Crocheting Across Borders

1/8      Waiting / Warten

1/15    Dance / Tanz

1/22    Dragon / Drache

1/29    Hurry / Eile

2/ 5     Cat / Katze

2/12    Solution /Lösung

2/19    Prism

2/26    Quiet

3/4      Vortex

3/11    Flat

3/18    Thought

3/25    Pentagon

4/1      Free

4/8      Vice

4/15    Hard & Soft

4/22    Storm

4/29    Tense

5/6      My favorite...

5/13    Triangle

5/20    Movement

5/27    Grid

6/3      Bliss

6/10    Geometry

6/17    Energy

6/24    Question

7/1      Sunken

7/8      Jealousy

7/15    Relaxed

7/22    Scratch

7/29    Breakfast

Dear Ceci,

tadaaa - everything is crochatable! :-)
Here's my first proper illusion crochet potholder (sorry this is so close to a doily in coolness, but I'm moving and decided I need some new potholders).

All the best,
Lili

Dear Ceci,

it is hard to write to you right now, because I'm kind of jumping up and down with exitement right now - ;-)
Well, the reason is I had another go at illusion crochet. My first version of last February was the one on the left. I was quite happy with a result that looked different depending on the angle you looked at it. And I did not get to implement a picture or something into it that would show only at some angles.

Yesterday, triggered by a discussion on ravelry (and the fact that there are already two techniques for illusion crochet out there) I had another go at it.
So, the mostly white picture is what it looks like from the side, and the one with "TEST" written on it is the view from above.

Dear Ceci,

somehow, writing here was a little much after all the other internet stuff... I got into ravelry. I still have not checked out the groups really well there, but if I do, it means even more time spend there.

Your ATCs are adorable! Of course, I mostly love the seamonster, because it is a close relation of the Lindwurm, the European dragon. ;-) And do go on exploring 3D stuff; I very much like how your vases turned out. Especially the striped one; it has such a cosy roundness to it.

So, what have I done the last weeks? First, a dragon from a mysteriy skein. It was sold for 50c at the yarn store, without banderole. All four colours are in the yarn, even the yarn structure is switching from one colour to the next (two are shiny, two are more cotton-like)

The rest of the yarn went into a try-out piece. I had the idea that a Möbius scarf done in Brügger Häkelei would be a great. But after I used up the ball of mystery yarn, I'm not so sure anymore. The lace is rather certain to stretch in a non-wanted way when worn around the neck.
But I might make a table runner in this fashion. Maybe with some of the Wollmeise yarn I ordered... ups, was that me talking about doilies?
Another try-out was my own version of what is called "Schlingenhäkelei" in German. I think I can use it to emulate fallen stitches from knitting.
Since I did a lot of paperwork lately, I made a little photo book, and covered it in fluffly blue crochet. I'm quite fond of the result, though I should have put in more pages.
Making your own books is pretty nice, anyway. I do have two more books for writing down patterns (and I really should write my odd notes in there sometime soon), but it would even be more fitting to write then into a selfmade book... well, I'll see whether I still like the idea when I've done the big photo album.
My butterfly for the competition did not win. Though I thought it was so nice and mainstream. Well, birthday-present-wise, it was a success, at least. :-)
I participated in a sunflower swap. Got a book with a crocheted sunflower cover and send away these bookmarks. I guess I would have made more, but I ran out of the green yarn, so the second one got even smaller than the first. I was contemplating to make a matching potholder, too (no match in topic, but what the heck), but then I did not find the time.
So, enough of my project ramblings. Life is stressful right now, but I'm not forgetting you nor our blog!

All the best,
Lili

Heya Lili

Just a quick post. I wanted to post a few more things that are in the works at Casa de Lira.

Three color spiral pot. again I really wanted the striping to be more dramatic - sharper angle. Need to work on that. Maybe if I turn after every row instead of working in the round. Hmm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fish trio ATC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's all I have for now. I'm rather happy with the way the fish turned out, but I think I went a little crazy with the coral. Well heck my work always needs more color as far as I'm concerned.

Talk to you soon.

Always

Ceci

Hey there Lili

It has been a while hasn't it? Well I'm back ... with pictures.

After making a lot of flat jewelry for my etsy shop, I found myself eager to work 3D again. So I made a few experimental forays.

Rose Vase

The original idea was to make a "rose bud vase" but after I thought about it, I went for an open rose look. About 4" tall. Horribly loud colors because it is a prototype, but I kind of like them after all. The problem once again is I like the softness of the thread but the structure is too soft to stand on its own. Stiffening will allow it to stand up but it will become hard and ... well... stiff. Maybe I should crochet around a wire base or just crochet in wire.

Spiral Vase

I was trying to make a vase with spiralling colors but the angle of the rows is too narrow - the spiral too flat for what I was looking for. I wanted it to look like the spiral on a candy cane. I think I know how to fix it.Good thing I made it so small (about 2 - 2.5" tall). Need to play with it more.

Button Pot

 

I had this idea for a decorated pot. Crocheted ivory colored plastic buttons into the pot matrix then added the red "spikes". While sketching it out I thought the spikes meeting in the center would look pretty cool. I like it but it reminds me of something from the ocean - a round coral or something.

 

This is what it looked like before I sewed the spike points together. I really like this look but it needs to be stiffened to maintain the curls to the spikes. Again it looks like a sea creature but a more dynamic one. With tentacles and maybe sentience haven't stiffened it yet because I can't decide which look is better. I really don't want to ruin the look of the "tentacle spikes". sigh  Decisions, decisions.

Well that's enough for today. I have one more pot of which I thought I had taken a photo, but apparently did not. I'll leave it for later. Along with a few flat things I made. A treasure chest brooch and a set of three ATC that features ocean scenes. I must be craving the beach because summer is here. ;-)

What have you been up to these days? I love those hearts you posted on flickr. I think they would make a great necklace skewered like that on a neck wire, but then again - my tastes are a little odd. :-)

 

See ya

Ceci

Dear Ceci,

so, two times now I spend Wednesday afternoon creatively with a friend. Seems like there's a chance of regularity! :-) Next time, she'll show me how to draw a face.
I did some glueing on my gingerbread man and then just crocheted these.

I'm still not sure what ratio between iris and white looks best on an eye, but it might actually be the brown eye.

What hook sizes do you own? Is .8mm really the smallest you have? In that case, I might order all the smaller ones I find - the most expensive part will be shipping, anyway...

That fishbowl of yours is sooo cute! Hidden treasures - might fit the cover of a journal. If you don't back it with felt, you could sew it on a jacket or a tshirt.

That cat collar is nice! I would leave off the bell, though; I'd hate it to be ringing around all the time.

On projects without a photo: I finally got round to make a birthday present for next week - and I decided to submit the photo to a competition. Two things settled with one project. :-)

All the best,
Lili

Somehow, I always seem to have something to say - I just don't always have the energy to make the effort at speaking or typing. ;-)

Hmmm. 0.4mm hook? That would be lovely. The smallest I could find in my beloved catalogs was 0.8mm. I feel a litle guilty asking, even that 0.8mm was a little pricey so, as penance for being greedy, I'll hunt down some circular 3mm double ends for you and send them - maybe with a little surprise bonus?

You know, it's funny about the frilly girly crochet stuff even the Japanese have embraced it. I'm just glad they also came up with Amigurumi. I will gladly choose unbearably cute over frilly frou frou any day. It's odd that crochet patterns favor that sugary style when crochet as a technique creates such a heavy, knotted product - especially in yarn. Perfect for cuddly dolls but I would have thought it a little too aggresive for the pink unicorn set. But what do I know, I prefer thread crochet which is all about doilies and decorative collars which are both increadibly NOT me. Go figure. :-)

I really love Japanese books too. I have a couple of filet crochet books in Japanese that have great patterns. Even if some are doily specific they can be adapted to curtain panels, album covers, bags and such with great ease.

My working style? Changes with my moods and seasonally as well. I ususally prefer to work on one project at a time out of fear that I will never go back and complete the old project. Now that I'm blocking some items I find that I have a day or so waiting time until they dry so I have been starting new things while I wait. It gets confusing for me. I actually had to make a list of projects. The drawings and plans I usually use to spark my memory are now spread to far apart in my notebooks to be useful to my perforated memory. which has led to some interesting "dilemmas" - like what to do with this:

It started off being a brooch but I made the treasure chest before the bowl and it turned out way too big to be worn as a brooch - even one of my brooches! ;-)

I really like the way the chest turned out so I kept going and wound up with this 5" by 3.5" cutesy artsy object. I'm really happy with the deep-sea diver. But, now what?

Maybe the front of a purse/clutch?

The cover of a journal?

Any suggestions?  Please? Help! Help! :-)

Here are some close ups:

Not the greatest photos, but hey, I'm not selling photos here.

 

 

I also had this idea for a choker style necklace that is meant to look like a cat collar, but I need a little silver bell to complete it. It is surprisingly difficult to find a small package of small jingle style bells! Maybe I'll just take the one of my cat's old collar.

 

I haven't blocked it yet or bakced it in felt like I want to - not until I've attached the bell. The silver lame thread is a little too scratchy to go without a lining. Here's an early shot:

(too be posted as soon as I clean it up - I forgot)

Well, I'll go play on photoshop for a while.

 

Talk to you later.

Always

Ceci

Dear Ceci,

I took such a long pause from posting - I don't really know what to write about.
Hm, so, yes, actually I'm thinking about taking you up on the getting me double ended crochet hooks. 3mm is my standard, but I want to check first whether I really cannot get them in Germany. There was a link to one of those stiff ones, so maybe I can order them here already?
I did found a place to order 0.4mm hooks; do you want one?
About my yarn diet: In the end, I was just 50-100g over my diet limit. This month I won't even try. I got 700g last sunday, as a holiday souvenir and of course I bought some myself, already...and ordered 500g. But I did get myself another big vase to fill, so my boxes were closable again - before last sunday.
On the tools side, I got a 5.5mm hook (somehow, they are not that common here) and I bought books: the German translation of The happy hookers (because it was there, and it was not expensive) and three Japanese crochet books.

The one on top has the best patterns, the one to the left has most patterns and the one to the right has hello kitty-girly patterns I can make my nieces happy with. :-) I love that Japanese bookstore! Luckily, I get there very rarely, else I would be constantly broke. The only amigurumi book they had was one I already had. Seems I've made a good start on the collection. ;-)
On my ufo front: I finished the bolero! In the end, I just left out all frill, flowery

Heya Lili,

 

Summery dragons? I'm picturing dragons wearing sunbonnets or sunglasses and bathing suits. But then my mind is a little twisted. :-)

I forgot about trying a small tunisian patch. I guess I was just blinded by the prospect of new toys, uh, I mean tools. I'll need to find my little bitty yarn stash. So small in fact that my home may have swallowed it whole. I'll follow the kittens, I'm sure they can find them.

A circular double ended hook? Just did a web search and found this:

SpinBlessing.com

http://spinblessing.com/item.php?art=grp:12118

40" long, sizes G-K (metric 4mm - 6.5mm), Aluminum with adonized finish (makes it smoother, they say), $8.95 US

Susan Bates brand (with Boyle they are likely the most common brands sold in the US - or that I have seen anyway)

Of course, I can always order it and send it to you. I imagine that might be cheaper than the rate for international shipping, assuming that the company even ships overseas. Some of these internet companies are kind of small ventures.

Interesting. Most of my steel hooks are stamped  "made in Germany".  Funny. What was I talking about? Ah, yes.

Here's a site that calls them "flexible afghan hooks" and only charge $5.95 US They only go up to size J but they are Susan Bates. I love the company's name: Frugal Haus. 

http://www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=68

Wait a second while I open another window and check something.

Oh I see, my regular stand-by vendors call them by different names. I found some plastic ones too. A set of three big Mamas (M,N,P).  Hmmm. It might be easier if you tell me what size and what material you are interested in and I'll do the shop-under-every-name internet leg-work before I post anymore "borrowed" pictures. ;-) I love shopping anyway so it's not a problem.

Oops. We use the expression "fall off the wagon" when someone breaks their self-restrictions. It originated with the abstinence from alcohol, but we use it for everything now. So I guess you fell off the yarn cart (not a big enough crisis to warrant a full sized wagon) ;-) Still I admire your restraint. Only 200g. That's not so bad. It is an amount that can still be lifted with one hand. Pretty good work. :-)

As for the flat tapestry instructions, I'll have to do a deeper search because I didn't find instructions as much as discussions that explained but didn't show how it was done.Deborah posted a comment about a yahoo group for this technique. I'll wander through it this weekend and see what I can find. Maybe I can have something posted by the time you get back to town.

Have fun and crochet your little brains out. :-)

Talk to you later

Ceci