Garden Shawl

The end of summer is almost here – that time of the year when it is not too cold for a coat but not warm enough for just a shirt. So I made this light shawl as a wrap to enjoy an evening stroll. It was fun to work with this yarn as they had a lovely mix of rose, lavender, mint and grey. The shades matched the petunias growing in my patio and I spent many a summer evening there with yarn in hand surrounded by flowers. I should admit, my mind wanders at such times and I get thoughtful. I realized when I was halfway through the shawl that I favoured the rose and lavender over the mint and grey and would always think if I crocheted fast enough I would be done with the less adorable shades and reach my favourite ones. I’d like to do that in real life as well - Just lie low through the tough times and ensure you make the most out of your best times. And towards the end I even started liking the Mint that I chose it to make the standout color by using it for the border of my shawl completely. So to anyone who is going through tough times – Just hang in there, rosier times are awaiting you!

Yarn Used: Joy DK Loops & Threads

Needle Size: G/6

Pattern Link: http://www.michaels.com/loops-and-threads-joy-dk-crochet-trellis-shawl-project/B_85807.html

Teal Zeal Scarf

On a sunny day, with blue skies full of fluffy clouds smiling at you, green tress around you blowing a gentle breeze and the freshly mowed lawns giving you the perfect seat to enjoy the weather, anything you do in the lap of Mother Nature would turn out to be beautiful. Care to see an example? This scarf is the result of such fine days. Such beautiful shades of blue are always eye catching for me. I tried out this border on a wraparound scarf for the first time. I used Caron Super Soft yarn and the whole texture of this scarf came out very well - perfect for gifting it to a pretty lady.   

Fruity Speckle Coasters

I gave you the visual delight first this time! Don’t they look cute? It’s a gift for a person who loves spending time in the kitchen, lovingly creating a variety of dishes every day, having it  neatly organized, spick and span all the time. I think these coasters will add a dash of color to her counter top. Unlike the mug coasters I made last time, I crocheted these big enough to hold medium sized cookware. This attractive variegated yarn is from Premier Home cotton yarns. The wide color choices and the texture make them a very good choice for dishcloths and coasters. I chose them because they are also easy to wash and maintain. I have one more to go to complete the set, but I couldn’t wait to show off my latest porcelain sugar bowl. I loved the simple yet stylish design. The splash of purple and pink on the white yarn made it a great pair for the porcelain bowl. Think it's time to gift myself a new set of coasters! 

Crocheted Star Throw

Here is the completed version of the star throw that I’d shared with you all on my Instagram handle few days ago. I wanted to give my living room a new décor and so started crocheting new cushion covers. But halfway through that I ran out of yarn and went shopping. When has a trip to the craft store ended with just buying what you want!?! I found this super soft, chunky, variegated yarn with the mild chocolate and lavender shades that just had to come home with me. I remembered the cold winter evenings when I wished I had knit a throw earlier to keep me warm and cozy. Since then I had this star pattern in mind and decided right in the store that I would do it using this chunky yarn. They work up so fast and so it’s a very rewarding yarn to work with. I am very happy with the finished look of this throw, adding some brightness to the plain sofa sets. Now that this is done I’ve to get back to completing the cushion covers that I’ve left mid-way!

Crochet Spring Top

Most of us who knit or crochet want to make ourselves clothing at some point and I am no exception to this feeling. I was very excited from the very beginning for this one, right from choosing the yarn and suitable colors. This one is special for many reasons. It is my first ever time crocheting a top and also it was going to be more than just a show piece in my house. It is definitely more than the basic squares or circles and so I had to learn more for it - try totally new stitches, make perfect measurements, sewing neat ends and a lot more. But the end result kept me going and I couldn’t wait to try it on. And finally the day has arrived – all seams done and all the ends weaved in ready to be worn. I am happy I completed this one successfully and I am already hoping I could try one in knitting – it is going to be a lot more challenging though!

A closer look of the stitches used

Pretty Purses

I’ve always liked collecting accessories and matching them to my dresses. I spent a lot of time selecting sarees for my wedding, deciding on colors and patterns so that the look is different for each occasion. But I spent even more time choosing accessories for them. After all it’s your day and the Big day comes only once! So for a person like me who enjoys this, if crocheting lets me create a handmade purse or a bag to match my attire every time, isn’t it great? All I have to do is look for matching yarns (which again is more shopping-Yayy!!) and I can create a new style of purse each time. It’s double joy – creating and owning a new item. It would be worth the value and give the satisfaction of creating something that will be cherished forever. I quickly made two small purses and am still thinking if I should get a new shade of yarn for the third saree or make do with the ones from my stash. 

Mason Jar Cozy

The Mason Jars are very versatile in DIY art. And they are also the most easily available home product for upcycling. I’ve tried glass painting long back on these jars. So this time, I wanted to put my crochet skills to use for decorating them. I started collecting all the empty bottles and spice jars that usually go for recycling and made cute cozies for them. They’ve become a good décor for my art table and a nice way to keep my colors organized. As I am typing this I just realized I could also store my yarn stash in them so that they don’t get tangled with one another. This has been a very useful and efficient yarn stash buster project!

Spring Fun Sling Bag

I think spring is the best time to have flowery stuff around you. My plants are just sprouting and it’s going to be awhile before they grow big enough to bloom flowers. So until then I thought of adding more colors to my life through these appliques - crocheted flowers on my bag. I like the feel of the moss stitch the bag is made up of. It is very easy to crochet this bag – you just need to make the front and back portions separately and seam it with the straps. It works up very fast too! I used rows of single crochet stitches for the straps and the entire body is made of moss stitch. I changed the set up rows for the stitch based on my requirements. I've added the pattern notes for the stitch at the end of this post if you're curious to try. I'd suggest trying a small square piece to see if you like a pattern before trying it on your actual work. 

Crochet Hook used: US I/9

Yarn: Any medium worsted weight 

Moss stitch pattern:

* Chain an even number of stitches

* SC in the 2nd stitch, *CH1, SC in the next Ch-space* Repeat the pattern till you reach the desired length.

Crocheted Fruits

I wanted a fruits set for my Navaratri Golu. Last year I made clay models of fruits and dolls that you can view here
Everyone in my family has a sweet tooth. I still remember my grandad’s sweet hunt sessions. He used to leave no vessel unturned to find his favourite sweet hidden by my grandma. But fresh fruits or anything healthy generally needs a reminder. So I planned to use these crocheted fruits as a centrepiece on our dining table. That way, whenever I look at them I am reminded of the daily fruits quota of the diet. That still doesn’t stop us from chocolate hunting though! Above all, fruits are a yummy thing to crochet and can be used as a yarn decor throughout the year at home.

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Crocheted Oranges

I saw Orange trees recently and since then I’ve had a sudden liking for the citrus. Amidst all the painting challenges, I wanted to have a quick win crochet project to get back in form for a bigger crochet work. This pattern is also exciting for me because it is my own and very first 3D pattern. This has certainly expanded my scope to create more crocheted objects. When I showed the crocheted oranges to the kid next door, he started reciting a list of fun facts about Oranges. Apparently, the name of the fruit came into existence before the color orange. He also said orange is a type of berry. I didn't know that! So now you can guess what I am going to be crocheting next. That’s right – strawberries and blueberries coming your way soon!

The Summer Hat

Hats are always a great way to spruce up your look and stand out in a crowd. I was going on a vacation to the sunny state from the cold, snow filled weather that I live in. I knew I would want to spend most of my time there under the sun in the beaches. So amidst all the packing that had to be done, I sat down to crochet a hat for myself. It was all done in a few hours, shopping for the right yarn to the last stitch. I initially wore it plain and then decided to add some embellishments that made it even prettier. I love the fact that I can make any number of hats, in any shade and style I wish to. This pattern is easy for beginners and I like the wide brim that it has. They have a very practical use also - protect you from direct sunlight when all you want is to enjoy the beach sand and waters.

Yarn used : 

For hat: Lily Sugar n Cream - Summer Prints

For flower embellishment: Peaches & Creme - Bright Blue

Crochet Hook : H-8 (5 mm)

Daisy Flower Coasters

I wanted to crochet something interesting and elegant as a gift to my aunt. And I chanced upon this pretty Daisy pattern, when I was looking for ideas. Maybe because of an overdose of snow-white around me, I liked the pattern the instant I saw it. When have I ever had second thoughts on flower patterns! I added my own touch by crocheting a holder for them as I liked the way they decked up. I imagined them sitting on a big wooden table, waiting for a hot cup of coffee. Now you all know what went into the Origami boxes I’d posted few weeks back. 

Yarn Used:

Peaches and Crème (100% cotton) - Gold

Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice - White

Link to the free-pattern: http://whiskersandwool.blogspot.com/2012/04/daisy-coasters-free-pattern_21.html

A Thanksgiving Gift...

What is the need for a standard boring tablet cover when you can a make a funky one yourself! This is one of the patterns that inspired me to learn the art of crochet. With a lot of single crochet stitches lined up, grew the Tawny Owl. With the addition of the large eyes and the beak, it looked complete.

Thanks to the JoAnn outlet for the pattern, I was able to make a nice Thanksgiving gift for my husband. Happy Thanksgiving! The holiday season is here!!

Free Pattern Link : http://www.joann.com/owl-tablet-case/3179515P130.html

Autumn Vibes

When there are pumpkins everywhere around you and the buttery yellow, amber orange and crimson red hues overwhelm you, you tend to go with the flow and bring in more of the same splash of colors to the house. It’s Autumn!! 

This is my first solid piece of Crochet work! Here's to many more Crochet projects in the future!