Pattern Digging

Ever since I discovered my interest in crochet I have been feverishly digging through patterns. I started with the well known yarn brand companies sites, and then gradually branched out and found some that I have grown to love. At some point I came across a picture of bumble bee table decoration of sorts, but the pattern was missing. If you know me, you know that I had to have the pattern. So I looked again at the notes and discovered that the pattern was featured in a magazine, Decorative Crochet. The only problem was that it was Edition 3, which was printed in 1988! That kind of threw a kink in my hopes to obtain the pattern, but I didn't give up. After searching and searching I finally found a site that sells old magazines and books and lo and behold they had the very magazine and edition that I needed. 

Here it is, straight out of 1988...the year my little sister was born. It just goes to show how timeless the art of crochet and it's patterns can be.

Since this site came through for me, I have compiled my current top five list of websites for crocheters (subject to change of course):

1. Ravelry Whatever you do, join this site. It's essentially a socially networking site for people that crochet and knit. You can store your projects, keep track of your yarn stash and search for patterns.
2. DROPS This site has patterns in English or Norwegian. I've found the patterns to be a little more hip and a little less Grandma's Sweater if you know what I mean.
3. Alli Crafts Alli is a very talented individual and she shares her patterns for free. She has been featured on many sites and I love what she has come up with.
4. Creative Crochet Kristine is also a featured crochet artist on many sites. Like Alli, she has children and has taken her talent to a new level by designing things for her children.
5. Buggs Books & Used Patterns My saving grace! This is where I found my Busy Bee's Pattern from 1988! If you come across a picture that is missing the pattern, try this!

I will keep a running list of great links on my sidebar and I'm sure that I will be posting them as well in the future.