a creative being - all things crochet by winkieflash!

May 17, 2013
by wink
5 lovely comments

book review: crochet noro

For my birthday I got this book: Crochet Noro: 30 Dazzling Designs. It’s published by Sixth&Spring Books, New York, and it is ah-ma-zing!

The book doesn’t have any chapters; after a brief introduction about the origin of Noro yarns, the pattern section begins. And really, who needs those pesky pages before the pattern section anyway, right? The patterns feature 30 projects ranging from wristies to shawls, and from blankets to purses and bags. There is a great variety in patterns and that is one of the things that I love about this book.

Most patterns come with written instructions and diagrams, and they could not be more clear. All stitches are explained very well and at the beginning of each pattern, so there’s no need for you to search what any abbreviations mean. Each pattern comes with a skill indicator, ranging from Beginner to Easy, Intermediate and Experienced.

The photography for this book is truly exquisite and such a joy to gawk at. The art direction is very good, as is the styling, and you can see that the people who made this book had a lot of passion doing so. The book is hardcover and bound, and my copy stayed open on the table very easily, making it easy to have next to you when you work a pattern from it.

There is one project in it though that I just don’t understand. As you know, Noro yarns can be quite precious and not for everyone’s wallet size, so the Nesting Bowls project doesn’t make any sense to me. Who wants to keep their knick knacks in a Noro nesting bowl? No thank you, I’ll save that expensive yarn for something else!

Crochet Noro: 30 Dazzling Designs is the third Noro book out there, following two Knit Noro books. Nine designers were asked to provide patterns for this book, which gives it that eclectic mix of fantastic patterns that are almost timeless.

This book currently retails for $17,95 (on Amazon here) and I highly recommend it. Even if you only make half the projects in this book, the other half is wonderful to look at on a rainy afternoon, making it a perfect coffee table companion in my opinion :)

xo,
wink

ps This book was gifted to me by my mom, and I didn’t receive any financial compensation for this review. Opinions stated are my own and I fully stand by them.

May 15, 2013
by wink
6 lovely comments

these days

noro_project_rowan
noro_project_rowan2
kaffe-fasset-fabric
flute-love

This is pretty much what my days this week have looked like so far. I’m still working on my Noro shawl; it’s a pattern from this Crochet Noro book and I’m using Rowan Siena cotton yarn to make it. I was gifted this yarn for my birthday by my sister and it is just so lovely! It calls for a 3mm hook size, a size that I consider to be small, but still I love working with it. When this shawl is finished, it will be the perfect summer accessory. That is, if it ever becomes summer. I don’t know about the weather in your parts of the world, but around here it’s been nothing but cold and rain!

I got this crazy psychedelic Kaffe Fasset fabric! Staring at it is like taking acid (I imagine). But I love the vibrant colours and crazy patterns; it will be the perfect lining for a bag I’m about to make. I ordered 5 different skeins of Noro Silk Garden Lite to make it; when they’ve arrived I’ll showcase them here. I plan to make a simple bag with it using solid squares, and then embellish it with wonderful beads, lace ribbons and perhaps buttons… I’ve got lots of ideas for this bag. If only the yarn would get here; my fingers are itching to get started! When this bag is finished I may keep it for myself, or I may put it in my Etsy shop.

And then, there’s music. I have been bitten (yet again) by the flute virus. That happens every once in a while, and this time it’s for real. I’ve signed up for flute lessons and I start after the summer. I’ve also contacted a former flute orchestra I used to play in, and they were happy to invite me back! So come June, I’m playing there again, which I am super stoked about. Some of you know my flute history (I’ve blogged about it a little here) and know that it has always been a dream of me, to one day attend music school. I have no idea if that will happen this time around, but I am sure going to try my best. I just want to play music!

What are your plans for this week? Does the sun shine where you are? (and if it does, could you maybe send a little this way?)

xo,
wink

May 13, 2013
by wink
21 lovely comments

free printables!

Remember my goals for this year? One of those goals was to create free printables for you guys. I wanted to make a tag that you could keep with your ongoing projects (or WIPS) where you would write down what yarn you were using, what hook size, and other details about the projects.

Well, I made them! :)

You can print them on A4 sized paper, and cut them out. There are 10 tags on one page. I used colored card stock to print my tags, but you could also use regular printer paper. I punched out holes in the corner of each card, and voila! :) Cute huh?

The little crochet girl on the tags is a design that D made for me a while ago. I’ve always wanted to use it on my blog but I never really had room for her. But she is perfect for these tags, don’t you think?

This is how I use my tags; tie a string, piece of yarn or a ribbon to your tag and attach it to your project, WIP, or basket. This way you’ll always have all the vital information at the ready.

Tags include room for: the project name, yarn, hook size, made for, and notes, such as the start date, or where you got the yarn.

You can download the free PDF here.

Have fun! :)

xo,
wink

May 9, 2013
by wink
13 lovely comments

best birthday gift ever

In my previous birthday post I mentioned that D had given me the absolute best birthday gift. Ever. Curious as to what it is?

A little back story. Last Christmas (~~I gave you my heart…~~), this image was all over Pinterest:

The Winter Dream Ram Bust, from Anthropologie (unfortunately no longer available; it retailed for $495). I think I put a picture of it on my Facebook page, and one of my creative aunts (they’re all insanely creative) really liked it too, and made one for herself! I thought it was absolutely fabulous, and immediately hinted to her that I’d like one to magically appear on my birthday.

Fast forward a couple of months, and I asked D if he had a present for my birthday yet. He was very secretive about it, and the only thing I was able to pry loose from his clenched jaws was that he got me something handmade… Hmm, interesting! Of course, I had no idea what he had planned for me. There were a few moments right before my birthday when I wasn’t allowed in certain rooms, or to look in certain trunks of certain cars… It added a lot to the anticipation ;)

By now I’m sure you’ve guessed it; he got me a handmade ram bust!

I cannot express how much I love this ram. And did I mention it’s 100% handmade? It’s really big too! I love stroking it’s fur, it is so soft! And the horns are so well made; there’s very strong wire in there, so I can pose them any way I want to basically. And his snout is just so cute! I believe my aunt crocheted the whole thing, and then tied pieces of fur to the body. The snout is made of felt, and did you see those cute embellishments in his ears?

Oh yes D, you’ve scored points with this gift for sure ♥

xo,
wink

May 8, 2013
by wink
7 lovely comments

a day in the park

On Monday I wanted to relax, and unwind, and just be by myself, and have some peace and quiet. So I hopped on my bike and went to the woods, hoping to find a place to sit and crochet. I cycled around for about an hour until I gave up; there just weren’t any places to sit! It was however very nice and quiet there though.
A little bummed, I called a friend and asked her to come sit in the (also lovely, but much less quiet) park with me.

Lucky for me she brought something to sit on; the grass was still a bit damp. She also brought her crochet hook case (made by yours truly for her birthday a while ago) and her kids and husband, and it was real fun sitting in the sun for a while! We talked and ate and crocheted; it was very nice being outside for the day.

I tested a pattern for a friend of mine while I was in the park, using scraps of yarn.

I have a few small suggestions to make this pattern even better, but it’s amazing as is, don’t you think? I’ll give a shout here when the pattern is available; you will love it :)

Have a great week everyone!

xo,
wink