New projects and Wips’

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blanket, bunny, crochet, crochet bag, crochet bags, crocheting, cross stitch, cross stitches, cross stitching, embroidery, floppy bunny, hand crochet, hand crocheted, hand stitched, handknitting, handmade, kitchen cloths, knitted blanket, knitted squares, pure cotton, stitches, Stitching

So it is already July and the middle of the year.

And with that, a lot of new small projects and new wip’s that have found their way onto my needles and hooks.

The blanket square pattern are now settled.  I am happy with the look of the pattern and will continue to knit these squares until I have used all the yarn and have enough squares for a blanket.  🙂  It is a large project that may take a bit, but in the end I will have a pretty big and cozy blanket.

Blanket squares

Then I started with some crochet.  🙂  I had been in the mood to crochet something, and small projects like these crocheted bags were just what I needed to feel very happy with taking out my hooks again.

I made a small cotton bag, and this local cotton works so well.  It is lovely and sturdy and feels good on your hands.

Crochet bag in blue

Crochet bag in blue

Crochet bag in blue

Then I also crocheted a bamboo bag.  I love bamboo yarn to crochet with, it is very smooth and easy to work with.  I added a pretty daisy that I got from a swap buddy last year.  It really adds to the bag, and makes it super cheerful.

Yellow crochet bag

Yellow crochet bag

Yellow crochet bag

Still working with cotton, I am making a small pile of cotton kitchen cloths.  This is the first one, with a few more to follow.

for the kitchen

And thanks to all the beautiful embroidery work of so many, I could no longer keep myself in check.  I have started a cross stitch project.  I am not sure yet if I will be framing it, or using it as a tea cloth or a centrepiece for something larger.  But I love the variegated floss I got and am working on this when the light is good.  (old eyes you know 🙂 )

a bit of embroidery

Also lurking in the background is this floppy bunny.  I have cut the white fur.  🙂  and had bits of white fur and fluff all over the table and workplace in the end.  I still have to cut the grey fur, which is about twice as much.  🙂  but am still working up the courage to cut into this fluffy fur again.  It is gorgeously soft and will sew up beautifully I think.

Fluffy floppy bunny

It is of course mid winter here in Johannesburg, so lots of time to relax and craft and enjoy a sunny cozy spot in the sun.

Happy crafting all.

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New Blanket in the making

Tags

blanket, hand knitting, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, knit, knitted, Knitting, knitting blanket, squares blanket

About a year ago, or maybe even longer, I was working on this blanket, but I was really not making much progress.  The pattern I was using was not easy to follow, and you had to concentrate and count mostly all the time.  I also attempted to knit the whole blanket all in one.

After a while of not getting anywhere with it, I frogged it and put the yarn to one side.  The intention to still make a blanket from it was still there.

So finally I have started this rather ambitious project again.  🙂 This time I will rather knit big squares, that I can work on any time, and hopefully over a period of time, I will knit all the yarn that I have set out for this.  Then I can just join it and have a blanket.

After a few attempts at working on a square that I would like, and would be able to pick up and put down, I think this one is the one that I really like and enjoy.

 

Blanket Square

 

 

 

Happy 2018!

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Happy2018, Thankyou

Wishing each and everyone a most wonderful 2018.  May it be a wonderful year, with lots of good times, friends, family and happy crafty days.

Thank you to everyone that made my 2017 such a lovely year, I look forward to spending the new year again with you all.

(the photo has taken during my recent trip to Tshukudu Game Lodge during the holidays.  The Cheetahs are 2 males, fairly friendly, will come to the lodge to enjoy the shade and cool off at the pool, but not tame, nor to be petted, as they hunt for themselves and are not fed at the Lodge.  This specific morning they had just hunted and taken down a Zebra, so they had eaten their fill, hence the big tummies and peaceful attitude.)

The Game Ranger was there with us too.  🙂

 

Finished items too

Tags

candle wicking, candlewicking, embroidery, hand knitted, hand knitting, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Knitting, lambswool, stitches, Stitching, sweater

And since it was raining, I had the perfect time to finish my grey lambswool sweater.  I knitted a type of collar for it, that is open on the side, with buttons and buttonholes.  So I can wear it open, or with a brooch, or buttoned up to keep the wind out.

Grey Lambswool Sweater

I am very happy with the way in turned out, and I look forward to the coming winter next year so I can wear it.

Grey Lambswool Sweater

Grey Lambswool Sweater

 

I finished the candlewicking a little while ago.  It turned out pretty neat.  I do think I want to try something a bit bigger now, the stitching and embroidery was so much fun and I enjoyed it so much.

Stitching Santa

Summer is stitching time

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bat bear, candle wicking, candlewicking, christmas elf, handmade, handsewing, handsewn, hope angel, Mini Bears, miniature bear, old ned, orchid, orchid flowers, orchids, summer, summer flowers

Summer here has gone into the low 30 degrees C already, and it is only November.  It is going to be a very hot summer.

This is my daughter’s orchid, happily growing at my house.  It is blooming beautifully.

Summer Orchid Blooms

Summer also means less knitting, and more time doing something else.  I have started working on my mini bears, and have begun to work on Old Blu.  When I saw the little Bat Bear, I was lost and loved the little critter.  I decided to get him, as I know once the kits have been sold, many are not redone for sale again.  So better to get the kit, even if I only get around to sewing him later.

When I visited the lovely Michelle at Honeydew Bears, she also had these pretty darlings.  Old Ned, which is beautiful, in green and red.  He is a cousin on Old Blu, and came to visit for the Holidays.  And no festive season is complete without a Christmas Elf.  🙂  The little Hope Angel, with the cutest little wings, is a limited edition for Breast cancer awareness.

Transferring the pattern onto the fabric for the little bit of old school Candlewicking did not take long at all. Now for a bit of french knots and colonial knots, with a bit of stitching here and there.

Candlewicking

Candlewicking

I am still working on my grey lambswool sweater.  All the knitting has been done, and it is off my needles.  Now to sew it together and add the neck details, which I think will be uncomplicated.  Keeping my fingers crossed to have something to show soon.

 

A lovely weekend.

Tags

bath salts, cables, cape town, celtic cable, fall sweater, grey sweater, konoha no shawlette, on my needles, project bags, rain africa, rock mint, seitz museum, Shawl, shawlette, sweater, sweater knitting, travelling cables, V & A Waterfront, zeitz

 

It has been a chilly cool weekend in Johannesburg, in the midst of our very hot Spring.  I did not mind the cooler weather much, as I put it to good use to work on my grey lambswool sweater.  It is starting to look like something.  The front is done, the back needs a few more rows and the sleeves needs final shaping.  I opted to not try and knit them all as one piece, as I have not knitted a sweater like that before, and the wool does not like being tinked or frogged.  So I stuck to what I know.  🙂

Grey Sweater progress

Grey sweater progress

And finally the Konoha no Shawlette got cast on.  I’ve knitted this pattern a few years back, and gifted the shawlette to a swap buddy at the time.  I have been wanting to knit it again.  It is a lovely pattern that is easy to knit and follow.

Konoha no Shawlette

My daughter and son in law were in Cape Town during the chilly weekend, and enjoyed lovely sunny weather.  They got around to visiting the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and the V & A Waterfront amongst others.  I got this absolutely delightful bag from the museum, just the right size to fit my shawlette project.  And it is even big enough to hold a pair of straight needles.  How amazing.

Zeith Musuem of Contemporary Art Africa

And of course, no visit is complete without a trip to Rain Africa on the V & A Waterfront.  This store is one of my favourites, specially when it comes to spoiling oneself.  They have a superb range of products, and I love the bath salts they have.  The fragrances and combinations are truly amazing.  I got a great selection from my daughter and son in law, and have already put the lovely pink one to good use.  It has an amazing fragrance.

 

 

Heading for Summer

Tags

bear, bears, candle wicking, candlewicking, crochet, dog, festival, grey sweater, hand crocheted, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, handsewing, international, international festival, Knitting, Little black Dog, love summer, Miekie, miniature bear, needle booklet, sewing, Stitching, summer, sweater, vintage look bear

October is coming to a close already.  How very quickly this Spring season has passed.  It is warm and sunny here in Johannesburg, and we had good rain on the weekend.

We were really fortunately to have stunning weather during the annual International Festival at work.  Each year we host a festival for all the students from outside South Africa that study here.  They then cook a meal from their country and share with us.  The food is amazing.  Each flag represents the students from that country.

International Festival

International Festival

With the warmer weather, I have been knitting a bit less on my grey sweater.  I did still get the sleeves long enough and am now ready to get to joining them all together.  Still not being able to just not be busy, I have knitted a few dishcloths, decided to  try my hand at making a small needle book, (it needed to have the corners starched to stay flat), and sorted my mini skeins into large jars.  Each jar got a crocheted doily for its lid.

Sweater progress

Needle booklet making

Needle booklet making

Needle Book

Bottle covers

Bottle covers

And since I am still in the mood to stitch, I cut out the next mini bear.  Old Blu is already cut and ready for stitching.

Old Blu Bear

Old Blu Bear

Something I have not done for a very long time, is “candlewicking”  It is a type of embroidery.  I have opted to use a bit of colour, in shades if blue, and not stick to the traditional unbleached creamy colours.

Some stitching ideas being planned

And of course, despite all the busy crafty hustle and bustle Miekie is just relaxing and enjoying the sunny mornings in my bed.  That look simply says it all.

Miekie

That time of the year! #stitchingsanta 2017 time!

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#stitchingsanta, stitching santa, stitching santa 2017, swap, swaps, swaps 2017, swaps2017

Looking at the calendar this morning, I realized that I have less than 8 weeks to work before I break for the Summer Holidays.  And I wondered where the year has gone!

But at the same time, it is #stitchingsanta time already too.

This is one of my most loved swap to do each year.

The very talented Sheila at Sewchet arranges this awesome swap.  As always I am looking forward to this years swap too.  I met the most interesting lady last year via the swap, and we have kept in contact since.

I can not wait to see my possible swap partner will be, I have already got a few possible ideas of goodies to make.  🙂

From Germany with Love!!

Tags

birgit freyer, die wolllust, laceyarn, scarf, scarfkit, schoppel, schoppeledition6, schoppellace, schoppellaceball, schoppelwolle, schoppelzauberball, Shawl, shawlkit, stole, stolekit, wolle, wool, Wrap, wrapkit, yarn, yarns, zauberball

Along with my Danish / Peruvian yarns, I decided that my second order would have to be with Birgit Freyer of Die Wollust in Berlin.

I have been wanting to try out Schoppel Wolle for some time.  Whenever I saw these beauties being knitted, I could not keep away from the beautiful shades and colours they had.

I choose very carefully.  I would have chosen way to many if I could. I got a selection of stunning colours, in Laceball, Edition6 and various Zauberball.

De Wollust Berlin Germany

But I wanted some of Birgit’s fine lace yarns too.  I spoiled myself with a very pretty sage silvery green lace yarn.  And a kit for a lace stole / scarf / shawl that is in the most beautiful colours.  I was gifted the pattern for the shawl, and it is so well written and easy to understand.

Thank you Martin and Birgit, for making shopping with you (even from very far away) such a lovely and warmhearted experience.

 

 

Peru to Copenhagen to Johannesburg

Tags

100% organic, alpaca, Alpaca Yarn, baby alpaca, baby alpaca yarn, einbeck, frisenvang, germany, handspun, natural, Peru, street art, streetart, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

That is the trip these pretty skeins of yarn took.

Frisenvang Copenhagen Denmark

I “met” Marianne of Frisenvang via the great wide web.  It all started when I started to follow Marianne’s journey to Peru on Instagram.  I loved learning about the alpacas and the breeders and the yarns that they produce.  All done naturally and sustainable.  It was absolutely amazing to see all the gorgeous pictures.

I wanted to order yarn, but was wary of getting a package with such precious goodies via the postal service, as I was worried it may get lost.  So when my son in law announced that he may be working in Europe this year for a bit, I quickly asked him if he would not mind bringing home a few skeins and balls.  He smiled and said yes, of course, knowing that he would be getting a hand knitted beanie or two for his effort.

I placed just two orders.  The first one was off course with Marianne of Frisenvang.  (I will tell you about the second order in a separate post)  Selecting just a few was extremely difficult.  Every skein looked prettier and softer than the other.  And the shades of brown that was available were just as stunning.  But in the end I settled for a blue and green order.

I placed the order and the payment was a breeze.  The yarns were packed and shipped within a day.  How super excited I was.  But I had to be patient.  The yarns went to Antwerp in Belgium, where my son in law got them.  Then they travelled to Germany (Hanover, Einbeck, Hamburg) with him where he was working and finally the took a long train ride to Amsterdam and a flight to Johannesburg.

They arrived safe and sound.  And I got a lovely postcard with the beloved alpacas, breeders and yarns.  I put the postcard up at my office.  And Marianne sent me a collection of samples too.  Oh so very tempting.  The browns and greys are so lovely.

Frisenvang Copenhagen Denmark

The texture of the yarns that I received is amazing.  They are super soft and has a wonderful feel between your fingers.  The blue yarn is slightly thinner and more delicate.  I have a pattern for a scarf that I got from Marianne a little while ago, that I may use for some of these.  But every pattern I look at now looks like it is just perfect for casting on with either of the two colours.

I will probably start something with them around Fall, as it is heading into summer here now and I am crocheting a bit more than knitting.

Frisenvang Copenhagen Denmark

And incase you are wondering what my son in law was up you 🙂   He was invited as a South African Street Artist (Graffitti) to Einbeck in Germany to partake in the StreetArtMeile.  The piece he did is 9,02m high and 4.9m wide. One storey off the ground. (3.78m)  Here he is in action, and the finished piece, super cute and colourful turquoise goldfishies and a big shark!  I am so very proud of him.