Olympics 2008

I was watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics today, it was really well organised.
I love watching all the different sports and have planned on knitting and crocheting as I watch, I have designed my projects and bought the yarn only problem is will I drop lots of stitches while watching...........

Pure London

I was at the trade show Pure London yesterday packed with Spring/Summer 09 womenswear, accessories and footwear collections. There was trend presentations and catwalk shows, plus a few Autumn/Winter 08/09 collections.What I noticed most was a lack of crochet and knitted garments and accessories, those I saw were very simple and lacy. There was lots of floaty sheer fabrics and jersey with interesting drape effects and hemlines. Soft folds and plenty of ruching on A-line dresses and tops. V shaped and V crossed necklines. 1960's hippy influences with tie and dip dyes. Florals were very strong from small repeat patterns to large bold prints. The colour that stood out most was bright coral pink it was everywhere, also oranges, reds and greens. Pastels as always with spring made an appearance but were more muted like lavender and dusky rose. In contrast block colours of pale grey and beige in more tailored lines looked clean and different.

Filet crochet

Free pdf information/ charts on ravelry

I have put another two of my designs from NezumiWorld as pdf information files to ravelry
I am on ravelry as "NezumiWorld" if your there say hi

Clover Felting Tools

I have been playing with my new needle felting tools. I have a wooden felting pen but this plastic one is very lightweight and hand friendly. I used biscuit (cookie) cutters before to needle felt but always onto another piece of fabric or felt, using the brush mat thing made it easy to make the shape (I bought the plastic shape maker which is very good, but I will still also use my biscuit/ cookie cutters) and than just peel off.

Joining the pieces was easy again placing them on the mat and another new tool (used in the 3rd photo) to hold the pieces without stabbing myself (always a bonus) or breaking the needles.

And one finished flower, I will add a brooch back. Good results and very easy.

Crochet meet up at Camellia Sinensis Tea Shop

Yesterday I went to the crochet meet-up at Camellia Sinensis Tea Shop in Kingly Court off Carnaby Street. It was helda's birthday (a great friend and the group organiser) so it was a lovely place to celebrate with her and other members of the group.
The shop has a large variety of teas, black, green, white and every herbal tea you can think of, all served in decorative teapots and cups (with saucers). A nice selection of cakes and savouries were also available (I may have eaten a large piece of Victoria Sponge in between crocheting) . Plus its only a few footsteps away from All the fun of the fair, with their bargain bin (does sale yarn count as spending or saving money?) I also got some niffy felting bits (clover brand) I will have a play with them later today :)

Felting and Embroidery

Just finished teaching a two day felting and embroidery class (my last class until the end of summer eeekkk time for designing and updating nezumiworld Oooo and paperwork from all the years courses........)
I love all types of felting whether its crocheted, knitted or from fibre, the course was using the fibre methods soft merino wool tops. It was great fun and as it was over two days it was so nice embroidering and adding beads & sequins to enhance the felt made on the first day. Everyone made lots pieces. Here's some of the photos of the students work :)

Recycled Plastic Bag Crochet Patterns - Little Bowls

Materials:
1-3 (depends on size and type of bag) plastic bag/ s cut into 2.5cm/ 1inch pieces (for how to cut and make plastic bags into yarn and other recycling patterns including little pots pattern go to nezumiworld home site)
8mm/ L hook

Stitches used/ abbreviations:
ch - chain stitch
dc - double crochet UK / sc-single crochet USA
sl st - slip stitch
st - stitchsts - stitches
rnd - round
beg - beginning

Note:
You may find you prefer to use a smaller or larger crochet hook, use the size you feel is right for you. Depending on the brand/ type/ size of plastic bags used, you may find you need more or less bags then stated in the pattern.You can also use cotton twine, jute, string experiment, torn fabric pieces, twisted paper (good for cheap seedling pots)

Pattern:
Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 dc (6 sc USA) into 2nd ch from the hook (the 1st ch that was made), join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (sc USA), 1 ch (you should now have 6 sts}

Rnd 2: 2 dc (sc USA) in each dc (sc USA) all around, join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (1st sc USA), 1 ch (you should now have 12 sts}

Rnd 3: *1 dc (1 sc USA) into the next dc (sc USA), 2 dc (2 sc USA) in the next dc (sc USA)** repeat * to ** 5 more times join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (1st sc USA), 1 ch (you should now have 18 sts}

Rnd 4: *1 dc (1 sc USA) into the next 2 dc (2 sc USA), 2 dc (2 sc USA) in the next dc (sc USA)** repeat * to ** 5 more times join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (1st sc USA), 1 ch (you should now have 24 sts}

Rnd 5: *1 dc (1 sc USA) into the next 3 dc (2 sc USA), 2 dc (2 sc USA) in the next dc (sc USA)** repeat * to ** 5 more times join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (1st sc USA), 1 ch (you should now have 30 sts}

Rnd 6: 1 dc (1 sc USA) into the next dc (sc USA) to end, join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (1st sc USA), 1 ch

repeat row 6 for 5 more rows or until desired height (for a smaller bowl just skip rnd 5 and go straight to rnd 6)
Weave in all ends to finish.

© Michelle Ryan For personal use only