Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 3

Motif # 3

Category: Circles

Progress: 18 of 100+

Notes:
Another simple to do circle motif. The last round features spike-stitches, I think they create an interesting look. Like!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, February 24, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 44

Motif # 44

Category: Hexagons

Progress: 17 of 100+

Notes:
This one's so cute! Unfortunately you're not getting an idea of the original sizes of the motifs, because all of my pictures have got the same size, so let me tell you: this one is rather small. The center of the motif is quite interesting: it starts with a magic ring and 12 sc's inside the ring - and for the second round you work 24 sc's over the stitches of the first round into the ring! This way you have a nice, round and solid center - this idea could come in useful for an own design one day!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 15

Motif # 15

Category: Circles

Progress: 16 of 100+

Notes:
Here I've learned something new (and I hoped I would when I started this Challenge): making diagonal front post dc's! They're not more difficult than "normal" front post stitches, but they provide an interesting effect, don't you think? Imagine this motif much larger, it would probably look even more interesting! Maybe a Potholder? Or a cover for a round cushion?


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 106

Motif # 106

Category: Squares

Progress: 15 of 100+

Notes:
A square with lots of back post dc's, love 'em! The only thing that bothers me a little about this motif, is that the edges still aren't straight although I've blocked it with lots of pins along the sides. I can imagine a huge cushion cover with this pattern, something I should keep in mind!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Some Kindle Covers, a new Poll and more...

Finally I'm back with some new crochet that has nothing to do with the Beyond the Square Challenge :)
I think I've already mentioned that I gave myself an e-book-reader for Christmas - it's the Amazon Kindle, and I really love it! Of course I wanted to make a sexy "dress" for the reader, but I wasn't happy with the first try, so meanwhile I've got three different dresses for my Kindle:


Let's start with the first one I've made:




 
I've already made this around Christmas and - I hate it :) I think it looks like a stupid washcloth and I don't like the closure. That's why I had this thing lying around for the past weeks, and I wasn't in the mood to finish it. Finally I've weaved in the ends this week and attached the button. I still don't like it much better, but I'm happy that I'm done with it. After all, the colors ain't too bad (I wanted to make it "girlie-style"), and I kinda like the pattern (it's a simple sc, ch1-pattern, with the sc's worked into the ch1-space of the previous round).

As soon as this one was finished, I was eager to make a better one, and in fact I liked the next one so much, that I even made a third one (same style) the next day:




I've used the star stitch for both of them - a pretty stitch pattern that I've found some time ago, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting to be used.

I've made the off-white cover first and sewed on one of my Bavarian Popcorn Flowers that I had still left from my flower-making-mania last summer. On the close-up you can also see the structure of the star-stitch pattern, isn't it just pretty?

One thing I knew for sure: I didn't want to make any kind of closure this time. My sister-in-law (who also got a Kindle for Christmas) didn't like the closure of my first try either, and she suggested to make a cover similar to those "mobile socks", without closure.


 Of course it would be possible to work with some color changes for the cover, but I personally like it best, if the cover is plain colored with a little embellishment. So I used dark brown for the next try, weaved in some threads of off-white yarn, made a little bow and attached a cute button:

I still have to show the two new covers to my sister-in-law, to see if she likes them. Maybe I'll try a few more, with different colors and embellishments, maybe another style for the opening. Any suggestions from your side?

Now to something completely different: it's time to start a new poll for our next theme-party (Friday, March 9th)! The "animals" topic is not on the list anymore (didn't get any votes the last time), but I've added two new topics for you to vote: "Stripes" (easy: any blankets, cushions, scarves, etc. with colorful or/and structured stripes, I'm also thinking of all those lovely ripple blankets out there), and "Covered": a topic that was on the list before and will get another chance now: pillows, jars, vases and more with crochet covers, and of course covers for mobiles, i-pods and other technical stuff. Please let me know if you've got any ideas for new topics! By the way: the Valentine's Party is still on! :)

Last but not least, I'd like say a big THANK YOU to

Heather from The Good Life

and 

Cynthia and Carol from TwoLuLa

for giving me another Versatile Blogger Award. Please check out their awesome blogs! I've already written about this award in a previous post last week and passed it on to some other blogs, so please understand if I skip this part this time :)



I think that's it for today - have a fabulous week-end everyone! :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 72

Motif # 72

Category: Triangles

Progress: 14 of 100+

Notes:
That one is not too different from motif # 57 that I've posted earlier in this Challenge, it features some front post trebles though, and I always like those stitches. Nice and easy!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif #143


Motif #143

Category: Unusual Shapes

Progress: 13 of 100+

Notes: A-ma-zing, isn't it? In the book, the circles are yellow and orange, the frame is blue. I don't know why, but when I looked at the motif with the interwoven rings, it made me think of the Ying and Yang sign and I knew at once, that I had to make the rings in black and white. I think it looks quite cool with the dark pink frame. It's not too difficult to make, but - truth to be told - I admit that I had some problems with joining the two rings (they are already joined in the second round of the second ring). Memo to myself: Next time they recommend to use a stitch marker - use one, girl!! :)


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Theme Party # 7: Valentine's Day

Hey, it's so good to see you! Come in, take a seat - the snacks will be served soon! Welcome to our big Valentine's Party - you've voted for it, now you get it :) It's only a few days until Valentine's Day now, what a great time for us all to share our hearts with the rest of the world! :) Please link up all crochet stuff that you associate with Valentine's Day - hearts of course, flowers maybe. Can't wait to see your Valentine's ideas!



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!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

An Award and a Party Invitation


Wow, I've received another award! Debi (Dly's Hooks and Yarn), Barbina (Little things made with love) and Susan (SusanD1408 Crochet Addict) have given me the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you girls, it's so nice to know that you were thinking of me when you've passed on your awards - AND of course: Congratulations to Debi, Barbina and Susan for winning this award, all of you have truely deserved it!

Now I have to tell you seven random facts about me:

1) I've cried my eyes out when I had to give my first car away, and I've still got its license plates at home :)

2) I've made my fork lift driver's license about six years ago - it turned out that I was a terrible driver, so I wasn't allowed to drive. Recently I've started practicing again (had only one minor accident so far *gg*) and I'm really motivated to make it this time.

3) Some year's ago, I've learned from the doctor that I've got a deformed kneecap - but it hasn't bothered me ever since.

4) I first set foot in a plane at the age of 25: It was a week-end-trip to London with one of my girlfriends and we had a great time. I'd still like to visit London again one day, it's a fabulous city.

5) I'm only 32, but I've got the feeling that I'm already too old for all this technical stuff: I'm almost scared of what they call "smartphones" because I don't know what all this "app"-talk is all about.

6) My original hair color is dark blonde, and for the past few years I've been having lighter blonde highlights. When I was younger I frequently changed the color of my hair: I think I've tried every shade of blonde, brown and red.

7) Years ago, I even dyed my hair blue one time, when my favorite soccer team (the TSV 1860 MÃŒnchen, the team colors are white and blue) won against the FC Bayern MÃŒnchen ("our" biggest enemy). The victory was a sensation back then, and I think we (the underdogs) have never won ever since ;)

The next step is to pass this award on to 15 other blogs. Damn, that's a tough one. I'm reading so many blogs (although - shame on me - I'm often too lazy to write a comment), and I've seen lots of my favorite blogs on other bloggers' award lists. So I've tried to pick 15 blogs that haven't already received this award recently:



Dear girls :), if you'd like to accept this award please take it to your blog and pass it on - if you're not collecting awards, just understand it as a compliment on your work! :)

Finally, let's see if I've obeyed all the rules:

1. Add the award to your blog. (Check)
2. Thank the blogger(s) who gave it to you. (Check)
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself. (Check)
4. List the rules. (Check)
5. Award to 15 bloggers. (Check)
6. Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog. (off to do that now)

Wait: before I leave you for today, let me remind you of our next theme-party. On Friday it's time to celebrate again - it looks damn good for the Valentine's Day topic, so you better check your archives for some crocheted hearts or other Valentine related stuff :) (or: if you're not in the mood for a Valentine's party, vote for another topic and tell all your friends to vote as well *gg*)

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon :)

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 40

Motif # 40

Category: Hexagons

Progress: 12 of 100+

Notes:
This is a very simple flower pattern. I think it's the first (and only? I'm not sure) motif, for which I've used one color only. It was a tough decision! :) This motif would be great for a flower garland, or as embellishment on a T-Shirt. When you hop over to the Challenge News, you'll find this motif in a picture frame, it makes a great home decoration!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Beyond the Square: Motif # 121

Motif # 121

Category: Squares

Progress: 11 of 100+

Notes:
Interesting! Once again I'm astonished, what is possible with just the basic stitches when you're just creative enough: the diagonals look awesome, don't they? And it's so easy! You just have to work longer chain-loops for the corners and in the end (just before the last round) they're woven together by just slipping the first loop over the second, the second over the third, and so on. Everything is held together by the sc's that are worked into the last loops. Love it! I'll definitely have to design a pattern with this method one day!


Links: 
Shared Gallery: link up your motifs!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

February News and Reviews

Good morning, everybody!

Wow, time's flying again, don't you think? It's already February, and I can't wait for the spring - I'm so sick of the cold and dark weather!
Today I'd like to write about several things: 1) the "Beyond the Square"-Challenge, 2) some other crochet projects I've got on my hook or on my mind, and 3) some words about the state of my New Year's Resolutions.

1) The Challenge:

While I'm still posting motifs of my first collection, I've already made and blocked some more motifs:


To tell you the truth: I've never blocked any piece of crochet in my life, before I've started this Challenge. I've always been too lazy for that. But I've found out soon, that some of these motifs really needed blocking, because they just wouldn't lie flat - and meanwhile I'm blocking nearly every single motif, because I think they look so much prettier, especially when they've got lots of picots (and many of them have).
That should be all about the Challenge for today, I'm still updating the Challenge News from time to time, so if you'd like to read more and see who has joined our little party, just hop over and check it out! :)

2) other crochet projects

I understand if some of you might be a little bored that the only thing going on in k-town seems to be the Challenge right now. The truth is, I'm still working (more than ever) on the super-secret project. It's got a definite deadline, and I have to hurry up a little. I can't wait to show you the finished project including a series of detailed "making of"-posts afterwards. I hope you can wait some more weeks :)



Right now I try to stay away from new projects, but they are definitely on my mind: recently I've made a cover for my e-book reader. I don't really like it however, that's why I haven't weaved in the ends yet or showed you some pictures. Maybe I should just finish it and post it to see what you're thinking about it. I've got an idea for at least one or two more covers, and I want to give it a try soon.
More crochet I've got in mind: I'd like to design another wiggly crochet pattern; I've got a beautiful bottle at home that needs a nice cover; I've discovered some interesting stitch combination during the "Beyond the Square" Challenge and I've already got an idea how to use them; my mother gave me some pieces of her old kitchen wall decoration (potholders that look like dresses, but not like those you can find on ravelry), and I'd love to figure out the pattern; I might even try some piece of freeform crochet; and - I'd also like to start another blanket (so that would be the next "big" project). You see, I've already got a huge to-do-list, and February's only just begun! :)


3) The state of my New Year's Resolutions:

One of my Resolutions for this year was to be more active, do some sports and lose some weight. Well, it's going.... GREAT! :) I've joined the fitness-studio and I'm doing my work-out three times a week, it's lots of fun and I've already lost four pounds, yippie! :) That means, only twenty more pounds to go :( No, seriously: I think it's the first time that the main goal in my mind is NOT "lose pounds" but "be more active and live healthy" instead. With this shift of attitude, losing weight is just a wonderful side effect, and I'm not really worrying or obsessing about weight and food like I usually do when I'm on a diet. I only hope, that I can keep this motivation (i.e. to live an active, healthy life) until... well: forever! :)
Last sunday, John and I had our first dancing lesson: we've learned the basic steps for the Blues, the Slow Waltz and the Disco Fox. We'll be practising and improving these dances in the eight weeks to come and learn one new dance every week (which will also be practised and improved as long as the course lasts). I think it's a good concept, and we're enjoying our new Sunday afternoon hobby.
Another point on my list was "reading more books": Well, that's still tricky. I'm reading, yes, but mainly magazines and traveller's guides - have I told you already, that we've booked our flights to the United States? No? Well, that's more great news that lift my spirit in this cold time of the year: We'll be visiting John's family in Michigan again this summer, and while we're over there we also want to spend two weeks in California, cruising from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I'm sure I'll come back to this topic lots of times until the end of June :)

I think that's it for today. Maybe I'll do a little preview/review and "state of resolution"-thing every month now.

I hope you'll all have a great start into the new month, remember: every day will bring us a little bit closer to spring now :)

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