Hooked on Crochet!

Doily Dress

Crochet is everywhere these days!

I spotted the cute crochet dress above 

at Anthropologie last month while vacationing in

 Carmel, California.  

It's hand-crocheted in cotton by

Knitted and Knotted 

(an in-house brand registered to Urban Outfitters, 

Anthopologie's parent company).

I love its lacy "doily" look.

Wouldn't it be perfect to wear to a garden party?

 Sophie Scarf

While shopping in Carmel, 

I also had the chance to see (and try on) 

Sophie Digard's beautiful crochet scarves in person at

my favorite Carmel boutique, 

Piccolo.

As badly as I wanted to buy one of Sophie's crochet scarves,

I decided it would be more rewarding 

to crochet a "sophie-style" scarf myself.

I love the Japanese flower scarves my knitting pen pal
Teresa and Lucy of Attic 24, both in England have crocheted.
 Their colorful motif scarves have inspired me
 to challenge myself and
improve my crochet abilities
so I can crochet one, too.

Japanese Crochet Motif Vol. 4

So I have the book...
now as soon as my hand is better,

you guessed it...

I'm signing up for more crochet classes!


(Sophie Digard image from The French Needle.)

Cosy Up!

Mollie Makes Mug Cosy

Put the tea kettle on...

I love this adorable mug cosy
featured on the cover of last year's
Mollie Makes, Issue Seven. 

This clever cosy is designed by Kate Reiser .

Kate's cute Crochet Chai Cosy 

features an adorable felt tea tag that you embroider.  

I love her tea tag idea!

Kate's an American and
has a darling Etsy store called Knit Storm.

She specializes in original knitted and crocheted 

mug and cup cosies.  

For those of us that love to create...
Kate's Chai Cosy pattern was published online today

 in the UK's Guardian Newspaper.

You can find the pattern here.  

Thank you Kate and Mollie Makes
 for sharing your adorable cosy pattern 

for all to enjoy!

Granny Square Cookies

Granny Square Cookies

Oh my gosh...

if you're a knitter or a crocheter

you are sure to love these clever crochet-adorned cookies!

These adorable Granny Square Cookies
are the genius of an adorable

baker and blogger

Sugar and Meringue. 

You can find her Granny Squre Cookie 

tutorial and instructions here. 

I can't wait to make these sometime and

bring them to my favorite knit shop, Knitique. 

(Photo Credit:  Sugar and Meringue)

Hooked on Mollie Makes!

 Mollie Makes Issue 3

I'm hooked on Mollie Makes! 

Mollie Makes Issue 3
has just arrived in the US this week. 

 Sunshine Flowers

I love Issue 3 and all its projects.

I'm picking the cute crochet flowers by Carmen Heffernan as my favorite project in this issue.   Her Sunshine Flowers are featured on the cover and she gives a tutorial in the magazine on how to make them.  Oooh, I can't wait to give them a try and start crocheting flowers! 

Carmen works from her home in the lovely Irish countryside.

She has the most colorful and adorable flower shop on Etsy.

Go have a look...you'll be inspired!

 Sunshine Bag

How cute is this Sunshine Bag?

 I would love to make one in a Liberty of London floral print fabric..wouldn't you? 

 Mollie Makes says "its roomy enough to fit your whole life into (including your craft stash). 

I haven't really sewn anything since junior high so I think I better sign up for sewing lessons.  Although Mollie says...this is a cinch to make.  So I guess, I just have to borrow my sister's sewing machine.

 Flower Power

I've always loved making flowers. 

As a young girl in the 1970's, I used to make dip film flowers all the time.  Remember those?

Today, I'm obsessed with making flowers to adorn clothes and accessories.  So naturally, I adore the article We Heart Flower Corsages.  There are four flower corsage patterns all made out of cotton fabrics.

These flowers look pretty easy to make so I can't wait to get crafty and make a few.

Tea Time!

And, of course, since Mollie Makes is British...

you know there is bound to be a thing or two about tea in the magazine.

I love reading about all the craft cafes and shops in the UK where you can sit and knit

or craft and have tea and cake. 

This issue features a beautiful English wedding with a vintage tea theme.  There are lots of pretty photographs that are bound to inspire you to pull out your Grandma's tea cups

and have an afternoon tea party! 

Yay, for Mollie Makes!

I absolutely love Mollie Makes. 

I can't wait for Issue 4 and its adorable felt biscuits on the cover.
All the UK Mollie Makes fans are already saying...
 "it's the best issue yet"!


(In the photos:  vintage crochet motifs and my great-grandmother's crochet hook were used when I styled the photos.)

Searching for Sophie!

 That Scarf!

On my recent trip to Paris,  I went searching for French designer

Sophie Digard's exquisite crochet scarves. 

I was seriously ready to splurge on one but never had the chance. 

I did email the Sophie Digard website before my trip inquiring on Paris retailers but didn't receive a reply.  So I was left on my own searching for Sophie's scarves in Paris and came up empty handed.

I did have a Sophie sighting in London though before arriving in Paris.

I spotted a lady with a beautiful and colorful crochet scarf at London's Portobello Road Antique Market. 

I stopped her to compliment her and ask her if she made her scarf?  She was so thrilled to have her scarf admired and proudly told me "I bought it an expensive boutique in Sweden".
I knew immediatley it just had to be a Sophie Digard scarf...

and, of course, it was!

I Can do That!

So now my latest idea is to crochet my own scarf  inspired by a Sophie Digard scarf. 

I've been searching on Ravelry for pattern ideas and  now I'm obsessed with Japanese flower scarves. 

 My Ravelry friend Teresa in England is crocheting Japanese flower scarves and suggested I check out Lucy's Attic24 blog for inspiration.  Thank you, Teresa!  Lucy's blog is very inspiring...so inspiring, she has a fan club of over 4,000 members (including me now) on Ravelry in the We Love Lucy group. 

I'm hoping to go to Japantown in San Francisco soon to buy some Japanese crochet books.  In the mean time, I picked up this I Taught Myself Crochet kit to help get me started. It's been over 40 years since my Great Grandmother G.G. taught me how to crochet a granny square. 

Wish me luck! 

PS:  I've just discovered that my favorite yarn store in London, Loop is carrying Sophie Digard scarves and accessories in their online shop..so you don't have to go all the way to Paris, afterall.


(Top photo credit Sophie Digard Creations)

Mollie Makes

 Mollie Makes Issue Two

There's nothing I love better than a cup of tea

and a new magazine!

Mollie Makes is my favorite new British magazine.  This adorable magazine has taken the crafting and publishing world by storm.   

 Issue Two hasn't even hit the US stands yet but I already own it. I just couldn't wait...so I ordered Issue Two online from my favorite yarn store in London, Loop.  It was worth every penny spent on shipping to be ensured I received it and its cute little Flower Felt Kit, too. 

 Inspired!

I like Issue Two even better than Issue One. 

I love the sweet and vintage inspired cover project, Strawberry Pincushions by Eirlys Penn.  The magazine not only gives you clear directions on how to make them but also a neat little history  "The Story Behind The Strawberry".  Love that and can't wait to make them!

You can read more about EirlysPenn at her website http://www.scrapiana.com/. 

Issue Two is also filled with pages of inspiration for crafting, collecting and thrifting.  I love staying "in the know" with the wonderful blogs and cute shops that Mollie Makes shares with us.

 Feeling Crafty?

Everyone loves a "freebie" including me!

One of the neatest things about British magazines is that they often include a free gift!  On my trips to England, I've snagged British magazines with free gifts including an Anya Hindmarch change purse and Cath Kidston pouches and bags. 

Mollie Makes is including a free little-crafty kit with every issue.  Demand has exceeded supply so some issues have not include the free-gift.  I didn't want to miss out on the free-gift with Issue Two so that's why I ordered it from Loop.  I can't wait to get crafty now and make some felt flowers!

 Vintage Chic

The granny square is re-born! 

Another reason I'm excited about Issue Two is Jane Brocket's Starburst Flower Crochet Blanket.  Jane's pattern is from her new book The Gentle Art of Knitting and the pattern is included in the magazine.

I haven't made granny squares since my G.G. (great-grandmother) taught me how to make them when I was a little girl.  I love how they've made a comeback and I can't wait to try my hand at crochet again.   

Jane Brocket says  "This blanket made from "starburst flower" squares was inspired by the many granny square blankets I have seen on blogs and in magazines, as well as the actual crocheted blankets I saw as I was growing up".

I couldn't wait to have my Mom pull out my G.G.'s Granny Square Blanket (vintage 1960's) so I could use it for this photo shoot!

 How Does Your Garden Grow?

I used to do a little embroidery work as young girl, too.  My mom still has the flour-sack towel tucked away that my G.G. taught me my very first embroidery stitches. 

I haven't embroidered in ages except maybe for a few French knots here and there.  Seeing Charlotte Lyons beautiful embroidery work in this issue, just might change that. 

You can find out more about Charlotte at her website http://www.charlottelyons.com/. 

Bath

Lastly, I love the article Why You Should Visit Bath!  Trust me...one does not need a reason to visit Bath.  It is one of my favorite cities in all of England to visit!  

On my recent trip to Bath in May, I visited Wool, the wonderful knitting emporium.   Wool's owner Laura referred me to The Makery where I picked up the premier issue of Mollie Makes. 

Here's a list of some of my other favorite places in Bath:

Jane Austen Center & The Regency Tea Room, The Pump Room, Sally Lunns, Cath Kidston, The Royal Crescent, Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, Brora, Rossiters of Bath, Jamie Oliver's Italian, Whittard of Chelsea, Tilleys Bistro and HRH Highgrove Shop.

Now that I've discovered Mollie Makes I bet I'll be adding even more places that I'll want to visit on my next trip across the pond! 

Issue Three of Mollie Makes is now out in the UK.  It typically gets to the US about a month later...
I'm not sure I can wait that long!

All I Want for Christmas...is a Sophie Digard Scarf!

 Piccolo

A Collection of Curiosities & Indulgences

Dear Santa Baby,

All I want for Christmas is a Sophie Digard scarf. 

(Preferably a blue one...hint hint!)

 Sophie Digard Scarf

I am in love with Parisian designer Sophie Digard's needle work.

On a recent visit to charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, I stumbled upon an adorable boutique called Piccolo.  Piccolo is filled with all sorts of curiosities and indulgences.  (That's even printed on their business card!)

Being a knitter, I was immediately drawn to the beautiful crochet and knit accessories on display in Piccolo.  The moment I saw the beautiful crochet scarf, I knew it had to be a Sophie Digard.  I was right.

I had admired Sophie's stunning scarves on the Internet.  I must report that they are even more lovely in person.  They are also very pricey...but if you're a needle worker you can certainly appreciate the amount of time and workmanship that goes into a scarf like Sophie's.  Her designs are beautiful floral crochet motifs crocheted in wispy and delicate yarns. 

Sophie Digard Purse

Sophie even has stunning purses!

Sophie's Work

I'm in awe of Sophie's work.

If Santa doesn't bring me a Sophie scarf, I guess I will have to become a more proficient crocheter!

Vintage Crochet Mini Dresses

Vintage Crochet Mini Dresses

My Mom's 1970's crochet mini dress got a lot of attention. Thanks for all the nice comments here and on Ravelry.

Besides knitting I have an obsession for collecting vintage knitting and crochet patterns. I knew I had some "mod" patterns from the 60's and 70's so I went looking through them today. Can you believe I had this pattern which is pretty darn close to my Mom's dress?

The vintage pattern is Big & Little Crochets, Leaflet # 2519, by Columbia-Minerva. (Original price, 35 cents.) I can not find a date on it but it appears to be from the same era, the early 1970's. The hot pink dress is pattern # V-15 and the turquoise dress is # V-16.

The pattern for the pink dress can be found on Ravelry or at Vintage Creations for free.

My Mom's 1970's Crochet Mini Dress!

My Mom's 1970's

Crochet Mini Dress

Today just happens to be my Mom's birthday. In honor of my Mom, I thought it would be fun to share her 1970's crochet mini dress with you.

Now keep in mind, my Mother did not save this dress. I did. I love the fact that I did not knit or crochet since I was a young girl yet I saved everything we had in our house associated with the needle arts my entire life. Even though I did not knit again until I was in my mid 40's, I know that knitting and crochet were dear to my heart or I would not have saved everything that I have saved all these years.

1970's era mini dress!

Today I asked my Mom where she bought this dress. My Mom said she received it from her mother for Christmas back in the early 1970's. My Mom said "she probably bought it at Goldman's or Joseph Magnin's back then!" My Mom loved the dress but wasn't sure when she would ever wear it. Then the perfect event presented itself, her high school class reunion.

My Mom and Dad

&

the Chartreuse Mini Dress

I've always loved vintage so I am thrilled that I saved this dress. I think my Mom wore this around 1970 - 1971. It is in remarkable great shape for being stored in a plastic dry cleaner's bag (in a box) out in the garage all these years. I just love it's 1970's chartreuse green color!

Vintage Tarrri Dress Label

The designer dress label says Tarrri (I think). It is 100% wool. It was made in the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. It must have been hand made. The crochet work is beautiful. The mini dress is 33" in length. And yes...my Mom was quite "foxy" in it back in the day!

Crochet Shell Pattern?

I hope you have enjoyed this look back at 1970's fashion and my Mom's mini dress. I am so glad I saved it! Someday I hope to become a better crocheter. I would love to crochet a scarf in this crochet shell pattern in a chartreuse for my Mom to wear and me to borrow!

Maybe an avid crocheter can help me to identify it's shell pattern? I would love any tips or comments!

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Barbie is turning 50 today!

Perhaps Barbie needs to wear this French Court Dress (so, Marie Antoinette) from a vintage crochet pattern to her gala birthday bash!

Go ahead Barbie...have your cake and eat it, too!