Welcome back, hope life has been treating you well. Some of you have been extremely busy recently, making decorations, gifts and new clothes! Well done, all of you!
I love reading about the things people have been making, often it sparks off new ideas of things I want to try! I am truly grateful for all this inspiration!!!
Today I have more things to share with you! For those who love a dash of colour, you won't be disappointed!
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| Welcome to my colourful world of crochet!!! |
First, another finished project - a knitted hat! I cast this on whilst still making the first one, but this time I decided to use moss stitch because I love it. Personally I really love the natural and Autumn colours! It has a slouchy fit but is very snug!
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| Woolly Hat after finished knitting (laid flat) |
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| 15.11.14 Finished Woolly Hat with Pompom! |
I am sure some of you might remember that I am in the process of making a huge Crochet Harlequin Blanket! (For my new readers please take a look at some recent previous posts, if interested!)
Ok, here are some new photos, to show what it looks like at present!
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| 17.11.14 Harlequin Blanket |
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| Happy colours |
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| Walking on Sunshine! |
As you might gather from the first photo, this blanket is getting big! So big, that I had trouble photographing it laid out on the floor. In the end I stood on top of the sofa to get a good angle to take shots! (I know, I know, it's all for you people, no trouble too much!!!)
I decided that I must concentrate more on the blanket now, in order to make good progress. So I thought about this project and realized that it would help if I set myself a (daily) target. So now I am keeping track of how much work I put in each day. It is nice to have a feeling of achievement!
This means, of course, that I need to do much less besides, apart from the odd little bit of knitting project that I could take along on the bus easily. The blanket is definitely not so easy to carry about now and is better off at home.
Launch Party at LN KNITS, Antwerpen
Last night my friend Christine and I went to a launch party in Antwerp, for which I had received an email invitation!
It was for the opening of a temporary pop-up shop and book launch for LN KNITS.
As soon as we walked into the beautiful store, we were being photographed!!! We felt like VIPs!!! Apart from a professional photographer, there was a young man in charge of the evening Cointreau Bar, promoting their cocktails which we could mix ourselves using some fantastic exotic ingredients, such as limes, passionfruit, berries, mint and various fruit juices! Very tasty! :)
Also in the store was a DJ, providing musical entertainment. And of course, there was some yummy food!!!
But first, we were eager to get our hands on the Alpaca Knits in the shop and feel the softness. It was pure heaven!!! The garments were displayed by colour and were breathtakingly beautiful.
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| Gorgeous Alpaca Knits! |
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| Cointreau Bar! |
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| The shop was filling up as the evening progressed! |
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| LN Beanies |
Ellen Kegels, the shop owner and author, was launching her brand new book that evening.
Both my friend and I bought the book (Euro 20), but also benefitted from a gratis 100g skein of Alpaca (retailing at Euro 18)!!! What a fantastic offer! Of course we both picked an additional colour, it was hard to choose (see our photo).
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| Which colours shall we buy? (PS: Spot my granny square bag with the Harlequin blanket!) |
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| Ellen Kegels with her new book 'In mijn Nopjes' |
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| My Shopping 'Loot' |
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| Some of the wonderful knitting projects from the book |
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| Ellen modelling in her own book! |
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| 100% Pure Alpaca Wool |
On her facebook site can you find a few more photos of the launch party:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LN-Beanies/174893575508
We had so much fun experiencing all the thrills of seeing so many beautiful and handknitted garments in the most tempting soft Alpaca!
We both left, feeling even more inspired to create something new with our new yarn! And the book is so amazing, both the photos and the projects to make, which are grouped together by the 4 seasons. (The book is written in Dutch and will be available in bookshops in Belgium).
Afterwards we went to the Knitting evening 'T Arm Schaap and told the others about our visit! :) And I managed to crochet a bit more on my Harlequin blanket which I had brought along especially!
And just so you know, I have written this post because I enjoyed myself and because I adore hand knitted things, not because I received anything for writing it! (Hope you enjoyed reading it, too! If only you could have all felt the Alpaca....)
Please write me a little comment below, I love reading them all! And I usually do reply to them, as soon as I get the chance to do so!
Love your hat to pieces.
ReplyDeletelove love love Ellens sweater and thanks for the link .
Thanks, Kathy!! Glad you like the hat. Quite frankly, I was amazed how that yarn turned out! :) xx
DeleteBeautiful hat!
ReplyDeleteHarlequin blanket <3!!!
Hugs.:*
Thanks, Ljubinka for your kind words, as always! Hugs!! xx
DeleteGreat projects, the blanket is coming along so well. What a great evening out, sounded like fun and wonderful yarn.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lorraine, for the encouragement! I had been putting the blanket aside for a while, because I tend to get caught up in new projects that grab me in a whirl! With a big project, only regular work and dedication will pay off in the end, this is what I keep telling myself... ;) xx
DeleteYou are making proggress with the harlequin blanket!
ReplyDeleteLove your colors.
Wish I could get my hads on that book, at least to look at it.
What you show us is beautiful. I am glad you had that VIP evening.
You are correct, the orange from the other day is the hat from yesterday. Beautiful color.
Have a nice day.
Hi Monica! Lovely to hear from you! Yes, the book was one big reason I went to that evening, it looked nice online but I didn't really know what to expect. I thought maybe it was only about beanie hats. However, I was pleasantly surprised, since it also contains baby things, jumpers, scarves, even a bikini!
DeleteI agree, it would be nice if it was more widely available (and in English, so more people could understand it). Ellen also wrote a book before (Goed gemutst) which I think is more about hat patterns.
Anyway, both book and evening have inspired me to make more of my own things in good quality yarn, because I know I will treasure it afterwards.
And thanks for telling me about that Drops yarn, it's made me more open to try it out (not sure if one of the shops has got that particular variety). It's always good to know what other people think about yarn that is new to me! :) xx
Wonderful times and so many lovely things to see! I take photos standing on chairs and so on sometimes too! I am just glad that no one can see me!! xx
ReplyDeleteHehehe, Amy, that made me chuckle!!! ;)) Probably, in the future, insurance companies will ask: Are you a blogger? Yes? Well, then you belong in the higher risk category and must pay a higher premium!!! (Just kidding!) Have a lovely day! :) xx
DeleteI love your new hat and the blanket is really coming on well. Sounds like a geat night you and your friend had at the opening. I would love to get my hands on that alpaca! By the way - I've stood on chairs, the bed and even the table to get photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gillian! :) Oh, no!!! Not you as well!!! ^^ (Don't tell the insurance people... ;) xx
DeleteHahaha! That's funny! Should I put my hand up now too? Except my poor son has to stand next to me so I don't fall as I am not supposed to climb on anything as my muscles are prone to weakness. The things that young man does for his crochet-obsessed (and not quite blog-obsessed yet) mother!
DeleteOk, please feel free to join in!!! (And good to know you got your son on hand, I wouldn't want you to fall!!) xx
DeleteHow big will your blanket become? It certainly looks pretty and so cheerful already!
ReplyDeleteThe yarn you got looks great and very soft!
Take care
Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de
Hi Anne! Well, it is over 2m wide (not sure exactly 2.10m maybe) and I am aiming to make it square. Thankfully I have reached the half way mark. I just used your favourite shade - Pomegranate!! :) (It's Stylecraft Special DK) xx
DeleteYour blanket is stunning, Ingrid! I love it so much. The store opening looks like it was really nice. I was recently invited to a store's opening here in my area too, because of being a blogger. I think it's really nice to be recognized and to know that people out there think you're a good candidate to take part in a special event. It felt great when I had that experience, so I totally understand why you shared about it. I'm happy for you. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer! Glad you liked it! :) xx
DeleteHow do the shops know you are a blogger? Do they get to know you from your custom or do they trawl the blogosphere? How good that you were recognised and rewarded! :-)
DeleteI love the effect of the self-striping earthy colours in your hat. That is definitely something I would wear. I am also surprised at how much your harlequine blanket has grown because I haven't seen it for a while but at the same time not surprised because you are such a busy crocheter! Your photograph of your feet standing on it was a good way to show the scale of it. Wow! Good work and beautiful, beautiful colour combinations.
ReplyDeleteBTW I've given your blog a mention on Lupey Loops because I love it so and you work hard on it with fantastic results. It is a joy to visit you on your blog and I appreciate the care you give. :-)
http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/liebster-blog-award.html
Hi Jodie! I already wore my new hat, it's great! To be honest, I had not worked that much on the blanket because I was pulled in other directions with different projects... I only started to focus more on it since last weekend. Now I do something on it every day to keep it growing.
DeleteThanks so much for your kind compliments, it means a lot! I feel we got so much to give to each other by sharing our hobbies and experiences! :) (And I love reading your blog, too!!) xx
Hi,Ingrid,again.:)
ReplyDeleteHat-cable is my pattern,I had five sets hat-gloves.This is hat number six.:)
Gloves-http://madebyljubinka.blogspot.com/2014/01/pletene-rukavice-s-prstima.html
Greeting.:*
Thanks for getting back to me, Ljubinka! Wow, you have been very busy. It sure is a lovely pattern! I will have to try and work out something of my own!! But first...my blanket!! ;) xx
DeleteA launch party! With Cointreau Bar! How glamorous! Looks like you had a lovely time :) I love your hat. I really must get round to making myself a hat.
ReplyDeleteJillxo
Hi Jill! Yes, it was pretty cool! Good luck with the hat, it's really an ideal quicker project! xx
DeleteWhat a wonderful launch party, it sounds perfect! The book looks so inspiring, and the yarn is gorgeous. Love your harlequin blanket, hope it is coming along quickly for you now!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Helen xox
Thanks, Helen, Have a good weekend as well! xx
DeleteWow, your harlequin blanket is amazing! Hats off to you for getting so far with it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sally! I will keep going!!! xx
DeleteI am very impressed by your harlequin quilt. It is getting SO big. What stitch did you use? did you write a post about it? I am really interested! It is very pretty!
ReplyDeleteAnd it looks as if you really got yourself some nice wool in the pop-up-shop. Curious what you will make with it....
Have a nice week!
Brigitte
Hi Brigitte!
DeleteThanks for your kind comments! :) In fact, I wrote a few posts about it, the first one here:
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be/2014/09/new-harlequin-blanket-and-old-favourite.html
I started the blanket on 11 Sept 2014 - currently i've reached about 1.4m high (and over 2m wide). I probably would have made more progress if I hadn't made a huge shawl, some neckwarmers and two hats (not to mention owls and other small projects) during the same time. I find it very hard just to do ONE thing alone!!!!
The (printable) pattern is here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_yC9ySJTXW3I/SeYIaN9h2FI/AAAAAAAACJ4/b-pXJvzrqPM/s1600-h/Wheel+Shell+Stitch+-+Triple.jpg
(BTW you can find all the posts about the Harlequin blanket by clicking on the tag (Harlequin blanket) in the side bar on the right blog side).
So, at the moment I try not to do anything else apart from the blanket.... :))) And any future projects will have to wait!
Happy week! xx
Haha! Your list made me laugh and reminded me of the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" except you might be the "Very Hectic Crocheter" with all your things on the go; e.g., "On Saturday, Ingrid made 1 huge shawl, On Sunday Ingrid made 2 hats, Monday - 3 neckwarmers, Tuesday- 4 owls ... 200 rows... etc./uzw.! " You are amazingly productive!
DeleteOnce again, very impressive !!!! I love the colors ... as always ! Have a creatice day !
ReplyDeleteThanks, Geraldine! Same to you!!! xx
DeleteWhat a lovely and exciting time you've had! Enjoy your book and new yarn and I hope you show us what you make from the book!
ReplyDeleteHello Maya! Well, it will have to wait for a while now... first the blanket needs to be finished. I got a number of knitting WIPs, but even they have been put aside! (And talking about new patterns, you wouldn't believe the amount of patterns I keep saving in my Ravelry!!!) Have a lovely week! :) xx
DeleteThe blanket is so beautiful! I don't know this pattern at all, makes me want to try it!!!
ReplyDeletexo
Hi Amalia! Thanks! Why not give it a go? It is not that difficult as such! I would encourage you to try a small sample first to practise. It would look also great on a cowl! If you check out my first post about this blanket, I also posted a link to a youtube tutorial which I can highly recommend! Happy crocheting! Maybe you will share when you have tried it out? ;) xx
DeleteEverything you made is beautiful. I really like the hat. The moss stitch combined with the yarn colour is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine! Thank you so much! :) I'm currently knitting more hats, I find it very relaxing! Using the variegated yarn from Rico is fun, some of the colour changes are so subtle and it seems that no 2 balls of yarn are totally the same!
DeleteI found the Toque you made very inspiring, I still keep thinking of the gorgeous colours! <3
I do want to try more Fairisle patterns! (Well, actually it is more a case of doing my own patterns, I love to experiment!) xx
I love your harlequin blanket and it's a good idea setting yourself daily targets to get big WIP finished, I do this as well. I love your background pictures, is it Scheepjeswol? I have some of this yarn stashed and have been pondering what to use it for. Thanks for your visit to my blog and for being my 400th follower :o) Sam x
ReplyDeleteHello Sam! Thanks for your comments! :)
DeleteYou are right, the background shows some granny squares I made earlier this year, using Scheepjeswol Stone Washed yarn.
I made a Tote Bag (or better: I covered an existing bag with my crochet squares). You can find out more about it here:
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be/2014/08/my-granny-square-crochet-bag-plus-lucky.html
where you can see it all a lot more in detail! (I totally love this yarn!!!) I also made a star garland from it:
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be/2014/10/the-beauty-of-stars-nordic-fairisle.html
(and a few more projects, which you can see by clicking on the tag SCHEEPJESWOL STONE WASHED in my side bar which brings up these results:
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be/search/label/Scheepjeswol%20Stone%20Washed
Hope you will find this useful for your inspiration!!! xx
hello ingrid,
ReplyDeletethe hat is beautiful.the harlekin blanket is a dream!!!!
hugs regina
Hello Regina! Thanks for your lovely comments, much appreciated! :) xx
ReplyDelete