In the works: Irish Crochet Motifs

Phew! These have been inspiring, but by all standards, exhausting thirty days. I am finally finished with the kids' crafts school, and I cannot wait to go on holiday. In the mean time, I wasn't idle, as you can see from the above shown. In August (fingers crossed) I want to publish an extensive Irish crochet workshop / course, and my days have been filled with crocheting motifs and writing down the patterns.  On the workshop, we are going to make blouses, and I chose this wonderful cotton thread. This vibrant color will be perfect for a summer blouse, and I think will suit me just nicely; oh, yes, I am making this one for me :)

The Athena Vest - pattern release

I am amazed with myself for being able to keep a pattern in the edits for more than half a year! Tap on the shoulder for finally giving it life!

The Athena vest is dedicated to the city that saved my girl, and to my Eva who relentlessly and bravely fought, never giving up - my greatest warrior! 

I had envisioned a photo shoot with Eva wearing it at the Parthenon when we visited Athens back in October, but sadly, it never happened. So photos of Miss Sophia  (my mannequin) wearing it will have to suffice.  

The pattern has a "lattice" resembling front with a full back. It is for adventurous beginners / intermediates if we are talking skills. Quite versatile if you use your imagination. With a (sweat)shirt underneath,  or a bra slip for warmer weather, this can be a wonderful piece to enrich your appearance. 

The pattern is here: ravelry, payhip, lovecrafts. 

Inspiration

Mix'N Match - Creating a Necklace

 It's been ages since I created this necklace (last summer to be exact :) ) and it was intended for my Mix & Match series that I wanted to transfer over to my You Tube channel. Finally, it's done. 

For those of you that are new here, Mix & Match is a series where I show how to incorporate, join, mix and match left over pieces from my past projects to create something new. In jewelry crochet design specifically, I am left with many samples, crochet elements that I do not throw away, but reuse to make new jewelry pieces and/or accessories. 

 

The video of the process is here. 

 

 

 

Crochet Mesh Hat - pattern +video

These mesh hats are popping up like mushrooms after the rain. Quite a rage this spring, and normally, Eva requested one. I made it adding my own take to it. Quite easy and fast to make, and while I knew it - I was on my third. 

The video is here, the pattern here and there. 

 

Woven triangle scarf

We have had a cold spell in the otherwise fine weather, and it broke this week, when I finally finished working on this woven scarf. I always seem to compete with the weather, and it usually becomes too warm to show off my winter makes, so I kind of lose the momentum, will, and interest to show my makes, but this time I don't really care, and will continue working on my unfinished winter knits and crochets. As for the scarf, well, it is the same technique I used for my previous one, only this time it is a triangle.The video is here, and if you want a written pattern for a fraction of the price, it is in my ravelry and lovecrafts shops. 

What have you been working on lately? 

Taking things easy

 A month between my posts; never planned it would take me so much, but with the anniversary of the Kocani tragedy, I didn't feel like blogging. Just took things easy. And with the world going crazy by the day, one can just hope and pray. Needless to say, crochet being my therapy,  I'd been wildly crocheting every single day. 

On a brighter note, we have had spring in full swing over here. Sunny days, birdsong and blue skies can truly lift the spirits. On my hook  you can see my new vest, which I hope to finish drafting this week, and writing the pattern soon. 

Sending hugs from my part of the world.  

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?

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!  

 

 

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.
 

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.