Teaser

 

 

 

 

I'm excited beyond words with the news I have to share!

Would love to have you over here tomorrow for the reveal!

Inspiration Monday - Rae Woolnough

 

 

 

Rae Woolnough is an incredible Australian textile artist that works magic with fibers and felt. The collage below represents her experiment in landscapes and formations.

 

The aim of the works in her own words: "The works provoke the viewer to explore the artworks up close and in detail as well as view them at a distance.  The textures, shapes and colours combine to produce a tactile, organic result. There is no attempt to paint a realistic scene with the fibers, but rather create a sense of place that is dimensional, textured, organic and living."

 

Check out her amazing gallery here.



Candy Crush Scarf - new crochet pattern

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been making scarves like crazy these past two weeks, using a fabulous chunky acrylic yarn and a huge size hook (a 7) which has been quite relaxing after years of using all those tiny hooks, so I promised myself to hang more with large hooks and chunky yarns. This patter works so easily, you actually have a scarf ready in an evening. I just loved making it.

 

You can find it on etsy and ravelry too.

 

 



 

You can buy a Candy Crush Scarf here.

How to read crochet charts: Crochet Collar Necklace

 

 

Holidays are coming and if you and yours appreciate handmade gifts, then you will have lots of interesting stuff here on the blog in the upcoming weeks. 

 

For today I prepared another installment of the How to Read Crochet Charts Series and it is about a chart of a collar necklace I found on pinterest. Needless, to say I made some alterations of the pattern, just a tiny bit because I didn't like what I was seeing and indeed - I tried it and confirmed my dislike. My changes are marked in green. However, since this regards an easy pattern and will literally take you no more than 10 minutes, I'd say you give it a go. It makes a lovely gift if you enrich it. 

 

The idyllic chart shows this:

 

 

In reality you get this:

 

 

 

In order to get that nice, round chain shape, there should be more stitches added to the foundation. I didn't add any - wanted to have it that way. But have that in mind if you give the pattern a try.

 

I used sports yarn (100% cotton, mercerized) and a 3.00 mm steel hook

 

Chart reads:

1. Chain 25.

2. Turn work and sc 1 in 1st st. Ch 11, sk 7 and sc in the 8th st. Repeat this twice more. Turn work.

3. Sc 1 in 2nd st from hk, "ch3,dc 1", repeat from " to " 3 times, ch 2, sc in between chains. Repeat all this for the other 2 chains. Mind to end the row with 3 chains and a sl st (not 4 as given in the chart, or two as given in the pattern above. Also I made the dc freely on the chain not following the position given in the chart).

4. Ch 1, sc 2, sl st in the dc st below, make a picot. Repeat this 3 times, and after the final picot, sc 2. Repeat the pattern for the other two chains. Sl st, weave ends and you are done.



I used it as foundation onto which I sewed a lace and a fabric rosette, added chains and light pink glass beads and a chain embracing the "collar". Shame the photos do not capture its appearance quite right and do not give this justice. It is more beautiful in reality.

Woolie Delights - Crochet Bib Necklaces

 

 

 

Hello again with some colorful woolie delights. I've been keeping these skeins for years now, not wanting to disrupt the wonderful  feel they gave my yarn cupboard with their amazing interchanging flow.

But the time has come for these beauties to change and they transformed into lovely patterned crochet bibs. We've tried them over some plain cotton shirts and even woolen sweaters and they are just the perfect thing to have on this winter. There are more of these and I'll surely show them all once they are ready.

Inspiration Monday - Ceramic Jewelry by Susana Espiauba

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Monday all!

I hope you had a refreshing weekend and it's time we plunge into another new week and the inspiration to drive us through it comes from an incredible Spanish ceramics jewelry designer - Susana Espiauba. You know I love to dabble in clay / ceramics from time to time, but I am always on the lookout for new, exciting designers.

 

 

I was attracted by Susana's extraordinary mosaic pieces as well as the amazing use of color she uses and the shape she gives to her attractive pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

Her leading drive and motto:

"We believe that every woman is unique and different, strong, passionate and intense, which is why we create striking and original pieces, to make you be even more you.
Our pieces are made one by one with love and dedication. The creation of each of them is unique work that results in unique pieces, thanks to the materials used and the manufacturing process, and this why there no two alike, and of course, all done by hand and 100% made in Spain."

I invite you to check her website and you  must follow her on instagram and facebook to learn more about the new collections coming out.

 



 

 

4 Fall Crochet Dresses - free charts

Via

We are having quite a sunny and clear fall that makes me think of crochet dresses under a warm coat.

 

 

I searched the internet for some ideas and I found some lovely free crochet charts. Might sound interesting as an extended weekend project. And the dresses would be fit for all those pre-Christmas parties.

 

 Via

 

 

 

 Via

 

Via

 

 



Ancient Roman Libum Bread and Moretum & Olive Spreads

 

The Libum was a type of bread, or rather a cake made with ricotta, flour, eggs and bay leaves, which used to be prepared at the time of Ancient Romans.


To make the libum you need:

• 2 pounds of white cheese
•  1 pound of wheat flour
• 1 egg
• olive oil
• bay leaves

Beat the cheese in a mortar; when it is well beaten, add in the flour. Add one egg and mix all together well. Shape it so that it is flat and round. Lay onto olive oiled pan over spread bay leaves under it, and bake for 35-40 minutes until golden-brown.

To make the Moretum spread:

• 1 clove of garlic (or less for a milder taste)
• parsley to sprinkle it
• 1 tbsp of coriander seeds
• a pinch of salt
• 200 gr. of white cheese
• 1 tsp olive oil
• A splash of wine vinegar

Crush the garlic into a mortar, add the coriander and parsley. Beat until made smooth, add salt and the white cheese along with the olive oil. Work to make a homogenous mass then add the vinegar and blend everything well.

Black Olive Spread

• 100 gr dried tomatoes
•  100 gr black / brown olives (pitted)
• olive oil (a drizzle)
• a pinch of salt
• {sunflower seeds}

Put the ingredients into a blender and work until you make a puree. When spread over a piece of bread you can sprinkle it with sunflower seeds.

To learn more about Romans and their dietary habits, I found an interesting read you may want to indulge as well as a recipe for an incredible video / recipe how to make bread as the Romans did 2000 years ago.

 

Inspiration Monday - Kindred Stitches Rustic Christmas

 

 

 

Rustic Christmas sounds just fine to me and I am sure many of you will agree. In my mind rustic is always inseparably associated with warm, inviting and inspiring vintage images such as the one on  presented on the cover of Kindred Stitches Magazine.

 

If you need new ideas how to add a rustic feel to your home this Christmas and make fantastic gifts for your loved ones, rush over to grab a bargain, because all their Christmas back issues are on sale. 

 

 

Follow Kindred Stitches on Instagram too.

Vintage Collar Necklace Pattern

 

 

 

There is a new pattern in the shops here and here.

Naalbinding Bracelets

 

 

So, for the Scupini Romani Festival I learnt this ancient technique called Naalbinding because it was interesting to tackle the idea of the Romans using something similar (or maybe even the same thing) to make their clothes. When it comes to garments people wore (and object they used) ages ago, physical evidence is (almost) non-existent if made out of fiber, textile and leather - even wood.

 

Needless to say, I got hooked up on the naalbinding thing, and would love to make something bigger like a scarf or even - if I let my wildest fantasies out - a cardi or a sweater. For I have seen tons of those beauties and cannot get out of my head.

 

For the time  being I satisfied my itches by making bracelets and I love the chunkier kind. Too bad I don't have chunky yarn in many colors - the white makes a great example and I love the bracelet's texture and appearance and thought if I made a couple of more rounds it would turn into a lovely cuff, just perfect for the upcoming winter.

 

There are many  tutorials showing the basic naalbinding stitches, but the one  that helped me the most mastering the Oslo stitch is this one.

 

 

 

Crochet Pouches - free pattern

 

 

 

For the Roman Festival I participated in last Sunday and about which I am going to give you a full report - I also made these pouches inspired from the times when people kept their precious objects into pouches (of any kind).

 

 

The pattern is so easy you can make a whole bunch in an evening.

 

 

For the grey and beige ones I used sport cotton yarn and 1,9 mm steel hook, while the burgundy is made of acrylic yarn and a 3.00 mm hook. The cotton ones look more dainty and elegant while the other is more "rustic" if I may say so. If you are going to use these as gifts, choose your yarn wisely.

 

 

Crochet Pouch Pattern

Used stitches: ch (chain), sl st (slip stitch), hdc (half double crochet), tr (treble).

 

Foundation and round 1:

1. Chain 4 and join to make a ring.

2-4. In the ring, ch 4 (counts as the 1st tr) and make 14 tr (15). Join with a sl st to end round. 

 

 



 

 

Round 2:

5-7. Tr2 in each stitch (30). End with a sl st.

 

Round 3:

8. Work in back of stitch only -ch4, then tr1 in every stitch around. Sl st to join.

 



 

 

Round 4- end: Ch4, then tr1 in every stitch around. Sl st to join. I just made 3 rounds because I wanted small pouches - not long-ish.

 

Final round - edging: (picture 11) ch 2 an hdc in every stitch around. Sl st to join. Cut yarn, tie knot, weave ends.

 

 

 

Finishing up: chain a tie, and using a tapestry needle  insert it through the pouch. And you are done!

 

 

These lovely pouches can be a fab last minute gifts and also an adorable stocking fillers for girls while ladies can keep their "gems and jewels" inside.

 



 

 

 

 

 

I hope you like them and give them a try.

 

 

Inspiration Monday - Artist Fleur Lyon

 

 

 

 

Fleur Lyon who modestly declares herself to be a botanical artist and a mother is the amazingly talented creator of the sweetest and most beautiful tapestries you have seen.

Using a hand knit piece as the canvas,  she mounts it onto a wooden frame and embroiders it with fields of "wild florals" to create these irresistible and eye-catching, breath-taking tapestries.

To see more of her work, visit her site and IG account.