tijdreizen op zolder

Een onverwachte vrije dag, en geen zonnetje te zien.  Wat ga je doen ?  Mmmmmmm  (denkt hard na) Misschien moet ik mijn zomerkleren en sandaaltjes van de zolder halen, en binnen handbereik zetten. Zou dat helpen om het zomergevoel te forceren ?

De zoldertrap open geklapt, en pffff.  Het is precies alsof de dozen zich vermenigvuldigen elk jaar.  Waar staan die sandalen toch ?   Eens kijken wat er zich voorbij de dozen met wol, het kerstgerief en oud servies nog verbergt.

jaargang 1977 - 1991 !

Hé, kijk hier, mijn oude Ariadnes !  Heerlijk, die handwerkboekjes.  Herinneringen ! en jeetje ook de oude phildar boeken.  Die dateren van uit de jaren 70 en 80, toen er vlakbij ons ouderlijk huis een phildar winkel was, en mijn moeder ons vaak liet breien of haken.  Ze vond dat een goede hobby voor haar 2 dochters.  Ach, die trui heb ik gemaakt, afgewerkt met leren lintjes.  Zoooo 80ies.
Nog wat verder graven.

en dan stoot je op 2 grote dozen vol zelfgemaakte babykleertjes.  1991 en 1993. De zonen zijn ondertussen allebei het huis uit, en stellen het wel.
Kijk hoe klein !  en die kleuren, OMG zo vreselijk.  Nu hou ik van naturel, en grijzen en blauwen.  toen duidelijk niet, hihi.

Mijn naaikunsten zijn toch een beetje verbeterd ondertussen.  Dat colletje zit niet helemaal zoals het hoort, maar ik had het toch mooi met de hand afgewerkt.  en kijk, de salopette is onderaan afgewerkt met dezelfde stof als het hemdje.  

Dit was ooit een cadeautje van een Spaanse mevrouw toen ik zwanger was.  Ze hebben het nooit gedragen, het was eerder voor een meisje, niet ?  Maar zo mooi, met al die kleine witte bloemetjes.

De olifanten trui was een gigantisch succes : Arnootje heeft het héél veel gedragen. 

het was een patroontje uit een oude Libelle

Ik kan me niet herinneren dat ze dit veel gedragen hebben.  Het heeft een erg hoog pierrot gehalte, nu ik het terug zie.  Bah. Smaken kunnen veranderen.

horror horror

Met al m'n restjes breide ik dit gileetje.  Dat hebben ze ook veel aangehad, want het paste bij elke broek. 

nog wat  verder graven, en kijk.  Ach.  ik zit in de jaren 60.  Dit katoenen jurkje heeft het al die jaren overleefd.  Ja, ik heb het zelf gedragen toen ik baby was.  Later mocht mijn pop, Suzy, het dragen. En nu hangt het fris gewassen aan de lijn te drogen.  Er is niets aan.  Dat was super kwaliteit toen !

het witte kantje en kraagje zijn nog stralend wit !

Nog een beetje verder graven.  Tiens, een blauwe deur ?  Das nieuw.  's kijken waar die naartoe leidt.  

crochet cats workshop

I was invited by a group of Femma-ladies for a workshop amigurumi's.
I suggested they'd make the crochet cat - and this is the gorgeous result !
It was a nice evening, thank you ladies !

Free pattern and photo tutorial are available on my blog.

blocking a crochet scarf

In Belgium we have a chain of stores called 'Veritas'.  They started out as a shop where you would by buttons, zippers and panty hoses.  My mum would often go there, back in the old days when everything was much simpler.

The veritas management had it's finger on the pulse of modern life, and the shops regularly had 'updates', they added jewelry and knitwear to the assortiment, bags and scarfs, even underwear and bikinis.

The latest change is making the shops a real experience for crafters.  You find the nicest cottons and wools (even rowan in some shops !), they give lots of workshops - even for the little ones.  One of their flagship stores is in Brugge, a town near where I live. 

 Every time I go to Brugge, I can't resist going to the new veritas.  So, last time I picked up a free pattern for a crochet scarf.  I choose a nice pale cotton, and set of to make it. 

A triangular scarf, starting at the bottom point : in the beginning the rows go quickly, and the scarf takes it shape. but those last rows, OMG, they are endless. I took this project with me on the train, in the car, to my work....

Nevertheless, I finished it in just over 4 weeks.  As it has a lace-effect and a lace border, it needed blocking.
So this is what I did :

old foam toys from the kids, put up in the correct shape

I put a big towel over it

spray water over the scarf to make it wet, and started pinning

take care you pin down every point

it's really a lot of work

finished !

I put it up against the wall for a couple of days, untill it's really dry.  Remove pins and there you have the scarf, perfectly blocked.

You can find more information on Veritas, and the free pattern here and here.
the pattern is in dutch, but the charts are very clear.
Good luck with it !

a crochet collar

a leftover of royal blue cotton turned into a trendy collar !

I really like this blue, and it turns a simple green t-shirt into a fashion item.

And it's really easy-peasy to make.  It takes only 5 rows.  The patterns is here : (in het nederlands tussen de haakjes lezen)  A pattern in symbols is at the bottom of this post. Scroll down.

cast on with cotton (I used a 3mm hook) as many chain stiches as the collar of your t-shirt is wide.
It should be a multiple of 4.   (zet zoveel steken op als de nek van je tshirt wijd is, zorg dat je een veelvoud van 4 hebt)

Now add 6 extra chains stiches, form a little loop (for the button) and close with a slipstich in the first chain of these 6.  (haak 6 extra steken voor de knooplus, maak de lus vast met een halve vaste in de eerste van de 6 extra steken)

the first row : make a half double crochet in each chain.   (In nederlands : halve stokjes, op het einde draai je het werk, 2 kettingsteken als eerste stokje van de 2e rij ) 

Turn. Make 2 chain stiches as your first double crochet.

the second row : the 2 chains count as the first double crochet.

*a double crochet, skip a stich, make a double crochet, 2 chain stiches, a double crochet in the next stich, skip a stich*  Repeat until the end of the tour, turn. 

Tweede rij : * stokje, sla een steek over, maak een stokje , 2 kettingsteken, een stokje in de volgende steek, sla een steek over *  herhaal van * tot *  tot het einde.

the third row :
start with * a double crochet. Make 2 double crochets, 2 chain stiches, 2 double crochets in the space between the double crochets of the previous row.*  Repeat  from * till * until the end of the row.

Derde rij : begin met * een stokje.  Maak 2 stokjes, 2 kettingsteken, 2 stokjes in de opening tussen de stokjes van de vorige rij.*  herhaal van * tot *

Fourth row : same as third row, but make 3 double crochets in stead of 2.
Vierde rij : zelfde als vorige toer, maar nu met 3 stokjes ipv 2.

Fifth row : in this last row you make the scalloped edge.  Start with a single crochet  above the double crochet of the previous row.  *Now make 8 double crochets in the space between the 3 double crochets. make a single crochet above the double crochet of the previous row.*    continu until the end.

vijfde rij : nu maak je de geschulpte rand.  Maak een vaste boven elk stokje, en maak 8 stokjes in de ruimte tussen de 3 stokjes.

I sewed the collar to my t-shirt, and added a little button.

Zet een knoopje aan, en maak het kraagje vast aan je tshirt.

This is the pattern : 

crochet necklace

Some time ago, I visited a craft shop run by a young woman.  She turned the shed of her house into a small store, with an abundance of choice - the place was stacked with beads, buttons, all kind of examples, quite close to  what I would call heaven. 

In black 'n white, quite artistic don't you think ? 

I bought several items, but somehow I never got around to actually making something with it.  Too busy knitting I suppose.  But now it was time for a challenge : I was asked by a group of ladies to show them how to crochet a necklace, using mainly buttons and beads.  This is the result :

So I got out my box with manly tools ( cutters, tongs in all shapes, cutting pliers and metal threads) and the stack of pearl and buttons I acquired over the years.  And there were the small beads and fine threads I bought at the shed - I forgot all about them !

silvery sewing thread and 100 swarofski beads

the picture doens't do them right, they sparkle a lot more

Well, It was so much fun, I couldn't stop making them. 

And this is how you can make them too : 

Make a selection of small beads, some buttons if you want, and chose a fine but strong thread.  You can use fine embroidery silk, or colourful cotton, DMC will do or cordonnet, even nylon thread (like fishermen use) or fine metal threads.  Use a very fine crochet hook, like a 1 or 1.50.

You start with putting a lot of beads on the thread you are going to use.  I put on at least 100 different beads.  Then you just start crocheting in chain stiches, and randomly add the beads.  Like chain 5 stiches, add a bead, chain 10 stiches, add a bead, chain 7 stiches, add 2 beads, etc.... until no beads are left on the thread.  Same with the buttons.

To add a bead : you just push the bead as close to your crochet hook as possible and chain on, it will be automatically fastened in your work.

this thread was on a spool, and was easy to use.

You will end up with a very long piece of crochet, and to avoid it messing all up, wind it around a little piece of cardboard (I use the inside rolls of my kitchen paper towels)

Then you have to make it into a wearable necklace or bracelet.  Use a technique for adding a little metal chain, or gather the long chain and twist it around so that the beads form a 'sausage' and add a clasp if necessary.

One of the ladies used nylon thread to crochet, and the result was very flexible, she could just put it around her head a few times and it was finished.

use your imagination ! 

granny squares bag for winter

My first granny squares bag was made in all bright and funky summer colours. 
But now, I prefer the more sober and soft autumn colors, just like the colors you see on the trees.

Last year I bought a couple of skeins from Drops, and I used them to make the grannies for this bag :

The wool changed into a variety of colours, so I just kept crocheting and the result was very harmonious. 

I cut some lining and sewed it in by hand.  The handles are old, I used them before.And I added the felted flower too.

It is a nice big soft bag - just what I wanted.

knitted toys - christian the lion

During summer, there are lots of garage sales and open air flea markets in my little part of the world. I like to walk around, finding old stuff thinking 'oh yes, my mum had one like those' or didn't granma have a vase like that ? Sometimes you find objects that are mysterious, and I love to listen to the explications and stories behind. 
I don't spend a lot of money, and enjoy a sunny afternoon among crazy stuff.  I had to promise my husband that I would not (NOT) buy any wool,  but he never mentionned knitted toys. When I come across knitted toys, preferably old ones that have been used, I find them irrisitable. 

So, when Karin (my bear making friend) asked me if I was interested in an old lion, only one reply was possible : Yes !  As I already have an old lion walking about the place, another one sure was welcome.

She offered me the most gorgeous knitted toy ever.  I've been looking at it for some days now, with a huge smile on my face.  The thing has a positive feel about it, it's soft, the colours are soooo 70ies, and I love the way his manes are crocheted around his head, and that long tail with a funny tassel.
I have named him Christian as a tribute to the real 'Christian the Lion'.

( If you don't know him, check out his story here on Youtube !)

more potholders

The weather isn't very nice today, so I stayed in and  had a go at a pattern I came accross in blogland to make a crochet mandala.  I turned the mandala into a potholder.

black goes well in my kitchen.

The pattern is wonderful : it's not just crochet for dummies, but it requires some thinking and it has some pretty 'weird-effect-stiches' incorporated.  And the result is therefore something to be proud of - it was challenging.

I used some leftover cotton, made 4 (because I want double potholders),  and I added a little loop so I could hang them on a hook.

A big thank you to Jeanet from 'Blij-dat-ik-brei' for inspiring me with all the great projects she finds in blogland, and also thanks to the original designer Barbara from Made-in-k-town for sharing the pattern !

these are Jeanet's work

the originals from Barbara with an excellent tutorial