Exciting news!

I am really happy to tell everyone I started a small knitting/crochet bussines. I have been getting orders for years, so why not make it official?

Well, I finally did. I made a facebook page, called "Moça Tricoteira", which translates to a knitting young lady. Here it is, in case anyone wants to give it a like! I would appreciate it :) Facebook page 

In the mean time, I've been knitting a lot. My latest finish is this baby cardi, which will be a gift to baby Anita - my cousin's first baby. Her baby shower is next month and I still have to finish a bonnet!

I also made this cute mittens for my mom - it's been so cold lately, she uses it every morning.

And I was able to make this little cute cardi just in time - the baby was born two days after I finished everythig!

Love,

Tina

Not Enough Time

I've been having so many orders and requests, I barely have time to knit for myself! I have only two projects for me - Fingerless Mitts and a shawl. I'm stuck on the second mitt and no date on the horizon to start the shawl!

First, baby hats for charity; then, a friend of my mom who is having a little one. I finished her hat, but not the cardi yet!

Then, hats - little sister wanted a beret and a cowl, and I got an order for a hat like the Almost Spring Hat, but in red.

I also made grandma a little gift card cozy for mother's day!

All in all, thank god I finished mom's things back in march - I would be going crazy if I had to make them around mother's day, which was last sunday.

I've been knitting so much, my arms hurt a bit and I haven't had time to touch my chemistry books for a test (although, to be honest, I don't really want to... Oh well.)

Well, now that I finished most things - all I have to do now is a cardi, mom's hat for her bday and maybe a little something for little sis - I think I might be able to finally finish my mitts! Can't wait to use them :)

Love, Tina

Winter Joy

Ah, it's finally cold!!! Last night temperatures dropped to 5C in my city... Below zero in some towns. This is bliss for me!

Why? Well, more tea, more knitting and crochet (so much more!), more watching tv on the couch with blankies on.... Using my knitted socks...

I could go on and on :)

I am so happy I was able to finish this scarf (shawl? cowl?) in a few weeks, just before the cold arrived. First time I ever made something in this shape. Got about 218 stitches, so the largest thing I've ever knitted!

If you want to make one for you, here is the pattern. It's so, so easy! You memorize it in no time and I made this while watching Vikings :D

The yarn I used was a gift from a friend who I love. She sent me this italian merino, and it's so, so cozy. And the color? It goes well with EVERYTHING! Just my kind of thing!

Can't wait to use it. Before I finish, here's a little something from our garden - little sister's gold oranges. Well, they're not gold just yet, but they will be! :)

Love, Tina

There's something...

...About baby knitting.

It's the reason I started knitting in the first place - charity projects for babies. I just can't help myself.

Yes I hear lots of people saying "Oh what a good soul! What a selfless atittude! How noble!"

Ahn... lady are you listening? I get to KNIT. For BABIES. It's not hard AT ALL.

Knitting helps me with my anxiety. It does more work than my medication. I also get to imagine tiny feet, hands and tummies wearing the things I've knitted depending on what it is that I'm making. Isn't that the best thing ever?

It's my strategy actually. If I'm sad, feeling like trash, I think about tiny feet. That or bunnies. The world lights up again and I'm ok for the time being.

Thinking about puppies and kitties also helps, don't get me wrong!

Well, this is one of the main reasons why I knit for tiny humans. I love them and I love knitting - awesome combination.

I might start knitting for bunnies too, now that I think about it.... Tiny sweaters :D

Love,

Tina

Autumn Works

I have two favorite moments in the year - When fall starts, and when spring starts. At this moment, fall is beggining to say hello. I can't wait for the cold to show up as well!

Since mother's day is in may, I already started mom's present - a pair of hand knit socks, which she has been asking for me to make her a pair since last year. It's about time!

Right now, I'm on sock number 2. Got all the ribbing done on easter and I'm working on the cuff.

I have to say, I love this yarn. Mom loves blue (just like me) so it was a no brainer choosing this one for her.

Also, there's my blanket! I decided to make 12 squares, plus border. 9 squares down, 3 more to go! I will probably start joining them this week. I plan on using slip stitches and join them on the back, but we'll see how that goes!

So many pretty colors... I think it's going to look very cool when it's done.

And here, a little bit of autumn (or fall!) to you all

Love, Tina

New Year, New Stuff

What a lovely title! No, really, so many things going on at this point, I have no brain power left!

One thing I'm sure of: I wish you all had a wonderful time with your loved ones, no matter what you celebrate. I hope lovely memories were made!

On to the new stuff, then. I haven't knitted much - aside from a pair of baby booties. More items for the charity box, all right! Also, I had a blast making baby mittens.

I am starting a new baby cardi soon, I hope - Very hot lately to be with yarn around, but it's not like I have a choice. My hands are itching for my needles. We don't really realize how much those can become a part of you until you spent a while without using it! I'll be using this lively green - it's going to be my beach project!

But, the really big news are.... I'm cross stitching. Oh yes! And I'm loving every minute. I made a few little things so far, nothing major. A small heart which I turned into a keychain; A Mario Piranha which will be turned into a keychain for little sis, and this wip. It's a teapot - with hearts! All those were free charts, and really easy ones to follow. Found them all on pinterest :)

As a new cross stitcher, I get to start a whole new stash, buy different supplies, tools, magazines, books... It's all so exciting and interesting. Learning is one of the things I love doing the most, really. The challenge is always there in one way or another - I'm working on getting the back part even, and later on, I want to get better and faster at the stitching.

2016 started great for me, and I hope it was the same to everyone!

Love,

Tina

Almost Over

I can't believe this year is pretty much done. As we say here, I honestly did not see it pass! I've been forced to hurry on a few projects, since christmas is just around the corner! There's still something I want to make as a surprise for little sister, but I'm not sure I would have the time!

So far, I got this little baby hat done. It's such a cute pattern, and the first time I made a hat that was not knit in the round. You can find the pattern here!

And obviously, there's this. Mom has asked for christmas decor for as long as I can crochet; I never did any. Not my thing I guess; but this year she asked again, and how could I say no?

So a bunting is on it's way. Snowflakes and christmas trees. Can't wait to see it finished! There's no pattern for this, since I'm using a crochet book. But here is the pattern for the tree, which is super easy to make!

I hope everyone has a great time on christmas and new year's eve!!!!

Love,

Tina

A Lace Story - Ajur Cowl Pattern

So, if you have read this blog before, you will know that looong ago, I started a lace scarf. A simple project using a stunning yarn.

I was my first time with lace. I have made eyelets and simple lace before, but this was an all lace project.  I had no idea how this would turn out like, but I was excited to use the Drops Delight yarn I got as a present from a friend who lives down under!!!

The search for the right pattern took me quite a while. I was not sure if I wanted to make a cowl or a scarf, but I soon said to myself - something simple, with no shaping. After all I would be having to pay attention to the lace!

So I settled for a scarf. I looked at Ravelry but nothing really caught me eye (Call me crazy!) so I went looking for patterns and stitches on some books both of my grannies have given me.

I finally found the right stitch at a book from the 80's! (I do think it's actually older than that, since it was definitely NOT the first edition!) It was a simple stitch, that is around online for ages (after I knew what to look for, there were thousands of different ways to do this.)

After making a few changes, I started. Not only I used a lifeline, I also used stitch markers. For a 44 stitch scarf!!! I give you the permission to laugh at my extreme caution :D If this is your first time with lace, I urge you to do the same! It will save you from lots of headaches later, trust me.

Lifeline and markers. Silly for such a small project, but highly effective!

I ended up finishing a 50gm skein, and I soon realized I had no more patience. At all. Scarves are great and fun.... Mostly when you are a begginer. Although  I'm pretty sure knitters who have far more experience than me love knitting scarves too. I just found out I need something that shows progress in a different way, and has at least a little bit of shaping. We live and we learn!

So I turned this into a cowl - I knitted a few more rows, and there it was. I actually have no idea why this didn't occurred me earlier - I love using cowls, scarves, not so much!

I'm quite happy with the result! So, here is the link for the pattern. You can use whatever needles and yarn you wish - there's not a gauge for this. In this cowl, I used 3.50mm needles and 1 skein of Drops Delight, 50gm. You can seam the sides and turn into a cowl, or you can just keep knitting and make a scarf! It's really up to what you prefer.

Keep in mind the stitch is not originally my idea! I'm actually trying to find information on the designer, so I can credit her/him properly. Keep your fingers crossed, I really want to find that person and say thank you :)

Have fun knitting this cowl/scarf! I can assure, it's great for begginers and experienced knitters alike!

Thanks for little sister, who took this photo!

Love,

Tina

On Crochet Decor

                                                                     

Crochet is amazing for several reasons, but the fact we can use it as decoration is one of the best ones.

Truly there's nothing better than surrouding yourself with the colors you love; with shapes that make you happy, and with oh, lace. 

I could hang lace everywhere I go. As far as I'm concerned it would make the world a better place. I'm serious! 

Those doilies are on my wall for a few years now, and when I wake up those are the first things I see and I swear, it already makes me smile. Also if you read my blog for a while and already looked at my Ravelry project page you already know that I'm always and forever in love with crochet potholders, mandalas and table runners. 

As I knitted a bit of my lace scarf, I started thinking about a garland for our hallways that is empty. I like peach colored walls but they get boring after a while. 

At this moment, different flowers come to my head. Let's see, shall we? :) 

Love, 

Tina 

Baby colors, blankets and toadstools!

It's a shame it's been so hot here recently - When holding the yarn for too long we start to get sweaty hands and that is not nice at all! So my projects are going quite slow lately.

I finished the lacy blanket and already started the next blanket - this one is for grandma. Se gave me tons of yarn, so I can create whatever design I want to. Since I never joined small squares, I thought why not?

I'm using this pattern, by Sandra Paul of the Cherry Heart blog. It's simple but it looks so cute!

I'm in the process of deciding if I'm going to use other squares, or just this one. If I'm going to make them in solid colors and/or mixed. This is the fun, creative part, that I love so much.

Also, I got a new book, since I'm crocheting far more blankets that I thought I ever would. It's by Edie Eckman and it's called Around the Corner - Crochet Borders. There are so, but so many beautiful designs inside that book! I can spend hours just looking at everything.

On a side note - I'm knitting a wreath! I just made some toadstools for it. Aren't those adorable? You can find the pattern here - I reccomend it! It's much more easier than it looks :D

Love,

Tina

Finishing touches

I love starting and finishing projects. When I start a new project I have so many ideas, so many possibilities, and while the project progresses, I get to try out those things out. It's great.

But when I finish them, I have this bittersweet feeling - Such a pity it's done already.... But hey, now I get to add those little details I wanted to, like buttons, edgings, some emboridery... And I also really enjoy sewing the ends. I like sewing, that's all :)

With this cute cardi, it was my first time ever making sleeves. I made the sleeves using dpns, and no sewing up was needed. It was quick and sweet. I also had such a great time choosing the buttons! I have simple, but tons of colorful buttons, so it's always fun when I get to use them. If you want to make this pattern, click here! The pattern it's not mine.

Also, my blanket is almost, aaaalmooost done.... I'm on the edging. And every round I complete, I get even more happy about the edge I choose - It's going to look great!!! Can't wait to show it to you all.

Love,

Tina :)

My Current WIP's

This past few days I've been working on two projects. One is a blanket, the other, a baby cardigan.

For the blanket I'm using the Victorian Lattice Square pattern - It's a beautiful crochet pattern, and I can't wait to start joining them together! I think this blanket will be a present for my mom - If she likes it, it's hers!

Then there's the baby cardigan I'm knitting. The pattern is called Linnie, and this is a very interesting knit. For some people this might be super easy - As this is my first time knitting a garment with more complicated construction elements, for me, it's all new - But it's been fun!

I'm using 100% cotton yarn - Very, very soft. The contrast color is this mix of white, pink and white - The main color is a pastel pink. I'm not sure about the buttons I'm going to use it yet, but I'm looking forward to choosing!

It's going to take a while, though. I've been having awful wrist pain... It sucks, but I'm trying to get better really quick, so no crafting for a few days... It feels like I'm losing something very important :( But, it means I have more time to think about colors, design elements and so on. There's always a good part! Even if that good part is more time to study :)

Love, Tina

From Simple to Cute (And a note about baby tummies)

One of the things I love the most about knitting/crochet is how you can let your mind wander and just create. You can alter any pattern (provided you have the skill - and that's why it's so much fun to learn new things) and make all the changes you want. No pattern will ever be executed the same - And the final product will always be something unique.

And that is the reason behind making this baby vest. I knit a lot for charity, and this is what this vest is for. It is a great and easy pattern, good for begginers. But for me, it looked a bit too simple. So I thought, what could I do to change that, but keeping the pattern intact? (The vest pattern is not mine - It's by Marianna Mel. I'm trying to find the link and when I do, I'll uptade this space.)

Crochet was the answer. I have lots of thread in my stash, but I never use them. It feels like such a waste! I had this idea months ago, when I did this baby cardi. So it just clicked - Why not do that again, but with a little more details this time? (By details I mean more work. And by more work, well... Let's just say it can be challenging!)

So I started crocheting flowers. I made a long slip stitch foundation in green - For grass! I made one tiny leaf, and three butterflies with antennae.

The actual work is having to sew all that to the vest. It took me two or three hours to finish, and for me, it's still not "perfect". Still, I'm learning - And I liked what I did so far!

I can only hope one little baby will be happy to have butterflies and flowers covering his/her tummy - Because that has to be the cutest thing to ever exist, after tiny finger and toes. Even puppies come after baby tummies! And gosh, puppies are darn cute :)

Love, Tina

Knitting, knitting, tons of knitting

I honestly don't know how this started. I've been mostly a crocheter since always - Hardly picking up a knitting needle. This last few months tough, it's all I've been doing.

I think it started with the socks. It was a challenge and I wanted to make a few great pairs. Then I started looking up patterns and decided I was going to make a fair isle sock. It all went downhill (?) from there.

To be honest, I am hoarding (What? Me? No, never) yarn for another crochet blanket. I think I want a make another chevron blanket - or maybe one with hexagon motifs. See? No idea just yet. It will get done though - More yarn is needed, that's all. That's hardly a problem, by the way.

So crazy me started a swatch for a fair isle motif I want to use for a sock. Thing is, I am making this much harder than it should be - I am knitting this flat. I just want to have an idea of how this is going to go - after all I'll be using 3 colors, and I never done anything like this before. Yeah, making a few stripes in a hat is child's play - flat fair isle has the power to make you call your mom. Which, for me, it's useless. She can't even hold a knitting needle.

Oddly enough, I find this process amazing. This swatch will be my project for this afterrnoon.

There's also this super cutie cutie baby vest. It's very simple and plain, but I have a few ideas. Actually more than a few, but I need to buy black and yellow crochet thread for it and at the moment, student me has to choose between buying thread of printing all those papers. I'd much rather have the thread, but I need those papers, so thread will wait. (Wait until I can tell mother how much my life depends on that thread. That might work too.)

And then, there's this wonderful, beautiful, mesmerizing Drops Delight that I got from a equally wonderful friend. She sent me a parcel from a far away place - When I opened it felt like my brithday (Again! Remember when Nicki sent me sock yarn and needles? Oooh so amazing.) There were tons of cool yarn, stitch markers and those cute green clover stitch holders.

I want to make a scarf with it - I started one but was not feeling it. Frogged yesterday and I think I found the perfect stitch today... Cannot wait to started.

Actually, I should study. I have a test in three weeks and it's going to be hard, but there's so much yarn in my face at the moment... Lots of distraction, you see. Can't study until I've dealt with it!

Love, Tina

Summer in Winter

It's the middle of August. Here in Brazil that means lots of cold. Not this year though... I'm wearing shorts and t-shirts the whole week! Last year, at the same time, I was wearing two coats, wool socks, cozy pants....

I'm not a fan of the heat, really. Worst, I'm not a fan of holding yarn in my hands while it's hot, so my knitting and crochet always suffer when it's this hot.

But I'm trying really hard not to do that right now. So about two days ago, I made this adorable bookmark. I'm in dire need of those at the moment, I'm sure I will be making more!

So easy, so effective :) I wish I had blocked properly, though. I'm so bad at blocking! It has this cute little lace pattern...

The yarn I used is the same yarn that I made my first socks with. Loved the stripes!

Other than that, things have been slow. I started a baby vest but frogged after it was quite clear the yarn would not be enough... A shame! Will have to use another color.

I've been crocheting a lot these past few days. I made that potholder, and I'm making flower motifs for a blanket... Maybelle flowers, to be more exact. It will take a while to get that blanket done, but making those flowers has such a calming effect.

My craft space is also in need of a few changes... I need more light, more color, useful things in easy to find places. As I make the changes, I will post them here. Little by little, I want to transform that place :)

Love, Tina

Almost Spring Hat Pattern

I present to you my very first knitting design!

When I got the yarn for my cowl, mom loved the color I chose. She kept asking me to knit a hat for her since last year, so... I thought now was the perfect time! I had the right color, all I needed was a pattern. After talking to her (she had a lot of ideas, mind you), I was able to start creating the design. And here it is!

What you will need -

For the hat:
Worsted weight yarn, 1 skein
3.50 mm needles, DPNS or circular (size of needles can be changed to adjust gauge)
Needle for sewing in ends

For the flower:
Worsted weight yarn
5mm hook
Needle to sew the flower on hat.


Notes:

**To make garter stitch in the round, purl one row, and then knit another row. Simple as that!

**When you are making the crown, you can skip the garter row if you want to, and just knit. But, if you want to continue the pattern, and find yourself having to decrease in a purl row, do not despair: Follow the exact same instructions, only switching the K for the P. So, instead of K6, you P6 - And instead of K2tog, just P2tog.

**You can use circular needles - Just make sure to have dpns of the same size for when you are making the crown!

Abbreviations:
CA - Cast on
K - Knit
P - Purl
sts - Stitches
K2tog - Knit 2 stitches together
Ch - Chain
Sk - Skip
dc - Double Crochet
sc - Single Crochet

Gauge:10cm - 18sts (In stockinette)  

Pattern:

Hat-

Cast on 96 sts, and divide them across 3 needles (32 sts on each needle.)

Make 13 rounds of K2, P2 ribb. (If you do not want to fold the ribb, make less rounds)

K for 8 rounds, make one round of garter. K for another 8 rounds, another one round of garter. Repeat until you have 15/16 cm.

Crown

K6, k2tog around
K one round
k5, k2tog around
K one round
K4, k2tog around
K one round
K3, k2tog around
K one round
K2, k2tog around
K one round
K1, k2tog around
K one round
K2tog around

Do not bind off - Thread yarn in the sewing needle and then pass the needle inside all remaining sts. Give it a tigh pull to close the top of the hat, then sew all ends.

Flower -

Ch 48. Sk1, sc, sk1, 5dc in same ch, repeat. When you are done, fold. This will form the flower. Attach to the hat and you are done!


You can sell items made with this pattern, but do not sell the pattern itself. Do not claim as your own - if you want to feature in your site, please, link back to my blog. Copyright by Betina Juchem Clemens 2015. 

Lots of things!

When it comes to projects, I'm not the most "controlled" person. I make one, two, sometimes 6 or 7 projects at the same time. This way, I'm always interested - There's always something new and different that needs my attention. I don't care if I finish them now or 2 months from now - As long as I'm having fun, that's what matters!

This month will not be different, I'm afraid... I finished a pair of simple baby booties and will start a baby vest today. Another sock is coming along nicely and I'm making a new pattern - (my very first knitting desing) a hat for mom. I also want to make something that requires sleeves... I've never made a garment that needs sleeves. Since I'm really enjoying working in the round, I want to try that out!

But, I did finish my cowl - I can't wait for this crazy weather to get colder, so I can use it. Working with cables is quite magical - From such a simple process, we see these different designs, new textures, coming alive. If you want to make a cowl just like this one, you can find the pattern here. :)

All this, and then there's school - and gaming. If it was not for Skyrim, I could be done with mom's hat by now, I'm not joking!

I'm also trying really hard to control this urge to make a thousand of different crochet potholder patterns. I have the yarn... The perfect yarn. But we already have so many of those... Argh, it's been hard, so hard... If only life was made of hardships like this one :D

Love, Tina