This is my 3rd!

I keep coming back to this same pattern.
I just love this doily, and this is my third! I'm really liking these colors. :)

Violet Doily

"Small and Large Violet Doily"
Free Pattern
Thread: Aunt Lydia's Class Crochet (Size 10)
Modification: I skipped the last round.
I should have done better on blocking, but look how many little violets there are on this doily! I was lazyyy... and I made one big mistake. :D

I have more flowery doilies I plan to crochet. Right now, I'm all into thread crochet, flowers, and colors! :)

Can't wait for spring!

It hits again. - Around this time every year, I start planting seeds in pots. This time, I decided on snow pea and cat grass for Tobi to eat. They are growing fine, and cat grass is already being invaded by him! :D Later this year, I'll plant spray millet outside for him too. :)

I envy people with green thumb since I never succeeded on growing beautiful flowering plants/keeping them alive. X( I want to try some flower bulbs instead of seeds, but it has to wait until it gets warmer outside. For right now, I can at least do this! :)

"Tulip Doily"
Free download for members of HassDesign
13.5" in diameter with #10 thread
Tulips... how I love them. :) On its diagram, the last row of the flowers shows 1-ch spaces instead of picots shown in the photo on the pattern so I did 3-chain picots.

Off to find another pretty flowerly pattern! :D

Apple Doily

I know this is belated, but HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!!! :)

Again, I was hit by an urge to crochet a doily, and I found this free pattern on Ravelry. :D
*click photo to enlarge*

"Apple for the Teacher Doily"
designed by Denise Augostine
This doily can be worked up in just a few hours, and I'm sure it would make a nice gift for teachers. This year, I'm my son's teacher so this doily is for myself. Ha!

I also recently found many beautiful doilies some skilled crocheters made on Flickr, and I was off to my local craft store right away to buy some thread in pretty colors. :) Now I'm on the hunt for beautiful variegated thread!

I feel the joy of crochet the most from using #10 thread and little hooks. How about you? :) More doilies to follow... I think. :D

Long Awaited (hopefully :D) Post

Ugh... Where did the time go??? Hope I'm not forgotten by my fellow stitchers! :D
My life has been the same...just work, family, friends, and crochet & knitting, except there were some unexpeted events. Oh, and I hit yosoji, and it feels like the time is flying by really FAST!

Today I have a couple of projects to post (Stay tuned)! It's been sitting here way too long!

*Click to Enlarge*

"Extravagant" designed by Mary Werst
Leasure Arts "Extra Special Doilies"

How I love the texture with the raised stitches. :) I must crochet some more doilies from this booklet!

.......

Can this be an excuse for not having posted much? :P


"Yay, keyboard!!!"


"huh?"


"What?"

Don't let him trick you! :D

A doily

I finished a doily!!! :)


* Click for a larger view *
The pattern is from a Japanese book one of my crafty Japanese friends sent to me from Japan more than a year ago. I made a couple of mistakes, but I don't know where they are now. :D I really just can't see the stitches well anymore when I crochet with thread... :(
I still LOVE thread crochet though because really, crochet stitches are whole lot prettier when done with thread.

I feel like crocheting/knitting, but I just don't know what to make next... I recently bought a bunch of sport weight acrylic yarn without a plan, and they are still in a box sitting in the living room. I still don't know what to do with them...

*****
I really need to lose about 30 lbs (I am now back to my pregnancy weight without being pregnant!) and strengthen my muscle so I started walking last week. I also watch what I eat, but I've been having a hard time staying happy. :(
I feel so tired for the rest of the day after walking approx. 2.5 miles in the morning, and I get angry for not being able to eat like I want. :D
Yesterday, Hubby went and bought a dozen of donuts, and that made me so mad that I haven't talked to him since. :D It's just not fair he can eat whatever he wants and he never gains weight!!! :(

To those who sit and work for hours everyday, but manage to stay fit - PLEASE share with me your secret. ;D I'm serious! Just email me, ok? :D

Doing fine and still crocheting

Hi, all :)
I still crochet, and here is a proof. :D


Design and pattern by Kyoko Kobayashi
Pattern source: "Lace Ami Karei na Doily - Crochet Lace"
Publisher: Ondori-sha

I used #20 thread and size 1.5mm hook for this doily.

I don't work with thread as much as I used to anymore since my vision has gotten worse and my eyes are so dry, but that'll never stop me from crocheting. :D

*****
Actually, I have crocheted like a mad woman. :D
And really, I think I'm obsessed with this craft. LOL
I did some sample making, and you can see one of the things I crocheted here.
I was so excited to see it on a model! :)

*****
I'd like to thank all of you who sent me concern E-mails, cards, wonderful crochet gifts while I was away from posting on this blog.
Your kindness and generosity are so encouraging. I really can't thank you enough! *hugs*

Oh, and for some of you who asked if I am going to close this blog... The answer is no. :D
I promise, I'll post as soon as I have something I can share. :)

FOs!

First of all, THANK YOU so much for your prayers and well wishes!
I was sad and so worried for about 2 weeks after Katrina passed, but I'm fine now. Things are back to normal around here, and I am so glad.

It's been almost 2 months since the last post with my own crochet items.
Finally, I managed to finish a doily! :)


"Tulip"
Design and pattern by Kyoko Kobayashi
Pattern source: "Lace Ami Karei na Doily - Crochet Lace"
Publisher: Ondori-sha
Do you see tulips? I think they are lovely. :)
I used #30 thread for this doily.
I love Ms. Kyoko Kobayashi's doilies so much that I am planning to make some more.

...And I finished another one which is not Ms. Kobayashi's design, but it is one of my favorite patterns available online!


"Pineapple Doily"
from Coats & Clark website
I have been super busy, and I couldn't find much time for my favorite hobby since we moved at the end of July. New life in the new environment, new friends, new job, Katrina, and taking care of my 4 year-old have pretty much occupied my time.
Last two months just flew by.
This month is going to be busy as well because my son's fifth birthday is coming, and I have to sew his Halloween costume, but I do want to make some time to go to local craft stores to see the new yarn and patterns. :) I miss doing that.

Hope everyone is doing fine! I've got my first flu in this season already. :(

Swap doilies sent!

My Crochetville Doily Swap partner, Mary, has received the doilies I sent her. (^^)


I made both before too, and they are my favorite ones!
I got both patterns from popular crochet web sites.
The smaller one is "Tea Time Doily", but the site doesn't seem available right now. (>_<) The same thing happened before so I am hoping that it will come back soon again.
The bigger doily is "TRISH" from the famous Panda Crochet!.

I'm so happy that Mary liked the doilies, and I so enjoyed crocheting these for her! (*^_^*)

One more

I've spent the weekend making the "Rose Center Doily" again. (*^_^*)

I am sending this to a Japanese lady who inspired me to thread crochet while I was recovering from all the leukemia treatments and transplantation in 2003. If it wasn't for her, I probably didn't crochet with thread at all.
She gave me lots of encouragement while at the hospital even though she herself was fighting lymphoma.
She is well now, and recently she started her new job. (^_^)

I hope she will like this doily...

"Between-Meal Centerpiece"

I must say, this is my most favorite project so far!




I had been saying this one was a doily, but it's actually is a table centerpiece. :P You can tell I'm obsessed with doily making, can't you? LOL
Well... The pattern is at FreePatterns.com. The thread is #10. The size was supposed to be 30" in diameter, but mine ended up to be 32".

Such a great project! I must say, I LOVE this one. I can look at it all day long. I MUST find a round-top table for this centerpiece! (^_^)

*****
I was gonna start on a gift for a baby again, but I'm now thinking... doily. Hehe.
I haven't decided which pattern yet.

"Pansy Doily"

THANK YOU all who left me kind comments and concern e-mails!

I re-realized that so many nice people visit here looking to see my new post. I am so blessed!
So... I picked up a hook and thread again. (^-^) This is for you my friends! Hope you like it.

Pattern(pdf) from Freepatterns.com

*****

I started to feel "almost" like myself again. (^_^)
And guess what, I am crocheting next thread project! It is filet wall-hanging with owls on it! In Japan, they say owl things bring you good luck. So I thought.. "Hmm... that's exactly what I need!" The pattern is from an old Magic Crochet magazine, and I am going to make many, MANY treble crochet stitches with #40 thread. So... I think it will take some time to finish, but I am going to do it!
In-progress picture next time... (^_-)-*

Finally... FOs

Tea Time Doily


Chapstick Keychain
I used size 10 thread for both of them and added the frill to the capstick holder.

Rosebud Doily

Pattern : Rosebud Doily
Source : Magic Crochet - April 1997 issue.

This doily is the one I had wanted to make so badly. As soon as I received the thread in the mail, I ripped the box open and started crocheting this right away. LOL

Some of my fellow Japanese crocheters have made the same doily. It is interesting to see how the same pattern comes out so differently depends on who makes it.
Rinrin makes BEAUTIFUL doilies, and she is such an inspiration to me! After entering her site "Gallery Big Bear", click on "Atelier Rinrin" to see all of her breath-takingly gorgeous doilies.
Also, you can't miss "Filet Crochet Lace Bonita", where menko displays her gorgeous floral and filet doilies. Click on "Floral Garden" to see her Rosebud Doily and other beautiful floral doilies.

Hearts Doily

I couldn't resist... hearts and pink! (*^^*)
Its pattern is here. Thank you, Monique!

"The Square Doily with Rose Center"

The pattern is here. I used size 10 thread and size 6 steel hook. This one is for the Thread CAL at Crochetville. This CAL has its own blog and gallery as well so if you like thread crochet go and check them out. (^^)

I've ordered some more thread at Herrshners for my future projects, and I'm waiting for the thread to arrive. (*^^*)

*****

I have finished the case for Hubby's bow, but he said he still has to make a button for it so no picture today. (^^; If by next time, the button is not done, I will go ahead and post a picture of it without a button, which I think most likely that's how it is going to be. Hehe.

*****

Dear my Japanese visitors, I finally started a blog in Japanese language. (*^^*) This blog will still remain my main blog, but you won't miss anything if you just decide to visit my Japanese blog. (^_-)*

"The Wheat and Grape Doily"

Pattern Source : "The Wheat and Grape Doily" on Celt's Vintage Crochet.
Thread I used : Aunt Lydia Classic Crochet Art. 154   Size 10.
Color : 661 Frosty Green.

This is a big doily that is 26 inches in diameter so it's more like a table center. I did lots of double trebles on this doily. The pattern has some errors and some confusing parts so I can't recommend it to beginner crocheter. (-_-;)

Things I made for Kelly

Kelly was my gift recipent for Crochetville Autumn Secret Pal swap. (^_^) I studied her color preference etc. very, very carefully and made the following.

My very first hand-made item for her was a linen doily. I combined two Japanese patterns I had and came up with this.


And the next was a cellphone cozy. This is my own design. Hehe.


I made a hook case for Kelly as well. Its pattern is here. One of the pictures on the pattern page shows that this hook case can hold up to 28 crochet hooks and many more tools. How clever! I had to make one for myself, too. (^_^)


Finally, a scarf. The yarn is Red Heart's Light & Lofty, and the color is 9617 Pheasant. I DC-ed away the scarf because I thought this way, it would become thick and bouncy soft.


I so enjoyed every steps to make all those things... Learning what Kelly likes, checking her blog to find a clue what she might need, deciding what to make, picking yarn of her favorite colors, crocheting daydreaming her reaction when she receives the item.....
Making things for somebody is just so much fun and addictive. (=^_^=) That's why no matter how many items I make, I have few left with myself. And I know I'm not the only one, I can tell from reading all the blogs of my super nice fellow crocheters & knitters. LOL How awesome!

Sailing... Sailing

Sailing Sailing

It's a doily that has waves and ships around. (^_^)

ADDED - About its pattern.
On the site I found the pattern of this doily, it was written both in English and Japanese. Once you click on the link above to go the pattern page, your browser(IE) may ask you to download a Japanese text display file. Go ahead and do that, and next, you have to make sure Japanese text is showing properly by clicking on "View" >>> "Encoding" on your brownser. If "Japanese (Auto-Select)" is checked, the page is displaying as it supposed to.
In order to continue on to the next page, click on the link (in Japanese) at the very bottom of the page.

If you go the top page of "Crochet in English" where I found the pattern of this doily, you will see pictures of some more beautiful doilies. You can go to the pattern page by clicking on the photo of your favorite doily.
One thing is though, you can find most of the doily patterns there on other free pattern web site such as Crochet Pattern Central. Patterns there do not have Japanese translation so you won't have to change encoding on your browser. Unluckily so far, I have not found "Sailing... Sailing" pattern anywhere else but the one above. I will keep searching its pattern only in English, and I will post the link here when I find one. (^_^)

I feel better...

TORISH Doily

I found the pattern of this doily at "Panda Crochet!". When I first saw this doily on the site a couple of months ago, I just fell in love with it. I printed out the pattern right away, but it had been in my folder untouched until today. It's because it looked hard to make... But finally today I spent the afternoon crocheting this doily, and I'm glad I did. (^_^)

At "Panda Crochet!", you will find many more beautiful doilies and patterns. I recommend this site to anyone who love to thread-crochet. Mr. Panda Man is just so talented and generous! (^_^)