Hey there! I'm Crystal from Marching North :)
Love easy-to-follow crochet, macrame, and knitting tutorials that actually make sense? Then you're in the right place. Join the Marching North newsletter for free patterns, behind the scenes peeks, tips, craft ideas, and a whole lot of creative encouragement.
New this week and it's a good one π
Hey Reader, I hope you're having a lovely Friday so far. You know how sometimes you just need a quick win? Like a project that isn't going to take over your entire weekend... or require you to untangle a 17 pound pile of cord from your stash? π
(Am I the only one with that problem?? haha) That's exactly what I've been craving lately, and honestly it's part of why I made this week's new pattern. Spring is in the air, my craft room is a bit of a mess (more on that another time, lol), and I just...
New Pattern! (WEEKS of work on this one... whew π )
Hey Reader π Are we talking about Christmas stockings yet? I hope so, because I'm about to. I've got a brand new pattern for you today, and I've been working on it for WEEKS. (Seriously... whew π
) Plus a friendly reminder about the cute little basket idea for later this month, because gift making season is coming for us all. OK, come check out this pattern I've been obsessing over! π NEW THIS WEEK Meet the Emberglen Crochet Stocking Itβs worked from the toe up, with little rows of puff...
π One week from today
Hey Reader π Quick heads up: the Elves' Workshop starts one week from today, on Tuesday, November 10 at 9 AM Eastern (8 AM Central). It's 32 free workshops over three days, all on handmade gifts, cards, ornaments, and holiday decor: Day 1, Tuesday: Handmade Gifts & Wrapping (that's me! πβοΈ) Day 2, Wednesday: Cards, Paper & Paint Day 3, Thursday: Ornaments & Holiday Decor (Here's a sneak peak at what we'll be making for my presentation...) You don't have to catch anything live, either. Each...
πͺ’ Macrame Monday | Officially ornament season
Hey Reader π Is it too early to talk about Christmas? Some people might say yes. Crafty people know that if you want handmade ornaments on the tree by December, you start knotting at minimum in November. So... consider this your official kickoff to ornament season. π Here's a quick word from the sponsor of today's newsletter, and then we'll dive right in! π MONDAY MAKE A tiny tree you can actually finish in time If this one looks familiar, itβs because I shared it on Friday too. Itβs just too...
π€§ Brought to you by βthe crudβ
Hey Reader π Well, this week did not go according to plan. As per usual, hah. Our whole family has been dealing with "the crud", aka the never ending cold/sinus infection/what-have-you. So... I've been doing the only reasonable thing I could think of, which is crocheting, reading, and trying to stay on top of throwing away the never ending piles of toilet paper all over the house from blowing our noses. π€§ The good news is that being stuck on the couch is great for crochet productivity. I'm...
β What's inside the basket
Hey Reader π Remember the gift basket I'm teaching at the Elves' Workshop? Not only will I show you how to make that, but I'll also show you how to fill it with lots of fun goodies that your gift recipient is gonna love! Here's what I like to put in mine: A pint jar of my homemade hot cocoa mix, with a cute little circle of Christmas fabric tucked under the lid ring A fun mug, because the cocoa needs somewhere to go and who doesn't love a new mug A few gourmet candy canes, or those chocolate...
π The wrapping is the gift (free workshop)
Hey Reader π It's handmade gift season, and I've got a fun way to kick it off. I'm teaching at the Elves' Workshop! π It's a free online holiday craft summit from HobbyScool, happening November 10-12, with a whole lineup of crafty makers teaching giftable projects. My workshop is Coil a Handmade Gift Basket (Where the Wrapping Is the Gift), and it might be my favorite thing I've taught in one of these events. Here's the idea: We make a small spiral coiled basket together (with a gorgeous...
π§Ά New Pattern! And be honest, do you have a bag of these somewhere?
Hey Reader π Who's tired of being hot? πβοΈ Yeesh. Ay, caramba as Bart would say. My son likes to look up different parts of the world in the weather app on my phone and see what it's doing there. Today, we looked up Death Valley, CA. You know, just for fun. (This is what my 8 year old does for fun. He's also an avid coin collector. Love this guy.) The Death Valley weather forecast for the coming week is practically the same as ours here in MO, plus or minus about 3 degrees. That can't be...
π» Catch it (before the squirrels do πΏοΈ)
Hey Reader π OK one last nudge, lol. But this is a quick one and I don't want you to miss this. My macrame plant hanger presentation went live at the HobbyScool summit this morning, and here's the catch: it's only up to watch for free for 24 hours. After 9am ET tomorrow, it's gone like my strawberries plants in my plant hangers (the squirrels and I are still not on speaking terms, lol). In it, I walk you through making an outdoor macrame plant hanger from start to finish, the kind I've got...
π Today's the day! πΏ
Hey Reader π This is your last little nudge, I promise. Today is the first day of Creator Summer Camp, and my outdoor plant hanger workshop is live TODAY! Also, it means today and tomorrow are your last chance to catch the workshops for free. Each day's sessions are only live for 24 hours, so once today wraps, the free window for my presentation and everyone else from day 1 closes. If you've been meaning to pop in (or you registered and then life happened, also no judgment), today's the day:...
π free crafting starts tomorrow (no bug spray required) π
Hey Reader π Okay, little nudge from me: Creator Summer Camp kicks off tomorrow, and I don't want you to miss it. Quick refresher in case you scrolled past my earlier emails (no judgment, my inbox is also a disaster): It's free. Two days, June 16-17, all online. Each day's sessions are live free for 24 hours, so you watch whenever works for you. 18 makers teaching all kinds of crafts, me included. My workshop is a beginner-friendly outdoor macrame plant hanger, the chunky one made to hold an...
Love easy-to-follow crochet, macrame, and knitting tutorials that actually make sense? Then you're in the right place. Join the Marching North newsletter for free patterns, behind the scenes peeks, tips, craft ideas, and a whole lot of creative encouragement.