Raspberry Delight!

I finished the cardigan I was making for our friends' new baby girl Paula Johanna. She was born about a month ago and we are just itching to go see her. I was so happy to hear that it was a girl because then I had an excuse to use some super pink yarn. I just love hot pinks but haven't had any real reason to use some.

Lucky for me the exact stuff I was looking for was in the discount corner at the local yarn shop. Still meant $5 dollars for 50gms but hay for raspberry coloured 100% merino wool who's complaining! I mixed up two patterns to come up with this one. Unfortunately I printed out the patterns long ago and have forgotten the sites I got them from so I cannot share them.

Here's a photo of the little gem!

It's been finished off with the cutest of pink mother-of-pear buttons. I am also planing to make a beanie to go with the cardigan. I hope it will keep her warm this winter. It will be too small for the following winter.

an experiment with twine

One of my friends recently moved in a new appartment. And since she loves anything related to nature : pebbles, wood, dried flowers... and homemade, I wanted to sew something with linen (fabric) as a housewarming present, but my sewing machine broke down last month.

When I saw this cone of natural linen twine in my closet, my crochet hook told me to try for a few stitches. And before I knew it, some coasters for her family were on the way...

It's a little tough for fingers (but not unpleasant) so one a day seems the right pace for me . I use a European crochet 1.75mm, and then spray & block them as I go, and it works just like cotton or wool but with a stiffer result, which is just what I want for these.
Still one to go, it was fun to experiment something new & and a bit unusual.
I hope she likes her little gift...

Ok Let the Posting Begin!

I´ve recently moved to what I am calling the land of sock wool, yes I moved to Germany, and I am finding it a little hard at times to find yarn that is not 4 ply and specifically made for knitting socks. I mean this would be great if I knew how to knit properly because I would love to have hand made socks but alas I am a crocheter not a knitter.

Anyhow I went to a local market on Saturday and found a wonderful wool stall with lots of beautiful ´4ply´ wool. I couldn´t just walk by without buying at least one ball so I thought what the hell I´ll just do more rows and work with a smaller hook right?

Here is a photo of what the yarn became...

Birthday present for my fiance´s niece Lena, who is turning 1 on May 7th. Axel bought her the Pipi Longstocking (German Version) t-shirt to go with it!

I´ve made a few baby jacket/cardigans like this using the usual yummy 8ply and they work out a treat. There is a pattern on Yarn Days blog for these top-down baby cardigans. I originally got the pattern from a crochet book but having left it in Australia had to go looking online for another pattern. Actually I hope Rima from Yarn Days will join us here. She always posted photos of her beautiful work on Granny Along. I miss her postings there.

Hope you are all well and ready to start posting about your crochet adventures. I have another baby cardigan that I´m working on at the moment but I´ll leave that for another time. I always seem to crochet more when in Germany... hmmm

Anyhow have a lovely weekend and keep the 'I want to join' emails comming!!!!!