It's Just Another Doily Monday...

... And it's Manic too. ;-)

A short post, just to say hi and to doilify the beginning of this week.

The pattern is - again - from a Japanese crochet book. Let me know if you'd like to know which one, and I will look it up for you. I've used the Thai version, which is called Crochet Lace, from the Mini Crochet Series and is published by Maeban Publishing Co. in 2012. Click here for their website. The original Japanese edition was published by Nihon Vogue Co. in 2010. The designers of the projects in the book are Hiromi Endo, Kazekobo and Yasuko Sebata. Hope this helps!

♦♦♦ Wishing you a good week! ♦♦♦

Happy Pastels Day

Today I declare Happy Pastels Day.
Just because. ;-)































No such day without a doily though! This doily pattern is from a Japanese crochet book, published a couple of years ago.

I deviated from the pattern for the last rows and edging...

























Oh, before I forget: here is a glimpse of Mollie Makes #41 which has tutorials for three hangers I made. All très pastel chic. ;-) Hope you like them...!

♦♦♦ Thanks for your visit & have a lovely Happy Pastels Day! ♦♦♦

Summertime colours & crochet

This sunny morning calls for some colourful pictures.

I hope you have a lovely week ahead of you ~ take care!
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*Black*Grey*Whites* ~ #1 & #2

Oops ~ another deviation from my usual palette! Today I'd like to share two works in progress with you. (Mainly because I've got too many wips & therefore little finished stuff to show you...) Both projects are actually two or three months old, I have not been able to do a lot of crocheting or blogging recently. Hence a post about the wips!

This my first serious stashbusting attempt. A while ago I decided to hook away all my acrylics I always randomly buy. I started with the blacks and greys in my stash. I crocheted like a maniac for a short while, and somehow abandoned it. Came across it today, pinned it on my studio wall and voilà. The idea is to make rectangles in different sizes using different patterns and ultimately sewing or crocheting them together. It's a nice way of trying out some new stitches and patterns. Still have some yarn left from my stash in these colours. I should really finish it soon!

And then there is my second crocheted rug. I wrote about it a few post ago. Another project I worked on very intensively for a short while and then abandoned it. (And of which I only wanted to show the work, but there you go ~ so much for principles, right?) I guess I'm sort of restless right now. Anyways. I made these photo with my phone so I'm afraid the quality is not great. (And I'm wearing socks, aaargh! Very elegant indeed...) But I think I like this rug-in-progress so I shoud really do an attempt to finish it soon. It's actually such a quick project too.

By the way, if you are a reader of the lovely Mollie Makes, you might have noticed my crocheted hangers are featured in issue 41. I got my copy yesterday. :-) I'll share a sneak peek here soon. If you'd like to get your hands on a copy, you can get it here.

Thanks for your visit ~ enjoy your weekend!
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Giant Granny Square *update*

It's been a while since I last posted pictures of my Giant Granny Square.
Well, here it is! Almost ready. Last row added! Only *some* ends to sew in.
As I said before, it's a rather unusual colour palette for me. But I do like it as these colours seem to represent the Quintessential Granny Square. ;-) Oh yeah!

I used a 6 mm hook and a huge variety of yarns. (Variety in brands, thickness, structure, colours, sheen.)

What a pleasure it is, this pattern, just keep going - adding row after row...
The plan was to make a 2 x 2 meters square. But when arriving there, I thought: 'Why stop here?' ;-) So now it measures 2.5 x 2.5 meters. Love that size, truly giant!
Do you currently have any granny squares on you hooks?

Thanks for paying a visit. It's lovely to have you here.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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A quiet afternoon...

... Or so it would have been yesterday, if it wasn't for the fact that I was quite maniacally making pictures to document the quietness... *ahem*

I wanted to give this post a touch of Less Is More aesthetics. But I guess I'm failing big time because of the number of pics alone. Ah well!

This placemat and potholder are supposed to have an air of Japanese minimalism. Just so you know. ;-)

The placemat is made of simple double crochets - white with irregular intervals of colour.

The potholder is one big granny square, folded round a cotton potholder...

... I whipstitched together the corners at the backside - which is the side I like best.



Don't you just love the bunny? ;-) It's a souvenir from my recent travels.

BTW, what do you think of this ball of bamboo? I bought it ages ago.

It took me at least an hour to wind it from this skein. (As per usual messed up and got it completely tangled.) I love the colours and even the fact that it's variegated, because it's done so subtile... I have a lovely plan for it! To be continued...

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little record of quietness. Did you have a good weekend? Hope so!

I wonder what this week will bring. I personally have not very high hopes for this one. Luckily I can flee in my pastels. ;-)

Full speed ahead, I guess...
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New Mittens and A Lovely Short Film

Every now and then I actually manage to finish a project. Here's a small one. My mittens, from a pattern of one of my new Japanese crochet books. Even though it's spring - and we've got really nice weather! - I had to make them right after I got back.

I bought the pattern book mainly because of these mittens: I saw the picture and I was sold. In case you're interested: it's this book (Thai version):

Oh, and before I forget. There's something I've been wanting to share with you for ages. Are you in for an ultimate feel good moment? Watch this short film in which the knitting of one Dutch lady, Loes Veenstra, brings together a whole neighbourhood. Since 1955 she knitted over 550 sweaters and stored them (unused) in her house. The film was made in 2012, so some of you might have seen it already, but personally: I can watch it over again and again... So go on, treat yourself on these 3:19 minutes of loveliness!

I hope you like it too. If you have become intrigued by it, click here for more information.

Thanks for your visit, take care!
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