From Rag to ?!?!?

Seeing so many wonderful projects around the web, mostly afgahans, made from yarn scraps/leftover, I started one of my own last year. Initially, I was thinking of making a yo-yo afghan. (Yo-yo's are small round crochet motifs which are later joined together to make different projects) . Later on, I decided on another style. Good thing with this is that I manage to incorporate the yarn ends during crochet.

This is going to be a very long-term project. I don't know if I have stamina for a afghan. As a rough estimate, an afghan would require around 4000 small squares (I'm near 100 right now) so the finished nature of this project is still undetermined.

Look What I Got !!

I got a box full of yarn from a friend the other day. I knew it was coming but what I did not know was that there would be so many gorgeous, yummy yarns and that two other friends at the Sporum Forum(Ravelry) would be pitching in. They knew I could not get lace yarns here and sent me some. Knit Picks Shadow in two gorgeous colors:

Knit Picks Shimmer:

And as if that was not enough, a wonderful hank of Lorna's laces' Helen's lace multi:

So, I guess I will be casting on some lace projects this year, inshaAlla!.
But wait, there is more. Wollmeise sockenwolle 100% (Vergimeinnicht):

Plus, there was some alpaca roving as well, which I have already started on.
I feel so privilged to have such wonderful friends. Thank you!

First Lessons

Yesterday, while knitting my daughter's bolero, I felt a tug at the yarn. I turned around to this:

It turns out, my daughter had watched me wind (by hand) the yarn earlier that day and was practicing on her own. She did a pretty good job too!

On the other hand, my son's first experiment with yarn goes like this:

He acquired this yarn from my scraps and uses it to pull around his toy car, LOL. Yes another thing that interests him in my craft closet is my retractable tape with which he plays yoyo.

A Dyeing Adventure

Some months ago, I happened to find some discontinued undyed wool yarn at a local yarn shop. As wool is not available here any more, I got it with the idea of dyeing it myself.

I did just that last month. I used KoolAid to dye a full sweater worth. My first choice of color was a medium yellow but I did not have enough of that color sachets, so I chose red instead. I used all the red KoolAid and some blue and orange on top to get this shade. I tried some sprinkling for a little variegated effect.

I have already started with the sweater which is to be Tangled Yoke Cardigan. Again the color is hard to capture in indoor light but with the days being short, by the time I get around to shooting pics, its usually dark outside.

I ran into some trouble with the waist decreases but it was resolved, Alhamdollilah. However I have taken a couple of days break from this project to start a pair of fingerless gloves for mysef.

My Craft Closet

After my makeshift cardboard storage system collapsed two days ago, my husband was sweet enough to promptly put in two proper shelves in my craft closet. So I had a pleasurable morning today, putting all my things in there. So here is my international craft closet premiere:

A Few More RAKs

Over June, I received many more RAKs (Random acts of kindness) through the RAK group at ravelry. Each of these is so special because all sent me things that I needed and not available here. These will vastly improve the quality and scope of my craft, inshallah.
The first was from Indiajoy who sent me a set of DPNs, some circular needles and a ball of lovely sock yarn.

Then SueF from USA made me dizzy with her two package. One had some lovely purse handles, magnetic closures and a set of bamboo DPNs. The other had four ball of Patons Classic Wool in such gorgeous colors and a needle sizing card.

Then I got some Peaches and Creme and Silky Wool from zortified in the USA.

And lastly, Lyndystitches sent me a afghan crochet hook.

I want to express my gratitude to all of them again. I love all these sweet gifts.

Thank You, Ulla

Look what I got in mail today from my penpal Ulla from north of Sweden. Reading my exploit about spinning cotton, she has sent me BFL roving in such nice colorway. Also look at the pretty drawstring bag the roving was in. Also in the package were her usual letter as well as a Birthday card for me. (I have my birthday on 30th June). Thank you so much, Ulla.

I have already started spinning with this roving and after the cotton experience, I am finding it a breeze. Loving the process, only my husband seemed a little grumpy at first but thankfully there is a Pakistan-India cricket match to keep him amused. I will post pictures when I am done with the spinning.

RAOK Rocks!

I feel like Cinderella right now. That is because I have been sent a lovely package consisting of yarn and crochet supplies by my fair godmother through Crochetville's Random Acts of Kindness. All my wishes (in that wishlist) came true.

I have literally been jumping with joy. I had posted that wishlist few months back and thought it unlikely that someone would RAOK me at such a far off overseas place. But thank you Jennifer! you made my day ( read my year). All the things are superb and really what i had always wished for. Crochet supplies are very hard to come by. I love the crochet hook set. I have wanted one for so long. That and the stitch markers and the buttons(so many and so cute!!) and the handles. It's all so great. And the Yarn....I really really love it. I hope to put it to great use, inshallah. She has been so generous and kind. I'm overwhelmed.

Indigo bag

Here, I am finished with this one bag. And here is the pattern for all. A word of caution though, I have not tested this pattern, however it's fairly simple and I am here to answer any questions.

Indigo bag

Materials:· Cotton yarn (I bought thick cotton tying thread balls from hardware store and dyed them) equivalent to worsted weight or any that gets the correct gauge. Indigo and cream.
· Crochet hook 4.50 mm
· Tapestry needle and thread
· Fabric for lining
· A metal buckle
· Magnetic snap or Velcro for closure
· Zipper for inside pocket (optional)

Size: 9.5 x 5.5 inches excluding strap.

Gauge: 7 sts x 8 row = 2 inches in Tunisian st.

Method:This bag is done mostly in Tunisian st with a little bit of sc.
Body (front and back): make 2.
With indigo, ch 35 + 2 .
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook. (36 sts)
Row 2: Work basic Tunisian st over the 36 sts.
Row 3: same as row 2 with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(34 sts)
Row 4 and 5: As row 2.
Row 6: as row 3.(32 sts)
Row 7 and 8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 3.(30 sts)
Row 10 and 11: same as row 2.
Row 12: same as row 3.(28 sts)
Row 13 and 14: same as row 2.
Row 15: same as row 3.(26 sts)
Row 16 -17: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Gusset:With cream, ch 5 + 2.
Row 1: work Tunisian st starting from 3rd ch on hook.(6 sts)
Row 2-4: Work basic Tunisian st over the 6 sts.
Row 5: same as row 2 with one increase 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 6-8: same as row 2.
Row 9: same as row 5.(10 sts)
Row 10-12: same as row 2.
Row 13: same as row 5.(12 sts)
Row 14-16: same as row 2.
Row 17: same as row 5. (14 sts)
Row 18-50: same as row 2.
Row 51: Work basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(12 sts)
Row 52-54: same as row 2.
Row 55: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(10 sts)
Row 56-58: same as row 2.
Row 59: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(8 sts)
Row 60-62: same as row 2.
Row 63: basic Tunisian st with one decrease 1 st inside from both ends.(6 sts)
Row 64: same as row 2.
Cast off by working a sl st into each row. Fasten off.

Finishing:Stitch together front, back and gusset using weave stitch.

Flap: Along the upper free edge of one body piece, with cream, work 25 sc, turn.
Row 2-10: ch2, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 24 sc. Turn.
Fasten off. Work a row of sc around the free flap edges with 3 sc in each corner. Fasten off.
Join with indigo at the 10th sc of row 10. Work one sc in each of the next 5 sc, turn.
Row 2-13: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.
Fasten off.

Handle/strap: Ribbon 1: Along the one upper free edge of gusset, join with cream and work Tunisian st in 1st 2 sts. Work 60 rows, fasten off.
Ribbon two: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the next 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Ribbon three: work similar to ribbon one, starting in the last 2 sts along the free gusset edge.
Braid up the three ribbon and stitch them in place at the free gusset edge on the other side. With tapestry needle, stitch up the ribbons to each other along the length of the strap, in order to reinforce the strap.

Buckle: Join with indigo and pick up 2 sc along the horizontal bar on one side of the vertical bar, ch 1, and further 2 sc on the other side of vertical bar. Turn.
Row 2-7: ch 1, sk 1st sc, one sc in each of next 4 sc, turn.Fasten off.
Ch 8, fasten off. Sew in place along both ends of row 2.

Sewing: sew a piece of Velcro to the buckle piece and the bag front. ( or se a magnetic strap instead. Sew and attach lining. I used floral linen. I made a zippered pocket on the inside and used cardboard at the bottom between two layers of fabric.

Side-tracked

I know I had started this month with the intention of working on the two cardigans and to finish them off, but I got side-tracked again. Well, I had had this idea for a while now, so I got some balls of cotton tying string/yarn ( or whatever one might call them) from a hardware store and some dye and dyed them at home. Now I am working on a couple of bags. One is nearly finished and I will post a pattern in 1-2 days, inshallah. The reason I had to dye the yarn from hardware store was because the only yarn available around here is basic acrylic yarn. And I am tired of my bags looking exactly like my sweaters.