I don't usually share anything personal online, but I'm going to allow myself to be just a little vulnerable today. A lot has been happening to my life over the past several months. I've also recently moved to a new location, and this little crochet project slowly took shape over my 10-hour journey.

As the project progressed, there were lots of emotions involved as I was reflecting on various life events, both good and bad, dating back to childhood up until now. 

I will not get into the details, but for me, this is a personally significant project. At the end of the day, the most important thing that I learned is to be strong and to never lose hope. If I fall and ever lose the ability to walk, I will learn to walk again. If I ever lose the ability to speak, I will learn to speak again. Little by little, step by step. 

Due to the nature of the project, I was hesitant whether to share it, but in the end I chose to make a tutorial anyway because this could be useful or helpful for at least some people. And for those of you who decided to make this bag/glasses case/coin purse (up to you!), I really hope you'll enjoy making it, and I hope this fairy will bring a smile to your face.😊

Thank you all so much for supporting me and my work up until now. I love you all!

Materials Needed:
Yarn: #2 Fine/Sport weight 100% cotton yarn (I used about 30g) Crochet Hook: 3.50mm (US E/4)
Stitch Markers
Yarn Needle (for weaving in yarn ends) 
Sewing Needle (for sewing the button)
Two-hole button with a 2cm diameter
Scissors

I just realized that my Youtube Channel, Crafting With Caylene, is one year old today! On this day last year, I opened my Youtube Channel and uploaded my first video, a tutorial for the magic circle. A few days later, I uploaded my first video tutorial for one of my crochet creations, an eyeglass case crocheted using the Tulip Stitch with a 3D flower button on top. 

Looking back at my first few videos, I am super thankful that someone even watched them. I am even more grateful for all the encouraging comments and subscribers that kept me going. Although my Youtube Channel is not a huge one yet, I appreciate all the love and support from everyone. Thank you so much! 

If you like what I share, please continue with the support and lovely comments, and subscribe to my Youtube Channel if you haven't already. It also helps me a lot if you could give me a 'Thumbs-Up' on tutorials that you enjoyed! And it's fun to see your finished work on social media, so if you have an Instagram account, show me your work by tagging me @craftingwithcaylene.

Meanwhile, I do have several new crochet projects planned, so I hope you will be looking forward to them and like what I will share as much as I enjoy sharing them with you! 

I have wanted to make a crochet scrunchie tutorial for some time now, but all this time, I was trying to figure out a way to crochet one that doesn't have to be thrown away or redone eventually once the elastic gets stretched out or breaks. Wouldn't you hate to throw out the project you spent time crocheting with that favorite yarn? 

I also wanted it to look like a flower in full bloom. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I love flowers, and many of my crochet projects are flower-inspired. 

Don't worry. I know this looks complicated, but this double-layered ruffled scrunchie will not take a long time to make at all. It is easy to make and also easy to fix. Gather your materials now to make this scrunchie for yourself or to give as a gift.

Materials Needed:
Fine weight (Category 2) 100% cotton yarn 
Crochet Hook: 4.00mm (US G)
Hair Elastic (1.5"/4cm in diameter)
Stitch Marker (optional)
Yarn Needle
Scissors

Materials Needed:
Fine weight (Category 2) 100% cotton yarn 
Crochet Hook: 2.75mm (US C)
Stitch Marker (optional)
Yarn Needle
Scissors

Hi! Thanks for stopping by.
Have some candy 😃

A small decorative basket filled with colorful candy on my desk makes my workspace look much more inviting and appealing. These sweet treats and a cup of coffee help boost my energy and motivate me to be productive. 

I like to do things at my own pace in a comfortable workspace and reward myself when I have been productive. Is this you also? 

This basket doesn't even have to be for candy. You can use this to store your little trinkets or your stitch markers. It is also a good decoration item for Easter and Christmas. The little handles add to the design and make it easy to pick up and move around. I crocheted this sturdy mini basket with handles using macrame, but you can use any worsted weight yarn if you don't want to use macrame. 

Like all of my other crochet projects, this mini basket is beginner-friendly. You'll finish making this in no time! 

That was how much fun I had in the process of making this super beginner-friendly drawstring bag. It is made mainly of textured double crochet stitches. There is no need to cut and attach the yarn to make the frill - simply work your way bottom-up, just like you would for any other crochet bag. 

See the video tutorial below to make this for yourself or your loved ones! 

Can you believe that this texture is made entirely of double crochet stitches? It is just a matter of where your hook goes and which direction you're crocheting in (if this doesn't make sense to you, watch the video tutorial, and you'll see what I mean!)

I am like many other females who can never have enough bags to store all the little trinkets. Crochet drawstring bags are my favorite type of bag because they don't require any additional materials or equipment to make. All you need is a crochet hook and enough yarn - even scrap yarn. 

I see these bags as a fashion item, so I like to have my bags in all the colors and textures you can think of, and this is one of them that I'm sharing with you.

Repeat: As complex as this stitch looks, it is made entirely of double crochet stitches. Nothing especially fancy. Therefore, it is beginner-friendly! 

I love the natural look and texture of plain, pure cotton yarn projects - there's something homey and comforting about them. And then I realized that for some reason, I have not made many tutorials with cotton yarn so far. This is a doily coaster that I designed quite a while back, so I decided to make a tutorial for this. 

It does look similar to a granny circle, but I wanted to give it more of a flowery and lacy look. The edge ended up with a very slight frilly look, which is my favorite part of this doily. 

If you are looking for a quick beginner-friendly scrap yarn project or making a gift for someone, try out this doily coaster! 

 I think doilies are so pretty, even the simple ones!
I'm taking a little trip down memory lane, remembering how my crochet journey began.

One of the first crochet projects I made when I learned how to crochet was a doily. When I was 8, my aunt taught me a little bit of knitting, and also how to crochet flat single crochet swatches. I wasn't interested in any of these yarn crafts until I crocheted my first little doily using beige-colored cotton yarn. I was so proud of myself and fell in love with crocheting. That was how I finally learned all the basic crochet stitches and got better and better at it. 

And then I became absorbed in other, more fancy crochet projects and forgot all about doilies until very recently when I suddenly had the urge to crochet a doily. So here is an easy one that even beginners can make. 

I have one on my desk right now for my coffee mug. It uses very little yarn (about 6g in my case), so you can easily use your scrap yarn to make this.😉

Below, you will find the video tutorial for this crochet flower doily coaster, the materials needed, stitches used, and the finished size. 

 From hexagons to pentagons,
From star motifs to baskets!

I had a lot of fun playing with scrap yarn while working on this pentagon-shaped basket, which started as a star motif. Don't you think the star in the middle matches the five bead-like corners of the basket so very well? 

I hope you will have as much fun crocheting this basket as I did. 

I think this is a great Christmas crochet project, by the way! 

Sparkly diamonds! Doesn't this remind you of one? Well, it does for me😀

I can gaze at the white, fluffy dandelions forever. 
They are so delicate, tender, so satisfying, and so inspiring!

I travel a LOT, and I always listen to music, so I need to have my earphones with me so I can listen to all my favorite songs, especially on long flights. I made this drawstring pouch to store my earphones so I can easily carry them around in my bag or purse wherever I go. 

 I made this using lace yarn. Please don't run off yet - it's easy! You'll be using a larger hook, and it won't take you forever to make this. If lace yarn is not your cup of tea, but you still like the pattern, yarn substitution is also possible.😉

Working with lace yarn can be tricky because they're so small you can hardly see the stitches, and it takes patience to finish large projects. But I think projects made with lace yarn can look very elegant and cute at the same time. 

I wanted to use lace yarn differently to give it a new look and feel. The result is this drawstring bag. I combined several strands of different colors to mimic larger, unplied variegated yarn. The idea of crocheting multiple strands of yarn together used to scare me off, but it is surprisingly easy if you use the appropriate hook size.

Below, you will find the video tutorial for this crochet drawstring bag, the materials needed, the stitches used, and the gauge.