A mandala, a WIP & some Grannies

Hello,

In peace I come again :-)

I'm very pleased to see that this blog has had

over 2000 page views

*blush*

Thank you for your support.  It really does motivate me.

Although I've been 'on hook' a lot this week, there isn't much to show for it... just some Works in Progress and a mandala I made following Lucy's pattern.

I'll begin with the mandala.  I really do want to send one in for Yarndale, but it needs to be one that's ME.  The pattern, the colours, the style... I want my mandala to represent ME.  Am I being silly?

It's not very often that I can say this, but

I'm running low on stash *gasp* :-O

so the colours in this mandala really AREN'T me!  But I was itching to work on a mandala using Lucy's pattern and this is what I ended up with...

CrochetBTW:  2nd Mandala attempt

CrochetBTW Mandala 2

Besides the one side being a bit wonky (it set wrong when I steamed it), it's 1" too big, I'm afraid.  My tension obviously differs significantly from hers :-/

So, I dusted off my mandala woes and spent some time with my new Mood Blanket.

The colours really do up my mood :-)

This is how far I've come.

CrochetBTW Mood Blanket in progress

CrochetBTW Mood Blanket - Loving the colours!

It measures about 1.5 metres width-wise and it's coming along nicely.  I'm using a Ridged Ripple stitch pattern.  This simply means that I'm working in either the front loop only or the back loop only, keeping all the 'ridges' on one side of the blanket.

 

The ridges make the ripple pattern stand out.  I'm considering doing a weave stitch in and out of the ripples, as you see at the bottom of the picture.  I thought I'd do it in a contrasting colour, but I can't decide what colour to use!  The idea is to use the contrast colour in the edging, eventually.  So the colours need to 'get married'.  Your input would be most welcome :-)

~

On another note, I've wanted to do a Granny Square project for a while now, so I started making some three-round squares last night.  I'll tell you more about these in my next post.  Here a pic of them being blocked instead :-)

CrochetBTW Granny Squares

 And with that, I'll leave you.

Till next time, keep smiling :-)

Mandala-making (for Yarndale) - My 1st attempt

Hello there,

I think I have been bitten by the Mandala Bug!

1st Attempt Mandala by CrochetBTW

Well, I have it under control, for now, but there are no guarantees that it will not flare up again soon.

If you're wondering what I'm talking about

Making a mark

Hi there

My regular salutation of Peace is of special significance today since today is the day South Africans flock in their millions to vote for what they stand for.  Democracy is 20 years old this year.  That's something we are very proud of here in SA.

My little family and I made our way to the voting station, just up our road, at about 8am this morning.  Not even 15 minutes later, we were back home having breakfast :-)  What a wonderful feeling.  I made sure to take Little Man with me.  I explained what 'voting' means and why everyone who can should do it.  He was thrilled, especially since he also got a 'voting mark' on his thumb, just like his dad and me.  I also let him 'post' my vote into the ballot box.  He felt very involved and thanked me for it later.

To mark the occasion, I crocheted the South African flag freehand.  If you'd like the pattern, please do leave a comment.

 

 
 
 
 After breakfast, we were invited to N's aunt's house.  It was a lovely day for a swim so that's exactly what Little Man did.  Oh, the fun he had.  And I'm also quite pleased with the progress he's made in his swimming.  The lessons have really paid off! :-)

 

Aunty Zee (as I'll refer to her here) is a very crafty lady herself.  I've always known she was very into scrapbooking, but I was surprised at the amount of crochet and knit she's done in her time.  She showed off some works in progress and also some abandoned projects.  I offered to complete one of her projects to give to her mum to use as a lap blanket.  See the picture.  What luscious soft yarn.  I can't wait to get started.  I'll probably do a round of dc to edge it, with a picot to finish it off, maybe.  I'll keep you posted on the progress right here on my blog. 

 

The yarn to complete the project +  some extra for me :-)

 

 

To end...  I've been meaning to start a 'big project'... Something that I can work on at the beach, at the park, at home, in the car, while I'm catching up on my favourite Series (Suits & Elementary, FYI), in the waiting room... you get the picture.  Winter is nearly upon us, and a blankie in the car will be much needed... so a car blanket it is... or maybe a TV blanket to cuddle up with...  Hmmm, I'll just get it started while I decide.

 

I couldn't decide on a pattern.  But I wanted needed to get started on something to keep my sanity!  So I went with a ripple theme.  The colours will vary, the pattern will vary, there'll probably be a twist, I don't know yet.  But I'll keep you updated.  I'll call it my Mood Blanket.

 

Here's the start of it:

 



That's all for now.  Stay tuned for both the blanket updates.  If you don't want to miss out, follow my blog :-)  Lot's of options for that on the RIGHT.

Keep well.

Peace out.

 

P.S. Remember, when commenting, you can CHOOSE the profile you'd like to comment with.

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Sexy Pexy Coasters

Hello

 

I've just made this colourful coaster.  What do you think?

 

It would be a lovely gift for Mother's Day, wouldn't it?

 

 

 

Well, actually, it was meant to be 3 separate pentagonal Mug Rugs, but I didn't like the look of it.  So I joined up the pentagons using a kind of Blanket Stitch... and it's become a lovely coaster... or vase mat... or large mug rug... whatever :-)

 

It's a lovely project for using up scraps. That's just what I did.

 

 

Sexy Pentagons

You'll need 5  complimenting shades of yarn (A, B, C, D & E).

I used DK wool with a 4mm crochet hook. 

The pattern begins here:

With Colour A, ch 6 and join to form a ring.

(2tr, 2ch) x 4 into the ring.  Fasten off.

With Colour B, join into any 2ch space. (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into each 2ch space. Fasten off.

With Colour C, join into any 2ch space.  *(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) into 2ch space. 2tr into the space between the 2tr on previous round. 1 tr into each of next 2 sts.*  Repeat from *to* till the end.  Fasten off.

With Colour D, join into any 2ch space.  3dc into the space, 1 dc into each st.  Continue to end.  Fasten off.

 

Make 2 more pentagons with these colour sequences:

2.  DBAC

3.  BCDA

 

Joining crochet motifs using Blanket Stitch

1. With +- 2m of Colour E, thread a blunt needle.
2. Place 2 pentahons side by side, with right side facing.
3. Locate middle dc from any of the corner spaces.  Insert needle through both loops of that stitch and secure.
4. Working from the front, insert needle into that same stitch and out of the corresponding stitch of the 2nd pentagon, keeping the working thread BELOW the needle as it exits.  Pull slightly to complete.
5. Still working from the front, insert needle in next stitch of 1st pentagon and out of next stitch of 2nd pentagon, keeping working thread below needle as it exits.
6. Continue around the coaster, joining next pentagon when required.  You'll have to fasten off at some point and re-join to complete the unworked sections.

 

 

 

Like it?  Please share!



A tisket, a tasket... A Crochet Towel Basket

Crochet Towel Basket + Deramores Blog Awards

Hello lovely readers,

As usual, I wish the highest levels of peace and tranquillity upon you.

Today's share has a little tale behind it.  Last November, we took a little time off work / school and spent a few days in Ballito, a wonderfully beautiful coastal town about 40km north of Durban.  It was Little Man's very first holiday(!) and it was our first holiday away in about 5 years... Thus, we all totally deserved it!  My brother, whom you may have noticed I  utterly adore, had just done his exams so was also in need of some R&R, so along he came too.

While my little family was occupied with the thrill of having the most fabulous beach within walking distance of the holiday apartment, my brother, it seemed, was more occupied with the thrill of having a very tastefully-decorated bedroom!  A basket on a little table at the foot of the bed was what took his fancy.

Crochet Hounstooth Pattern

I'd like to share a Work in Progress today...

A few months ago, I began working on a crochet bag made entirely in the classic Hounstooth pattern.

I began by preparing a black rectangular base to the size I was comfy with (approximately 30cm x 15cm) and simply 'grew' the bag upwards by not increasing any more.  I then incorporated the Houndstooth stitch pattern (see below).

Although in hindsight I realise that preparing the base separately from the sides would have:

Littlest Crochet Pleasures

Hey there!

I've really been having fun in Blogland, learning lots of nifty things, finding lots of lovely blogs, meeting lots of Blogland people (Does virtually count?).

I'd like to thank each and every one of you, my dearest Readers, for taking the time to stop by here.  It really does mean the world to me.

When I started this blog, it was very much on a whim.  I just thought, "Oh this looks like fun... Let me try that out."  As I mentioned here, I tend to Google my way around.  I've visited many sites of my fellow bloggers, I've looked for ways to promote my blog, I've researched ways of getting search engines to notice me... Oh, was I in for a surprise?  There are LOTS of rules!  Rules about what to blog about (or what not to), how often to put up posts, how long a post should be, the kind of pictures to use / take, the kind of camera to use... the list goes on.  I almost became obsessed with 'traffic'.  Almost, because I caught myself just in time!  *phew*

Must Have: Fat Bag that Fits Everything

Just like the 'Little Black Dress' and the 'Favourite Black Pants', every girl needs a Fat Bag!  You know what I'm talking about... the bag that:
- Goes with most outfits
- Can be dressed up or down
- Fits everything a girl needs and more!

Well, this is my version of such a bag :-)

I got the pattern by altering/combining 3 Pierrot Yarn designs.  The original designs are available for free here, here and here from Ravelry.

Eccentric Bow Tie

Hello again!

I come in peace :-)

A few weeks ago we were invited to a wedding.  I love being invited to weddings, don't you?  As exciting as it was, I admit Little Man was more excited than me!  You see, sometimes he's not included in the invitation and that makes him really sad :'(

However, he WAS invited so we will focus on happier thoughts... like Dressing Up! :-)

Link Party

It's all very exciting!!

I've taken a plunge and leaped right into a part of Blogland I didn't even know existed before yesterday!

What am I on about?
It's called a LINK PARTY...

Today, I'm not going to keep you here much longer... I'm inviting you to the PARTY.

Head on over to http://tatertotsandjello.com/ and view the BLOG PARTY

Tata... I'm off to explore :-)