Crochet Flower and Heart Pins Instructions

Small handcrafted accessories are great to add to an Operation Christmas Child shoebox and these crochet flower and heart pins are perfect to tuck in a corner of a box.  Chelle, from Chelle's Caybees, wrote up these instructions for the ones her mom Vickie makes and donates to our packing each year.

We have packed literally hundreds of these in our OCC shoeboxes.  We have used many to share with the seniors and shut ins of our church, too (check out our Facebook page if interested in helping the elderly:  Serving Seniors and Shut Ins).  We also tuck them into pencil cases for fillers we send (see The Pencil Granny and Friends on Facebook for details of packing school supplies to donate as fillers if you are interested).

Crochet Heart Pins

Supplies:  small amounts of Worsted Weight Yarn and an F Hook (I usually use 1-2 sizes down to make it tight) I used an H hook here so the stitches would show better.

Instructions

DIY Crochet Granny Square Lovey and Purchased Stuffed Animal Combo

A crochet lovey attached to a purchased stuffed animal is perfect for my 2 to 4 year old Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  I include a stuffed animal and a lovey in every box, so combining them is fun and makes for a special, cute WOW item that can bring comfort to a child in crisis.

I have seen dozens of patterns online for loveys that included a crochet animal head.  Because of physical limitations, crocheting those causes much pain, but I was drawn to them just the same.  My solution was to design a lovey I could attach to the adorable stuffed animals I had in my shoebox stockpile.  I began by using the case of these that I purchased with birthday money.  The tags on them say for all

DIY Quick to Crochet Child's Beanie Hat Pattern

When crafting for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes I look for quality and speed (since I make over a hundred of each item each year).  This quick to crochet child's beanie hat was designed with ease and speed in mind.  I used simple stitches, double and single crochet, and a large hook with medium weight yarn [size 4].  Simply Soft yarn is a lighter weight size 4 yarn so it took more stitches to make each hat, but it is my favorite yarn to work with as it glides easily thru my fingers, is soft and has a nice sheen.

I also like Simply Soft made up with an I hook as it makes for a looser, more open finished design.  Since I don't know what countries my hats will be sent to, I like lighter weight, less "warm" hats.  That way if they go to a cold climate and the child has nothing, it will still provide more warmth than they had or they can wear it under a hooded coat for added warmth.  But in a warm climate with, what to the

Mini Blanket Fleece Lovey with Crochet Edging Tutorial ~ Made for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

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Mini Purse or Wallet Crochet Instructions ~ Sized to Fit Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

A Simply Shoebox reader and crafter for Operation Christmas Child shoebox fillers has agreed to share her instructions for her sweet Crocheted Wallets or Mini Purses.  Chelle, from Chelle's CayBees, created these delightful wallets just for shoeboxes and made lots last year and donated them to my packing efforts.  They

Aunt Norni's Simple Crochet Shell Mini Blanket ~ Designed for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

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She loved trying new patterns. She would make almost each afghan from a different pattern.  The last several years of her life her mind wouldn't always keep

Button Up Crochet Scarf & Hat Pattern ~ Designed for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

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Grandma Sally's Bitty Afghan ~ Free Crochet Instructions

I love combining my crafting inspiration for my Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes with my memories of the past.  This crocheted lovey is a perfect example.  Years after learning to crochet from her teacher on her lunch hour in a one room school house, my grandmother made her 21 grandchildren and dozens of great grandchildren many crocheted gifts in her lifetime. One of her favorites was a granny square slipper which she made in various colors--changing the color every

Mini Fleece Lovey Blankies ~ Great for 2 to 4 Year Old Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

I made a fleece pillowcase dress for a friend to give to a local little lady thru her church's Christmas outreach program and with the left over fabric I was able to make three mini blankies for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.  I think a little cuddly can comfort a child.  After I finished the first one I read a story in Franklin Graham's new book, Operation Christmas Child: A Story of Simple Gifts, about a child in a war torn country who was left orphaned and was clinging to a blanket and singing to herself. That story certainly encouraged me to finish the

Double Crochet Front Post Crochet Scarf for OCC Shoebox ~ Pattern (With Link to Hat Pattern)

Crocheting is one of my favorite crafting techniques for donating in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes and to other charities.  It is easy and portable.  I learned to crochet as a young child, I can't remember when, I just remember always being able to.  The first thing I distinctly remember crocheting was a baby afghan for my first nephew when I was 11.  My grandmother learned from her teacher in a one room schoolhouse during her lunch break and my mother and

Crochet V-stitch & Ribbon Toddler Blanket for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

This is the first design Elizabeth has done.  She found some super inexpensive, 2-ply yarn at the craft store that offers free supplies in exchange for displaying your items and she fell in love with the color.  So she decided to make a toddler blanket for a 2 to 4 year old Operation Christmas Child shoebox child.  She knew she had to make it "lacy" so it wouldn't take up much room.  We plan to tuck into a Ziploc bag and squeeze the air out so it will take less room.  It will still take a bit of room, so she is on the hunt for some very small toys to include.

Crochet V-STITCH & RIBBON TODDLER BLANKET  33” Square

Supplies: 

Crochet Front Post Coin Purse, Jewelry Bag and Pencil Pouch Instructions ~ Designed for an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gift

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Crochet Shell Pattern Coin (Change) Purse Instructions ~ Designed for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

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Simple Crocheted Stand-up, Drawstring Bag Instructions ~ Great for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

I wanted to make a simple drawstring bag to hold marbles to put into a 10 to 14 year old Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.  We had gotten several bags of marbles on clearance at Michaels after Christmas and once the little guy opens the bag they came in to play with them he would have nothing to keep them in.  So I designed this small bag.

I had a ball of cotton twine my girls had left over from an AWANA project and I thought it would be fun to use it for a boy's bag.  I liked how it looked as I was making it, but wanted just a splash of color so added a red pony bead to the end of the drawstring.  I then made one out of thin,

Crocheted Pony Tail Holder Tutorial ~ Ruffly Scrunchie Perfect for Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Gifts

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