A Mastercard Morning

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, My ramblings, Pattern

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My Mastercard and I have been doing our bit for the British economy, keeping Royal Mail in business and contributing (quite substantially) to my yarn stash. The purchases haven’t been willy-nilly, random “ooh that’s pretty!” (although they are) purchases though. I have a plan. You see, Garnstudio has a Supersale on until the end of May, so I’m taking advantage of that. I also know exactly what I want to use the yarn for, so I know how much to buy and I know the yarn I choose will work for the pattern. Purposefully expanding my stash. See. A plan. Do you want to see what I bought and what I’ll be using it for? Of course you do!

First up is Doris Chan’s Tall Latte v-neck sweater from her book Everyday Crochet (there’s a link to it on the right of the page).

I’m not going to make the ribbing-like neck and sleeve edging – I have a better plan which I will tell you about once I start working on Tall Latte. I’m going to use Drops Merino Extra Fine in shade 04 – a medium grey. Yes I know grey is, well, grey, but I have three patterned Boden skirts that will look excellent with a grey top, so the whole outfit won’t be drab & dreary and I’ll get a lot of use out of the grey top. Merino Extra Fine is one of the Super Sale yarns. In stead of paying £3.10 per ball, I paid £2.75 at The Crochet Chain.

Next up is a Garnstudio top called Country Dream. Sooo pretty!

The suggested yarn is Drops Safran. After the success of Whispers, I’m quite keen to stick to the suggested yarns for Garnstudio patterns, but Drops Safran isn’t on the Garnstudio Supersale list of marked down yarns. Luckily Scandinavian Knitting Design shop is offering it on sale! I bought shade 51 (Petrol) for £1.87 in stead of the usual £2.49! I’m going to modify the top so that it doesn’t hang over my hips, which means I could buy one less ball than suggested by the pattern. Another saving right there!

Last, but not least is a Vintage tank top. I bought the vintage Sirdar pattern from PastPerfect patterns this morning (and got the pdf within two hours!)

I’ll be making the one on the right with the flowery neckline. Isn’t it pretty?! I love the idea that I’m going to make something that’s proper vintage. Not a modern pattern reworked to look vintage, or vintage inspired, this baby is really truly from a vintage pattern.

All the Sirdar yarn they suggest, have been discontinued by now, so I had to find a substitute. Luckily I only need a very small amount of yarn as it’s a sleeveless pattern so I splurged and bought three balls of Rowan Sienna for £4.75 each. It’s not on sale, but at £4.75 a ball I know I’ll never crochet a whole sweater in this yarn, so as I only need three balls I thought what the heck. I bought a lovely green called Grasshopper from MCA Direct.

As soon as I’ve finished Belle I’ll start with the vintage tank top. I plan on taking it with me on holiday to Corfu at the end of this month. We’ll be there for a week. I can’t think of anything nicer than enjoying the sunshine in a foreign land, crochet hook and Rowan yarn in hand. I may even be able to finish the tank top whilst I’m there! Nevermind blocking, if I manage to finish it in Corfu, I’ll be wearing it in Corfu!

Drops Merino Extra Fine: ~~£3.10~~ £2.75

Drops Safran: ~~£2.49~~ £1.87

Rowan Sienna: £4.75

Three new crochet projects to get my hook into: Priceless

My Peter Pan removable collar

15 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by Natasja in Etsy, My crochet, Pattern, Ta-daah!

≈ 8 Comments

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crochet

Peter Pan collars are all around the High Street these days.

I’m drawn to them like a moth to a flame. I can’t put my finger on exactely why I like them, but I really, really do. They’re so sweet and girly without being pink or frilly.

A Peter Pan collar is a flat, round-cornered clothing collar. It is named after the collar of the costume worn in 1905 by actress Maude Adams in her role as Peter Pan. Since then, it has become a women’s fashion item several times, and is particularly associated with little girls’ dresses.

The collars seem to add that something extra to any top. The thing is, Peter Pan collars may go out of fashion again….

Luckily for me, there are wonderfully crafty people like Keysha from LaineDesign who writes crochet patterns for removable Peter Pan Collars! Genius!!!!

I bought Keysha’s pattern on Etsy for $5 and hooked the collar over the weekend while the Whispers Cardigan was drying out on the blocking board. I used DK Stylecraft Cotton Classique and a 4mm crochet hook. It was super quick and easy to do.

I really love how it turned out.

Only problem is, I don’t have many crew neck tops to wear it with.

I’ll just have to rectify that this weekend: S H O P P I N G S P R E E!

All About Ami(gurumi)

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by Natasja in Other people's crochet, Pattern

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

amigurumi, crochet, free pattern

How cute is this little guy?! Check out his removable scarf and flippers that can balance snowballs! His name is Snuggles The Penguin and was created by Stephanie of All About Ami.

I found Stephanie’s tumblr blog quite by accident, but what a lovely find! Not only does she share the very, very cute amigurumi she makes but she shares the patterns as well! This is the link to the pattern for Snuggles, and you can find all her patterns here.

What about this one: have you ever seen a cuter dragon?!?

Stephanie created Dragon from a drawing by Kim of Oborocharms. From a drawing I tell you! My head can’t work out how anyone can look at something in 2D and then create a 3D crochet piece from that. Huh? That’s so clever! I barely understand crochet diagrams!

When she had finished Dragon, Stephanie told Kim that she made a amigurumi dragon based on her drawing and a friendship was born which lead to Snuggles the Penguin, which Stephanie crocheted based on one of Kim’s charms.

I love the “back story” for Dragon and Snuggles: two creative people working together is bound to create something special. And as a bonus, we can have a piece of that action by hooking our own Dragon and/or Snuggles. Result!

Circular Coastal Colours Cushion

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Natasja in GIF, My crochet, Pattern, Ta-daah!

≈ 7 Comments

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crochet, crochet pattern, cushions, GIF

It’s all about the sea “c” today in this Circular Coastal Colours Cushion blogpost. ~~Sea~~ See what I did there? You ~~sea~~ see, *okay, I’m stopping now* Lynn Holland asked me to make her a 12 inch round cushion in coastal colours after seeing *told you I’d stop* my square cushions.

I’ve always wanted to make a round cushion, but now that our home is full of crochet things I dont’ think my dear husband would survive another crochet cushion venture of our own… I therefore jumped at the opportunity to hook something round and cushiony, even if it is for someone else.

I sent Lynn a couple of photos and links to round cushion patterns, and she decided on the back of Lucy at Attic24’s Blooming Flower cushion. That’s exactly what I would have chosen if I had made the cushion for myself!

I already had yarn in coastal shades in my (huge) stash of Stylecraft Special DK that was left over from the Identity Crisis blanket. That meant all I had to buy was the duck feather inner. I bought a 14 inch inner (two inches bigger than the crochet so that it would be nice and puffy) from Design-a-Cushions. If you live in the UK, I highly recommend this company for cushion inners.

So here it is. Lynn’s circular coastal colours cushion! Ta-daaaaah!

From this GIF you can see that the front and the back is different. I did the side with the green stripes first, and then realised it looked a bit dark, so the other side has no green and more white and light blue. It’s amazing the difference one colour can make don’t you think?

Of course I had to put the cushion on our bed with the granny square cushions and Identity Crisis blanket. It looks soooo good!

As of 12:45 today the cushion is on its way to its new home. I really enjoyed our time together but I’m sure it will be very welcome and loved in its new home.

(There is a slight possibility that I may have the opportunity to make another one of these. My niece, the one for whom I made the Bayb Born jackets, is coming to visit at the end of March. Maybe, just maybe, she’d want a pink stripey round cushion to take home with her. Here’s hoping.)

Alta’s infinity scarf

27 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Pattern, Ta-daah!

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crochet, crochet pattern, free pattern, myPicot, yarn

Do you remember the Infinity Scarf I made for my friend Helmien? I blogged about it here.

Well, Sunday evening I finished the third infinity scarf. This one is for Helmien’s friend, Alta. I’ve met Alta twice and she’s just a lovely as Helmien. Obviously with the same good taste 😉

Helmien tells me that she and Alta went to a coffee shop the day after I gave Helmien her scarf. When Helmien got up to go to the ladies, a woman followed her to the ladies to ask her where she got her scarf because she wants one too! Lovely Helmien told her about my Etsy shop and told the woman (who is a South African, visiting her daughter here in England) to Google “crocheTime” if she wants to contact me. I haven’t heard from the lady (yet), but it’s still an amazing story don’t you think?!

Anyway, back to this scarf. Alta wanted a scarf purely in Drops Delight shade no. 15 because she loves red. I think the red really pops in this yarn. It doesn’t matter if you wear this scarf with a red or blue coat, your eye will always be drawn to the red – ideal for a red-lover like Alta.

As with my and Helmien’s scarfs I also used a My Picot pattern. This one is pattern no. 2005. It’s the most intricate of the three I’ve used so far – not the type of pattern you can mindlessly hook whilst watching Desperate Housewives! I tried. I had to undo a couple of rows.

I used a total of five balls of yarn and a 3.5mm hook. Next time I think I will make the scarf a bit wider with this pattern, as it’s a very open and lacey which means it needs to be quite wide so that it will scrunch up better around your neck.

Don’t you just loooove this yarn? Even the most boring crochet pattern (which My Picot no. 2005 certainly wasn’t) will be a pleasure to hook because the numerous colour changes keep things interesting.

For now (i.e. until next Winter) I’m finished with infinity scarfs in Drops Delight. The next project awaits: a special order round cushion for my biggest supporter.

Applique to match

17 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by Natasja in Etsy, My ramblings, Other people's crochet, Pattern

≈ 11 Comments

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crochet, crochet applique, crochet pattern, Etsy

When I launched the pattern for my crochet wall clocks, I said that in stead of crocheted circles to indicate 12, 3, 6 and 9 you can use any applique motif, as long as the hands of your clock are able to move over it freely. To quote myself:

I’m thinking stars, hearts, cupcakes.

The Gods of Crochet must have been reading my blog and sent inspirational hooky vibes to the owner of OneandTwoCompany. This young nurse is selling applique crochet patterns in her Etsy shop, which include exactly that: the most beautiful stars, hearts and cupcakes! Can you believe it?!

She also sells patterns for whales and hedgehogs that would work well with my clocks. I’m especially loving the hedgehogs!

Can you see it? A white clock face with a brightly coloured whales or hedgehogs (or both!) on 3, 6, 9 and 12?! It would be sooooo cute!

Ooh, and what about this scene. Absolutely perfect*!

OneandTwoCompany sells many other applique patterns, but I think only the ones I mention here, would work on my clocks seeing as they are flat enough.

PLEASE NOTE: I have to point out that her finished items (apart from the hearts pattern) are a bit big for the standard size clock, so you would have to:

either keep going in pattern rounds for the clock face so that the clock is large enough to accommodate the applique; or
use a 4 ply yarn and smaller hook for the applique.

Even if you haven’t bought my clock pattern, I’m sure you will find something to decorate with OneTwoCompany’s cute applique. Hats, scarfs, blankets, towels, cushions – just about anything!

The patterns start from as little as $2.50 (roughly £1.62) so what are you waiting for? I certainly didn’t wait…. *I bought the cloud, tree & houses pattern. Not sure what I will be using it for yet, but inspiration will hit soon enough I’m sure.

Pattern stashing is like yarn stashing isn’t it? You know you love it, you know you have to buy it, and you know that you will (probably, eventually) find a use for it. Right?

Helmien’s infinity scarf

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Pattern, Ta-daah!

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crochet, crochet pattern, free pattern, myPicot, yarn

Helmien and I have known each other almost 20 years. We were in High School together in South Africa, went our different ways after High School and then in 2009 – 14 years later – I bumped into her at London Waterloo station. What’s the odds, and what a happy coincidence! We are obvioulsly meant to be in each other’s lives no matter where on earth we are.

It was for Helmien that I made the second infinity scarf. She saw mine last month and asked whether I would make her one as well. Of course I would!! I used the same brand of yarn, Garnstudio Drops Delight, but her scarf is in shade no. 15 (mine was shade no. 10). I used two balls of shade no. 10 that I had left over for Helmien’s scarf, because she really loved the bright greeny-blue shades. (By the way, until 29 February, Drops Delight is discounted by 25%. Just saying.)

I also followed a MyPicot Openwork and Lace pattern like I did for mine, but for Helmien’s infinity scarf I used pattern no. 2030. I can highly recommend the MyPicot patterns. Seriously. Give it a go.

Doesn’t she look beautiful?!

Here we are in our (almost matching) scarfs.

Love you, my friend!

Teacup crazy

09 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings, Pattern

≈ 3 Comments

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crochet, crochet pattern, free pattern, Lionbrand, teacup

You all loved the teacup and saucer that I found on Etsy yesterday so much, I thought I’d share another one with you: a teacup pincushion! It even has a little teabag peeking out. So cute!

It’s a bit more practical than yesterday’s teacup, but just as pretty.

Imagine crocheting it in a pastel colour and adding some flowery embroidery?! You can find the pattern here (you have to log into the Lionbrand website to access the pattern).

Anyone fancy a cuppa? Cucumber sandwich and scones maybe? Ooh, I’m off to the kitchen now for my favourite, English Breakfast with soy milk *little finger in the air*

Cufflettes

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, My ramblings, Pattern

≈ 1 Comment

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crochet, crochet pattern, free pattern, Mollie Makes, wrist warmer

Cufflettes. Say it slowly. Savour the sound. It sounds so deliciously French* and classy, doesn’t it?

But what am I going on about? Cufflettes? It’s the name of a pattern for, what is commonly known as, wrist warmers. Oh, cufflettes sound so much better don’t they?!

The pattern was designed by Kalurah and is available as a free download from Ravelry. Just click here.

I crocheted these cufflettes last winter (it only took a couple of hours) and had to get them out again this week. I wear them over my fleece gloves because the wrist section of the gloves are just not long enough – when temperatures reach 1 degree every little piece of exposed skin need to be covered!

I just love how these look peeking out under a sleeve, or worn just as they are. I, of course, jazzed them up a bit with mismatched buttons. I really do have a thing for buttons.

If you like wrist warmers, you will fall in love with the wrist warmers on the cover of Mollie Makes issue 10.

They scream vintage, lace and Victorian. Have a look on the Mollie Makes blog, here for more information.

*I’m currently reading “Madame Tussaud” by Michelle Moran which is set during the French Revolution. All the men in the book seem to be wearing coulettes (knee-breeches) so that may be why “cufflettes” has such a French ring to me. Cufflettes. Cufflettes. Ooh, I still love that word. It could so easily have been cuffextenders, or longcuffs, but no. It’s cufflettes. Beautiful!

Such a good Auntie

30 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, My ramblings, Pattern

≈ 1 Comment

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Baby Born clothes, crochet, crochet pattern, doll cloths, free pattern

My niece is nine years old and loves playing with her two Baby Born dolls. She also loves pink and apparently she very proudly tells everyone at school that her “auntie from London does crochet”. Sweeeet. At Christmas she received her second Baby Born, a boy, so she asked me to crochet a jacket for him. How could I say no? And how could I only make one?!

I found the perfect pattern here. The jackets whip up in a couple of hours and you can really go to town with the customisation… as I did. I adore buttons, so I used this as an opportunity to use as many as I could. Sticking to the same colour range, but using different designs. I think the mismatched buttons make these look extra playful and cheery, don’t you?

The pink scallop edge on this jacket are just shells consisting of 4dc, then you skip one sc, sc, skip one sc and then a shell of 4dc again and keep going.

I’d like to think of this one as having a sporty feel. Sort of.

The flowery button-hole on this short sleeve version is from Betty Barden’s book “Finishing Techniques for Crochet” (you can find a link to the book on the right of this page). I love this book and refer to it such a lot. It’s perfect for adding your own personal touch to a crochet piece.