Cowl in progress

Remember I told you I wanted to make a cowl like the one in Berroco's new collection?

Well, I've started it.

It's grown a lot since I took this picture, but now its stopped because the yarn I had was not enough. I have to go back to the same store where I bought it and get another skein.

I used Bambino from Rosários 4.

Soft waves pillow

I've finished this bed pillow the other day. I crocheted it with the "soft waves" pattern from 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns, by Jan Eaton, which I love and have used before.

Crochet placemats

I looked everywhere for some placemats that matched my plates and didn't found any that I liked.

So I decided to do it myself! Here's how they turned out:

I used a navy-blue worsted-weight 100% cotton yarn I bought at Tricots Brancal (downtown Lisbon) and then my mother suggested that i'd finish it up with a golden thread she had.

I followed Debbie Stoller's recomendations for crocheting a circle in The Happy Hooker.

Hot water bottle covers

One of my favorite objects ever is a hot water bottle! I always have one around when winter time comes. So I decided to make these covers to make them more beautiful and cozy. I used fleece and felt cloth (appliqués).


I kept one and gave the other to a friend of mine.

Pillow and afghan set

My mother knitted this pillow and crocheted this afghan for her own bedroom. She just loves that color!

Colorful baby afghan

My mother made another crochet baby afghan for a friend of hers. As you must’ve noticed by now she has a lot of friends having babies!

New sewing machine - part 2

Ok, so now I've decided which sewing machine I want to buy. Here it is:

It's a Singer 2818, which for some reason I don't know of I can't find on the Singer offical website...

Well, now that I've chosen it you would think the hardest part is over, right? Wrong! I can't find it for sale anyware. Actually, I can't find any Singer sewing machine at all! (I'm talking about local stores, of course, I don't want to order it online.)

People I've talked to in some stores said that the machines are ordered and they are waiting for Singer to send them which seems to be taking a long time.

I guess I'll have to wait too...

Cowl

I love Berroco's "Danielle Cowl" so I've decided to make one of the same sort for me. I'll let you know how it'll turn out. ;)

I have a red fleece cowl I made last winter. It's really cozy and warm.

A space of my own - part 2

I've already told you how much I'd like to have a space for my crafts.

I found out another beautiful creative space at allsorts:

Crochet booties

I've made another pair of crochet booties for a friend's daughter.

I've used some leftover yarns my grandmother had.

New sewing machine

I'm looking for a new sewing machine.

I've been told that I should look for an all-metal sewing machine, more resistant than plastic ones. Singer has some of these, but I've read some reviews on them and they don't seem that great.

Some say the interior parts should be primarily metal. But how can I know if they are?

I've read some useful online articles with tips for buying a sewing machine but I simply can't make up my mind:

- Associated Content
- Viewpoints

I'm thinking Singer (of course) or Brother. But I really don't know!

Anyone out there with a superb but not too expensive (between 250 and 300 dollars) machine would like to tell me about it? Please?

Have I told you...

Have I told you before that I loooove knitting and crochet needles?!

And I just found out some amazing ones at Signature Needle.

They're hand-crafted, hand-polished and the perfect fit for any knitter's hand.

You can choose the point, the cap, the size and the length of the needle.

Is there anyone out there with a pair? How is it? They say a Signature Needle is at first a luxury and then a necessity. Is it true?

Soft waves afghan

I've recently finished a baby afghan as a gift for a friend of mine who's going to have a baby coming November.

I used the «Soft Waves» pattern in Ripple Stitch Patterns, from Jan Eaton. I love the effect the curving, undulating waves have.


The yarn is Bambino from Rosários 4. It's very soft and easy to work with.

To match the afghan I've also made these crochet booties. I'm really pleased with them because they turn out so cute!

A space of my own

I've always wanted to have a space of my own for my crafts, not that I am that dedicated to any craft work but... I just love the rooms some people have for that.

Take Alicia Paulson's, for instance. Don't you just wish that beautiful studio was yours? And what about those windows? And the light in the room?!





Truth is, sadly, I don't even have the space to do it...

The craft desk I've seen on Jannypie Crafts can be a solution for those who - like me - don't have enough space to decorate a whole room.

My votes

Drops Design autumn/winter 2009/2010 collection is now for vote.

The Design Team has created beautiful patterns and these were my choices:










I can hardly wait for them to be posted!

Tunisian crochet scarves

I love Tunisian crochet! It's so simple, and if you use a worsted weight yarn you can work really fast.

I’ve made two scarves with this crochet stitch.

If you want to learn how to do it you can easily find explanations online and also great videos on YouTube.

Baby afghans

My mother made these as gifts:









The blue one has matching knitting booties: