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Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif #136
Notes:
An unusual shape, so I've decided to use an unusual color combo for it. This here's a rectangle with some popcorn-stitches. Although I like popcorn stitches in general, I don't like to squeeze dc's between them (which has to be done here).
An unusual shape, so I've decided to use an unusual color combo for it. This here's a rectangle with some popcorn-stitches. Although I like popcorn stitches in general, I don't like to squeeze dc's between them (which has to be done here).
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Little Spring Mandala
Pattern: Made in K-Town by Barbara
Please respect my rights as designer: do not sell, share, translate, or publish any parts of my patterns (including pictures) online or elsewhere without my permission. Do not claim this pattern as your own. Feel free to sell the finished items you’ve made from my pattern! If you do, a link-back to my blog www.made-in-k-town.blogspot.de would be great. Thank you!
Material:
As
usual, I used small amounts of Catania by Schachenmayer and a 2.5mm
hook. My mandala measures 12cm in diameter (4.7") but the size will vary
depending on the yarn you use.
Some general notes:
For
this pattern I use US crochet terms. We’ll need the following stitches:
chain stitch (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double
crochet (dc), double crochet three together (dc3tog), and surface stitches. The dc3tog and the surface stitches are explained below, please use the pictures as a help, too.
I
did NOT write down the chains at the beginning of each round: for the
first stitch in every round, work chains (e.g. 3 chains for the first
dc) OR start with a “standing stitch” i.e. join the new color with a
slip knot or a simple loop ON YOUR HOOK and just work the first sc or dc
as usual. Join rounds with a sl st.
I hope I haven't lost you already :) Here we go:
2nd Round (new color): work (1sc, ch2) in every ch1-space, fasten off (12 ch2-spaces)
3rd Round (new color): work (dc3tog, ch3) in every ch2-space, fasten off (12 ch3-spaces)
Here's how you do the dc3tog: yo, insert hook into ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into the same ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into the same ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook. (Note: to start the round, either make ch3 and then a dc2tog, or start with a standing stitch and work the dc3tog right away).
Here's how you do the dc3tog: yo, insert hook into ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into the same ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into the same ch2-space and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook), yo and pull through all 4 loops on hook. (Note: to start the round, either make ch3 and then a dc2tog, or start with a standing stitch and work the dc3tog right away).
4th Round (new color): work 4 dc in every ch3-space, fasten off (48 dc, no spaces!)
5th Round (new color): work surface stitches between the dc's of the previous round, finish off
For the surface stitches, hold the yarn at the back of your work, insert hook in between any two dc’s, yo, pull loop through the gap. Now you’ve got a loose loop on your hook (hold the end of your yarn tight for the first stitch!). *Insert hook in between the next two dc’s, yo, pull loop through the gap and through the loop on your hook*. It’s like working slip stitches. Work this way around, then insert your hook in the first gap where you started, cut thread, yo, pull thread through the gap and through your loop and finish off. Use your hook or a needle to pull the loose end through to the back again, tie the two ends together and weave them in.
The 6th Round is a double round, worked into the dc’s of round 4:
6a (new color): work (1dc, ch2, skip one stitch) around, join with a slip stitch to first dc, finish off
6b (new color): Fold the stitches you’ve just made a little bit to the front and repeat round 6a, working into the stitches you’ve skipped before, finish off (2x 24 ch2-spaces)
7th Round (new color): work 3dc into the ch2-spaces of the previous round, finish off. Make sure you insert your hook into both spaces of round 6a and b! (72dc, no spaces!)
8th Round (new color): work (1sc, ch4) between every 3dc-group.
9th Round (same color): work (1hdc, 3dc, 1hdc) in every ch4-space. Finish off, and weave in all the loose ends.
I hope you enjoy making this Spring Mandala!
If you've got any questions, or find errors in this pattern, please let me know!
I'd also like to see your finished Mandalas, so feel free to leave a comment with a link to your blog or flickr picture :)
Want to see more Little Spring Mandalas? Check out the Project Gallery on Ravelry!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Second Chance: We've got Another Winner!
Happy Pentecost!
Just in case you've missed yesterday's post: my Blogiversary Giveaway is closed now! I wanted to know the length of the flower garland, and Sam was closest with her guess of 280cm (110.2") and wins the garland. Congrats again, Sam!
Everyone who had played along was given a second chance to enter another guess. The real length of the flower garland, lying loose and unstretched on the floor, measured by my independent assistant John, is 273cm (107.5")! Congratulations Mary, you've been sooooo close with your 272cm (maybe you should really consider a career in math after all *gg*)! I hope you like this little potholder dress I've made escpecially for YOU! :)
Please contact me for your full address, I can't find an e-mail address in your profile or blog - please check my profile for my e-mail contact!
Bookworm-Mary (aka MWitch3) is one of my new friends I've met via the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, maybe you'd like to visit her at Needles and Hooks and Books, Oh my!
Thank you all for playing! Unfortunately I cannot make and send gifts to everyone of you, so I hope you'll enjoy my brandnew free Mandala pattern that I'll be posting tomorrow.
See you then,
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Giveaway Winner and a Second Chance!
Thank you all for participating in my Blogiversary-Giveaway! And - we have a winner! The one who was closest to the length of the flower garland (the giveaway prize) was Sam Findlay with her guess of 280cm! Congratulations, Sam!! (I'll be writing you an e-mail, soon!)
Now you might want to know the real length of the garland, but I can't tell you... yet! Because - everyone who has played along in this game (and hasn't won yet) will have another chance for a second guess (and another prize of course)! Let's have a look at the player list:
Susana, Soleil, laydilyke, Crystal Rose Cottage, Angel, Debi Y., Connie, Hazel, Angela, Madeleine, Kepanie, Gill, tintocktap, Gladys Perfeito, MWitch3, Diana, isaquarel, Sandra and annemarie - you're all welcome to enter a second guess! Let me give you some hints: Sam was closest with 280cm (110.2"), but she's been a little bit above the real length. The next closest guess was made by Susana with 250cm (98.4"), and this guess was below the real length (and farther away than Sam's guess). Now let's see if someone can guess the right length now. Be quick, because this second chance will end in 24 hours, at 1pm CET tomorrow!
Would you like to see the (sur)prize for the second chance? Here it is:
Since I've figured out that pattern, I just can't stop making those little potholder dresses (there are three more you haven't seen yet). So, the one of you ladies in the player list above who enters the correct length first (or is closest in 24 hours from now) will win this little blue-ish/off-white dress - although I suggest you use it as a decoration rather than a potholder (I haven't tried its heat-protection yet).
Good Luck!!!!!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Guest Posting, Features and More
Hello everybody, it's great to see you stopping by in k-town today!
Today's a big day for me: I've written my first guest post ever, and today it will published over at Olga's Stardust - Decor & Style. It's a lovely blog about decoration, design, makeovers and more, and I'm really honored that Olga has invited me (and Frostarella) to come over and introduce ourselves. Thank you Olga for the invite, and dear readers: please hop over to Stardust, I bet you'll find some inspiration for your home over there!
I'm also very happy, that I had my first two features recently: My Frostarella stool was featured over at So Very Creative (unfortunately there'll be no more linkies there, hope it wasn't me who ruined it... *gg*), and the little potholder dresses were featured at Sarahndipities. Thank you so much!
A few weeks ago, I received a sweet e-mail from Bridget, an editor for All Free Crochet Afghan Patterns, who asked me if I was interested in sharing my Wiggly Tutorial over at their site. I'm so happy when someone is interested in my little tutorials, so I gladly accepted this offer. Thank you Bridget for your effort!
This offer also reminded me that I wanted to start sharing my patterns on Ravelry. Someone had already linked up my Sunny Pincushion Tutorial there and I wanted to edit this entry and link up my other patterns and tutorials as well.
And - after having had a look at my statistics - I've discovered that you can even find some of my patterns at Crochet Pattern Central now.
It seems like I'm really getting around now... I'd like to thank all the editors from the sites mentioned above for their interest and their help!
Finally, I'd like to remind you that today's the last chance to enter my giveaway! Good luck to everyone, I'll announce the winner tomorrow!
Have a great Friday,
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 11
Notes:
Another lovely circle motif. I've made the first three rounds with the same color, just like in the book (in the book they use green), but now I wonder how this motif might look if you change colors after each round? I might give it a try one day. By the way: I love those dc3tog stitches that are used in this motif again (the last pink round)!
Another lovely circle motif. I've made the first three rounds with the same color, just like in the book (in the book they use green), but now I wonder how this motif might look if you change colors after each round? I might give it a try one day. By the way: I love those dc3tog stitches that are used in this motif again (the last pink round)!
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif #125
Progress: 45 of 100+
Notes:
I wouldn't exactly describe this one as a "motif". However, it's a nice basic for making the perfect oval shape. Could be helpful some day! Maybe this one (a little bigger and with the right colors) would make a nice placemat?
I wouldn't exactly describe this one as a "motif". However, it's a nice basic for making the perfect oval shape. Could be helpful some day! Maybe this one (a little bigger and with the right colors) would make a nice placemat?
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Friday, May 18, 2012
My First Blogiversary!
Hello World, and welcome to K-town today! I can't believe that it is my first Blogiversary today - time flies when you're having fun, and it's been a whole lot of fun indeed!
365 days, that means 165 posts, 1404 lovely comments, over 130000 visits, and 475 followers. When I started this blog one year ago, I never thought that it would be so much fun, and that I'd meet so many lovely people out there in blogland and here in k-town. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't be celebrating this Blogiversary today, so to all of you out there:
♥ Danke ♥ Thank You ♥ Merci ♥ Dank je ♥ Grazie ♥ Takk ♥ Dziękuję ♥ Obrigada ♥ спасибо ♥ Hvala ♥ Gracias ♥ Tack ♥ Teşekkür Ederim ♥ Děkuji ♥ ευχαριστώ ♥
Now to the fun part you've been waiting for: The Giveaway! I've already mentioned before that this time you can win this garland with 19 little button-flowers:
Remember my last two Giveaways? In the first one, you had to guess the weight of the giveaway stone, in the second one you had to guess the number of buttons in a Whiskey glass. And guess what - this time I'd like to know:
How long is this flower garland?
I've found out that the length of the garland varies a lot, depending if it's stretched or loose, and I've decided to use the length of the garland when it's lying loose on the floor (that was the easiest way to measure it). If you'd like to enter my giveaway, all you have to do is
Edit (a few hours later): I've replied to some of your comments now, giving you the bonus cm's and converting the foot and inches to centimeters - this makes it easier for me to compare the results later! :)
- leave a comment and enter your guess in a common unit of length (i.e. centimeter, meter, inches, foot or similar).
- Please make sure to make one guess only!
- Of course you can score extra-points again: If you mention this giveaway on your blog (and tell me about it) you "win" a tolerance of +/- 10cm or 4 inches, i.e. if your guess is 320cm, you're in with any number between 310cm and 330cm (if your guess is 126", you're in with any number between 122" and 130").
- The one who's closest to the right length (or enters the correct length first) wins.
- This Giveaway will close one week from now, and I'll announce the winner one day later, on May 26th.
Edit (a few hours later): I've replied to some of your comments now, giving you the bonus cm's and converting the foot and inches to centimeters - this makes it easier for me to compare the results later! :)
Good luck to you all!!!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 56
Progress: 44 of 100+
Notes:
A granny style triangle, nice and easy, and great for beginners. Like!
A granny style triangle, nice and easy, and great for beginners. Like!
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
An Old Pattern and a New Dress
Hey Good Lookin', how are you today?
It's Mother's Day in Germany, and apart from the fact that my Mom is one of my most favorite persons in the world, she's definitely the most favorite person to give my crochet things to. Why? Because nevermind how critical I am with my stuff, she loves everything I crochet. This is my Mother's Day gift for her:
It's a set of two crochet potholders shaped as dresses. This is my "remake" of my Mom's old kitchen decoration. When my parents got married more than 40 years ago, an old friend of the family made the original dresses for my Mom (the yellow and brown ones in the picture below).
Those dresses had been hanging in my Mom's kitchen until last year, when she removed them to make room for the potholders I've made for her birthday. She gave the dresses to me, just in case I'd like to figure out the pattern and make my own.
Over the past few months I've been examining the dresses now and then, but I just couldn't figure out the pattern for the upper part and I had no clue were to start with this dress and how to make the transition from the upper part to the skirt. I've found some free patterns on the internet for crocheted dress potholders, but they weren't exactly the same ones, and somehow I was determined to make right these or no dresses at all. Last week my Mother's-Day-alarm-clock began to ring louder, so I sat down and just gave it a try. Another lesson learned: it's easier to figure out a pattern if you use your hook as well, and not just the eyes :).
I'm not sure if I've got the pattern completely right, but it's close enough I guess. For the colors I've picked off-white and green, because green is the dominating color in my Mom's kitchen, and after I've finished the first dress, I've remembered that I've got just the perfect wooden heart-shaped buttons to complete the dresses. I love them!! And I hope my Mom does, too (and of course she does, I know! *gg*)
Now let me ask you something (and I'm not fishing for compliments here): do you think I should make dresses like these for John's Mom, too? As you might know, we'll be visiting John's family in June, and I'd really like to bring something for his Mom and sister, but I'm not sure how people feel about crocheted gifts (or handmade gifts in general). What if they fake a smile, say thank you and hide the stuff in the depths of an old spare room drawer as soon as I'm back on the plane? That's what I meant above, when I said that my Mom is my favorite person to give crochet things to, I just know she loves it, but I'm not sure about John's Mom and sister. What do you think? Do you have any suggestions? Do you understand my worries? I think you might, because I'm quite sure I've read similar thoughts elsewhere in blogland, too.
Before I leave you for today, let me remind you of our current stripy link-party - and in my right side bar I've already started the next poll with some new topics (thank you Debi for your suggestions!). Of course you can choose multiple answers as usual.
To all the mothers and other great ladies out there: Have a lovely Sunday!
Before I leave you for today, let me remind you of our current stripy link-party - and in my right side bar I've already started the next poll with some new topics (thank you Debi for your suggestions!). Of course you can choose multiple answers as usual.
To all the mothers and other great ladies out there: Have a lovely Sunday!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Theme Party # 10: Stripes
Welcome to our 10th Theme Party!
The topic you've voted for this time is Stripes: do you have any stripy
crochet to share? Maybe a granny striped or a ripple blanket? A cushion?
Stripy socks or maybe even a Zebra amigurumi? Here's your stage! :)
Before you share your link and hop away to check out some
great stripy projects, maybe you can give me some feedback: are you
bored of the topics that are on our voting list right now? Do you have
new ideas? When do you think should I add the topics we've already had
(like the Grannies, the flowers, etc.) to the current poll again? And
should this theme-party stay a crochet-only party or would you like to
link up other crafts as well, like knitting, sewing or stitching? (Of
course the projects would have to match the given theme, too).
Thank you for your input! :)
Some things you should keep in mind:
What you see is what you get: please link to the specific post where your chosen project can be found (not just your main blog address), and make sure that your post is about crochet and matches the given theme! No shops! Please understand that I might remove links that ignore these points.
Feel free to post as many links as you like
- you should really search in the depths of your archives to
retrieve your forgotten treasures, this is your chance to bring them
back to the surface! :) more info
This collection can be found at The Crochet Boulevard now!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 88
Motif # 88
Progress: 43 of 100+
Notes:
Ha! This one was a positive surprise! I "had" to pick it, because it was the first motif in the Square's chapter and I hadn't made it so far (I've mentioned before that this is my new strategy for choosing the motifs). I don't know, I think I'm just more attracted to the more "solid" motifs, not to open ones like this. It's easy to make (the big loops are just chain stitches), and I really liked the result in the end. I only wonder what you could do with squares like these, not a blanket I guess. Maybe a patchwork cover for a contrasting cushion?
Ha! This one was a positive surprise! I "had" to pick it, because it was the first motif in the Square's chapter and I hadn't made it so far (I've mentioned before that this is my new strategy for choosing the motifs). I don't know, I think I'm just more attracted to the more "solid" motifs, not to open ones like this. It's easy to make (the big loops are just chain stitches), and I really liked the result in the end. I only wonder what you could do with squares like these, not a blanket I guess. Maybe a patchwork cover for a contrasting cushion?
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 30
Motif # 30
Progress: 42 of 100+
Notes:
This is a very simple hexagon, dc's and chains only, the last round is made with sc's. Easy and relaxing, could possibly look nice when lots of those hexagons are joined to a blanket.
This is a very simple hexagon, dc's and chains only, the last round is made with sc's. Easy and relaxing, could possibly look nice when lots of those hexagons are joined to a blanket.
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 4
Progress: 41 of 100+
Notes:
I like the "open" style of this one. It's made with lots of dc-3-clusters, somehow they remind me of little leaves. Maybe Edie Eckman thought the same, because in the book the second and third round are worked with green yarn (the center and the border are dark orange).
I like the "open" style of this one. It's made with lots of dc-3-clusters, somehow they remind me of little leaves. Maybe Edie Eckman thought the same, because in the book the second and third round are worked with green yarn (the center and the border are dark orange).
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif #122
Motif #122
Progress: 40 of 100+
Notes:
This is the first motif of the last chapter, the "Unusual Shapes", it's a pentagon. The only thing that's bothering me a little with this picture is the black background. In the beginning I've picked the black background for all my motifs, because I've discovered that the colors look better on black. So far, I've taken all the pictures with artificial light in our apartment. For the next series I think I'll try it with a white background and natural light - but that's still the sound of the future, there are still lots of motifs in the current series :) (edit: a few weeks later I've taken new pictures of all the motifs on a white background and replaced the pictures)
This is the first motif of the last chapter, the "Unusual Shapes", it's a pentagon. The only thing that's bothering me a little with this picture is the black background. In the beginning I've picked the black background for all my motifs, because I've discovered that the colors look better on black. So far, I've taken all the pictures with artificial light in our apartment. For the next series I think I'll try it with a white background and natural light - but that's still the sound of the future, there are still lots of motifs in the current series :) (edit: a few weeks later I've taken new pictures of all the motifs on a white background and replaced the pictures)
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Beyond the Square: Motif # 2
Progress: 39 of 100+
Notes:
Today's the start of a new series of motifs. The first motifs I made were those I fell in love with at first glance. After that I've changed my strategy: I flipped through the five chapters, and of each chapter I took the first motifs, that I haven't made until now. Like this one, motif #2. It's pretty, isn't it? I think I like this strategy, because I've discovered that I often like those motifs better than the motifs of my first series (maybe my expectations are not that high, who knows?)
Today's the start of a new series of motifs. The first motifs I made were those I fell in love with at first glance. After that I've changed my strategy: I flipped through the five chapters, and of each chapter I took the first motifs, that I haven't made until now. Like this one, motif #2. It's pretty, isn't it? I think I like this strategy, because I've discovered that I often like those motifs better than the motifs of my first series (maybe my expectations are not that high, who knows?)
Links:
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!
