Baby Afghan - [learning to crochet left hand]

My lesson 2 [left hand]
Solid Square Baby Afghan; here is the link I followed. http://www.crochetgeek.com/2009/02/solid-square-baby-afghan.html

  

For my next lesson, I looked for something simple to start with and was excited when I found this project on the same website I learnt my basics. The instructions did say that it is suitable for a beginner. I still am not able to read the printed pattern well but after watching the demonstration video several times and ripping off and starting all over again many many times, I kind of figured out how it is worked. 

I counted each row to make sure the number of stitches it should have. There were moments I thought I was never going to understand how this worked, but I did not give up ! 

I also learnt how to change colours.....

... and how do reverse single crochet for the edging ....

.... and how make chain stitch flowers ...

they are not perfect yet

This was a good practice piece. [it measures roughly about 25x25 inches] Now that I have completed it, I wish I can show it to someone who is a crocheting expert. Nevertheless, I am happy with what I have achieved. 

... ... last but not least I managed to find Susan Bates guide book with left hand instructions. It has the basics and all the terminology etc. and some projects. I want to say thank you  www. crochetgeek.com  for her valuable videos and instructions.

I am already thinking about my next project ....................... !!!

Thank you for always stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,

Gaia

Tea Cozy -2

Once again these are created using material from my bag of remnants to be given away as gifts.

      

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,

Gaia

Learning to crochet [left handed]

Lesson 1
Since, I posted about my knitting journey, it inspired me to try and learn crocheting. So, I went out got a needle (4.5mm). I did not know exactly how to choose a needle, after browsing various sizes I chose something which I thought is of a medium size. And, as for yarn there is plenty of left-over from knitting projects for learning purposes.

This time via the internet;You Tube channel is my teacher. I searched videos for 'left handed crochet' and came up with several.
These two sites have good instructions for any beginner and special instructions for left handers.

http://www.crochetguru.com/

http://www.crochetgeek.com/

While watching the demonstrations I took down notes in a way I can understand, and after several failures manged to do the samples of each stitch. [not photographed well]

single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and treble crochet

all the stitches in one piece

I still need to practice a lot and also need to understand the terminology before trying to figure out a printed pattern. I hope some day soon I would be able to do so.

circle

Lesson one is almost done.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I have not crocheted anything exciting to show, I am posting some of the pretty things I found at  church garage sale near my house this past weekend.

ladies handkerchiefs....few of them got so dainty work and one of them still in the package marked 'made in switzerland'.

few balls of yarn ,couple of crochet needles ..and some beautifully done crochet lace [ reminds me of my grandmother's work]

fabric, a hand embroidered runner and a pretty picture.

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,
Gaia

DiGiTaL ArT - 9

Few more sketches using the IPAD application for art. 

Having tea in a paper cup;

Some tired shoes after lots of walking around;

The sketch below I did while taking the street car, unfortunately I could not add more details as my stop   came too soon. I am thinking of compiling a series of shoes on the go.

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,
Gaia

My attempts on left handed knitting

I grew up in a tropical climate; so knitting was not something I often saw, but crochet I have seen plenty. My grandmother knows how to crochet and so was an aunt of mine. I used to watch my grandmother making crochet lace to use as edging for blouses and slips, doilies, table cloth etc. I so wanted to learn; my grandmother tried teaching me the basic chain but I never got  the hang of it, me being left handed may have been the reason.

When I came to live here,one of the things I wanted, was to learn either to knit or crochet. It was fascinating for me to see ladies knitting/crocheting while taking bus/train. Since, no one was really able to teach me, and I did not come across any left handed knitters,[I used to sit and watch a  group of ladies who did knitting/crocheting in my building] it was suggested that I find instructions for left handed knitters.

So, I found Susan Bates guide book which has special instructions for left handed knitters and with help from those ladies I met, {a very BIG thank you them} I started...... Oh! how many times I had to rip and start all over again....knit, purl ..knit purl :)

This is the first project on the book [a vest] which I am keeping as a souvenir. I know it has mistakes such as missed loops and not even tension.

The red one is the first scarf I did, now almost 9 years old, also in my pile of souvenirs .

Here are few of the other scarves I did over the years. I have worn them quite a lot. I have done some for my friends and family too. But I never ventured into other projects as I found instructions little too complicated to read and I would become frustrated while trying to do so.  

Although, I have limited  my knitting to scarves, I still have crocheting in my  'todo' list :)

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,

Gaia

Recycled and....

turned into...

The pretty flower material is a dress I got from a sale, the tie dye fabric is a scarf with that I found at the thrift store.

  

... buttons are from a church rummage sale ....

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lastly few items that I found while browsing through thrift stores   :)

Lemon bowl was 0.99cents, love everything about it and lemon/lime will look pretty in that.

tea cup and the saucer was so danity that I could not resist, was $5

This vintage looking jacket was $8. It has a tag belonging to a french boutique [Rene Durhey], which I checked on the internet. While, I do not know about the authenticity, I do like the detail work and the colours.

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,
xxx,
Gaia

Balance

Inner and outer....

Inspired by my previous stitching of a similar pot I stitched this piece, using a different shape this time.  I used  fabric from my naturally dyed pile. And, as for the stitches, kantha stitch is what I had in mind.

Begins with a simple outline... same stitch repeats....

 

"Your hand opens and closes, and opens and closes.
If it were always a fist or always stretched open
you would be paralyzed.
Your deepest presence
is in every small contraction and expansion,
the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated
as bird wings.”

                                                                   ~ Rumi ~

Thank you for stopping by,

Until next time,

xxx,
Gaia