I like to crochet small-sized motifs during the hot summer months. One of my lingering projects (almost 2 years!) is a huge blanket made of octagonal and square motifs, which have a wonderful texture reminiscent of matelassé. At this writing, I have almost all the squares finished, and seven more octagons to go; after that,… Continue reading Old and new crochet WIPs with flower motifs
Yarn swift and ball winder in action
I've unboxed and tried out one of my early birthday presents - a yarn swift and ball winder sent from the United States. Believe it or not, I've been balling up yarn the old-fashioned way for years, and I recently thought it was high time I joined the 20th century (give me more time to… Continue reading Yarn swift and ball winder in action
Sakura mandala cushion is finished, plus assorted WIPs
What a blast it was to make the Sakura Mandala cushion cover! I made two mandalas with Scheepjes Softfun yarn and a 3.50mm hook, and sewed them together for the cover. Part of the fun was the 24 pompoms that encircle it - justifying my very smart purchase of Clover pompom makers, which I'm now… Continue reading Sakura mandala cushion is finished, plus assorted WIPs
Fedde Stole is finished! Plus: pompom prep
I am beyond delighted to have finally finished the Fedde stole, one of my "Covid projects" that has taken slow fashion to a new level. And I mean, sloowww... this one took me about 10 months from start to finish. Granted, I have tons of other projects going as well as a day job, but… Continue reading Fedde Stole is finished! Plus: pompom prep
Happy Mother’s Day, neighborhood lake walk & crafty bits
Happiest Mother's Day to all the moms and all those who "mother" in some way. Mothering is a creative gift of the heart, no matter its object. There was a brisk wind yesterday which gave a lovely, gentle wave to the lake in my neighborhood. My pup Bo relishes these walks. Today in particular it… Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day, neighborhood lake walk & crafty bits
Finished Noro shawl with tassels
A quick check-in to share my latest shawl, using Noro Shinryoku wool/silk blend yarn and a 6mm hook. I was able to use almost three full skeins, including three "chonky" tassels that add weight and balance to this simple article. I'd like to share the pattern here in my blog, when I have time to… Continue reading Finished Noro shawl with tassels
Yummy new yarn haul and assorted WIPs
This week I got a lovely shipment of yarn sent all the way from the UK, containing a variety of Scheepjes as well as Noro yarn that I had wanted to try out for a long time. Noro is a Japanese yarn brand that's known for its quality fiber content that has beautiful, rustic textures,… Continue reading Yummy new yarn haul and assorted WIPs
New WIPs + ash reshteh recipe
Just a quick update to share a few things I'm managing to fit in during my uni's mid-term week. Sometimes I cook a big pot of soup before I know I'm going to be busy for a few days. This time, I made ash reshteh, which is an Iranian noodle soup that is often eaten… Continue reading New WIPs + ash reshteh recipe
Finished crocheted cactus trio
This week I made some changes to my first cactus by adding more rows of the white plastic yarn, which gives it a cooler texture. What do you think? PHOTOS: A trio of cacti based on patterns from Trend Gifts Boutique on Etsy. Finished measurements on all range from 7-8 cm, not including the pot.… Continue reading Finished crocheted cactus trio
Lilacs at home with me
April is flower month in Korea, and we all have our favorites that we wait for, be they cherry blossoms, magnolias, or azaleas. Mine happen to be lilacs, an ephemeral beauty whose fragrance I love so much, I've made it a tradition to keep a sturdy pair of scissors in my bag from April 1st… Continue reading Lilacs at home with me