A Little bit of Mohair knitting lately

Tags

crochet, duckies, Knitting, love jozi, mohair, mohair knitting, projects, purse, purses, rain, rains, scarf, scarves, Shawl, weather

I bought the most amazing mohair from Natural Yarns, and could not wait much longer to get started with some knitting projects on it.  It is so amazingly soft and light, you hardly feel it.

So I knitted a triangular shawl / scarf in a blue gray, for a colleague of mine, that is having her birthday next week.  We share the same office suites, and are so alike, it is lovely.

The brown and beige is my best colour to wear to the office, as it makes getting dressed just so much easier.  So this pretty scarf is just right for it.  It knitted up amazingly fast.  And with the rainy weather we have been having, it is actually perfect timing.

And then I crocheted my first ever purse and used these cute handles with the duckies for it.  I always thought it looks so complicated, but it was not at all.  It was a lovely project, went really quickly, and was very easy.  I have more purse handles, and will be making more of these in the future.

And just in case you may be wondering about the weather here, this week had been a rainy and very wet week.  It rained most of last weekend, and it may still rain most of this weekend as well.  We are grateful for the rain, as we needed it so very much.

This was the city and the streets during the week.  Very damp, cloudy, foggy, low clouds hiding the buildings, and roads that flooded into little rivers at times. But we are still loving it.

 

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.

 

Got a lot done!

Tags

crochet, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace yarn, Little black Dog, scarf, Shawl, vintage, yarns

Here I am!  Back Again!

I had a little medical emergency that landed me in hospital for a week. And then another week at home resting up.  But I am all well and healthy and on the way to recovery.  I have DVT (Deep vein trombosis) and could not walk, but I’m back on my feet now and making very good progress.  I had a nice window and could see a little bit of garden outside.  The weather was cold and some days were cloudy.  I was very well looked after and the treats and snacks were just superb.

My view

My view

Treats

Of course my little doggie had to go and visit with my daughter and son in law, and she absolutely love being with them, but I did get the impression she was much happier keeping my legs warm when I returned home again.

Missing my Mommy

My Mommy is Home!!

I got a lot done, I must admit.  I knitted my daughter’s light grey speckled cowl, and cast on a dark grey speckled cowl as well.  And I started a beanie for my son in law.

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Light Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Dark Grey Speckled Cowl

Nic’s Beanie

Nic’s Beanie

I was able to finish the little tapestry I was working on.  I am thinking I want to make a project bag maybe, and have the tapestry as part of it.  I also blocked my lacy leaf shawl and vintage look doily, and the doily is already in use.

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Lacy Leaf Pattern Shawl

Tapestry Work

Vintage Look Crochet Doily

Of course I also had lots and lots of time to read, and I absolutely loved these 2 books that I had time to work through from beginning to end.

The Knitters Bible

Crochet 2

These are beautiful, and I intend using some of the new ideas and techniques in them that I found very interesting.  One always seem to learn something new somewhere in a day.

Happy crafting to you all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some finished items, a bit of progress and a new project

Tags

chunky, cowl, crochet, crochet doily, daughter, filet crochet, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace knitting, lace yarn, scarf, Shawl, tapestry, tapestry stitching, vintage, vintage crochet, winter

Finally I was able to finish the Leaf border shawl I was working on, and I also finished the Vintage Doily I was working on.  I want to crochet more, this is always such a fun time and one of the crafts I absolutely love.  They both still need to be blocked, but I will wait for a lovely warm sunny weekend firstly.

Leaf Border Shawl

Leaf Border Shawl

Leaf Border Shawl

Vintage Crochet Doily

Vintage Crochet Doily

Vintage Crochet Doily

My little tapestry with the Kitty on is nearly done as well.  Just a few more areas and then the white.  It gets dark earlier now, and I am really only able to work on this little one during the day when I am at home and its bright still.

Tapestry stitching

Tapestry stitching

And I am ready to cast on.  This is such a beautiful yarn.  Warm and chunky with a super cute colourful speckle in it.  It is a little something for my daughter, and it is going to be a super quick knit.

Grey Speckled Cowl

Grey Speckled Cowl

Grey Speckled Cowl

Back to Normal…….

Tags

autumn, bear, fall, fall sweater, handmade, handmade bear, Handmake, handsewing, knitted bags, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lace scarf, lace shawl, lace yarn, mohair, mohair knitting, project bag, project bags, Rowan summer tweed, scarf, sewing, Shawl, Summer Tweed

There is probably nothing quite like a bit of cooler weather and the promise of a change in the seasons to get me creative again.  It has been a great summer and I had a wonderful, long summer break.

But I find that things are slowly getting back to normal.  For me at least.  I am on a creative crafting roll, and have so much that I would like to start on.  But I have to keep myself at bay and set limits, to some extent at least.  I am slowly working on the blanket, although with my fingers itching for other projects, I have to wonder if it will be ready for winter.

I did finish off my Smocked Lace Scarf in Burgundy Mohair.  It is amazingly soft, and I look forward to wearing it in the coming winter.

Since my scarf is off my needles, I am starting a shawl.  I don’t have a set pattern for this, as I just have an idea of what I want it to look like in the end. I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one.

And I really think it is time for a bit of needlework and stitching.  This cute 30cm bear has been around for a while, and I finally cut the pieces.  Now for some sewing!  She is pretty easy and straightforward to make.

 

Two other knitting projects are also lurking in the shadows, and may just find their way onto my needles in no time.  The Rowan Summer Tweed is for a Fall top/sweater for when the days turn cooler, and the bulky yarn I have taken out to knit a project bag or carry all, slightly bigger in order to carry the bigger knit or crochet projects.  I will be on the lookout for a pretty piece of interesting fabric to use as a lining.

It’s February already!

Tags

blanket, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Knitting, lace, lace knitting, lycra, mohair, moss and diamond blanket, scarf, silverspun, socks, tweed yarn in Oatmeal, winter

Wow, it’s February already!  Where has January gone to?

I look at my calendar, and wonder where the month has gone.  Its been a pretty hot summer month, lots of sunshine and heatwaves.  With a little bit of rain, finally.

I did finish my daughters socks.  They turned out great, even if I have to say so myself.  This yarn is absolutely fantastic for socks, and with the bit of lycra in it, the stretch makes for the most perfect fit.  She wanted cabled socks, and I love knitting cables, so they have a little cable running up the outside of the sock.  They are soft and comfortable and I am sure will make for great winter comfort.

 

My Smocked Lace Scarf in burgundy mohair is nearing the end.  I have finished the middle section, and have started the last lace section.  Only a few more inches and pattern repeats and I can finish it off.  I love this yarn and colour, and look forward to wearing this scarf in the coming winter and showing it off.

And I did work a bit more on the blanket I am making for the winter.  It does not look very wide, but when stretched, its just fine.  I just want a small blanket to cover one up in the winter when relaxing on the sofa with a book or a movie.  I am thinking it needs a pretty border, and I know I have an old pattern (from my grandmother) somewhere that she always used to add to her knitted blankets.  I just may need to dig deep in my old patterns and goodies, or maybe there will even be a similar version out on the web.

It is a new year, welcome 2016!

Tags

baable hat, Books and gifts, crochet, daughter, handmade, Handmake, Happy Holidays, Hats, Knitting, lace knitting, Little black Dog, mohair, scarf, socks, speckled yarn, yarndye, yarns

It is 2016!  A New Year!  How quickly the holidays have gone.  Thankfully I had a good break and a typical warm and sunny Festive Season here in South Africa. The most exciting thing that happened was probably Miekie having to have some of her teeth out on New Years Eve.  She recovered super fine, and is enjoying all the attention and great food and treats.

I intended to just rest and do as little as possible, but that will never happen.  🙂  I can not sit idly and let my hands do “nothing”.

So I did do a bit of this and that.  I decided I need a little splash of soft colour for my home, and worked on these three canvases.  I did the basics and some background, but I am not done yet.  They still need a bit of finishing off.  I have some pretty bronze paint to still add to them.

Thanks to AndreSueKnits and her lovely podcasts, I got totally inspired to also dye “Speckled Yarn”.  She made it look so easy and I could not wait.  These are done using food colouring, and I had lots of fun, despite having “speckles” all over myself as well in the end.  🙂

I did knit and crochet during the holidays, but only on small projects that I could take with me while on vacation.  I had been wanting to make colourful and summery coasters for glasses or mugs, and decided on these.  I also knitted the Baable Hat (Pattern by Donna Smith) This is a super pattern that I knitted up so fast.  My daughter promptly asked for one as well, so I knitted another.

Currently I am still working on my winter blanket, but since we have been having a pretty warm summer with heatwave warnings, the knitting had been few.  I am working on a pair of socks in Silverspun yarn from the Feel Good Yarn Company. This yarn has the perfect name, and I know they will be perfect gifts.  (for my daughter again)

And I am knitting with super soft Mohair from Istanbul, that my LYS had stock off, making myself a Smocked Lace Scarf.  The pattern is by Veronik Avery and is featured in the book “Knitting 24/7” that I was gifted.

And that is how my year ended and the new one started.

I wish you all a Wonderful and Fantastic 2016!  May it be an Awesome Year for us all.

Happy Crafting!

Of Chicago Fire and Bronchitis

Tags

autumn, blue, colourful, colours, crochet, Knitting, project bag, scarf, yarn, yarns

Its been pretty quiet on the homefront here lately.  I caught a nasty case of Bronchitis, and was “ordered” to stay home and rest.

So to pass the days and get the rest I needed to get this nasty bug out of my system, I spent my time with the really cool gang of Chicago Fire.  I binge-watched the series, which is awesome, and I worked on some small projects that I could put down any time when I fell asleep, and just pick up again without much effort.  I crocheted a small colourful doily, and finished a small knitted project bag, that I lined with some pure linen.

I also had the time to finish my Autumn colours scarf, which I think turned out pretty neat.  It is a colour that I adore, and I can see myself wearing it very often during the winter months.  This colour reminds me a lot of the changing leaves during Autumn.  Just too pretty to not have around during the whole winter as well.

New on my Needles

Tags

autumn, buddy, cables, Knitting, on my needles, scarf, socks

It is time for the next socks on my needles.  I have started a pair of really dark deep purple socks for a swap.  These are a bit very dark, and I must admit I mostly knit them during daylight.

And to make up for when I cannot work on the socks, I have started a scarf in these stunning Autumn Colours, either to wear when its a bit cool and rainy here, or ready for wear next year in the colder winter months.

Looking forward to seeing how this yarn is going to knit up.  I am loving the colours it is producing already.