Weekend reading

I had a very good mail week last week. Some knitting books, which have me very excited to start on my first knitting project.  I also found a copy of Marie Claire Idees at my local newsagent. I used to have a subscription to this magazine but let it lapse, so was very pleased to find a copy, even if it is a few months since the magazine was released.  A sneak peek inside?

Lovely yellows

A crochet inspired doily wall in strong simple colours

The sweetest birdy projects for a new bub

My creative space

I have been eyeing vintage stripe crochet for some time. I finally gave in and decided I would make a cushion cover to match my circle in the square cushion I made over the summer. I am using a super soft Pickles merino in very bright colours, lovely yarn to work with. The stripes grow quickly, instant crochet gratification!

More creative spaces here.
More vintage stripe inspiration here. 

Colour on a grey day

It is a grey day outside, perfect for crochet, knitting and cups of tea. Not quite what I was doing today, but I did manage to walk in the rain to pick up lovely soy chai latte with honey during my lunch break. The greyness of the day meant I couldn't take any photos of what came in the mail or what I have been creating.  So instead I thought I would share some of the colourful images that have been inspiring me.


1. 2 pillows done this week :), 2. the sfgirlbybay home office., 3. small project, 4. Vertical Stripe Blanket, 5. Colourful Granny Squares, 6. how quickly does your stash grow?...

I find I can spend hours on flickr or reading blogs and am increasingly spending more time on ravelry. These are all such wonderful sources of inspiration, I am constantly being inspired to start new projects. I think I may have about 5 or 6 different ones in process at the moment, which means this blog can be a bit scattered jumping form one idea to the next.  However, I also find the more time I spend being inspired by what I see,  I am having less away from the computer time. I think I need to start finding a balance.

Planning

After an early morning yoga class, I had most of today with nothing planned. It is the first of many Friday's at home and it felt a little bit odd after the rush of a working week to not be at work or with a list of things to do. I was very studious and completed all the boring houseworky, bill paying type things and then had a day of listening to podcasts and crocheting. Later this afternoon I even returned to my big blanket and finished weaving ends on the little granny squares.

 I then started on a bit of a planning. I hadn't planned the rest of the blanket at all, but I was a bit worried I may end up with not a good balance. So I cleared the floor to make a big enough space, laid out big blanket and started.

Moving squares from one row to the next until I thought the colours looked balanced - not too many reds in one corner and not too many blues somewhere else. Now the squares are back by the now dark  window in coloured rows, ready.

My creative space

The start of two crochet pieces. A rainbow of baby wool granny squares growing in numbers. The most lovely silk thread being turned into a fine mesh. I wonder what they could be?

More creative spaces here

Crocheted necklace

The weekend went past in a blur and now it is already Tuesday. I enjoyed a delicious Greek meal with friends as planned and managed to fit in some crochet amongst less creative but essential activities of addressing save the date cards and car shopping (no I didn't bring my crochet and thankfully there was far less waiting than imagined).

Following on from the green crocheted necklace I shared last week I decided to make something similar but more colourful. Same concept of simple crocheted rounds on the one chain but a totally different result!

I couldn't quite conceive how to make all of the different coloured circles and seamlessly join them together on a simple chain, hence the cream border around each circle.The border seems to frame each circle giving each one a more 3d effect I was quite pleased with the finished product and have few tweaks to make for next time. Perhaps a different yarn, flatter or different sized circles?

I think this will make a nice colourful necklace to brighten up my winter wardrobe.  And for super quick crafting satisfaction I whipped up a 5 minute primary coloured necklace - a silk crochet chain and 3 wool felt balls. Instant crafting!

Blog birthday

Today is my little blog's first birthday. How quickly the time goes! It has been one crazy big year - a new house, an engagement and a new job. It has been so nice throughout all these big life events to have this small space to come to during this time. A place to record (and share) things I have made as well as what inspires me. There is a lot of colour, a lot of crochet and granny squares when I look back at what I have made in the past year.



It has also been so nice to be able to meet so many new people around the world. I never expected to be able to meet so many people who also crochet and appreciate similar simple but exciting things in the everyday. 

I am spending the weekend addressing save the date cards, going along to find a new or old car (do you think it is too embarrassing for the boy if I take my crochet along? ) and feasting on delicious Greek food. Wishing you all a happy weekend, whatever you may be doing.

Crocheting Japanese Style: knot

Following on from the fabric necklace I made over the weekend I have been making other jewelery, simple necklaces with felt balls as well as crocheted jewelery. Last year when I was in NY I visited kinokuniya and treated myself to a few new books. One of which was a beautiful book Thread Crochet Plants by knot. The book is all about creating the most beautiful, simple and nature inspired jewelery. It is a another wonderfully presented and inspiring Japanese crochet book.

The basis of the book is a series of simple shapes, which are combined and interwoven in each design. The round bead motif becomes a ring, earrings and a simple tie.  Mesh crochet becomes a bracelet and a necklace. Aren't the pieces beautiful? And the photography! Such inspiring images, a glimpse into another world... Such wonderful ideas.

The first item I have made from the ideas in this book was a simple chain of crocheted circles and chains. I chose a vibrant green DMC cotton.

I haven't blocked or starched the chain as I quite like how some of the circle edges curl whilst others sit nice and flat. I made it long enough to be a very long necklace or to be worn as a few strands or a bracelet wrapped many times around my wrist. I have already started on my next necklace and am on the lookout for some of the clasps and other brassy pieces that are featured in the designs. Any hints for where to look?

Something finished

My home desk is one of my creative spaces and where my computer sits, where bills get thrown, where crochet waits to be blocked and where there is a growing pile of incomplete sewing projects.

I like the idea of sewing. 

I love flipping through books and the idea of creating something as well as the choosing of fabric. I just struggle with the making. Mainly with the precision, which I don't find so relaxing after a day at work concentrating. So I end up with a pile of incomplete projects, often relatively easy to make things - which might just need an iron and a final step. 

Over the weekend I made some time and took out my machine. I finished a small floral clutch bag that had been waiting for a final seam and a snap. I also started and finished a necklace I had been planning on making for a very long time. 

Two simple strands one of big and one of small beads. Fresh, floral and wearable: a bit of spring as we head into winter.It was a rather quick and easy one to finish - perfect time enjoyment ratio for me! Now to start on the pile of fabrics cut for place mats, the other incomplete clutch bag, the semi remade t-shirt, the ribbon belt and... 

Super soft

The Stitches and Craft Show has been on in Melbourne the past few days. I squeezed in a quick visit to the show to check out the stalls and craft bars. I was immediately struck by how busy it was with some many different people of different ages, it was wonderful to see. One of my favourite parts of the show are the craft bars, where you have the chance to sit down and make a small project with the guidance of experienced crafters. I made a small pouch for jewellery using Liberty fabric at the sewing bar and then practiced knitting at the knitting and crochet bar. The knitting/ crochet bar wasn't too busy when I was there so I was also able to make a crochet flower.

The yarn used at the bar was a super super soft 100% merino by Pear Tree Yarn. Pear tree is an Australian company where everything is grown and processed in Australia. The yarn is so soft and in such lovely colours that I had to treat myself to a few skeins of 4 ply yarn. You can see the softness of the yarn in the photo, it just makes me want to touch it!

Even the shade cards are beautifully presented! 

and look at the range of colours! My flower was crocheted using damson, the first colour

It is always nice to discover a local growing company.

Summer Crochet

A couple of months back I ordered Rowan's new crochet magazine Summer Crochet.The projects are absolutely beautiful and wearable.

I love the effortless look of these projects I can see myself wearing them. I treated myself to some Rowan yarn and since then I have been a bit nervous about starting. I am not sure if it was the fact that I bought Rowan yarn (a bit of a luxury) or that it was the thought of crocheting clothes -  something completely new to me.

 So for about two months I kept returning to the book reading the patterns and  look at my lovely balls of Rowan cotton glace. And now it is Autumn and getting colder everyday and the chance of wearing something cotton is a far off thought! So this week I thought I should dive in and start on the Mykonos pattern.

I thought this pattern was a good choice as it was a bit more suitable for in between weather and I may actually get to wear it before winter arrives. Instead of using the cotton that the pattern calls for I have decided to use Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino which seems to be a similar weight yarn but a bit warmer than the cotton.

I was extra good and started with a gauge swatch and didn't notice a huge difference from the recommendations despite the change in yarn. So far I have completed a cuff and one of the main pattern repeats.

I have also been continuing to practice to my knit and purl stitches as I mentioned earlier in the week. I am getting a little bit neater and a little bit quicker and a little bit more addicted to knitting! I still have yet to make anything, there is so much knitting inspiration out there!

As the weather cools

I unfortunately ran out of yarn to finish my simple scarf. As the weather cools my mind is turning more to scarfs and shawls and other things that can be made of wool, alpaca and mohair.I have even been tempted to knit. Last night I sat with some left over wool and practiced purl and knit stitch over and over again. I find I am also flipping through my collection of scarf and shawl books and are constantly bookmarking patterns I see on other blogs and ravelry. One book I have been flipping through a bit is モチーフＢＯＯＫ (ぽかぽかニットこもの (vol.4)) (Motif Book Volume 4).



The book features many different scarf and shawl patterns as well as a few bags.



I made the scarf on the right last year in a mossy green mohair. It would be quite different in another type of yarn. I also quite like the small motifs on the scarf on the left it could be nice in a simple colour palette - like navy and cream.


In the mean time I will keep searching for a new scarf pattern (any suggestions?), practicing my knit and purl and working on a my bigger project which I will share soon!

It has been a bit colder in the mornings and evenings as I travel to and from work. So one evening earlier in the week I made a quick scarf from one of my new Japanese crochet books.

This scarf was super easy to make - it took just one night and not a lot of yarn. I used less than 100 grams of aran weight yarn. I will often buy yarn when it is on sale online and will usually buy a couple of balls of one colour which is perfect for a project like this. I used a Jo Sharp Silkroad aran tweed in a purpley shade for the scarf. When it was finished I decided it would be a wonderful Mother's Day gift, so started on another one for myself. I have had a skein of Mano Del Uruguay's yarn that I have been saving for the right project. I have worked on it a bit more since this photo and am now half way to a completed scarf!