new online shop!

💻📱 new online shop! 📱💻

fall is one fo my favorite seasons, all the fall decorations, the maple 🍁 flavored goodies (sorry psl lovers 🎃), the new fall lineup on hallmark, my boots, my scarves, sweaters!!  i can go on... 

but along with the freshness of fall, i also decided to freshen things up and move my online shop to a fresh new space! all the same goodies are there with lots more lined up to be listed throughout the end of the year. coupons and sales will still happen too! 

hope you have a chance to stop by the new online space and peek around! 🤓

-amy*lou💜

✨ shop update ✨

✨ etsy shop update ✨

i've been quietly busy working up lots of new designs and just listed them all today!  these patterns are all my own original designs and i used one of my all time favorite yarns, lion brand fishermen's wool. i hope it shows that i was inspired by nature, and natural simple beauty.  

hope you have a chance to visit my shop and pick something up, for yourself or for a gift!

-amy*lou💜

simple

simple 💕

i see so many other crafters and am amazed at how beautiful and intricate their crochet and knitting projects are.  and sometimes i think, i should do something like that...  

but then i realize, those detailed projects take a great deal of time to make.  and sometimes, i don't always have that luxury.  so, instead, i like to focus on simple.  simple colors, simple details. simple! 🥰

so... simple is definitely the theme for my crafts lately.  i have been working like crazy on scarves, gloves and some new doilies to sell online and at a craft show later in the year.  i chose simple and neutral colors, simple patterns, or no pattern at all to let the yarn color speak for themself! i mean, if that sparkle in a simple stitch doesn't say 'holidays 🤶🏼🎅🏼🎄!!!" then i don't know what will. stay tuned for more pictures or follow along on instagram! 📷💻📱#crochetitbyamy

do you like simple or detailed projects?? 🤔

-amy*lou💜

✨sale✨

✨sale happening now!!✨

i've been working on quite a few new items for the shop lately, as well as some new items for a local craft fair later this year.  hoping to lighten my current inventory, i'm having a sale! no coupon or code needed to save 25% on almost everything in the shop.  hope you all have a chance to check it out!

-amy*lou💜

colorful

color!!! 💕💕

now that there's been some good progress made on my new set of scarves for the shop, i also decided to start making some new doilies! 

these doilies are special though... not only are they full of color, and quick to make, but these patterns are from a book that belonged to my late gramma.  she was the amazing woman that has made this entire crochet journey of mine possible.  teaching me at the age of 12 to crochet doilies and read crochet patterns, she suggested i sell them to my auntie's friends & coworkers, sparking my passion for crochet ✨.  although crocheting was set aside to raise my family and finish college, i picked it back up when going through a rough time, her passing. i think of it as my way to always keep her in my thoughts and to keep her legacy living for my family.  i am the owner of not only her crocheted doilies and blankets, but i also own the hooks she used to use.  and recently was given the only pattern book we managed to keep of hers.  these are treasures to me... 🥰

what is your crochet story??

 -amy*lou💜

little bits of progress

progress!!! ✨

every year around this time, i tend to start planning and sorting out fresh ideas of crocheted items to make for the holidays.  sets of things, crocheted things, kitchen things.  lots of things!! 

this year was no different.  i am typically a lover of color ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💕.  but something drew me back to some warm and neutral colors.  so naturally, i decided to buy an assortment of fishermen's wool from lion brand.  i have always loved using this yarn and the neutral colors are just divine when worked up in either crochet or knitting patterns. 

so....  here is the progress i've made so far on my fishermen's wool neutral collection which will be available in my etsy shop later this year!! ✨✨

what are you making progress on??

-amy*lou💜

these colors!!

these colors!!! 💜💙💛💕

this skein of yarn spoke to me at hobby lobby.  actually, it yelled so loud, it practically jumped in my cart! i bought 3 other skeins that day, but this one has been my favorite.  it's really super soft to work with too.  

anyone that knows me, knows i am almost as big a fan of knitting as i am crochet.  people say my face lights up when i talk about yarn, patterns, crochet, knitting.  🤩

this is a new pattern i stumbled across, it is a crocheted version of the classic knitted feather and fan pattern.  i'm loving how it has turned out so far.  of course, i adjusted the pattern to work with a thicker yarn, but i'm thinking to make a few of these in a variety of weights and colors for the shop.  so excited!! 🧶

what are you working on lately??

-amy*lou💜

need a hand?

these are my best sellers! 

a couple years back, on a whim, i decided to try my hand at an original pattern.  thought i'd start with something small, and something other than a scarf.  so, i heavily modified a pattern for fingerless gloves i found online and it turned out to be easier than i thought. at least for these cuties! i've changed up the pattern over the years, but they continue to be my best sellers, selling out, year after year. 

this year, i have much bigger plans! 🥳

lots more colors?

maybe a new motif for the hand?

maybe new color combos?

still thinking of a few new spins to add, as well as a few new ideas.  i've been flooded with inspiration lately and can't wait to share some of my ideas and finished goods with you! ✨

-amy*lou💜

stuck on sweaters

still wearing and ❤️-ing sweaters...

over the christmas holidays i decided to start another sweater. despite the fact that i have a great habit of starting big projects and end up taking foreeeeeever to finish them. which is still the case here, since the above photo is from december and we are now in february and only a few more stitches have been added since.

but since i just scheduled a long weekend from work for the upcoming president's day, i am hoping to finish the body and sleeves.

now this pattern... i chose it because it's beautiful, obviously. and because who doesn't love the pineapple motif?!?! but i was also up for the challenge of translating uk crochet terms into us crochet terms and not go crazy.  surprisingly....  it was not as hard or confusing as i thought. yay!! 🎉

i do have to give a ton of credit to the designer, blue star crochet. this pattern is awesome. again, another very enjoyable pattern to work with. and pineapples are awesome in any design... doilies, scarves, sweaters. i'm excited to finish this and add it to my wardrobe. 

stay warm and safe friends!! 🌧⛈🌨☔️

-amy*lou💜

sweater weather

i 💜 sweaters

i love to wear them throughout the fall and winter seasons. here in southern california we don't experience much in the way of seasons.  but lately, we've had a couple cold and rain spells.  so it's been perfect sweater weather (i know this doesn't compare to the rest of the country, but for a native southern california gal, it's been cold!)

back to sweaters...

i saw this pattern on annie's and knew i had to make it. it's called the stamford pullover.  i had just used the motif on another design and really enjoyed working with it. now, i have never made crocheted clothing before, so i was a bit nervous. i usually stick to the simple, basic and quick items. but the pattern looked easy enough for an advanced crocheter. and it was. it was so enjoyable to work on this, and didn't require any odd stitches, or advanced knowledge. if you can count, and have a couple of stitch markers, you're good... 😉

i have received so many compliments on this sweater and have worn it plenty times. hoping to make it in other colors too.

hope you are all staying safe and warm, wrapped in homemade crocheted goodies.  if by chance you are not, i still have a few goodies left in my shop.  take a look!

-amy*lou💜

best seller

these pretty fingerless gloves are one of my top sellers.

every year, no matter how many i make, i sell out of these.  they are my original pattern, and such a breeze to make.  i have found that the gals in the office really like them too for many reasons...

*can drive with them

*can type with them

*can still use the touch screen on their phones

i'm currently working on quite a few new sets for the shop.  keep your eye out for them! 

-amy*lou💜

cowls

for whatever reason, i never considered making or wearing cowls. i see them all over the interwebs, advertised on crochet and knitting subscription emails. everywhere. 

and then i stumbled across this pattern, the motif is one of my favorites. 

then i grabbed a ball of my favorite yarn, and one of my favorite yarn bowls and got to work.

it was such an easy pattern to follow and finished beautifully. i liked it so much, i made them in a few colors for myself.  and they sure have come in handy with this cold spell we are having! 

-amy*lou 💜

top nine

happy new year folks!!

if you follow me on instagram, you'll see i followed along with others and posted my #topnine. it really did sum up my year. lots of crochet, although, i never did finish any of those doilies. and lots of good and healthy food.  also, lots of time spent in workout clothes and definitely lots of packing and moving. but that middle photo... not nearly enough time spent outside or at the beach!

with the new year, i've been thinking a lot of what my plans are for crochet. there will obviously be lots of crochet (and knitting) done, but what will i make??? right now i've got a few knitted projects i am making for myself.  i'm not an advanced knitter, but do enjoy knitting simple scarves. 

now the crochet stuff. i've got lots of ideas and working on gathering some pattern ideas to get started.  there will definitely be more doilies this year. more fingerless gloves. and maybe some other fun stuff. here's to another productive and crochet filled year! 

-amy*lou 💜