Colorful iphone case

Some time ago, I got a request for a colorful iphone case. So, I started my search through the yarn stash untill I found something satisfying.
The result: 'Mille Colori' from Lang yarns. Colourful enough, don't you think?

I don't have an iphone or anything that resembles it, so I looked up the dimensions online and based my case on that. When it was high enough for the phone to comfortably fit in, I made 12 holes so I could lace a small ribbon through. I started on one side and laced the ribbon through all of the holes, cut it and tied the ends together. Then I started on the other side and did the same thing. Now, if you pull both ends, the case closes.

If you want to use this method to close a case or something, always make sure you have an even number of holes, otherwise it won't come out right.

The Japanese magazines have arrived!

Yay! The Japanese magazines I ordered on Ebay have arrived! And they are gorgeous, I simply love them. 

Here in Belgium, it's so hard to find a decent crochet magazine. Often there's not one thing in there that I would consider making, so I never buy them here. But these Japanese crochet magazines are always so beautiful, I'd buy them all if I could. 

We ordered 2 magazines: a sewing magazine, called 'Stylish Dress Book' and a crochet magazine, called 'Motif Book'.

 

Here are some things I like and might try:

A new addiction

I confess, I have another addiction. Number one was making jewellery, number two is crochet and number three: sewing. Yes, it's true, Im learning to sew.

Here in Ghent, there's something new, it's called Boho. Downstairs it's a café, where you can also get some snacks; upstairs there's a sewing studio. They have everything you need and they give great advice. I had never sewn anything in my life, but I went there with a piece of liberty fabric I bought last September at Shaukat in London. I chose a simple pattern for an A-line skirt and the lady there helped me from the start untill the end. The result: a beautiful skirt that fits me perfectly!

 

 

 

I'm so proud, I never thought I could do this. Thank you BoHo!

Crochet daily wear - Spring/summer

It took me quite some time, but my beautiful shell motif scarf is finished!

This pattern comes from a Japanese crochet magazine: Crochet daily wear - Spring/summer

I used a 3.5 mm hook and Annell Coton 8 yarn.

I bought this one at Julija's Shop in Antwerp, but I noticed you can also buy this one and tons of others on ebay. Me and my mum ordered two more magazines on ebay and when they arrive, I'll show you!

Anyway, when I saw this scarf in the magazine, I immediately fell in love with it. There's a tunic in there that I love as well. I've started, but I think it's going to take a long time, with my exams coming up and it being the biggest project I've started.

I'll keep you informed!

Flowery fabrics

A few weeks ago, my mum and I went to stoffenspektakel (again!; if you don't know what I'm talking about, read my older blog posts).
And here are the results of our shopping!

Beautiful roses, my mum made me a skirt with this piece.

A wallet from Cath Kidston! I didn't even know
there was a shop selling Cath Kidston in Belgium!

My mum chose this piece of tricot with gorgeous roses.

This is also a piece of tricot,
to me it looks like a Liberty pattern.

This is also a piece of tricot,
my mum is going to make herself a night dress out of it.

Another piece of tricot! We simply love it.
These flowers made me think of summer,
so this will become a dress!

This time, stoffenspektakel took place in Leuven, so my mum and I made it a weekend. On saturday we went shopping in the city and on sunday we went to the fabric fair. While we were walking from our hotel to the centre of Leuven, we came across a cute little shop called Tante Jojo. They sell all kinds of cute, flowery things, so we decided to have a look. And we discovered they sold stuff from Cath Kidston!

When we go to London (about once a year), my mum and I always visit the Cath Kidston shop in Covent Garden and we drool all over the gorgeous bags and wallets and all of the other nice stuff they sell. I've been wanting to buy a wallet there for over six months now, but to buy one, we had to go all the way to London. And to order it online would only be more costly, so I had already accepted that I'd have to wait a long time before I could finally buy one.

But then all of a sudden, accidentally walking through that little street because we were a bit lost, we discovered the only shop in Belgium that sells Cath Kidston. So I immediately bought the wallet I've been craving for. My weekend couldn't have started any better!

So all of you who live in Belgium and have been looking for a shop that sells Cath Kidston, Leuven is the place to be!

A gorgeous dress and some work in progress

About three weeks ago, there was an event called 'Stoffenspektakel' in Ghent. It's like a market with lots of stands that sell all kinds of fabrics. Since it's only an hour drive from our home and because I study in Ghent, my mom and I decided to go and have a look. And it was unlike anything I've ever seen! The fabrics are really cheap, my mom got some in a gorgeous nude pink colour for €2 per meter. I never thought that was possible!
Also, they had tricot with lovely colours and designs. We've been looking for that to make a summer dress, but it's so hard to find, especially when you're as picky as me. But I chose two different designs, one is light blue with small flowers and the other .. well you can see below, it's too hard to describe.
My mom sewed a dress for me, we got the pattern from the magazine Knipmode, and we found the pattern I have always dreamed of. And this is the result.

It fits perfectly!

I even got a matching top to wear underneath.

 

And I can show you some work in progress:

I was browsing on ravelry and I stumbled along this Cozy Pet Bed. Immediately, I knew I had to make this for my two cats! They both love to sleep on anything that's knitted or crochetted, and one of my cats always needs some thing to lean on. For example, he loves to sleep in cartboard shoe boxes, that way, he is supported from all sides.

The tube that goes around is filled up, for extra support ;)

Mine is made with two yarns held together,
one is purple, the other changes colour: black-grey-purple

And something else I have been working on is a scarf, called 'Clarity' by Kim Hargreaves.

The yarn is a bit shiny and it's golden beige.

Next weekend, 'Stoffenspektakel' comes to Leuven, and me and my mom are going to make it a mini citytrip. Saturday, we'll discover Leuven and sunday, we go buy some fabric! So next time I'll be able to show you all of the lovely fabrics we bought!
See ya!

Feather and fan hat crochet

Here I am again!

This time I crochetted something useful.  I don't like wearing rain jackets so when it's raining, I never have a hood to cover my head. And since I'm on my bike a lot, I can't use an umbrella. Only solution: a hat.

A few days ago, I started looking for a pattern I liked, found that quite hard (I'm soo picky) so I made one up. I made a really simple one, in half treble crochet, but it wasn't special enough so I wanted to add earflaps. So I did, but they didn't work out the way I wanted them to, I tried another way of adding the earflaps, but then the edging around was too tight, then I started over and then the edge was too loose and I got so sick and tired of that stupid had that I ripped it all out! Now there I was, with lots of yarn but still nothing to cover my head with. 

So, I went back on ravelry, looked through all the headwear I could find and I finally found something I really liked: The Hat-Tastic Fan Stitch.

But when I started, I soon realised it must have been a pattern for a baby hat, because I could already see it was way too small and way too short for me. So I added some changes to the pattern, below you can see my version of The Hat-Tastic Fan Stitch.

The yarn I used: Lana Grossa Bingo Mélange (100% Merino).

The hook I used: 5 mm

CROWN

Round 1: Start with a magic circle, make 12 trc, join with a slst in first st. (12)

If you don't know how to do a magic circle, just watch the youtube video. They explain it slowly and clearly and once you know this method, you'll never want anything else. You no longer have a hole where you start the hat, you can pull the it tight.

Round 2: Ch 2, 2 trc in same st, 2 trc in each trc. Join with a slst in first st. (24)

Round 3: Ch 2, trc in same st, * 2trc in next st, 1 trc in next st *, repeat from *, 2 trc in last st. Join with a slst in first st. (36)

Round 4: Ch 2, trc in first st, trc in next st, * 2trc in next st,  trc in next 2 st *, repeat from *, 2 trc in last st. Join with a slst in first st. (48)

Round 5: Ch 2, trc in first st, trc in next 2 st, *2trc in next st,  trc in next 3 st*, repeat from *, 2 trc in last st. Join with a slst in first st. (60)

At this moment my circle was about 39.5 cm (15.5 inches) in circumference, which is way too small. So I decided to make some more increases in the next round.

Round 6: Ch 1, *dc in next 9 st, 2 dc in next st*, repeat from *, join with a slst. (66)

FEATHER AND FAN PATTERN

Round 7: Ch 2, *trc in next 3 st, 3 trc in next st, skip 2 st*, repeat from *.  Join with a slst in first st.

Round 8: Ch 2 *skip 2 st, 3 trc in next st, trc in next 3 st*, repeat from *. Join with a slst in first st.

Round 9 – 16 : Repeat rounds 7 and 8.

At this point my hat was long enough, so I stopped ad 16 rows. If you want a longer hat, you just add some more rows of pattern.

EDGE

Round 17 – 18: Ch 1, dc in each st around. Join with a slst in first st.

Weave in the ends and you now have a gorgeous and elegant feather and fan hat!

Circumference: 51.5 cm / 20.3 inches. (It does stretch quite a bit, my head circumference is about 54 cm / 21.3 inches)

Length from top to bottom: 21 cm / 8.3 inches

(UK) Abbreviations:

trc = treble crochet

ch = chain

slst = slip stitch

dc = double crochet

It's just so my colour!

I finished the hat in one afternoon, it works up really fast and the feather and fan pattern is very easy.

Hope you like it!