36 years of marriage with this handsome guy!

7. I am so blessed to have the freedom to worship God as I choose and play my flutes & whistles with the worship band at my local church again.

8. I am thankful for my church community group where we care & prayer for each other in a life-giving way.

9. I also give thanks for technology that allows me to stay in touch with my family and friends as well as make new friends online.

10. I rejoice and give thanks for the joy of knowing that my greatest problem (my sin against a Holy God), has been eliminated by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again so I can spend eternity with Him!

EASY KNIT Baby Blanket

Are you a crocheter who has wanted to learn how to knit but just couldn’t get it? That was me for decades until my friend and yarn store owner Lana Ford took the time to show me the Continental Method using a pair of wooden circular knitting needles! I was hooked almost immediately! For a limited time I am providing this easy pattern for free both on my blog and in my LoveCrafts store. I hope some of you pick up a set of knitting needles and give it a try. If you do, please let me know how it goes!

Description: This EASY KNIT Baby Blanket is a fun project for a beginning or seasoned knitter! The complete video tutorial (QR code below) demonstrates the Continental Method.

Skill Level:  Beginning

Yarn: Yarnspirations Caron Colorama Halo Perfect Phasing (71% acrylic, 18% nylon, 11% polyester, 8 oz/227 g, 481 yds/440 m, #5 bulky weight)

Needles: Circular knitting needles size 10 (or 6.00 mm), 40" total length (a shorter wire can be used)

Notions: yarn needle

Dimensions: approx. 23" x 23"

Gauge: 14 sts = 4"

Complete Video Tutorials:

  Right-Handed Left-Handed

Abbreviations:

BO bind off

CO cast on

k knit

kfb knit front & back (single knit increase)

k2tog knit two together

yo yarn over increase

BLANKET

CO 8 sts using a long tail cast on.

Row 1: k across, turn. (8 sts)

Rows 2 - 8: kfb in first st, k across, turn. (You will add 1 st each row. 15 sts at end of Row 7.)

Rows 9 - 110: k4, yo, k across, turn. Repeat Row 9 until blanket reaches desired width diagonally, or until you have 117 loops on your needles. (At this point my blanket measures approximately 23" x 23". If you wish to make your blanket larger, you can continue to repeat the increase row before going to the next row below that begins the decreases.)

Rows 111 - 213 (Decrease Rows): k3, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k across, turn. (Repeat until you have 17 loops remaining, and 7 center sts.)

Rows 214 - 222: k2tog, k across, turn. (Repeat until you have 8 loops remaining.)

Row 223: BO

The Meaning Behind "On a Hill Far Away" Easter Throw

On this past Monday, February 10, 2024, I finally released a new Easter Throw on the Bonnie Bay YouTube channel, Watch channel and in my LoveCrafts store. I’ve had this design on my heart for a couple of years and I’m so glad to see it become a reality. As the layout of the design and stitches were being chosen, I tried to select stitches that could visually represent the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrated by Christians worldwide.

Video available on youtube here.

The main central motif is of 3 crosses, representing the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus on a Roman cross on Golgotha outside of Jerusalem. He willingly went to the cross, a perfect, sinless man, to die many (like you and me) who due to our sinful ways needed to be reconciled to a righteous and holy God. Even in his pain and suffering on this cross he offered forgiveness to a thief dying beside him (Luke 24: 39-43), as well as those performing the crucifixion saying, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). As Christians we believe that this precious death, and followed in 3 days by his resurrection, is enough to pay our huge debt we could never pay.

Three crosses on Golgotha in Jerusalem

The rest of the various stitches are crocheted in rounds, signifying that God has no beginning and not end. Three sets of the Knurl Stitch, framed by 2 sets of the Cable Stitch represent the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

the braided cable

The Braided Cables also point to the Holy Trinity, as well as to how God is intertwined into our lives, making us stronger than we could ever be on our own (Ecclesiastes 4:12, Matthew 28:20).

The Arrow Stitch, framed by 2 sets of the Cable Stitch, visually points in a direction to the Lord Jesus Christ, who proclaims, “I am the way, and the truth, and the lift. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The Celtic Weave, being interwoven and seemingly without a beginning or end, represents God’s infinite qualities: omniscience, His ability to be omnipresent, and omnipotent.

Perimeter: Trimmed with the crown motif

Finally, the throw is surrounded by a perimeter of crowns. When He walked this earth the best this world could offer the perfect holy Savior was mockery, death, and a crown of thorns. He wore that crown of thorns for you and for me, again - to pay a debt He didn’t owe, to pay a debt we could never pay. Be assured that the crown He now wears is one of glory and beauty beyond any human imagination as He sits st the right hand of God the Father. (Colossians 3:1)

I do hope you enjoy this journey crocheting this throw, and perhaps even use it to meditate on the rich truth of the gospel, whether that means crocheting this during Lent leading up to Resurrection Sunday, or anytime of the year.

NEW Woven Stitch Dish Cloth....FREE for a limited time!

woven stitch dish cloth

Learn how to crochet the Woven Stitch and make a dish cloth in the process! This is a very practical way to learn a new Celtic style stitch that will build confidence to give larger projects a try as well as produce a very usable cloth for either your kitchen or bath. You can print the written pattern below for a limited time. You can watch the complete video tutorial here for right-handers, and here for left-handers.

Skill Level:  Confident Beginner

Yarn: 1 skein of I Love This Cotton Yarn (100% cotton, 3.5 oz/100 g, 180 yd/165 m) worsted weight in any color.

Hook: Size H (or 8/5.00 mm), Notions: scissors, yarn needle, 4 stitch markers

Gauge: approx. 4" = 7 sts, 10 rows = 4”

Finished Dimensions: in Woven Stitches, approx. 8" x 8.5"

Special Stitches: Woven Stitch and Low Front Ridge (in the round) - details in pattern below.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, dc = double crochet, sc = single crochet, sk = sk, sp = space, slip st = slip stitch, st(s) = stitch(es), yo = yarn over.

DISH CLOTH

Ch 25

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. (24 sts)

Row 2: Ch 2, begin Woven Stitch as follows: (yo, insert into first {or next st}, pull up loop, pull through 1 loop on hook, yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo, insert hook into same st, pull up loop, pull through 2 loops, Woven Stitch completed, sk next st) across row, turn. (12 Woven Sts, 1 ch-2)

Rows 3 - 18: Ch 2, work Woven Stitch in sp inbetween first or next 2 sts across, work last Woven Stitch in ch 2 turning ch, turn.

Row 19/Perimeter Round 1: (Discontinues Woven Stitch) Ch 1, work 2 sc in the sp between the Woven Stitches and in the turning ch (24 scs), turn 90 degrees at corner, ch 2, sc in same sp as last 2 sts, working in the row ends, work (1 sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end) across to next corner, work 1 sc in last row end (approx. 27 sts), turn 90 degrees to work across foundation ch, ch 2, sc in same place as last st, sc in each ch across (24 sts), turn 90 degrees at corner, ch 2, sc in same sp as last 2 sts, working in the row ends, work (2 sc in next row end, 1 sc in next row end) across to next corner (approx. 27 sts), working last sc in same place as first st of round, ch 2, join with a slip st to first st of round.

Perimeter Round 2: (Low Front Ridge Round 1) Before beginning round, place a stitch marker in each ch-2 corner. Ch 1, working only in the front loops, (work a slip st in each st to next corner, sk ch-2 corner, continue working a slip st in each sc across), around, use a yarn needle to for final join: drop hook, cut yarn leaving at least an 8" strand, thread into yarn needle, insert into loop of last st worked from the bottom side of loop, insert under top 2 loops of turning ch, insert back down into last loop (same loop you just went up into, hide strand into work, fasten off. (Invisible Join: see video for more details)

Perimeter Round 3: (Low Front Ridge Round 2) With front side facing, make a slip knot, join with a ch to any ch-2 corner, ch 1, (work 3 sc in ch-2 corner, working in remaining loop from Perimeter Round 1, sc in each st across) around, do not work in last loop on last side, join with another Invisible Join as in  Perimeter Round 2. Fasten off, hide any remaining loose ends.

A Mini-Miracle Yarn Story from Florida

I recently received this email from a crocheter in our online community about this unusually special wedding gift and have her permission to share with you. Please sit down and enjoy her story with me. She tells it best…

Bonnie,
I finished the Winter Cabled Throw for my niece’s engagement present. I love this pattern. It drew oohs and ahhs from the guests at the party and my niece cried with joy. 
I lost most of my yarn during Hurricane Ian in Florida but there’s a mini-miracle story attached to the yarn in this blanket. I’ve attached the letter I presented with the blanket which explains.  

Dianne K.

Here’s her letter to her niece:

Dear Lindsay and Alex,

I’m writing this on October 4, 2022, six days after Hurricane Ian hit my community in Florida. This blanket has a story. It is very special. Not because I made it but because I believe God had a hand in getting it finished and delivered to you…

I had been working on this blanket for months and was about half finished, bringing up a few skeins of yarn at a time from the storage crates in my garage. Then Hurricane Ian hit on Wednesday, September 28. The storm forced 5 feet of water into my garage. Forty-two 65 qt. plastic bins of yarn were destroyed, soaked with salt and sewer waters. I just stood there and felt sick to my stomach, because I had just lost all of my yarn and I did not know how I was going to finish your gift!

When the waters receded, I noticed on the other side of the garage one lone bin that had landed upright with the latched top intact. Upon opening the bin, my heart immediately filled with joy, because I had just witnessed a miracle! Inside the bin it was clean and fresh and all of the yarn was bone dry! The “miracle” was that the yarn in this “lone bin” was the yarn that I was using for “your” gift! Noah’s ark came to mind. When everything around it was destroyed, the ark floated above the destruction and landed upright and intact because of God’s mercy and grace.

I rejoiced out loud saying, “Thank you, Lord!” I thought, this is a good sign for Lindsay and Alex. Let me tell you why I think that…

First, you need to know that when a yarn artist makes a handmade blanket for a person, a lot more than yarn and time and workmanship goes into it. The crafter puts a piece of her heart into it. I believe that God has granted a special grace by saving this particular yarn. God is the Artist here and I am merely His hands. Along with my love, His grace is worked into every stitch. As I finished the stitching, I prayed prayers of thanksgiving and praise to Him. Those prayers are also worked into every stitch.

This blanket has survived a great storm, just as you will inevitably survive stormy times in your life together. God will bring you through those storms. His hands have touched this blanket in a miraculous way. As you wrap yourselves in it, know that you are wrapping yourselves in God’s grace and protection. He will be with you always.

With all my love,

Aunt Dianne

Welcome to Our Updated Website!

After way too long a period we finally have an updated, and more secure website for everything we do here at Bonnie Bay Crochet! I want to thank my son Caleb, and my husband Craig for working hard to do this. We even hope to add our own pattern store in the future as well so that we can centralize this too.

You will notice that you will be asked about your “cookies preference” on your first visit here. This is to be in compliance with new security policies for the European Union. That said, I want to assure you that it is our policy to never share your personal information with other companies ever. Period. We consider members of our crochet community our friends and are deeply grateful for you. The last thing we want to do is to sell your information to spambots.

As you can tell by the last blog post, blogging is not my primary way of communicating, but I will be blogging more often now that the new site is up and operational. For more up to date information on what is happening with us at Bonnie Bay Crochet, please join us for Friday Fun LIVE on our YouTube channel. We go live at Noon Eastern Time every Friday with all up to the minute happenings! It is a wonderful community of crafters and you will be cheerfully welcomed. I also have a newsletter/mailing list that is sent out periodically that you can sign up for here.

Interweave Yarnfest 2022 and other Upcoming Fiber Conferences!

 Whew! It's hard to believe that it has been a week since I returned home from Interweave Yarnfest in Loveland, Colorado! After being cancelled for 2 years in a row, we were finally able to meet at an in-person conference and I am so very thankful.

From one of my design classes... 

 Part of my BIG & BOLD Cables Class...

In the Market during my fun time of "Redeeming Crochet through Stories & Song"

While there I was able to meet many of you for the first time, teach the crochet classes that I so enjoy, and even have a time of telling stories and singing fun parody songs about this craft we all love so much!

Meeting another Maryland friend at the Interweave social... 

Meeting old friends and making new ones is always a highlight for me at these conferences!

Laura from JUL Designs in the Market...

Of course there was also the market with many vendors selling beautiful yarns and all things related to the fiber arts...

Having some fun at the Dam Store (near a real dam) outside Loveland...

I honestly didn't want it to end, but the exhaustion in my body told me it was time to head to the mountains for a couple of days of much needed rest.

Our view of the Rockies from Estes Park, CO.

My sister Brenda and I truly enjoyed the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and walking around the town of Estes Park. Our drive into the Rocky Mountain National Park after a fresh snowfall from the night before was nothing short of a worship experience! If you've never seen this before, I encourage you to consider attending next year's Interweave Yarnfest in Loveland, CO and add a couple of days to experience this for yourself. It will be time and money well spent!

The end of the road due to the snow pack in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

For more photos from Interweave Yarnfest 2022, please check out the video I made here. Next years conference will be April 12-15, 2023 in Loveland. You can also check out more about this conference in this article. 

If you are looking for more opportunies for crochet conferences, please check out the Crochet Guild of America's (CGOA) upcoming conference in New Orleans, LA this July 20-23! I will be teaching several crochet classes there and would love to meet you there! You can find out more detailed information here.

Another opportunity for fiber fun will be in Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival in Pittsburgh, PA, August 25-27, 2022! I will be teaching a few classes in crochet there as well. This will be my first time attending this festival and I'm really looking forward to it! You can find out more about this festival here. Registration is now open for both of these events, and seats are first come, first served, so be sure to reserve your spot ASAP if you are planning on attending.