My new Mandala design is here! And it’s in overlay crochet again! I wanted to
create a very thick piece, heavily covered with overlay stitches, so that
background is not visible at all. And it worked! Let me introduce a Spanish
Mandala to you!
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
Spanish Mandala pattern is available for purchase in my Ravelry shop HERE and on Etsy HERE. And there is a giveaway running on my Instagram HERE till 9:59pm, May 28 – feel free to enter to win your free copy of the pattern. UPDATE: giveaway is closed and winners were announced on my Instagram page.
Quite often I am asked what inspires me to create mandalas… so here is a story behind Spanish mandala design. Several months ago I occasionally saw a picture with ceramic plate in one of the Facebook groups. Oona Lynnett (another group member) posted it with a caption “If only I was clever enough to turn this into a pattern...” Well… I can’t even explain what I felt at that moment. This pattern, those colors! It was one of the hundreds handmade plates available in numerous gift shops in Cordoba (Spain) where Oona goes every winter to see her parents. Did I hesitate for a moment? Not really. I dived into my stash immediately, picked the colors and started to crochet at once.
I have never been to Spain myself and I don’t have any knowledge about Spanish traditional art, so if you are from Spain, please correct me. I was trying to dig over internet to find more pictures with ceramics, and plates in particular to see more examples of this art and to recreate my own “collective” image of a Spanish plate. Nowadays handmade tiles, vases and dishes are very popular among tourists visiting this country. But for Spain it is more than that – it is a very old tradition that has been cultivating over the centuries.
“The typical colors used in the decoration of ceramics are those associated with the sunny Mediterranean coast: cobalt blue, deep yellow, red, purple, pink, and white. Since a good deal of the ceramics made in Spain are individually hand-spun on a wheel or molded by hand, and then fired, glazed, painted and fired again, you will often find that although common in resemblance, no two pieces are exactly alike. Their lively bright colors - which are trademarks of Spanish ceramics - mask these “imperfections” and make these artworks great for table use or simply as decoration!” (Sourсe)
So this is how my mandala was born. Surprisingly, the design was finished in two days… And then I decided to recreate it with plain, pastel colors and turn it into a round pillow cover. I chose Soft Fun yarn by Scheepjes, because the range of its shades is very wide, and I could pick exact colors I wanted.
The color possibilities of this (and any) mandala design are endless! During the test I was so much inspired by work of Cindy Douglass, and felt like “stealing” her color palette for my third mandala. So yes, the full credit for “catching” the right shades goes to her!
You will need 1 ball of Soft Fun yarn in each shade – and it will be
enough for making the pillow. You can purchase Soft Fun via
Wool Warehouse* (international shipping),
Deramores* (on sale till May 30), and in your local
Scheepjes shops. You will
also need a 4mm (G) crochet hook to go together with this yarn (I used
Clover Soft Touch*), though it might be needed to change to a smaller size in the middle of the
mandala to prevent it from curling. Everything depends on your personal
gauge.
And then you will need a tapestry needle to weave yarn tails in and a zip in matching colors and long enough to create a comfortable opening for a round pillow form. Oh yes! You will of course need a round pillow form! You can purchase it or make it yourself. Next week I will publish a tutorial to show you how to do that (and you don’t even need a sewing machine!).
My two bright mandalas are made with scraps of blend wool yarns from different brands. I am not even able to name them all. I bought them in Belarus several years ago and I am not sure they are available for purchase worldwide. But if you would like to recreate one of these two Spanish mandalas, you can use Soft Fun as well. I looked into the chart to give you an idea of shades (though of course you can always choose your own).
So, mandala 1 (blue and orange): C1 (2427 or 2449), C2 (2518), C3 (2401), C4 (2432), C5 (2511), C6 (2492), a bit of 2426 or replace it with C5.
Mandala 2 (purple and green): C1 (2449), C2 (2518), C3 (2491 or 2532), C4 (2511), C5 (2531), C6 (2515)
The colorway for pastel version is given in the pattern.
There are many ways to use this mandala. I turned mine into a round pillow cover with zip. You will find instructions for the back part in the pattern and also tutorial about how to put your cushion together. But this mandala can also be used as a separate flat piece – for example as a wall hanging, front decoration for a fabric pillowcase (round or square). You can turn it into a stool cover. And you can also square it up using Dandelion Border pattern (check it HERE) which will perfectly work with Spanish Mandala’s stitch count! If you would like to keep this mandala round but to enlarge it, you can add a Joana’s border (the pattern is HERE). But please, be aware that Spanish Mandala has quite a thick fabric while Joana’s Border is more pliable…
Lisa Kasper wrote on my Facebook page: “I love almost anything with colors. Mandala patterns are my latest obsession. I am no longer content to make "granny" afghans. I like to create pieces of art. The mandala is the perfect art form for bringing the old, but respectful, utilitarian workmanship of crochet into the 21st century. I love all of your creations!”
I used this quote because I wouldn’t say better myself. Mandalas are my huge obsession, too. And I do think each and everyone is a small piece of art (crochet, ceramic, fabric or painted).
Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter not to miss a single post. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
Spanish Mandala pattern is available for purchase in my Ravelry shop HERE and on Etsy HERE. And there is a giveaway running on my Instagram HERE till 9:59pm, May 28 – feel free to enter to win your free copy of the pattern. UPDATE: giveaway is closed and winners were announced on my Instagram page.
Quite often I am asked what inspires me to create mandalas… so here is a story behind Spanish mandala design. Several months ago I occasionally saw a picture with ceramic plate in one of the Facebook groups. Oona Lynnett (another group member) posted it with a caption “If only I was clever enough to turn this into a pattern...” Well… I can’t even explain what I felt at that moment. This pattern, those colors! It was one of the hundreds handmade plates available in numerous gift shops in Cordoba (Spain) where Oona goes every winter to see her parents. Did I hesitate for a moment? Not really. I dived into my stash immediately, picked the colors and started to crochet at once.
|
| Photo credit: Oona Lynnett |
I have never been to Spain myself and I don’t have any knowledge about Spanish traditional art, so if you are from Spain, please correct me. I was trying to dig over internet to find more pictures with ceramics, and plates in particular to see more examples of this art and to recreate my own “collective” image of a Spanish plate. Nowadays handmade tiles, vases and dishes are very popular among tourists visiting this country. But for Spain it is more than that – it is a very old tradition that has been cultivating over the centuries.
“The typical colors used in the decoration of ceramics are those associated with the sunny Mediterranean coast: cobalt blue, deep yellow, red, purple, pink, and white. Since a good deal of the ceramics made in Spain are individually hand-spun on a wheel or molded by hand, and then fired, glazed, painted and fired again, you will often find that although common in resemblance, no two pieces are exactly alike. Their lively bright colors - which are trademarks of Spanish ceramics - mask these “imperfections” and make these artworks great for table use or simply as decoration!” (Sourсe)
So this is how my mandala was born. Surprisingly, the design was finished in two days… And then I decided to recreate it with plain, pastel colors and turn it into a round pillow cover. I chose Soft Fun yarn by Scheepjes, because the range of its shades is very wide, and I could pick exact colors I wanted.
The color possibilities of this (and any) mandala design are endless! During the test I was so much inspired by work of Cindy Douglass, and felt like “stealing” her color palette for my third mandala. So yes, the full credit for “catching” the right shades goes to her!
|
| Photo credit: Cindy Douglass |
And then you will need a tapestry needle to weave yarn tails in and a zip in matching colors and long enough to create a comfortable opening for a round pillow form. Oh yes! You will of course need a round pillow form! You can purchase it or make it yourself. Next week I will publish a tutorial to show you how to do that (and you don’t even need a sewing machine!).
My two bright mandalas are made with scraps of blend wool yarns from different brands. I am not even able to name them all. I bought them in Belarus several years ago and I am not sure they are available for purchase worldwide. But if you would like to recreate one of these two Spanish mandalas, you can use Soft Fun as well. I looked into the chart to give you an idea of shades (though of course you can always choose your own).
So, mandala 1 (blue and orange): C1 (2427 or 2449), C2 (2518), C3 (2401), C4 (2432), C5 (2511), C6 (2492), a bit of 2426 or replace it with C5.
Mandala 2 (purple and green): C1 (2449), C2 (2518), C3 (2491 or 2532), C4 (2511), C5 (2531), C6 (2515)
The colorway for pastel version is given in the pattern.
There are many ways to use this mandala. I turned mine into a round pillow cover with zip. You will find instructions for the back part in the pattern and also tutorial about how to put your cushion together. But this mandala can also be used as a separate flat piece – for example as a wall hanging, front decoration for a fabric pillowcase (round or square). You can turn it into a stool cover. And you can also square it up using Dandelion Border pattern (check it HERE) which will perfectly work with Spanish Mandala’s stitch count! If you would like to keep this mandala round but to enlarge it, you can add a Joana’s border (the pattern is HERE). But please, be aware that Spanish Mandala has quite a thick fabric while Joana’s Border is more pliable…
Lisa Kasper wrote on my Facebook page: “I love almost anything with colors. Mandala patterns are my latest obsession. I am no longer content to make "granny" afghans. I like to create pieces of art. The mandala is the perfect art form for bringing the old, but respectful, utilitarian workmanship of crochet into the 21st century. I love all of your creations!”
I used this quote because I wouldn’t say better myself. Mandalas are my huge obsession, too. And I do think each and everyone is a small piece of art (crochet, ceramic, fabric or painted).
Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter not to miss a single post. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
CAL’s (crochet-a-long) are extremely popular today. Almost every week I can see announcements about new CAL’s coming up. Some of them are quick and small, and some of them are very long, taking weeks. And even months. What is so special about the CAL phenomena? And why people like them? I was trying to think of possible reasons. From my own experience.
Disclosure: this blog post contains affiliate links (marked with *). I may be compensated with a very tiny amount for purchases made via these links – with no extra expenses for you. Thank you for support!
The first CAL I came across was Sophie Universe designed by Dedri Uys from Look At What I Made. It is about epic large blanket with lots of colors and structure. And later last year I run my own first ever CAL Circles of the Sun, which is about 9 small squares in overlay crochet technique joined together into a pillow cover. But I have never followed any CAL’s myself. Until recently, when Last Dance on the Beach was released by Scheepjes. And I am a part of it.
So what is CAL? As the definition "crochet-a-long" says, it’s an event connecting several (or many) people together who crochet one project at the same time.
CAL’s can be mystery and regular. In mystery CAL you don’t see the finished project till you come to the end: every week a new part is released and your wip is growing, but there is still a secret about the final look. And in regular CAL’s you can see the final product at once. Both variations have their advantages. Mystery CAL has a kind of secrecy and excitement. And in regular CAL there is more space for choosing right shades and thinking about possible color ways.
Some CAL’s make choosing yarns even easier, because there are ready kits available for purchase with exact amount of each shade you need. Sophie Universe and Last Dance on the Beach are very good examples, as both offer a variety of kits. You can check them on Wool Warehouse* (Sophie, Last Dance), Deramores* (Sophie) and Paradise Fibers* (US) – Last Dance.
By the way today a new square from Last Dance on the Beach was released, and it’s week 6 already!! It was designed by Carmen from Crafty Queens in corner-to-corner technique (you can download the pattern HERE, and video tutorial is available HERE). I am also following this CAL and here are my finished squares (blue):
This CAL is a kind of a challenge for me as I am learning new techniques and stitches every week. Last time I heard about seagull stitch, which was used by Nerissa from Miss Neriss in her design (here are the pattern and video). Isn’t this square filled with meaning and emotions? I LOVE it!
So what are the reasons to follow the CAL? I have created a list of 10 thoughts. The numbers don’t mean some of them are more or less important. But if you have never followed any CAL’s, I hope you will find a good enough reason for yourself.
Here are my reasons to join the CAL. What are yours?
And here is how my Last Dance on the Beach blanket looks so far:
You can subscribe to weekly newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
The first CAL I came across was Sophie Universe designed by Dedri Uys from Look At What I Made. It is about epic large blanket with lots of colors and structure. And later last year I run my own first ever CAL Circles of the Sun, which is about 9 small squares in overlay crochet technique joined together into a pillow cover. But I have never followed any CAL’s myself. Until recently, when Last Dance on the Beach was released by Scheepjes. And I am a part of it.
 |
| Last Dance on the Beach. Weeks 1 and 2. |
CAL’s can be mystery and regular. In mystery CAL you don’t see the finished project till you come to the end: every week a new part is released and your wip is growing, but there is still a secret about the final look. And in regular CAL’s you can see the final product at once. Both variations have their advantages. Mystery CAL has a kind of secrecy and excitement. And in regular CAL there is more space for choosing right shades and thinking about possible color ways.
 |
| Last Dance on the Beach. Week 1 and creative chaos. |
By the way today a new square from Last Dance on the Beach was released, and it’s week 6 already!! It was designed by Carmen from Crafty Queens in corner-to-corner technique (you can download the pattern HERE, and video tutorial is available HERE). I am also following this CAL and here are my finished squares (blue):
This CAL is a kind of a challenge for me as I am learning new techniques and stitches every week. Last time I heard about seagull stitch, which was used by Nerissa from Miss Neriss in her design (here are the pattern and video). Isn’t this square filled with meaning and emotions? I LOVE it!
So what are the reasons to follow the CAL? I have created a list of 10 thoughts. The numbers don’t mean some of them are more or less important. But if you have never followed any CAL’s, I hope you will find a good enough reason for yourself.
- New fresh design. Many CAL’s involve newly created designs which have never been published before. And joining the CAL gives you an opportunity to be on the top of the trend. But it’s also true that sometimes designers decide to run a CAL with already existing pattern. Just for fun.
- Designer’s support. Because CAL is run in real time, the designer is also available for answering questions and giving help and advice if needed. Many designers have their own groups on Facebook and Ravelry, and it is very easy to reach them. By the way you can have a look at my own Ravelry group HERE. I will be happy to hear from you and see your finished projects. Or you can also share your pictures with me on Facebook HERE.
- Support from other crafters. Very often CAL’s unite hundreds and of thousands people, all passionate and excited about crochet. They hang around in specially created groups and are happy to help each other when there are any problems with understanding the pattern.
- Making new friends. Online community is amazing. When I started to design I got many new people to know from all over the world. And surprisingly many of them became my friends (though I am a total introvert, yes).
- Learning new tricks and techniques. As mentioned about I learn a lot from following Last Dance on the Beach CAL. It is all about new techniques and stitches. Every week I am introduced to something I have never known before. And feel how my general crochet level is increasing.
- A chance to (finally) finish your WIP. Do you have the same problem as I? Lots of unfinished wips and new projects coming in all the time. And CAL is really great in this situation because it motivates to finish what you’ve started. Because of the huge energy coming from the craft community and wish to interact with other people. It’s a little bit sad to give up and abandon the project when others are going on and their projects are growing.
- Crochet therapy. During the CAL you are forced (in a way) to crochet regularly. And great healing power of crochet is well known. When you follow the CAL, you are never alone. You can talk to other people and share not only your projects, but also your feelings and concerns. And it helps you to stay in line when you mostly need it.
- Discovery of new resources, designers and blogs. Following the CAL opens a window to the whole new world of resources and ideas you haven’t probably heard about… When I see a new CAL coming up, first thing I do is checking designer’s page and blog. And often I make wonderful discoveries and start following inspiring blogs.
- Building self-confidence. Because of the permanent support from designers and other fellow crocheters during the CAL, the problems with reading and understanding the pattern are being resolved themselves. And I believe with this support you can very often cope with something you would not be able to do on your own. And this definitely helps to raise self-confidence.
- Giving birth to your own creative child. Working altogether with one and same pattern, people sometimes begin to think of their own tricks and variations. I believe that following the CAL can help develop the freedom of crochet, and give space to some self-designed elements. You should though be aware of the copyright issue! :)
Here are my reasons to join the CAL. What are yours?
And here is how my Last Dance on the Beach blanket looks so far:
You can subscribe to weekly newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
I can finally share the pattern of my new Bloom Bathroom Organizer with you! This project is very flexible (quick and easy to make) and can be easily adjusted according to your needs. You can make the pockets wider and deeper. You can make additional pockets, if you wish. And you can use any colors you like to match your bathroom interior. We will hopefully move to another apartment in a few months, and my new bathroom will be grey and white. And my new organizer will fit it just perfect! Enjoy! :)
Disclosure: this blog post contains affiliate links (marked with *). I may be compensated with a very tiny amount for purchases made via these links – with no extra expenses for you. Thank you for support!
Level: Beginner
Size. The size of each finished pocket will depend on yarn and hook you choose and also on your personal gauge. My pockets are approx. 30cm (12in) and 18cm (7in) large.
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
sp(s) - space(s)
yo - yarn over
sk - skip
*…* *crochet following directions* as many times as indicated
sl st (slip stitch) – insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw yarn up and pull 2nd lp through the 1st lp on hook.
sc (single crochet) – insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, yo and pull through both lps on hook.
hdc (double crochet) – yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 3 lps.
dc2tog (double crochet 2 together) - *yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps* twice in same st, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.
dc3tog (double crochet 3 together) - *yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps* 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.
Rnd 1. With yarn 421 - ch56, beginning in 2nd ch from hook make sc in 54 next ch, 3sc in last ch, using the other half of chain sc in next 54ch, 2sc in next ch (the same ch where 1st sc of this rnd was made), join with sl st in 1st sc. (113sts)
Rnd 2. *Ch3, sk 1 st, dc3tog in next st, ch3, sk 1 st, sc in next st* 28 times. (28 dc3tog's + 28 sc +56 ch3-sps).
Rnd 3. Ch2 and dc2tog in base ch (= 1st dc3tog), *ch2, sc in next dc3tog, ch2, dc3tog in next sc* 27 times, ch2, sc in next dc3tog, ch2, sl st in 1st dc2tog. (28 dc3tog's +28sc + 56 ch2-sps)
Rnd 4. ch2 (= 1st sc + ch1), *hdc in next sc, ch1, sc in next dc3tog, ch1* 27 times, hdc in next sc, ch1, sl st in 1st ch. (28 hdc + 28 sc + 56 ch1-sps)
Rnd 5. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, *sc in next ch1-sp, sc in next st* 55 times, sc in next ch1-sp, sl st in 1st sc after ch1 in the beginning of the rnd. (112 sts)
Rnd 6. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, sc in next 111 sts, sl st in 1st sc after ch1. (112 sts)
Repeat rnds 2-6 four more times.
Rnd 27. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, sc in next 4 sts, sc in next 60 sts AND around a needle at the same time, sc in next 47 sts, sl st in 1st sc after ch1. Fasten off, weave yarn tail in. (112 sts)
First pocket for your organizer is finished! Make another one with yarn 422.
Using tapestry needle and yarn of matching color, sew 2 rings to the sides of one pocket, and to the bottom corners of another pocket. Find the center of upper pocket and sew 3rd ring to the stitches made around the needle.
If you would like to divide the pocket into two smaller parts, you can sew through it with runnning stitch using tapestry needle and yarn of matching color.
Congratulations!! Your new Bloom Bathroom organizer is now finished!
You can subscribe to weekly newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
Disclosure: this blog post contains affiliate links (marked with *). I may be compensated with a very tiny amount for purchases made via these links – with no extra expenses for you. Thank you for support!
You will need:
- Bloom yarn by Scheepjes in shades 421 (Old Lily) and 422 (Grey Thistle) - 130g (3 skeins) of each.
- Crochet hook Clover Soft Touch 4 mm crochet hook*
- Curtain rings 4-5 cm - three pieces
- A pair of wooden or metal needles 35cm long
- Scissors and tapestry needle to weave yarn tails in.
Level: Beginner
Size. The size of each finished pocket will depend on yarn and hook you choose and also on your personal gauge. My pockets are approx. 30cm (12in) and 18cm (7in) large.
Stitch guide and Abbreviations
US standard abbreviations are used in this pattern. But if you are used to other terms, please check this Crochet Translation Project which might be helpful in translation to your native language.
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
sp(s) - space(s)
yo - yarn over
sk - skip
*…* *crochet following directions* as many times as indicated
sl st (slip stitch) – insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw yarn up and pull 2nd lp through the 1st lp on hook.
sc (single crochet) – insert hook in indicated stitch, yo, draw up a lp, yo and pull through both lps on hook.
hdc (double crochet) – yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 3 lps.
dc2tog (double crochet 2 together) - *yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps* twice in same st, yo, pull through all 3 lps on hook.
dc3tog (double crochet 3 together) - *yo, insert hook in indicated st, yo, draw up a lp, yo, pull through 2 lps* 3 times, yo, pull through all 4 lps on hook.
Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2016. All rights reserved. This pattern is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. The pattern may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Items may be sold that are made from this pattern as long as the designer is credited. Shop owners, if you wish to make a kit with yarn using this pattern, please request permission and copyright details from me before offering any kits for sale. Please, read Copyright page for more information.
Instructions
Add this Pattern to your Ravelry QueueRnd 1. With yarn 421 - ch56, beginning in 2nd ch from hook make sc in 54 next ch, 3sc in last ch, using the other half of chain sc in next 54ch, 2sc in next ch (the same ch where 1st sc of this rnd was made), join with sl st in 1st sc. (113sts)
Rnd 2. *Ch3, sk 1 st, dc3tog in next st, ch3, sk 1 st, sc in next st* 28 times. (28 dc3tog's + 28 sc +56 ch3-sps).
Rnd 3. Ch2 and dc2tog in base ch (= 1st dc3tog), *ch2, sc in next dc3tog, ch2, dc3tog in next sc* 27 times, ch2, sc in next dc3tog, ch2, sl st in 1st dc2tog. (28 dc3tog's +28sc + 56 ch2-sps)
Rnd 4. ch2 (= 1st sc + ch1), *hdc in next sc, ch1, sc in next dc3tog, ch1* 27 times, hdc in next sc, ch1, sl st in 1st ch. (28 hdc + 28 sc + 56 ch1-sps)
Rnd 5. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, *sc in next ch1-sp, sc in next st* 55 times, sc in next ch1-sp, sl st in 1st sc after ch1 in the beginning of the rnd. (112 sts)
Rnd 6. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, sc in next 111 sts, sl st in 1st sc after ch1. (112 sts)
Repeat rnds 2-6 four more times.
Rnd 27. ch1 (doesn't count as st), sc in base ch, sc in next 4 sts, sc in next 60 sts AND around a needle at the same time, sc in next 47 sts, sl st in 1st sc after ch1. Fasten off, weave yarn tail in. (112 sts)
First pocket for your organizer is finished! Make another one with yarn 422.
Putting organizer together
Crochet around curtain rings using THIS tutorial (base round and then one round with sc). Make two with yarn 421 and one with yarn 422.
If you would like to divide the pocket into two smaller parts, you can sew through it with runnning stitch using tapestry needle and yarn of matching color.
Congratulations!! Your new Bloom Bathroom organizer is now finished!
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Ta-dah (…and this is how all my posts with reveals of new finished projects begin)! My Bloom Bathroom Organizer is finally finished. It took a little bit longer to put everything together as I was distracted by other crochet projects going on… And then I suddenly got pain in my hands and wrists and was not able to crochet for 3 (!) days. But as soon as my hands felt better again, I came back to my organizer immediately. And here is what I made.
I was hoping that by the day my new organizer is finished, we will finally move to another apartment with a nice bathroom with walls covered by white and grey tiles. But it seems like our move is delayed and my dream to put new organizer onto the wall should wait a bit… But anyway. Here it is. I used 100% cotton Bloom yarn by Scheepjes to make it in two grey shades: 421 (Old Lily) and 422 (Grey Thistle). They were meant to suit the interior of my new bathroom in the best way, and they definitely will!
Disclosure: this blog post contains affiliate links (marked with *). I may be compensated with a very tiny amount for purchases made via these links – with no extra expenses for you. Thank you for support!
I was hoping that by the day my new organizer is finished, we will finally move to another apartment with a nice bathroom with walls covered by white and grey tiles. But it seems like our move is delayed and my dream to put new organizer onto the wall should wait a bit… But anyway. Here it is. I used 100% cotton Bloom yarn by Scheepjes to make it in two grey shades: 421 (Old Lily) and 422 (Grey Thistle). They were meant to suit the interior of my new bathroom in the best way, and they definitely will!
I also used wooden knitting needles for this project. When a sneak peek was posted on my Facebook page a week ago, it was fun to hear your ideas about what exactly needles were used for. I learned a few interesting tips (like, to use needles for keeping stitches “alive” for future joining, or use needles for spacing the stitches, so that they are a bit longer but all of the same length). This is very interesting, and maybe I will use some of your tips for my future projects. But this time the task of knitting needles is very simple: I used them to strengthen one of the long sides of each pocket, so that it keeps its shape well.
Bloom yarn comes in a variety of shades. You can read my review about it HERE. And you can also have a look at color charts on Wool Warehouse* and Deramores* (both retailers ship order internationally), Paradise Fibers* (US) or at Scheepjes website (NL and BE).
I didn’t want my organizer to be very long and large, and I made only two pockets. The upper one is divided into two sections for some smaller bathroom accessories or pieces of make-up. And bottom pocket can be used for larger pieces, and maybe even small extra towels.
But you can of course make your own organizer much longer (free pattern for this project will published next week here on my blog) by adding one or even two pockets. Then you will probably want to use metal needles instead of wooden. As you can see in the picture below, when I put my fen to the bottom pocket, the upper needle started to bend, so I suppose if I fill the pocket with something heavier it can simply break.
I like the look of natural wood in combination with grey yarn, but practical aspects should also be taken into consideration. But I also think that even if my needle is broken, I can easily replace it with a new one. Bloom yarn is very strong, it’s not delicate at all and it allows a variety of manipulations with already finished project.
I used my own crochet stitch for this pattern. I mean I came up with it myself, but who knows – maybe it is an existing stitch, and it’s just me who doesn’t know about it. I also used Clover Soft Touch 4 mm crochet hook
*, and it’s smaller than recommended for Bloom yarn. But I wanted my crochet fabric to be dense, with no obvious holes in the lace parts. I want to store my make-up in this organizer, and it would be not fun at all if my eye-pencils would slide through the holes…
So this is my Bloom Bathroom Organizer. What do you think? :)
UPDATE: the pattern is available HERE.
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Today is week 4 of Scheepjes 2016 CAL – Last Dance on the Beach, featuring a wonderful square design by Atty from Atty’s. This square is one of my favourite – with two layers of crochet fabric and amazing structure. I was patiently waiting for its release and was so “hungry” to start making it at once, that it didn’t take long before all 4 squares were finished. Oh, and if you missed week 3 (with my Sunset in the Waves square) you can find it HERE.
You can download the pattern HERE and also check video tutorial by Esther from It’s All in a Nutshell HERE.
Atty is a wonderful designer with a very unique style (she is a lovely person, too. I was very lucky to get acquainted with her in person on Scheepjes Bloggers Day). If you haven’t heard of her before – make sure to check her blog with lots and lots of free patterns. I am not sure I would have the patience myself to make all those small colorful motifs and to weave all yarn tails in, and join them together. But if someone would make Atty’s flower scarf for me, with her colors – I would be the happiest in the world!
Today’s square has a very clear meaning. It represents the waves. But at the same time, as Atty mentions on her blog in a letter to Wink – the waves symbolize the life cycles, with their ups and downs. We all have different periods in our lives. Sometimes they are very tough, and difficult to come through. But when I look at Atty’s square, I imagine that after every deepest “down” there will be for sure the highest “up”. And we just need to find inner sources to cope with temporary problems.
As in the previous weeks I was a bit struggling with the gauge on the first square. I am a pretty tight crocheter, I always choose the smaller hook than recommended on the yarn label. So for me it is not very easy to obtain correct tension every week. The first square became a bit smaller than it should be. And even blocking didn’t help. But I didn’t give up and just started to crochet looser than usually. And ta-dah, my gauge is where it should be. I am not sure I will remake the first square… At least not now. :)
If you have never worked in back and front loops, this design might seem tricky, but don’t worry. It is not difficult at all. You can check THIS post about crocheting in back and front loops, with several progress pictures. And hopefully they will help you to understand the idea.
And here is my Dance in the Rain blanket so far! I chose custom colors (just excluded browns and whites from the kit) and still very happy with this decision.
I am using Merino Soft yarn and Amour Clover hook 4.5mm*. If you also would like to create your custom palette – you can have a look at color chart and pick your shades at Wool Warehouse*, Deramores* (both retailers ship orders internationally), Paradise Fibers* (US) or in local Scheepjes shop (NL and BE). There are also ready kits available for purchase (with Merino Soft and Colour Crafter yarns) – you can read more details about them HERE.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter not to miss a single post. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
Atty is a wonderful designer with a very unique style (she is a lovely person, too. I was very lucky to get acquainted with her in person on Scheepjes Bloggers Day). If you haven’t heard of her before – make sure to check her blog with lots and lots of free patterns. I am not sure I would have the patience myself to make all those small colorful motifs and to weave all yarn tails in, and join them together. But if someone would make Atty’s flower scarf for me, with her colors – I would be the happiest in the world!
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| Photo credit: Atty's |
Today’s square has a very clear meaning. It represents the waves. But at the same time, as Atty mentions on her blog in a letter to Wink – the waves symbolize the life cycles, with their ups and downs. We all have different periods in our lives. Sometimes they are very tough, and difficult to come through. But when I look at Atty’s square, I imagine that after every deepest “down” there will be for sure the highest “up”. And we just need to find inner sources to cope with temporary problems.
If you have never worked in back and front loops, this design might seem tricky, but don’t worry. It is not difficult at all. You can check THIS post about crocheting in back and front loops, with several progress pictures. And hopefully they will help you to understand the idea.
And here is my Dance in the Rain blanket so far! I chose custom colors (just excluded browns and whites from the kit) and still very happy with this decision.
I am using Merino Soft yarn and Amour Clover hook 4.5mm*. If you also would like to create your custom palette – you can have a look at color chart and pick your shades at Wool Warehouse*, Deramores* (both retailers ship orders internationally), Paradise Fibers* (US) or in local Scheepjes shop (NL and BE). There are also ready kits available for purchase (with Merino Soft and Colour Crafter yarns) – you can read more details about them HERE.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter not to miss a single post. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
My new project with Bloom yarn by Scheepjes is growing every day. I am still not disappointed with colors, and still think that grey was a great choice. I’ve changed my mind about the crochet stitch a few times, and finally decided to stick with this version. I made up this crochet stitch myself, but if it exists already (because you never know…) and you know its name – I will be happy to hear that. Please, comment on this post below.
Last week I published a review about Bloom yarn by Scheepjes (read it HERE), which is 100% cotton and has a very interesting structure. I still like working with it and in my opinion the definition of the stitches is very good. I am using 4mm hook for my new design, which is too small for this exact yarn. But from the very beginning I wanted to get very dense fabric. So for me this size of the hook works just perfect.
Bloom is available for purchase via Wool Warehouse* and Deramores* (both with international shipping), via Paradise Fibers* (US) and local Scheepjes shops.
As you can see in the pictures, I am also using needles for this project. For what reason? I will not tell you yet. I am so bad at keeping secrets, but I need to practice. But you probably can guess from the pictures. And I can only tell you it will be a bathroom organizer. :) And that it will be a FREE pattern very soon published here, on my blog.
This post is a little bit short, as crochet is keeping all my attention. I need to finish a few designs, and write the patterns down… So, I am off to my crochet again.
See you next week!!!
UPDATE: the pattern is available HERE.
Don't forget to subscribe to my Newsletter not to miss a single post. And you can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
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