Granny square Christmas tree bauble

Each year I try to come up with a small, quick Christmas decoration to send instead of Christmas cards. This idea came from a decoration I used to sew: 3 layers of round padded pieces joined in the middle. I decided to try the same with mini-size granny squares.

When I first published the pattern (free) in Ravelry last year, I guessed it would be popular. I was right, 150 downloads in no time the same day. www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-square-christmas-bauble .

You can think of any number of variations. Add tassels, beads or join several with a ribbon.

Crazy wool-technique

Crazy wool means simply that you use wool or other fibers in whatever way that comes to your mind. I attended a class about it for 4 evenings. I just loved it!

The first panel

This panel was made on top a sturdy base fabric. Then I spread all sorts of yarns, lace and ribbons on it. The top layer is a water-soluble fabric. the whole lot was sewn together using  free stitching on a sewing machine.

Here it is after the sewing and after the soluble fabric has been washed away:

Another one made in the same way but smaller:

The second panel

This time we added also felting wool. I have lots of at home in all sorts of colours. I chose my favourites, pinks and purples.

There is a water soluble fabric both below and above the wool. Again I stitched it all together.

Here the soluble fabric is being washed away:

Then I felted the panel by hand, using also steam.

The finished panel measures 27 x 27 cm. Before the sewing and felting it was 35 x 35 cm.

The panel fitted perfectly on a cushion I had. I stitched it on it by hand.

Tampere handicraft fair 2013

Spent last Friday at this fair. It is the largest in Finland and their website says it is the largest in Europe but that would be hard to believe. Big, though - 3 large halls full of crafts and all sorts of craf supplies.

You were not allowed to take photos of the stalls but I just photographed the corridoors in between...

I loved to se eso many yarn sellers! So many different brands in one place. I didn't buy that much but studied many to know what to buy online later. Like the Finnish brands Pirkka and Wetterhoff are ones I haven't used before. There were many Peruvian yarns and of course the main large European manufacturers and some American ones. There was also an interesting looking brand from iceland I hadn't heard of before.

I bought some novelty yarns. I love to add those to everything at the moment!

Dropas Nepal (65% wool, 35% alpaca) was on sale and I bought several colours. I'll use them to try out the original fairisle texhnique.

Here some of the other ones I bought. The pink Lumio has reflecting thread in it. Others for socks and some pale green merino for a baby.

You could spend any amount of money on wool! Some of them are just so expensive, too. Fortunately there are many price levels to choose form. One thing that had changed from what it was years ago is that now nobody would expect handmade to be cheaperthat store bought. Most of the time it is more expensive to make it yourselves. But you loose out on all the joy of  working and seeing the final result if you just buy your hats and scarves at H&M!

One thing I had decided - no stopping at the quilting fabric stalls! And I kept the resolution! Last year I bought many lovely pieces of Christmas fabrics and I still haven't made anything of them.

BUT I have a brand new sewing machine, bought a few weeks ago to replace the 30-year-old one. So I had to get some material! One of these will become a dress for my granddaughter (4) and the other is lovely coarse Nepalese fabric. I don't know yet what to use it for but it coul dbe many things, like cushions, bags or even a coat.

People in Finland have a lot of imagination! These photos are from the Novita mittens competition entries. Last year I took part in their sock competition but didn't enter this year.

I noticed that stalls selling supplies seemed to be doing much better than ones selling ready-made items. Such a large part of the people were people who have crafts as a hobby. I counted that there were 39 stalls selling yarn but there seemed to be even more selling paper craft supplies like scrapbooking or beads.

Wool in glass vase

Most of us who knit & crochet a lot have the problem of where to keep all the materials who gather. A large glass vase offers both storage room and serves as decoration. This one is from Ikea, 70 cm high. I collected wool that goes with the other colours in my living room and filled the vase with them. Now it stands in the corner and brings (even) more colour to my decor!

Mittens in Tunisian crochet

 

I have been doing Tunisian crochet before but this was my first projet doing it on the round with a double-ended hook. I enjoy the technique, it could be used for many interesting projects.. 

The thumb gore. You pick up the same loop twice to increase.

Binding offy ou take two loops at once - forms a pretty row of stiches.

Little girl's hat in freeform knitting/crochet

I love knitting and crocheting without much planning! I made this hat for my granddaughter for her 3rd birthday.

The hat is 50 cm in circumference. I have used many different yarns but all are at least 70% wool and about the same in thickness, double knitting. I cast on 106 stitches and used 3½ mm needles and hook. The hat is one rectangular piece, sewn together at the moddle back. the top seam has been joined by double crochet. Apart from that, I have used whatever knitting or crochet came to mind!

Here some close-ups:

Continuing...

WORKING ON CHANGING THE LAYOUT OF THE BLOG !

Last year I wrote that I wasn't going to continue this blog and concentrate on my Finnish one instead. But lately I have started to be a bit more active on Ravelry. That made me realise I need an English blog, too. So, instead of starting a new one, I continue this one! Especially the pattern for a crochet flower continues to bring people here.

Here photos of some of my recent projects:

Crochet jacket I wore at a wedding in May:

 

Left-over weaving linen crocheted into coasters:

Freeform knitting in socks:

Crochet dress for my little granddaughter:

In the spring I started working on an afghan out of all sorts of leftover yarns I have. It got too hot to work on it in the summer, so now I plan to get on with it!

And more to come, I have several projects on the way. Just got lovely new wool yesterday for a little girl's cardigan. Will make a pattern to publish in Ravelry.