Scarborough Fair Crochet Shawl Pattern

Finally ready and available in My Original Designs, on my Ravelry page and on Etsy.






Materials needed for a rectangular shawl that measures cm45 x cm170 -

approximately 150gr (1100 - 1200 yds) 2ply laceweight yarn,
1.6mm ( US 6 ) crochet hook.

Pattern includes written instructions and chart.

Recycle!

The "health" of our planet is compromised, there is no doubt about it and there is no turning back. How sad! But each one of us can play a very important part in reducing the amount of trash we generate by re-using as many products as possible. I have thought of a nice way of decorating my home at Christmas using "trash", which also means saving money. ;)

Firstly, these crocheted Christmas tree ornaments made with cotton thread, beads and soda can tabs that I created for the Etsyhookers crochet challenge 7 -




It took me about four hours to complete both.

And how about these candle holders made with green and yellow plastic soda bottles. Don't they look like glass?







There's a bit of work involved into making these but I think the result is worth it.
I'm thinking about making a few more with clear plastic water bottles.

Think about it... Together we can save our planet for our children!

Two new shawls on Etsy

Deep Raspberry crocheted triangular shawl


100% pure new italian fingering weight wool in deep raspberry. What a lovely shade! And the crocheted floral pin with bead gives it that extra touch... :)
(From my original pattern available on Etsy or here )

And.. Venezia Lace knitted wedding shawl




in 2ply cream- white wool blend and 5.5mm needles. It blocked out rather large- 200cm x 95cm. It's amazing how "stretchy" this stitch is. (My original pattern for the Venezia Shawl is available on Etsy or here)
I have always wanted to knit a wedding shawl. Probably because wedding shawls are not in the italian tradition, which is a pity.
Both listed in my Etsy shop - check them out!

Finally the warm season seems to have come to an end and the rain these days is such a welcome change, finally. Which means inspiration for new winter designs and items. My hobbies room is such a mess at the moment, with yarn balls all over the place not to mention needles and hooks. No, no pictures!!!

Too hot to work...

...but I still try. I have so much to do these days and a million things on my mind. Because I'm having a hard time going to sleep at night I do some knitting and I have almost completed a white Venezia Lace shawl and a very pretty cream-white scarf which might end up for sale on Etsy. Meanwhile I have listed a couple more items-
a cotton eyeglass or sunglass case, crocheted and lined for extra protection, closes with a pretty vintage button and I have decorated it using an unusual embroidery technique: the yarn is wrapped around a pencil then the flowers are formed and stitched on the item. Tricky but effective. I have then decorated each flower with a small pearl.





A couple more crocheted cell phone - iphone - ipod cases-
one in chocolate brown with pink Sarubobo doll and vintage button


and one cream - white with red Sarubobo doll and matching red vintage button


and because I really enjoy making them, a few more cute tiny Sarubobo dolls

don't you love to see mama and baby playing together? :)

so sweet!! You will find more details here
And lastly, the buy-one and get-one-free pattern sale is still on. Don't miss it!

Changes

A lot has happened since my last post. My peaceful life has been upset by unespected events and the necessity of important and not easy decisions. I will not go into details, what I can say is that I will have to face some unespectedly and extraordinary expenses and since the economy is not at its best here, like everywhere else, I have been trying to fight the overwhelming feeling of powerelessness working as much as I can. Because I am definitely not up to getting into challenging projects I have been working on small, simple handmade items that I plan to sell, actually some are already listed in my Etsy shop - a crocheted shawl


and two cell phone cases





and I will be adding gradually others. I have also decided that it's time to part with some things which I have cherished for a long time but have no real meaning to me at this point of my life. They are going to be listed in an Etsy vintage shop that I will be opening by the end of this week. Please check them out. I will add updates and more details soon.

Crochet Sarubobo dolls

I'm sure that most of you know what Sarubobo means, but in case you don't know here's the definition from wikipedia:

" A sarubobo is a Japanese amulet, particularly associated with the town of Takayiama. Sarubobos are red human shaped dolls, with no facial features, made in a variety of sizes. Traditionally, sarubobos are made by grandmothers for their grandchildren as dolls, and for their daughters as a charm for good marriage, good children and to ensure a well-rounded couple."
And...
"Sarubobo literally translated from the Japanese as "a baby monkey".
There are several reasons why the amulet has this name. The sarubobo is associated with three wishes- protection from bad things, a happy home, a good match, having an easy delivery on birth."

Well, I don't really believe in lucky charms, but I fell in love with Sarubobo dolls because they are so cute, and I have decided to create a crochet pattern.
They are small enough to be considered amigurumi, size varies from 4.5cm to 6.5cm.
The pattern includes a step-by-step tutorial for making a sarubobo keychain,


a sarubobo pincushion,


a sarubobo fridgie,



a flying sarubobo with ballons,


sarubobo mama and baby


I used left over yarn from shawls and I think it is a nice pattern for recycling wool and thread!
Pattern is available on my Ravelry
and on ETSY

Lei wedding ring afghan pattern

Project details:

size: 17"x 51"- cm90 x cm130
yarn: approx. 450gr fingering weight wool
2mm crochet hook

Pattern is available on my Etsy store or as pdf download on Ravelry (I'm missrita).

Cupid Shawl: FO and new pattern.

And so I'm finally out of hibernation and what better way to come back than a new design? I finished this shawl in just over a week. (For the record, watching the Alien saga on dvd as well as Back to the future 1, 2,and 3!) It was fun to make but what I like about this project is that pattern is easily memorized and once you get the hang of it there's no need to keep referring to the instructions. Pattern is already available and you can find it as well as more details in My Original Designs or on Ravelry
So what is the next project? Well, first of all I will need for my hands to heal, then I'm going to start working on a knitting pattern that has been on my mind for quite a while. But...all in good time!

Another weekend.

Earlier today I was pleasantly surprised by finding links to my blog and my free patterns on Yarn and thread links. Thank you Scrunchyy!
The crochet shawl is almost completed but I still have to figure out how to finish it off, I mean what type of edging to add to it. I can't make up my mind, but it will be something very simple.
As far as the knitted shawl is concerned, I have made very little progress, in other words no pictures to post yet.
How about some cross stitch instead?
These will be framed one day:




Tablecloths.
Crochet and linen squares with cross stitch flowers:


Close up:


Fruit and butterflies on Aida cloth:




And that's not all folks.

More crochet.

I have received emails from ladies asking for clearer pictures of a little doll I made ages ago. Here are a couple of closeups:



And for the ladies who enjoy crochet....



At the beginning of last year I decided to make a shawl for my little sister who had been so nice to make a sweater for me. She's a clever knitter but she doesn't crochet much. Hence the decision of making this:


This particular stitch is very pretty and it gives a warm and soft fabric. The shawl required 450 gr. of wool (226 meters per 50 gr. ball).

Crochet bedspread, etc.

I learnt to crochet in my teens, fascinated by the beautiful things my mother used to make (and still makes) : tablecloths, bedspreads, tops...you name it. It's funny how I can often reproduce a crochet stitch without even following a pattern, and have a hard time following some relatively simple knitting patterns. Beats me!
This is the largest thing I have ever made, a cotton bedspread I made a few years back.


It took me years to finish it, about seven, and although I am quite proud of the results I doubt I will ever make anything similer to it, or so elaborated.

Another thing I learnt as a little girl was embroidery. Simple stitches of course, first of all cross stitch but not only that.
I have been meaning to get this framed, but I still haven't found a large enough round circular wooden frame for it. ( Sorry about the poor quality of this photo, it is a very nice piece of work I assure you!)


And now for this stitch, does anyone know what it's called?
I learnt it at a summer course held by nuns in a convent not far from here, and they called it "flame stitch". I find it very effective and beautiful and it reminds me of swedish weave....what do you think?



Well, if anyone has ever come across it please let me know.