28 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet, Video
This stop motion film is the work of Marion Ber, a Textile Art Degree student from Madrid.
I think it’s absolutely genius! Crochet and knitted woolen cake ingredients, making a crocheted black forest cake – what’s not to love?!
Black Forest Cake from Marion Ber on Vimeo.
14 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet
In Wednesday’s free Stylist magazine, which I always take to read on the train home, there was an article called “A hug in a bottle” with knitted sculptures by Kate Talbot.
Knitted. Do you think these are knitted? I think it’s crochet.
I visited Kate Talbot’s website (hungdrawnquoted.co.uk), but there is nothing knitted or crocheted on her site so I’m not sure whether these beautiful works of art have been incorrectly described as knitting by Stylist, or whether it really is knitting. (I may be a bit overly sensitive, but I hate it when crochet is called knitting!)
Fact remains, whether it’s knitted or crocheted, these perfume bottles are amazing accomplishments.
As I’ve said before, I really take my beanie off to people who can look at a shape and recreate it with yarn and a crochet hook. I think everyone has the ability to crochet, but not everyone (including me) can create three-dimensional shapes in crochet.
Be it knitted or crocheted, these wooly perfume bottles are splendiferous. Wool has definitely never smelled this good.
13 Thursday Dec 2012
Posted in As seen on TV, Other people's crochet, Pattern
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On the 11th October Anita left me a comment saying that she had spotted a crochet throw on The Guardian, Season 2, Episode 10. I just had to investigate.
The episode’s name is “Sacrifice” and the crochet blanket is to die for!!! Betsy, played by Ashley Johnson, wraps herself in the crochet throw. Sorry Ashely, but the throw steals the show big time!
Each square is made up of four of tiny granny squares. (Steps 1 to 8 of this granny square photo tutorial.)
You join your the four tiny squares together with this method to make one big square.
Then, join the big squares together with this zig zag scallop join method. It’s not exactly the same as the throw in the show, but it’s as close as I could find and it will give you the same effect.
To get the same colour effect, make sure you use one colour for two of the tiny squares in each big square as well as for your scallop join. This will be your main colour. If you do it this way, the other colours you chose for your tiny squares will stand out and give a visual rhythm to the throw.
Now that I think about it, this design can be used for scarves, throws, cushions and even sweaters….. I’m off to Ravelry to add yet another project to my queue.
05 Wednesday Dec 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet, Yarnbombing
I was sent these photos by Leigh Ann, who lives in South Africa, of a huge yarnbombed Jacaranda tree. Leigh Ann says the tree was featured on South African TV and this photo is the article in the Tribune newspaper.
Isn’t it fantastic? And best of all it’s made up of granny squares!
The tree was revealed on 1 December 2012, as part of Hillcrest Aids Centre World Aids Day event.
The yarnbombing was the idea of Woza Moya’s art co-ordinator. Woza Moya is an income-generation project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust (HACT). The project’s main aim is to teach craft skills to individuals affected/infected by HIV/AIDS through the production and sale of beaded items, ceramics, wirework, crochet work and fabric painting. Ten to 15 families are supported with this project.
This is a quote from the letter written on their Facebook page:
We have so far “Yarn Bombed” a restaurant , a campus and by the end of the month we will have yarn bombed a corporate foyer. We will have a yarn bomb unit on standby for your next event that needs a splash of colour. Jess the Yarn bomb co-ordinator met with old age homes in the community, wool shops and quilting guilds, many of whom gave their support. … Our tree will be a symbol of hope for those living with HIV and a reminder for those who haven’t bought an AIDs ribbon for a long time.
I love, love, love that they have a yarn bomb unit on standby. How great is that!
In preparation for the big reveal on 1 December, they had to start sewing the grannies onto the tree on the 26th November… with the help of a crane!
This is the end result. Isn’t it amazing?!
Public displays of craft (oooh, that’s a great way of saying Yarnbombing) can really bring communities together, raise awareness for a cause and of course bring colour and pattern to any space. Got to love it.
29 Wednesday Aug 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet
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On Saturday my friend Liezel and I went to the Natural History Museum in London to see three giant crocheted lions. If you don’t know what I’m on about, the lions are the creation of Shauna Richardson for the Lionheart Project, one of twelve submissions to Artist Taking the Lead as part of the London 2012’s Cultural Olympiad. They symbolise the three lions on Richard the Lionheart’s coat of arms.
Shauna Richardson is an artist known for her life-size crochet animal creations, a unique body of work she calls Crochetdermy
You can read more about Shauna here and more about the Lionheart Project here.
But enough talking, you probably want to see the lions!
All the photos were taken by Liezel. She did an amazing job, considering the lions are housed in a glass box which made for a lot of reflection from the surrounding trees, the Natural History Museum, and the photographer. If you like Liezel’s photography, have a look at her blog. This is one talented snaphappy lady!
To appreciate the Lionheart Project, you need to get a sense of the scale:
Now you can enjoy the close-ups and beautiful crochet:
If Liezel’s photos have intrigued you to find out more about Shauna and her lions, have look at this interview. *Spoiler alert: Shauna says she used the wool of 150 sheep to crochet these three 9m long lions!*
A parting shot.
I just had to. Seriously. Wouldn’t you too?
15 Wednesday Aug 2012
Posted in CAL, My ramblings, Other people's crochet
I’m going to take part in this CrochetALong. Do join us!
07 Tuesday Aug 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet, Terrific Tuesdays
On a Monday I can still remember the fun I had over the weekend, Wednesday is the middle of the work week, on Thursday I start getting hopeful and on a Friday I can taste the weekend. But what about a Tuesday? It’s so…. just there. Weekend memories are too far away and the upcoming weekend might as well be a year away.
What we need is a bit of colourful inspiration to get us going on a Tuesday, don’t you think? A pretty picture, beautiful scenery or colourful imagery. Yup, that’ll liven up Tuesdays and turn it into a terrific day!
From now on I will go through my photos and Pinterest likes every Tuesday and find us a pretty picture to add colour and joy to the day.
xxxxxx
Source: spanishandsisters.com via Natasja on Pinterest
Source: spanishandsisters.com via Natasja on Pinterest
Intricate, beautiful, colourful crocheted necklaces by Spanish & Sisters. Surely these will brighten up any day!
Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.
Natasja
17 Tuesday Jul 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet, Terrific Tuesdays
Tags
On a Monday I can still remember the fun I had over the weekend, Wednesday is the middle of the work week, on Thursday I start getting hopeful and on a Friday I can taste the weekend. But what about a Tuesday? It’s so…. just there. Weekend memories are too far away and the upcoming weekend might as well be a year away.
What we need is a bit of colourful inspiration to get us going on a Tuesday, don’t you think? A pretty picture, beautiful scenery or colourful imagery. Yup, that’ll liven up Tuesdays and turn it into a terrific day!
From now on I will go through my photos and Pinterest likes every Tuesday and find us a pretty picture to add colour and joy to the day.
xxxxxx
Source: hooked-on-needles.tumblr.com on Pinterest
I adore these funky, modern coin purses! I wear a lot of grey and just love putting bright colours with grey, so they really appealed to me. Grey is so much more versatile as a neutral colour, than black. Black is just… black, whereas grey comes in shades which give us colour lovers a lot more options. Add a bit of neon and you’re laughing all the way (to the bank.) Get it? Coin purses. To the bank.
Aaaaaanyway, if you’re feeling these coin purses as I am, you can follow the tutorial by Anisbee on this page to make yourself one. The instructions are in French though, but I think that with a bit of Google Translate action it will be doable for us non-Frenchies.
Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.
Natasja
11 Wednesday Jul 2012
Posted in Other people's crochet, Pattern
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Love at first sight, that is what I felt for this shawl.
Do you agree? Man, it’s pretty! This triangle shawl is called Recuerdos de infancia which means “childhood memories”. It is designed by the Chilean poet Gabriele Ordenes. You just know it’s going to be good if you see the pattern is designed by a poet! If you’re as in love with this as I am, you can buy the pattern here for $6.
Gabriele also designed this triangle shawl called Flores de invierno which means “Winter’s flowers”.
Buy the pattern here for $6, or buy both shawl patterns for $10. (You can also buy the patterns in Gabriela’s Etsy shop 7Knits.)
Not one for doing things in halves, I bought both patterns because 1) it’s cheaper and 2) I couldn’t choose between the two shawls because they’re both so *&%*$ beautiful! Do you see the intricate detail, the lace effect and pointy edges? Can you imagine draping it around your neck like a scarf, or across your shoulder? I can and I can’t wait to get started!!!
I already know what yarn I’m going to use for my shawl: Zauberball by the German sock yarn specialists Schoppel Wolle. The reddish brown ball of yarn in the Loop Yarn Shop advertisements (which you may have seen on the inside cover page of Mollie Makes magazines), is Zauberball.
Now, guess where I’m going to buy my Zaurberball.
Can’t guess?
Well let me tell you: at the Schoppel Wolle head office in Wallhausen! I’m not going to Germany specifically for this shop, although I can’t promise that I wouldn’t have booked the first flight to Germany after having read this blogpost. Hubby is taking me to drive along the Romantic Road next week and we’ll be passing through Wallhausen on our way to the first town on the Romantic Road route, so it’s totally meant to be! The road trip is also my 35th birthday present.
What better way to celebrate a birthday than doing a road trip with my soulmate & best friend, seeing beautiful German villages and stopping to buy yarn along the way?!
Needless to say I will be doing a full report on any and all yarn shops we pass, including of course Schoppel Wolle.
Her Schoppel beware, the British Hooker is on her way. I’ve got an empty suitcase and I’m not afraid to fill it.
28 Thursday Jun 2012
Posted in My ramblings, Other people's crochet
I’ve got to show you something. It’s so, so, so, cool (it feels wrong for a 34 year old to use the word “cool”, but that’s really the only way to describe it).
It all started with a print I bought from from Stephanie, the Head Hooker and mastermind behind Obey Crochet and the super creative & funny crochet related drawings. She is so extremely talented I really wanted to support her. It’s one thing to read her blog, like a drawing on her Facebook page and mention her in one of my blogposts, but that’s not money in her pocket. So I bought a print that I could totally relate you: Will Hook For Yarn, because I will.
The print will be framed to hang somewhere in our house but that’s not good enough for me. I spend 8 hours a day at work, so how could I enjoy my Obey Crochet print at work? Oh I know – have the print transferred onto a mug!!!
Stephanie agreed that I could do this with my print, so I scanned the image and used Printster to have it printed on both sides of a plain white mug. I think having it on both sides is key – I see the drawing when I pick up my mug, but so do everyone that walks past my desk. Spreading my hook & yarn obsession as far as possible.
Behold, the tea drinking vessle of a desperate hooker.
crochetime 