Zpagetti

It took me a while to finish this, not because it was difficult but because I didn't have enough chocolate zpagetti.  After searching for a while had some luck and then found it! Ok but then I was all out of my zpagetti mode so chucked it in the corner. It is finished now and I'm happy with the way it turned out. 

Zpagetti Heart pillow

I've bought the two book(let)s for zpagetti fans and in the one they have a crocheted heart. Of course it looked cute and of course I had to try it out. I did. Then took it apart and tried a normal pattern for a heart but still wasn't satisfied so I searched until I've found a heart where one doesn't add the bows of the heart at the end separately but crochet the heart in one go. I made two and then still had to stuff it. We've got two hearts from the Ikea I think 5 years ago. Big heart pillows with arms, very funny. The last days the two girls were actually leaving them all over the place or trow them in each others rooms so as to get rid of them. I got a bit tired of that so I got a brain wave. I cut of the arms (a bit gory to see lol) and then stuffed them both in the crocheted pillow. Now how's that for a frugal housewife:) he-he. I searched on youtube how to make a tassel and then added the tassel just for fun.

The backside are crocheted far neater than the front as I started with the front heart. I was so tired of taking the hearts apart as they're very large so got a bit lazy and just continued to crochet...

crocheted coin purse

Yes, I'm updating my blog all at once, showing what I've been up to the past month. For the coin purse group at swap-bot I've crocheted a coin purse and added a lining and zipper. Quite a first for me but practise makes perfect. I realised I need a goal to try something otherwise it is such an effort to try something. With the swaps I have a swap partner I'm making something and it has a deadline! And in the meantime I'm using up stash!!

I've found this neat tutorial to add a liner and zipper, from sparklepetal, whom used the
-awesome- circle tutorial from Attic24 .

Mine came out a bit looking like a harvest moon but I'm very chuffed with the colour and the liner I've used. The crocheted flower I've added is one I dug up from my past. I have no idea which pattern I've used at that time.

Dishcloth with a kitty silhouette

I made this dishcloth with 100% cotton for a dishcloth swap at swap-bot. The idea was to crochet or knit one for your partner with 100% cotton. The one I got is working double time. I really love it. I've used my favourite pattern (crazy cloth) and looked for a kitty crochet pattern so to add something extra to the dishcloth. Between all these cat patterns I chose a kitty from the window cat family

Crocheted Brooch

I've bought myself a very nice dress in the sale at Didi's. Just my style but it needed a little bit more color so I made a broche the evening before we went to visit family (and me of course in my new dress)

• I've crocheted a double flower from a Dutch Crochet book: Marie Claire idees 250 Haakwerksteken. The yarn was an Alpaca mix
• Gathered a brown piece of lace I've had in my stash
• Cut circle with pinking sheers from fabric I'm making a skirt from. A light weight corduroy in purple with hints of Cherise and white (photo's as soon as it is finished)
• used a brown wooden button
• used a piece of a creme wool mix. I've used it to knit the top part for a cushion in my sitting room (photo as soon as it is finished)
• used a piece of Cherise zpagetti I've used in the zpagetti pouffe and handbag I've crocheted.
• a brooch pin I got from a broken brooch

And ta-da a very nice arty broche to go with my dress!

Zpagetti bag Milano

I've finished my zpagetti bag

as soon as I've received my ordered handle!

Pattern:

Milano

Zpagetti colours:

Pinkorange & Fuchsia

Bag handle with beads:

from Marutska

I had to improvise a bid as after I've crocheted the bottom part the Zpagetti was half the size, so I had to put away my zpagetti 12mm hook and take my crochet needle of 9mm to finish the job.

At first just continued to crochet with the zpagetti hook but the "holes" were so far apart and the bag became much to floppy and elastic at the top. I had to unto it all and then swap to the smaller hook. I guess that's on of the things what I like about Zpagetti,

the elelment of supprise :)

I've added a funky braided rosette for detail and added a large wooden button

so the bag can be closed.

La or Le pouffe

I started crocheting the pouffe yesterday and finished the crocheting part very late in the evening while doing all my motherly duties in between.

I'm very chuffed with myself!

This morning I joined the two crocheted circles with the Cherise zpagetti with and overcast stitch. The colors of my curtains are the same so the pouffe will be for the sitting room.

I had to stop my project as I needed stuffing. I read on the maria's blog(where I bought the zpagetti from) that she stuffs them with Ikea duvets as they're cheaper than stuffing. I found that to be a very good idea. Only problem was that I'm not heading for an Ikea this week and HOW ON EARTH CAN I WAIT TO STUFF MY POUFFE.

Well, I found 3 continental pillows that I've stored away on the attic. At last I had I had a reason to use them after 8 years of storage....

It is still a bit wobbly so I have to take out the stuffing of the three and put it in one inner bag like an old duvet cover. My husband will be relieved that I actually used things take are taking up space for so long lol. I'll get a star behind my name this evening lol.

In the meantime the kids and the dog got on it and they all love it and fight over it...

Well should I now crochet 3 more?

I just love this zpagetti and closed up this pouffe with a little bow tie (knotted) so it can be opened up easy for washing.

To make your own zpagetti see this Dutch blog and a youtube movie

Hello, my name is Monique and I'm addicted to Zpagetti

Yes, after 2 years I just couldn't resist the temptation anymore and when I saw there was a discount offered all resistance just crumbled.

I'm just so weak when it comes to colorful fibers...

Zpagetti

I've ordered the goodies on Friday night at a Ladies'night discount at marutska.nl

and it arrived Tuesday evening at 15 pas 6 when I gave up all hope of it arriving yesterday (they don't deliver on Monday). Great service as always by marutska.nl

As you can see I've bought the 12mm crochet hook and this morning watching Teletubbies and started crocheting a poef (pouffe in French and in English it would be a ottoman without the legs/frame I guess).

From the chocolate brown Zpagetti I already used one and a half as seen in the pic. I've bought four in total. It would be nice for the kids to sit on but I guess the little maltese will be the underdog that will surely in this case claim her right to the pouffe as well!

I'm also making progress with the wool/angora mix I'm knitting for a pillow cover for the sitting room.

things to do

Sooner than later:

1. I have to make a better bedding for our maltese called Zizi. **DONE**

I've stumbled on the following on READYMADE blog and just love the idea

but will have to see what I do with her situation :)

2. I have to make two draft snakes/pillows

3. Finish the pillow cover I'm knitting

4. Finish the poncho I'm crocheting

5. Finish the pinafore I'm crocheting

6. Make 2 gifts for two little girls - want to try out the keychains I saw at Vlijtig blog. I have the iron transfer paper for some time now and the clipart I'm drawing/doodling so that would make and awesome combo with my farbenmix ribbon I can't wait to use! ***DONE***

Crocheted bodywarmer

I crocheted a little top with my favourite granny squares. Oki I had to finish it in the Summer but made the last stitch in Autumn.

goat softy

I bought this goat´s pattern and parts for a good cause and received it in the post the day my youngest was born. Well yes almost 1,5 years later I decided I really have to start finishing projects.
Well what shall I say...everytime I make a softy I promise it will be the last one. Yeah right....

Well here he is
the pants and the crocheted little jersey I made on my own steam as it was not part of the pattern or pattern pieces.

Ok yes I should have turned his legs so he doesn´t look like he is maimed but for the rest he is ok I guess. Larger than I expected anyway.

Watch out: Gorgeous Model!

and....this is how she pays her boarding and lodging by showing my creations ;-)
I've crocheted a scarf using 2 types of pink and a raspberry crocheting yarn (cotton mix called Paris).
I've added the basic granny square and my favourite daisy squares at the end of the scarf.
I WANT ONE TOO!
I've also tried my hand at making a bib! My first using this tutorial, it is a bit too small (maybe I've printed it too small?) Well it is good for my confidence so I'll make more. I HAVE to make more as this girl eats carrots!

you can see the dutch print pillow I've made for my kitchen chair. I've promised you a photo and you'll have to do with this one ;-)

August

I'haven't posted for quite some time now though I've been quite creative in August and gotten one year older. I've for one made two necklaces, the fist one I've crocheted with wooden beads and added silver leaves (measuring 96cm all around), making it look like a vineyard in fall. The other one was made in a more African theme with glass beads and measuring 52cm (possibility to lengthen or shorten a couple of cms). For more photo's of these pieces have a look at my flickr photo's

I've also been working on orders crocheting applications and painting panels for pillows, did a couple of swaps by making ATC's and dotee's.

No I have to ease up a bit with the creative juices and the reason is of course to be seen top right on my blog ;-)

Isn't it lovely

On the 17th my husband and I was married for 9 years.

We didn't plan anything as next year is the first decade celebration and we're in the middle of renovating here.

I decided to make him a very nice dinner as his love is definitely influenced by what goes in his stomach

I made his favourites

• fresh spinach cooked and dressed with gorgonzola and sliced boiled eggs


• endive (boiled) dressed in a jacket of ham and then topped with a white cheese/ham sauce, crumbs and old cheese and in the oven


• oxtail stew with brown button mushrooms


• mixed chopped baby lettuces (don't know their English names but more than just butter and ice) with balsamic/garlic vinaigrette and chopped baby radish

He didn't expect it an dived into the dinner and luckily I didn't make any starter and only bought a Ola Viennetta ice for dessert.

Husband came home with this beautiful large bouquet with lilies(5 different ones), which are my favourite and was in my wedding bouquet and and 2 poppy seed things (I adore poppies). The special thing was also the agapanthus which is called here in The Netherlands South African Lily ooooooooooh I had to cry! A pity the photo isn't that good.

Oh and I'll show you my WIP crochet blanket I'm making for baby nr.3. I've decided to add 10 more blocks, 5 on each sides before bordering it and adding picots

Earth toned Granny Squares

Man! I've finished it, 18 10' granny squares , that is 25,5cm squares.
Here they all are as prove

They're packaged and ready to be sent to the US

Vintage/recycle Competition at CraftyMamas

I'm adding my penny of vintage stuff just to encourage beginner people like me to keep trying

Here I've tried the pillow case dress (tute here)made with a pillow from the vintage swap with CraftyMamas. The pillow case came all the way from Australia and didn't end up in the op shop too soon as it has definitely proof of a lot of use and sunny kisses. Somebody loved it and hang on to it untill the end ;-)

In hind sight:
* I should've kept the girls nearby when making it. Because afterwards I've made it too big(elastic) as I couldn't find them while sewing
* I've used to thick a fabric for making (my first) bias tape and too short so I had to add satin ribbon
* I've cut the arm holes to big

The dress will fit next year.... I'll definitely try again and learn from my mistakes .I've just used some coloured stiches to embelish as it it was time for dinner. The photo did come out over lighted, sorry for that

and then I crocheted a dressfrom this Vintage pattern:

Little Bo Peep - American Thread Company in Dolls and Dolls, Star Book 84, in 1951.

I've made her and under skirt (blue with white dots) as dd5yrs said that the dress was a bit improper with the holes in it....

I've used a trimming(purple pompoms) I got from one of my swap partners (can't remember which swap)

I've also added a (plastic fake jewel) button to give it a bit more of an evening gown look,

I guess miss bo beep met her prince

ps. I decided to make the dress because of dd5years:At a carboot sale she almost made a scene as she wanted a 2nd hand cinderella. For 2nd hand the lady asked too much. I guess she gambled that mom would give in because of the little girl. Mom didn't. I got the impression it was more the dress than the doll. So when I crocheted this one and added the jewel I knew I had it right Wanted to give the vintage crochet dress a bit of a spunk but use the yarn I had and thought the blue/purple would do it.

Confession session

Hello...my name is Monique and I'm addicted to crazy cloths

personally I think they're therapeutic ;-)

Another couple of crazy cloths

These ones are crocheted with magic line and the colours flow over into each other, I've also made two other couples for a friend's b-day and another one's house warming gift.

I just love to crochet them as I don't have to use my brains and can do it while watching tv or talking to my dh ;-)

I've added the buttons for a little bit of fun!

March Competition

The March competition at Crafty mamas:
"The lovely Lissy Lou has kindly hand crafted and offered up a prize for March's competition! Lissy is giving away a Steiner inspired handmade toy pack, including this beautiful Waldorf style doll and cotton play cloths. "
Lissy's blog
Lissy hand makes these to order, pm her for more details or email adminATcraftymamas.net

"So, how can you win this great prize....??'Create an heirloom for your child, a toy that will stay with them for a lifetime'Lissylou will be selecting a winner for this competition, and will shortly post a few of the qualities she will be looking for in a winning entry.Good luck!"

As we were seriously moving this month and shuttling between two houses while packing and getting the new house in order, I wondered what I'd do.

Well,I took the drawings again of the girls and decided to make door hangers for them.

I've started with DearDaughter 5yrs drawing
the princesses she draws are all over the house: boxes, little cards, books, used envelopes, etc. and it is typical as she likes to dress up and become a princess when she's a grown-up. This pic she drew last week. I found it on my desk. It is the new house. Her room is top right. I guess she is watching from it and me and her sister are below.

tried and copy her drawing exactly(ball hands and pointy shoes the works!) apart from the embellishments.

• I've used felt for her body and crown


• stuffed her head with cotton


• used cotton thread for crocheting and embroidery


• her (dread) locks are pure virgin wool


• hand painted wooden beads


• metal bell

at the back on her dress:

• wooden buttons


• self covered metal buttons with Japanese canvas fabric

She's aprox 15-17cm and will hang in dd room. Something to enjoy forever.

Remember this one?

Slipping up on the slippers

After doing some serious surfing trying to find a free crochet pattern for slippers I came across these ones. I fell in love with them and tried them out. Well, next time better. I wanted to crochet the slippers for my little girl of 7 and had to adapt the pattern. So as I'm not a veteran on this area I tried my best and know (I think) what to do next time. It was anyway fun and I've finished them while the intended owner was already in dreamland so I'll have to wait until the morning to hear her comments.
Yarn used:
Punto color from Schachenmayr
color code:92
50g 90m