Snowflakes Tam

I'm in lurrrve...with my own hat!

A quick browse through some leftover yarn uncovered the last remaining scraps from the Revontuli Huivi. It was easy to pair up those scraps with a nice crisp white wool, and, after a speedy search, Ravelry provided the pattern. It was impossible for me to put the needles down for a couple of days, it seemed, and since it was finished last week I've worn it every day!

Pattern: Snowflakes Tam

Designer: Ari Whitlow

Source: Strings and Sealing Wax - pattern here

Needles: 2.25mm for brim, 3.25mm for the rest

Yarn Details:

• (coloured) Kauni Effektgarn 8/2
  
• 100% wool
  
• 100gr = 400m
• colour 'EQ'
• about 22gr used (plus snipping and chopping of bits and pieces)

• (white) Pirkanmaan Kotityö Ohut Pirkkalanka
• 100% wool
  
• 100gr = 400m
  
• colour...100? I can't find the band, sorry!
  
• about 21gr used

I don't think I ever would have been able to come up with those colours together if they hadn't already been together in the one ball of Kauni.

The instructions say to block the tam using a dinner plate, but ours must be small or something because I had to use the dish from the microwave in order to get a good size!

The Finnish Blankie

Hmmm, I'm starting to get a bit behind in my blogging, as I finished this blanket last month! This is also the time of the year that the needles and hooks begin to work on secret projects that must remain hidden until the day the fat man comes down the chimney. So, even though I've been busy, some things will have to wait a while before they're given their 'airing' on the blog.

Back on topic: back in March, I embarked on a project which would be declared finished when the yarn ran out. Turns out that I had so much yarn that my patience ran out before the yarn did!

108 granny squares was all that I could muster up before announcing the end of the square phase and the beginning of the joining phase, which was an ordeal in itself. At the end of the six-month on-again, off-again relationship, my lame tribute to the Finnish national colours was complete.

I use the word 'lame' because the colours aren't really exactly the same as the true Finnish flag colours. My blue is too 'greeny' and what should be white is actually cream-coloured. However, as a foreigner in this country I suppose I'm allowed a little leg-room!


Pattern: This is just a generic granny square pattern, but I did consult a granny tutorial found on Crochet Cabana. I worked out a good way of weaving in the ends as I went along, leaving just the final end of the square to be woven in, but those 108 ends were still enough!
Finished measurements: 150cm x 110cm
Hook: 5mm addi aluminium
Yarn Details:

• Steinbach Wolle 'Export'
• 80% acrylic, 20% wool
• 50gr = 150m
• colour #73 (blue) and #009 (cream)
• approximately 750gr used, but that's very approximate (and don't ask me the blue to white ratio, either!)

I joined the squares by placing the right sides together and working a single crochet through the back of the loops. I like the straight line this produces on the right side, even if it does leave a little bump on the wrong side. The border was also done with single crochet through the back loop.

I used to crochet a lot more than I do now, but I still really enjoy it. The next few crochet projects I have in mind are smaller, though. :-)

Serena Gloves

Watch out readers! More alpaca on the way!

What is it with me and this yarn? At last count, I've made 14 different projects with it and there's still pleeeenty left over in the stash! I actually finished this latest alpaca project a while ago but hadn't quite come to the point of posting about them. I think I was waiting until some better pictures of them came along, but it looks like I've given up hoping for those, so we'll just have to make to with the ones I took a few weeks ago.

Pattern: Serena
Designer: Lois Daykin
Source: Rowan 38
Needles: 2.5mm and 2.75mm bamboo double-pointed needles
Yarn Details:

• Garnstudio Drops Alpaca
• 100% alpaca
• 50gr = 180m
• colour #4434
• 80 grams used

The pattern is written for making the gloves flat, not in the round. Who wants to seam up all of those fingers?!?! Not me! I did it all in the round and saved myself a lot of hassle. I think the little ties add so much to these otherwise plain gloves. Oh, and can I talk about the colour please? I just love the depth to it - when you look really closely, you can see all sorts of colours blended together. Lurrve.

I'd like to be a bit silly for a moment, if I may, and announce here that I am currently making a 'Jussi' vest for my husband for his birthday next month. Oi! Husband! Did you read that? You're getting a handmade vest for your birthday!

Don't worry, folks, the surprise hasn't been blown. He never reads my blog. Always the last to know. ;-)