Silver envelope bag and headband

In a week I am attending a wedding. I have my black dress and my black shoes. I like how my dress and shoes go with silver jewelry and I wanted to go little further with this look and thought that maybe it would be a good idea if I had some kind of envelope bag that was knitted or crocheted with silver-metallic thread. I started crocheting but somehow my bag didn’t seem elegant enough and I ripped it off. Then tried knitting it and BINGO! There it is my silver envelope bag!



It was really a simple knit, because I knitted an ordinary swatch (remember, I am still a beginner knitter, I am not able to knit lace patterns and knitting is still a complex process for me). In the knitting process I used my old cheap envelope bag to measure the length and thought how it would be a lot easier to sew the swatch to the bag and skip the process of lining it. It turned out pretty well, I like to think so. 



Lately, I have been obsessed with headbands. I think that they go well with my new haircut. This headband is made from cotton and it will be good for summer beach walks. I used the pattern for Beroco’s Baltic Scarf and altered in order to make it less wide.



I find this pattern very easy and have used it a lot for the past year. I made two scarfs and a lot of bookmarks that I gave away as presents.

My Needle Roll and Yarn

Since I started making my own handcrafted needles, and my collection is getting bigger every day, I decided that my needles and hooks deserve a decent place to be put in. After searching the net, I found very interesting needle and hook cases. After carefully searching what’s out there, I made my own version of the famous needle rolls.



It was quick sewing with my old sewing machine. I don’t mind sewing with it, but when I think that in order to start sewing I have to go and get it and find a clean place at my desk to put it on and after I finish sewing I have to put it away, I immediately start to say to myself that sewing can be done in another time.
I made this needle roll with 2 table napkins and one felt fabric that is the same size as the table napkins. Basically what you do is sew one table napkin with the felt cloth. The second table napkin is also sewed with the needle roll and it is used to make pockets for the needles and hooks.
I didn’t have big enough felt fabric so I joined 3 pieces together to make one. Also, so far I haven’t found a store that sells felt fabric in cheerful colors, so what I did is buy dish clothes from my market. These days you can find dish clothes that really look a lot like felt fabric.



I seem to getting a lot of yarn in the mail these days. Thanks to Fey , Lisa and Laura .

DIY Needles and Stitch Markers

Since I started knitting, I had to make some handmade needles and stitch markers. I am pretty happy how they turned out. Now I am proud owner of DPN's (2,5 mm and 3.5 mm) and straits (also 2,5m and 3.5 mm). I made them in various lengths so I can easily knit socks with the short ones and long ones for bigger projects.



I have been using this tutorial mainly as a guide to making my own personal needles. I have been really lucky to find the wood in the local stores. These sticks are actually for barbeque and they are already sharpened.



Here you can see my short needles in action. I told you before that I am addicted to sock knitting. It is summer here and it’s very hot, so you can imagine how far my addiction goes.



Also, I made a lot of stitch markers and started giving them away as presents at Ravelry’s RAK group. These are those that I am keeping for myself.
 

Testing, testing

I have been testing the pattern for the Recycled Purseability Bag. It was written by Nannybird at Ravelry. Now when I finished it I think that I would like to crochet it again, but using different yarn.I think that it would be good also if I used regular yarn, or even felting it. If I really do it again, I would use very thin yarn and smaller hook so I can make myself small handbag. I think that It would be perfect. Overall, I love your pattern.

I am getting to think that I am getting addicted to using plarn (plastic bag yarn).

Here are my two projects that I told you about in my previous post. The Granny Square Earrings where I am using wire:



And my pantyhose rug:

Socks finished and other things

I finished knitting my socks. I am so happy!!! Finally my wish of knitting my own socks came true. I love them so much. To be honest, they are far from perfect, but I like to think that they are. The one thing that I have to work on is improving the heel turn. I got the pattern here at Ravelry.

Maybe I have sock mania but I have to tell you that I started another pair already. It is very addictive.


Also, I have a lot of new projects at the moment. I am experimenting with new materials and started crocheting a rug using pantyhose as a yarn. The process of cutting the hose is a little slow, but I must say that I like the result. My rug is getting an interesting texture.

Another material that I am trying on is wire. Crocheting a wire is a very complicated process. At least it is for me. I am using very thin wire and again it is a little difficult. I decided to make granny-square earrings, but it is going slowly. I used up lot of wire and didn’t do anything.  At the end somehow I managed to this granny square and now, I don’t have any wire to do another one. This project will be “sleeping” until I buy new wire.

my first socks

Finally, I started knitting my first socks. Hurray!!! I am so happy right now.

This is an original sock yarn. It is 75% Superwash wool and 25 % Polyamide. This yarn feels soft and the only thing that I mind about it is that there is too much color changing. But I can certainly live with it.

My summer skirt

My summer skirt is almost finished.I had to show it off here. The crochet part is finished and all I am left to do is buy some matching fabric and line this skirt. I am a little scared to do this, but I have to.



So far I love it , but need to do some improving of the design.

City Bag

I wanted to crochet new beach bag. First I started doing the Inga's Haekelbeutel Bag-pdf link (via Ravelry). But then I changed my mind and blocked the squares to get this shape of the bag. I wasn’t wrong, the bag turned out beautiful and I immediately fell in love in it. This is not a “beach bag” anymore. It is a “city bag” and it's huge enough to keep many things inside.

p.s. I have six (6) exams left for my Faculty. This number is getting smaller.

I am knitting

I started with a small swatch. I didn't know what to do with it and I don't want to throw away my first knitted piece. That's why I decided that I am doing the Knitted Kitty. It was lot of fun.

 

Sneak peak preview of my skirt

I have switched to cotton. I was very happy for that, but suddenly today it started raining snow. How weird is that? Snow in March.

I started crocheting a skirt for myself. It is my first skirt and I am learning, but so far it looks good. I am doing a flower pattern on it and it is amazing. You can see the pattern on the picture below.


Also, Vanchy was kind enough to send me crochet hooks. I was lucky and I got these Susan Bates Crochet hook set and one big hook (9mm). Also I received this amazing fun fur yarn from Lion Brand. This is my first Lion Brand Yarn.



I used my new hooks and started crocheting a scarf from the yarn. Now this seems too easy, and I think that I should have a better use of my new yarn. I was thinking of making a poncho by combining this yarn with a regular one. First, I need to learn to knit, so I can do that.