tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5856319519197789632024-03-13T12:34:53.830+02:00Haak-en-stekieStelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-64324981265295992562017-08-24T21:24:00.001+02:002017-08-24T22:01:01.040+02:00Get this book - Hallo, Crochet! / Hallo, Hekel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What is brilliant?<br />
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When three of your hooky friends publish a big, fat crochet book, full of beautiful patterns, <i>that</i> is brilliant.</div>
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Hello, welcome and thank you for <i><b>Hello, Crochet! / Hallo, Hekel</b></i>! by Cornel Strydom, Elsbeth Eksteen and Anisa Fielding, three beautiful, creative hookers, each with a very unique style. The result resembles all of them: contemporary neutral, romantic arty and bright, bohemian quirky. </div>
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The book is divided into four main sections: Contemporary, Arty, Romantic and Bohemian, each showcasing this specific style in terms of colour and styling. </div>
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A variety of patterns are included, eg. a tea cosy, 2 blankets, scarf, wrist warmers, shawl, toy, three different bags, a skirt, a placemat, a children's jumper, a dress, a hat and top in the Contemporary section. Paging through Arty, you'll find similar, but different, plus a beanie, a coat, a doilie and mini-shawl, and this continues through Romantic and Bohemian, a total of 64 patterns (yes, there's enough patterns!).</div>
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Then you realise that these 64 patterns are made up of 11 motifs, 4 written patterns and 2 diagrams...that's the cleverness of this book! One diagram can be interpreted as a neutral, basic shawl; a chunky mini-shawl/neckerchief; a romantic summer shawl in pastels and a bright, gypsy-like shawl with pom poms - and they all look different. </div>
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The layout is clean and fresh without being clinical. Each pattern has an information box that includes an indication of the skill level required, recommended yarn (used in the example), hook size, completed size, special abbreviations and tools needed. Some also included diagrams of joins, pattern repetitions or simple motifs to to include, or instructions for assembly, all hand-drawn by Elsbeth (as is the pattern diagrams in the back of the book).</div>
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I quickly tested the Amber mini-shawl in both Karoo Moon handspun and Malabrigo Silky Merino. It worked up easily to a nice neckerchief size. I did prefer the softer Silky Merino that also drapes better, but a bigger hook size might have served the Karoo Moon well. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocking the Karoo Moon mini shawl</td></tr>
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Done in Silky Merino, it came out a bit bigger, with better drape:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One can almost see the softness of this yarn!</td></tr>
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I thoroughly enjoyed making these quick projects and look forward to working through more of the book (8 yellow Post It Notes mark those that required earliest attention!). I can really recommend this book as a versatile pattern book for the intermediate hooker, showcasing the best of South African yarns (this is such a bonus - we now have beautiful yarns available and patterns were designed with these in mind). Even just reading through it takes me back to the good old <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2013/06/craft-share-when-we-get-together-for.html">Craft Share</a> days at Cornel's dining table!</div>
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Well done, ladies. There was a gap in the market and it was waiting for you!</div>
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(Next up: Review of Beatrix Snyman's Afrikaans book "Raak Hekelslim", soon to be available in English as well)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-20227827404351668022017-04-17T12:27:00.000+02:002017-04-17T12:27:43.152+02:00Create - a new yarncraft mag on the block!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What is great?</div>
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Welcoming a new yarncraft magazine, that is great!</div>
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Create Magazine is a new digital offering, fantastic in a time where beloved magazines close down one after the other, where print magazines are often so frustrating (try to decipher the index? I dare you. If I have to page through the whole bloody magazine because I cannot determine from the index what is knit/crochet/mosaic/clay/paint/rubbish...then I just don't even buy it).<br /><br />Available online at <a href="http://www.createmag.co.za/">www.createmag.co.za</a> , Create Mag is a collaboration between some of the most talented ladies on the South African scene and is edited by Lauren Redman.</div>
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Issue 1 (76 pp) contains ...</div>
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- a review of 8 local and international yarns, dye and a Scheepjes pattern bookazine.</div>
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- an interview with Carlé Dehning, creative mind behind <a href="https://nurturingfibres.com/">Nurturing Fibres</a></div>
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- an overview on recent and future yarn related retreats</div>
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and</div>
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- a whole TEN patterns: knitting, crochet and Tunisian with really wearable/usuable projects. <br /><br />Get it now! It really is worth your R100.</div>
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<br />(R100 = €7= £6 = $7.5 = AUS$ 10 at This Moment's exchange rate)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-66590198095205607722017-03-29T11:18:00.000+02:002017-03-29T11:18:58.051+02:00What I'm working on in March<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...NOTHING!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh my soul, this is horrid. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, almost nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just when I thought that all busyness would come to a stop, that knitting is good for the trigger finger and I could knit away at speed, I woke to the fact that March is the month of all kinds of orals and assessments at school for the little one, a public holiday and long weekend with no knitting, countdown for the husband's Ironman this weekend and Test Cycle for the eldest..and some more in between. And suddenly my myasthenia eyes kicked in after years of no symptoms, so I've been cross-eyed with double vision for a week now. Back to meds, realised I'm actually over-medicating and it's happily slowly returning to normal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I worked up to Section 7 of the Find My Fade. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had to balance on the couch to get this photot! It will be enormous, I'm just past halfway. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know, this pattern...isn't a difficult pattern, but it could have been written better. Very simple issues makes it very frustrating at times and more experienced knitters have thrown it down. I do love how the colour melting is developing and think I should have added the greyish colour I discarded, but all is working out fine. There might be a small yarn stash growing in similar colours, for myself...and there might even be another pile being assembled...for myself :-D I saved Malabrigo sock for almost three years now, waiting for the perfect pattern!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fearlessly frogging. Weekly. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was some simple sewing. That familiar story of buying the fabric, taking the old cushion covers off...waiting three years to take the next step and then completing the job in half a morning!<br /><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The back of a curtain panel for the landing window - No other photos :-( So marvel at my neat folding and ironing, and behold: no pins ;-)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And this year we happily subcontracted our Ironman supporter's t-shirts to a friend whose business is branding...I might have driven them slightly mad with changing font size and spacing until I was happy!I love the pow they added and we'll be some very visible supporters on race day Sunday.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The lime green ones - that's us :-D</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have no hope that April might be better...my sis is coming to visit for three weeks! We WILL get to visit Linda's Treehouse, a lovely local dyer, during which more yarn might be acquired...we WILL find time to sit down ;-)</span></div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-50242711137310560602017-03-07T09:11:00.002+02:002017-03-07T09:11:24.565+02:00What I'm working on in February<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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...except that February is already a thing of 7 days past!</div>
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The month is too short. And hot. A filled with athletic meets and swimming galas and school outings. </div>
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But I did progress with a few items!<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Parallelogram is done! Except for the ends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress on the cowl - I'll need one more round.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZBAeuZH1vs/WL5YNKhIKwI/AAAAAAAAFUw/T0gW2QNob7UuQWq0WYB6-mao5uqtSJANACLcB/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZBAeuZH1vs/WL5YNKhIKwI/AAAAAAAAFUw/T0gW2QNob7UuQWq0WYB6-mao5uqtSJANACLcB/s640/IMG_5730.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started to practise to Find Any Fade...rest assured, this was version 3 or 4 of maybe 37</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fade started to resemble a sheep's scull. Or a bovine uterus.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_cVFWT9YArE/WL5We6DKiBI/AAAAAAAAFUc/uoeecq4saT8Ea6B6Gq15Ht5gR5EaD3pyQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_cVFWT9YArE/WL5We6DKiBI/AAAAAAAAFUc/uoeecq4saT8Ea6B6Gq15Ht5gR5EaD3pyQCLcB/s640/IMG_6121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm actually getting somewhere!</td></tr>
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Well, there is progress...and I decided that life is too short to attain perfection on this project, so I'll live with the imperfections, such as the dropped stitch (I rescued it in some way), the colour change that happened too early, Lace Play 2 and 3 that Do Not resemble Lace Play 1...but it's laceish. And the shape is following the plan, sort of :-D<br /><br />When I finish this, I'll redo it in Proper Yarn!<br /><br />(I also sewed a skirt for a friend who's even more challenged that I am, sewing-wise...but we did it. It looks like she planned it, it can be worn in public :-D )</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-33826107864974141252017-01-25T18:56:00.000+02:002017-01-25T18:56:02.052+02:00What I'm working on in January<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Down here we are veeeery slow coming out of a summer holiday Christmas...we must have had the best weather ever, making these bodies and minds so lazy and full of sun and sand we didn't want to go back to school and work and life :-D<br />
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But the new school year tends to get you from 0 to 100 in a few seconds and here we are in the second week of school and getting back to choosing extra-murals and prefect-challenge duties and what not!</div>
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I had grand plans of finishing a project or two during December, but having spent half my time at the lagoon and the other half in the waves, there was little hooking done. I did start with a neutrals stash buster in the form of Yuli Nilssen's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moon-tide-scarf">Moon Tide Scarf</a> - except that it's a cowl, not a scarf,and my second take on this pattern. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Ever since I've seen this pattern the first time, I wanted to make an ocean-inspired scarf with it, in the colour of the sea as you take the slow turn at Die Bakke just before Mossel Bay. The water there has so many blues and greens and turquoise and silver like you can't believe...and Vinnis Serina has the colour, in Java Jade.</span><br />
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Except that the pattern then got lost in the colours :-(<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That was then...</td></tr>
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And two panels through a 3-panel scarf, I called it An End and frogged the lot. </div>
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So, hence the neutrals stash buster, trying to use the basic scarf instruction and just joining into the start to create a cowl. I'm aiming for five bands of colours, as I like an uneven number, but I'll see how it goes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...this is now!</td></tr>
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I am going very slow, as I'm sitting with a troubled right hand and stubborn trigger finger that might have to undergo surgery, so I'm alternating with The Dark Side and finally turned to my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/stash/search#colorway=Outlander&photo=yes&view=thumbs&yarn-link=voolenvine-yarns-smitten-dk">Voolenvine Smitten DK Outlander</a>, of which I have One Skein, al the way from NY via Ireland, to the Garden Route! I really want to be really sure of what I'm going to make with this, so surfed patterns for ages on Instagram, Ravelry and Pinterest. This was narrowed down to Something Knitted, more specifically a scarf, either shallow or asymmetric triangle, in colour blocks of stripes.<br />
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Easy, eh?<br />
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Except that my top 5 choices seemed to be in Finnish with no English translation to be found On This Planet. </div>
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But then I found the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/different-lines">Different Lines</a> pattern, oh yes! Except I've now also visited Linda's Treehouse just around the corner, and there are so many temptations lurking, so there's two colours more to be added to the Outlander and the <a href="https://cowgirlblues.co.za/shop/yarns/merino-dk/merino-dk-airforce/">cowgirlblues Airforce</a> I planned to use with it...So now I'm on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/parallelogram-2">Parallelogram </a>with five colourblocks and 724 false starts until I figured out what a yo.x is (newish knitter) and that I would actually like to do it in stocking stitch :-D<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ryiisL6Ak6w/WIjVyDubr3I/AAAAAAAAFTE/COFNSLqRjzEptxAfznFG3xuMcyeqW_gNgCLcB/s1600/IMG_5170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ryiisL6Ak6w/WIjVyDubr3I/AAAAAAAAFTE/COFNSLqRjzEptxAfznFG3xuMcyeqW_gNgCLcB/s400/IMG_5170.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The play of these three yarns with each other!</td></tr>
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And the Different Lines has another set of special yarns already waiting in the wings...<br />
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So I'm busy with those two, mainly. And reading...reading off my challenge list, of which I finished two Theme books:</div>
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1 - Antarctica - Die sneeu bly altyd wit (Morkel van Tonder) - short, but intense description of Scott's doomed race to get to the South Pole first.</div>
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2. Poetry - Katalekte (Breyten Breytenbach - not you typical beach read, as I did; a melancholic, self-depreciating collection of poems by this ex-exiled poet looking at his place in South Africa as he's ageing. </div>
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3. A (younger) classic - That was then, this is now (S.E. Hinton) - I missed the age-rating of this move, when it was released, and because The Outsiders was always one of my favourite books, I was really happy to find this one lurking in a second hand store.</div>
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I think that's enough for January. Together with moving furniture around and throwing things out (my equivalent of spring cleaning usually happens between Christmas and New Year!) and general decluttering/re-arranging/putting up shelving etc. <br />
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Knitting happens every second or third day and from now most likely while waiting for a school sport to finish!</div>
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And reading sometimes on the beach :-)<br />
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-49383951036450827482017-01-08T21:40:00.000+02:002017-01-08T21:40:04.974+02:00i(shall)Read 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ek lees wel baie (mos) (nie net eenmaal in 5 jaar nie ) (<a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2012/01/iread-2011.html">iRead 2011</a>)<br /><br />Ek skryf net nie (altyd) (alles) op nie. <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cd_AUKpBDZQ/WHKMdkWdgRI/AAAAAAAAFRc/KU8g7OXdR1cL1uWBBMyQhxv_XTg2r0pzgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cd_AUKpBDZQ/WHKMdkWdgRI/AAAAAAAAFRc/KU8g7OXdR1cL1uWBBMyQhxv_XTg2r0pzgCLcB/s640/IMG_4915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Maar ek hou wel van die uitdagings wat ons die laaste paar op Lekkerlees Boekrak gehad het - Nuwe Skrywers/Nuwe Genres in 2015, 6 Lande/6Skrywers in 2016 - daar het ek by Maleisië, Malawi, Ierland en Australië uitgekom.<br /><br />Die nuwe uitdaging vir 2017 - 7 Style/7 Dekades. Of 'n kombinasie van die twee.<br />
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Dis maklik, ek het 'n groot boekrak wat vol is. Daar's een hele rak in die kamer wat nét ongeleesde boeke het, so ek moet eers daar gaan 'koop'.<br />
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So gesê, so gedaan, maar die stapel raak effe hoog en dit begin groeperings kry en die uiteinde is my eie uitdaging: My 5's.<br /><br />So lyk dit:<br />
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Verskillende hopies van 5. Net om afwisseling te behou! En al wat 'n nuwe en maklike boek is tussenin.<br />
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<b>5 (Outo)biografieë</b><br />
1. Ek's g'n Slams - Fatima<br />
2. Native Nostalgia - Jacob Dlamini<br />
3. Let my people go - Albert Luthuli<br />
4. Good morning, Mr Mandela - Zelda la Grange<br />
5. Verwoerd, Mandela & me - Marianne Thamm<br />
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En wat ek ook moet kry...My land van hoop - die lewe van Beyers Naudé<br />
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<b>5 Afrika-stemme</b><br />
1. Radiance of tomorrow - Ishmael Beah<br />
2. Coconut - Kopano Matlwa<br />
3. Tjhaka/Chaka - Thomas Mofolo (ooooou Afrikaanse en nuwe Engelse weergawes)<br />
4. Americana - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie<br />
5. Black Diamond - Zakes Mda<br />
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<b>5 Klassieke boeke</b><br />
1. This is my God - Herman Wouk<br />
2. All is quiet on the western front - Erich Maria Remarque<br />
3. Polfyntjies vir die proe - C Louis Leipoldt<br />
4. Iliad - Homerus<br />
5. That was then, this is now - S E Hinton<br />
6. The man from Snowy River - Elyne Mitchell<br />
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Eeh...dis meer as 5.<br />
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<b>5 Engelse Suid-Afrikaanse stories</b><br />
1. London Cape Town Joburg - Zukiswa Wanner<br />
2. The adonna of Excelsior - Zakes Mda<br />
3. Spilt Milk - Kopano Matlwa<br />
4. Recipes of Love and Murder - Sally Andrew<br />
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Mmm...hier kort een<br />
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<b>5 Sosio/polities/geskiedenisboeke</b><br />
1. Of warriors, lovers and prophets - Max du Preez<br />
2. Die VOC aan die Kaap - De Wet, Hattingh & Visagie<br />
3. Imperiale Somer - Karel Schoeman<br />
4. Soos Familie - Ena Jansen<br />
5. Die geskiedenis van Boerekos - HW Claassens<br />
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<b>5 Temas</b><br />
1. 'n Boek wat afspeel in my dorp: Die Sideboard - Simon Bruinders<br />
2. Kortverhale: Fools & other stories - Njabulo S Ndebele<br />
3. 'n Struggle-boek: I write what I like - Steve Biko<br />
4. 'n Reisverhaal: Suid van die wind - Elsa Joubert<br />
5. Poësie: Katalekte - Breyten Breytenbach<br />
6. 'n Boek oor Antarktika - Die sneeu bly altyd wit - Morkel van Tonder<br />
(7. Kaaps: Hammie - Ronelda Kamfer)<br />(8 Resepteboek: Eet saam met Leipoldt - Peter Veldsman)<br />
(9 'n Onlangs oorlede skrywer : Watership Down - Richard Adams)<br />(10 - 'n Voorheen verbanne boek: Kennis van die aand - André P Brink)<br />
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Uhm.<br />
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<b>En 5 van die Seun se Boekrak</b><br />
Vier Assasin's Creeds<br />
En die eerste Lafras Kuyper<br />
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Gelukkig wag daar ook afwisseling in die vorm van Chanette Paul en Isa Konrad!<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">En daar is genoeg ander afleiding:</span></div>
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Hef aan lê voor. Party van hierdie boeke lê al vyf jaar in daai rak!<br />
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-34472162341158736902016-10-27T19:10:00.004+02:002016-10-27T19:10:46.436+02:00Too much frogging going on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I seem to be hiccuping a bit, not much going on at the finishing front here!</div>
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Two are two biiig wips hidden in my closet, one of which really hurt my shoulder last year, so it's hibernating a bit. And I tried all kinds of other things, that doesn't work like I want it to.<br />
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I saw a really beautiful shawl, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lizard-6">Dragon Wing/ Lizard Shawl</a> by Jasmin Räsänen...ooh, I wanted to start immediately, and did so...and couldn't find joy.<br /><br />I think it might have been the ridges.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...I frogged it here. </td></tr>
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I started the Monsoon Shawl twice now (no, correction, the yarn changed twice...) - first in dark navy Vinnis Serina - which didn't show the stitch pattern. The I added Ivory. Then I frogged and added jewel colours. Then I frogged,<br />
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And started again, in the new Moya Caresse. The colours worked beautifully...but I didn't like the pattern.<br />
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(Love the shawl, not the pattern? Yes, that can happen).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But - frogged</td></tr>
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Then I had coffee with a hooky friend who made this most beautiful scarf/shawl - I might have been a bit overcome with admiration, because she gave it to me! Her work is always so beautiful and I'm truly honoured to show this off:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H-1kWpwQdBo/WAtBnkHqlwI/AAAAAAAAFPc/JZHPTzPrDZkBmptGvrxFcT1mEN1dTLbqACLcB/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wJOvb7zdSc0/WAtBO8iYl0I/AAAAAAAAFPY/zzdULNEF5LIVPLC-27VEkuuFB3q4zAUqQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wJOvb7zdSc0/WAtBO8iYl0I/AAAAAAAAFPY/zzdULNEF5LIVPLC-27VEkuuFB3q4zAUqQCLcB/s640/IMG_1606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Simply Crochet saved my crochet drought with this little amigurumi packet and I quickly could make a little bat for my batman-besotted youngest one :-D</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse ears...on a bat?</td></tr>
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It was a simple, easy pattern, even when doing it late at night by a fire!</div>
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And now I started with Cherry Heart's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/painted-roses-blanket">Painted Roses Throw</a>. This was why I bough the Moya Caresse, after I've seen the colours. I really wanted to try in old, faded, vintage colours. There might be one or two brighter ones in my selection already, but things look promising!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here goes...hoping to be finished by Christmas!</td></tr>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-38046808453949536652016-09-25T17:59:00.003+02:002016-09-25T17:59:24.339+02:00A tiles-inspired blanket<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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And finished is the Tiles Blanket!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Freshly off the block</td></tr>
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This Tiles Blanket was started impulsively and grew quickly, until...April happened, which is always a huge, busy month for us, with my sis coming to visit, Ironman, 361 and all kinds of things happening, and bags with crochet projects in them are taken off the table, to a shelf, to a wardrobe, to the back of the wardrobe...until the day you clear up and Oh My Soul here's the Tiles Blanket!<br /><br />Only to realise the clear-up also included two boxes of yarn that might have contained the yarn needed to finish this...and I didn't want to buy more...so it ended up a bit smaller that planned, but exactly the right size for a wheelchair user, or a baby, so all ended well. <br /><br />While joining (with wip stitch) I realised:</div>
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<br />1) I should have used join-as-you-go, because the white row plus join was now a bit wide</div>
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2) The white row had 4 stitches per wide grey space, but that was one too many for the join and then it ruffled. </div>
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But I had already joined two strip of 5 squares, so no unraveling was going to happen, and it really isn;t the end of the world. </div>
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And then I love borders, so I couldn't wait to grab <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Around-Corner-Crochet-Borders-Instructions/dp/1603425381">Around The Corner Crochet Borders</a> to choose one, eventually deciding on nr 34 without the last row of SC.<br />(Ok, I actually lost yarn chicken ;-)<br />(And it's grey, because that was the only colour yarn left, and it worked out quite fine!)<br /></div>
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I really love how the colours worked out. <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2016/02/playing-with-my-tiles-wip.html">I did play around with 2 or 3 more</a>, but settled on the 4 used here (and now I'm wondering how this would in hand-dyed Vinnis Nikkim!).</div>
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Off the blocks (yes, the acrylic did block nicely) it travelled al over the house, draped here and folded there...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Outside on the stoep table</td></tr>
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It nearly stayed in my house , but it was a promised blanket and I'm happy that it already arrived at Maak 'n Verskil, from where I hope it will make the recipient happy as well. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Early-morning light is the best</td></tr>
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A beautiful, easy pattern, nice yarn and pretty colours makes for an enjoyable project that I might even duplicate at some stage!</div>
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All the info on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/SistahStel">Ravelry page</a>.</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-64103935801128742512016-09-17T17:27:00.000+02:002016-09-17T17:28:39.152+02:00Kry dié boek - Vrouekeur 50 Hekelpatrone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ek is mal daaroor dat die oplewing in hekel ook beteken dat daar 'n oplewing in die hekelboekbedryf beteken! Elke nou en dan val 'n nuwe hekelboek op my rak, waarvan Vrouekeur s'n die mees onlangse is. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vrouekeur 50 Hekelpatrone</td></tr>
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Vrouekeur is bekend vir die hekel- en breipatrone wat gereeld in die tydskrif verskyn, asook die klein hekel- en breiboekies wat die afgelope paar jaar verskyn het. Hierdie boek is 'n welkome byvoeging en het 'n lekker verskeidenheid om uit te kies. </div>
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Baie hekelboeke het 'n afdeling voor of aan die einde met 'n verduideling van a) hoe om te hekel en b) 'n verskeidenheid steke. Dit regverdig (myns insiens) eintlik 'n boek op sy eie omdat dit waardevolle patroonplek in beslag neem. Hier het Vrouekeur reg gedoen en gebruik slegs een bladsy vir patroonafkortings met kort verduidelikings. Die patrone het elk 'n duidelike, groot kleurfoto, met ekstra inligting of wenke waar nodig. </div>
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Die boek is verdeel in vyf afdelings: Hoedjies, Skoentjies, Dogtertjies, Vrouetruie en Komberse - baie duidelik pienk en vroulik. En hoewel ek nou nie regtig in die skoentjie/dogtertjie-mark val nie, is daar wel mooi patrone in wat ek definitief sal maak!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...die volgende babatjie in my groter vriendekring kry dalk so hasiehoed. Of die padda op bl 11!</td></tr>
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Of die harlekyn...of die katjie...hei, wat van Pippelotta!</div>
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Die Skoentjie-afdeling begin met 'n nuttige gids tot verskillende groottes skoensole, wat dan gebruik kan word vir die verskillende patrone: plakkies, sandaaltjies, verskillende tipes sokkies en moccasins.</div>
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My belangstelling lê by die Kombersafdeling, waar daar regtig heelwat mooies is. Ek het sommer vinnig blokkie B van die Nostalgie-kombers probeer :</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Een proefblokkie - effens aangepas<br />
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Patroonlees kan moeilik raak: baie afkortings en baie rondtes raak besig op 'n bladsy, maar die patrone is eenvoudig en maklik beskryf. Ek hou van diagramme, wat hierdie boek ongelukkig nie het nie, maar sommige patrone het wel 'n uitlegdiagram. </div>
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Tussen die 55 patrone sal daar definitief genoeg wees om die gemiddelde hekelaar gelukkig te hou, veral iemand wat baba/kinderkleertjies maak.</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-70384810290026964502016-08-09T16:56:00.000+02:002016-08-09T16:56:52.263+02:00A dark-side cowl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This whole winter I longed for a cowl around my neck. <br />
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Polo-necked sweaters just don't work anymore, and although there's a neat basket full of various types of scarves, I. Wanted. A. Cowl. </div>
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A t<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/strawberry-twisty-cowl">wistie cowl,</a> almost à la Crochet in Paternoster.<br />
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A double cowl to go around my neck twice.</div>
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A snug enough cowl that would not sag down to my breastbone, but actually cover my neck and throat. <br />
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Obviously there were many starts and stops and hiccups , but then I found the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kartopu-ketenli-yun">Kartopu Ketenli</a> in the yarn shop...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20% wool, 10% linen, 70% acrylic</td></tr>
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I totally love the look of this yarn, that is also available in a handful of other colours, but the black, oh, the black is mine, with the specks of whitish yarn, and it is soft enough to go near one's neck...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly the Ninja likes it as well. No knitting on the bed while the cat's also snuggling there.</td></tr>
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Ah - make that "both cats".</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe is just too cool to pretend to want to play with yarn</td></tr>
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Okay so, when knitting, I actually only like moss stitch. Stockinette is beautiful, especially with a variegated yarn, but the sides curl. And garter is easy peasy (and would actually also have worked with this), but. Moss is my favourite. Totally love the texture. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's my moss.</td></tr>
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The knitting is straight forward. I cast on stitches until I thought it was wide enough, knitted until it was long enough to wrap double around my neck, twisted in and slipstitched the ends together. Then I thought I'd like to try a lacy pattern around the edge, just to see what it would look like...a small one.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done and edged</td></tr>
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Here's the lacy border - #115 from "Around the Corner - Crochet Borders" by Edie Eckman. I did make a slight change and used SC instead of DC in the first round.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The border is small enough not to be bothersome, but you can see it :-)</td></tr>
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Happiness!</div>
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It looks quite snug, but it's not tight, and relaxes through the day. Lessons learnt from cowls past ;-)</div>
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And it still is cold enough that I could wear it this week, and there's a promise of a cold weekend coming. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacy twisty cowl</td></tr>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-79271228039845122392016-08-04T15:27:00.000+02:002016-08-04T15:27:07.887+02:00At last, a Summer Throw Completed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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At last, at last, a final post about the Summer Throw, that has actually been completed so long ago and is in use on the bed, even as a winter throw, but oh, the shame...because there was still more than a few ffffrafels* to work away...<br />
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But luckily I have a wonderful aunt, who came to visit, and she loves helping out with predicaments like these, and she Sat Down and Worked All The Ends Away.<br />
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I have shown most of the blanket before, but here's some more :-)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blc3FJw_TVk/V6I-AQ6zimI/AAAAAAAAFJM/MXuV1DFfFgUrWPPFT1JKUiVspRPTJR78gCLcB/s1600/IMG_5975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blc3FJw_TVk/V6I-AQ6zimI/AAAAAAAAFJM/MXuV1DFfFgUrWPPFT1JKUiVspRPTJR78gCLcB/s640/IMG_5975.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's folded on my trousseau kist, and Chloe Cat** wil curl himself up on the softness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most often it lies in a crumpled pile on the bed, after one or both of the boys came through our room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've long stopped trying to straighten it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's just easier leaving it on a friendly, crumpled heap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QI8R2KKo2wI/V6I-qRUaN8I/AAAAAAAAFJY/l3umrY7QLPoyhOWgpGgXrQyoNembmauKQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QI8R2KKo2wI/V6I-qRUaN8I/AAAAAAAAFJY/l3umrY7QLPoyhOWgpGgXrQyoNembmauKQCLcB/s640/IMG_5991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...because this lasts only a few second for the purpose of this photo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olEREWsYJxc/V6I-5_ipwFI/AAAAAAAAFJg/KBAE1RLtolYUy3wi0lxvjbxLSb4vwrFwQCLcB/s1600/IMG_5993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olEREWsYJxc/V6I-5_ipwFI/AAAAAAAAFJg/KBAE1RLtolYUy3wi0lxvjbxLSb4vwrFwQCLcB/s640/IMG_5993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...then I fold it back to start folding laundry, and the boys come in, and start jumping/playing...and off we go again :-)</td></tr>
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Here's some of the history, since this throw has been coming a loooong time:<br /><br />First, I did it the proper way and made a mock-up, a <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2014/11/projek-bohemiatrial-version.html">trial version,</a> to get the colour patterns right. </div>
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Then, over some months, I hooked furiously, then let it lie, then planned a house, then moved across the country, hooking in between, and at some stage when it was begin enough, started using it, with fffrafels all over the place and no edge.<br /><br /><a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/04/my-non-random-placement-of-randomly.html">Here</a> I explained my colour placement.<br /><br />And now it's done, with unedited photos (I forgot) at various light levels and what not, but at least it's on the bed.<br /><br />The pattern was the Sorbet & Lace Square in the Ideas Crochet magazine available on Zinio.<br /><br />The yarn was the lovely 10 ply Colours of Grace Magdalene, sadly discontinued, but soon to be followed with something new...</div>
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<br />I think I used a 4.5 hook...but there might have been a 4 and 5 appearing sporadically...</div>
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The edge - Edge nr 22 from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Around-Corner-Crochet-Borders-Instructions/dp/1603425381">Around the Corner - Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*fffrafels = those ends. Or where you joined yarn. Anything that needs to be worked away. "Frays", in Afrikaans it's "rafels",, but then one becomes a bit bit agitated and adjectives are added...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">***Chloe Cat = Chloe is actually a male, but when he arrived at the mine where he worked as a Mouse Catcher, it was thought that he was a she. Which he wasn't. When the mine closed, all the cats had to be re-homed, and my resident geologist chose Chloe, whom then flew 1500 km to his new home, and might forever still be address as "she", even thought Chloe O'Reilly is "he".</span><br />
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-66634886264215212362016-06-04T18:07:00.001+02:002016-06-04T18:07:40.159+02:00Catching up and taking stock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Time flies, eh, when...<br /><br />a) you're having fun</div>
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<br />b) but actually get busier with the boys at school</div>
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<br />c) and really shut down most everything while the sisi is visiting here from Eire</div>
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d) and then it's crunch time when the man of the house does Ironman (2h20min improvement!) and a week later the 361 MTB Challenge (finished in 27h30min) so we all just crash for a while</div>
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e) but actually after 18 months you're still not totally in love with the Mac (So I don't work on it every day0</div>
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:-P</div>
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<br />f) AND: Inflamed labrum. Tennis elbow. Pinched nerve. Trigger finger. All On The Same Arm.<br /><br />So everything is happening very slowly here. And the attention span is also prone to jumping all over the place, therefor some crossing to the Dark Side happened (that helped while nursing all the injuries).</div>
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Some WIP's, longer and shorter term...<br /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first ever meant-to-be-a-blanket!</td></tr>
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When I first learnt to crochet, way back in 2012 (2011?), I immediately wanted to make the Vintage Stripe Blanket. Having no idea of yarn type, thickness, quality, hook sizes, stitches, nothing. The only Known here, is that I used some Elle Rustica, and started with a chain. Whatever combination of stitches I thought was making, no one will know. And then I realised the edge was so uneven that ragged did not really describe it :-D</div>
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<br />SO - swiftly abandoned, but not destroyed. I firmly believed that it could be saved in the form of a cushion cover, or wrap (for a while) or poncho (for a while) and it wil now be transformed into the final version of...a poncho! And might get an extra edge. Can't get rid of it.</div>
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#memories</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiles Blanket</td></tr>
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This is a recent starter - blanket inspired by tiles...ooh, haven't done a thing since my previous post.</div>
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#horror</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baerenwolle Linus Scarf</td></tr>
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This is actually my third Linus! My sis gave me this beautiful Baerenwolle red yarn and it's all rolled and ready, but I'm stopping and starting and stopping and starting while I should be doing this with my eyes closed. <br />#alwayshopeful </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cycle beanie</td></tr>
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Black yarn. Black yarn should be banned. One should have to apply in triplicate before starting anything in black yarn! This is for a cycling friend who needs something thin underneath her helmet for those cold days, hence Thin Black Sock Yarn. <br /><br />I've been working on/avoiding this for Almost A Year.</div>
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#willifinishthis</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Japanese Scarf</td></tr>
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Beautiful yarn (Nurturing Fibres in Driftwood), beautiful pattern...fussy pattern. <br />#yarnmightgointoblanket</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malabrigo Linus Scarf</td></tr>
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Oh, what a JOY it is to work with Malabrigo, even in sock yarn, and this colourway (Zarzamora) might just be one of the most beautiful I've set eyes on! This Linus Scarf took a long time, because of the thin yarn, but I love, love love it. Just needs a small crochet border, and then I'm ready for the cold weather that just descended.</div>
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#absolutefavourite</div>
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It's upside down. Nothing in this world will rotate the photo. This is al beautiful, simple pattern, and in Vinnis Nikkim and some I Love Yarn, it will feel like a hug around my shoulders. it's also my current WIP, whilst ignoring the others :-D<br />#workingreallyhardonitthough</div>
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There were/are others.</div>
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There's an Elise Shawl V3 (don't know where!). But that's where the injuries started, with V1. And there's been a cowl, and a bunny beanie that became a Yoda beanie (for that matter, some more beanies), another Linus Scarf, ah, a Graceful Shells Cowl that was finished (photos still downloading).<br /><br />I'll catch up. It's winter holidays soon. Let's just get through the Gr 6 test cycle, eh?</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-88010252933806849722016-02-19T10:39:00.003+02:002016-02-19T10:39:22.661+02:00Playing with my Tiles-WIP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Instead of completing my own Winter Blanket, or my boy's Summer Throw, or any of the 5/6/7 various shawls/cowls/tryouts currently on the hook elsewhere in the house, I have been playing around on Moldiv, mosaic'ing my new Tiles Blanket WIP...oh ja, another new one :-D</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CR40H5LCpSU/Vsa7CKM0HjI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/SKDj9jd01Jc/s1600/IMG_2915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CR40H5LCpSU/Vsa7CKM0HjI/AAAAAAAAFFQ/SKDj9jd01Jc/s640/IMG_2915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's been quite a few posts by Ons Hekel members the last couple of weeks, of beautiful tile floors, and similar comes by on Instagram almost on a daily basis (oh my soul, Anneke alerted me to THIS: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ihavethisthingwithfloors/?hl=en">I Have This Thing With Floors</a>)and even on my dusty, sadly neglected <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/alwaysreading/ons-hekel-crochet-inspiration/">Pinterest board</a> there were tiles, mosaics, floors, rags...so I snapped to attention and declared it Time To Crochet A Tile Floor and luckily there's enough stash, I didn't even have to buy more.</div>
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I looked at many, many photos - on Ons Hekel, on IG, on my Pinterest, on Pinterest in general, in magazines (it's a dark vortex, I tell ya) and then just printed these two to come up with a basis for colour choices. I didn't even try to come up with exact matches, but I thought something lacy-ish would work. Quickly it was a mad rush through through possible patterns, and goodness knows, there's enough books here and in the end I decided on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/croydon-square">Jan Eaton's Croydon Square</a>, yeehaaa which is working fine! (Although the well-known Rustic Lace Square should work beautifully, as well as the <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220113500513292439/">Sorbet & Lace Square</a>).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Match this. Colourwise. And cross fingers it will work out. </td></tr>
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<br />I started out with 6 or 7 colours in different sequences and combinations - believe me, I hooked and frogged and hooked and frogged this square so many times, discarding and adding and simplifying until I ended up with four colours.<br /><br /><br />Here's my yarn (and an unblocked square):</div>
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All four of these colours have been tried out in all possible positions, but this one looked best:</div>
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Blocking acrylic is at best not a real option, but I did block it on a frame and steamed it quite thoroughly, relaxing those strands and getting it more or less flat and square. <br /><br />And then I wondered "but will it work???", hence the above mosaic, and since it prove to be a hit on Ons Hekel, I took that same mosaic'd photo and mosaic'd it further to see a possible blanket...</div>
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Does it look like a tiled floor?</div>
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<br />So this will be my blankie, albeit it a bit smaller. I'll be making a lapghan to donate again to the Maak 'n Verskil group (Make A Difference) who distributes blankets to the elderly, children, disabled or general people in need. </div>
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Edge. What edging should I use? <br /><br />But first, at least 29 more squares.<br /><br /><br /></div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-12773063612892616802016-02-09T21:50:00.000+02:002016-02-10T12:54:01.433+02:00Get this book - Hooked on Mandalas/Mandalas to Crochet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was whining a bit today, and contemplating how to justify the purchase of yet another crochet book, when I already have a good twenty or so on the shelf and a WIP list of a mile. So I went back to the bookstore, for a Proper Second Look, after yesterday's Quick First Browse ... and before I knew, I was already in the coffee shop (WIP to hand) and reading it like a novel.</div>
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Behold - Hooked on Mandalas by Haafner Linnsen:<br /><i>(this is the South African title. In the UK and US it was published as "Mandalas to Crochet"</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was testing another mandala - beautiful - and that's my <a href="https://www.yarninabarn.co.za/product-category/ilona/ilona-heritage-hooks/">Ilona Heritage Hook</a> from Yarn in a Barn :-)<br />
And my cappo got cold</td></tr>
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Doilies and mandalas have had a tremendous increase in popularity over the last couple of years. it is being coloured in and crocheted and turned into rugs and is currently the topic of a large project <a href="http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/mandalasformarinke/">#MandalasforMarinke</a>, by Kathryn Vercillo in remembrance of crochet blogger <a href="http://www.acreativebeing.com/">Wink</a>. This book ties in perfectly with the current trend.<br />
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If you crochet and you are online, you know about Haafner, author of the blog <a href="http://byhaafner.blogspot.co.za/">By Haafner</a>, she of the beautiful retro pastel colours, the popcorn blanket and the doilie installations on the wall. Thirty of those doilies have now made it into this utterly beautiful book. <br />
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Haafner was trained in cultural history and art and this is evident in her introduction where she gives a short background to her crochet approach as well as the history and origin of mandalas. </div>
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The books starts off with a very useful "Before you begin" section. This includes doubles pages of </div>
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* Yarns*</div>
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Comparing the same pattern in different yarns and hook sizes <i>with the photos in 50% of actual size and the hooks at full size. </i>How useful is that?</div>
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*Colour me happy*</div>
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Some advice on colour schemes and combinations, again comparing different versions of the same pattern.</div>
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*Read this first*</div>
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DO. Because that's what grabbed me. This section covers some tips on starting, joining and reading the charts, including that only a section of each chart is coloured - meaning that you don't have to keep your wits together as the Where You Are in this diagram...you only need to focus on the coloured section that makes up the main motif, while against the context of the whole circle. Clever!</div>
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*How to crochet the perfect mandala*</div>
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Starting seamlessly and joining invisibly. Increasing rows and how to keep your circles flat. Blocking.</div>
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*Crochet refresher course*</div>
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A couple of pages with very clear illustrations on the basics of crochet stitches, how to make those front and double posts, and then...so, so useful: standing stitches, joining with a needle, and weaving in ends...clever tips to make starts, joins and ends invisible. </div>
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By now I was sold, but then the colour photos started. Beautiful, clear pictures of her work. <br />
I want to make all the mandalas. Okay, I probably won't, but I could see placemats, hot pads, a rug or two, cushion covers ...(and that was before I got to the project pages).</div>
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Each pattern stands alone with a large, clear photo and the diagram and instructions on a white page with no embellishments or distractions (very important, book authors and layout artists!). On the pattern page you'll find a sentence or two about the pattern, a recommended hook size and final size (I assume when done with DK according to the yarns used). </div>
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After the pattern section, Haafner included five beautiful border patterns that could suit each of the mandalas in the book.</div>
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And as a bonus - some projects to make with your mandala. Choose from a boho bag, hotpad, tablemat, summer scarf, flowery lap blanket, rug and a hexagon blanket.</div>
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The book ends with a list of symbols and abbreviations, as well as a comparison between UK and US stitches.</div>
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This is Haafner's first book and I really hope for another. It is pretty, well laid out, the patterns are written clearly and simply and the look is crisp and clean. I love it, easily bought it and happily recommend it.</div>
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Also find Haafner on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/byhaafner/">Instagram</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Haafner">Ravelry</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hooked on Mandalas is a Quarto book, published by <a href="http://www.randomstruik.co.za/">Struik Lifestyle</a> 2016 with ISBN 978-1-43230-657-1</span></div>
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<i>So how did I justify it?<br />I love books. I have a lot of them. I read and re-read them. </i><i> And one day, when the bookshelves really spill over, I'll clear out and again donate some to the library. But first I want to make all the mandalas :-D</i></div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-68211383571031535732016-01-26T18:15:00.000+02:002016-01-27T06:15:17.757+02:00When Santa's helper left his hat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It is a very well known fact in my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/onshekel/">crochet group</a> that I Absolutely Do Not Like any form of toilet crochet. <br />
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Not toilet seat covers, not lid covers, not matching sets covering each and every object in the bathroom, not those dolls with their Spanish dresses covering a toilet roll, nothing. I do not promote it, when it appears I cower in a corner until it has moved down the Timeline, and otherwise I try to promote beautiful, modern crochet.<br />
(Yes...I know, but - my group, my taste etc.)<br />
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But then I made this:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seems there's an elf about...</td></tr>
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I know!! Bless my soul, a toilet roll cover In My Own Guest Loo!!</div>
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Okay, so I saw similar somewhere on the web, browsed past, but obviously it stuck in the back of my mind although I never went back, and I was putting up Christmas decorations all over the house, inside and out, and I thought, what the heck, let me ride this idea and make Prettier Toilet Crochet. </div>
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Didn't have the pattern link, so I had to wing it. Starting out with a base chain that would ensure a semi-snug fit around my roll of toilet paper. Single crochet from there. I hooked quite a wide band of white, as I want to fold it over resembling a furry edge to the hat.</div>
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Once I though it would be wide enough to double over, I continued with red, until as least a few rows taller than the toilet roll.</div>
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Now I had to shape this thing, with no idea how. Some decreasing of stitches had to be done, and the first attempt (reducing one stitch every second row) left me with a veeeeeeery long, pointy hat - no good. A decrease in every row resulted in a hat too short. So in the end...it was every one-and-three-quarters of a row. #exasperated</div>
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As I was going in the round as per amigurumi and not really counting, I marked the last spot with white, more or less went one and three quarters around before decreasing again...<br />
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...until it was done and I folded over the white and then had to do something to the pointy bit, and I didn't want to make a pompom, when happily these appeared in a kitchen drawer of all places:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jingle Bells :-)</td></tr>
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And off the hat went, to spend Christmas in the guest loo, with all kinds of funny and quirky and pretty, Anneke's <a href="https://crochetinpaternoster.wordpress.com/tag/doily-rug/">doily rug</a> and my mom's potty (for used hand towels), my poetry collection and cartoons, a 1994 voter's letter and some pretty pictures, my gran's frame repainted and a Moroccan wire shelf.</div>
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That's a beaded wire scorpion on the floor.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toilet crochet, but prettier</td></tr>
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Until the next project! </div>
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Which might be green and orange...roll on Paddy Day?</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-29460592831226905732016-01-17T12:54:00.001+02:002016-01-17T12:54:28.617+02:00On the hook, at last, and randomising stripes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After nine long weeks of enforced hooky rest, the result of intense <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/elise-shawl-v2.html">Elise Shawl</a>-hooking, there are small signs of a recovering shoulder/elbow. Let me not count my yarn balls too quickly, though!</div>
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<br />So I'm slowly picking up work again, and first priority is my little one's <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/08/a-tommie-blanket.html">Tommie-blanket</a>, a summer throw for his bedroom. Just a few rows at a time, so as not to overwork the fragile right arm ;-)</div>
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Immediately I was asked about my random colours, and as usual, it is not random. This Gemini mos wants <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/04/my-non-random-placement-of-randomly.html">randomised order</a> (see the Project Bohemia summer throw).<br /><br />First off, I'm using all my summery yarn stash: Vinnis Nikkim/Bambi/Serina, I Love yarn - Imagine, Sublime Egyptian Cotton, Rico Baby Cotton, Unlabeled Yarn That I Can't Identify etc...</div>
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The base colour is Vinnis Bambi "Blue-Gray", which you'll see in every third row. Now...<br /><br />I started with Base.</div>
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Then</div>
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Warm - Neutral - Cool<br />Base<br />Cool - Navy - Warm</div>
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Base<br />Warm - Neutral - Cool<br />Base<br />Cool - Navy - Warm</div>
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...ad infinitum until The End.</div>
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(I might have switched some around resulting in Warm - Navy - Cool, but it's not the end of the world)<br /><br />But...Red is obvious, so it must be balanced and every 8th row is thus Red.</div>
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Navy is also semi-obvious and therefor every 8th row...balancing with the Neutral, you see :-)<br /><br />And although Yellow is not strictly every 8th, it is more or less.<br /><br />I'm not losing my mind, I'm keeping it together and furiously counting rows and colours! And the randomness will be balanced and keep my colour-OCDness happy. </div>
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Off I go, I hear a cocktail being mixed in the kitchen ;-)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-7243950250813476192015-11-27T15:09:00.003+02:002015-11-27T15:09:55.594+02:00A "Thank You" Scarf for Mrs S<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's the end of the school year (Yeayyyy!!) and I like giving a small gift to my son's teachers in their Foundation Phase years. Last year I went a bit wild and crocheted <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2014/12/this-year-i-crocheted-teacher-gifts.html">SEVEN gifts</a> - but then we were leaving the preschool after six beautiful years.</div>
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My youngest started gr 1 and he had a lovely teacher. Mrs S is the old-fashioned type you <i>want</i> your child to have in their first year of schooling, properly teaching them their ABC's and counting, bonds and phonics, and he's learnt and grown really well under her guidance. <br /><br />I took note through the year that she is a scarf-wearing women.</div>
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You know, the type we hookers like. </div>
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And blue is her colour. </div>
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And luckily I met <a href="http://www.yuli.co.za/">Yuli</a> this year, and got to know her very beautiful pattern named the <a href="http://www.yuli.co.za/index.php/2015/07/21/thank-you-scarf/">Thank You Scarf</a>...so it was just the matter of finding the right blue, which came in the form of <a href="http://www.vinniscolours.co.za/#serina">Vinnis Colours Serina in Pale Sky.</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bought the Pale Sky beauties en route to our Get Hooked! get-together atThe Blue Shed</td></tr>
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With all the beautiful blues available in Vinni's range, I don't think there's a prettier one than Pale Sky! It is just darn difficult to photograph, because just as with the real sky, the colour seems to keep changing. </div>
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The Thank You Scarf is a pretty, easy pattern, and came out perfectly with my nr 4 hook.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could easily sit and hook while watching the fun of learning-to-sail</td></tr>
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My yarn ran out just one row short of a full repeat, but I left it at that as it was also a natural end. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEJ2KMaZPUQ/VlhIOuHKFDI/AAAAAAAAFAg/wI4OcHLkeBs/s1600/IMG_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FEJ2KMaZPUQ/VlhIOuHKFDI/AAAAAAAAFAg/wI4OcHLkeBs/s640/IMG_0149.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The yarn's softness and my loose tension resulted in a light, softer-that-soft scarf that I would have loved to keep!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying it on quickly</td></tr>
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The motif blocked our beautifully. I would love to have one myself! I think I might make a five motif repeat then. </div>
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And then it was done and time to wrap it up. </div>
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(I posted this photo on my IG feed - where I took my photos of Anything On A Hanger :-)<br />I remove the bottom portrait, hang my item from the nail, get as close as possible while still keep the top portrait and door out of the frame - and that's my backdrop!)</div>
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My little one proudly delivered, together with the five roses and packet of Marie biscuits he insisted on ;-)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaaaw</td></tr>
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Happy Christmas, mam!</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-40912044844609426842015-11-15T15:48:00.000+02:002015-11-15T15:57:42.629+02:00Elise Shawl V2.1...yeaaaaah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ahem</div>
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Yeees, it had to happen, I can pretend all I want BUT.</div>
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I was Very Happy with my Elise Shawl V2.<br />
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Even though acrylic, the Lollipop worked very nicely, it looked great, I was so happy with the result and i already had a short opportunity to wear it as intended. </div>
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Buuuut somewhere deep inside, I was still conjuring up pictures...wow, it would have been lovely if I could have made it with Rowan Tweed. That was even before I saw <a href="http://www.gotlandwoolcompany.com/product-category/curly-sheep-yarn/">Gotland yarn</a>, and then WYS's <a href="http://www.wyspinners.com/bluefaced-leicester-wool/bluefaced-leicester-yarn-aran-thickness">Bluefaced Leicester</a>...I stopped surfing right there (birthday lists...birthday angels...). Locally we have <a href="http://nurturingfibres.com/online-shop/pure-wool/dk-super-twist/">Nurturing Fibers</a>, of which I ordered, but the colour Driftwood was a bit different than I expected - I will use it for another long-since-earmarked pattern).</div>
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In the end, the answer was right here all the time (can you here <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xELTfJ-ZVBc">Survivor</a> belting it out in the background??).</div>
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An ooooold favourite.</div>
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Right here, in the stash. </div>
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Not one or two balls...</div>
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16.</div>
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SIXTEEN.</div>
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16 x 50g = 800g</div>
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Easily more than I have used. Easily enough for another go at this pattern. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7snAbEx0Os/VkiL8bLzmFI/AAAAAAAAFAI/6iHdxjZLG0o/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7snAbEx0Os/VkiL8bLzmFI/AAAAAAAAFAI/6iHdxjZLG0o/s640/IMG_0090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course! What else? Colour Clouds.</td></tr>
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I've already started working.</div>
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We're not talking about any other WIPS, noooo, especially not the two that have to be finished within two weeks...<br />
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MIL claimed Elise V2 :-)<br />
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-40089998045299074512015-11-03T19:36:00.000+02:002015-11-03T19:36:07.637+02:00Elise shawl V.2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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And yeay! V.2 of the Elise Shawl is done. </div>
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It is huge. It is half a blanket. It is a triangular blanket. </div>
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<br />Which is what I wanted - something to permanently leave in the car for those days when you spend 2-3 hours between school and judo, hurrying up and waiting for the half-hours between the beginnings and endings of the boys' extra-murals and suddenly, as it does here, it turns cold.<br /></div>
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And you have nothing. </div>
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But now, now I can get my huge Elise Shawl in the car and wrap myself in it.</div>
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This thing gobbled up 626 g of Lollipop Vezuvo Aran (a very, very nice acrylic. I am a total sucker for natural yarns, but when I have something i the colour thath I want , and it is manmade, but the similar in wool/tweed costs almost 9 times that much...and you have to factor in the 626g...then I happily use the acrylic. If and when a real wool in this colour with this one black fibre rocks up, and it doesn't cost R92/50g, then we can talk).<br /><br />It also really hurt my arm. I'm using an obscene amount of Reparil gel on from the shoulder right past my elbow, and I go to sleep while Mr Diclofenac does its thing :-0<br /><br />That happens when I work too much, too long over a short period of time!</div>
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On Instagram I shared some photos of Where I Worked, because it went Everywhere with me:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting life at the dojo</td></tr>
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Growing a bit at the wheel-alignment center</div>
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(And here Blogger is doing That Thing it sometimes does, hence the huge space...)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mggm6Mmyzsg/VjjKah7IfaI/AAAAAAAAE-g/KHlAPdVZWOc/s1600/IMG_8486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSOlg2m8_nc/VjjSfBn71sI/AAAAAAAAE_I/lgWl_VjJmug/s1600/IMG_7845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSOlg2m8_nc/VjjSfBn71sI/AAAAAAAAE_I/lgWl_VjJmug/s640/IMG_7845.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It went on a road trip to Oudtshoorn, where it spent some time on the dashboard of the car, on a very hot day...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...resulting in a custom grip on my Prym 6</td></tr>
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My MIL took one look at the pattern and said she has something similar. <br /><br />Wouldyabelieveit?! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made by my husband's grandmother when MIL was a young 17, sometime around the early '60s</td></tr>
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There's a tiny difference - 6DCs in the cluster where the Elise has 5, but that is about all. </div>
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And guess what? Just a couple of days later, I spotted this lady at the entrance to the veggie shop. I chatted her up right there to take a look and showed her photos of mine.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She said she would really like a purple one</td></tr>
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As it is acrylic, I couldn't really block, plus it is too big to try and steam block, so I just rinsed the shawl and hung it out to dry, pegged in a straight line.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxo6ZCq4FmA/VjjKxSBdiPI/AAAAAAAAE-w/pA8tEJahFjM/s1600/IMG_8527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>There were so many questions about "what is it there at the bottom point of the shawl??"<br />It's my supersize pegs, bought at the R5 shop and usually used to peg jeans :-) Here it added weight to pull the point down, without stretching it too much.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxo6ZCq4FmA/VjjKxSBdiPI/AAAAAAAAE-w/pA8tEJahFjM/s1600/IMG_8527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxo6ZCq4FmA/VjjKxSBdiPI/AAAAAAAAE-w/pA8tEJahFjM/s640/IMG_8527.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I can't wait to try this shawl out. It's ready, in the car. But, as luck would have it, we've just come through the hottest October ever recorded in South Africa - and on the rainy days this week, we weren't out in the cold. </div>
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PS - Behind the scenes - this is what it really looked like :-D<br /><br />-0-</div>
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-0-<br /><br />It's already dark outside when my son takes a quick shot so I can show my sis! </div>
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I take my pose in front of the stationary cupboard in the homework corner, still sporting my beach shorts of earlier that afternoon.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ha ha!!</td></tr>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-49957676073308335882015-10-23T17:31:00.001+02:002015-10-23T17:31:03.448+02:00My take on the Elise-shawl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The last couple of years I've been snapping away on our hunting trips, on the beach, in the veld, and noticed a recurring theme...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98YV506OTRs/VioxEgIF4XI/AAAAAAAAE7M/Wu2Sdw2MLgI/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-98YV506OTRs/VioxEgIF4XI/AAAAAAAAE7M/Wu2Sdw2MLgI/s640/IMG_4262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...starting with this rock rose in the Free State</td></tr>
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The next year when we visited, I noticed it on the aloe as well:</div>
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And the thorny cactus thingey on the stoep</div>
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(sorry...not into the cactus trend, I don't know the name :-D</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxT_pOR4e6c/VioxmuTgOAI/AAAAAAAAE7k/FVlcbCeEucI/s1600/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxT_pOR4e6c/VioxmuTgOAI/AAAAAAAAE7k/FVlcbCeEucI/s640/IMG_4315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But it's not a new thing. Remember my <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2012/11/how-do-you-crochet-most-beautiful.html">Klein Karoo stool cover </a>from this photo?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_DWy50YkRw/ViozK6rwHRI/AAAAAAAAE7w/PN35zMMOOvE/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_DWy50YkRw/ViozK6rwHRI/AAAAAAAAE7w/PN35zMMOOvE/s640/IMG_0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Can you see it now?</div>
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The soft greyish green tipped with pinks?</div>
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I kept seeing it everywhere.</div>
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Outside a beach house at Gourits:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUFb6_31lEc/Vio3bF6e8qI/AAAAAAAAE8M/41YYWjrKHnw/s1600/IMG_1242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUFb6_31lEc/Vio3bF6e8qI/AAAAAAAAE8M/41YYWjrKHnw/s640/IMG_1242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the Montagu Pass:</div>
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My best ever favourite flower in the Garden Route Botanical Garden:</div>
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(look at the stem as well!)</div>
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These tiny flowers in the Groot Swartberg near De Rust:</div>
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There's no better place for a workshop in colour combination than your nearest outdoors. </div>
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So. I wanted to make a shawl (having never ever before worn or made a triangular shawl). It would be greenish and the only colour it could ever be is <a href="http://www.vinniscolours.co.za/#nikkim">Vinnis Nikkim Khaki.</a> Nothing else. As for the pink tips, I was thinking about a hot pink lacy or tiny tiny edge...then various other pinks came to mind when I started looking through my stash. In the end I used a softer pink from <a href="http://www.skapie.co.za/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=95&category_id=61">Elle Premier Cotton</a>.</div>
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As for the pattern, I wanted to hook up a lacy shawl, not too difficult, not too holey and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elise-shawl">Elise shawl</a> was the obvious one that ticked all the boxes.</div>
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I had a whole pile of Khaki squares from trying out patterns for my summer throw and I re-used most of these, so I have no idea of how much yarn went into it!</div>
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Done!</div>
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I love how the green comes alive due to the hand dyeing. </div>
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I started the lacy edge off a diagram from a website in a language that I can't even decipher; it's not Russian, it could be anything. After the first row I winged it on my own. </div>
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Unblocked I thought it might be too dense:<br />(hanging off the kitchen counter, held in place by salt & pepper, sugar pots :-D )</div>
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It could have done with a severe block, buuuuut the "neckline" part pulled too tight. Aaaaand I realised almost 75% of the way through that I not making the tr in the middle of the cluster, but a dc...</div>
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So. After a light block, it came out really pretty, but I would love to see it more opened up.</div>
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I was surprised by how comfortable a triangle sits, and would love a wider one, with longer wings. Therefor, I'm already onto V.2, with the correct cluster, and a slight modification to try and get the wings longer! This green one is now off to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/301036419977674/">Maak 'n Verskil</a> who also runs a project with Prayer Shawls for cancer patients. I though this would be quite fitting, as I completed the shawl during Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the pink ties in with that, while the green would refer to my mom, a Klein Karoo girl, whom we lost to breast cancer 16 years ago.<br /><br />All the while I'm thinking what I would name this shawl - it should be my Dolly shawl then.</div>
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For her :-)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-24565657626892160082015-09-20T14:04:00.000+02:002015-09-20T14:35:33.930+02:00What I made with Moya Bulky Plush <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Moya Yarns was so kind to send me another sample pack - this time the supersoft Bulky Plush. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNTTduWprcI/Vf6cYfwc8wI/AAAAAAAAE5s/LOZc-kZ8qWk/s1600/IMG_5166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gNTTduWprcI/Vf6cYfwc8wI/AAAAAAAAE5s/LOZc-kZ8qWk/s640/IMG_5166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Did I mention that it is soft?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Baby-bottom-cotton-ball-supersoft.</span></td></tr>
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I had to make something small (because of the thickness, there are not too many meters on a cake!). The softness would most likely indicate something for a baby - a beanie, soft blanket or playmat, what about lounging slippers for myself?<br />
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But<br />
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There was a project lurking in the depths of my cupboard, wooden hangers waiting oh, so patiently to be covered, and I thought that this new bulky yarn would do that in a jiffy. </div>
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With a yarn this thick, I thought a plain and simple cover would be best. It wouldn't even need padding underneath!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ten stitches would do it</td></tr>
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It was an easy-peasy project, superquick if you wanted to throw in into MIL's birthbay parcel in a few days!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First one done</td></tr>
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I was a bit undecided about the joining - the first one was simply crochet together with SC. Then I didn't like the ridge so much and thought I'd sew the rest together.<br />
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Yeah.<br />
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I don't possess a needle thick enough to carry that yarn.<br />
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Plus, I didn't leave a tail long enough to do that!<br />
#whatwasIthinking</div>
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But in some or other way the covers were fitted and joined, embroidery yarn might have been involved. I decided to leave the metal hooks uncovered - haven't had much joy with the plastic piping available and didn't want to faff with twisting and glueing yarn around the hook. Simpler is anyways better, don'tya think?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy birthday, MIL!</td></tr>
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I really enjoyed working with the Moya Bulky Plush. Bear with my limited knowledge of yarn characteristics - but the brushed cotton-like texture makes it a joy, no slipping of yarn! It worked up really quick. My nr 6 hook might not have been the best though - I wanted a dense finish, but in retrospect the nr 7 would have look better.</div>
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All in all, I'm a happy hooker and found this yarn absolutely perfect for clothes hangers. No slipping of blouses off these babies, and no funny marks on a thin cardigan! There are some ladies who started out on blankets with the bulky plush and I really look forward to see those.<br />
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Thank you Hester and Team Moya :-)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-29607291960509203802015-09-16T19:11:00.000+02:002015-09-16T19:11:25.203+02:00RusticLazyDaisie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ooooh, I can sometimes fly right away with an idea, just to burn out five minutes later or get lazy, which is not a good thing. </div>
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So I was watching the Rustic Lace frenzy, finding most of the squares utterly beautiful, but in no real need to make one myself (just finished my summer throw in a large lacy square). But then...then Charlotta (Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/intheyarngarden/">intheyarngarden</a>) accidentally made a triangle and when THAT turned up in my Instagram feed, I could feel gears in my head shifting and clicking and in a mad rush (FOMO, anyone? :-D ) I proceeded to dig out the natural Moya that was earmarked for clothes hangers and let rip, hook flying. </div>
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Until I had two or so complete. First the squares.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally different look in one colour!</td></tr>
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It's still very pretty, but looks totally different. And I might have been a bit irritated by the little piece of yarn that was super twisted (look, there at half past six in the photo), but couldn't be bothered to cut, frog, join up again, or start from scratch. Noooo.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking beautiful in the early morning light. </td></tr>
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To divert the quickly waning attention span, I diverted to triangles. (Did I mention that I made the exact same mistake at my first take on the square? But that mistake doesn't give you a relaxed, flat triangle, so I wanted to plan it properly. )<br />
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Out with the pen and paper. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frogging and scribbling</td></tr>
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I have no intentions of ever coming up with a new crochet pattern for anything, so I literally just wrote the whole pattern out, and estimated possible changes, which would include a cluster or two less here, and some chains extra there, then tried it out and tried again and again and again and again until I got a reasonably flat triangle. <br />
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There. </div>
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I figured I'd need three squares and 3 triangles to make up a little mock curtain for one window in our bathroom. To my dismay, it might have had to be four of each. So I was getting a bit impatient with myself, as I still had to figure out how to join these, and then how to hang it!</div>
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It was around this time that I did a quick, exploratory stroll through a new favourite second had shop and lo and behold, there it was! A crochet piece, by the look of it the perfect size (to the millimeter it was!), just ready for me to hang in the window. </div>
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It was a no-brainer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up it went! Sommer with cup hooks onto the wooden frame. </td></tr>
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Since I was so far with the Rustic Laces (3 each, then) I had to come up with a Plan A for Alternative, which I thought would be the little window in the guest loo.</div>
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Helloooo - there's a Roman blind already :-0</div>
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I promptly diverted again and started on a long-anticipated shawl. Then it came to me...Plan B for Buggered...the window in my little craft storage nook upstairs...but I would need 5 of each. </div>
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Stay tuned.</div>
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<i>There's a Google-pot full of info on and versions of the Rustic Lace Square, but here's the <a href="http://pigstails.blogspot.co.za/2015/06/living-slow-life.html">beautiful blanket that Magda Pigtails made</a>, and she in turn got the idea from <a href="http://hellohart.com/2015/02/08/the-blanket/">Cornel's blanket at HalloHart.</a></i></div>
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<i>On Instagram, there are 1210 posts of #rusticlacesquare as I write. </i></div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-7346201847819055842015-09-13T22:01:00.002+02:002015-09-13T22:01:16.327+02:00Cheap & Cheerful Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our Cheap & Cheerful Challenge has finished!</div>
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What a joy to see what these ladies came up with, to show that even some of the cheapest yarns around CAN be used to produce a beautiful blanket. </div>
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Here's the info on the <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/05/cheap-cheerful-crochet.html">background of Cheap & Cheerful,</a> and my <a href="http://haak-en-stekie.blogspot.co.za/2015/08/done-cheap-cheerful-blanket.html">own contribution</a></div>
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and these were the three winners:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru3XaCmDcBg/VfWqS1Nl5LI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/TZel408Rq-g/s1600/11836722_10153569165659669_596366558733752123_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru3XaCmDcBg/VfWqS1Nl5LI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/TZel408Rq-g/s640/11836722_10153569165659669_596366558733752123_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helen's snowflake blanket</td></tr>
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Helen chose to work with Chick, the very cheap supermarket acrylic that I also chose, in two blues, grey and white. Upon finishing the blue and grey motifs, she realised that gaps between these were too large for her liking and - given the restricted colour choices of Chick - came up with the plan to dye some her acrylic yarn (easier said than done!!). Google and YouTube came to her aid and she added the brownish motif with white center - and it was as if the blanket was designed to look like that. <br />
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I love the unusual colour combination and the handdyed effect on the brown. Plus the snowflakes brighten everything up. <br />
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A beautiful blanket and clever solution.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQJqFff7E4c/VfWqSzBgPYI/AAAAAAAAE4U/dTr7FRxviHw/s1600/CnC%2BJysoulikmamma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQJqFff7E4c/VfWqSzBgPYI/AAAAAAAAE4U/dTr7FRxviHw/s640/CnC%2BJysoulikmamma.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant Mommy's stripey C2C</td></tr>
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Everybody's seen the Corner to Corner blanket, and many have been making it, right? There have been some beautiful variations, but you haven't seen it all until Helene's came along.</div>
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Three colourways of variegated Pullskein scream at each other...until you work it together, alternating after each row. Then it absolutely work, and blend in, the one with the next, into a harmonious, pastel rainbow. <br />
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These colours had Ons Hekel swooning.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lara's chevron</td></tr>
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Lara used the same almost shock tactic with her chevron blanket. Who would put red and pink together with ...brownish and greyish? And yet the colours and stitch patterns mellow together, making the photo jump out from the rest. </div>
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See what can be done?</div>
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There's no reason to think you can't make a beautiful item because you don't have great yarn. Sure, working with Vinnis, I Love Yarn, Malabrigo, Rowan makes it a lot easier, but you can also get by with what you can find at the local co-op or supermarket.</div>
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I was so happy to see these three and the other entries. And all 20 will make a difference as part of the Make A Difference charity, to be distributed come Winter 2016.</div>
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Well done ladies, be proud! And enjoy your gifts packs :-)<br /><br />(Thank you to <a href="https://www.yarninabarn.co.za/product-category/ilona/ilona-heritage-hooks/">Yarn in a Barn</a>, <a href="http://www.capewools.co.za/">Dalena White of Cape Wools SA</a>, <a href="http://www.littlemarket.co.za/shops/brilliantmommy-jysoulikmamma">Brilliant Mommy</a> for sponsoring some prices, as well as yarn donors!)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-14411717848213250012015-08-24T11:43:00.001+02:002015-08-24T11:43:23.854+02:00Roadtrippin' and small things spotted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Being married to an after-hours endurance athlete, means a lot of road tripping to nice places, of which my South Africa has no shortage. So this weekend we went off galavanting to the <a href="http://www.transbaviaans.co.za/page/about_the_race">Trans-Baviaans 24hr Mountain Bike Marathon </a>where our team of four rode into the mountains, following dirt roads, single tracks, orienteering through the kloofs and slipping down snot-like mud downhill towards thick gravel and potholes. They started at 10h00 in the Karoo town of Willowmore and had 24 hrs to make to to Jeffreys Bay. They're allowed only a 1-person logistical support and the checkpoints, and none on the road. Our novices did quite well, considering one broke his chain in three places, and another had to be medevacked (but is now fine), and they're happy with their finish time of 14:40.<br />
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That was at 00h40 in the morning .<br />
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We, the Wives of Cyclists, did what the support team does and that is to take a long, slow drive, and pitstop at nice places along the route :-)</div>
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First stop was at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Theheathplett">The Heath</a>, a favourite for good coffee on the the N2 and a nice spot to find some community project hooky:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm...an idea for that basket or straw bag where the bottom corners are getting a bit...worn?</td></tr>
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Onwards to <a href="http://oldnickvillage.co.za/">Old Nick's Village</a>, where I walked with my hands firmly tucked behind my back at Mungo's and just had time for a quick dash through on or two doors...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...where I spotted the lady at Indalo working on these squares!</td></tr>
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By that time our boys' support vehicle reported a pitstop at a local church bazaar (fête) and lo and behold, it was just up the highway and 8 km off behind the mountain, so there we went!</div>
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The community of the tiny hamlet of <a href="http://www.route-62-info.co.za/routes/town/339/kareedouw">Kareedouw</a> hosts a Fietsfees (Bicycle Festival) during TransBaviaans weekend in the form of a bazaar on the church grounds:</div>
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As church bazaars go, there was some craft to be found, and spotted this beauty of a baby blanket:</div>
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And again, beautiful work from a community craft project, and I walked away with new washpeg bag and these potholders for me and my sisi:</div>
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A most enjoyable, tiring weekend, with very little of my own hooky being done! <br />
Will catch up, hoping for a quiet morning :-)</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585631951919778963.post-23353404292599713892015-08-15T20:50:00.002+02:002015-08-15T20:55:00.946+02:00A Tommie Blanket<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our Tommie-cat has died.</div>
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Suffice to say that <strike>there are currently very hostile feelings between us and</strike> that I'm counting the weeks until my kids can again safely ride their bikes in our (usually) very quiet, single-lane street in our (usually) very quiet residential estate.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Tommie was my (okay, my son's) very first kitten. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We got her as a rescue from the local SPCA for his 7th birthday after he's been pleading for months. Although she was his, she was also mine, my constant companion during the mornings at home, following me and calling me if she didn't immediately see me, fighting with my hands when I folded laundry until I had to cage her with the laundry basket, walking round and round the edge of the bath, waiting for me to get out of the water (she fell in twice :-) ). </span></div>
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She was such a bloody <i>oulike </i>cat.</div>
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But. </div>
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We planted a <i>katjiepiering </i>(gardenia) and catnip in the zinc bath. <br />
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So last week terrible Friday I started sorting my Vinnis and other cotton and bamboo yarn stash, putting together colours to use in a month or so when I would start working on summer blankets for the boys. I decided to make a simple Granny Stripe for the Little One, as he already has a smallish Granny Square blanket. As it is when sorting yarn and making Big Decisions like this, I thought I'd just start with a row or two, just to get an idea...you know...</div>
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And then the Horrible Afternoon happened, and we had a Cat Funeral, and took the boys to the beach to get them away, and I diverted my Little One's attention by telling him about his new blanket that I started that morning, and that he could remember Tommie when he cuddled under it and by the end of the day I was ten rows away and made promises of a crocheted kitty appliquéd on the blanket. </div>
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SO here I am, hooking away on this one, shoving other plans and projects to the side. As usual, there is a Formula to my colour sequencing :-P</div>
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Meanwhile, I'll be scouring the universe for crochet kitty patterns to appliqué - feel free to point me in the right direction!</div>
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Tearfully, </div>
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Stel</div>
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Stelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08945408396434091632noreply@blogger.com8