Crochet a Tank top

I love how this project turned out. It was relatively easy to make, though it looked like a complicated design. 

Pattern: Neox Tanktop, Pierrot Gosyo Co., Japan

Crochet Tank Top

 It came out a size small (32-34" bust)...which is just right for me. The color of the thread looks different in the photos as it actually looks closer to skin color. 

Crochet tanktop

Project details on Ravelry.

Flower Tawashi

I won't be buying any more commercial sponges for dishwashing, since they're all expensive and don't last long. Also, I've discovered that the rug yarn I have in my stash will make a good scrubber ;) When I bought it many years ago, I didn't really appreciate it, but just wanted to stock up on yarns. And with the high prices and unavailability of many imported goods nowadays, I wish I hoarded all the rug yarn I saw then!
Anyway, I still have these and I'm sure I can make plenty of tawashis :)



I am seeing a lot of cute designs, but I don't have any of those japanese pattern books on tawashi. There are some free ones online, and can easily be found on Ravelry. Still I wasn't content, so I came up with this flower design.
I like it so much, since its a quick project and very practical to use!
Pattern is now available here on Ravelry.

Japanese pattern Tote Bag - FO

Finished the tote bag! This was a WIP few days ago.
I failed to take photos while in progress...But it was a very easy and quick project.
Here are the materials I used: one ball of Cannon thread and 1 1/2 skein of Catania cotton yarn. I used size 6/0 (3.5mm) hook with one strand of Cannon and Catania held together throughout. But i used 7/0 (4mm) hook for the edging of the straps



It turned out smaller than the original, but its big enough to carry essentials plus a one-skein project, when you don't want to bring a big bag ;)


I still plan to line it, and also sew a cellphone pocket. I already attached a magnetic snap (thanks to Su), but I'm thinking of sewing a zipper instead, so I can toss the bag in the car, when I'm in a hurry.
(You may email me for the link to the pattern, though I've already linked to it on Ravelry)

WIP, Small Tote Bag

I'm trying to make this bag using Catania cotton and Cannon thread held together, crocheted with a size 6/0 (3.5mm) Tulip hook. I am loving the resulting fabric, it is similar in thickness compared to the 3-strands cotton thread sack bags that I made. A bigger hook would make the crocheting easier, but it looks so much better when the stitches are tight.

Japanese Crochet Patterns

Do you know there are plenty of japanese crochet patterns online? And they're free too...only if we could find it :p
Thanks to Ravelry, I found some free japanese patterns on a site someone posted about. I found her project on ravelry here. She has already made several projects from the japanese site. I like to try most of the crochet patterns there...some of it are just small projects, but there are a few crochet summer tops too.
Here's one project I just made, its the same mini basket, but this one turned out smaller (probably big enough for coins, buttons or beads). I used some of the Catania cotton I got from a swap with Pearlin, and a 5/0 (3mm) size Tulip hook.
If made with yarn and bigger hook, the basket would be good for holding jewelry or hair accessories.

Yoko Suzuki's Square

I was looking for some bedspread patterns from my books, and found this particular motif irresistible. You got to love the popcorn stitches in there, it takes too much time to make, but is worth the effort.
Since the pattern did not have a name, I just called it by the designer's name ;) Its supposed to measure 40cm square using size 3 thread. But I used size 8 thread and 1.5mm hook, so mine turned out to be 8 inches square, or just a teeny bit bigger than 20cm square. The pattern required 24 motifs. I estimate 90 motifs using size 10 or size 8 thread, to be able to make the same size of bedspread shown in the book:


I'm considering making a baby blanket instead, using the motif. But, like most of you, I do have long list of patterns to do... Maybe I should go look for a simpler motif ;)

UPDATE: I searched for the book online, and found one up for bid on ebay.
I don't know the seller though.

Crocheted Brimmed Hat, Japanese design

Here's the hat I made two weeks ago, modelled by my son. (I made two, but couldnt show it here until my sister got hers.) For the black one, I had some local acrylic yarns in my stash, I used 5mm hook, and it turned out quite big, but just right for my son. He didnt say he'd like to wear it though :p
Since I was looking for something to make for my sister's birthday, and I had some Carmencita yarns in a nice brown color, I made another one. This one was done with 4.5mm hook and it turned out to be just the right size. I mailed it to her in London on Mar. 27, and surprisingly it got there April 3, just a few days before her birthday :)


She spent her birthday and Easter vacation in Prague.
These are just some of the pics she sent me, and I played with it on Adobe Photoshop:


Btw, I'm not advertising the Carmencita yarns anymore, since they've already discontinued it. They said they got another supplier for yarns, and now they have Red Heart Yarns, which unfortunately is not the same as the Carmencita yarns that I like :(
As for the pattern for this hat, I got it from a Japanese book which I have a few more copies on sale. Details here ;) And here's a close-up of the hat.

Crochet ABC with flowers and more...

I got the design from this book.
Here are the other designs from that book:

Its so much fun to make, though it requires a little more effort, because of the small details. I'm thinking of framing it, or maybe sew it on a towel to give as gifts. I've also got some suggestions from the forum: use for scrapbooking, nursery room decor, teacher's gifts, birthday cards, or any personalized gift...

Now if you're still looking for some flowers to crochet, there are some new free patterns from Garnstudio. These are mostly knitted cardigans with crochet trim and crochet flower embellishment.Crocheted flowers on knitted cardigan
Crocheted brooch on knitted cardigan
Crocheted edging on knitted cardigan
Crocheted flower on knitted pullover
Afghan and Pillow in Karisma Superwash
Crocheted flower on girl's knitted cardigan
Crocheted flower on knitted cardigan in Alpaca