Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label review. Show all posts
Today I would like to share a happy news with you. I participated in first book in my life. I mostly self-publish crochet patterns via pattern marketplaces, and some of my designs have been published in magazines. But there is nothing to be compared with the joy of carrying a real printed book with your own designs. Just before New Year’s Eve I got a mail from Great Britain. With a newly published Bold Baby Crochet book inside.
Almost a year ago my friend Dedri Uys (a creative mind behind Look At what I Made) asked if I would like to participate in a new book with baby crochet designs. I silently jumped up to the ceiling and said “Yes, of course I would love to!” And today I can tell you everything about this wonderful project.
Bold Baby Crochet book contains 30 colorful and modern crochet projects for babies: clothing (booties, socks, cardigans, hats and other), gifts and toys and decorations for nursery (wall hangings, baskets, organizers). The patterns mostly call for an easy level, with several Intermediate and Advanced projects.
The book was published by Quantum Books Ltd. and several authors, well known crochet designers, contributed in its creation. And I am happy to say some of them are my friends! The authors are Kirsten Ballering (Haak Maar Raak), Carolyn Christmas (Pink Mambo), Sophie Cormier (Illumikniti Designs), Shelley Husband (Spincushions), Carmen Jorissen (Crafty Queens), Doroteja Kardum (Croby Pattern Designs), Rhondda Mol (Oombawka Design Crochet), Amy Ramnarine (The Stitchin' Mommy), Pia Thadani (StitchesNScraps) and of course Dedri Uys (Look At What I Made) who put everything together and contributed beautiful patterns!
I designed a medium sized Monster pillow (with Stone Washed XL* yarn by Scheepjes) which can also be used as a storage for toys, and baby clothes. And Rainbow Waves Stroller Blanket – with Merino Soft* by Scheepjes. Pillow pattern is very easy to follow and crochet beginners should be able to handle it with no problems at all. A little of embroidery is included but all stitches are very simple. And blanket pattern calls for a little bit more experience. I used front post stitches to create textured waves on the surface. The same stitch pattern is repeated through the whole blanket so it’s not difficult to make.
Though the publisher and authors warn readers to ensure all elements are joined securely to prevent a choking hazard.
In the end of the book you will find a list of techniques, special stitches used in the patterns and advice how to block finished items to make them look professional. Written instructions are accompanied by high quality step-by-step pictures. So even a crochet beginner will receive all information to handle the patterns.
Bold Baby Crochet book is already available for a pre-order via Amazon US* and Amazon UK. It will be officially released and go for sale on March 1, 2017.
Of course I should mention another fantastic news which literally exploded the world of crochet a week ago. Dedri’s Sophie’s Universe Book was finally published and went live for sale!
If you haven’t heard about this epic and one of the most amazing blankets – please, check Dedri’s blog. Sophie’s Universe is a CAL (crochet-a-long) introduced back in 2015. It was the first CAL of that kind, no one else had made anything like this before. Dedri created a quite intricate pattern of a large blanket, with a mixture of techniques and stitches. Her idea was to invite people to a crochet journey where they can learn something new, increase crochet skills and build up self-confidence.
Literally thousands and thousands of people from all over the world joined this CAL and completed their blankets in a wide variety of colors. The CAL was translated to many languages, and there are also video’s available for each part (made by Esther from It’s All In A Nutshell). Step-by-step tutorials with huge amount of progress pictures are still available in free access on Dedri’s blog. But she also wanted to publish a book, a beautiful modern book where all tutorials, and Sophie’s Universe story, would be kept in one place. And her dream came true thanks to Scheepjes.
If you fell in love with this blanket, you can use the same yarns as Dedri. Yarns packs are available for purchase at her Wool Warehouse shop HERE*.
Sophie’s Universe book is a true gift to all fans of this CAL. First bunch of copies was sold in no time. But next wave will come soon. The price is £16.95/€19.95. The book will be available via Amazon US* (not available yet) and Wool Warehouse* (UK, international shipping). You can leave your e-mail at Wool Warehouse web-site and you will be notified as soon as books are back in stock. I signed up myself and am patiently waiting for them to arrive…
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
* thank you for using my affiliate links. It costs you nothing and helps to support my blog.
Bold Baby Crochet Book
Almost a year ago my friend Dedri Uys (a creative mind behind Look At what I Made) asked if I would like to participate in a new book with baby crochet designs. I silently jumped up to the ceiling and said “Yes, of course I would love to!” And today I can tell you everything about this wonderful project.
Bold Baby Crochet book contains 30 colorful and modern crochet projects for babies: clothing (booties, socks, cardigans, hats and other), gifts and toys and decorations for nursery (wall hangings, baskets, organizers). The patterns mostly call for an easy level, with several Intermediate and Advanced projects.
The book was published by Quantum Books Ltd. and several authors, well known crochet designers, contributed in its creation. And I am happy to say some of them are my friends! The authors are Kirsten Ballering (Haak Maar Raak), Carolyn Christmas (Pink Mambo), Sophie Cormier (Illumikniti Designs), Shelley Husband (Spincushions), Carmen Jorissen (Crafty Queens), Doroteja Kardum (Croby Pattern Designs), Rhondda Mol (Oombawka Design Crochet), Amy Ramnarine (The Stitchin' Mommy), Pia Thadani (StitchesNScraps) and of course Dedri Uys (Look At What I Made) who put everything together and contributed beautiful patterns!
“I firmly believe that there is no greater gift for a baby than an item handmade with love. When I had my first son, a friend of ours made him a little octopus toy out of an old T-shirt. I cherished that toy right up until the day we lost it in the outing. There was something so comforting and special about the fact that she had taken time to create a gift. It spoke of love and carried meaning”. From Introduction by Dedri Uys
I designed a medium sized Monster pillow (with Stone Washed XL* yarn by Scheepjes) which can also be used as a storage for toys, and baby clothes. And Rainbow Waves Stroller Blanket – with Merino Soft* by Scheepjes. Pillow pattern is very easy to follow and crochet beginners should be able to handle it with no problems at all. A little of embroidery is included but all stitches are very simple. And blanket pattern calls for a little bit more experience. I used front post stitches to create textured waves on the surface. The same stitch pattern is repeated through the whole blanket so it’s not difficult to make.
“The projects of this book have been designed with babies and toddlers in mind. Three dimensional pieces are crocheted seamlessly or securely fastened in place. Buttons, beads, sequins, and other plastic components have been avoided as often as possible”. From Disclaimer of the book
Though the publisher and authors warn readers to ensure all elements are joined securely to prevent a choking hazard.
In the end of the book you will find a list of techniques, special stitches used in the patterns and advice how to block finished items to make them look professional. Written instructions are accompanied by high quality step-by-step pictures. So even a crochet beginner will receive all information to handle the patterns.
Bold Baby Crochet book is already available for a pre-order via Amazon US* and Amazon UK. It will be officially released and go for sale on March 1, 2017.
Sophie’s Universe Book
Of course I should mention another fantastic news which literally exploded the world of crochet a week ago. Dedri’s Sophie’s Universe Book was finally published and went live for sale!
 |
| Photo Credit: Dedri Uys (Look At What I Made) |
If you haven’t heard about this epic and one of the most amazing blankets – please, check Dedri’s blog. Sophie’s Universe is a CAL (crochet-a-long) introduced back in 2015. It was the first CAL of that kind, no one else had made anything like this before. Dedri created a quite intricate pattern of a large blanket, with a mixture of techniques and stitches. Her idea was to invite people to a crochet journey where they can learn something new, increase crochet skills and build up self-confidence.
Literally thousands and thousands of people from all over the world joined this CAL and completed their blankets in a wide variety of colors. The CAL was translated to many languages, and there are also video’s available for each part (made by Esther from It’s All In A Nutshell). Step-by-step tutorials with huge amount of progress pictures are still available in free access on Dedri’s blog. But she also wanted to publish a book, a beautiful modern book where all tutorials, and Sophie’s Universe story, would be kept in one place. And her dream came true thanks to Scheepjes.
 |
| Photo credit: Dedri Uys (Look At what I Made) |
If you fell in love with this blanket, you can use the same yarns as Dedri. Yarns packs are available for purchase at her Wool Warehouse shop HERE*.
Sophie’s Universe book is a true gift to all fans of this CAL. First bunch of copies was sold in no time. But next wave will come soon. The price is £16.95/€19.95. The book will be available via Amazon US* (not available yet) and Wool Warehouse* (UK, international shipping). You can leave your e-mail at Wool Warehouse web-site and you will be notified as soon as books are back in stock. I signed up myself and am patiently waiting for them to arrive…
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
* thank you for using my affiliate links. It costs you nothing and helps to support my blog.
End of the year is almost here. And it’s time to make some analyzing, and conclusions. I believe it’s right time to finish current crochet projects (I feel sooo wonderful when I finally can finish a new wip!). But I think it’s also a good time to start working on something new. So that my beginning of year 2017 is not “empty”.
I decided to design something with T-shirt yarn again. And I chose three shades of Mini Nooodles* by Scheepjes. It would be better to say this yarn is a “mini” version of a normal T-shirt yarn you are probably used to work with. The stripes are only 1.5cm wide (approx. ½ in) while regular T-shirt yarn is 2.5cm (1in).
10mm (N/P) hook is recommended for Mini Nooodles and I think it’s an optimal size. I have worked with this yarn several times before and used it for my Stepping Stones pouf cover pattern (available in 1st Sea issue of YARN book-a-zine). And also I chose this yarn from my Andromeda rug. And Clover Amour crochet hook 10mm* worked perfectly for both projects.
Very often I can hear that T-this yarn is difficult to work with. That it’s very hard on hands and you get very tired after a short time of crochet. To be honest I didn’t try regular T-shirt yarn, and I have no opinion here. But I would say Mini Nooodles is just ok!
It’s 50% cotton and 50% polyester. It’s very stretchy and “slippery” if I can say like this. The stitches slide very well on a crochet hook without being stuck. Of course it takes a little bit more efforts to crochet with this yarn, but I personally can crochet for 2 hours in a row with no problems at all.
Mini Nooodles is a super chunky yarn. It comes in skeins of 160g with 80m yardages. The skeins are not very big but it also gives a great opportunity to order exact amount of yarn you will need for your project. I believe I will use 6 skeins for my new design (which will be FREE and soon available here on my blog) – 2 in the following shades: 004, 035 and 259.
Wool Warehouse stock a wide range of Mini Noodle yarns by Scheepjes and you can check them HERE*. This yarn is also available in “print” version and in neon shades. This yarn can also be found in your local Scheepjes shops.
I am very excited about my new project and I will keep you updated about how it progresses. UPDATE: UFO pillow free crochet pattern is available HERE.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
* affiliate link
I decided to design something with T-shirt yarn again. And I chose three shades of Mini Nooodles* by Scheepjes. It would be better to say this yarn is a “mini” version of a normal T-shirt yarn you are probably used to work with. The stripes are only 1.5cm wide (approx. ½ in) while regular T-shirt yarn is 2.5cm (1in).
10mm (N/P) hook is recommended for Mini Nooodles and I think it’s an optimal size. I have worked with this yarn several times before and used it for my Stepping Stones pouf cover pattern (available in 1st Sea issue of YARN book-a-zine). And also I chose this yarn from my Andromeda rug. And Clover Amour crochet hook 10mm* worked perfectly for both projects.
 |
| Stepping Stones pouf cover (from YARN boo-a-zine) |
Very often I can hear that T-this yarn is difficult to work with. That it’s very hard on hands and you get very tired after a short time of crochet. To be honest I didn’t try regular T-shirt yarn, and I have no opinion here. But I would say Mini Nooodles is just ok!
It’s 50% cotton and 50% polyester. It’s very stretchy and “slippery” if I can say like this. The stitches slide very well on a crochet hook without being stuck. Of course it takes a little bit more efforts to crochet with this yarn, but I personally can crochet for 2 hours in a row with no problems at all.
 |
| Andromeda Rug |
Mini Nooodles is a super chunky yarn. It comes in skeins of 160g with 80m yardages. The skeins are not very big but it also gives a great opportunity to order exact amount of yarn you will need for your project. I believe I will use 6 skeins for my new design (which will be FREE and soon available here on my blog) – 2 in the following shades: 004, 035 and 259.
I am very excited about my new project and I will keep you updated about how it progresses. UPDATE: UFO pillow free crochet pattern is available HERE.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
* affiliate link
Ok, it seems like I am writing about handmade blankets again and again. Am I turning into a blanket person? I hope so! Blankets are very cozy and they make great gifts. Earlier this week I shared a free knitting pattern of my new Forest Spirit baby blanket. And today I would like to tell you something else. If you haven’t heard about it yet, a new (second) issue of Scheepjes YARN book-a-zine* was published in October. And it features my new Moonlight Butterfly baby blanket design.
Did I tell what it feels like to see your name in print? I hope I will never get used to it. And every time I will be as excited as when I got mail from the Netherlands with freshly printed copy of YARN. Maybe I am totally old-fashioned. But I just love to turn pages of a real printed magazine, and to smell the print. And to turn pages of a new Midnight Garden issue is a true journey to the world of esthetic pleasure.
October 2016 issue is full of mystery, night dreams, foggy and super stylish pictures. With a feel and smell of festive season coming. 15 new patterns (mainly crochet, but also knitting and sewing) are featured. And I am so honored to be a part of this fantastic project again (just to remind you, two my designs were published in 1st Sea Issue of YARN book-a-zine. These are Striped knitted top and Stepping Stones crochet pouf cover. You can read my review of this publication HERE).
This time I created a small and cute baby blanket with butterfly motifs. Scheepjes wanted me to design something for a chapter “Fluttering in the Wind” and I immediately thought of a square with colorful butterfly. I wanted to create a blanket which would remind a print with plain background (I finally chose grey shade) and many butterflies in different colours. Later when I started to play with yarn, I decided to make butterfly’s antennas free standing. So that small hands could explore them, it would give babies a nice motoric experience.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
For this design I combined SoftFun and SoftFun Aquarel yarns by Scheepjes in dusty, washed out shades. Moonlight Butterfly blanket is not bright, and I avoided to use pink to make it unisex. This pattern is ranked as intermediate mostly because of the butterfly’s shape and not regular repeats. But all the stitches used in this pattern are very common. And advanced beginners should handle it without a problem.
I definitely should tell you more about 2nd issue of YARN book-a-zine. When reviewing something, I try to be as objective as possible. And I should say that I absolutely love this edition. Every small detail is well polished, the whole issue has a very clear and nice festive concept, it’s printed on a thick and mat paper, the photography is great! When you hold it in hands, it feels like a lasting for years book rather than a magazine.
Let me show you several of my personal favourites (sorry, I am not free to give away everything, and it would also spoil your own “ohhh” and “ahhh”). Designs you see in the picture below are created by Miss Neriss.
Except of the patterns you will find useful articles, for example about how to choose a crochet hook. And you will get acquainted with fiber and textile artists. YARN is featuring Mr. Finch!!! Do you know him? If not – that’s a huge mistake. I started to follow him on Facebook 2 years ago. It’s the most brilliant and mystery textile artist I know!
Every issue of YARN book-a-zine has a very handy flop in the end, with all abbreviations used in the patterns, punched holes and blank pages which you can use to keep yarns and shades under control and to make notes about your projects. I used mine to plan Lapghan with Spirit yarn*, designed by Dedri from Look At What I Made.
Excited? 2nd issue of YARN book-a-zine is already available for purchase via Wool Warehouse HERE*, Deramores HERE* and in your local Scheepjes shops. It’s published in English and Dutch and the price is £5.95.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
DISCLOSURE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you purchase a (any) product via a link on my blog, I get a small percentage contribution from the store which enables me to keep providing you with free patterns. It costs you nothing extra to visit the store via my link, but ensure I get the credit for the sale. Thank you for your support!
Did I tell what it feels like to see your name in print? I hope I will never get used to it. And every time I will be as excited as when I got mail from the Netherlands with freshly printed copy of YARN. Maybe I am totally old-fashioned. But I just love to turn pages of a real printed magazine, and to smell the print. And to turn pages of a new Midnight Garden issue is a true journey to the world of esthetic pleasure.
October 2016 issue is full of mystery, night dreams, foggy and super stylish pictures. With a feel and smell of festive season coming. 15 new patterns (mainly crochet, but also knitting and sewing) are featured. And I am so honored to be a part of this fantastic project again (just to remind you, two my designs were published in 1st Sea Issue of YARN book-a-zine. These are Striped knitted top and Stepping Stones crochet pouf cover. You can read my review of this publication HERE).
This time I created a small and cute baby blanket with butterfly motifs. Scheepjes wanted me to design something for a chapter “Fluttering in the Wind” and I immediately thought of a square with colorful butterfly. I wanted to create a blanket which would remind a print with plain background (I finally chose grey shade) and many butterflies in different colours. Later when I started to play with yarn, I decided to make butterfly’s antennas free standing. So that small hands could explore them, it would give babies a nice motoric experience.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
For this design I combined SoftFun and SoftFun Aquarel yarns by Scheepjes in dusty, washed out shades. Moonlight Butterfly blanket is not bright, and I avoided to use pink to make it unisex. This pattern is ranked as intermediate mostly because of the butterfly’s shape and not regular repeats. But all the stitches used in this pattern are very common. And advanced beginners should handle it without a problem.
I definitely should tell you more about 2nd issue of YARN book-a-zine. When reviewing something, I try to be as objective as possible. And I should say that I absolutely love this edition. Every small detail is well polished, the whole issue has a very clear and nice festive concept, it’s printed on a thick and mat paper, the photography is great! When you hold it in hands, it feels like a lasting for years book rather than a magazine.
Let me show you several of my personal favourites (sorry, I am not free to give away everything, and it would also spoil your own “ohhh” and “ahhh”). Designs you see in the picture below are created by Miss Neriss.
Except of the patterns you will find useful articles, for example about how to choose a crochet hook. And you will get acquainted with fiber and textile artists. YARN is featuring Mr. Finch!!! Do you know him? If not – that’s a huge mistake. I started to follow him on Facebook 2 years ago. It’s the most brilliant and mystery textile artist I know!
Every issue of YARN book-a-zine has a very handy flop in the end, with all abbreviations used in the patterns, punched holes and blank pages which you can use to keep yarns and shades under control and to make notes about your projects. I used mine to plan Lapghan with Spirit yarn*, designed by Dedri from Look At What I Made.
Excited? 2nd issue of YARN book-a-zine is already available for purchase via Wool Warehouse HERE*, Deramores HERE* and in your local Scheepjes shops. It’s published in English and Dutch and the price is £5.95.
Subscribe to a newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
DISCLOSURE: This blog contains affiliate links. If you purchase a (any) product via a link on my blog, I get a small percentage contribution from the store which enables me to keep providing you with free patterns. It costs you nothing extra to visit the store via my link, but ensure I get the credit for the sale. Thank you for your support!
Last Dance on the Beach by Scheepjes is still going on. And today Week 8 has already started! It seems like we are half way done. My pile of the squares is growing and I truly enjoy how the blanket is turning out. Can’t wait to finally join them together and add a border. But it seems like I will have to wait for a while. This week I tried a new crochet stitch again. And more then that, I used Eucalan concentrate for the first time. It was a nice experience, I studied information about it and decided to share it with you. Maybe you know already about Eucalan* and why it is used. But for me it was something new. And if it was new for me – maybe this information will also help you.
But before I jump to review, let me show you the squares I made last and this week. Last week design belongs to Maria from 50 shades of 4ply. She created a very tender square with a heart made of bobbles.
And today a new stitch pattern was introduced to me by Jellina from Jellina’s Creations. I have always wanted to learn how to do a Waffle crochet stitch. I couldn’t figure it out from the picture, and was very surprised that in fact it is much easier than it seems. As for the rest of the patterns you can find the videos for both designs on It’s All in a Nutshell website.
And here is how both squares look together. In two shades of grey. I like them a lot!
And now let’s talk about Eucalan. I’ve got a 100ml bottle with lavander aroma as a gift from Scheepjes together with Merino Soft yarn for my Last Dance on the Beach blanket. I have never used anything like this before and I thought it was probably the right time to try, as half of the CAL is done already. I blocked almost all my finished squares already, but it didn’t stop me at all, and I was happy to reblock them again.
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by Eucalan and it was my idea to write it. This blog post contains affiliate links marked with *.
So what is Eucalan? At first I thought it is a kind of ingredient helping to fix the colors and prevent them from running in the future. But Eucalan has nothing to do with it, and it is used for absolutely different purpose – to lanolize (add Lanolin), or “re-oil” wool yarn.
What is Lanolin? Also called wool wax or wool grease (from Latin lāna, ‘wool’, and oleum, ‘oil’), it is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals.
"Lanolin is the natural oil that keeps the sheep’s coat dry in damp weather. It serves a similar function as the oil on the feathers of waterfowl. The oil keeps the feathers dry and maintains their insulation. In years past fisherman and other individuals working off shore would go so far as to increase the lanolin content of their wool clothing by dipping them in heated liquid lanolin. This made their clothing very water repellant; however, the down side is you smell like a herd of wet sheep."
So Lanolin is a natural component in all wool and blend wool yarns. But during the process of manufacturing (and in particular during cleaning and scouring stage) the wool is scoured in a series of alkaline baths containing water, soap, and soda ash or a similar alkali. And it “frees” wool of lanolin – its quantity is reduced very much. Lanolin is then saved and used in a number of household products. However, handspun fibers that haven't been heavily processed usually still have lanolin (that's why those yarns are often much more “greasier”).
Constant wearing and washing (and even walking under the rain) washes out lanolin from garments, shawls, blankets and other projects made with wool yarn. They become less water, dirt and dust repellent, the static comes back and then it’s good to refill them with lanolin again.
Of course, there are different ways to add oil to wool (or any other natural) yarn again. Crafters use different concentrates, and even several drops of oil while washing. But why Eacalan is a good choice (in my opinion), because it is specially created to lanolize wool, it is very easy to use, it is non-toxic and not harmful for kids, pets (you can even bath dogs and other animals with Eucalan, as fleas do not like it! :) and environment, and it comes in a range of aroma’s (lavender, eucalypt, grapefruit, jasmine and Natural - with no added chemicals to hide the natural scent of the product). And it has already been on the market for 25 years!
Before writing this blog post and trying Eucalan myself, I decided to ask my fellow designers, brilliant crocheters and bloggers: what do they think about it.
“I am a big Eucalan addict, – says Annelies Baes, a crochet mind behind Vicarno brand. - I block everything with it: wool, woolmix, cotton, linen, acrylic. I sometimes even use it to wash my luxe bras. I use Eucalan to take care of the yarn, to make the stitch work “even” (Eucalan does magic to your stitch definition), to make it soft, to wash it (after working several hours or even weeks or months I like the idea of a clean and fresh finished item. :) So much nicer for the publisher to receive a fresh clean item!”
Esther de Beer from Happy in Red uses Eucalan for most natural fibres, like tweeds, alpacas, wools: “I think that these fibres can sometimes be a little “prickly” for the sensitive skin. A rinse in Eucalan before locking really deals with fibres that are a little rough and tough. And I really like the smell, although that's a personal thing, of course”.
And Kirsten from Haak Maar Raak recommends using Eucalan every time while washing and before blocking. So even for freshly finished items: “I think it's necessary for each “machine processed” yarn”.
Eucalan is a “no rinse” product, it means you don’t need to rinse your knitted or crocheted fabric after soaking in water with Eucalan. I was wondering if washing with Eucalan and without rinsing will help the dirt go out, but Annelies assures that “it removes stains perfectly. When I have a sweater or shawl with a spot or a stain it just goes away. I use it to block all my new items and afterwards to wash all my woolen items by hand. It works great. (Although I can imagine if you go rolling in the mud with a sweater, you need to 'refresh' your Eucalan water a second time to get all the dirt gone :)" I think I (myself) would wash a very dirty item with a mild shampoo first and rinse it. And then wash it once again with the Eucalan water.
You can read interesting facts about Eucalan on the official product web-site HERE. And you can find Eucalan on Amazon*, Wool Warehouse*, Paradise Fibers* (US) and most likely in your own local craft and yarn shops.
After bathing my squares, it was still lots of water left and it was a pity to poor it out, so I used it to lanolize my Autumn Winds Cowl also made with Merino Soft yarn.
My squares are almost dry and I can feel a nice aroma. I am not fond of perfumes at all, and I don’t use them. But this one is very gentle, and not so bright. I would say it’s a smell of freshness! And after bathing in Eucalan water my hands were covered by a pleasant oily film. Not greasy but just naturally moistening.
What is my conclusion? I will definitely use Eucalan again. Again and again.
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.
But before I jump to review, let me show you the squares I made last and this week. Last week design belongs to Maria from 50 shades of 4ply. She created a very tender square with a heart made of bobbles.
And today a new stitch pattern was introduced to me by Jellina from Jellina’s Creations. I have always wanted to learn how to do a Waffle crochet stitch. I couldn’t figure it out from the picture, and was very surprised that in fact it is much easier than it seems. As for the rest of the patterns you can find the videos for both designs on It’s All in a Nutshell website.
And here is how both squares look together. In two shades of grey. I like them a lot!
Review
And now let’s talk about Eucalan. I’ve got a 100ml bottle with lavander aroma as a gift from Scheepjes together with Merino Soft yarn for my Last Dance on the Beach blanket. I have never used anything like this before and I thought it was probably the right time to try, as half of the CAL is done already. I blocked almost all my finished squares already, but it didn’t stop me at all, and I was happy to reblock them again.
Disclosure: This post is in no way sponsored by Eucalan and it was my idea to write it. This blog post contains affiliate links marked with *.
So what is Eucalan? At first I thought it is a kind of ingredient helping to fix the colors and prevent them from running in the future. But Eucalan has nothing to do with it, and it is used for absolutely different purpose – to lanolize (add Lanolin), or “re-oil” wool yarn.
What is Lanolin? Also called wool wax or wool grease (from Latin lāna, ‘wool’, and oleum, ‘oil’), it is a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals.
"Lanolin is the natural oil that keeps the sheep’s coat dry in damp weather. It serves a similar function as the oil on the feathers of waterfowl. The oil keeps the feathers dry and maintains their insulation. In years past fisherman and other individuals working off shore would go so far as to increase the lanolin content of their wool clothing by dipping them in heated liquid lanolin. This made their clothing very water repellant; however, the down side is you smell like a herd of wet sheep."
So Lanolin is a natural component in all wool and blend wool yarns. But during the process of manufacturing (and in particular during cleaning and scouring stage) the wool is scoured in a series of alkaline baths containing water, soap, and soda ash or a similar alkali. And it “frees” wool of lanolin – its quantity is reduced very much. Lanolin is then saved and used in a number of household products. However, handspun fibers that haven't been heavily processed usually still have lanolin (that's why those yarns are often much more “greasier”).
Constant wearing and washing (and even walking under the rain) washes out lanolin from garments, shawls, blankets and other projects made with wool yarn. They become less water, dirt and dust repellent, the static comes back and then it’s good to refill them with lanolin again.
Of course, there are different ways to add oil to wool (or any other natural) yarn again. Crafters use different concentrates, and even several drops of oil while washing. But why Eacalan is a good choice (in my opinion), because it is specially created to lanolize wool, it is very easy to use, it is non-toxic and not harmful for kids, pets (you can even bath dogs and other animals with Eucalan, as fleas do not like it! :) and environment, and it comes in a range of aroma’s (lavender, eucalypt, grapefruit, jasmine and Natural - with no added chemicals to hide the natural scent of the product). And it has already been on the market for 25 years!
Before writing this blog post and trying Eucalan myself, I decided to ask my fellow designers, brilliant crocheters and bloggers: what do they think about it.
“I am a big Eucalan addict, – says Annelies Baes, a crochet mind behind Vicarno brand. - I block everything with it: wool, woolmix, cotton, linen, acrylic. I sometimes even use it to wash my luxe bras. I use Eucalan to take care of the yarn, to make the stitch work “even” (Eucalan does magic to your stitch definition), to make it soft, to wash it (after working several hours or even weeks or months I like the idea of a clean and fresh finished item. :) So much nicer for the publisher to receive a fresh clean item!”
Esther de Beer from Happy in Red uses Eucalan for most natural fibres, like tweeds, alpacas, wools: “I think that these fibres can sometimes be a little “prickly” for the sensitive skin. A rinse in Eucalan before locking really deals with fibres that are a little rough and tough. And I really like the smell, although that's a personal thing, of course”.
And Kirsten from Haak Maar Raak recommends using Eucalan every time while washing and before blocking. So even for freshly finished items: “I think it's necessary for each “machine processed” yarn”.
Eucalan is a “no rinse” product, it means you don’t need to rinse your knitted or crocheted fabric after soaking in water with Eucalan. I was wondering if washing with Eucalan and without rinsing will help the dirt go out, but Annelies assures that “it removes stains perfectly. When I have a sweater or shawl with a spot or a stain it just goes away. I use it to block all my new items and afterwards to wash all my woolen items by hand. It works great. (Although I can imagine if you go rolling in the mud with a sweater, you need to 'refresh' your Eucalan water a second time to get all the dirt gone :)" I think I (myself) would wash a very dirty item with a mild shampoo first and rinse it. And then wash it once again with the Eucalan water.
You can read interesting facts about Eucalan on the official product web-site HERE. And you can find Eucalan on Amazon*, Wool Warehouse*, Paradise Fibers* (US) and most likely in your own local craft and yarn shops.
Instructions
And here is my own experience of using Eucalan:
- Fill basin with tepid water (it should be not hot and not cold, I tried to reach a room temperature).
- Add Eucalan. Instructions say to add 5ml/1tbsp for 4l/1 gallon of water. I filled my basin with 2l of water, so I thought 1/2tbsp should be enough. After a little bit of shaking a nice foam appeared on the surface of the water. And I used just a tiny amount of concentrate. So even a small 100ml bottle will be enough for a long time, or to wash lots and lots of items.
3. Soak your project for minimum 15 minutes. I forgot about my squares and left them for 30 minutes, probably.
4. After taking square out I carefully squeezed them a bit to get rid of huge amount of water, but still leaving them wet enough.
5. And I blocked them in a usual way, on blocking boards and with sewing pins. Instructions ask to leave the project dry naturally with no direct heat and sun.
After bathing my squares, it was still lots of water left and it was a pity to poor it out, so I used it to lanolize my Autumn Winds Cowl also made with Merino Soft yarn.
My squares are almost dry and I can feel a nice aroma. I am not fond of perfumes at all, and I don’t use them. But this one is very gentle, and not so bright. I would say it’s a smell of freshness! And after bathing in Eucalan water my hands were covered by a pleasant oily film. Not greasy but just naturally moistening.
What is my conclusion? I will definitely use Eucalan again. Again and again.
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To tell I am excited is to tell nothing today. Yesterday I got a mail from the Netherlands which I was patiently waiting for a month already. And when I finally got it and opened it, I jumped up to the ceiling, and then screamed loudly, and then made a happy dance. The first issue of “Yarn” book-a-zine was here. And I could finally touch it. And smell it. And read it.
While writing reviews I usually try to get rid of emotions and to be as objective as possible. But today, I am afraid, there is no way for me to be objective, as my dream came true and my designs were published for the first time! And in such a beautiful edition.
“Yarn” book-a-zine is published by Scheepjes and all designs use their yarns. The first issue was inspired by the sea (and it is actually called “The Sea Issue”) with everything related to this topic. So if you are as much in love with the sea as I am, this book-a-zine is right for you.
There are 13 crochet, knitting and even macramé patterns collected together, along with interesting articles about how to choose cotton yarn, Scheepjes story and inspiring insights into designer’s work and creative process.
Honestly, I enjoyed every single page, and not because two of my designs are featured (and my knitted top is on both front and back covers, yay!!). But I enjoyed the whole concept and quality of this edition. Every detail was taken into consideration, the photography is amazing and the whole issue is “tied” with one and the same color scheme.
Here are a few interesting facts about “Yarn”:
Two my designs are featured in the first issue – an airy and light Striped Top made with Rhythm Alpaca and Mohair yarns. It is a variation of my first ever knitted Blue Feather Sweater. By the way there is a ready kit with all yarns and beads available for purchase at Paradise Fibers* (US). And Stepping Stones (made with Mini Noodle* T-shirt yarn) which are actually the covers for ready poufs. For example they perfectly suit ALSEDA poufs from IKEA.
And I have my own favourites. For example this summer sweater with open back desinged by Annelies Baes from Vicarno! I definitely need it in my own life (and I still hope we will find an opportunity to go to the sea this summer...).
I don’t really know what else I can say about this wonderful publication. You better grab your own copy and read it yourself :) Book-a-zine “Yarn” is available for purchase HERE on Wool Warehouse* (international shipping), HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US) and in local Scheepjes shops. Enjoy!!
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
While writing reviews I usually try to get rid of emotions and to be as objective as possible. But today, I am afraid, there is no way for me to be objective, as my dream came true and my designs were published for the first time! And in such a beautiful edition.
“Yarn” book-a-zine is published by Scheepjes and all designs use their yarns. The first issue was inspired by the sea (and it is actually called “The Sea Issue”) with everything related to this topic. So if you are as much in love with the sea as I am, this book-a-zine is right for you.
There are 13 crochet, knitting and even macramé patterns collected together, along with interesting articles about how to choose cotton yarn, Scheepjes story and inspiring insights into designer’s work and creative process.
Honestly, I enjoyed every single page, and not because two of my designs are featured (and my knitted top is on both front and back covers, yay!!). But I enjoyed the whole concept and quality of this edition. Every detail was taken into consideration, the photography is amazing and the whole issue is “tied” with one and the same color scheme.
Here are a few interesting facts about “Yarn”:
- “Yarn” has the size of a computer tablet and perfectly fits the handbag. And in fact it looks and feels more like a book (with 74 pages), than a magazine. Though at the magazine’s price – €6.95/ £4.95.
- Both copies in English and Dutch are available.
- It is published on a thick matte paper. The pages are not glued, but stitched and it allows the book-a-zine to lay almost flat.
- There are several blank pages for you to make notes or even use them as inspiration boards.
- At the back you will find a very practical flap with all the abbreviations used in the patterns. So every time you knit or crochet something, you have all abbreviations in one place. And there are also punched holes for your yarn samples.
Two my designs are featured in the first issue – an airy and light Striped Top made with Rhythm Alpaca and Mohair yarns. It is a variation of my first ever knitted Blue Feather Sweater. By the way there is a ready kit with all yarns and beads available for purchase at Paradise Fibers* (US). And Stepping Stones (made with Mini Noodle* T-shirt yarn) which are actually the covers for ready poufs. For example they perfectly suit ALSEDA poufs from IKEA.
And I have my own favourites. For example this summer sweater with open back desinged by Annelies Baes from Vicarno! I definitely need it in my own life (and I still hope we will find an opportunity to go to the sea this summer...).
I don’t really know what else I can say about this wonderful publication. You better grab your own copy and read it yourself :) Book-a-zine “Yarn” is available for purchase HERE on Wool Warehouse* (international shipping), HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US) and in local Scheepjes shops. Enjoy!!
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
As a member of Scheepjes Bloggers group I am receiving samples of different yarns to try, test, play with and maybe to design something. I have been keeping an eye on Bloom yarn for quite a long time and first used it for Minimalist Cabled Mandala potholders. Since then my inspiration about using this yarn was a bit silent. Until recently, when I suddenly got an idea of a small but practical bathroom accessory. And Bloom yarn was just the right choice for this project (which will stay a secret for a while, but I promise to reveal it very soon!).
So, Bloom… It is 100% cotton, but not just that “ordinary” yarn you are probably used to. It is spun in a very special way – around, which helps it to be very light and at the same time prevents from splitting. I was trying very hard to make as clear close-up picture as possible so that you see its structure. In fact it is a tube “knitted” with stockiette stitch. Very interesting.
Bloom is a very strong yarn. I cannot imagine the cases when it can be torn… It is impossible to break it with hands, and it makes this yarn even more durable. I normally hand wash all crocheted items but I would not be afraid at all to use machine wash for this yarn.
Not being a mercerized cotton, Bloom has a very nice natural gloss, and the crocheted fabric turns out to be stretchy. As any other cotton yarn, Bloom is hyperallergenic and can become a wonderful substitute to wool or wool blend.
Because of not very long yardage (this yarn comes in 50g/80m balls and in 28 gorgeous shades – each inspired by a flower) you will probably need many skeins for a large project. But at the same time this yardage works very good for small accessories, as you can purchase exact amount of yarn you need not worrying about many leftovers. Bloom yarn is available at a range of prices between 2.59£–2.79£ per skein HERE on Wool Warehouse* and HERE on Deramores* – both retailers ship orders internationally, HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US) or in local Scheepjes shops.
It is recommended to use 5mm crochet hook to work with Bloom, but for my own project I chose a smaller (4mm) one, because I wanted to achieve an effect of very dense fabric. You can see an example of my Minimalist Cabled Mandala potholder in a picture below (this pattern is available in my Etsy and Ravelry stores).
But larger hook will for sure work better if you want your crocheted piece to be more “open” and draping better. Kimberly Slifer (from Just a Girl and a Hook) used it for her I Love This Bag CAL, and I like the definitions of her stitches very much. By the way this pattern is free and you can find it HERE on Ravelry.
Which kind of project is Bloom yarn suitable for? Because it is sturdy and quite thick, I would probably not use it for garment, with an exception of solid coats. Light weight is a huge advantage of this yarn: you can create a big project but it will not weight too much. This is the reason why Bloom can also be used for blankets. But they will not have a soft and cozy effect. In my opinion, this yarn is just great for different kinds of interior accessories - pillows, organizers and even rugs (though be sure to always use an anti-slip fabric or sprays, as rugs may be very slippery).
For my new project I chose two shades of grey: 421 (Old Lily) and 422 (Grey Thistle). Have a look at Bloom colour chart* and make your own floral composition!
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
So, Bloom… It is 100% cotton, but not just that “ordinary” yarn you are probably used to. It is spun in a very special way – around, which helps it to be very light and at the same time prevents from splitting. I was trying very hard to make as clear close-up picture as possible so that you see its structure. In fact it is a tube “knitted” with stockiette stitch. Very interesting.
Bloom is a very strong yarn. I cannot imagine the cases when it can be torn… It is impossible to break it with hands, and it makes this yarn even more durable. I normally hand wash all crocheted items but I would not be afraid at all to use machine wash for this yarn.
Not being a mercerized cotton, Bloom has a very nice natural gloss, and the crocheted fabric turns out to be stretchy. As any other cotton yarn, Bloom is hyperallergenic and can become a wonderful substitute to wool or wool blend.
Because of not very long yardage (this yarn comes in 50g/80m balls and in 28 gorgeous shades – each inspired by a flower) you will probably need many skeins for a large project. But at the same time this yardage works very good for small accessories, as you can purchase exact amount of yarn you need not worrying about many leftovers. Bloom yarn is available at a range of prices between 2.59£–2.79£ per skein HERE on Wool Warehouse* and HERE on Deramores* – both retailers ship orders internationally, HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US) or in local Scheepjes shops.
It is recommended to use 5mm crochet hook to work with Bloom, but for my own project I chose a smaller (4mm) one, because I wanted to achieve an effect of very dense fabric. You can see an example of my Minimalist Cabled Mandala potholder in a picture below (this pattern is available in my Etsy and Ravelry stores).
But larger hook will for sure work better if you want your crocheted piece to be more “open” and draping better. Kimberly Slifer (from Just a Girl and a Hook) used it for her I Love This Bag CAL, and I like the definitions of her stitches very much. By the way this pattern is free and you can find it HERE on Ravelry.
 |
| Photo credit: Kimberly Slifer (Just a Girl and a Hook) |
Which kind of project is Bloom yarn suitable for? Because it is sturdy and quite thick, I would probably not use it for garment, with an exception of solid coats. Light weight is a huge advantage of this yarn: you can create a big project but it will not weight too much. This is the reason why Bloom can also be used for blankets. But they will not have a soft and cozy effect. In my opinion, this yarn is just great for different kinds of interior accessories - pillows, organizers and even rugs (though be sure to always use an anti-slip fabric or sprays, as rugs may be very slippery).
For my new project I chose two shades of grey: 421 (Old Lily) and 422 (Grey Thistle). Have a look at Bloom colour chart* and make your own floral composition!
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
I am totally obsessed with creating mandalas in overlay crochet and I am very often asked which yarn is the best choice for that. You can read a basic article on how to choose yarns for overlay crochet technique HERE. But today I would like to tell you about my absolutely favourite type of yarn, which is in my opinion the best for working in overlay crochet.
If you want the overlay image to be bright, visible and clear, you should give preference to stiff enough yarns of contrasting colors. I use blend wool yarns from time to time, but my absolute favourite is cotton. If you have never heard about Catona line* by Scheepjes, let me introduce it to you.
In some way Catona is a very basic Sport weight yarn. It is 100% cotton and many people, who are used to more “artistic” yarns, may say it is too basic and simple. But as we all know, the beauty is in simplicity. Catona is a natural yarn with a very nice luster. You can use crochet hooks from 2.5mm (C) to 3.5 mm (D), depending on which effect you would like to get. When I create overlay crochet mandalas, I prefer the fabric to be very dense and I go for the smallest possible hook (usually 2.5mm). But this yarn can work equally well for lace cardigans and summer blankets, and you can work them with a larger hook without paying too much attention to the right tension. So being simple itself, this yarn gives endless opportunities for using it.
Catona is a mercerized cotton yarn with very nice natural luster. It doesn’t split and is sliding on the hook very well. Mercerization gives cotton fiber bright colour and helps it to be better resistant to multiple washings. For example Catona yarn is machine washable at 40 degrees (as its label says). More than that – mercerized cotton has increased strength, smoothness and resistance to mildew. If you would like to know more about mercerization, you can read THIS interesting article by Tom Beaudet.
What I personally love about Catona, is that this yarn comes in balls 25g and 50g. It is not very expensive (available for £0.99 – 25g HERE at Deramores* or HERE on Wool Warehouse* (international shipping), HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US)or at local relailers at Scheepjes), and you always pay for the exact amount you need. Many projects with multiple colour changes require a small amount of each shade, and many overlay crochet projects can be even made with leftovers. And then it is really great to spend less money on each ball and still be able to finish your new piece of crochet art.
For me crochet (and especially overlay crochet) is drawing with yarn. And Catona is ideal for that because it comes in 69 different shades. And new colors will be added to this range. So you are free to choose exact and any shades you like and to combine them in a way you prefer.
For my new project I have chosen very bright, spring coloures and I hope they will work together well. I will share a sneak peek of my new project next week. Stay in touch! :)
You can subscribe to weekly newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
If you want the overlay image to be bright, visible and clear, you should give preference to stiff enough yarns of contrasting colors. I use blend wool yarns from time to time, but my absolute favourite is cotton. If you have never heard about Catona line* by Scheepjes, let me introduce it to you.
In some way Catona is a very basic Sport weight yarn. It is 100% cotton and many people, who are used to more “artistic” yarns, may say it is too basic and simple. But as we all know, the beauty is in simplicity. Catona is a natural yarn with a very nice luster. You can use crochet hooks from 2.5mm (C) to 3.5 mm (D), depending on which effect you would like to get. When I create overlay crochet mandalas, I prefer the fabric to be very dense and I go for the smallest possible hook (usually 2.5mm). But this yarn can work equally well for lace cardigans and summer blankets, and you can work them with a larger hook without paying too much attention to the right tension. So being simple itself, this yarn gives endless opportunities for using it.
Catona is a mercerized cotton yarn with very nice natural luster. It doesn’t split and is sliding on the hook very well. Mercerization gives cotton fiber bright colour and helps it to be better resistant to multiple washings. For example Catona yarn is machine washable at 40 degrees (as its label says). More than that – mercerized cotton has increased strength, smoothness and resistance to mildew. If you would like to know more about mercerization, you can read THIS interesting article by Tom Beaudet.
What I personally love about Catona, is that this yarn comes in balls 25g and 50g. It is not very expensive (available for £0.99 – 25g HERE at Deramores* or HERE on Wool Warehouse* (international shipping), HERE at Paradise Fibers* (US)or at local relailers at Scheepjes), and you always pay for the exact amount you need. Many projects with multiple colour changes require a small amount of each shade, and many overlay crochet projects can be even made with leftovers. And then it is really great to spend less money on each ball and still be able to finish your new piece of crochet art.
For me crochet (and especially overlay crochet) is drawing with yarn. And Catona is ideal for that because it comes in 69 different shades. And new colors will be added to this range. So you are free to choose exact and any shades you like and to combine them in a way you prefer.
For my new project I have chosen very bright, spring coloures and I hope they will work together well. I will share a sneak peek of my new project next week. Stay in touch! :)
You can subscribe to weekly newsletter not to miss a single post. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.
*This blog post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support!
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