Grand Sale!!!

So, it seems, my blog is getting dusty with the lack of new designs and the accessibility of Instagram. Unfortunately, it's just this period in life that should pass by itself. But I still have something to share.

I love giving presents. Much more than receiving them. So, with my birthday approaching I decided on some gifts for those who follow my experiences, adventures and, I hope, growth as a person and crocheter. Neither too obvious.

Thus, I'm glad to announce that all items in my Etsy shop and Ravelry store are 35 per cent off with a discount code "HBD2019", starting from today, April 1, and till April 14. Because some things should be celebrated grandly.

Second, there's a giveaway running on my IG account.

You can get:
- a French Market Tote (pattern by @twoofwands),
- a large fruit bag,
- a small fruit bag,
- my second Stygimoloch prototype.
The rules are in the last post, the giveaway is running till Saturday, April 6.

The rest are just a few pics of my recent FOs: the second Lost in Time Shawl (by @mijocrochet) and a hedgehog.

While I was making the latter, I asked myself why I stopped using the loop stitch while making the toys.

The answer was obvious when I had stuffed it. Nevertheless, its new owners love it and it has already joined their hedgehog collection.

Now or never

Unfortunately, the most usual thing about me is screwing deadlines. Especially, the crafty ones. Especially, the ones I set for myself. When there is no dependence on outside circumstances, I'll screw it. I was going to finish the piglets a week after the post - along with the lapghan - and I didn't. The pigs aren't yet dressed up, but I still have something to show you.

First, here's my stash buster, Speckled Squares Blanket by Jackie Hodson. It turned out, my stash was too small for a decent full-size afghan, so, I got a lapghan of approx. 84 by 112 cm (or 33" by 44"). Now it requires a rocking chair, a house with the terrace in the north (for the rocking chair), Autumn and hot cocoa.

I ran out of some colours in the process and decided to needle-felt something of a similar shade. It looks pretty nice even after washing in the washing machine. No seams, no knots - perfect.

 

You can grab the pattern or a kit (when they are restocked) here:

Speckled Square Blanket

Back to the pigs, I got the whole gang assembled. Just look at them!

  

If they don't make you silently "awww", then I don't know what wrong is with you, cold-blooded, ice-hearted humans!

I managed to dress 2 of them before the double-sided Tunisian hook got me captivated.

 

Which actually resulted in a human-size slouchy hat, to match the piggy someone might want to adopt. I was planning to try finished items on Etsy once again. So, all of them will go to my shop soon (unless you are eager to get them before the official shop restock, then just leave a comment).

 

      

So, tonight I'm back to the pig accessorizing and I hope to finally finish all coats, hats and scarves!

Boho Fingerless Gloves

The pattern for Boho Fingerless Gloves is now available for the individual download on:
Etsy
LoveCrochet
Craftsy

Boho Fingerless Gloves

Yay! My Boho Fingerless Gloves are featured in the August Pattern Pack. I used to have a pair of fingerless gloves but they were worn to some absolutely ugly look, so, this autumn I need a new pair. The issue will be available for the TPP members on August 1. Or you can get a copy on Ravelry.

fingerless gloves

I resumed crocheting with small winter pieces: berets, fingerless gloves, mittens. That happened 10 years ago. This spring I'm participating in Woolly Wellbeing Research Project, and the item designed for it is exactly a pair of fingerless gloves.. Maybe, it's a little reminder that crocheting isn't only about amigurumis.

crocheting vs knitting

I have recently bought over a kilo of kids' cotton yarn for 2 garment projects.

The upper row of off-white cotton was going to become a light springy pullover, which I planned to finish before May holidays.

It was supposed to be something very simple: simple 3/4 raglan sleeves, plain stockinet.  I bought knitting needles and decided to refresh my skills. The pullover grew very slowly. About a fortnight of morning drives to work and several lunchtimes allowed me to almost finish the back. I actually started the raglan part yesterday. The stitches weren't very neat, but blocking should've corrected that. Anyways, it looked airy and light - just what I wanted.

Until I discovered a mistake in the raglan part. 5 rows below the one I was working on... Taking into account that I had already slipped a stitch in the front part and had to fix it on a different set of needles with more adventures, well... This time I didn't cry or threw tantrums, I just pulled out the needles and made two tight balls to straighten the thread.

Yesterday evening I picked up one of the Japanese pullovers from my to-do list and in an hour with Dean and Sam managed to finish a decent part of the hem. Let it be airy but lacy, it's its fate then.

That was a little reminder to myself why I DON'T FREAKING KNIT!

those olden days...

Every time I feel tired and think about having a rest, I catch a cold. The most annoying is if it happens in summer. But now it's still winter and I feel like a mess and, instead of working, want to stay in bed till spring, like a bear. Ok, I'm lying. As soon as my temperature falls to a more or less normal digits, I take out my hook. It all began with hats...

WIP and Batman

There's a proverb in Russia about a shoemaker without shoes, and it's me. Although having crocheted for 20 something years, I have only made 2 more or less big clothing pieces for myself: a mesh summer top at highschool and a pullover at university. There are, of course, several hats, cowls and plans for a wedding dress, but nothing ambitious to date. One day I bought a bunch of yarn (5 100 g skeins for a beret - don't ask me why, I was hypnotized or somewhat), and after finishing the beret still got 4,5 skeins left. I looked through my favourite Vogue Crochet 2012 (I made so many Bobble Hats for myself and my friends and still in love with them!)

 and stumbled upon the amazing Lace Pullover by Dora Ohrenstein (how could I miss it?!)

I made several alterations to match my yarn and size, and the lacy-ness. So, it's about 1/3 complete and I hope to finish it by spring..
And the second project is the awesome Batman designed by Serah Basnet from Tales of Twisted Fibers.
I'd been walking around this pattern for months and then just sat down, and 2 episodes of Mentalist, 2 of Supernatural and the last half of the 4th season of the Big Bang Theory later he's ready. Besides, he perfectly matches my sweatshirt from LookHuman because I definitely like my men tall, dark and Batman. And I'm thinking about making a superhero cape for him...

He's protecting my working space from co-workers, stealing my nuts and apples...

P.S.: There's only one sweet lady willing to test my pattern so far. No more volunteers?

UPD: Made Batman a little superhero cape.. But he strongly reminds me of Dracula..