Eva's Prom Dress

 

My daughter had her prom night yesterday. Discussing ideas for the dress, she came to me with a picture from the internet and an idea how she'd like that particular dress to be changed for her. She asked me and my mother to make it for her. I was ecstatic. My grandma and mother had made my prom dress and this was history repeating. 

My mother tailored it and we both took parts in sewing it all together. It was a joint labour of love. The initial idea for the bodice was to have tulle insets stitched with different shapes and sizes of sequins and pearls, which Eva decided in the last moment she didn't like that, so a week of stitching was thrown away and I started stitching the sequins directly onto the bodice. Exhausting, but I loved every single stitch. The greatest satisfaction for me and proof that she really liked it was when she tried the finished dress for the first time and started jumping around the room in sheer joy. 

The bodice is heavily adorned at the upper part and gets less decorated as it goes down. The back has just small splashes of sequins. 

The dress falls down in full circle. 

She aimed at a romantic rock look, so she paired the dress with a cropped denim jacket. Instead of high heels, she chose flats. She finished her look with a small, shiny bag. She also had a silver corsage with silver and purple flowers, but I forgot to include it in the last picture. 

She reported having "a blast" last night, so I am happy I took part in making my girl make wonderful memories! 

 

Pattern Release: Crochet Oya Flowers

 

Happy Sunday all!

I am happy to show you my newest pattern release for crocheted Oya flowers.

There are 8 patterns for flowers along with a couple of variations shown in step-by-step tutorials, 3 ways of making necklaces / bracelets/head decorations, as well as useful tips on using crochet / embroidery thread in making these lovelies. 

The pattern is in my shops: Etsy and Ravelry. 

Do let me know if you have any questions about the pattern in the comments. Thank you!

 

Oya Crochet Coming Up!

Hello dear lovelies,

I am here today with a little announcement. 
Everything crochet is currently being on hold because I am  working on my daughter's prom dress. I cannot show you anything right now, but the dress is sewn and I am actually embroidering beads and sequins onto tulle strips which will be sewn on the bodice of the dress. 

But I do have to show you these amazing oya pieces the patterns of which are in my newest pattern Oya Crochet, I have been working on and off for the past month. Hopefully it will see the light of day this coming Friday or Saturday, so stay tuned!

Insta love: Monday Inspiration

1. A Clothes Horse Tilda the Green Lillabjorncrochet Aisha Creative

2. mycrochetory
rosacapena outstandingcrochet potterandbloom
ragtale helloemilie

Antiquated Rose Necklace

The starting point of many (if not all) of the necklaces I am getting ready for my new collection are the glass beads I have bought in several colors. Needless to mention, they became my weakness. 

For this particular necklace I paired them with pearl beads. The color of the yarn along with the beads assemblage give the necklace an antiquated feel, delicate and soft.

The clutch is also made with the same yarn, but that is a story for another time. 

Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead, I wave you goodbye!

T-shirt yarn: Yay or Nay?

 

There is a spectacular yarn market in Istanbul's Kapalıçarşı

and whenever we are in Istanbul, we never miss to visit it and freshen up our supplies. On out last visit this October I found a new shop selling yarn at factory (outlet) prices and was particularly intrigued with the t-shirt yarn, because I planned to make bags for the summer.  They were extremely cheap and when I asked the seller why so cheap, he responded that they are recycled yarn (the burgundy and the pink one in particular). 

I thought that this is yarn that is left over which factories spun and sell at a quarter of the price and although he pointed it out to me and the label read in PLAIN English that this is RECYCLED Craft yarn I didn't suspect anything unusual (like that it has flaws) until several months forward where you see me readying for a project and imagine my hysteria when I find out at the first stitch that the yarn has tiny holes all the length through spread at a certain distance! I mean it looks like being nibbled by the factory machine's teeth! 

Nevertheless, although disheartened, I decided to finish the bag I had in mind, and though you cannot see the tiny holes, believe me, they are there. Steady as mountains. 

Luckily, just 2 of those balls? skeins? are such, the others are perfectly fine. 

I made the orange one first. It is way sturdier than the burgundy and was more difficult to make. 

Thus, this being my first time working with T-shirt yarn, I can report the yays and nays.

YAY 

1. It works up insanely fast. I made the Oreo bag in less than 2 hours. And a pattern like this one ate up a a kilo of yarn.

2. It is a fab choice for a bag. 

3. Things made from T-shirt yarn are really durable.

NAY

1. It is very difficult to work with (the change from my 1.9 mm to 10 mm hook was very dramatic) and my arms and shoulder blades and back hurt like hell. You have to put up an enormous effort. Especially if the yarn is of a sturdy cotton.

2. Other than bags and rugs (or maybe baskets/containers) I don't see it used for anything else. 

I didn't want to waste any of the handles I have for the burgundy bag, so I crocheted them, while I think I have good ones chosen for the Oreo bag. 

Have you ever worked with t-shirt yarn? What's your experience?

Things I Take on a Trip - crafter's ramblings

Whenever we go on short trips around the country, I always take my crochet with me. Yarn varies, depending on what I am working on at the moment, but the invariable constant is what you see in these pictures. I have a small transparent plastic box, utterly simple but quite valuable - I call it my treasure chest. It holds all the things I need for work. 

Beside the hook house, which comes as a stand alone unit and cannot fit the box, and the tin box, everything  else is stored in that box. Most often than not, I leave the hook house at home and put the hook(s) I need for a project into the box. So, the box holds hooks, measuring tape (the kitty), the wooden container filled with sewing needles, scissors, tapestry needles, a porcelain thimble (brought to me by BIL from Poland) and a metal one, a seam reaper, a brooch pin (that has come in handy at most surprising instances), the blue container filled with pins and there is always white and pink sewing thread. These two silken ones are currently needed. The tin contains embroidery floss and is taken with me only if needed for a stitching project. 
The box contains other things like small pendants, jump rings and other similar what-nots.
 

  

This notebook also goes on a trip. It is several years old. Quite big, I mean thick - not yet half done, so I see many more years into it. It holds my blog posts schedules and I also use it to jot down ideas, drawings and even draft small patterns. 

Then there is always the obligatory (big) bag which I fill with yarn and I always have more yarn taken than necessary, because one never knows what great ideas one might get and be sad if that one does not have yarn to work on that particular idea that sparkled out of nowhere. 

We are having  a prolonged weekend due to the Orthodox Easter (Friday and Monday off) so you can imagine the amount of yarn I have taken this time :)

 

 

 This is a top from my spring collection which I plan to finish and maybe shoot photos of it. I also took some t-shirt yarn and already made a bag during the ride. 

Follow my stories on instagram to see what else I've taken.

Flower Tassel Earrings DIY

When I saw these tassels in Instanbul's heavenly crafters' market, I knew I had to buy at least a handful to use for whatever project I might dream about and fast forward to warmer seasons, I saw some bohemian tassel earrings and learned they will be a hit this summer. 

The playful child in me knew it was high time to shake these a little bit. 

To make the earrings I used mini crocheted flowers (pattern below), jump rings, pearl beads and earring hooks. And, of course, the tassels. I still believe, tiny fabric flowers would be much prettier, but I didn't have any at hand. 

I attached the beads on the tassel's neck and then glued the flowers (this could be done the other way round), attached the hook on the tassel's loop and that's it. A fast gift if you are in a hurry to whip one out. 

The pattern for the flowers - I used doubled silken embroidery thread and 0.8 mm hook. Almost lost my eyesight. 

Ch 5 and join to make a ring. Sc 5 in ring. Ch 4, sc in next stitch. Repeat this for all stitches - there would be 5 petals (chains) in the end. Cut thread, tie knot, weave ends.

 

What I Have Pinned Lately #17

My latest pins have gravitated heavily towards Irish and lace crochet and I am incessantly delighted by the amazing creative genius of crochet designers. 

From lightly decorated shirts and blouses, to heavily intertwined designs of coats and jackets, lace crochet is easily conquering the crochet scene. 

Enjoy my selection today and check out my board for credits to these images.

 

Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter!

God bless all!

Tropical Sunset Cuff Pattern

 

Hello all.

My newest cuff that I named tropical sunset. Name came naturally from the selected color combo and I do started imagining summer nights at the beach while choosing the colors for this one. 

As with all my bohemian cuffs, I played with all sorts of beads and sequins to make it unique and desirable. 

I am sure it would fit a princess from the Arabian nights.

Pattern on Etsy, Ravelry.

Easter Home Decorating Ideas

 

 

How is your Easter home decorating going? 

In our household it is different every year. I do use toys and decor I've bought during the years, but see that the place feels different every year, and every year I never miss to buy something small that would fit the existing menagerie. This year I also got a couple of ornaments from my mom - which I showed in my last post. 

When decorating for holidays, I am a person to have several places scene-scaped rather than have the whole house decorated. 

What about you? Do you overdecorate or not? 

Check out my Easter board for credits to  these images and more inspiration.

Easter Egg Flower Pods - free pattern

 

Back in 2013, I made my first Easter basket pattern which has been loved many times so far and it continues to rank well in my shop. The tradition of making egg cozies started then and there (and with a skip of a year or not )I am inclined to continue this tradition until I feel differently about it.

What is different this time is that this pattern is completely free. I always try to make unusual cozies and while brainstorming ideas I thought of a poppy pod. And it all started from there. So, let's make it!

 Egg Flowered Pods Pattern

For the cozies I used sport yarn and 1.9 mm steel hook.
For the flowers I used embroidery floss and a 1.7mm steel hook.
Also you need sewing thread and needle to sew the flowers on. 

The pattern below is for small eggs (53-63gr.).
Used stitches: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog), slip stitch (sl st).

Foundation: Ch 5 and join to make a ring.
Rnd 1:  sc 6 in ring.
Rnd 2: sc2 in all stitches (12)
Rnd 3: repeat rnd 2 (24)
Rnd 4: sc1 all (24)
Rnd 5: sc1, sc2 (36)

Rnd 6: rep. rnd 5 (54)
Rnd 7: sc 1(54)

Rnd 9: sc2tog (36)
Rnd 10: sc2tog (18) 
If making it with round 10 leaves you with a small opening, than repeat rnd 9 once more and end the pod there.
Don't cut yarn. You'll be making the leaves.

Before we start, please note that I made the leaves different and not two are the same in stitch count. For example, I made the first with 7 stitches, the next one 11, the third 9 and so one. The leaves shouldn't be very long because they will slop down. Also, while we are at them, when you are done, you can either wash them with a sprinkle of starch or spray them with fabric stiffener so that the leaves stay upright. 

Leaves
Ch 7 and starting from the second st from hook, sl st in first 2 st, then hdc1 in remaining 4. Sl st it in the next st, sc in the next to it. Sl st in the next and chain 11. Repeat the leaf pattern (sl st in 1st two st, hdc1 in remaining). Repeat making different sized leaves until you finish the round. 

Now onto the flowers. 

Using all the strands of the floss, ch 5 and sl st in the 1st st. Ch 5 and sl st in the 1st st of that chain. Repeat working this pattern until you have 5 such petals. Join the last one with the first one with a sl st. Tie both tails in a tight knot twice, thread the tails and weave them through. Work on the color arrangement.

 Thread a sewing thread and sew the flowers on. And you are done!

So, how do you like them?

I am going to gift these to my nieces and nephews this Easter. Maybe make some for my mom. She always makes an Easter village on her chest /stand in the living room so we'll see if these fit the scenery. 

Also I will be including this pattern as a gift with all my other paid patterns for Easter cozies if you are interested in having a printable copy, or as a free download on ravelry.

1.Easter Egg Basket 2. Easter Gift Basket 3. Easter Tulip Cozy  4. The Damsel and the Unicorn