Winter is here ….

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bear, bears, blanket, crochet, crochet blanket, crocheting, handmade bear, Handmade Bears, Johannesburg, johannesburg mornings, johannesburg weather, Mini Bears, miniature bear, misty, vintage look bear, winter, winter is here

Winter is here,

Friday morning started off very cold, and very misty.  The mist burned off when the sun came out, but it remained a typical winters day here in Johannesburg.

Misty mornings

That of course, meant a cold and wintery weekend.  And lots of time for crafting.  🙂  Yay.

I finished the crochet blanket I was working on.  Miekie loved the idea and could not snuggle under it soon enough.  I used a very plain stitch and pattern and it went amazingly quick.  I love this yarn and colour, “woodpecker” colour says the label.  It works well and fast.

Woodpecker Blanket

Woodpecker Blanket

And Old Ned, the little green and red bear, also got done.  He turned out so cute, and the perfect little friend for Old Blu that I did a while back.  I really like the fur with the two colours.

Old Ned

Old Ned

It is a chilly Monday here and this morning was a mere 3 degrees C but it warmed up again to a nice winters day.

Happy crafting all.

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Just in time

Tags

beanie, Beanies, cables, Hats, Johannesburg, knitting cables, knitting hats, Pompoms, winter

Just a quick update.  🙂

I finished the cabled beanie for myself on the weekend.  And just in time.

I woke this morning to a very wet and chilly Johannesburg.

Cabled Beanie 1

Cabled Beanie 1

Cabled Beanie 1

Happy crafting to all, and those down south, winter is here, keep warm.  🙂

Lots of rain and crafty days

Tags

bag, carry all, cottonyarn, crescent shawl, handknitsocks, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Johannesburg, knitted bags, rain, rain africa, rains, rainy weather, Shawl, shawlette, socks

We are finally getting some much needed rain.  This was my commute into work.

city skyline

But it was a good time to finish my mini crescent shawl.  It turned out to pretty for words.  The yarn is a cotton yarn, and the drape is stunning.  It is lovely and soft and so easy to wear.

Finished mini shawl

And with the rainy days and a finished project, I had the perfect time to cast on some new projects.

On my needles is a carry all, knitted, with a fabric lining.  I got the fabric some time back, and it is just so cheerful.  I think it is just what my bag would need.

Carry all

And also socks for the Fall that is now settling in.  I dyed this yarn a long while ago, from Kool Aid.  I have four different colours, and am planning to knit socks for myself for winter with all the colours.

Winter socks on my needles

Happy crafting to all.  🙂

The Joy of Winter :)

Tags

Bee Eater, box project bag, box project bags, cables, celtic cable, cheerful, grey, handknit, handmade, Johannesburg, johannesburg mornings, johannesburg weather, Kingfisher, knit, Knitting, linda's treehouse, project bag, project bags, sheep, south african yarn, stash, Sunshine Grows, sweater, travel, wool, yarn, yarns, Yarnstash

I find winter in Johannesburg very pleasant and a joy.  It is not extremely cold, and the sun is pleasant and comforting.  I would not mind very much if we had our fair share of snow, since I do love snow.

But in Johannesburg we make the most of the pleasant winters days.  Like spending a glorious sunny cozy morning, having a cup of coffee and enjoying the stunning view of the country clubs’ lawns.  I bit dry in patches, which is to be expected in mid winter.

Winter Mornings in Johannesburg

I have been patiently knitting away at my grey sweater.  I have already reached the under the arm length, and have now cast on for the sleeves.  The progress is steady, and I am loving the way the cable insert is turning out.  I have no pattern for this, so I will need to look at the top construction as soon as the sleeves are long enough.

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

Grey Sweater Progress

And I spoiled myself with a little bit of happy mail.  Stunning bright, cheerful yarns from Linda’s Treehouse, in Kingfisher.  I chose Bee Eater and Sunshine Grows.  I think these would be great summer wear items.  🙂  Or winter, as they are so cheerful.

New Stash Yarn

My latest find in project  bags are these Box Project bags.  They are square and deep with a zipper.  If you open them all the way, you can fold the top back and they double as a portable fabric yarn bowl.  The cute sheepies print on these were just irresistible.  I got two sizes, one for sock size projects and one for shawl size projects.

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Box Project Bags

Rainy weekend.

Tags

chilly weather, cold weather, Johannesburg, johannesburg weather, jozi, rain, rainy weather, travel, winter, winter is here

It has been a rainy weekend here.  I spent the time hibernating and knitting.  It was excellent weather to stay indoors and craft and create.  Not good light though for taking many photos of my knitting, but the wrap is receiving lots of love and attention.  I have ordered yarn for a crochet project, and it should be arriving today.  Yay.

So this is how it started on Friday afternoon, the rain and cold winds rolled in just as I arrived at the stores for delicious weekend goodies and warm snacks.

Big storms rolling in.

And on Sunday I spend a large part of the day having a Mother’s Day breakfast and shopping with my daughter.  The weather turned icy cold just as we arrived and it then rained some more, after raining the whole of Saturday as well. We spend the time well, shopping for winter beanies and warmers.  Breakfast was delicious and warm, and included lots and lots of very good coffee.

The mall is stunning, and I can never get enough of the architecture and beauty of the design.

Still wet and chilly.

Cold and wet and grey out there.  It is definitely winter here now, and I am very happy with the colder weather. The trees are turning colour, and soon everything will be covered with a blanket of leaves.  I love this time of the year.

 

Great timing

Tags

blanket, crochet blanket, crocheting, granny squares, granny squares blanket, Johannesburg, Johannesburg sunset, love jozi, progress, stratus wrap, sunset, winter, winterwrap, wip, Wrap

Saturday morning dawned with with clouds and cooler weather.  But the end of the day surprised us with this stunning view.  The clouds reminded me of an oil painting.  This is the view from my kitchen, and I used no filters and no touch ups.

Sunset

My Granny Square blanket now has a border, and just in time for the more chilly weather that rolled in on Saturday.  Even though the days are still pretty awesome, and gets warm enough to get by with just a light sweater, the mornings and evenings are now chilly enough for something warmer.

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

And with that said, I am very happy with the progress on my Stratus Wrap.  It is going to be a nice big and warm wrap and I can already tell that it is going to be with me wherever I go this winter.

Stratus Wrap

Happy Crafting!

A quick update before a very long weekend. :)

Tags

blanket, crochet, crochet blanket, crocheting, granny squares, granny squares blanket, handknit, handknitted, handknitting, handmade, Johannesburg, Johannesburg sunset, knit, Knitting, love jozi, Shawl, stratus wrap, triangular, triangular shawl, Wrap

With the Easter weekend, I have been able to craft a bit on my WIPs’ and I am so happy with the Granny Square blanket that I am making.  The blanket squares have all been joined, and I am working on a border.  The border may take a bit longer, as I have decided to just keep going at it with the colours and wool I have for this project until I run out.

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

Granny Square Blanket

My Tanis Triangular Shawl is complete.  It blocked beautifully, and I would recommend this easy to knit shawl to anyone.  I am considering knitting a second one, and doing the large lace border, as I stopped after a short piece of the lace border, and although I love this shawl, I think another one is definitely a must knit.

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

Completed – Tanis Triangular Shawl

I also started on a Stratus Wrap for myself.  This is a great pattern, and it is so easy and knits up so fast.  I am able to take it with me, and during the Easter weekend my sister and I enjoyed a good lot of knitting while the men in the family tended to the fire and a typical South African braai.  It will probably become a bit to big to carry around for much longer, but I have yarn and ideas for the next projects ready as well.  I added a spot of colour to the stratus wrap, specially since our Johannesburg sunsets are just so beautiful and you can not resist the evenings and the fiery colours.

The Stratus Wrap

The Stratus Wrap

The Stratus Wrap

Johannesburg Sunsets

I am working on a small embroidery piece and unfortunately the grey rainy chilly weather on the weekend was not so good for getting good pictures, it was a good time to hibernate with tea and stitching.  I will hopefully be able to show my embroidery soon.

It is a very short week for me, only 2 working days and a day workshop (work not craft related) and then a 5 day weekend.  LOL.  Yes I am ready for the long weekend here, and have loads and loads of projects and ideas to keep me busy, regardless of what the weather is bringing this time of the year.  It has started to become cooler, and some trees have now started to turn colour and drop leaves.  It is beautiful and I am so happy to have Winter coming to visit.

Take care and enjoy the new week.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hobby X 2016 – Johannesburg

Tags

Air Alpaca, alpaca, bears, birdie, birdies, bowl, bowls, buttons, fabric, handmade, handmade bear, Handmake, handsewing, Hobby X 2016, Johannesburg, Katia, lace, miniature bear, oneofakind, owlie, printed fabric, ribbon, ribbons, sewing, yarns

It was with the usual excitement that I awaited this years first Hobby X.  The first one for the year is always held in Johannesburg, and I always look forward to going and having a good day out, meeting new suppliers, and seeing old friends and suppliers that comes up to Johannesburg to exhibit.

One of my favourite suppliers is Skapie, an online store.  I only see them once a year when they visit Johannesburg, and we catch up.  They have the most gorgeous Katia yarns, and this year was no exception.

I was introduced to oneofakindyarns.  Also available online. Gorgeous beauties.  I got these for me.  (there is more from oneofakind, and you will see them soon)  The colours and combinations were fascinating.

There were not many other yarn suppliers, but I did shop around, as I needed other things as well.  Fabric and ribbons were on my list, and these old school ones were perfect for me.  I got some really cute fabrics, for both myself and my daughter, and these pretty picture pieces are going to be very pretty items.  I am thinking the pretty doll fabric should be the inside of a project bag, never a dull day each time you open your WIP.

Since I cut my previous bear (Becky) I have not started with the sewing together of the pieces, as I did not really feel the fur was what I wanted her to look like.  So I indulged in a few new bears, and I adore these.  Wilbur is ready for cutting and sewing, with maybe a little modification here and there.

And then I got a few other pieces for the home.  Birdies to hang in the window and the cutest bowl with birdies to store my small scissors and goodies on my workdesk.