I love my labels.

Tags

carelabels, clothinglabels, cowl, customlabels, hangtags, konoha no shawlette, label, labels, leave cowl, possumyarn, Shawl, shawlette, stocklabels, swingtags, wovenlabels

My latest projects that I recently finished and blocked, now sport the brand new labels from Dutch Label Shop.
The lovely people at Dutch Label Shop is now offering you all a 15% discount if you like my labels and want your own. Just use code littleblackdog15 when you check out. 👍🏻👍🏻

Brand new labels

Brand new labels

I think they are working very well for what I had in mind. I specially like the grey label that I can wrap around.

Brand new labels

Brand new labels

 

I’ve not used the Care Labels on these, as these knits are just for me.

I hope to knit for someone else soon so I can add the Care Labels to their item.

Thank you once again Dutch Label Shop for all your generosity. 💕💕💕

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Time is not standing still

Tags

baby alpaca yarn, cottonyarn, cowl, crescent shawl, frisenvang, fynbos, hand knitting, handdyed, handknitted, handmade, hartlam, lace scarf, lace shawl, lacecottonyarn, laceyarn, leave cowl, scarf, scarves, Shawl, stellarfibreworks, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

Time is definitely not standing still this year.  It is February already.  And a week into the month already.

It has also been a pretty crafty time so far.  I have received beautiful yarns, some in swaps, and some that I bought, and some from my stash that I caked and got ready to start knitting them.  🙂

Yarn Cakes

The dark blue yarns were some of the yarns that my son in law brought home last year.  It is from Frisenvang in Copenhagen, and they get all their yarns from alpaca breeders in Peru.  The yarn is hand spun and naturally dyed.  It is so very soft.

The seagreen yarn was from my swap buddy in December, in the #SAFestiveswap.  I loved the colour so much, I could not put it away, so it was caked rather.  I have a pattern ready for it too.

From my stash I took out these 3 pretty pink 100% Cotton Lace yarns dyed by Colourspun, that each is slightly different from the other.  They will knit a pretty fade from dark to light.

And since I could finally get my hands on the “Fynbos” colour from Hartlam Yarns, I ordered two skeins.  🙂  which I have caked too.  I am keeping my eyes open for a pattern for them.

 

The blue has already been cast on.  No surprise there, as I just love blue yarn, and I had been gifted a gorgeous scarf pattern by Marianne at Frisenvang, specially for this yarn.  It is a very dark yarn, so I can only knit mostly during the day.

That was then a good reason to cast on the pink cotton for a small crescent shawl with a pretty and very easy lace border.

New on my needles

My leaves cowl is just about done, just the ribbing and some blocking to complete this lovely project.  I really loved using this yarn, and since I have a bit left I may knit something extra with it.

Leaves Cowl Progress

Happy crafting all.

Off to a good start in 2018

Tags

bear, bears, cowl, hooded scarf, Mini Bears, miniature bear, new zealand yarn, possumyarn, scarf, scarves, Shawl, shawlette, triangular shawl, tunisian crochet

2018 is off to a good start, or so it seems at least when it comes to crafting and completing projects.

I am so happy with the way Old Blu turned out.  He is so cute, and reminds me a lot of a Russian bear.  He has a cousin Old Ned, that is red and green, that I will attempt next.

Old Blu Mini Bear

Since I had a relative amount of the grey lambswool left after completing my grey sweater, I decided to use it up and knitted a hooded scarf with it.  A quick and easy knit, and ready for blocking.

Hooded Scarf

January was a very peaceful month at the office, and I could sit and knit quietly in the gardens and enjoy the shade of the big trees and warm summer days. It was just perfect to finish this mini Shawl already.  It needs to be blocked, in order to open the leaves around the bottom edges.  I have knitted this before, and loved it.  Always a good pattern to knit again.

Shawlette

When I received yarn from my Stitching Santa buddy that she got while visiting New Zealand, I immediately loved it.  It was gorgeous grey and a dusty dark pink colour.  Not the usual blues I always seem to buy and love, and I loved that she opted for something different to send.  Of course, I could not put it away and kept it around.  Now that I finished these two projects, it was just the right time to cast on this pretty yarn.  I am starting a cowl for myself for the winter, which is still a few months away, and it will be ready well in time.

Green Leaves Cowl

Green Leaves Cowl

Something that I have been interested in learning and teaching myself is Tunisian Crochet.  Yes, after all these years, I have never learned this craft.  But it has been on my mind, and I had a book on my “list” of books I want to get.  I was very happy when my daughter gifted me the book, so I can get started.  This will be new to me, and I really look forward to giving it a go.

Tunisian Crochet Book

And so that is January already.  🙂  A good month indeed.

And Miekie says a happy hello to all as well, she is still enjoying being the spoiled little furry baby she is.

Miekie

 

 

 

 

 

So much time to craft!

Tags

100% merino, bear, bears, blanket, cowl, crochet blanket, crocheting, granny squares, granny squares blanket, greenteatipple, hand crochet, hand knitted, handmade, Handmade Bears, Knitting, mock cable cowl, scheepjes, Scheepjes Whirl, scheepjes yarn, Shawl, stormy day shawl, stormydayshawl, triangular shawl, turkish yarn

With winter recess and taking a break from work and the office, it is just amazing how much time you have to relax in the winter sun and enjoy the weather and craft.

I took my usual winter break, and was making the most of the weather, sunny days, and time to finish some projects.

After months of patiently waiting, Becky Bear finally got stitched.  All the parts are now sewn together, and I can put some stuffing into the parts and put her together.  The fur I was gifted by my sister, is lovely.  I am loving the look of Becky and am very happy with her.  She should be a happy little girl soon.  🙂

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

Becky Bear

My quick knit of a mock cabled cowl in 100% Turkish Wool and Scheepjes Secret Garden Yarn was really quick and easy to knit.  This stitch was one of my Mom’s favourites, and she used it often in her projects.  I knitted the cowl open, and added some pearly buttons.  This makes it more versatile and I can wear it in different ways. I even had enough yarn to include a pair of fingerless mittens.

Cabled Cowl

Cabled Cowl

Cabled Cowl

My pride of course is this Stormy Day Shawl.  I can not get enough of this colour, and the finished edge is rich and dark.  The Scheepjes Whirl yarn is stunning, and this is only one to the amazing colour combinations for this Shawl.  I used GreenTeaTipple.

Stormy Day Shawl

Stormy Day Shawl

Stormy Day Shawl

Stormy Day Shawl

And I have a small crochet project going, a smaller blanket for a small family member.  I have started on the granny squares, and are just keeping it plain and simple so she can have it for the winter to keep warm when out and about.

Another Blanket

Another Blanket

Another Blanket

And in preparation for the all to soon summer, I decided that these two little cloths needs a pretty edge to brighten my kitchen.

Crochet edges

Crochet edges

Crochet edges

Why I just love winter!!

Tags

3d art, canvas, canvas art, cowl, crochet, crocheting, greenteatipple, hand crochet, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, scheepjes, scheepjes yarn, secret garden, Shawl, stormy day shawl, stormydayshawl

Winter is my favourite time of the year.  It is that time of the year when its just a little to chilly to spend so much time outdoors.  And when it happens to be a long weekend, you really get around to all those creative projects that had been lingering for so long now.

This weekend I got around to working on these canvasses I had done about a year ago, if not even longer.  🙂  I have had various ideas, but none of them really took off.  Then finally I decided to add to the canvasses and make them slightly 3D.  I have been looking for interesting pieces to add, and so far, these are the ones I have accumulated.  I painted them is the same colours as the original canvas colours, and added them so long.  It is still a long way to go, as I will be looking for more pieces to add, but I am very happy with the content so far.

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

3D Canvas Art (In Progress)

 

My Stormy Day Shawl is looking good.  I have been working on it steadily, and have progressed into the various gradient changes.  This is an amazing pattern, and I love working on it.  It is the perfect name for a shawl for winter, as we have been having some pretty windy days here lately.

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

Stormy Day Shawl Progress

I ordered a ball of Scheepjes Secret Garden yarn a little while ago, and it has been calling to me since the day I received it.  So this weekend I broke down, and cast on an open cowl with some 100% Wool (Turkish) and my pretty Scheepjes.  I am using a mock cable / open eyelet pattern that was my Mom’s favourite stitch.  I love the way the stitches show up with the white yarn.  The Secret Garden yarn is amazing with it.  It is going so quickly, and this weekend I will get some buttons to add to the side for fastening.

New Cowl

New Cowl

New Cowl

 

 

 

 

 

Completed winter projects

Tags

alpaca, cowl, crochet, Handmake, Knitting, scarf, Shawl, swap goodies, swaps, winter, yarns

With the weather suddenly warming (literally overnight) to the late 20’s here in Johannesburg, I think I finished the warmer knitting just in time.

I finished knitting my grey Alpaca Wrap, and even got some cute labels and a tiny ceramic flower to add to it.

It turned out beautifully.  I may keep it around during Spring and Summer even, as we may just have a cool evening so such that I can drape it around me to snuggle up nice and cosy.

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

These two wrap scarves knitted up in a matter of days.  The yarn is amazingly soft and light.  If we have another chilly day or two, they will be perfect.

Wrap Scarf

Wrap Scarf

I also received a beautiful package all the way from Slovenia.  In the package was awesome treats and goodies, including very fine crocheted earrings.  So delicate.  I got Slovenian knitting yarn, and the finest crochet cotton I have seen in a very long time.  These I have to try, but I will be looking for a very special pattern.

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

Package Gifts and Goodies from Slovenia

The doily is already in use in my kitchen, it is perfect, and adds a gorgeous splash of summer sun and colour.

 

Knitting is happening

Tags

autumn, beanie, cowl, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, mittens, on my needles, speckled yarn, speckledyarn, winter, yarns

Knitting is definitely happening.

Finished a quick pair of speckled mittens for my daughter and another beanie for my son in law.

Beanie and Mittens

Mittens

Beanie

 

I dropped by my local Yarn Shop, and I just could not resist these.  They are nice and soft and a bit on the bulky side.

On my Needles

On my Needles

Of course, they seemed to have already found their way onto my needles.  I will probably be knitting more summery goodies soon, as the days here are already getting warmer, but for now I am quickly doing a few last warm winter goodies.

Happy crafting all.

It’s Winter

Tags

alpaca, beanie, cowl, daughter, foggy, glitter, handmade, Handmake, Johannesburg, knitpro zing, Knitting, lace yarn, manos, manosdeluruguay, misty, rowan kidsilk, rowan yarn, sparkle, speckledyarn, winter, winterwrap, Wrap, yarns

Winter has now arrived and settled in good and properly.  We have even had a few very cold and eerily foggy misty days.  I loved it.  This is definitely the most favourite time of the year for me.

These are just a little view of how it looked, the photos of the roads was in the afternoon going home, and the others were taken in the mornings when I arrived at my place of work.  And yes, we drive on the “other side” of the road for those who may have wondered.  🙂

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

Winter June 2016

 

It did then also mean lots of knitting and crafting.  I finished the dark grey cowl for my daughter.  She really got cute yarn, and the speckles in this dark one is even prettier and brighter than the previous one.

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

 

Of course, new WIP’s are on the needles as well.  I started another beanie for my son in law, in lovely warm Manos del Uruguay.  It is knitting up so fast.  And I started a wrap for myself.  This is Alpaca yarn from Turkey and I am absolutely loving it.

Rare Earth Beanie

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

Grey Alpaca Wrap

 

When I dropped in at my LYS during last week, they had Rowan Kidsilk available at a discounted price.  How awesome. I simply could not resist getting these dark jewel colours, each with a bit of sparkle of its own.  Then I also spoiled myself with some new KnitPro Zing needles, in the smaller sizes, ideal for lace and sock knitting.  They were a bit extensive compared to others, however I just know they will be worth the price.

If you are using these needles already, let me know what you thought of them.  🙂

Rowan Kidsilk Yarns

New Lace / Sock needles

 

Happy crafting all.