Amma and Petalline Dress - so worked up on both :D

So worked up over these two...

Don't you just hate it when you're so anxious to finish a project that you fell in love with because the design is so awesome, and bit the bullet to buy the pattern,only to find out that while you're in the middle of crocheting the dress, the pattern has somehow have quite a few errors?

For one thing, there are missing special stitches instructions.. good thing I can read charts so whenever I don't understand the written instructions I can always go and check the diagram/charts that goes with the pattern.
But what about those who can't read charts?

And as I was connecting the motifs, I saw a small center motif [that's what its called in the charts/diagram] but there was no indication on the written instructions of making a small center motif, as well as how to add the motif it's just so confusing. Of course I informed the designer, thrice actually, the first attempt was successful, she replied immediately thanking me of the finds I have and told me that she will update the pattern as soon as possible and that was almost 2weeks ago.

On my third attempt [yesterday], I asked her if she can update the pattern, and include the instructions on the center motif as I am having trouble doing the edging of the skirt and
wanted to finish it before June comes, so let's see if can send a reply soon.

Anywho, as I was waiting for the update of the pattern, I whipped up an easy mindless crochet top by Mariavalles , such an easy breezy!
Just follow her instructions and you can't wrong on this one.

Eldest daughter saw this and now asking me to make her one in white. I was actually planning on making one for myself after this but since my eldest is now requesting one will just have to postpone my own top [am planning to use a variegated yarn with thread size 10] for awhile

Amma for my sweetie

Pattern source: Amma Granny Square Top - by Maria Valles
Materials: Cannon Thread size 8 [photo]
Hook size: 3.5mm
Date started: 20.04.2016
Date finished: 28.04.2016

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A Summer Hat, A Granny Square Baby Dress, A Test Crochet Shawl & Sweet Vanilla Fudge Poncho - Super Busy

Not trying to be a super crafter, (ala super girl) here, but got tempted and attempt to do 3 projects for the month of March, and I'm so glad I was able to finish all three just in time for my April 5 poncho project which I got to finish in just 6days! Hooray!

The first project I did was the summer hat, this is from a japanese magazine I found on the internet(Beautiful Crochet Spring/Summer 23 美しいかぎ針編 春夏23).

I had a great time doing the hat, it's a little bit big for Ayelle right now, but I think it will be a perfect fit once we got to Manila this summer.

Summer Hat

Pattern Source: Beautiful Crochet Spring/Summer 23 美しいかぎ針編 春夏23
Materials Used: DMC Petra Crochet Cotton Size 3 [photo ]
Hook Size: 3.50mm
Project started: 12.03.2016
Project finished: 14.03.2016

The next project well, this one is such a charmer. It took me a lot of courage to make this and have kept my fingers crossed while I crochet away, hoping I could make this fit for my 1yr old angel.

But of course knowing me, my first attempt was unsuccessful, the skirt part was a bit tight in the rear area and instead of it looking like an A-line, it was a straight one, so I ripped the whole thing and redo the skirt, this time I used a larger hook didn't add any stitches, somehow it dawned on me that I can do an alternative way, but will try to do what I think is much better idea on my next dress project.

I found the pattern on the net [don't you just love the internet!], but forgot to save the link, so I guess I can just put it here? Or if you're interested drop me a message and will send it to you privately. I believe this is actually adapted from an original Japanese pattern - Let's Knit Series - European Handknitting 2013 spring/summer (ヨーロッパの手あみ 2013春夏).

Granny Square Dress

Pattern source: adapted from Let's Knit Series - European Handknitting 2013 spring/summer (ヨーロッパの手あみ 2013春夏) found on page 52

Materials used: DMC Tradition Size 10 - Pink & Ecru [photo] [photo]

Hook size: 2.00mm & 2.25mm

Project started: 20.03.2016

Project finished: 03.04.2016

Item size: for one year old

And as if my life is not that busy, I took a test crochet shawl project deadline first week of April! Surprisingly the pattern is very easy, a mindless crochet work but rewarding after blocking -

seeing how it enfolds before your eyes while blocking is really something - no regrets taking this task! I'm so happy I did this one.

The project is by Katya Novikova and this shawl is called Black Sea and I called my shawl Pacific.

Pacific

Pattern source: Black Sea

Materials: JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 [photo]

Hook size: 3.5mm (E)

Project started: 21.03.2016

Project finished: 30.03.2016

Finally the latest one is a pattern from garnstudio - DROPS, this one is called Sweet Martine, but I named it Sweet Vanilla Fudge.

Immediately, I was swoon over the first time I laid my eyes on this baby. Ever since then,I have been dreaming of making this one, but not sure if I will make it for myself or if it will be presented as a gift, and knowing myself, I eventually decided to make it as a gift for my sister-in-law, I mentioned in my previous post that I will make a handmade gift for my sis-in-law every time I visit Manila, as a thank you gesture for taking care of the family.

And so here is the poncho and because this was well accepted in my crochet group, I am planning on making one for myself hopefully soon...

Sweet Vanilla Fudge

Pattern source: Sweet Martine

Materials: King Cole Cottonsoft Fudge - [photo] & Vanilla - [photo]

Hook size: 4.00mm (G)

Project started: 05.04.2016

Project finished: 11.04.2016

Item size: S/M & L/XL

And now that they are all presented to you I am now planning my next project.. another summer dress, and hopefully I will be able to post photos after I finished the dress... but what if I post photos of the

dress as I go along? Hmmm... another matter to consider...

And oh did I mentioned that after I post the photos of the poncho on my FB, my youngest sister has asked me to make her the same with the exact color?!, well how can I say no? Good thing there is still more time to

order the yarn and make it...

... am now looking forward to making my next post...

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Unsure

Latest project before February ends... a shawl motif, join as go method, an easy project to make, but took me at least two weeks to finish, actually it's been like that [took longer than it should] since I had my 3rd child (not complaining though)
I just wish I would be much more faster as I have so many stuff that needed my attention.

One is my cross-stitching, remember the pattern with horses.. geesh it's been what almost 9 years ago since I started it, and I still haven't finished half of the pattern.

I want to start a tradition on my part that every time I visit Manila I will give something handmade to my SIL to show how much we appreciated her for taking care of us, always there to support the family.

Going back to the shawl motif that I just finished.. this is supposedly intended for her. Overall the shawl is pretty and such an easy breezy to make.. but am not happy of the finished looked,
I don't know what irks me, but am not ecstatic, I feel like she will not like it nor will use it.

Anywho here is the motif shawl.

Floral Bubbles

Pattern Source: Floral Bubbles  - Elena Fedotova
Materials used: DMC Petra Crochet Cotton 5 [photo]
Hook size: 2.25mm
Project started: 14.02.2016
Project finished: 29.02.2016
Item size: free size

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my own pattern

I just finished the sock I made for my dd, just in time for her girl scout camping...
she can use this when she sleeps in the camp as the weather might get colder at night though the weather lately has been pleasant, not too cold...

I made this using Magic Loop Method and knitted two at a time. The stitch I used is from Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book.

Thinking if I should make a pattern for this one, will see :)

FULL OF HOPE

Pattern Source: Full of Hope  - Jinky Flaviano
Materials used: Scheepjes Invicta Extra [photo]
Needle size: 2.50mm
Project started: 11.02.2016
Project finished: 24.02.2016
Item size: women medium

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Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder.... I MISS BLOGGING!!!

Talked about taking time off in blogging. It's been what more than a year since my last post? And this year my family will celebrate my youngest dd's 1st birthday!

I just couldn't believe that it has been more than a year already. I am still in awe as to how my baby grows so fast just right before my eyes.

Sometimes I got to wondering where the heck did the time go? I can still vividly remember how it was when I was in the delivery room, try to bring Ayelle out to the world via ND, but after 14 hours of labor, my OB decided that I have to under go C-section, and still like it was just yesterday when we got home from the hospital...so tiny and fragile.. now, she can almost stand on her own two feet, with 2 lower front baby teeth showing & one at the top barely peeping. TIME FLIES...

Not to mention that this year my eldest is now in college... feeling so old every time I think about it. I now have a Kolehiyala.

But of course it doesn't mean I didn't get to crochet or knit while I wasn't blogging from 2014 to date, on the contrary, I was able to manage to crochet my youngest DD her baptismal gown, few sweaters, two test knit shawls which I adore so much, another shawl blanket, shrugs for my two older kids, hats, socks for hubby and now I'm doing a motif shawl as a gift to my sister-in-law.

I hope this will be the kick off I've been hoping for in resuming my project blogging again.

So currently I'm doing this pretty motif shawl called Floral Bubbles by Elena Fedotova

and hoping to finish it by end of February.

I'm also eyeing on doing this project for this year called Cusp by Olga Buraya-Kefelian,
will probably start to order yarn after we got back from vacation.
Keeping my fingers crossed I will have a sweater by end of this year.

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16 weeks and counting + blanket! ~ C U R L I C U E . B L A N K E T

Now on my 16th week, and am so excited to feel the baby kicks. :) He's been keeping his presence felt more often now. And I also finished the Curlicue Blanket, my youngest daughter is so in-love with the blanket that she is asking if she can use it first, so I let her have it for several nights. Now my eldest is asking if she can have a similar one once she go to Manila to continue her study.

I only got confused in the beginning when doing the Section 2, but when I got informed on how to go about it, everything is just a breezy knitting.  I only got sidetracked now and then due to I'm still on my first trimester when I was knitting this, and you can just imagine knitting a few rows and suddenly you just wanted to go to sleep and do nothing.

At first I planned to use up all the assorted yarn but I decided I want the star in the middle to at least pop (such an effort as my yarns are all.. anyway)...so I thought I'll just reuse those 8 yarns and see how it goes.

My two DD love it so I guess it works :) To know more of the details of the pattern read on.

Curlicue Blanket

Pattern Source:  Curlicue Blanket by  Annie Dempsey
Materials Used:  Assorted StyleCraft Special DK [photo]
Needle:  4.00mm
Start date:  24. 08 .2014
Finished date: 27. 10 .2014

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Baby News

Exactly one year from my last post. Hmmm. So what has been happening? First am now in my 11 weeks of pregnancy! Yay! this will be my fourth, the first one was unsuccessful :( and after 11 years from my last pregnancy. I couldn't actually believe that I am still able to conceive since I'm in my early 40s, (39 to be exact) and didn't really had plans on having another child. But hubby has already set his mind long before I even realize that I can still get pregnant.

So before you continue, be warned that I would probably be talking more about my pregnancy and less on my knitting/crochet stuff. If you're not into that kind of thing, try to come back next month to see my Curlicue Blanket.

Compared to my previous pregnancies, this one is so different, am sleeping more - ( as in sleeping my day away) - the whole time, and finding food not to my liking. I have more food aversions than food cravings. I feel like all the foods presented to me are tasteless or bland. Hubby would even have to wake me up just to remind me that I have to eat. I only have few cravings such as laing, chicken macaroni salad and spaghetti from Sbarro. I didn't experience morning sickness or nausea, although fatigue sets in the middle of the afternoon almost every day.. He's such a darling, he takes care of me more compared to when I was pregnant with my two girls (they are now 16 & 11).


And I just love the care and love I got from the people around me, maybe they were as surprised as I am when I learned I was pregnant and that they're happy for me .

Here is the baby's first photo taken when I'm in my 8th weeks.

As for my knitting, I'm currently doing the Curlicue Blanket by Annie Dempsey. Using the Stylecraft Special DK Colour Pack. I purchased the yarn when it was put on sale, I think two years ago; and haven't got the chance to make something out it. But now, I have the perfect project for the yarns. I am now on the 8th part of the blanket and still have 7 more to get it done. I'm so slow in my knitting lately, as I always fall asleep in the middle of my knitting, good thing am I'm not doing lace projects.

Once I know the gender of my baby will knit something nice like cardis, soakers, booties, beanies or pixie hat. Also on my knitting to-do list, I want to knit a shawl as the baby's receiving blanket and a christening set. Keeping my fingers crossed.

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