divinenanny.nl

As everybody knows, Apple came out with the iPad recently. Well, they came out with it in a lot of countries, but not in The Netherlands yet… I am waiting (not so) patiently for it, because I really need (want) one.
Luckily, a new device means a search for new covers/sleeves/cases etc. I love looking for accessories, so I have started my search bright and early. I have (sort of) settled on using a leather folio case (the Griffin Elan Passport), probably with a hard case for the back and screen protection on the front. I picked up the Elan Passport already because I foresee a shortage of cases when the iPad finally is released here.
Of course, this also opens up all new craft possibilities. When I was in Berlin for work recently I visited the wonderful Idee craft shop (next to the KaDeWe, its huge!) and picked up some Aran weight coton in three colors. I found the Munro bag pattern on Ravelry. I had originally intended to make a Munro style handbag, but I “needed” a sleeve more. So, I decided to make a sleeve for the iPad in its case (for padding and extra protection).
I used the Munro pattern with 5 curves (this means 61 starting stitches). I did every color for two rows, repeating the orange every other row, one long piece of fabric. I used a 4.5 hook for the main part. The yarn was Rico Design Creative Cotton, in the colors 07 (dark red), 78 (orange) and 71 (light orange/pink). For the edge I used the orange thread and a 3.5 hook, single crochets. I used two balls of orange, and one of the red and light orange. The button holes are made by leaving out the two 2DC on one row.
With the thread I had left over I decided to make a matching iPod Nano 5G cozy. This one also fits the device in its case, in this case a crystal plastic wrap case. I scaled the pattern down to one row per color, and DC, 2DC, 2DC, DC, DC2tog, DC2tog, repeated three times.

Link to the iPad sleeve on Ravelry
Link to the iPod cozy on Ravelry

After the success of Shiba the dog, I wanted to make another Ami. I had some more time on my hands this week (Dutch national holidays and some time off), so I chose to make the famous Amineko cat. The pattern was a delight to read and make, and I love the sweet floppy cat. If (When) I make this one again I would choose a bigger needle and softer thread to make it even more floppy.
I made this with Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania (0174/Blue and 0105/White, and 0192/Dark red for the nose and 0110/Black for the eyes), with a size 3 hook.

After a long absence from making amigurumis, I started again this past weekend. I wanted to make one from my book “Mini Hondjes” (a translation from Japanese of Ami Ami Dogs). I picked the Shiba, not only because I liked the look, this ami also had full instructions (for all others, based on the Shiba, full Japanese style patterns are included). In the end, I managed, but not without some frustration. All parts, except for the head, are not worked in a spiral but circular with joins. With joins I always lose count, and so I could not manage with the nose. I worked that one in a spiral, because it was all just so confusing…. The legs were incredibly fiddly (they are just five SC around) and took some frogging to get right. I don’t know why, but the body is a bit twisted, but that just makes it look like the head is turned.
I used 6 mm safety eyes and sowed on the nose. I used Schachenmayr Nomotta Catania (0105/Off-white, 0179/Light brown and 0110/Black) and a 2.5

Ever since I saw Hoooked Zpagetti in the stores here, I had to try it. Zpagetti is thread made from textile waste, think t-shirt fabric strips. On the website a lot of free patterns for bags can be found, but it is really easy to improvise. After a new shipment of Hoooked came into my LYS, I picked two colors and got to work.
I used a size 15 crochet hook. The main body of the bag is all single crochet, with a different color (of different thickness because it is not printed) for the flap. The sides are one piece with the sling. On the sides it is all single crochet, with one row of triple, double, half double and single crochet to create some bulk. The sling was way too long. I can’t estimate how long a row of loops will turn out to be, and the fabric is pretty stretchy. So I doubled up on top and created a sort of shoulder pad.
I picked out some special wooden buttons and used a braid and some left over Zpagetti to create the closure. Inside I threaded one piece of fabric through some loops to create loops to hold my crochet needles.
I am really happy with this bag, which I will use as a project bag when we go visit the parents in the weekends. The fabric works really well, though you have to keep in mind the difference in thickness between different patterns/colors. With a big needle and some left over fabric it is easy to create loops and stitch everything together.

Ever since I started to crochet I have wanted to make stuff I could use. With regards to clothes, there are not many patterns to clothes I would wear. But bags and accessories… that should work.
The first thing I thought of were cozies for my gadgets. I wanted one for my little netbook first. I started out with a chain and just single crochets. Not only did this take forever, I couldn’t get the size right either. Early on I had decided to crochet a cozy, but use the original neoprene sleeve as a lining, so I would still have padding and a zipper. Slowly this whole idea, together with the fiasco of the single crochet cozy, evolved in just decorating the sleeve.
When I went to London for work and some serious book shopping recently, I picked up the wonderful book Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman. This book has patterns for small crochet works in all shapes and sizes. So, now I am making various

Together with my mom and the girlfriend of my brother I went to the Handwerkbeurs in Zwolle. This fair had knitting, crochet, cross stitch and quilting (mainly). We went on a Saturday, so it was pretty busy, but it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately they did not have much for crochet. I was looking for a double ended crochet hook (for Tunisian Crochet in the round) but could not find one smaller than a size 8. I did find/pick up:

• The pattern to Cirque des Cercles by Ink Circles
• The pattern to the Animal Garden Box by Beardie Designs
• A set of interchangeable circular knitting needles, the Symfonie Wood Interchangeable Needle Deluxe Set. Although I am not knitting yet, I do want to. I have decided to teach myself continental or German knitting, because this is supposed to be easier on your hands and wrists, which should be better for me.
• The kit to the bag hanger pictured above. So cute! The kit contained the pattern, button, thread, ribbons and keychain. It was made within one afternoon, and now proudly hangs on my bag.
• Lot’s of ideas and cards for more stores, more projects.

The fair was a lot of fun, though a bit busy. Also, there were so many quilting stands, and quilting is really something I don’t see myself ever doing. There is another fair in October in Rotterdam, and I will be sure to go again then!

Because H. felt sorry for me (because I have to suffer through several dentist treatments) he gave me a new bead today. It is the “Snails in Love”. He chose this one because we love to be lazy in the weekend and just sleep in and watch TV in bed until it’s time for lunch ;).

I still maintain that I am not addicted. But one of my colleagues took me to the jewelers she buys her Trollbeads at, and they had such a big selection….

New beads are: The first glass bead is the Double Flower (dark purple), a retired bead. The second is the Forget-Me-Not bead. The last new one is the last one on the chain, the beads that came with the I Love Trollbeads book in The Netherlands, the tulip.

I got the Forget-Me-Not bead in memory of my father, the others just for fun.

Not at all. I just got two new Trollbeads, one as a gift, and one I bought myself. But it was limited, so I couldn’t wait. The China (blue glass bead) was a gift) and the Peacock Pearl I got myself.

This is my new bracelet, a Trollbeads bracelet. Trollbeads are bead-charms that slide on a silver bracelet and are available in silver, gold (and a combination) and glass/precious stones. There are over 400 different beads to choose from, not even including all the retired beads. Oh, and the clasp is interchangeable too.

A different brand of bead-charms is Pandora. Both my SIL and my aunt (in law) have Pandora bracelets, but compared to Pandora beads, I like the Trollbeads better. They are more based in classical design and mythology and have a more designer look to them.

Last week H. and I were together for 5 years, and he wanted to give me a Trollbeads bracelet (totally his idea, I swear!). So, last Saturday we went to the jewelers in Hoorn and spent some time picking out a bracelet with perfect beads. We had of course already looked online to see which beads we both liked.

In the end he gave me an 18cm bracelet with a forget-me-not clasp. The beads we chose were the hedgehog (called porcupine in the US?) because H. always has a prickly beard, the Antique Flowers (new style) for our five years and the skein of wool because I love crafts (see my blog ;)).

H. and I have had a lot of fun looking through the catalog, picking out beads that symbolize just about anything :D