Japanese scarf Ta-daah!

06 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in My crochet, Ta-daah!

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Raise your chopsticks crocheters, my first crochet item from a Japanese pattern is done!

I  know it’s only a scarf and that once you get the motif under the belt, it’s just a case of repeating it a hundred times – literally, so it’s probably not the fanciest, most intricate piece of Japanese crochet, but still. I’m proud of it and I think my friend will like it too.

I’ve shown you the halfway mark and some sneak peak photos but this photo really shows off the intricate lacyness to its best (hanging from a hanger, hooked onto the Ikea floor lamp. As you do.)

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Doesn’t the scarf look great with the coat (hanging from the neighbour’s fence. As you do.)?

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I just love a scarf that can throw shadows on your coat! To get the scarf this open and fine, you absolutely have to, have to, have to block your work. Have a look at my halfway mark blogpost and you’ll see how the scarf looked before blocking. For this scarf, blocking isn’t optional, it’s essential.

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The magic of this scarf and yarn combo is that eventhough it’s super light, open and lacy it’s still nice and warm as a scarf should be. And there’s so much going on! Every motif is different. 

I think the variegated yarn really works extremely well with this scarf. The scarf in the book was done in navy and it looks great, but I think variegated yarn looks better. On the other hand, it might be that I’m just biased seeing as I really can’t imagine enjoying crocheting 100 navy motifs, but 100 uniquely different motifs, that I could do.

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The nitty gritty of the Japanese scarf:

  • Pattern: Pattern no. 17 from Ondori Motif Crochet – Japanese cloth, sold as an e-book on Etsy.
  • Yarn: 4-ply variegated sock yarn by Garnstudio, called Fabel in shade 911p
  • Hook: 4 mm
  • Modifications made: The pattern calls for 6 rows of 20 motifs each, but I only did 5 rows.

I hope I’ve inspired you to also try your hook at Japanese patterns. It really isn’t that difficult. Honestly. If I can do it, anyone can! (If you need a couple of pointers, I give links to helpful websites towards the end of this blogpost.)

Konichi wa hookers!

Terrific Tuesday

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by in My crochet, Terrific Tuesdays

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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

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Today’s photo is sneak peak of the finished Japanese scarf.

Today is also my amazing husband John’s birthday (I’m not just saying he’s amazing, he really is. Have a read on this blog and you’ll see why) so it really is a terrific Tuesday.

I hope you have a super duper Tuesday!

Hooky regards

Natasja
(P.S. The full ta-daah post for the Japanese scarf will follow soon.)

The Lionheart Project

29 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by 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?

The Making Spot crochet along

27 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by in CAL, My crochet, Ta-daah!

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Are you taking part in The Making Spot crochet along? I’m so taking part, I’m done! Over the Bank Holiday weekend I finished the bracelet and I really, really, really like it. Thank you to The Making Spot for introducing me to tiny crochet hooks and crochet thread!

The nitty gritty of my bracelet:

  • The bracelet design I chose from the four given in the pattern, is Bracelet with Crocheted Balls. You can find the pattern on the Coats Crafts UK website here. 
  • I used Aida 10 crochet thread in silver grey and a 1.5 mm crochet hook
  • In the end I didn’t use the monofilament thread and diamante clasp you can see in this post, but went for my first choice of 3 mm silver ribbon to thread the balls and glass beads.

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Not only is The Making Spot hosting the crochet along, you can also take part in The Big Flower Swap:

If you’re not content with sharing a photo of your finished crochet online, why not send it into us here at Crochet Along HQ? We’ll send you someone else’s flower so you will receive some pretty petals in the post! Before the swap ends and we post back your blooms, we’ll photograph everyone’s flowers in a DIY Crochet Flower garden.

To join in the Big Flower Swap: crochet one or several flowers from the free pattern, and post them (along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope) to: Crochet Along, The Making Spot, Future Publishing, Bath BA1 2BW, England.

I made the big flower from the necklace pattern and posted it this morning.  It would be great if one of my blog readers receive my flower, and even greater if I receive one of your flowers!

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So here is my bracelet for the crochet along, and flower for The Big Flower Swap.  It’s been an education working with crochet thread and a small hook, and I love it!  (I loved it so much I already have a plan to crochet rosebud earrings to match my bracelet. )

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The crochet along runs until the 28th of September, so you still have loads of time to crochet a bracelet and/or necklace and flower(s) for the swap.

One CAL done, another one to start: The theme for Rachell’s crochet along (working our way through Jan Eaton’s 200 Crochet Blocks book) has been decided on: Cottage Garden.  I’m so happy! My stash is filled with cottage garden shades! Starting 1 September we are making block no. 1 and no. 2 from the book. All the information about this CAL is on Rachell’s blog.

So many things to get my hooks into! Love it!

A crochet bracelet in the making

24 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by in CAL, My crochet

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I’m taking part in The Making Spot’s crochet along. Have you heard about it? It sounds like so much fun. Read all about it on their blog, here.

I’m making the crochet ball bracelet. As you can see, I have everything I need, plus a bit more (more beads than I will need and a ribbon + monofilament option for stringing the balls & beads). For creative juices to flow I need to give myself options. Too much of a good thing is, on my blog at least, a very good thing.

Did you see how tiny that 1.5 mm hook is?!!! A bit daunting but hey-ho, it’s good to hook outside your comfort zone now and then. I can’t hook everything with my favourite 4 mm hook. Or can I….. if I like the bracelet I may just make another one in DK and my 4 mm hook.

Geez I haven’t even put hook to thread yet on this one and already I’m planning the next! Steady now *said in a Churchill dog voice*

Venturing into Japanese crochet

16 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by in My crochet, My ramblings

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Yesterday I posted a picture of a scarf I’m working on for friend. I’m really loving this scarf and it’s my first project from a Japanese pattern. Japanese, people! A language I don’t speak, can’t read or understand. It’s pure magic that I can create a scarf from an unreadable pattern!

It all started when I fell in love with a crochet e-book that Cornel of Craftshare shared on her Facebook page. The Facebook page she shared, had an album of all the beautiful patterns available in the e-book, but no charts, and only a link to a dodgy download website. This is the cover, and two of the projects in the book. Can you see why I fell in love with it?!

Source: etsy.com via Natasja on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Natasja on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Natasja on Pinterest

Stunning isn’t it?

Thanks to Google I found Craftebook on Etsy which sells this pattern e-book for only $5 (Zycee emails you the whole book in PDF)!!!! Zycee calls the book Ondori crochet motif: Japanese cloth. I also found the hardcover book available on Amazon here in case you prefer real pages and something to put on the shelf.

I have my eye on a beautiful pullover that I just HAVE to make, but for now I’m doing Scarf #17.

The scarf consists of 6 rows of 18 motifs per row – you can see the motif at the top left corner of the picture –  that you join as you go. It’s a nice and easy way to ease myself in to Japanese crochet patterns and reading crochet diagrams. The yarn I’m using is a 4-ply variegated sock yarn by Garnstudio, called Fabel in shade 911, with a 4mm crochet hook.

So far so good and I’m enjoying my venture into Japanese crochet. It’s not as difficult as I thought it would be. If you can read crochet diagrams, you’re good to go for Japanese crochet patterns. The iPhone app I blogged about here, was a great help. Alternatively you can use this very handy guide on how to read crochet diagrams from MyPicot and this for a list of all the crochet diagram terms for UK and US.

Have you ever crocheted something from a Japanese pattern? I’d love to hear from you if you have.