Rainbow Mandala II

Hi friends! I hope you are having nice cold weather, or snow or whatever, but not summer because Ahmedabad is just blistering hot right now. Write to me about how you are snowed in with 'x' inches of snow and had to shovel your way out. Or how you got caught in a light shower of rain and how your kids are now jumping in the little puddles on the road. Because today it is a killing 45 deg C here in Ahmedabad, yup that's right it is 113 deg F here!! Combine that with the humidity of only 12% it is sheer torture. Wondering where that acrid smoky smell is coming from...oh that is just my brain getting fried!!! When I think about all the people out there because of their jobs, security guards, veggie vendors, construction workers, salespersons, bus drivers, traffic police and many more, I realize that I have very little to complain about.

So keeping all heat related woes aside let us move on to a more cheerful topic. Crochet...what else!! Thw sweltering weather made it difficult for me to work with acrylic yarn so I decided to switch to cotton. And what is the obvious choice of project for cotton? Mandalas....of course!

I decided to have a go at the Rainbow Mandala once again, as my previous one got sold in my Etsy shop. This time I had many more colors so the mandala turned out really beautiful and large too.

Soooo.....Ta Dah!!!

The yarn is Laura knitting cotton with a 3.50mm hook. The pattern details are in my previous rainbow mandala post. While this mandala has more colors I have also used a different edging this time, with shells instead of picots.

The bowl you see on the mandala is shaped like a peacock?...or swan?...or whatever was a Diwali gift and is supposed to be as a candy dish or nut bowl. I have mixed feelings about it, especially those huge "diamonds" at the edges.

Here are some more pics of the mandala:

Did you like this mandala? Do let me know.

I just love it so off I go to make another one right away. I love these round, circular, colorful, joyous, beauties. Also I need to do some serious stash busting as I am running out of space in my craft room.

Write to me and let me know what you are crafting and don't forget those stories about snow and rain!!!...hehe.

You can get this mandala in my Etsy shop.

My next mandala has a different pattern and I will be revealing it tomorrow, so until then Happy Crafting and Take Care.

Crocheted Hook Case

Hi friends,

In my last post I showed you the two crochet hook cases made with the help of my sewing machine. I thought it was time my hooks made a home for themselves. Yes, I mean a crocheted crochet hook case.

I had saved a wonderful pattern for many years for a Aluminum hook case by Priscilla Hewitt (Click the link to go to her Free Patterns page which has some really wonderful patterns). It is a beautiful pattern but looked slightly complicated. I had a set of homeless aluminum hooks and now seemed like a good time to try the pattern.

My latest crochet hook case, Ta-dah...

Isn't it wonderful?!! The beauty of this pattern is that the hook pockets are formed as you crochet and there is no stitching/seaming involved (YAY). I have to admit I was skeptical about this and wondered whether I could manage it. But believe me it is easy peasy.

The pockets take form and close automatically as you crochet.

The outer side has a cross stitch pattern but you can use any favorite pattern.

I have used Laura Knitting cotton and a 3.50mm crochet hook. While the cotton yarn did give the case some stiffness, I wanted a firmer case so I cut up a (perfectly good) plastic table mat and inserted the pieces in between the fuchsia and sky blue layers... much to the  horror of my husband. Cutting up a functional household item for crochet!!! He is now convinced that he has married a crochet lunatic and has now started hiding his files and folders....haha  :)

A lovely case needs a beautiful button.

The pattern even produces a "spine" for the case on the outside making it look like a paperback.

So that is the story of how these hooks,

end up in their own little homes.

Here is the link once again for the pattern. Do give it a try along with the other fantastic patterns by Priscilla Hewitt.

See you soon. Until then, Happy Crafting.

Heart to Heart

Hello friends!!

Finally I am back with a crochet post. At present I seem to be on a scarf making spree but today I am going to share something different.

Recently my physiotherapist Dr. Vrushali saw one of THESE hearts hanging from the strap of my purse and she liked it so much, she promptly placed an order for a few.

Here are the hearts I made for her...

Dr. V had asked for six, but I made eight so that she can pick and choose. But guess what, she ended up buying all of them!! 

Do you want to see them up close? Here goes:

Making these hearts was fun, but do you know what was even better! Getting paid for making them!! Yes, the mere thought that somebody likes your handiwork and is ready to pay you to make them is wonderful. Hmmm..... like having your cake and eating it too?!

You can see the first hearts I made and get the link to the free pattern HERE.

I will be making another batch of crochet hearts in Christmas colours, so if you would like to have a set, just drop me a line.

See you soon with another fun project (also a custom order). Until then happy crafting.

P.S. Expect a book tour soon as I am dying to play with my new toy - a Canon scanner.

Crochet Mandala - Vibrant

Hello friends, I hope you are enjoying the weekend.

In my last post I mentioned how I enjoy putting up my projects on Facebook. Well, I was not always a fan of Facebook. In fact I found the whole thing a bit weird and I had joined only because it was the "done" thing. I would log in occasionally and just see what my friends and relatives were up to, enjoy some good quotes and photos which were shared and log out. The idea of sharing my personal pics or writing a comment which could be seen by the whole world was just not appealing.

And THEN, I discovered  "Groups" and "Pages" related to Crochet!!! Now that was fun, joining like minded people, sharing your projects, sharing patterns, discovering new blogs, getting instant reactions to your projects. Yes, I was really enjoying this Facebook thing now.

I am now a member of many crochet groups and have "liked" many crochet pages. Recently I did something else for the very first time. I joined a CAL. Now a CAL is something very common in Blogland and even Ravelry, but I have never joined one for various reasons. Lack of yarn, project too big or uninteresting or being tied up in my own projects.

The CAL I joined was at Mandy's Craft Tales for a Crochet Mandala. The pattern Mandy chose is THIS one by the lovely Petra. In case you would like to join in the last date is 12th April which I think is ample time.

Here is my completed mandala......TaDah

Do you like it? I used Laura Knitting cotton from  THIS stash and a 3.50 mm crochet hook. The mandala turned out 12 inces in diameter. I did this in one night!!

My favourite part is this row which has stitches in two colours on the same row. Something I tried for the first time, quite simple actually.

I really liked this mandala and its Vibrant colour scheme. I plan to make a few more when I am in-between projects. Only not happy with the last scallop row. The stitch count seems to be a bit off. Will have to work it out the next time.

Mandy has made this beautiful collage of all the mandala submissions:

Mandala collage from Mandy's Craft Tales

Isn't it just super?!! (Can you find my mandala?) 

I thoroughly enjoyed the CAL concept. So guess what I did.....jumped right into another one. This one is by The Crochet Crowd and it is for this lovely Ocean Waves Afghan. Click the link for all the details, the last date is 15th May 2013. 

Here are my colour choices:

Will keep you posted about the afghan as I proceed. Anybody want to join me?

Enjoy your weekend and make time for craft. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Heart's Desire

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends. 

I am always amazed by the fact that seasons in Blogdom, especially Crochetland change along with seasons in the real world. A few weeks back it was all snowflakes, snowmen, ornaments and Christmas trees... crocheted of course. And  now, come February, I give you one guess as to the flavour of the month. You are right it is Hearts, wherever you look, whichever blog you turn to.

If you have been following me for a while now, you will know I rarely make crochet trinkets or amigurumi. For me, Pretty always has to be accompanied by Utility. But I had to make an exception when I came across THIS heart pattern. Why? Because this lovely lady has taken the trouble to draw, yes actually draw by hand, every step of the pattern and very beautifully too. The whole pattern was now so clear and lovely. I just had to try it. 

Aren't they cute?! I wish I had used yarn instead of Bliss knitting cotton, that would have made them more fuller and puffy. 

 Here is the link  http://jose-crochet.blogspot.nl/2012/09/free-pattern-heart.html#more

I am not sure my dear valentine will actually appreciate these cute hearts so for now I am using them to decorate my new bookcase. Yes, this is the new bookcase my hubby ordered for me some time back, which I was supposed to show you long long ago. What can I say my camera has become so lazy.  (So it is not my fault, you see.)  ;)
By the way if I have said "will share with you later" or "will be showing you ------ soon" and then not kept my word, please, please do remind me. I can be quite absent minded sometimes. Since you cannot pinch me from there. a gentle comment will do.

Here is a pic of the empty bookcase the day it was delivered. I think it is made in Malaysia.

For the number of books I have I will need three more bookcases like this, which of course hubby is not going to get me. Anyway I am always thankful for small blessings. I chose this model as the drawers can accommodate all my sewing supplies, buttons, notions, hooks etc. A proper craft corner!!

My hubby has this cute habit of attributing any gift he gets for me to the next 3-4 occasions. LOL. So this was a gift for our Wedding anniversary, the New Year and Valentine's day and who knows maybe even my birthday which is in September!! Did I just say "cute habit", I seriously need to go and have some tea. Jokes apart I love the gift and the fact that he lets me go crafty (read that as batty) and potter around in my room the whole day. 

Here is a sneak peek at the purse I promised to show you. Yes finally did remember something! This the handle I have made for the purse.

 

Enjoy the day with your loved ones. I just called up my friend from fifth grade and we had a lovely chat. Get in touch with people you have lost contact with. Come on make that call, it is after all the month of Love.

Mustard Doily

Hello beautiful people. A tour through Blogdom shows that everyone is busy with their "first project for 2013". And that is really good news, because it means we are going to have a wonderful crafty year ahead.

I finished weaving in the ends on my Mustard Doily and here it is: Ta - Da

I have used Bliss Knitting cotton and a 2.00 mm crochet hook. I chose this pattern as I wanted a fast and small project. Well, it has turned out to be 17 inches in diameter....hardly small!!

This year I plan to try my hand at Tunisian crochet and hopefully I should ...before the year ends.

See you soon. Looking forward to some lovely projects from all of you.
Here is some inspiration for you... LOL.

via Facebook

Haha... I hope Hubby is not reading this.
Take care and happy crafting.

Love xxx

Crochet Pineapple Pouch

Wishing all my lovely friends a wonderful, happy and prosperous New Year. I hope 2013 will bring you a lot of joy, peace of mind and more importantly good health.

The first day of the new year, so a blog post is a must...isn't it? Okay I will admit that I am a little superstitious about this first day thing. I believe that things you manage to do on the first day of the new year sets the trend for the year ahead. It can be any little thing like getting up early, reaching office on time, cleaning my cupboard, calling up my parents, or even not popping that cupcake into my mouth, or not getting into arguments with anybody. It is silly I know but then its also fun.

So here goes, my first post for the new year.  :)

Over the years I came across a lot of patterns for sachets/pouches on the internet. But I just could not picture my "boys" appreciating dainty little sachets filled with potpourri hanging around the house. They are already doing me a big favour by leaving my doilies undisturbed. :)

Recently when I was busy hunting for the earphones for my mobile I realised that a sachet would be perfect for keeping them. They wouldn't get lost or damaged in the deep, dark recesses  of my handbag. 

I decided to try a pineapple design with a drawstring. I like this pattern as it is crocheted in the round and there is no seaming involved, the whole sachet works as one piece. It was a chart only pattern with no written instructions and did involve a few calculations to get it right. Also the pineapple motif is usually surrounded by shells but in this pattern it was flanked only by a set of dcs.

Have a look:

I have inserted a tissue so that you can see the pattern. The thread is Bliss knitting cotton crocheted with a 2.00 mm crochet hook. For the drawstring I used a spring loaded drawstring closure (no idea what they are called).

In goes the consignment! :)

Here it is with the drawstrings pulled.  I thought a tassel will complete the look. Do you think I should add a fabric lining so that nothing pops out or does it look okay?

This pouch will work well for lipsticks, prayer beads, keys, pen drives or even "unmentionables". In short, for anything small enough to get lost in your purse. What do you think? So, that is one project I can strike off my to-do list.

 Talking of lists, I do have my usual bunch of New Year resolutions: lose weight, cook healthy, less internet, more Pilates, less TV, more crochet, less sweets, more walking etc, etc. I would like to share this picture with you which sums it all up.  Haha.

via Facebook

See you soon. Take care. Happy crafting. Do let me know your first project for 2013.

Love xxx