Mosaic garter stitch for KAS

Mosaic garter stitch for KAS, a photo by TracyMaybe on Flickr.

I finished another square for KAS. This is mosaic garter stitch. Think I’ll try mosaic stitch some more; while researching it I found some super designs! Very Greek urn looking. Or even a labyrinth.
I made a few mistakes with this square, but by the time I figured it out I already completed the row or was close to completing it. Mostly it’s knitting two consecutive stitches in stead of slipping one, and then there’s the obvious plain garter ridge close to the top of the square. It’s the idea that counts though, right?

I think I’ll crochet the next few squares.

I saw a 15 min tutorial and just had to try making a chunky beanie for Roo

Like the title says: I searched for an easy baby beanie tutorial (I was actually looking for booties tutorial, but somehow my hind brain decided beanies were easier to start with). So I came across this little gem:

I had some beautiful yarn from my impulse buys after I borrowed a great crochet book. I used Elle Premier Natural Cotton 4ply in Rose and Lilac together to make it chunky, with a 9mm hook and just followed instructions. Roo was napping so I couldn’t measure properly. When she woke I saw that it needed a few more rounds. And even though it was a bit tight, it has stretched some and fits alright now; with room for improvement. All I added to the original pattern is a round of half-DC and a round or SC in Rose with 4.5mm hook. (That’s probably the US lingo, so for UK it’ll be a round of DC and a rounf or SC – I’m still trying to figure out the geographical differences of a double crochet. Directly translated from Afrikaans we simply say Long Leg, Langbeentjie.)

Roo’s Beanie

The little flower is left over from Lili’s market day at school. Roo and I were just released from hospital when I decided to make these little brooches for school. Easy peasy 5 petal flower from another YouTube tutorial I vaguely remembered, a covered button, and a safety-pin. I was sewing the safety pins on the morning of the market day AT her actual school. There were a few left over (sweets and goodies sell WAY better than any accessory), so I pin them to cardi’s or handbags or baby hats 😉

Did I mention that Roo, like her big sister, doesn’t have any hair? I think she needs a few more beanies.

I’m Hooked!

My mom taught me how to knit when I was 7. I’ve been knitting on and off ever since. Outfits for my Barbies, the odd scarf, at least one whole sweater, monogram for my room door; never anything too serious. Once or twice I picked up one of Mom’s crochet hooks, but my fingers were so stiff and my hands would cramp up after a few rows – I couldn’t figure out how to do rounds yet 😉

A few years ago a colleague and I started subscribing to The Art of Knitting. We had visions of bright shaker style throws on our beds. She managed to finish hers, mine only has about 36 squares done. I won’t elaborate too much since this post is about crochet. But one of the patterns in this set was for a knitted beanie with a crochet flower. I simply had to try to make the flower. I ended up with 6 petals instead of 5 – I just couldn’t see the stitches as I do in knitting. But I kept the hook I especially bought for the flower. Few months later I tried a simpler crochet flower pattern, and it came out alright. I started making more flowers, turning them into brooches that I sold with my beading items at the local seller’s market. I was starting to get hooked.

Hekel vir die Lekker

Eventually I took out a crochet pattern book at the library, Hekel vir die lekker, got some more hooks and yarn, and next thing I was making doilies, failed horribly at making a bootie, but I wanted to try everything in the book! Since I couldn’t keep on re-borrowing the book, I ordered my own copy as well as the sequel. (Do craft books have sequels?) Ever the geek of course I found Ravelry. I’ve stashed my meagre inventory online and browsed some patterns, added a few projects – I might have found a new obsession.

I haven’t gotten back into beading yet, never been much of a scrapbooker, stamping had it’s 15 minutes. So you probably won’t have much hope for this new hobby. Well I do, at least for a few weeks 😉

 

Easy knitted monster – mini Tutorial

I was sorting out some crap supplies in the garage and came across leftover wool from a bath mat I knitted yonks ago.  It’s a dark-brown’ish shade and I immediately thought of Domo-kun. Remember this little guy? I never watched the episodes, but saw his images on just about every message board and forum I lurked.

I am not a seamstress, nor an avid knitter, I just like to fiddle around a bit with different crafts and hobbies. I didn’t have a pattern and I didn’t want to make the same mouth. I googled for some more ideas and am in love with these. I didn’t want to stuff the legs, but wanted more of a shelf sitter monster. Lastly I simply love the simplicity of garter stitch (every row is kit – no purl in sight!). Doesn’t matter which side is front and it fills out nicely when stuffed.

{ Learn from my fail}   Only after I knitted the arms did I figure out to cast on the appendage sets simultaneously. No need to keep track of how many stitches or rows to duplicate.

You will need:

• At most 1 ball of double knit yarn/wool/plarn
• Nr 5 knitting needles and darning needle
• White felt and matching thread
• Assortment of buttons for face. (I used 2 big black and 4 small white)
• Stuffing (like teddy bear stuffing or foam off cuts. Heck, you can even use old newspaper)