Small Yarn Balls Storage Ideas

Working on crochet jewelry mostly composed of flowers, leaves me with a large amount of very small yarn balls. I am talking about tiny balls less than 10 grams. These, as you can imagine, are very difficult to store, so a practical solution that works wonders for me is to store them in glass bottles and jars. That way I always know what colors I have available at hand. 

I store slightly large balls and cakes in wicker baskets I have in several sizes and this cute bamboo chest above I got from my mom.

Looking for ideas on the internet I found this image posted by Shelley of yarn-filled trays  placed one of top of the other and I just love it! This looks like a huge space-saver.

Wool Free also loves to use jars, but she has hers sorted out by colors, while Kristin repurposes egg cartons to stash away her yarn balls. 

 

 

How do you store your small yarn balls?

Free Easter Eggs Crochet Patterns

I love decorating my home for Easter. It is never pretentious, and over- decorated, but subtle and appealing. As a crocheter I like to make egg cozies, which I give away to friends and family, and that is quite my forte. I mean - designing cozies. On the other hand, there was just one instance where I crocheted mini eggs, and that was that. I think you can find that tutorial in the free crochet pattern section below the header. I am simply not into crocheting eggs. However, I love looking at other people's designs of crochet eggs and how they use them to decorate their homes.  

So here, I've selected some that caught my eye on pinterest. Click on the links below the pictures for the free patterns. 

 Chicken eggs by Kristi 

Easter Eggs by Zeens & Roger

Floral Easter Eggs by Emma

Tulip Easter Eggs by Ekte Lykke

Spiral Eggs by Krazy Cabbage

Crochet Covered Eggs by Flax & Twine

If you are interested in egg cozies, you can grab my Easter-related patterns with a 10% discount using the code EASTER at checkout, or just click here for an automatically calculated discount.

Lotus & Rose Necklace Pattern

Hello all! 

This is my latest necklace that I made for my spring collection. I named it a lotus and rose, because I wanted to have both with this necklace design, but somehow didn't end up joining them up, lol! 

The base of a necklace is a cord I named the Celtic braid, and I am extremely satisfied how that one turned out. It has an interesting texture and works as fast as a lightning. I feel I am going to use this cord a lot. 

More about the pattern in my etsy and ravelry shops. 

The Yvette Scarflette - pattern release

Hi lovelies!

Just a quick pop up to tell you I have published the pattern for the Yvette scarflette. It has made quite a stir, which I must say swelled my heart to the point of bursting!! 

This time I used Austermann's Soufle virgin wool in mustard and a 6mm hook. The pattern employs the basic crochet stitches and the beauty of this is that you can make it in an hour. Find the pattern on etsy and ravelry. 

Sakiori - Japanese Weaving Technique

 

                                                                Images via Koron007

Centuries ago, fabric was a rare and precious commodity only the wealthy could afford. So people treasured old and worn-out pieces of clothing to recycle and reuse in order to make new clothes. Thus the sakiori was born.

Sakiori comes from the word "saki" which means to tear up or rip and "ori" which means weave. Recycling old fabric remnants into sakiori weavings follows the Japanese indispensable concept of “mottainai” or not wasting precious cloth that can prolong the fabric’s useful life through recycling and reuse. 

Weaving all these remnants of fabric was immensely hard work back then, however very rewarding and worth the effort as clothing made from repurposed cotton was vastly warmer, softer, and more durable than the rough linens that could be made from Japan’s natural fibers. 

Sakiori was mostly used to make rugs and covers, but also clothes - mostly jackets and vests. Today, the technique is experiencing a resurgence as a "green", ethical and economical art form.

 

                                                                 Image via

Sources I used to write this post:  Sakiori History, Sakiori Weaving, Sakiori Bag.

🍃🌺Happy Spring!🌺🍃

 

🍃🌺Happy Spring!🌺🍃

Yarn Eating Patterns

 Image credits in the links below

 

Textured crochet patterns make all the difference, that's for sure. But they are also excellent yarn eaters. So if you plan on using a textured pattern for your project, you have to carefully calculate how much yarn you need for it, if you don't want to play yarn chicken. However, if you have a lot of yarn in your stash that you want to clear off of your shelves - these are the perfect choice!

I'll start with my current favourites which include the cable and bobble stitch. Next in line is the crocodile and the waffle stitch. More intricate textures: chained shells, chained fans, waves and the larksfoot stitch. There are tons more, depending on the effect you are looking for and are most drawn into. 

So, what's your favourite stitch? 

Crochet Bobble Bunting - pattern release

 

Let me show you my newest bunting! I have long wanted to make little bobbled flags and I am glad I finally made them. They are a kind of an introduction for my spring collection and there is another bunting in the design phase that'll keep this one company.

 

The pattern uses basic stitches with the exception of the spread bobble I used for the odd rows. The flags are not small; they measure 17 x 15 cm, but size can be customized by subtracting the rows. More about the technicalities in  my etsy shop.

 

Crochet Projects for Your Leftover Yarn

Every crocheter faces the same problem. How to use those small balls of leftover yarn, and not simply throw them away. Here I am sharing some free/ paid patterns and ideas how to creatively use leftover yarn. 

I always use them primarily for my jewelry. Such yarn is perfect for some flower rings, necklaces and brooches.

 Also perfect to use to make appliques to beautify old pieces, whether clothes, or accessories. Or maybe add to blankets or cushions.  Try this cacti pattern, gerbera flowers or this idea of glamming up a T-shirt.

 If you love a burst of color, you can mix them up to make granny square blankets, book covers, pom-poms, etc. 

What kind of projects do you use your leftover yarn for?

Your vote, please?

Today I received a mail from Ranked Blogs, informing me that my blog was ranked in the top crochet blogs to follow in 2021! I am both deeply honored and excitedly overwhelmed! 

I would love and appreciate if you could cast your vote for me here: Crochet blogs.

The flower-kissed capelet pattern is written down, photos are taken and edited and after a thorough revision, I hope to publish it soon. 

Thank you for reading and for your support!

Happy 8th of March!

This post is a celebratory tribute to all the remarkable women throughout history for their sacrifice, struggles, noteworthy achievements, contributions and victories. It is no small feat being a woman in a world ruled by men. 

One thing is for sure. Their legacy is not a burden, but armored wings to take us to even higher grounds.

                                                          (My mother and my aunt)

(My grandmothers)

I am thankful to my female tribe of strong, confident, independent, and powerful women, who struggled and fought, thrived and succeeded.

I am grateful for all the love, care, and support they gave, spread and invested in me to encourage, and empower me to bud, flourish, define and shape me into the person I am today. I pray to be the same role model for my children. I am humbled, honored and blessed to have (had) you in my life.

Happy 8th of March to you all! Stay strong and keep spinning the world around!

Daydreaming of Studios

Photo of Karen Valentine's space featured in In Her Studio Winter 2021

Important: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase something through any of the given links, I will receive a small percentage.

Since the pandemic started, and we all started working from home, I've been feeling rather anxious to have a studio outside of the house. I have a quite large living room and my current "quasi studio" is actually positioned at the far end of it - a work table with the basic necessities, my drawing journals, a basket with yarn, my photo- equipment. All the other stuff is in a shelved storage room. 

We recently bought a shop for my hubs business and buying/ renting  a space that will serve me as a studio is out of the question for the time being, so I am left with hopes for some better times. But my spirits never flail and fall. Hubs jokes about it saying: "Why do you need a separate studio, when you have the whole house for that?" 

Stampington publishes a magazine called In Her Studio dedicated to inspiring creatives. Amongst its pages, artists give tours of where they create and tell the stories behind developing their spaces, from the traditional to the unusual, the intimate to the extraordinary. For me, it is a genuine encouragement to never stop dreaming about mine.

By subscribing to In Her Studio, you will get 10% off, plus a free best of organization e-book. Take a peek inside - you won't be disappointed. 

 I'd love to hear stories of your studios. Do you have one? Where do you create?

Fresh off the hook - spring scarf

 

This scarf just got off the hook. 

It is a custom order for a dear person. She is a great scarf lover, and she was very simple and clear with what she wanted: a netted scarf with ruffles. She also chose this color combo. Everything else was left for me to dream up. 

 

I thought I might try a design I have planned for my spring collection with this one, and I can say it turned pretty. I might change a little something to it in the "ruffling section" at the bottom, but generally I am satisfied with the design as a whole. 

What have you been working on? 

 

No-Crochet Lariat

 

Happy March all! We've had a rather balmy weather lately and it started smelling like spring. I just wish it doesn't have one of its tantrums like last year when spring started way to early and then snowed in late April and got everything frostbitten. 

Today I am sharing a very easy to make, no-crochet lariat (you can also call it a "skinny scarf" :)

For this project you need 48 meters of jumbo yarn, and a sellotape.

 Cut 4 strands of yarn, each 4 meters long. That's the first set. Cut yarn for 2 more sets, so there are 3 sets of 4 strands of yarn, each 4 meters long. 

Position them closely next to one another, but easily to distinguish between them, and tape the strands about 10cm inward. Start braiding the sets of yarn. Maintain tension throughout. The lower hanging parts of yarn will tangle, but you need to pull just one of the sets, so it straightens right away. 

When you get near the end, tie the strands into one big knot. Take the sellotape off and do so for the other end. Trim ends, and you are done. 

Decorate with crochet, fabric of felt flowers. Have fun!