New design :)

After being tested, my new design is available..this time I dedicated my full time to crochet, which has always been my first love... I just recently learned to read and write crochet patterns, so it was a challenge to write this down, but it also gave me a lot of satisfaction.

A simple, fast working lace top, with minimum shaping… ideal for the Summer if worked in cotton and for the Fall if worked in a warmer yarn…

The ribbing portion (which has a small negative ease) adds interest and helps make this garment more fitted to the body.

There are easy instructions to customize the garment to any torso length, and to adapt the neck line to your taste.

As always, pattern can be found here in Ravelry and here in Craftsy

My first sewing project!!

I am so happy with this!! It is my first sewing project and I love it!
The instructions for the basic blouse can be found here . Very well explained and for beginners like me!!

I added some details in the front (a little hand stitch accent and a bit of hand smocking)

I hope my little two year  old enjoys it! When I showed it to her today, she said: "Oh, a shirt for me. It's perfect!" That is the most wonderful compliment I ever got :)

Gift cards using Trader Joe's bags

For this project you can actually use any type of card or paper...Even old greeting cards, thank you cards, etc can be recycled in this way. It is also a project you can do with kids, who usually love to punch holes :) or even older kids who know the basics of crochet.

You will need:

Card/paper
Yarn of colour you prefer for the project
Crochet hook
Puncher
Glue
Scissors

These are very basic, but there is so many possibilities!! Cotton white thread on white cardstock could be very pretty for special occasions... especially with a more intrincate lace trimming...

Upcycling :)

I just love to find good yarn at a thrift store :) This particular project was made using a wonderful blend of wool and alpaca, very soft, warm and light!!! When working with chunky warn, the weight of the final garment is important to me, so this yarn was ideal.... It would have cost a small fortune to buy new, so...

And after a few hours (really, it was super fast!!!)

Shawl

This shawl is a present for my mother in law. I knitted the main body using a very simple pattern, "One skein shawl", but I wanted something bigger so I improvised the crochet border. I am working on a chart for it, so it will be available soon...

Handmade cards with crochet appliques

I just created a few simple appliques and sewed them directly on paper.
Ideal for other crocheters, and for everyone that appreciates unique handmade items…
I used sewing thread (double) as yarn.

More handmade toys

This one was for a little boy: 
This wonderful 3D shape is a free pattern, Celestine by Norah Gaughan.

I created it as a toy, so I experimented with stripes of all kinds, some intarsia, etc.
The pattern is so easy you can quickly memorize it. I even did away with the stitch markers after the first point was completed.
Lots of fun to make, I’ll make it again :)



The second one was for a little girl

I was totally inspired by Poppy by Ysolda Teague

But...being pressed by time, I cheated…big time…

 I made the doll first (sewing it by hand) and then knitted the dress and shoes… I

am making a bit of a wardrobe, though…it’s fun!!! For the curly hair I just used 100% wool from a sweater that I unraveled.  Natural curls in no time!!! :)