My first custom order !

Hi everybody! Do I sound cheerful! Well, that is because the heat is easing up and the temperature is falling. We are having cloudy weather here in Ahmedabad and there were the occasional showers though I still wouldn't say that monsoons have "arrived'. But any relief from the killing heat is welcome. The only regret is that the lovely golden summery mangoes are also on their way out.

In one of my posts I mentioned my first custom order - a pen tablet cover.

I am so used to gifting my crochet items that I cannot tell you how thrilled I was when I got an order for a pen tablet cover from my son's classmate Dev, who is also a fan of my blog. It really feels great to be paid for doing something you love to do. 

The navy blue colour was his choice and the pattern is my own design. I clicked many photos of it, with and without flash, and with and without sunlight but I think the real colour of the yarn could not be captured as it was quite a dark blue. So anyway here are the pics;

I worked diagonal rows of popcorn stitches for texture and to protect the drawing surface.

The lining of the cover with pockets for the stylus, the connecting cable and CDs.

Like I said, none of the photos have captured the true colour. Did I mention that Dev is utterly delighted with it...so that is one job well done.

Already started working on the next project. Okay... you can have a peep at it.

Can you guess what it is...? Do let me know, I am waiting for your comments.

See you later, crocheters!
Love....

Knitting in public

For the past few days I have been reading a lot about knitting in public, yarn bombing, knit in public day etc, on the internet. Upon delving further I realised that the concept of yarn bombing does not hold any appeal for me. I mean why waste good yarn to cover things in public and then make them uglier than they were!! Things like cars, lamp posts, statues in parks etc,etc ?! And with the price I pay for my yarn, you will never see me yarn bombing Anything.

I also realised that I have always been crocheting in public, even before I came to know that there is a fancy term for it. I was working for a bank in Mumbai for 12 years. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) in spite of working in different branches my commute was always in the range of 15 to 22 kms. This meant long hours of travel either by train or bus. So the minute I got a good place to stand in the train (travelling in the local trains of Mumbai means 90 % of the time you are standing thru'out the whole trip) or a seat on the bus, I would pull out my hook and yarn and crochet away. This was the only thing that made the commute bearable. Also the fact that I usually prefer not to talk to my fellow commuters definitely helped matters...(ha ha).

It is difficult to follow patterns on a moving vehicle and fine thread too is difficult to manage, so I ended up doing projects which involved thicker yarn and repetitions.

Here are a few items I made during my long commutes to work:

 This maroon purse is my favourite. It has plastic tubing in the handles to keep their shape.

This is an ombre bucket shaped purse.

Lemon yellow purse with columns of bobbles.

Silver purse, the yarn is sparkly but it is not visible in the photo.

The lining for these purses was done by the yarn shop which included a small pocket on the inside and zippers. All these items have since been gifted away by me so these photos are all that I have now.

I must make a few more purses. I will keep you posted as and when I do that.

See you soon. Ta-ta.
Love.....

I've got Mail...!!

Well,actually it is a package. From the Pony Craft Store!

 Pony crochet hooks and knitting needles are easily the best you can get. Even though they were available on foreign sites, none of the craft shops I visited across states, seemed to have the whole range in spite of the fact that the needles are produced in India! So, when I saw that Pony now had an online store I rubbed my hands with glee. I placed my order as soon as possible.
Would you like to see the goodies in my parcel?

1. Set of crochet hooks with plastic handles. I have been on the look out for crochet grips or pencil grips for the past few months but sadly they are not available in India, so I ordered these hooks instead. I only wish the handles were in rainbow colors, the set would have looked gorgeous.

Already have all these sizes, but these hooks were ordered in anticipation that in the distant future I will be needing thicker grips.

2. Hairpin crochet set

 Hairpin crochet has been on my to-learn list for a long time and a shawl is what I plan to try out.
Wish me luck.

3. Crochet hook size 20 mm.

What a fantastic looking hook! I have purchased this for dual purposes - as a giant crochet hook and I hope to use the handle for broomstick crochet which is also on my to-learn list.

4. Circular and double pointed knitting needles.

This purchase has been inspired by Monika of Smoking Hot Needles. She makes the most fantastic socks that I have ever seen and she must be knitting really fast as literally every post has a new pair of socks!! Even if I make only one pair of socks I will feel that the needles have been worth while. She also creates magic with her spinning skills, which I do not hope to learn in this lifetime.

5. Assorted knitting helpers.

Have been looking for these knick-knacks for a long time....finally I have them!

6. Rotary Cutter

I recently purchased a book on quilting and I hope to make atleast one quilt in this life. But before that I will have to learn how to use the rotary cutter.... ha ha.

7. Cross stitch towel kit.

Always wanted to flaunt beautiful guest towels and brag that I did the embroidery !!


Well, now that I have created excuses for each and every item I bought I can rest in peace :)

Hope you enjoyed this online shopping with me.