Leilani Cape

Happy Sunday all! 

Let me show you my new cape.

These are the same Leilani granny squares, but here they are used to make this lovely cape. How did I end up with so many of these squares? Well, I imagined it as a big / chunky cardigan, had all the squares made, but with everything that had happened a year ago, I just didn't have the strength nor the will to bring the cardi to life, so I divided the squares into two projects - a crop top and a cape. And I still have some squares left, but I haven't decided what to use them for. 

 

Customer's gifts - woven scarves

I am blessed to have customers, many of them having become friends, who just love to bring me handmade gifts. It makes me ponder what I did to deserve them... I am always excitedly stunned, and deeply thankful.

A sweet lady who has had a personal loss, gifted these two scarves to me and Eva, for having the strength to overcome hardship. Such a sweet and heart-warming gesture!

In coping with her own grief, this lady had bought a book on weaving and started making scarves. She's become a true master. She always brings new ones to the shop for me to take pictures of them, and they are all amazing. I will cherish mine as long as I live and breathe.

Crochet Skinny Scarf - a video

I cannot believe we are in the midst of February - it blows my mind how fast time flies! Until I post all my winter knits, I am sure we'll hit spring!

 

I just posted a video for this skinny scarf today. The knit skinny scarf trend that started last year did not subside at all; as a matter of fact it is still going strong, and the same as last year, I made a skinny scarf again for us crocheters, but this time with a different pattern. If you'd like to try it, the video is here. 

Next, will be my mohair ruffled scarflette.  

Mohair: My current obssession

Mohair yarn demand has skyrocketed greatly this year. What started as a faint advent of a particular fibre last year, turned into great fireworks this winter. All thanks to social media. Of course I wasn't immune; I am elbows deep in making skinny scarves, neckerchiefs and hats. I am not ready to plunge into mohair sweater making, as they take quite a long time, and with two full months of workshops, I need short projects to unwind. 

What are you thoughts on mohair? Yay or nay? 

The Leilani Top - pattern release

What should have been a flower granny cardigan, turned into a cropped top.  

I named this Leilani after the beautiful 3D flowers, gently popping up. Flower grannies have always been my weakness, and I never grow tired of designing new ones. 

For the top I used a cotton blend that is so soft and pleasant, and works like butter.

For the flowers and a couple of rounds of the granny stripe, I used a brand that is (sadly!) discontinued, but the yarn Camilla Batik can jump right in as a substitute, while for the framing color I chose my favourite yarn - Madame Cotton. 

The pattern for this top is in my shops: ravelry, lovecrafts.  

Sunday show off: Crochets I made

Can't tell you the sense of fulfillment when I gathered all my finished crochet pieces together for this shoot. Aside for 5 pieces from these piles, everything was made in December and January. Some are personal items, like the grey mohair bolero for Eva, and a couple of vests for me, some are things I made to sell in my yarn shop, and the rest is to be published with patterns. 

There are several things in various stages of making, so I am going to spend the rest of the day working on some.

How's your Sunday going?

How to make beads with scrap yarn

I made this necklace back in 2012 and I can't believe I still have it! After 14 years, it is still going strong! Back then I was hooked on using my leftover yarn and turn it into beads, and frankly, I kind of miss indulging into this activity. 

However, one of my goals this year is to give a visual life to many of my past projects, so I've already made a video for these woollies if you'd like to try your hand at them. The video is here. 

 

First project of the year

Happy New Year! 

May this one be calmer, kinder, and more fulfilling!

Officially, this is my first project of the year. I love the 1st of January for its calmness; nothing stirs outside, no noise, no hum... Yesterday we happened to have lots of sunshine and my living room was bathed in light and warmth. Cozy and inviting to crochet. So, I started what I planned to be a vest, but seeing how beautifully it grows, I am thinking sweater maybe? 

 

I hope you are having a good and festive start of the year! 

 

Button Flowers Video

I am sure you have all seen these cute flowers they put on shirt buttons to cheer them up! Well, I've seen them too, thought how cute and whimsical; being a crochet girl all my life, I couldn't  be indifferent, but I thought I'd skip the bandwagon.

Little did I know a friend of my daughter's is going to ask for them, so I thought why not document the process and make a video. And so I did. The video is here. 

 

This happens to be my last project shown for the year, but I have been very productive, so I cannot wait to show you what other things I've made in December!  

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas dear friends! 

I hope you are having a nice, warm and cozy time with family! 

This year, my mom who is about to turn 76, decided she is no longer going to arrange her Christmas village, and divided all the houses and figurines to me and my sister.  It makes me sad to think that that joyful scene is no longer going to greet us when we visit, but all that matters to me is that mom is doing well and whatever makes her happy, makes me even happier. She hasn't lost her Christmas spirit; she just reduced the ornaments and all the hassle decorating everything around the house takes. 

This is just a pinch of what I've got, and haven't had the time to take nice pictures, because we are again blanketed in heavy fogs and dreary grey days.  

Mysterious Crochet Blanket

I don't know what's happening, but I totally freaked myself out today!

Preparing a crochet course for my business, I went searching through my archives for some photos of mine to use for the promotion, and I found photos of this completed blanket. The thing is I have no recollection of making it, but WAIT! You guys - I have the step-by-step photo tutorial made for it!! Wow! I mean WOW! Tons of progress photos, but  obviously, I never published it. 

I do had this one made as a gift, and probably I wanted to linger more on the pattern, made the green one, and most definitely wanted to publish it - but it never happened. I must have given this one as a gift as well, or donated it to church, as I do not have it at home. The pattern is so lovely and playful, I might recreate it in the future.  

Olivia - Granny Square Cardi Video

 Granny squares, but gigantic!

I couldn't help myself, and set to work on these enormous grannies to make this unique in look cardi. Named it Olivia, because of the colors obviously. Quite an eye-catcher. The video is here. 

 

                              

Persian Tiles - a tryout

I have long wanted to translate some real Persian tiles into crochet hexagons. My folders are full to the brim with pictures of these lovelies, and not until I decided upon one, did I realize what a paramount task that would be.

 

Nevertheless, I had to get it out of my system (and brain!), so I created the one above. Then, as it always happens with me, I got tickled by the idea of using self-srriping yarn to see how the same pattern would go, mainly because I got bored with changing the yarn in every new round, and I also wanted chunkier yarn so that it would grow bigger and faster, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Not at all!

 

Here I stopped the project, but I guess I will return to it at some point as I am not done with the Persians.

Woodland Walk Scarf - pattern release

This self-striping yarn is one of the best sellers in my shop. It's a wool/acrylic blend in DK weight. The minute it arrived in the shop, I knew I had to test it. I decided on a scarf, and wanted to see how long a scarf I can pull off with just one skein. 

I love the combination of colors in this one and I think the lacy pattern gave more life and texture to the stripey parts. 

The pattern with all technicalities is in my ravelry shop  and on lovecrafts.
 

Meet Hugo!

Meet Hugo, our new family member. Hugo is Eva's dog and he is just 2 months old.

We get to see him quite often, and must say that he has swept us off of our feet! He is a Red Toy Poodle and when we first saw him, we taught he was a plushie! He is such a good boy, cuddly, very obedient, sociable, and quite a fast learner. 

Grandma (me!) made him a velvet carry-bag as a welcome gift, but I am still waiting for the photos :)

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.