Grace Akhrem

Crochet Hankie

I’ve been in a purging mood lately.  I’m just trying to clear out all the clutter.  About a year and a half ago Rory and I moved in together and in my laziness of unpacking my stuff I ended up with a chest full of homeless random objects.  The other day I dumped everything out and decided to keep almost everything.  But I cam across this little cotton hankie… not sure where it came from, or if it’s mine… or his… but it looks new and unused.  So it’s mine now! Haha!  I’m sure its mine… don’t remember it though.

I thought, what the heck am I going to do with this hankie?! Ah! Craft project!!! I recalled this little project from the Purl Bee and thought… “Hmmmm, that might work.” But I decided to take it to the next level.  Believe it or not, years ago, my first real crochet project was to crochet around some photographs I took.  I thought I could combine this Purl Bee project and this photography project and crochet around this lonely hankie.

So first I steamed the heck out of it… since I don’t own an iron.  Then I poked a bunch of strategically placed holes into the edge of my hankie using the pointy end of a seam ripper.

     

Then I browsed some crochet books I have in my “library.” I found an edging in the book Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman.  I used DMC Pearl Cotton 5 (you can get that from Joanns) and crocheted away! Of course I made a few modifications (you know how I like to follow directions).  They changes I made were: I didn’t make the peaks as tall as the book and I didn’t do the second round of peaks.  It didn’t take very long… just a couple hours of TV.   But in the end this is what I have to show!  Vuala!!!!

     

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Grace Akhrem

Top Ten Quick Holiday Knits!

Every year we scramble through November and December to try and knit those last few gifts for our dear loved ones.  Well this year I though I would suggest a few patterns that will make your scrambling a little easier! There are my top 10 favorite quick knits!

These three patterns are my all time favorite hats to make and wear!

Robin Hood, Maid Marian and Olana Slouch!

     

Here are three necky projects. Also some of my favorites!

Seaweed Scarf, Cappa Italia, & Reversible Tangled Branches Cowl.

     

Then we have Veronica’s Fingerless Mitts, Bobble Bee and Victoria.

     

And of course let us not forget the freebie in the bunch, The Beekeeper’s Cowl!

Grace Akhrem

Yarn Bombing LA – Call for Entries!

Lets help raise crochet awareness!!! The Yarn Bombing Los Angeles group has been invited to bomb the entire facade of the Craft and Folk Art Museum on the historic Miracle Mile.  This is such a big deal!  Wilshire Boulevard is a major street and thousands of locals and tourists visit the street every day for work, appointments, museums, food trucks and more! How could you not want to be a part of this?!

Don’t worry there is plenty of time to crochet a square and learn to crochet a square- the finished squares aren’t due until March 1, 2013.  So don’t stress yourself out, knit those holiday gifts and take your time.  All the squares must be 5″ x 5″ in the following colors: bright orange, white, bright green or cyan.  Here is the page with all the details.  You can also visit their Facebook page.

 

I have already gotten started on my squares… so far I have only crocheted one :).  If you forgot how to crochet a granny square, there is a fabulous tutorial on the Purl Bee blog for a basic and traditional square (my favorite).  You don’t have to get fancy, just pump em’ out- they need thousands.  They don’t have to be perfect, so this is a great opportunity for you to practice crochet and granny squares.  Here is a photo of my single crocheted square, it’s an experiment, but I did use an awesome yarn, Sincere Sheep Equity Sport! (In a singing voice) Looooooove iiiittt!!!

I hope each and every one of you can find the time to do at least one square! Major brownie points if you do 🙂 Happy crocheting!! Oh and make sure you shoot the LA Yarn Bombers an email if you are going to send in any squares… they would like to know and give you the  credit!

Grace Akhrem

Mother’s Day Sale!!!

Mother’s Day Sale!!! Now through Sunday, May 13th save 15% off of 15 patterns (listed below) on Ravelry! Make sure you use the coupon code: knit4mom

Sale patterns include: Belle Gloves, Bobble Bee, Danielle, Elizabeth Sea Creature, Eyelet & Twigs Hat, Gig Gloves, Grace Headband, Lace Spa Bag, Lacelets, Loopy Leaves, Seaweed Scarf, Slouchy Teanie, Tangled Branches, Veronica’s Fingerless Mitts & Victoria.  Enjoy!!!

Grace Akhrem

Granny Square Update

I just wanted to update you like I promised.  I have been working on these granny squares like its going out of style.  I have over 130 done now and have added a few new yarns…. you knew it was coming.  Remember, last time I posted I mentioned that I had Koigu on the brain?   Well sure enough the very next day I went and got myself some Koigu.

 

 

I have also added a few other yarns, such as:  Sincere Sheep Keen (100% BFL sock yarn- LOVE IT!), three colors of Twisted Sisters Petite Voodoo (a gorgeous silk and merino blend), Madeilinetosh Tosh Merino Light, Elizabeth Lavold Silky Wool, some more colors of Louet Gems Sport (leftover from my Sweetheart Cardigan), Wollmeise (leftover from yet another Olga’s Vest) and some unknown white sport weight wool.

So now it seems as though I have expanded my color palate into shades eggplant purple (or aubergine if you’re feeling fancy).  At first I wasn’t sure about the purple- more so because I wasn’t sure how I felt about having a blanket (for the home) knit in a gender specific color… like purple.  But even Rory thought that the eggplants were a a nice addition.  We decided together (with the opinions of some others) that the additional colors brought the color palate to another level.

 

 

A few weeks while ago my sister was over and started playing with all the squares.  She arranged them (after a couple of glasses of wine) and then said to me “okay, now this is good, sew them like that.”  Yeah!  Okay… I’ll remember it exactly. Then every time I see my pile of squares I think to my self that I really want to start seaming them together.  The only thing stopping me is, “What if I want to add another shade of grey or brown?!  Then it will be too late!”  We can’t have that.  I need my freedom of color choice!

 

 

Then I look at my squares (which I LOVE), but think… “Does this really count towards my goal for 2012?”  I can’t decide if I want it to count… maybe I just need to start a knit blanket!  But then I think that it might be a good idea to add knitting to the crochet.  “Why not?  I’ve done it before (in the 1920s Style Cloche).”  We shall see what I end up doing… you never know.  I never know!

So for now I will keep on trekking along with my little squares… I still have to make about 734 (no joke!) or something like that.  I think that number is right…. but it’s likely that my math is wrong… it’s happened before.  Like that one time I failed math in 10th grade (that was not a fun summer).  Ugh!  I hated summer school.  Anyway, I digress… keep reading to stay posted on my progress.

 

 

And don’t forget-  If you are going to Stitches South, make sure to stop at booth #516 – In the Making will have both my Janna’s Tunic & Olga’s Vest on display.  Happy knitting!

« Previous Page
Next Page »