Crochet Viola Mandala

Namaste friends,

Hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. 😀

In this post, I have a wonderful mandala to share with you.

I found the free pattern for the Viola mandala a few months back but I did not make one, as my folks are not exactly the "Doily-kind" if you know what I mean. 😉😉

And then guess what! One of my regular customers wanted me to make one for her in the colours of her choice. I was overjoyed.

So here is the Viola Mandala Ta-dah!

The Viola mandala pattern is Free on the maritparit blog.

She has made the mandala in a beautiful pastel blue and violet combination.

For my mandala, I have used Laura knitting cotton which is widely available in India, with a 3.5 mm crochet hook.

Anchor knitting cotton would be a great choice too for this mandala.

The colours were specially requested by my customer. 

I modified the last round to add some scallops. 

Isn't it a gorgeous mandala pattern? I just love the final look.

This mandala has flown across continents to its new home.

I think I'll make one more in a different colour scheme for myself. :)

I am sure you will want to make one for yourself. Do give it a try.

* This post contains affiliate links which if you use for any purchase, may yield me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you. *

Thank you for your time.

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See you soon with a new free cowl pattern.

Mandala mania 4 - Pretty Pastels + Giveaway winner

Namaste friends. It is crochet month so a mandala post is a must, right?

But before that let me announce the winner of the pattern giveaway for the Cupid's Dilemma cowl. 

And the winner is:

Susan Guard

Happy crocheting Susan. Your pattern is on the way to your Inbox. :)

This pattern is available in my Etsy and Craftsy shops.

And now on to my Spring inspired Pretty Pastel Mandala.

This is the fourth mandala I made using the same pattern. This mandala is a wee bit larger than the previous three mandalas as I modified Round no. 11 (in yellow), and made 3dc clusters instead of puff stitches.

Here are the details of the mandala;

Pattern source:   Crochet Millan.com

Yarn:                   Laura Knitting cotton

Hook:                  3.50 mm

Size:                   16 inches diameter

Here is a look at all four mandalas:

Check out mandala 1, mandala 2 and mandala 3.

Crocheting mandalas is very satisfying and almost meditative. Do give it a try.

Keep Calm and Crochet On.

Instant gratification and a cross-country trip

Namaste friends, did 2016 have a month called June? Well, it whizzed by so fast I couldn't catch a glimpse of it! :)

Instant gratification:

In an earlier post, I shared all the large crochet projects that I had started inspired by the CAL calender. If you have not had a look at the crochet calender, I urge you to do so as you will definitely find something you will like. Just hop down to my previous post.

While large projects are fine, sometimes you have a craving for seeing a project reach completion and that too...fast. So here is a project I managed to squeeze in, in between working on my huge blankets.

Crochet Newborn coat.

Isn't it super cute?! 

Maybe it is nature taking its course. Or, menopausal grandmotherly hormones kicking in. Or, maybe just the desire to leave some little thing for the new generation yet to come, I suddenly find myself wanting to make lots of items "for my grandchildren".

My family thinks I am crazy, but what is the harm I say. Life is unpredictable after all.

This item is one of the many I am working on and of course I will be sharing those too, upon completion. :) 

The free pattern for this coat is available at www.justcrochet.com, where you can also get dozens of more kiddie patterns.

The yarn is called Shining Star and I have used a 4mm hook.

From Mumbai to Meghalaya:

I was away from home for almost two weeks in the month of June, which may be the reason it seemed like a very short month to me. (No internet, no crochet...boohoo)

I was on a crazy errand which took me and sonny boy right from the west coast of the country to the North East! A totally unplanned and may I say a totally unnecessary trip :(

My son completed his Bachelors last year, with distinction, may I add, (feeling so proud), and expressed a desire to pursue a Masters in his subject. So we applied for a transcript and then we waited...and waited... and waited!! With the transcript showing no signs of arriving even after three months, and our phone calls to the Univ going unanswered, hubby decided that sonny boy and I should go and collect it from the University personally. Except, there was a small problem. The University was only 2500 Kms away... in Meghalaya (North East India)!   

I was unhappy about the trip as we had never visited that part of the country. Also I was worried that the University may be closed for the holidays. Fortunately, all went well and we got the transcript, phew! Silly people, if only they had sent it on time. We would have saved the ton of money spent on flight tickets and hotel rooms.

On the last day of the trip I blackmailed cajoled my son into accompanying me to the Kamakhya temple (Guwahati, Assam). This temple has great religious significance and is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas.

Here are a couple of pics from the outside of the temple. Photography is not allowed inside most Indian temples.

On my Telly: Madame Secretary and Masterchef Australia. What about you?

See you soon.

The Ultimate Crochet Calendar

Namaste friends. How are you today?

If it is vacation time for your kiddies I hope you are enjoying the vacation. Summer holidays mean picnics, movies, water parks and best of all ice cream...loads of it! Can you tell I am a big fan of ice cream ;)

On the other hand, for us mums it also means more cooking, more laundry and more cleaning-up, right? Nevertheless it is still fun. Holidays are all about the kids which means very little time for crafting for the mums. So here is something just for you.

CAL Calendar 2016

I was browsing the net to make a list of the CALs going on, when I came across this fantastic calendar. It is chock full of crochet projects for the whole year! It is a CAL calendar for 2016. While I have no idea who has filled in the details or even how it is done, a million thanks and hugs to the person/s who has done this. It lists all the crochet-along projects for the year and clicking on the name will take you to the relevant page or blog post where you can get all the details. 

HERE is the link to the Calendar. 

A few pointers;

• Most of the time the crochet-along patterns are free forever, but sometimes the patterns are free only for the duration of the CAL, after which they are listed as Paid patterns on Ravelry or the websites. So if you like a project be sure to download the pattern right now and keep it for future use.
• Go through all the details of the project carefully. Some projects require purchase of the pattern or a magazine, or may be available only as a kit.
• For my Indian readers:- While we cannot get the yarn brands mentioned in the project (sometimes we cannot get any kind of branded yarn!!...terrible, I know) pay attention to the hook size mentioned in the project and just find a yarn that is suitable for that hook size. 
• Gauge is not  important for items like blankets, scarves or cowls etc, but if making a wearable item like sweaters, gloves or hats, buy a small quantity of yarn first to test the gauge using the hook size mentioned in the pattern. It will save you a lot of time, lots of frogging and heartache. :)
• Bookmark the main project page on the blog so that you can easily visit the page and download the updates as and when they are released.
• Use the "Week" view on the calendar to get a complete list of projects for that week - day-wise, especially when there are more than 3 projects on that particular day.
• The events are listed as per Eastern time (US) so consider the time difference with your time zone when looking for updates. I usually visit the sites on the day after the CAL update, as we are around 10 hours ahead.
• If you missed any project in 2015 you can also find them via this calendar.

I am sure you will find a project to your liking and this calendar ensures that you will have something to work on all through the year.

I am extremely delighted to have found this CAL calendar and I hope you benefit from it too. Do let me know if you find anything exciting.

I have started one more project - Mandala Madness which is simply fantastic. If you want to take your crochet to a totally new and advanced level this project is for you. More details and pics in my next post.

Until then, Happy crafting.

Have you found your CALing?

Namaste friends, so have you found your calling yet? Don't worry I am not asking about any deep life calling or purpose of life etc. :) What I mean is crochet CALs.

My crochet Word of the Year 2016 is CAL and there seem to be so many just CALing (ahem) I mean calling out to me. I am having a tough time making up my mind and choosing between them. Some of the projects are from 2015 and some are new while some are yet to be released but definitely scheduled for 2016. So here goes;

1. Lydia Blanket

This one is not exactly a CAL but a new pattern just released by the lovely Dedri at Lookatwhatimade. It is a gorgeous granny square blanket and the rose border is to die for. I am in love with the border and i suspect that is what is spurring me on. 

2. Sophie's Universe

This is an amazing project once again by the very talented Dedri. It is huge and will be the largest project I have ever attempted and completing it will be a challenge. I am not sure about my colour choices but I am also on a stash busting spree.

3. Queen Mandala
This CAL is a gorgeous mandala for which you have to join THIS Facebook group. New instructions are released every week and the CAL is on week 10. I have just reached week 4. What do you think, do the colours go together?

Yarn: For all the above projects I have used a yarn brand called Ruby from Ludhiana. The yarn comes in gorgeous colours and has a mohair like feel but the yarn is thicker than DK weight.

Hook: I am using a 5.00 mm hook for all these projects.

Some more CALs I hope to do this year:
Sunny Log Cabin blanket by Attic24. I plan on busting my Stylecraft yarn stash for this blanket. You can see my stash HERE.

Lily Pond Blanket - Beautiful blanket by Jane Crowfoot, with huge gorgeous flowers. May have to order yarn for this one. Yay!...an excuse to buy more yarn. (Happy dance...happy dance)

AND a few more that are soon to be revealed!!
Frida's Flowers - once again by Jane Crowfoot, from 5th April. Once again with ginormous flowers and I am sure lots of new techniques. I am so curious about this one!
FRAN Mystery CAL - a manghan. Part 1 was revealed on 7th March. Maybe something special for sonny boy.
Mandala Madness CAL - a circular blanket with 18 weekly parts, beginning on 17th March '16.

In my next post I am going to list some more CALs 2016, which I came across while doing research for this post. So if you are tempted to start one but none of the above appeal to you, worry not. But do start something after all it is NatCroMo!  :D

Until then, ciao.

Crochet C2C scarf

Namaste friends. Thank you so much for you best wishes, lovely comments, emails and phone calls. It feels so good to know that I have friends who care so much, whether they are in the next city, neighbouring state or even across the seven seas. 

I did say in my last post that 2015 was just not my year. Well, a couple of days later my computer just wouldn't start and then followed a few frantic days of SOS calls to my brother and our local computer guy to get it up and running. Phew!! So used to my computer and the internet, my husband teases me that I just might go berserk without them. Thank God for crochet which keeps me sane and calm. Do you know I had actually packed a project in the bag I took to the hospital! But the dengue fever (see last post) really sapped our energy and the weakness/body pain was too much to even think about crocheting or even staying alive for that matter.  :)

Variegated hues

Have you ever fallen in love with a ball of variegated yarn at the store, only to come home and realise that it just does not suit any project? Or that the colour effect is not playing up the way you had imagined? It has happened to me a lot of times. I am sure you are wondering why I still keep buying. Well, variegated yarn has a charm, a romantic appeal all its own, which makes it hard to resist. And I have the balls to prove it....haha.

The pastel hues, the jewel tones or ombre shades are irresistible. Never mind that you end up crocheting and frogging till you get the exact effect you want :) After trying out a few patterns I decided to follow my friend Ashlesha and crochet a corner to corner scarf with this ball of variegated yarn that had gorgeous shades of denim, aubergine and forest green. A wonderful colour combination for a man's scarf....methinks.

The yarn brand is "Peacock" and is from Ludhiana. I have used a 4.50mm crochet hook. 

Corner to corner or C2C as it is popularly known is a really simple stitch. I would even call it a beginner level stitch. The fact that it works diagonally might seem confusing but you get the hang of it pretty soon. In the case of this particular yarn it produces these lovely diagonal bands of colour almost automatically. 

 I have now learned that for variegated yarns to give good results the colour changes have to be atleast a few feet apart. Any closer and the result is just a hotch potch of changing colours. So while this yarn produced these beautiful bands of denim, aubergine and forest green, an earlier project with variegated yarn - the C2C baby blanket shows how short colour changes just produce a mish-mash.

 But for the blanket I got the exact effect I wanted i.e. stripes of blue, white and mixed colours.

The scarf measures 65" by 7" and used up about 160 grams of yarn. I am quite happy with the way the colours have played out. I am thinking of trying some other pattern using this same yarn. What do you think? Do you like my C2C scarf?

If you want to try your hand at C2C HERE is a wonderful video by Mikey at The Crochet Crowd.

Have you made any projects using variegated yarn? 

Happy Navaratri to all my dear readers.  

Navaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated for nine nights (nava means nine and ratri means night), dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti the Mother Goddess. As with all other festivals in India, this festival too is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India, but always with great pomp and splendor involving a lot of color, lighting, music and dance. The tenth day is known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra which marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura as well the victory of Lord Ram over the Demon king Ravana.
Click the links in the above passage to know more about the festivals and the deities.

  

 See you soon.

PS: I was having some trouble with the fonts in this post so please bear with me. :) 

Memories of those swinging times

Namaste Gorgeous. How are you? Thank you for joining me today.

Life has settled into a routine at our new home and sometimes I cannot believe that it is only three months since we shifted here. Feels like we were always living here! Yes, the human mind can be fickle at times.

The main reason that I do not miss the previous house could be that it was  a rented place and we always knew we would be shifting out one day. While we always assumed that we would shift back to Mumbai, this new home in Ahmedabad was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. 

But if there is one thing that I am sorely  missing it is my photo studio...er...I mean my photo prop... okay actually I mean the wonderful swing in the balcony in the old house.The swing was the place where all my WIPs were finally christened as FOs. (Am I the only one who finds "FO" to be mildly rude?)

The swing got the best light throughout the day and it was like being outdoors while still being inside the house.

So here are a few photos, in memory of the swing :)  :)

My ripple blanket. Get the pattern HERE 

My first knitting pattern. Click HERE for the the free scarf pattern.

 

An apple cozy for the hubby. Go HERE to see his reaction to my "gift" ;) and a link to the pattern

One more gift for hubby. Click HERE for the instructions for this Steering Wheel Cover.

The swing was a place to play with colors. Get the free pattern for the Rainbow Mandala HERE

 ...and a place to display and gloat over my crochet babies

 

Click HERE for pattern details of this lovely yellow purse

 

 Crochet nesting bowls

Crochet Basket weave basket

Crochet Rose basket. Click HERE for instructions

A custom order for Poonam who was so happy with the Cup cozies that she became my student!

Corner to corner baby blanket. Get the pattern details for the blanket and the border HERE.

Crochet triangle granny shawl. Click HERE for pattern details.

Hope you enjoyed these pics of my Swinging times. Ahem... I hope you did not land here looking for some other kind of Swinging tales. Sorry to disappoint you...hehe!!

I have not yet found an ideal place in my new house to click my pics. No swing, no balcony and no open spaces. So I guess my crochet Ta-dahs will just have to wait a little longer! :(

I am writing a pattern for a crochet scarf and I can't wait to share it with you. Would you like to test my pattern? Write to me at crochetkari@gmail.com. 

Life is short, so make time for your hobby or go ahead and learn the new skill you have been wanting to.

Monet Garden shawl

Hello gorgeous gals! How are you today? So glad you joined me here. I cannot thank you lovely ladies enough for your sweet comments about my interview. You, my friends, really keep me going. 

Some time back I shared my corner to corner blanket with you along with the video tutorial by one of my crochet gurus, Mikey from The Crochet Crowd. Today I have a beautiful shawl to show you. The pattern is by another favourite crochet teacher I follow, Clare of Bobwilson123. Clare has tons of wonderful crochet videos and psst...let me share a secret...I love her accent.

This pattern is the I Love Rainbows Shawl and is a beautiful granny shawl. It also has a delicate border. You can get the video here and the written pattern here.

It is a lovely pattern and the video is very good too. I think the shawl has just turned out gorgeous, what do you say? The original shawl has been made in lovely rainbow colours but I used a variegated yarn I had in my stash. 

The yarn is acrylic but has a lovely mohair-like fuzzy feel to it. My shawl is a bit bigger than the pattern and while the granny design can be a bit monotonous, what kept me going was the delicate, beautiful border. I wanted to start working on the border so I speed-crocheted through the shawl.

For some visual interest I used a peach variegated yarn for the border and the panel in the center. I have not blocked the shawl yet, therefore the edges are curly.

The shawl is quite sumptuous and cozy.

The shawl reminds me of a Monet garden painting. You know, you see little flecks of yellow, a dab of lavender and dashes of various shades of green. Then you stand back , and lo and behold, it is a gorgeous garden with a water body and hanging foliage, vivid flowers, and the more you stare at it the more elements you discover in the garden. I was not very impressed with this yarn but upon completion the shawl looked so pretty and delicate, just like a Monet garden! 

The shawl measures 68" by 34" and weighs about 375 grams. I used a 4.50 mm crochet hook.

You can get this shawl in my Etsy shop.

Of course the "official" photo on the swing where all WIPs are christened as Finished is a must...LOL!!  :D

Hope to see you soon. Do let me know if you have started making your handmade gifts yet. I am looking forward to Diwali but only because hubby will be getting a few days leave. But not enough to visit Mumbai...sadly, and Diwali is no fun when you are so far away from family and friends!!  :(