We Are in Istanbul - Turkey

 

Istanbul is a real gem! It takes my breath every time I visit.

More about it when I come back.

To stay in the loop, follow my stories on instagram.

 

Have a lovely weekend!

How to Read Crochet Charts: Flower Border

 

 

 

 



It occurred to me that we have never had a border chart reading here on the blog so I found one I could use for a scarf which was a favourite of mine years ago, and to save it from its premature retirement I gave it a facelift, or a face down to be precise because it got a flowered border.

 

The chart speaks a wonderful symbol language and it says that you:

 

Chain 28 and (row 1) dc 1 in the 4th st and then in all the other st across.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as the 1st dc of a puff st) and in the 1st st make a 2dc puff, ch 2, sk 2 and in the next st make a (3dc) puff. Repeat this pattern to the end (3dc puff, ch 2, sk 2).

 

Row 3: ch1 turn work and sc1 in the 1st st, ch 2 and sc over the puff, ch3 and make a picot over that sc, next ch 2 and over the next puff make a sc without a picot. Repeat the pattern to the end of the row.

 

Row 4: ch 15 (5 for the chain and 10 for the flower), sl st in the 10th st to make a ring, turn work, and in the ring sc1, make 3dc puff, ch3 and sc1 again. Repeat this pattern to make 5 petals. When the 5th petal is done, ch5 and sl st in the second non-picoted sc stitch. Repeat making the flowers to the end of the row.  

 

So, what do you say? Do you like it? I certainly do love how it looks on my scarf. I crocheted it first and than sewed it onto the scarf. Now I am ready to wear it again.

 

 



 

 



Insta feel: Be Inspired!

HAPPY MONDAY!

Let inspiration be rich for everyone this week!

 

Roza in Bloom  Vendulka Maderska  all the beautiful things  tsminibears  Mikutas  Evgenia Ermilova

Pattern Release: Bohemian Bralette

 

The pattern is released and it can be found on etsy, ravelry and Love knitting

 

Technicalities:

Tools: Crochet hook 3 mm (metric), US / (option: D/3), UK 11; tapestry needle for weaving ends.

Materials: 160 meters / 175 yards of DK cotton yarn if made in one color

Difficulty: intermediate

Used terms in American terminology: chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), skip (sk), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc), picot.

Finished measurements:

Size S: bra cup center down (lace included): 22 cm / 8.7”
Across chest: 32 cm / 12.6” Lace underbust: 34 cm /13.4”
Size M: bra cup center down (lace included): 23 cm / 9”
Across chest: 38 cm / 15” Lace underbust: 42 cm /16.5”

Gauge: the gauge is calculated for the center part of the bra cup where 10 dc st. are made in in 7 cm / 2.75”.There are photos accompanying the pattern which makes it easy to work on this lovely bralette.

Statement Flower Brooch

Let me tell you about my newest statement brooch!

It was made in spring (was it that long ago?) with a lovely DK mercerized cotton yarn I went crazy over and bought like nearly a ton in every possible color the shop had and they didn't have many {which is a pity} and the flower is composed of the lefties from another project that is yet to see the light of day.

 

It is really huge (see the last photo). It measures about 15 cm in diameter. And that is another thing about me. I either like my brooches small or gigantic :) Otherwise it wouldn't be a statement brooch if you ask me...

 

It comes with a brooch pin at the back which is not sewn onto it, so it can be pinned on shawls, coats, hats, bags, even belts!

 

I have it for sale if you are interested.

 

 

 

 

4 Crochet Stitches to Try

The Tunisian Stitch

The Tulip Stitch

 

I am always on the lookout for some interesting, textured stitches and it is incredible how many are out there waiting to be tried. For this post I chose just 4 that I think might be just perfect for winter scarves and hats. Click the link under each picture to get to the relevant pattern.

 



 



 

The Leaf Stitch

 

 The Cabbage Stitch



✽Happy October✽

 

HAPPY OCTOBER dear friends!

 

Although I am a summer child, I dearly love October and it has a big, warm, sparling place in my heart! It is filled with lots of family members and friends' birthdays and anniversaries, lots of celebrations and family gatherings...

 

Along with celebrating life and love, we'll be enjoying nature's change of attire, go pumpkin picking and chestnut roasting, we'll be cake making and tea drinking, travel a bit and read a lot. We'll be making warm sweaters, snuggly blankets and tons of homemade jam.  That is a glimpse of our bucket list.

 

What does yours look like?

 

 

All the images I used for this post are from Sarah Kay, because they always make me sit back and reminisce my fabulous childhood! If you are a Sarah Kay lover, you simply have to check out my post  where I revived my childhood memories here and go through  my board here!

What I have pinned lately #14

Inspiration by Kenzo

 

 

This month, the internet has been literally bursting up with fabulous ideas and patterns. My pinterest boards are filling in nicely and this is my latest selection.

 

 

 

Nordic Crochet Sweater by Drops Design



 

Tea House Wrap  by Two of Wands

Woven Tassel Pillow

 

Inspiration by Valentino

More inspiration {and free or not) crochet on my board here.
 

Baby Shawls {crochet pattern}

 

This Friday is reserved for a snippet of my boho baby collection.

I give you my newest baby shawls! {I cannot get enough as how cute baby clothes are! Can you?}

 

So, these were made using a granny stripe pattern and involve a joyful play with matching color combinations. The shawls are made with acrylic yarn from a local producer.

I  made them in 2 sizes: 0- 3 months and 3-6 months. I also wrote down the pattern for the bigger size and I will have that ready soon.

 

Fall Decorating Ideas

 

 Via Lolly Jane

 

Fall has a stunning palette of rich colors that give another dimension to home decorating reflecting all the beauty fall comes with. This year, the most popular décor in the online world has been the velvet pumpkins and they do give richness to the whole look.

 

See the collection on my original post here.

 

Broken China Jewelry

I have always been attracted to broken china jewelry - that comes from my vintage obsession and love of china.

 

As it happens, I do have a set of vintage china plates given to me as gifts, that I would hate, absolutely dread to see cracked, but in case of an unfortunate incident in the kitchen, well, I certainly wouldn't throw any away!

People really got creative with broken china and this is just a snippet of what I found browsing online:

Lovely teacup bracelets

Then there  is Mariella's stunning collection

 

 

Some lovely florals and if you are developing an itch to make some yourself, here's a video and a tutorial.

Porcelain Dolls Master - Fugi Naim

There was I, leisurely browsing pinterest for inspiration, when suddenly this image of these gorgeous porcelain ladies dressed in cups, jumps off in front of me and completely swipes me off my feet. And I stared in amazement, for I have never seen such porcelain beauties.

In the past, we had a glass factory in Skopje that made  unique, amazing, delicate glass and porcelain figurines and normally, almost every household had them, so these brought a rush of sweet childhood memories!

The artist, as I found out, is Fugi Naim. I found her online presentation and I am sharing it in full detail and originally as is:

My name is Fugi Naim. I am a mother of two, I live and work in a secluded and beautiful village in the Judean Hills on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Israel.

Art is my life and has been for as long as I can remember.
I have always dabbled in all kinds of art and crafts, creating, inventing and inspiring. What has always fascinated me the most were dolls and figurines.

As a child, I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s home with all kinds of collectible dolls and art pieces from around the world surrounding me. My favorite was their glass cabinet collection, which was packed with dolls, figurines and ornaments.

Over the years, I’ve created a large number of dolls in various styles, shapes and materials. About 3 years ago something wonderful happened, I received a ceramic oven as a gift. The moment I began working with clay, I knew I found my new creative home. A whole new and exciting world was opened to me, allowing my creativity to enter areas it never did before.

At first, I started making flat elements mainly for mosaic, than I began making parts of dolls, creating a complete doll was only a matter of time…

The first dolls I created were based on old dolls from my private collection. As time passed, I found rare old dolls which inspired me to bring them back to life in a new forms, recreating, inventing, adding my own unique touch and feel to each doll.

The idea behind my work is the use of existing dolls – old vintage dolls that are not being produced anymore today. I choose the doll and make a plaster mold of it, then I pour liquid clay into it. When it has hardened, I take the doll made of clay from the mold, then I sculpt and paint the doll, adding details to make it special and different – my own.
My creations, include burning the clay in high temperatures, drawing, painting and glazing. Together, they bring me to a state where I feel safe, complete and very creative.

I am sure these stunning figurines will steal your heart too! 

These days, my Etsy Shop allows me to focus on making dolls that are based on the adorable vintage Sun Rubber Co. dolls, a collection close to my heart.

Crochet Baby Bandanas

 

 

I have always wanted to make things for babies.

Especially after I became a mother, but then I was more concentrated on sewing clothes for my kids than knitting or crochet them something. Maybe because both my grans were alive and made all sorts of clothes for my kids I didn't go beyond the occasional winter scarf or hat.

But the spark was certainly there and it flames up once in a while, more consistently in recent years.

In the past I have made lots of blankets and baby clothes for friends and family who I know appreciate handmade gifts, but the spark was not satisfied. It wanted to grow bigger.

 

So I just let it have a go this year. And there IS a lot. These bandanas are actually among the last of baby clothes / accessories to be finished, but I am adding and adding more things to the collection that has significantly grown for the past 2 months and I am going to reveal it quite soon. Unless the spark consumes me all and I go nuts and the collection goes out of proportion.  But until that happens, here are these granny striped bandanas. Next I am going to show you some lovely shawls...

 

 

 

Crochet Rose Ring - free pattern

 

 

 

This Wednesday is reserved for a lovely crochet ring.

 

Once in a while I like to return to simple crochet projects with a maximum pleasing effect and the crochet rose is one of them.

 

For this particular rose I used cotton thread (size 5) and a 1.5 mm crochet hook.

The pattern is very easy and works up fast:

 

Foundation & row 1: Ch 40 and dc 2 in the 7th st from hook. Sk 2 and in next st dc1, ch2 and dc1 ("V" st) all in the same st. Repeat pattern in bold to the end of the row.

 

Row 2: ch2 (counts as 1st hdc), turn work and in the ch space of the V hdc1, dc4, hdc2. Repeat this "petal" pattern (hdc2, dc4, hdc2) for all ch spaces.

Leave a long tail which you'll use to sew the rose.

When done, start rolling the rose tightly and pin if necessary to prevent it to unroll, thread the tail and sew the rose.

 

I glued it to an adjustable ring. And here it is! I couldn't stop myself with just one so I made a small set :)