Project “Small and Cute” – Crochet Jellyfish

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet, Project Small and Cute

Tags

Amigurumi, Crochet Jellyfish, Jellyfish amigurumi

I’m thoroughly enjoying making small and cute! I didn’t really expect that. I assumed working large detailed projects would be the most satisfying. But I was wrong. Small and cute has its special magic too! Having said that, I’d seen a free jelly-fish toy pattern drifting around in the Pinterest Sea that was too damn cute to pass up. So make it, I did.

Pattern is by One Dog Woof and I love it. I want to make sooo many more. Maybe make my bed in them. Oh wait! What if something even more adorable washes up on my shore! I think I shall not make any hasty decisions on what makes my bed just yet. Besides, these could prove to be all lumpy if I lay on them. I shall simply wait and watch.

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Make It For Me – Day 2

14 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

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Tags

Make it for Me Projects, MIFM Day 2, Old-Fashioned Paperback Book Cover

“Make It For Me” is an initiative by Elk Studio that I am following.

Day 2 project is an Old-Fashioned Paperback Book Cover that I completed yesterday.

I decided to make this to cover my Bible that I have been using since ’96. I was 17 when I got it and it was gifted to me on my First Communion (I know! A bit too late to have one’s First Communion!). This Bible has been through a lot together with me and its paperback had tattered and disintegrated years ago making it a little floppy.

It did come with a separate cover, but a little boring one. So the moment I saw this book-cover pattern, I wanted to make another to shelter my old, precious Book and I think it’s turned out quite alright. It isn’t perfect, though I would’ve loved it to be.

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I’ve used just 1 skein of a rainbow colored thread yarn (Alize Silk Effect). I had been saving them for the “right” project and decided this was it. I used two threads together by combining the 2 ends of the skein and a 6 mm hook.

I had also deviated a bit from the original pattern for the strap closure. Mine looks terribly amateurish because I didn’t really think it through, I guess. I wasn’t too keen on the strap and thought my way was easier. But the way I made it doesn’t look too neat either. Good thing I’m not gifting it to anyone 🙂

At least this one is for me and is definitely going to see a lot of use! My 12 year old has asked to make one for her Bible too. She doesn’t really need it though, because hers is a hard-cover. But since she insists, I am going to see if I can do a better job with that (minus the closures).

Have a great weekend, all!

Make It For Me – Day 1

07 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

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Tags

Make it for Me Projects, MIFM Day 1, Snowy Mountain Beanie

I had mentioned in my New Year post about an event by Elk Studios (namely, Make it for Me Projects) that I decided to join in. You can read all about the event here.

Although it’s described to select any one project that catches your fancy out of the 31 projects and make it for yourself, I was thinking, why not try them all (like I have all the time in the world!!).

I will, most definitely, not be able to complete each project on a daily basis; but I shall at least attempt them as often as possible.

The pattern that was released on 1st January was the Snowy Mountain Beanie.

I’ve completed it, but realized very late into the rounds (towards the end, more like) that I should’ve checked my gauge (very important for this particular pattern) because, then, I would’ve used a bigger hook if this beanie were to fit my big head.

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So guess what! This hat fits my 3 yr old son perfectly. Not even my 12 year old. But it’s more like a girls’ beanie and I imagine he would look rather silly prancing around in a girly beanie, more so, in a shimmery one.

(The yarn is Nako Lame Fine and I used 2 strands together with a 6 mm hook).

snowy-mountain-2

So it looks like this beanie is going to go to my niece. Serves me right for not properly reading instructions. Not that I mind giving stuff to my nieces (for the record, I love them to bits!!), but these projects are meant for ME.

Oh well! There are 30 more patterns coming up this month (6 more are out already) and I’m sure I shall eventually make SOMETHING for myself that will be put to good use 🙂

READING CROCHET CHARTS!

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Crochet diagrams, Crochet Hearts

Oh Boy! I am so pleased to have made some progress on learning to read crochet diagrams! This was something I planned on doing last year, but never really got down to it.

I had been quite lost on what I wanted to take on as a new WIP now that my major projects are done with. Only Sophie remains and although she has been begging me to please, please take her out of her worn-out bag, complete her and make her shine, I just couldn’t do it.

I wanted to begin something new and I just did not know what to start with. Should I do small, cute and quick projects or large, time-consuming ones?? What a tough choice!

I finally decided on small, cute things and I came across a heart pattern on Pinterest by Anabelia. I loved ALL of her creations (a lot of them paid patterns) and just looking at them makes me happy! Really bright and cheerful.

She had a free diagram for her Crochet Heart pattern that I was determined to read and follow. And I did!

So its official now – I CAN READ CHARTS! Well.. the simple ones, at least.

Here’s how mine turned out (of course, its not as perfect as hers, but hey, I’m a first time crochet-diagram reader and they don’t look so bad, I think. The tassels are just something I included to make it a little quirky) –

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And its also the first time I’ve made them tassels. I think I need to practice some more. My 11 yr old has already put a claim to them and wants to give them to her best pals. She’s decided they’ll hook them on their bags as charms. In that case, I’ll need to pay a visit to the local craft stores to get the necessary hooks. Hoping they’re easy enough to find.

This has really been a boost of confidence and now that I’ve managed one chart, I think I shall take on the challenge of figuring out more. I like to think of it as an exercise for the mind.

Will be back with an update on further chart-reading and what I’ve made of them 🙂

Moogly CAL 2016 – The End

23 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

CAL, Crochet, Crochet Along, Crochet Blankets, Moogly CAL 2016

The Moogly CAL 2016 officially came to an end on the 24th of November when the final block was released. All that was left to do was to begin the joining process and add a border.

Mine is all done now and I’m so pleased with the way its turned out! I can’t believe I stuck to it and finished it before the year is up 🙂

I’ve used my favorite joining technique – The Flat Braid Join (considering that I’ve never tried any other method and only ever used this once before in my African Flower Square Baby Blanket, I’m really not sure how its a favorite. I mean, you decide on a favorite once you’ve tried a couple of things and then you choose one, isn’t it? Which I haven’t.) Maybe I just wanted to use something I was familiar with and get the whole thing completed as quickly as possible so I can move on.

For the border, I used the Treble Scallop Edging that I had listed in my post on Borders and Edgings that you can read here. I loved it! Dare I say, its a favorite 🙂 !

So now that one big project has been wrapped up, I can now focus on my Sophie and a bunch of other little things I’ve been really hoping to make.

My 11 year old has been getting a little creative as well with some random doodling and she made these –

I think the first one looks like a little gift paper and when I told her I’ll probably use it to gift-wrap something small, I was subjected to the death stare and some angry rants akin to “it will just be torn off and trashed! Is that REALLY what you want with my drawings???” . Made sense, I guess.

Next time I shall just keep my ideas to myself, ooh and aah over it and quietly sneak it off when its completely forgotten about. Nah! Easier said than done. I’m not sure if I’m evil enough to do that. Will see what I’m capable of if ever a desperate need arises 😀

So for now, it looks like its just going to be piled up and treasured with all the other things she’s drawn up in the past.

So that’s all for now, dear readers.

I wish you all the Most Merriest X’mas and Fun-filled Holidays!!

Patchwork Throw

05 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Crochet Afghans, Crochet Throws, Dare to be Square Afghans, Leisure Arts, Patchwork Throw

Its time to show off the throw that I had been working on for a while now. Although I had completed most of the work last month, only the borders had remained.

The pattern is from an e-book I had purchased earlier this year called “Dare to be Square Afghans e-book” by Leisure Arts. The reason I purchased it was because I liked the fact that the throws are all made in one big square and kind of saves me the trouble of making different blocks and the bother of joining them. I need only to carry this one single piece with me whenever I wish to crochet on the go and see it grow.

There are a total of 8 patterns in the book and 4 of them had caught my fancy.

The first one I attempted was the Patchwork Throw : throw-4

I used the same pattern to crochet a cushion cover too. It took me a good while to figure out the best way to go about it since I do not sew. The pattern has a lacy appearance; so I bought a solid-colored cushion cover with a zipper to serve as a lining. I first crocheted 2 panels as seen below (front and back), joined only 3 sides together with single crochets and shelled around them. The 4th side was where the zipper would be from the lining cushion cover underneath. So made single crochets on the top edges of the front and back panels of this side, shelled around both edges & fit buttons on one side of the shells. This way, after I slip the crocheted cover onto the lining cover, I button up into the shells on the other side. Did that make sense, dear readers?

I don’t really know if that was a good idea, but it worked. Cushion covers can be a bit tricky to crochet, can’t they? Especially if you do not know how to sew.

Front side of cushion

Back side

Next time I visit mum, I am going to get her to teach me some basic sewing with the machine (which I’m quite terrified of, honestly). Every time I think about learning to use a sewing machine, thoughts of my fingers getting stitched up instead of the fabric, kinda gives me the heebie-jeebies. But I know I have to face my fears if I want to progress.

Overall, I’m quite happy with the way they’ve turned out. Better than expected 🙂

What do you think?

Catching up!

13 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet, Family

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Tags

CAL, Crochet Along, Moogly CAL 2016

Hello, lovely people!

I hope you all have been well and enjoying life!

Its been an absolute eternity since my last post and I just thought I’d pop by and say hello.

Another month and we will soon be in a tizz over the X’mas festivities! I can already feel the joy bubbling up in my heart and I’m so looking forward to this beautiful season!

I’ve had a job change happening and I had been busy trying to wrap my mind around it. This is a first in my entire career while living in the same country. The first time I changed a job was when I left a country to move to this one 9 yrs ago! Trying to adjust to the changes and the new responsibilities is always quite a challenging task.

Which brings me again to why I’m so glad I took up crochet as a hobby! Cheers me up no end when I come home after a days work! Puts my mind at ease and I can always feel the tension ebb away.

And I’ve managed to catch up on a lot with my WIPs!

The Moogly CAL 2016 is in its final month and I think the last I posted about it was in June when I completed Block 12! My goodness! That really is a long time!

I have progressed pretty well with it and here are all the pictures of the rest of the blocks till Block 21 –

Block 13 – Southern Summertime Square

Block 14 – Wishing Well

Block 15 – Rising Sun

Block 16 – Joyful Afghan Square

Block 17 – Popcorn Lace

Block 18 – Lotus Flower Mandala

Block 19 – The Trail Square

Block 20 – Festival of Fall

Block 21 – Fans and Lace Square

Block 22 is a little tricky with some sewing involved and I think I will be using an alternate block instead. So that leaves just 2 more blocks this month and I’ll soon have a completed afghan to cozy in by December! Can’t wait!

My Sophie is still in its infancy. I have managed to complete only up to Part 7 and I had hoped to complete Part 8 before I post an update. Hope to get that sorted out before the year is up!

There was also a throw that I had been working on early in the year. And boy! Am I proud to say that its been done with and I’d even made a cushion cover to complement it! But that’s going to be for another post when I can really show it off 🙂

I did think of starting on some crocheted gifts for Christmas too, but decided I really did not want to take that road so late. I don’t think I can handle the stress of not completing them in time! So I’m gonna give it a miss this year. Sadly.

I bet you’re all done with your X’mas gifts, aren’t ya!

On the family front, my 2 year old quietly turned 3 earlier this month. We went for dinner to celebrate it. We even took him to a movie later that week 🙂 It was his first time to a theater and I laughed at the way he sat on his father’s lap, waiting solemnly for whatever it was that was going to take place. I forgot to click a picture, silly me! I always forget to take pictures of my children’s “first time” 😦 Once the lights dimmed and the movie started, he still maintained his silence. I kept glancing at him to see if he nodded off considering how late at night the show was. But he sat entranced the entire 3 hrs. Proved I needn’t worry about taking him to the movies next time 🙂

So that’s what’s been going on in my life so far!

Now to catch up on all your blogs..

Until next time..Take care, lovelies!

Block 12 – Moogly CAL 2016

25 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

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CAL, Crochet Along, English Garden Square, Moogly CAL 2016

I’ve been so hooked on my Sophie that I’ve missed to see the latest Moogly CAL 2016 blocks.

2 days ago I logged on to Ravelry and realized that 2 new blocks had already made its introductions. So, immediately got to work on the 1st block of this month which was released on the 9th of June.

The 12th block of the series is called English Garden by Pattern Paradise.

And this is my completed block –

I enjoyed making this one. It was easy and its got some interesting stitches. This block turned out a row or 2 larger than all the other blocks.

I will now have to take stock of all the blocks made so far and start making notes on the total number of stitches on the last row so I can slowly start working on some adjustments.

I really can’t wait to see how this blanket is going to turn out in the end 🙂

X-Stitch Summer Wrap – Complete

18 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Alize Diva Yarns, Alize Yarn, crochet summer shawl, X-Stitch Summer Wrap

Almost 2 weeks ago, I had posted a few of my favorite summer shawl patterns that you can read about here.

And, I have most definitely finished one of them 🙂 – The X-Stitch Summer Wrap by Pattern Paradise.

X-Stitch Summer Wrap

X-Stitch Shawl

My shawl came out a little slimmer because the yarn I used is a GORGEOUS micro-fiber yarn by Alize (range : Diva Silk Effect).

It is beautifully soft with a silky sheen and drapes well. Each ball is a 100 gm and I used 2 whole balls for the wrap. I had to add on rows for my project because it was turning out to be small length-wise. For the border, I used a solid Teal color of the same brand and only less than a quarter of the ball. Hook size used was a 5.5mm.

Of course, its not practical for me to use it in the summer here because it gets really, really hot (up to 58 degrees Celsius; although one time it got to 62!!).

But I am definitely wearing it in the winter because if I scrunch it up, it can be a really warm scarf, although the lacyness won’t be seen when worn thickly around my neck.

That’s alright, I guess. At least it will be put to use instead of being stashed away 🙂

I LOVE how the sunlight really make the colors pop!

I have 3 more varieties of the variegated yarn and solid colors that go with them.

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Can’t wait to figure out what to make with them!

But before that, I can now peacefully resume with my Sophie and I hope to get a few more parts completed real soon.

Crochet Borders and Edgings

11 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by Bessie V in Crochet

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Crochet Borders, Crochet Borders & Edgings, Crochet Edging

I love intricate borders and edgings on crocheted blankets, shawls, scarves and the like. Wherever an edging is possible, really. They give a nice finishing touch to the item and adds a certain flair to it. I feel that a project looks complete and neat only once that border comes on 🙂

Although “mypicot.com” has some really, really pretty patterns including borders, here are some I’ve come across that I liked a lot and will try to use whenever possible :