First there was the 3 mL Beanie, which got a much-needed makeover and became the 3.2 mL Beanie. Then there was the 3 mL Slouchy Beanie, which some of you all have actually been making! (It always blows my mind a little when I see a picture of one.) And now, I'm happy to announce the latest addition to the 3 mL family: the 3mL Messy Bun Beanie!  

Guess what? It's time for another Designer Spotlight! Hooray! This week's spotlight is all about Raechel of Crafty Mama Creations. Raechel is a talented and original designer who completely supports herself through crochet. Talk about amazing! She's quite prolific, so odds are good you may have seen at least one of her designs already. Either way, you definitely don't want to miss this interview; learn more about her, take a look at her lovely designs (some of which were literally dreamed up), and get some great advice. 

My oldest son is still too little for school, but he loves the concept. I suggested that we could do an informal pre-pre-school together at home if he wants, and now every day he asks me, "Can we do Mommy School now? Pleeeease?" So I've been putting some simple "school" ideas together and thought it might be a nice touch to make him a circle time rug. He was super excited to pick out some yarn from my stash and supervised my crocheting. And it quickly came together into a cute little rug! This is almost too basic to be a pattern really, but I thought I'd share anyway for anyone who might be looking for something similar. I've also included helpful tips for crocheting flat circles of any size. 

Time for another designer spotlight! I hope you've all been enjoying this feature; I've been loving it, not just because it helps build more yarn positivity, but also because it's been an awesome way to discover new designers. I had never heard of Featherby & Friends before I started looking for designers to feature, and I was seriously missing out! Alicia is an extremely talented designer who makes the most adorable crochet creations. I can't help but smile when I look at her work! So take a peek at this interview with Alicia, learn about her, and admire her lovely designs (and just try not to smile—I dare you). 

Meet Figment the Monster ("Figgy" for short)! Figment is an adorable snuggly monster, who can be both tiny for portability or giant for extra big hugs. Either way, he's sure to help keep the nightmares at bay with his toothy smile and signature swirly stomach. Who says monsters can't be cute? 

I hope you've all enjoyed the last two posts in the Designer Spotlight series (if you missed them, you can find them here and here). My favorite thing about this series has been not only celebrating talented fiber artists, but also learning more about these designers's motivations and inspirations; everyone has a story. Today's feature shines the spotlight on Andrea of Wooden Anchor Creations. Not only is Andrea a designer, but she's also a cancer survivor who has found awesome ways to give back with her crochet. So learn more about her from her interview, take a look at some of her projects, and maybe find some inspiration to give back with your own work.