New work in progress… and yes, it’s a baby blanket :)

Hi everyone!

I am taking a break from studying just to share with you my latest work in progress Crocheting really helps me relaxing after a whole day spent on the books. Some people do sports, some yoga or other activities… I sit on the couch, watch some food related tv program (normally Man vs Food, it makes me go crazy! lol) and crochet till my hands hurt!

The idea for this blanket came to me while watching a Tv program on Channel Kitchen 24. We don’t have that channel in Italy, I just bumped into it while zapping during my recent trip to Austria and Slovenia. So yes, a lucky strike!

In this program there was this woman travelling around Provence, France and showing all the recipes that you can make using lavender flower. She had collected an amazing bunch of these flowers and was just making cookies with them… how nice!

So well, that’s where I got the idea of a baby blanket resembling a lavender field… I think I quite managed. I am already about 50% through it, and I can’t wait to see the finished product!

This blanket will be for sale. If you’re interested, just please drop me a line at sakura.crochet.designs[AT]gmail.com Since it is not finished yet, you can still pick your size

I am just able to offer you a sneak peak… so enjoy!

Crocheting all the “flowers”

Finally crocheting the borders and trying out colour combinations

 

ps: the pattern for this blanket is mine and you can find it here  :)

Pattern of the week: thinking of… a statement scarf! :)

Hello my lovelies!

I hope you’re all feeling in a festive mood and enjoyed this supposedly last day of our era Apparently the world wasn’t supposed to end today, so yay! time to concentrate on our knitting/crocheting projects during the holidays

I am going to leave for the seaside in a couple of days. I’m going to visit my grandmother, who is going to turn 87 soon. She’s not been feeling too good lately, so I’m very eager to see her. The last time that I have managed to visit her was in July, so I guess that a visit is well due. I have made her a Ishbel shawl and I hope that she will like it. It is the first time that I give her something that I have personally knitted, so I’m a bit nervous… lol she tought me how to knit when I still was going to primary school, and she was a real master! I’ve never seen anyone else being so talented with needles and hooks <3

Anyway, enough about that! Here is this week’s Pattern of the week. I hope that you will like it. It’s a very interesting one, in my opinion.

And by the way, I wish you all a Marry Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a wonderful New Year 2013!

See you again in January!

 

Yummy Puff Stitch Scarf

by Kim Handzo

New pattern: Ross slouchy hat

Hi everyone!

My Facebook and Twitter followers had gotten a hint already last week, but anyway it’s now official, I have published a new pattern!

I must say that I am pretty excited cause this is my first knitting pattern, so yay! I hope that you will enjoy it!

The pattern is available for everyone to download FOR FREE till Sunday 9th December, 2012. After this date it will be for purchase only, so hurry up! In less than 12 hours it’s been downloaded almost 150 times already!

In case you’re curious, here it is

Ross – slouchy hat

A very hip yet cute slouchy hat knitted in worsted weight yarn.

The pattern features faux cables actually knitted through twisted stitches.

The pattern will be also available on Etsy and Dawanda for download from Sunday on.

Aaaaaand, in case you can’t knit, but you would like to have your own Ross hat, you can REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM ORDER HERE

Like it! Share it! Spread the word!

Alex Granny Square Pattern – now for sale

A pattern for a crocheted granny square with a nice floral 3D texture.
Perfect for baby blanket,s but also for home decor items, as pillows, potholders and such!

Finished measurement: 13×13 cm – 5.11×5.11 inches

Written in English, includes a step by step picture tutorial.

Enjoy!

*************************************************************************************************
THE LISTING IS FOR THE PATTERN ONLY!
*************************************************************************************************

The pattern will be EMAILED to you after receiving the payment.

*************************************************************************************************

All my crochet patternsmay not be used to copy or redistribute.
You are welcome to sell your creations using my patterns as long as you credit my shop in a link.
Thank you so much, Giulia.

You can buy it here:
ETSY

DAWANDA

RAVELRY

Pattern of the week: thinking of… cozies!

Hi everyone and Happy Easter!

I don’t quite celebrate it, to be honest, especially cause this year I didn’t get a chance to visit my family due to a strange working schedule :( So, well, I am wishing you all a wonderful sunday

This week I am going to share 3 projects. They are all pretty much similar, but each of them uses a different knitting technic.

I got an Iphone for my birthday last October and I’d love to knit a cozy for it, though i still didn’t come around to do it… shame on me! I have been saving patterns found online though and it’s definitely on my to-do list

What is good about cozies patterns is that they are mostly knit in the round, so if you have the right measures you can adjust the pattern to a variety of devices, like mp3 players, cameras, laptops, etc…

Personally I would love to knit one with a fair isle motif and I have found some which look quite appealing, like this one

And now… on to the patterns!

Vines

by Vicki Brammall

bHive

by Kristin Briney

REC• iPhone cosy

by Chriss Coleman

 

So… which one is your favourite?

Ishbel – WIP

Hi everyone!

I know I haven’t updated in a couple of weeks now, but I had a pretty stressful period at work, I basically worked for some 10 days in a row, which left me little time for hobbies and blogging Anyway, I am on holiday this week and I’m enjoying some relaxing time at home with my parents and knitting a lot (though I should be studying, but I can’t be bothered) o_o

My mum wanted to knit something for my mother in law for (last) Christmas, so when i visited last time in Nov we went to a wool store and bought 3 skeins of a cool emerald Malabrigo silky merino with the idea of knitting a shawl for her.

We browsed Ravelry for the ideal pattern and we ended up picking “Ishbel”, by Ysolda Teague. Her patterns are very popular and I must say I usually like them, though I don’t particularly love knitting them… I really don’t know why!

My mum knitted the first 3 panels before Xmas, but then realized she had messed up somehow the stitches counting and the shawl was looking uneven and wonky, so she put it by side.

I decided to pick it up again as I came here to visit and give it another try I frogged all the lace pattern and started all over. I must admit that it took me a whole day to get a hang of it, but I finally finished the first 2 panels by the evening! lol The pattern is not that difficult, but you need to be constantly concentrated or you’ll easily mess up… not what I would call a relaxing knitting project, but I am determined to finish it nevertheless!

This is how it looks so far

And here is the usual link to the pattern on Ravelry

I also got as a present from my mum a skein of KAUNI wool, more or less in this colourway (pic from internet). It goes from brown, to caramel, to pink and purples… it’s super cool! I have in mind to knit another Ishbel for me out of it if I ever manage to finish this one!

Pattern of the week: thinking of… daisy stitch!

I LOVE daisy stitch!

So here are a couple of useful links for you and of course a pattern that involves the use of this super cute stitch!

Enjoy!

 

DAISY STITCH

Click on the picture for a written tutorial!

OR

check this video for the knitted version of the stitch

OR

check this other video for the crocheted version! (I’m a crochet freak and you know it!)

And here is the cool pattern of the week!

Hinagiku Hat

(pics from Ravelry, credit goes to their authors)

 

 

I am planning on knitting it with a skein of Manos del Uruguay Yarn that my mum gave me as a present for my birthday Gauge won’t fit so it will require a bit of maths, but luckily I have an intelligent boyfriend! lol
The yarn is in the same colour as the picture below… should be cool!

Pattern of the week: thinking of… shrugs!

I think I’m going through a “shrug” period.

I can’t wait to finish my Glitter Shrug and wear it with pride, hoping that it will be my first wearing worth finished project. lol

I have saved many shrug patterns over the last months, but my fave somehow remains this one

Easy Lace Shrug #80064AD

(credit for the picture goes to Lion Brand Yarn)

I think that this lace pattern is just lovely, and since I haven’t tried lace yet, it seems like a good chance to start! I have some very cool dark green yarn that my mum gave me as a present which would probably be perfect for it… the problem is that green is not exactly one of my fave colours, or to better say, I find it hard to wear it.

I was thinking this shrug would actually look good in grey, I’ll see how much of it I have left once I finish my 5$ in Paris, which I still think that I should frog, thoug just one sleeve is now missing. lol

Pattern of the week: thinking of… Halloween!

I got a link to this pattern in the Lion’s Brand Yarn newsletter and I though Id share in case someone hasn’t seen it yet!

I am not a big fan of Halloween to tell the truth,in Italy (where I come from) it’s not a traditional feast, but still it’s getting more and more popular, esp with kids. The knowledge of whole social/historical background is missing though and it have the feeling it’s just another excuse to sell decorations and such and make profit out of it. I bet that no italian kid would be able to tell what Halloween is about apart from pumpkins and spider webs… a shame! In Austria, anyway, the situation seems to be pretty similar… but oh well.

Anyway, here is the pattern, which I find extremely cute!

And here is the link to it

(free but still requiring registration)

Pattern of the week: thinking of… new sofa pillows!

I love going through Ravelry’s most recent posted patterns! So I decided that from now on I’ll post one of my faves every week

I always find so many interesting things, no matter what they are, I never chease being amazed by the creativity of the people out there

Today I found a super cool project (and the pattern is for free!), so I thought I should share. It’s called Valley Flower Bag (Ravelry link – clicking on the picture below will redirect you to the pattern) and though I must admit I am not a fan of knitted/crocheted bags, I instantly fell in love with the colours and the super cool pattern!

So, I decided that if I will ever have the time to make some new sofa pillows, this is the way they are going to look like! Hopefully Sissi (the cat) will leave them alone, which I doubt

Th ones I am having right now are these

which I am anyway pretty happy about.

Anyway, the whole blog linked above is worth to be read, both for the cool pictures (what a beautiful house!) and for the content… enjoy!