Ta-daaaah my tapestry crochet laptop sleeve

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in My crochet, Ta-daah!

Tags

Apple, crochet, laptop sleeve, tapestrycrochet

Have you ever tried tapestry crochet? I read about it for the first time in issue six of Simply Crochet magazine. Tapestry crochet is similar to regular crochet, except that one or more yarns are carried while another is crocheted. The finished pieces look woven instead of crocheted. I immediately fell in love with the graphic patterns you can create with only the use of only double crochet stitches and lots of colour. As much as I like lacy, feminine crochet patterns (see my lacy coasters) I’m even more drawn to strong, sharp, repetitive designs like stripes, chevrons, diamonds and simple polka dots. Tapestry crochet lends itself to exactly that type of design.

There are some amazing things made with tapestry crochet. I love the shoulder bag, but I was blown away by the tapestry crochet vase by the tapestry crochet artist Caroline Routh!

For a first time project, the Cozy Up tablet cover by Vicky Brown published in Simply Crochet issue six was ideal for me. There are only three colours and you just need to make a rectangle shape for the front, a simple back and then work the edges together. I struggled a bit with carrying the yarn and when to change colour, but luckily the American website www.tapestrycrochet.com has an excellent tutorial. The trick with changing colour in tapestry crochet is to think ahead, because you need to change to the new yarn colour while you still have two loops of the incomplete double crochet stitch on your hook. It doesn’t take very long to get used to working this way but at the beginning the brain juices were almost boiling – tapestry crochet made a nice challenging change from crocheting granny squares.

The nitty-gritty of my laptop sleeve:

Pattern: Cozy Up table cover by Vicky Brown published in Simply Crochet magazine issue 6 (May 2013)

Yarn: Vinnis Nikkim cotton DK in Avocado, Lilac and Stone

Crochet hook: 3.5 mm

Modifications: I adjusted the size to fit my Macbook Pro and also added an envelope style flap to the back panel that folds over to the front. In stead of a solid colour back, I added stripes in Avocado and Lilac. I also didn’t use double crochet to join the two sides, but rather used overhand stitches to sew it together.

Front

Back

The envelope style flap was easy to make. I just decreased a stitch on both sides of 10 rows. Now ~~biscuit crumbs~~ dust can’t get into the ports at the side.

tapestry crochet laptop cover

Isn’t this apple button absolutely the best? I mean really? An apple button for an Apple Macbook! And it’s green! I can’t even remember where or when I got it, but I thank the gods of crochet for sending it to me.

I use my laptop sleeve every day to keep the Macbook snug & protected and to keep the laptop from scratching my Office Behind The Door table. No, I lie. The table doesn’t need protection from scratches – I just like looking at the apple button and I want to use my laptop sleeve as much as possible. It’s so pretty and I concentrated so hard to make those diamonds!

If you haven’t guessed, I worked on this blog post over the Easter weekend. Wonder what gave it away? 🙂

Blood doesn’t grow on trees

17 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in Yarnbombing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

#giveblood, blood dononation, charity, nhs

or maybe it does….

As part of their ongoing drive for more blood donors NHS Blood & Transplant enlisted an army of knitters to raise awareness of the need for new blood donors (around 200,000 new donors are required each year just to keep numbers stable).

The goal of the ‘Blood Doesn’t Grow on Trees’ campaign was to raise awareness of the issues surrounding blood donation by yarnbombing various locations around the UK with thousands of red, woollen blood drops. The organisers supplied knitting patterns for small, medium and large 3D and 2D blood drops which you can still download from their website here.

The campaign has been a real success. They were expecting around 700 blood drops to be knitted and received more than 8000! Have a look at the photos of hundreds of knitted blood drops adoring trees here. It really is something special. I love it when yarnbombing is used to raise awareness for a worthwhile cause!

Even though the campaign has now come to an end you can of course still register to be a blood donor. Find out more about donating blood here.

I wonder what NHS Blood and Transplant have planned for the next awareness campaign? Hopefully whatever it is will include some crochet patterns. If knitters made a whopping 8,000 blood drops for a yarnbomb, just think what impact a nationwide yarnbomb by knitters and crocheters will have! Whether the next campaign is knitting and/or crochet, I want to be part of it.

Terrific Tuesday

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in Terrific Tuesdays

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

faith, positive thinking, quote, trust

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

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

14 Ways to join your crochet

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

crochet, joining method

I found this great summary of the many ways to join crochet.

Monster Yarns

I’ve recently seen a lot of crochet blankets being worked on. I have also finished one a few days ago. As a result, I’ve been thinking of the best ways of joining crochet work.

After a little research, I was amazed to see how many different ways there are to do this. Choosing a method depends on the colour, design and effect you want to create. So here are 14 ways to join your work. Let me know if you can think of other methods. Click on the titles for a link to a tutorial.

Whipstitch – sew them together. Nice, flat and involves a needle.

“Zipper” Method – amazing flat crochet join which makes a feature out of your join.
Invisible Seam join – the opposite of the Zipper Method.
Unusual “Dude” Join – I’m not sure how to describe this but it is very pretty
Slip-stitch join –…

View original post 90 more words

Becoming bicraftual

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in Knitting, My knitting

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

knitting, Loveknitting

Ever heard of bicraftual? Probably not. It’s a word I invented to describe someone who crochet and knits. Bicraftual – she who partakes in two yarn crafts: crochet and knitting.

As of Sunday afternoon, I am bicraftual. I’m knitting a v-neck sweater for myself! I was looking at all the interesting things on the LoveKnitting.com website and this Stylecraft pattern caught my eye. It’s so totally my type of sweater. It’s loose, v-neck, not too flashy yet with a bit of detailing to make it interesting. The Stylecraft Stars yarn suggested for the pattern has the exact gauge as my Vinnis Nikkim so I didn’t even have to buy any yarn. I’m making my first knitted sweater in the beautiful soft avocado green. It really is very, very pretty.

At the moment I’m still doing the detailing at the bottom of the back panel and I’m really enjoying myself. Counting stitches, concentrating, yarn overs, ribbing – the stuff that keep things interesting. Once the detailing is done (just 18 rows to go) I have to tackle the hundreds of stocking stitch rows that make up the rest of the back. Memories of knitting a scarf and getting REALLY bored are coming back to me, but I’m refusing to let those memories dampen my spirit. This isn’t a scarf – it’s a beautiful soft cotton v-neck sweater that will be a staple item in my wardrobe.

Eye on the prize Natasja. Eye on the prize.

Terrific Tuesday

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Spring, wreath

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

Here’s a photo of the Spring wreath I made over the weekend with only three ingredients from Hobbycraft: rattan wreath, green striped cross grain ribbon and wooden flowers. Special mention goes to Dulux for the Hawain Blue gloss paint on our front door.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday!

Natasja

I want to crochet with Geep wool!

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in My ramblings

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

crochet, geep, Goat-Sheep, hybrid animal

A rare, hybrid animal that is part goat and part sheep has been born on a farm in the County Kildare, Ireland.

(If you can’t watch the video you can read about Geep, the Goat-Sheep in this BBC article.)

I can just picture this conversation in many a yarnaddict home:

“I’m off to the shops to buy geep wool.”

“Cheap wool?”

“No, geep wool.”

“Sheep wool?”

“No, geep wool.”

“You want to keep wool?”

“No, I want to buy geep wool!”

“Whatever.”

Happy And Gloomy coasters

03 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in Etsy, My crochet

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

crochet, crochet coasters, Easter

How are you all doing on this first Thursday of April 2014. It’s crazy to think that we are only a few weeks away from Easter isn’t it? Have you had a hot cross bun yet? Sneaked a little Creme Egg into your handbag? Crocheted something Easter themed? I’m planning on making an Easter wreath this weekend with the goodies I picked up at the Hobbycraft Easter press day. It will be my first time making a wreath and I’m very excited. I’ll do a quick blog post, and post a photo on my Facebook page, to show you what I did. I’m definitely thinking pompoms…

Today I just wanted to show you the three sets of lacy coasters that I made. These are the ones that I made by modifying my Lacy Coaster pattern last week (see my tale of woe and frustration here).

Looking at the photos, I’m really happy with how they turned out. Using a masculine grey for feminine lacy crochet really gives me a kick and I’m loving the gloomy grey contrasting with the bright yellow and pink, and looking stylish against the off-white. There’s just something about grey that I love. It’s a great neutral colour which makes anything else you put with it, “pop” yet it’s not as boring as black or dull like brown.

Navy would be my other Alternative Neutral. Oooh there’s an idea I need to explore! Just the other other day I read that navy has been hailed the new black for interiors and fashion. I may just have to whip up a coaster or two in navy with a colourful border, but for now, here are my Happy And Gloomy coasters.

Technically they are coasters, but I like to think of them as modern mini doilies too. They’re made using Vinnis Nikkim in Slate, Natural, Baby Pink and Sunshine Yellow. I only made one set of four coasters for each colour to sell in my Etsy shop. They’re available at £6 for a set of four, but I’ll be happy to make you one, or more than four.

I’ve just decided: I’ll make a navy and lime green coaster for me to use at work! That will surely liven up any desk and make tea drinking extra special!

Terrific Tuesday

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Natasja in Etsy, Other people's crochet, Terrific Tuesdays

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

crochet art, crochet jewellery

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

http://www.etsy.com/shop/otherworlds

I adore this hedgehog swinging from a tree crocheted pendant. It’s cute, crochet and a true work of art. It’s the work of Saffron Johns who lives in Bulgaria and sells her wire art in her Other Worlds Etsy shop. You should have a look at the other amazing pieces of crochet jewelery she makes. I love the Mouse Playing Trumpet double brooch and the Parrot Bird Cage pendant is truly amazing. You definitely wont be able to blend into the crowd when you wear these pieces of crochet art! And it’s sure to make you smile. Perfect for a Tuesday.

Wishing you all a Terrific Tuesday.

Natasja

Zigzag wrist warmers pattern

27 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by Natasja in Etsy, My crochet, Pattern

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

chevron, crochet, crochet pattern, fingerless gloves, wrist warmers, wristies

It’s officially Spring in the UK. The daffodils are out, pink and white blossoms can be seen on the shrubs, bright green new leaves are just about sprouting and ye, my hands were freezing on the walk home from the station last night. Of course I didn’t have any gloves with me – see the first sentence. What I need to carry with me for these in-between seasons is something to keep my hands warm yet not be a full-on woolen glove.

What oh what could that be? Oh, I know! The pair of zigzag wrist warmers that I crocheted on Saturday!

This pair.

crochet with fingerless gloves

See how great they are for getting on with things like crocheting and drinking coffee? My fingers can roam freely to do all manner of practical things, yet I ~~look~~ feel super funky while I’m doing it.

I’m a bit obsessed with chevrons lately. I’ve always loved stripes, so a pointy stripe is like striking gold. I love the ups and downs, the zigs and the zags.

Would you like to make a pair of chevron wrist warmers too? You’re in luck. Not only did I make myself a pair on Saturday I also wrote down the pattern and listed it in my Etsy shop! You can buy it for a mere £2.50. Just click on the photo below or on this link to go straight to the pattern. The pattern is downloadable as a .pdf file so you’ll get it straight away.

Just a word of warning. You may end up looking like you have broken your wrist when you try one your first wrist warmer. Don’t let the OnlyOneWristWarmerLook put you off off wristies. Once you’ve made the second one the look comes together beautifuly. Certainly don’t show your husband the first one and ask him how it looks because you will, I guarantee it, be the butt of a Michael Jackson joke.