The Garden

Hello, I am just popping in to wish you a Happy New Year! Please accept my apologies for not participating in Instagram and blogging initiatives at the moment. As mentioned in the last posting, I am snowed under with professional projects, research work and business travelling.  

The photo above is an update of The Garden throw, the most beautiful pattern I blogged about previously.  I have finished about forty 25x25cm squares to date.  It is gorgeous, I cannot wait to see it in all it's full glory once finished.

We made time to visit a great new souq/bazaar here in Qatar, located in a town with the name Al Wakra, just south from Doha.  The maize of buildings stretches for 3 kilometers along the Arabian Sea with an esplanade running down the open beach side. It is build to reflect the town's fishing village heritage and features aged walls and brightly painted wooden doors. The souq will eventually be home to hundreds of shops and eateries. Only a handful are open at the moment and judging by the beautiful cafe in which we enjoyed coffee and cakes, we can look forward to atmospheric and quint eateries. Magical, I love Arabia!

Have a great week.  Cheers!

Flower Power

See Floral for links to the origins of the non crochet floral images

Hello!  Over the years, I have seen this pretty pattern appear in my Pinterest feed many times and always thought it would make a gorgeous blanket.  I absolutely love making this square, it is fun to be working with so many different colours and to be mixing cotton and bamboo yarns to reach the desired effect. You definitely want to stroll over to Instagram and take a look at the gorgeous projects featuring this square by Cornel and Elsbeth and also read Cornel's posting on the HelloHart blog. 

Hook size: 4mm. These stunning squares are about 25cm x 25cm unblocked in size each! 

Yarn: A mixture of Vinnis Nikkim, Vinnis Serina, Vinnis Bambi, I Love Yarn Imagine and King Cole Bamboo Cotton.

Patten: The pattern was published in the magazine Para Ti - guia de puntos but I have no idea which edition. Please feel free to enlighten me!

It is a very busy time here in the Pigtails Palace and I am slightly overwhelmed by the volume of activities I am faced with on a daily basis (including working full time!) I will also be blogging about the progress in hunting down beautiful pieces for the Girl Teen's room soon, show some pictures of what the interesting Doha Downtown area looks like, finally blog about the African Inspired Blanket (hijacked by the Dude Teen) and so forth!

Have a great week, we are celebrating Qatar National day this week and from what I can see, it certainly is a massive event here every year. Until next time, cheers!

Liebster Award!

Last week I was awarded a Liebster by the ebullient and vivacious Beatrix Snyman of Btrix Dsigns. Thank you so much Beatrix, I really miss connecting with you over a cup of coffee and a ball of yarn! I also miss seeing your sales skills in action, no-one I know can close a deal quite in the way you do! Somehow I always spent more money than intended with you around, but I ended up loving the yarn so much, it didn't matter you rascal! In fact, the Istanbul inspired blanket published in Simply Crochet is the result of one such dealing between Beatrix and I. To any South African readers - if you live near Beatrix in South Africa and you haven't met her yet (whether to buy yarn or to attend a workshop) you are losing out! 

1. Why did you start a blog and what do you mainly blog about?  Blogging to me is a hobby as much as crocheting is. I blog to stay connected with other bloggers and observe patterns and trends with regard to craft and social media alike. I blog about crocheting and living life as a global nomad.

2. Did you realize that crochet is becoming the new black? Why do you think it is becoming so popular? Li Edelkoort in Trend Tablet nailed it when she spoke about crocheting, knitting and other textiles "In reaction to our virtual existence, we will need more real emotions and unknown surprising scenarios: tactility and dimension to compensate the flat screens in our lives, to give pleasure to our fingers."

3. What is your biggest reason for crocheting/knitting? Connecting with people and hearing, seeing their stories as told through craft.

4. Do you prefer working from a pattern or do you make up your own pattern as you go? Why? I do one of three things - design my own simple pattern; adapt an existing pattern or use an existing pattern. I always learn new techniques and manipulate yarn in either one of these three scenarios.

5. Who is your favorite crochet/knitting designer. Why? I really prefer the work by all the unknown women of Africa and Asia - those who produce the visions of designers such as Sophie Digard and Anne Claire Petit. These women are hugely talented and almost no one is telling their stories!

6. What is your favorite fiber to work with? Why? Any natural plant fibers because it is most suitable to the climate in the Middle East and South East Asia. I have a great passion for raw, natural materials opposed to man made ones.

7. Which is your favorite yarn brand and why? I have a great love affair with Vinnis Nikkim, Bambi and Serina as well as Colours of Grace. These yarns define my style and everything I make in either of these stand head and shoulders above any other yarns I use.

8. In short, give an overview of your craft journey since it started. One word: hooked!

9. I assume you have a few WIP’s. Who doesn’t? So what inspired your current WIP’s? Yes, name all of them! Ah, never assume! I work on one project at a time and at this very moment I do not have a single WIP to my name since I am awaiting delivery of a special hand dyed yarn order to start a special project!

10. Where is the most unexpected place you ever crochet/knitted?  I have enjoyed hooking in many interesting places - from the overnight train between Penang and Bangkok to the beach in Teluk Bahang National Park overlooking a village build in the ocean. I also kept yarn and a hook in my lap whilst driving in the very slow moving Penang traffic, crocheting a few rows or rounds at red traffic lights or when stuck in traffic.

11. Which project/design/pattern was your biggest challenge up to now and why?  The Barcelona jacket/bolero because it is a poorly written pattern and I am also not an expert in making wearables, meaning I couldn't improvise!

The Questions for my nominees:
1. Animal fiber, plant fiber or other fiber? 

2. Variegated or solid?

3. Colours or textures?

4. Pattern or plain?

5. How do you organise your stash?

6. Favourite projects to make?
7. How many WIPs are you working on?

8. Where is your favourite hooky place?
9. What three words best describe you?
10. Which travelling destination is on top of your bucket list?

My nominees are:

Andree, About Crochet

Sylvia, Tama Pollo

Gamze, Vintage Peony
Jeszizsu, Teszek-Veszek-Vacakolok

Ingrid, Little Birdy

Chrissie, Chrissie Crafts

Congratulations, you have just been awarded a Liebster!

The mud and dust, the soil and sands of Africa

Yarn Elle Cotton On DK print 051 Ash, Photo of Rhino by Christine & Michel Denis Huot

Hello!  The kids and I arrived in Doha with a suitcase and one piece of cabin luggage each. We are light travelers and since I am the boss did the packing, I distributed 4 kg yarn between the suitcases before I even considered how many pairs of shoes we have space for. 

I have just started working on a new blanket using my lovely yarn from South Africa. I initially planned a colour palette in rich reds and purples, but I reconsidered and settled on a palette of white, beige, taupe, grey and coal in 25 different shades, featuring no less than 9 different types of yarns! The palette is stunning, inspired by the mud and dust, the soil and sands of Mother Africa.

Images: Pinterest Raw Rustic

When I think of my childhood, vivid images of digging my hands through the cool earth, sinking my feet into the soft soil, boring with my big toe through the cracks of dried mud prevail. The picture of a White Rhino charging through dusty plains, cemented the idea for using a palette that represents the Mother Continent.

I am deviating from the initial idea and pattern, but decided to do a separate posting later in which I will be discussing crocheting techniques and personal likes/dislikes. 

Pattern: Hexagon from loopknits

Hook size: 5mm

YARN:

Vinnis Colours Bambi Bamboo/Cotton mix in White, Natural, Clouds and Midnight

Vinnis Nikkim Colours Cotton in Blue-Grey, Aluminium, Steel Grey and Midnight

Vinnis Serina Bamboo in Natural and Silver

Imagine Bamboo/Cotton mix by I Love Yarn  in Windswept, Abyss and Monet

Elle Premier Mercerised Cotton in Grey and Taupe

Elle Rustica Wool/Acrylic/Tweed mix in Charcoal, Aran and Natural

Elle Marco Cotton/Tweed/Wool/Acrylic/Nylon mix in Charcoal and Aran 

Elle Cotton On in Ash

Elle Pure Gold Acrylic in Pepper, Ivory, Silver and Titanium 

All the yarn is available from I Love Yarn in South Africa. They also ship internationally.

Thank you for visiting and enjoy the rest of your week!

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words

THE STORY

Moroccan Inspired Throw for my Dad

(Follow Link to previous posting)

YARN:

Vinnis Bambi, 100%  Bamboo, 5 Skeins, 50gr each

Colours: 5 Skeins in total of Clouds, Dark Denim, Denim, Blues Brother, Baby Blue

Vinnis Nikkim Colours, 100% Cotton, 28 skeins, 50gr each:

Stone, Old Gold, Aluminium, Steel Grey, Blue Grey, Blue Bell, Denim, Kingfisher, Baby Blue, Deep Blue, Cloud Blue, Blue Canard, Pale Blue Green

Images: Raw Rustic Pinterest

Driftwood and Waves

The moment one steps foot into my friend's magnificent home, the eyes are drawn to raw wood, clear glass and shades of stone and bone. I always notice the huge glass bowl filled with driftwood collected during a recent coastal holiday, displayed in the foyer. 

The driftwood journey is free flowing, it recognises no borders or restrictions, only the flow of time and events.  My friend acknowledged the integrity of driftwood in a recent Facebook posting, perhaps not realising the parallels with her own life journey.

Last weekend over a leisurely breakfast, she told me of her plans to travel France, Italy and Greece this coming summer with her children. This will include barging on French Canals and soaking up the sun on a Greek Island. Have a great time my friend, the scarf will come in handy.

C'est La Vie!

Photography by Naomi

Yarn: Vinnis Serina, hand dyed, hand balled 100% bamboo yarn; I chose bamboo as a symbol of our friendship (as per Indian Symbolism) and her own tenacity and elegance (as per Chinese Symbolism).  The silver colourway respects her wardrobe preferences of white, black and denim and connects water, stone and wood.

Pattern: Nancy's Waves Scarf by Cori Dodds, I preferred a lengthwise adaptation of the pattern as also executed so beautifully by Jen. The edging is a pattern by another Jen, Jen Valure as used for the Luna Lovegood scarf.

Driftwood by Poppytalk

  

Photography by Naomi

Roots and Stones by Elena Ray

Indigo scarf in an Indian box

2014 kicked of with a big bang here at the Pigtails Palace! The energy in the house is insane and we are all swimming in adrenaline at the moment, living life to the fullest.  I will tell you all about this interesting year in another few weeks.

Meanwhile, I took one look at my blog content and decided to spruce up the postings or else we may just all start yawning in boredom soon, I am working on a few postings in advance and please do come back as I will be sharing tips on utilising new media for crafting purposes, photo editing ideas, hooking across borders, iPad ideas and many more. 

New cotton yarn is peeking out of a shopping bag, looking at me with weeping eyes, begging me NOT to turn it into scarves. Oh well, apart from this Indigo gorgeousness, I have finished another erm 3 scarves!!! but will start on a cushion cover or a doily or a toy or anything else today, simply to break this vicious addiction.

 

Hooking the Indigo scarf was pure pleasure, I loved the repetition of the pattern as well as the absence of ends to weave in due to using the awesome Invisible Double Knot (see Youtube) when I joined a new skein.

I have to say good bye to the Indigo Scarf in an Indigo Box now - Happy Birthday Mareli!

Pattern: The Double Crochet Five Together Bobble Scarf

Row 1. Ch 30 

Row 2. Ch 2 to form first hdc, then 29 hdc

Row 3. Ch 3, bobble, ch, skip 1, *bobble, ch, skip one* repeat, there will be 15 bobbles in total

Row 4. Ch 2, 29 hdc

Repeat rows 3 and 4 to desired length

For a video tutorial on how to hook the bobble stitch:  New Stitch a Day 

Hook Size: 4mm

Yarn: 6x50gr Vinnis Serina 100% bamboo, hand dyed in colour Indigo

Handmade just for you

Hello!  Yesterday I prepared myself to search furiously for a special birthday gift for a friend, when I stumbled upon this lovely box from India mere minutes into my shopping expedition. I bought the box and knew straight away that it was to hold a surprise from my hooks as well. I legged it to the nearest yarn store to find the perfect yarn that would portray the essence of my friend. On numerous occasions she seemed bowled over by the soft and luxurious bamboo yarn I sometimes work with and when my eye spotted the gorgeous Indigo, I was sold. Mission completed. 

INDIGO

Common Connotations

loyalty, religion, spirituality, intuition

Please curb the curiosity be patient  whilst I work my way through 6 skeins of yarn, using the gorgeous bobble stitch for the gift. Meantime, enjoy my new blog template, a New Years gift to myself. DO you like it?  Suzana from This Girl Design not only designed the template, but also took care of the installation.  Thank you Suzana, you gave me the best service I have enjoyed in years. 

Happy New Year!

Misty Clouds Scarf and 2013 Hooky Pleasures

Hello!  This is another scarf (yeah, I am fixated) hanging from my hooks. I wanted to share a few photos with you before the clock strikes 12 in three more days, even though the item is only half finished! I am still finding my way around this gorgeous yarn but think I will be able to push the boundaries and hook really interesting items once the creative juices are in full swing again. 

Misty Clouds Scarf

Pattern: hooked in hdc, 28 stitches per row

Hook size: 8mm

Yarn: African Expressions Love, brushed mohair, 100 gram  

 

Psst - Long post alert!

I decided to take a quick look at what I created during 2013 and am quite pleased with the results. Below is a collection of my projects with hyperlinks to all the postings. The postings include links to patterns, my own patterns or tutorials.
I have also thoroughly enjoyed all the blog hopping, commenting, link parties and blog week (See my posting Bamboo is Best for a chuckle). Thank you for stopping by here at the Pigtails Blog so often, have a fantastic New Year. Cheers!

  

1&3 African Flower Handbags 2. Roly Poly Pillow Seat & Roly Poly Pentagon pattern 4. African Flower Tutorial

1. Elize Shawl  2. Placemat 3. Shell Crochet Scarf  4. Mandala 

1. Necklace 2. Spotty Dotty Scarf & Spotty Dotty Planning 3. Circles Scarf 4. Dentelle Scarf 

1. New Yarn 2. Raw Rustic Throw & Raw Rustic Progress & Blocking Raw Rustic Squares & Rustic Squares Pattern 3. Blocking Cotton 4. Tutorial: Joining squares with DC2Tog 

1. Crochet Frames 2. Drops Design Top 3. Doilies 4. Ziggy Lace Scarf 

1. Delphine Cowl  2. Throw Main Bedroom 3. Crochet Frame 4. Bamboo is Best

1. Ivory Handbag 2. Crochet Pot 3. Mohair Scarf & Planning Mohair Scarf 4. Crochet Vessel 

1. Pattern: Squaring the Treble Circle 2. Vintage Fan Ripple 3. Doilies 4. Skinny Scarf & Skinny Scarf Inspiration 

1. Circles Scarf  2. Triangles & Kaleidoscopic triangles & Planning Triangles 3. Babette Style Throw finished & Babette Progress & Babette Inspiration 4. Erica Cowl  

1. Checkerboard Blanket  2. Spotty Dotty Cushion 3. Baby Ryder Blanket