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Filipino and Proud – Crochetology’s Casque Hat

Recently, my friend Fatima, (owner of http://crochetlogy.net) has revived her pattern of a hat she coined as “Casque” – a foreign word that I have to look up to know the meaning [Casque is a French word for helmet. – says wikipedia], though the word has foreign origins I see it as a salakot – a native hat usually worn by “Filipinos – a.k.a. Juan Dela Cruz” depicted on literature and arts (If not your literature and arts, atleast mine).

The hat is very structural that you can actually identify each part. This makes it a wonderful piece of art rather than of everyday clothing. Specially because on how the designer made it, with red and yellow on the rim as if a native woven cloth (from Ilocos!) is tucked inside the hat, and varying browns as if it’s the typical coloring of wood.

Casque Hat - that looks like a salakot for me

Casque Hat – that looks like a salakot for me

As I look more into the details of the design, I could do nothing but be amazed and awed at how she managed to mimic the texture of a typical sombrero -specially the tip of the hat.

A picture of a salakot From http://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com

A picture of a salakot From http://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com

Fortunately for me, being acquainted with the designer, I get to have a copy of the pattern she hand-drawn. I have some abaca yarns with me and I am hoping I can sit down and recreate the hat. Though in some altered fashion perhaps so we retain uniqueness and probably promote our creativity, that is.

I have been crocheting for the longest time, but I have never made something so Filipino. :)

 

For anyone interested, the pattern is available for sale at her website http://crochetology.net/2013/03/casque-pattern-symbol-chart-for-sale/, or follow her on facebook so you can get free patterns :)

 

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Crochetology.net

Personal Blog: http://crochetology.net

Three Way Crocheted Bandeau – Free Pattern

As promised, I have finally written the pattern for my Three-way crocheted bandeau (Though it’s three way, I mostly use this as headband :D)

You can use this as (1) neck scarf (2) Headband (3) belt

Notes on the yarn used:

I used a woolen yarn (90% lambswool) that felts (I did not felt it but it felts overtime when you laundry it) So the resulting texture is very soft.

I am destashing some yarns here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.217809011697560.63447.187368954741566&type=3

You can use any kind of yarn you want :) But the texture and output would really be different.

Chillin' with my sister and friend on a hot afternoon

Chillin’ with my sister and friend on a hot afternoon

You can download the pdf pattern here:

Just in case the crochet chart is not clear, download original here:

Three way crocheted bandeau - crochet chart for sides

Three way crocheted bandeau – crochet chart for sides

Please send a comment here for feedback. If you manage to finish a project, do share it on my facebook wall: http://facebook.com/ginantsilyo.

Three Way Crocheted Bandeau

Three Way Crocheted Bandeau

Happy crocheting!

Daffodils and Lace Skirt

I was writing the pattern for my blue skirt when I remember one of my favorite poems by William Wordsworth: Daffodils. And as i draw the pattern of the skirt, i see the hills of daffodils… I feel like writing…

daffodils and lace skirt

Daffodils and lace skirt

Daffodils and lace skirt.
[short poem by Lorelie Dazo]

I wander, lonely as I am…
floating aimlessly on the clouds of dreams
I have nothing to own, nothing to claim
but the thoughts to create.
I see the hills of daffodils and I translate them to lace
of pure madness and sheer happiness
a skirt full of grace

From one ball of thread

I have this superfine thread from www.iceyarns.com. The yardage is 50g worth of 600m thread, which is quite long compared to my usual ball of yarns.

Incas Alpaca Superfine

50g ball 600m – Picture taken from www.iceyarns.com

And I am excitedly using it for “currently unknown” project. While crocheting with the yarn, my poetic mind keeps using the words ” from one ball of thread ” and i just have to write the words down.

From one ball of thread

From one ball of thread

Crocheted Naruto Mug Coaster

I always love Naruto, and I love drinking coffee.
Don’t you think they go well together?

Crocheted Naruto Mug Chibi Coaster

Crocheted Naruto Mug Chibi Coaster

I have been spending sometime last week looking at this picture:

Naruto Chibi

Naruto Chibi

Trying to comprehend how can i turn my stitches so that it will form Naruto’s lively face. Initially I started by rows. That did not work out. The edges are ugly and ragged. Then I started in cricles which proved more difficult to shape. Come weekend, I retired the project but still the idea keep haunting me that I worked on it again and finally found the trick. Half circles!

So when I am done shaping the face, the rest of the head was easier to make. The details of the face were slip stitched into the sc mesh, with a bit difficulty. I was not even sure if the slip stitches would work out since I usually do embroidery with a needle but it’s a first to do it with a crochet hook.

The effort really paid off, because when my husband came home yesterday and saw the coaster, he was very delighted and wanted to take it with him to work.

My husband with the mug coaster

My husband with the mug coaster

Here is the crocheted mug coaster:

Crocheted Naruto Chibi (2D)

Crocheted Naruto Chibi (2D)

Reminiscing..

i think of the time, when things were old…
were the only things we could do…
was to chat at things we thought we’d never knew..
you used to be the one i long to be with…
some sort of a friend i always need…
just a smile, or a pat on the back…
and then i know, nothing’s going to be bad…
you inspired me a lot, that was long ago…
when everything i do was to be there for you…
i used to go out with most of our friends,
thinking this thing would not come to end…
when phones were seldom used for communication…
when the world wide web was still a jargon
we used to just hang around laughing at anything
with lots of songs to go with the guitar’s strings…

Of Love and Valentine’s

Today is Valentine’s Day, as we celebrate more love than we usually do, let me share a poem I have written years ago for my then boyfriend, now husband. I wrote this even before we got engaged without realizing that this would be an oath of a love that will forever hold true. Actually, every time I recite (silently) or read this poem, I cry, not of sadness of course. Just because I meant every word I have written.

Here it is, and yes, it’s titled simply:

I love you, Mike

I love you mike, I really do

What I want most is to be with you.

My dreams are scarce as compared

To my yearning of the days we’d shared

 

I love you mike, for years to come

You would always be my only one.

The life I seek would not suffice

If not spent by your side.

 

I love you mike, from this day on

Ours is a love meant to grow strong

I see tomorrow with my hands locked on yours

With this…. I ask for no more.

 

If these are not enough to say my oath

Of a love that will forever hold

I love you mike, Come what may

I’ll stay with you ’til my last day.

When there is more love to give…

 

Yes, sometimes you just feel like there is more love to give. Here, love means yarns.

When you know deep within you that the yarn you are holding for the longest time would feel more used and more loved with other people, you just have to share them, lest, you end up with more stash you can handle.

Do not misunderstand me, i do not want to let go of all of my yarns. Sometimes, you just know when it’s not about letting go, but sharing. When blessing just comes your way, share them. So there are more to receive. Last Sunday, the priest told us, Love begets love. sure it is. When you give love, sooner or later you end up getting some, and sometimes more from what you have given.

 

Here are the latest from what I have (bought) that will soon be given away:

 

Five balls of yarns of varying texture and color

Five balls of yarns of varying texture and color

As usual, let me share you the story of where these yarns came from:

Ball of yarn from Dreamshoppe

Ball of yarn from Dreamshoppe

This yarn was among my last purchase from Dreasmshoppe, around three to four years ago. I tried several times to make a project out of this, but failed. Call me anything, I love making wearables and these type of yarns just don’t suit my need. I got attracted on buying this, hence it’s been sitting on my stash for the longest time. This yarn costs around Php200 a ball. I think it’s a wool blend something.. hehehe, forgive me for not remembering.

The color is variegated blue to dark gray and light gray.

Pink variegated yarn from Indonesia

Pink variegated yarn from Indonesia

This is one of my last purchase of yarns from www.craftandme.com. I have used the yarn as accent to a bolero I made for a friend. This is not easy to use since it’s a bubble type yarn. But the color is very pretty.

Acrylic yarn from baguio

Acrylic yarn from baguio

I think, this yarn belongs to one of my earliest purchases of yarns from Baguio. I have incorporated this yarn in a number of projects, still the yarns resist to disappear. I think the original ball was very big, because I have made two shrugs from this (from what I remember). I have made so much use of this yarn already, it is time to serve another master. The color is orange, red and maroon in one ply. as compared to other acrylic yarns from Baguio, this one is not loosely plied so it is really nice to use in any project.

Green Mohair Yarn from Indonesia

Green Mohair Yarn from Indonesia

This yarn belongs to the lot I purchased along with the bubble yarn. I was so interested on different yarn types, so I included this on my purchase. It’s very thin but when crocheted, it gives anything a fuller look. so do not be mistaken in achieving a very lightweight project.

Big ball of woolen yarn

Big ball of woolen yarn

I have a friend who sold me a lot of yarns she purchased somewhere. This big ball of yarn is one of them.. It’s so big and thick and I got like so many balls of them. so many that i gave one big ball to my friend who owns a cat. because cats love yarns. and it’s so woolen like those balls of yarns that is being played with cats. :) I think the cat would love it. and he sure did. :) I even made the cat a blanket :) so he would feel more loved.

Now this yarn is thick and wooly but would be very nice for a project. I used this to test my weaving skills and it gave a nice finish. but i would never want to use this for crochet. :) since i like crocheting using thinner yarns :)

So there they are. I hope the recipient would love them as much as I did, or more. :)

[Post Updated]

After finding more about the identity of my recipient, I feel a bit proud that she dropped by my site to say hello, more that she was able to chat with me for some time to chat and share. I found out she is an artist who needs different materials for her upcoming project, and that due to time constraint, she is unable to wait for incoming yarns she would receive come may. I got curious about her identity that, when I googled her name and saw her works, I was amazed and awed. I knew it was asking too much to go through the yarns I could give away, (not to mention i still promised someone more yarns from my stash). My question is what can i give? That would not really hurt me much? :) You see, when you are attached to the yarns you have kept for so long, you feel a connection, so that is why when i give a piece from my stash, i try to share the story of that item before letting go, so i could still remember.

I added a few more yarns to give away

I added a few more yarns to give away

here are the stories of the added yarns:

Ribbon Yarn

Ribbon Yarn

This is an experiment from “recycling yarns”. I managed to obtain a very good looking knitted top from a thrift shop. The yarn is a ribbon type, silky and soft. How I never managed to create something from this, I wonder. I guess, it’s because, “recycling” was never for impatient people like me. I think I threw away the knitted top I can never manage to defrog properly.

Plastic Raffia

Plastic Raffia

This plastic raffia, is another purchase from Indonesia. It is a left over for my attempt to crochet a bag. Unsuccessful though. It is not easy crocheting with plastic and more, you can never rewind this yarn into a ball again, because it’s too slippery, but I think, “she” mentioned that she likes this, so here it is.

Mako Cotton Yarn from Turkey

Mako Cotton Yarn from Turkey

Yes, i think I have given two of this last time, and I am giving another one. I figured, I would never purchase another ribbon yarn again because I would find it hard to form it into lacy kind of clothing. I knew my husband won’t be happy seeing half of this lot going to other people i do not even know. But I was thinking like, they like it this much, maybe, in some way it can have more use than what i was planning for them? True enough, I do not feel so much affinity with this yarn because they have been purchased just recently.

Boucle Yarns from Rosario Pasig

Boucle Yarns from Rosario Pasig

This yarn is a forgotten yarn. I was trying to rummage at old boxes to see if i would still have the soft fluffy yarn she was eyeing for but couldn’t find any, and then I saw this big leftover (from what my friend gina, made a beret) boucle yarn from Rosario, Pasig. And I was amazed. this yarn was waiting to be discovered so it could get a new master!

Green Yarn from Baguio

Green Yarn from Baguio

I thought I have given all of these yarns from the last year’s giveaway, but again I discovered that I still have one more small ball left to give. :)

 

 

Whew, so that’s it. To you, I hope if you receive these yarns, (though not much) would help you in a way, to create something wonderful :)

Wear it proudly

When you have worked so hard for a project, the only possible ending you want to be is to wear it, and wear it proudly.

That is what I did last Sunday, February 10, 2013, during my friends’ wedding in Kawit Cavite. The wedding was magical, like almost all weddings, though theirs was akin to a romatic comedy movie, with lots of punchlines and funny stints, that made the whole event light and fun.

Glai, You did it!

This is my friend, Glai, who finally tied the knot after nine years of being in a relationship with Eio.

The maids of honor and the matron :)

This is me and my friends. They are all maids of honor of  Glai, with the exception of me who is already married. I was wearing the golden dress I was raving for how many months since last year.

Golden dress

I finally succeeded in making the dress flowing and ruffled at the hemline, though the dress is a bit short (due to lack of patience)

DSC_4693

I have sewn a chiffon of the same color as lining for the dress, so i can wear it more comfortably during the occassion.

Me and my family posing at the church's entrance

Me and my family posing at the church’s entrance

I also wore a handmade lace headband:

Handmade lace Headband

I love my overall look and the fact that I was able to wear it in a memorable event.

This is me – wearing my creation: Happy and Proud :)

Lorelie in Golden Crocheted Dress

Lorelie in Golden Crocheted Dress

Visualizing my craft room

I have yet to clean up my room. It has gotten really, really messy. I have been trying to visualize the craft room I will ask my husband to create for our new house, hence it has been my struggle to come up with a design I want. With this, I have to clean up my yarn stash and come up with an organizational schema that is both visually appealing and functional so I can decide on what kind of shelves we will put up.

I have visualized the working area of my room:

It will have a small corner sofa near the entrance, and a small round coffee table (to serve as my working area) with a (probably green – or orange – or pink) carpet underneath. The nearest image I was able to search for the idea is this kitchen nook from http://houzz.com, the only item missing is the carpet beneath the table.

Image taken from www.houzz.com

Image taken from www.houzz.com

Now my struggle is the area where the shelves or cabinets or drawers will be put. I cannot decide what kind of storage furniture I will use. And I have been eyeing, cute woven baskets lined with fabric.

Image from http://houzz.com

Image from http://houzz.com

And the cubes for the shelves, to indiviudally hold the yarns.

My room would have three parts, the craft work area, the storage area, and the other part would be my office, which i would not want to discuss in detail here. It will just have an l-shaped working table to hold a number of computers I am using for my work. Yes, come the end of this project, I will be using probably 5 monitors, two for my windows machine, two for  a mac, and one space enough to hold my laptop.

Now, my struggle is, my husband wants me to decide so that he can finally draw the layout of my room. But I cannot decide til I am able to organize my yarn stash, (my clays, my beads, my fabrics!) , hence the struggle.

Recently, I have decided to give up on woven baskets, because they are too expensive and I want to try something out, asap. So to help me, my mom purchased these racks: (rack costs P250)

Rack full of yarns

Rack full of yarns

So I immediately emptied my boxes to try to organize them in the racks (in vain). Everything still looked messy.

My husband’s cousin who is also an Interior Decorator talked me out of giving up organizing my yarns by “brand”/source and shift to “by color”. The reason I was insisting on “source” is because of the shape of the yarns. If it would be by color, it would be more difficult to pile them up.

Yes. Piling up is the only way I can go with this kind of storage. If i would go by color, i would need a more decent shelf, and the yarns should have approximately the same shape.

Hence, I bought another kind of rack. And I have to wind my yarns into balls using a winder, specially the yarns that has been used.

Green yarns in rack

Green yarns in rack

Now, I have these more decent looking racks with shades of green. The plastic racks (costs Php88 each) are stackables so I can put one rack on top of another or we can put plywood on walls as shelves and have these racks lined up. This way, my yarn stash is more organized. What’s more, they look nicer and prettier too.

I have more to wind and I have more racks to buy, unless I can find more enthusiasm in making my own baskets.

See:

Yarns by color

Yarns by color