Crochet Workshop at The Nest

  

 

A week ago, I had a crochet workshop at The Nest in Kocani. Before I go further, let me explain about it. The Nest is a youth center in Kocani, a place for inspiration, socializing and mutual support. It is a place where young people can connect, learn, exchange ideas and create new opportunities. This center is the initiative of Support Kocani with the aim to revitalize the city, especially the young people, after the devastating tragedy that happened on March 16, by organizing free workshops/ classes.  

 

My workshop was actually for beginners, where we learnt about the basic stitches, learnt how to hold the hook, make a foundation chain, and with one of my drills for mastering the single crochet, we made  pumpkins and jellyfish. All the ladies showed an immense interest, and the class was filled with warm and sparkling energy. I loved getting their messages afterwards, that some of them continued crocheting home immediately after the class. Truly warmed my heart. 

 

I hope to get back there again, next time with a more advanced workshop.  

 

Back to Athens

  

Snippets from our family trip to Athens.  We went back for Eva's check-up, stayed a week, so that Eva can experience fully the city that saved her life. We had a busy schedule, but it was a wholesome and heartwarming experience. 

Getting ready for fall

I don't know about you, but I love crocheting in the car. Without a set idea, I started making a vest with this gorgeous mohair I've been gifted on our ride back home. 

Mohair of this kind (there were three different strands of thread in it) doesn't allow for a spectacular pattern, so I just dc-ed through it to make an open sided vest. It closes though, by tying at the sides. 

The model is S to XS and am sure Miss Sophia (my mannequin) will beautifully wear it. 

The Art Beads in Motion

Hello, hello! 

Although I've been absent for a while in the blogosphere, that doesn't mean I've been idle. Had taken time to come to myself after all that happened, and hopefully I will resume creating. I have had numerous videos filmed, patterns written, and photos taken, so I will enliven this space of mine in a short-while. 

Maybe you remember the yarn butts that I played with and turned into beads five years ago (I cannot believe it's 5 years!!!)?  

Well, I made a short video, so if you are inclined to try this, you are welcome!

The end of an era, the start of a new one

Long time no word from me. 

We've been home for a month and a half, but we just needed time re-adjusting to normal life. 

Finally, after 86 days in hospital, we brought Eva home. She is good and thriving. We both thank you for the messages, prayers, comments and words of encouragement! 

 

This post is actually about something else. 

Back in April, I received a mail from etsy notifying me that all Macedonian shops on etsy will be permanently closed on August 5, as etsy payments is still not in use in my country. Or what they said and I quote: "We’ve made the difficult decision to stop supporting standalone PayPal. Unfortunately, we can’t bring Etsy Payments to Macedonia right now, so your shop will be closed on August 5."

Good thing is that they gave us plenty of time to make the necessary changes, bad thing is that they probably haven't thought of having a plan of getting us reinstated when, let's say, they start etsy payments here in 2036. What do we do then? Start from scratch? I've been on etsy for 15 years and have 11K sales. We'll see what they respond (if that actually happens). 

 

Whatever. My ravelry and lovecrafts shops will continue working. 

Days are slow...

 

 

 ... and they are extremely long. We are pushing day 53 here in Athens, and  sometimes we feel as reliving the one and same day (remember the Groundhog Day film?). Thanks God, Eva is getting much better. 

While keeping her company on her way to recovery, things that saved my sanity were crochet, books, Netflix series, painting and junk-journaling. 

 

I made the front part of what I later decided to be a cushion (the design is mine). Initially, I wanted to make it into a blanket or even a lapghan, but I soon realized that I didn't have either the patience or the desire to make it bigger. I simply couldn't concentrate, count and design it further, so a cushion was born. 

A visit to the art supply shop got me crayons, watercolors, markers, and along with a sketchbook, an entrance into a world, where I can doodle, draw and sketch, and calm my grinding mind. 

I also started junk-journaling again. Something I haven't done since I was a teenager. Maybe I'll show some pages in a future post.

 

I brought just 2 books with me, but I also found some spectacular bookshops here and bought myself some new and second-hand books. So, as we are bound to stay more, plenty of time to finish them all.

 

 

Healing...

I  cannot find the words to start writing this post. Typing, then deleting everything. The words get stuck into my throat, so I'll just be blunt. On March 16, my daughter Eva got injured in the Kochani night club fire. 

Our lives got turned upside-down, but we are glad she is alive. We are currently in Athens with her, where she is getting treated. She is healing slowly, but steadily. 

May God watch over each and every one! 

 

Through the Woods - Leg Warmers (pattern release)

Made out of mohair and combination of other wool blends, these are the warmest warmers I have ever had. The other thing that I love the most is this amazingly warm and calm palette, which I am sure I'll be using to the end of the last thread.

The warmers are worked from the top down and they end with flared ruffles. 

 

The pattern is in my shops: etsy, ravelry, lovecrafts. 

 

Granny Pixie Hood - pattern release

Step into the wondrous woodland, adding a little magic with this pixie hoodie. A charming and warm accessory adding color to the bleak winter.

The hood is oversized, but it can be customized to a perfect fit. It grows into a scarf, thus offering a variety of different wearing styles.  

The roses, aside for their role to beautify the hat, are an excellent reinforced ear-warmers.

The pattern is in my shops: etsy, ravelry, lovecrafts.

Crochet Bear Glasses Holder

I happily jumped on the bandwagon and this is my version of the bear glasses holder. 

It is so adorable, I cannot stand it. For a woman that has the glasses off most of the time - and the one that forgets where she last put them, and then goes and rummages through the place to find them - this. is. the. perfect. thing! 

The holder of glasses may be a trinket dish as well! 

 

Ok, ok... long story short, I made a video for it, and you can also buy the digital file if you are more comfortable having a printed version.

The video is here, the pattern is in my etsy, ravelry and lovecrafts shops.

Small Valentine Heart - free pattern

 

We are a week's throw to St. Valentine, and my birthday girl is going to get a mesh crochet bonnet (scarf) she requested as a gift. I am going to use these hearts to decorate the box. These are super fast to make (a ton - a minute), and quite cute.

 

The pattern: 

 

The video is on my TikTok.

Have fun!

Collette Neck Scarf - free crochet pattern

Skinny, short, knitted neck scarves have been popping up like mushrooms on the net, so I thought why not having a crochet version as well. So here's my Collette scarf. Easy to make, with a clean look and a French charm, it is so addictive, you'd want to have it in a variety of colors.

 

Now, before we begin, please note that: The written  pattern in its entirety along with the photos are for personal use only. All property rights belong to Maya Kuzman of The Little Treasures.

 

Supplies 

 Yarn and hook: ～50 gr of sport yarn of your choice, and a 4 mm hook (UK: 8 /US:6).

   Other: Scissors and tapestry needle for weaving ends.

 

 Stitches in US terminology: stitch (st), skip (sk), chain (ch), double crochet (dc),  double crochet 2 together (dc2tog). 

 Gauge: 3 dc in 2 cm / 0.78"

 

Measurements: 100cm/39.3" in length, 7cm / 2.75" at the widest point. 

 Note: ch3 at the end/beginning of next row counts as a stitch.

 

 Pattern:  

 Foundation and row 1: Ch4 and dc2 in last st from hook. (3) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 2: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 2 sts (3) Ch3 and turn work. 

 Rows 3 - 13: repeat row 2.

 Row 14: dc1 in all sts (including the 1st - simple increase) (4). Ch3 and turn work. 

 Rows 15-16: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 3 sts (4) Ch3 and turn work. 

 Row 17: dc1 in all sts, dc2 in the last (6). Ch3 and turn work.

 Rows 18-19: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 5 sts (6) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 20: dc1 in all sts, dc2 in the last (8). Ch3 and turn work.
 Rows 21-22: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 7 sts (8) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 23: dc1 in all sts, dc2 in the last (10). Ch3 and turn work.

 Rows 24-25: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 9 sts (10) Ch3 and turn work.  

 Row 26:  dc1 in all sts, dc2 in the last (12). Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 27: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in next 11 sts (12) Ch3 and turn work.

 Rows 28 - 57: repeat row 27. Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 58: starting from the 2nd st, dc2tog, dc1 in next 7 sts, dc2tog (10). Ch3 and

 turn work.

 Rows: 59-60: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in all sts. (10) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 61: starting from the 2nd st, dc2tog, dc1 in next 5 sts, dc2tog (8). Ch3 and

 turn work.

 Rows: 62-63: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in all sts. (8) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 64: starting from the 2nd st, dc2tog, dc1 in next 3 sts, dc2tog (6). Ch3 and

 turn work.

 Rows: 65-66: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in all sts. (6) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 67: starting from the 2nd st, dc2tog, dc1 in next st, dc2tog (4). Ch3 and turn

 work.

 Rows: 68-69: starting from the 2nd st. dc1 in all sts. (4) Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 70: starting from the 2nd st, dc2tog, dc1 in last st (3). Ch3 and turn work.

 Rows 71 - 82: dc1 in all (3).Ch3 and turn work.

 Row 83: dc2tog (1).  

 Cut yarn and weave/work the tails. 

 Needless to say, you can wear it as a headband as well. Enjoy it!

 If you want a version you can print - I have it on ravelry.

 

Vacation crochet

Our vacation finished on Wednesday and we are back to the mundane life and workload. I didn't have time to unpack the crochet bags during the week, and did so just now to see what has been accomplished during my week-long vacation.

I truly crocheted my heart out and made these lovelies: 3 hats, the 4th is not finished yet, as I am planning making a video for it (blue one far right), one oversized granny pixie hat,  a lariat, 2 neck scarves, leg warmers (unfinished- bottom center), and a scarflette. Except for one of the hats, and the lariat everything else is made with mohair and pure wool. 

I am loving the earthen palette and would certainly make more things with the same tones.