Mittens in Tunisian crochet

I wanted some patterning in my new mittens but without having to change colours. Here I have the same two yarns all the time, the design comes from alternating plain tunisian crochet and the honeycomb stitch. I made up the design while working.

I love wearing mittens in Tunisian crochet, they are so firm and warm. The yarn is Viking Ville and Gjestal Maija, 75% wool 25% polyester for strength.

This was the first time I used two kinds of stitches together, so you will find some errors!

A good size thumb gore is even more important in crocheted mittens than in knitted ones because Tunisian crochet is quite stiff.

Sweater for chihuahua

My daughter's dog Benjamin came to stay with me over the weekend. No clothes with him, and we got the first proper frost of the winter. So I decided to make a sweater for him in a hurry - such a tiny dog needs something to keep him warm in the snow! I used wool yarn for warmth.

Benjamin hates fitting clothes on, as you can see in his expressions! But since I had no pattern and anyway every dog is a different size, I had to try it on him.

I used 3 different yarns, just to use up some of my stash.Knitting needles size 4.0 mm.

First I made 3 separate strips, each 10 stitches wide. The length is from the collar to the start of the tail. I crocheted them together from the right side. I picked stitches from the neck on to double pointed needles and cast on more to have 48 stitches to knit the collar.

The collar is 5 cm long (2 in).

Then I picked stitches from the start of the collar to make the bit for the dog's chest. You also need holes for the legs. For a female dog the bit under the tummy can be much longer!

Added short "stockings" for the front legs and the yellow border so that the grey and brown strips won't curl. Finally, small loops to fit around the hind legs so the back stays in place.

Lace in 1939 magazine

I found a women's magazine from the year 1939 among Mum's things. In many ways it felt sad to read it as it had been printed a short time before the war started also in Finland. So many hard years were ahead.

There was an article about different kinds on lace. I especially liked the one in the photo. The photo is not sharp, I tried many different ways to sharpen it but the original simply is what printing was at that time. Someone said it might be bobbin lace but it looks crochet to me. There aren't any kind of instructions or chart. Here my first try to make one like it:

To make one like in the photo you would need very thin crochet thread and a small hook. I used wool and a crochet hook 3.0 mm, so the result is a circle of  22 cm (8½ in).

It took a while to work out the order of the different parts! You could get the same result in many different ways, I'm sure.

 I didn't want the petals (or leaves) so tightly together. But by not adding the chain stitch between each double treble it would be tighter.

We'll see if I end up making something using this pattern design!

Collage of 2013 projects

I have a folder on my computer called Craftblog 2013. Here a compilation os some of projects.

Top row: Crochet scarf, Heart of fabric strips, Knit graffiti event
Middle row: Multi-coloured summer top, Crazy wool-technique, Stitch markers
Bottom row: Bling-bling socks, Child's legwarmers, Multi-coloured summer top

Top row: Freeform scarf,  Christmas tree bauble of Christmas fabrics, Cabled socks
Middle row: Corchet mini-bunny, Heavy cowl with buttons, Scarf in sprang technique (photos of the technique in my Finnish blog, sorry haven't translated yet)
Bottom row: Scarf in slipstitch crochet, Short socks, Mini-socks for Christmas tree

My favourite of these all was the colourful summer top. It seems to have been a favourite for others, too, because several people stopped me to ask about it!

But it is a new year now and my wool stash is bursting! Happy knitting / crochet / craft year to all!

Freeform scarf

Freeform is one of my favourte techniques. You can mix many techniques, this is knitting and crochet. I began using freeform when I was still at school. The photo below was in a Finnish fashion and craft magazine in the late 70's. I took part in their competition.

The challenge in freeform is to create the work in such a way that the item stays flat and grows evenly. At the same time, it is easy to make corrections as they don't look like corrections! In the photo below the arrow points to a wedge that I added simply because the scarf had narrowed down.

I have used a number of different yarns but they are all wool or alpaca and of such weight that size 3.0 mm needles and hook were suitable.

More photos:

Christmas tree memories

This year I bought a new Christmas tree. Here in Finland lots of people use real trees but they don't last as long as I want my tree to be up. Here many families only get the tree a couple of days before Christmas -  for me that would be loosing so much of Christmas!

Many of the decorations bring back memories. This year there are even more of those. During the year we emptied my mother's home. My sister, brother and I divided the older decorations between us.

Mother had had this decoration before she was married in 1960 and I remember it from every Christmas in my childhood.

Either myself or my sister made this basket heart in the late 60's.

This is later - part of a large bow I made when my own children were small in the late 80's. I just love Christmas prints in fabrics!

There decorations also bring back memories. In the late 80's and early 90's in Ireland crafts were my work for part of the year. I have kept some of the decorations I sold at craft fairs. I loved the atmosphere in the Irish craft fairs! The one I loved best was yearly at the Argory gentry house (not a paid ad :)!) Maybe that was because it was also the one where I sold best!

Have a lovely Christmas time!

Chunky reflective child's hat

The hat will be one of the Christmas presents  for my 4-year-old granddaughter Alessia. Here in Finland we only get light for a few hours each day now, so it is important to be seen! The yarn, Coats Schachermayr Lumio, has reflective strands in it. However, it is pointed out that this alone is not enough, you need ordinary reflectors as well.

A general explanation of hats of this kind. You can use any stitch patterns, colours, fairisle, crochet etc. for a hat of this shape because it is so easy: a rectangular piece sewn or knitted together at the top. Measure the head circumference and make the piece that is as wide as the circumference measurement. Sew it together in the middle in the back as well as at the top. Add tassels, pompons or whatever. (Or you make the same shape on the round using a circular needle.)

Instructions

Yarn and needles: super bulky, with knitting needles 10 mm (US 15). The yarn weight is 150 g - 75 m (5.3 oz - 82 yds).
Gauge: 8 stitches/10cm (8 stitches/4 inches). You could also make up yarn like this by knitting 2 or 3 lighter yarns at one go.

Child's size. The yarn is stretchy, fits about 3-10-year-old.

I have knitted it flat and there is a seam in the middle in the back. If you have a circular needle large enough, you can knit this in the round.

The hat is simply a rectangular piece.
Cast on 40 stitches.
Knit 1+1 rib for 6 rows. (knit 1, purl 1)
Row 7: knit
Rows 8-12: American seed stitch, British moss stitch. Knit 1, purl 1, next row purl on knit and the other way round.
Row 13: Knit
Row 14: Purl
Rows 14-24: Knit

Last row and casting off: Knit 10 stitches. Fold the work in two and take an etra needle. Cast off by taking one stitch from each needle.

After finishing the first half, divide the rest 20 stitches on two needles. Fold the work into two. Cast off the rest of the stitches.

Sew a seam in the back. Make tassels.

Chunky crochet blanket

To make this blanket I was able to use up loads of wool that I had gathered over the years and never needed. They are all at least 50% wool, most have more wool content than that. Yarns are different weights. Some are so chunky that I only crocheted with one yarn at the time, in other parts there are up to 4 yarns on the hook at the same time.

The zig-zag pattern comes from increasing and decreasing stitches. There are always 9 double crochet stitches in the straight bit. To create the point upwards you crochet 3 stitches into one stitch below. To get the point downwards make 3 double crochet stitches, leaving the last stitch on the hook and then crochet them together (decrease).You would find many instruction on Youtube on searches about chevron crochet, wave crochet or ripple crochet. This one has shart points.

The size of the blanket is 220 x 150 cm (87 x 59 inches). The stripes are vertical.

The blanket is incredibly warm, I love snuggling in it for a nap after work!

Bling-bling socks for little girl

I love everything that is strong colours, shines or sparkles. I enjoy mixing ordinary yarns with bits of novelty yarns. Fortunately there is such a choice of those now!

These socks will be a Christmas present to my 4-year-old granddaughter. She loves sparkle even more than me!

This is a basic sock with some purl rows at the cuff to show off the yarns better. One 2+2 stitch cable on top of the foot.

Advent calendar with pockets

This bell-shaped advent calendar is not new - in fact it has served for many years since I made it for my daughters who are now in their twenties. Various little items have been found in the pockets - hair baubles, little toys, pens, felt tips, craft items, occasionally also sweets. The bell also moved with our family many times, both in Ireland and in Finland.

The calendar has quilted fabric as backing to make is stiffer. It is 87 cm high (34 in). I tack it on a wall with 3 tiny nails.

The pockets and the bow at the top are made of  various Christmas fabrics. The numbers are glitter glue.

This year the bell might be passed on to the next generation! That was already planned last year but we never got round to it.