I am around, just lying low..........

Hello lovely people,

Hope alls well in your lil patch under the sun? I agree that might not be an accurate weather description for my friends in the UK ....we are under grey skies at the moment!

As the title of the post suggests, I am around,  just lying low....the last few weeks have been pretty  full on.....with my husband doing a 2200 mile bike ride for charity in India and the associated worries!! He is back now and alls welll in my nook!!

I have been crocheting and have a few FO to show you all...just lost my blogging mojo for a bit. IT is starting to creep back slowly now and I have started taking photos of the work I have finished....so watch this space!!

I have to say I have missed you all, just lost the inclination to type out my thoughts.....happens to everybody at some point,doesnt it?

Anyway, gotta rush as lil voices call out for my attention.....just to let you know I am back.....more tomorrow!!

Ciao for the  minute,

Hugs,
Ramya

A bag for my mum.....with lotsa love

Dear friends,

Hello again!! Things have taken a back seat in life including blogging as the family and myself have been preoccupied with my hub leaving for India to do a 2600 km bikeride to raise funds for a charity we started three years ago. It is a huge undertaking and I worry so about his safety and health!! I know deep down that he will be well as he is doing this for a good cause!! Nevertheless, human frailty does overcome me every so often...is it natural?

You might remember this post about The petal square tutorial sometime back? I finally made a bag for my mum and managed to do this amidst all the bike trip preparations so it would reach her by hubby post!! Haven't yet told her  ...God knows how long I can keep the  suspense though!! Here are some pics of the bag and my lil girl posing as she knows best!!

Life seems a bit drab without my soulmate..and makes me wish I told him more often how much he means to me...I have always found it easier to express myself through the written word ,I am starting to endorse his view about a hug being the most effective way of expressing affection.Will have to wait for another 5 weeks for that ,meanwhile my blog might be the best way to talk about my feelings!!

 Crochet and for that matter any creative activity is  the key to a lot of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.  Heres to plenty of projects !


Back real soon,

Warm Hugs,
Ramya

Watch it!!

Hello lovely  folks,

I am back after a lovely, lovely break in India...luckily there is still  enough sunshine  left in the UK to remind me of home!!
It was quite a  jampacked trip as it always is, trying to catch up with family and relatives and making sure no one is  left out plus getting all jobs done while I am there.....but its a nice kind of buzz !! It was the first time I attended a Ravelry meet which was fantastic ,I met so many kindred souls and made so many friends as well! It was amazing  .

I wanted to share some pictures of something I made earlier,would be good to hear what you think!!

Watch straps made from silver effect beads and black beads finished off with a toggle clasp.

A  close up

I made one for a dear ,dear friend for her birthday and it was really well liked and that has spurred me on to make more for family and friends...I like the ethnic  Indian feel the oxidized beads have and the fact that they can be worn with Western or Indian wear.

I will do another post really soon about the goodies I found back home! Keep smiling and enjoy the sunshine!!

Hugs,
Ramya

Soul sisters

Hello my friends,

Hope all is well in your sanctuary?  I apologise for the long break from blogging....I am in India on a long break.

I am following the happenings in the UK with horror and my heart goes out to all those hit by this mindless violence. Hope better sense prevails soon.

I am soaking up the sunshine and all the love I had been missing out on for the past coupla years...its strange how I feel like a schoolgirl when I am with my parentsand siblings...time seems to stop...till the minute I hear one of my lil ones calling out to me and needing my presence!!

I had been looking forward to spending quality time with my younger sisters. One of them came down from Chennai to be with me but the other one is away at Singapore and we couldnt meet up on this trip, which is  very upsetting  but it cant be helped. Atleast the phone and the net are saviours in the sense that they do help bridge the distance. Talking about distances, the physical distance has never been a problem with us three sisters,we are very very very close , joined at the soul, should I say?  That is such a comforting thought.

As an extension of this thought, I want to share a dream...I have a dream of starting a shop with all things crafty and handmade...things which would make the recipient smile and feel all warm and homey inside... the three of us have arty leanings and I want that trait to blossom and help us grow from within. I dont know how and when this sapling will bloom but try I must else I will always have regrets!!

I want to share today what my lil sisters have been creating and  hope that this will spur us on to try to reach greater heights...as you can see all of us can contribute and make this venture a success. I am positive it will be good for the soul.

Devi, the Supreme  Mother according to Hindu culture  in charcoal by my lil sis Sharada

A beautiful glass lantern rendered even more so by a lovely Ganesha ,the. elephant god by my lil sis Rachana.

Thoran or bunting inspired by the lotus mandala of Alice for my Amma's beautiful pooja or prayer room




I hope  for encouragement from you lovely people. See you soon.

Hugs,

Ramya.

All squared up! My first blankie tadaah! ....a labour of love

 Hello friends,


Trust all is well in your lil patch under the sun? Today is a very happy day for me , I have f inished my first crochet blanket .... which I talked about earlier here? I have done so many small projects for family and friends but never thought I could do a blanket. I am always awestruck by fellow crocheters churning out blanket after blanket with untiring zeal....let me hope this is the first of many for me!

When I first saw this blanket , I was smitten!! I just wanted to make it 432 small squares not withstanding!! It feel like a great accomplishment especially as its my first!! I did not use the specified yarn as I would not have the heart to use it,  and whats a blanket for if the kids cant play with it and wrap themselves up in it? So I ended up using Stylecraft dk in various shades and am very happy with th result especially as it can be washed in the machine with no repercussions whatsoever. Whats not to love?

My lil boy has been so helpful with all the counting , combinations and egging me on, thanks sweetheart!! I am so glad I made this blankie for another bi........g reason. I have gained a lovely, lovely friend in Vanessa of cocorose textiles blog fame., make a blankie and a friend for life,good bargain,huh? Thank you , V!!

I am going away to India after nearly two years...I will have access to the net for most of my trip so will be able to blog about my adventures back home. I hope to be able to finish some small projects while away for family.. I am the only crocheter in the family,you see...so will have to live upto expectations!! :):) Any suggestions welcome!

Since I started blogging, I feel like I have widened my horizons and made so many friends who I feel I have known for ever,quite an amazing feeling..I am sure you lovely people would agree with!! A toast to all friendships made and those that are still to be   made!

I have a teeny request...please please do leave a word or two on this post about my first blankie,it would really mean the world to me and spur me onto make more  and follow in the footsteps of all you seasoned and fabulous crocheters!!

Toodle pip for now, will be back soon.

Warm hugs

Ramya

Finally..... The petal square tutorial!!!

Hello friends,


Hope all of you are well and happy? Many of you must have finished a lovely half term.. these are such precious moments spent with our cubs..to cherish for always,  arent they?

I apologise for the delay in posting this promised tutorial, just dont know where the time went last week?


Here goes....


Yarn : any dk yarn is  fine in 3 coordinating colours
Hook: 4mm


With the first colour , in my case, orange, chain 5.

Join with a slip stitch in first chain to form a ring.

Make a beginning cluster in the ring as shown.


First chain3 which counts as a double crochet(US terms) , yarn over, insert hook in indicated space or stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; yarn over,insert hook in ring, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook(3 loops on hook); yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Again this is quite wordy, hence all the pictures, so its clearer.

Then chain 2 , make a Cluster as follows.  Yarn over,insert hook in  ring, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through  2 loops on hook; yarn over, insert hook in ring,yarn over and draw up a loop,yarn over and draw up a loop,yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook twice; yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.  Again please feel free to skip this and follow the pics, it might seem a bit tricky to start with, but it will soon become second nature. It took me a while to get the square I had visualised in my mind...a very petal-ly flower and clusters are the way to go, I am sure!! 


Make as many clusters as petals ,that would be 7  in this case, then chain 2. join with slip stitch in top of of Cl-8 clusters. Fasten off.

2 loops on hook

you have 2 loops on hook, now yarn over and draw up ,a loop
yarn over and and draw through 2 loops  on hook, you now have
3 loops on hook!

yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook, one beginning cluster
made, yippee!

 now chain 2 and make a cluster in ring seven times ie eight petals in total!
the following pics show how the cluster is made. first yarn over and insert hook in  ring,
yarn over and and draw up a loop.

yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook

(yarn over insert hook in  the ring, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.)
twice. yarn over and draw through all 4 loops, one cluster made!!

8 petals done!!

Join second colour, brown , with a slip stitch in any chain2 space(beginning cluster as explained,chain3 ,cluster)
in same chain 2 space.

Chain 2, cluster, chain2 ,cluster in next chain 2 space.

chain2 (cluster , chain 3, cluster) in next chain 2 space. Corner
made, hurrah!  always thrills me!

Repeat the above step twice, then chain2 (cluster ,chain2 ,cluster ) in next chain 2 space, chain2,
join with slip stitch in top of  beginning cluster, this makes 16 clusters, 4 corners . Fasten off!!And give yourself a hug!!

With your third colour, join  in any corner chain3 space,  chain3 ( counts as first dc) then make 2 more dc in same place.

 

* 3 dc in next chain2 space, 2 dc in next chain space, 3 dc in next chain space,(3dc,chain 2 ,3 dc)
in next corner chain 3 space(corner made);repeat from * 2 more times; 3 dc in next chain 2 space
3 dc in next chain 2 space,3 dc in  same corner as beginning chain 3. Chain1 ; join with hdc
in top of beginning chain3 (counts as  corner  chain 2 space).
Chain2, turn; hdc in each dc around, working (2 hdc,chain2, 2hdc) in each corner chain2 space; join with slip stitch in top of beginning chain 2.

..

I have used US terminology throughout chiefly because thats what I have encountered in many books .  I have included a schematic to cover any shortcomings in the wordy tutorial!! Hope it is helpful!!

I cant believe how long it has actually taken me to do this post, I have done it in  instalments, struggled at times with Blogger......anyway here it is...I hope some of you will attempt this square of mine  and make different things with it and will let me know if you do please, nothing would give me more pleasure!!


Last week , my lil boy( let me post this before he objects,he is 11 you see and might take umbrage,  but you know how it is, our children will always be little for us , however much they might grow!!) was away on a residential trip and how I missed him..... and understood how our parents feel when we fly the coop!! The cycle repeats,doesnt it? My  lil girl   missed her big bro so much that she hugged his shirt like a blankie every night!! Its nice to see them so close(well, most of the time!!)


Right, I will return to more worldly chores, and hope to be back with you all soon with a " big"reveal.......


Ciao.


Hugs,
Ramya

Homeward bound......I wish I was..

Hello friends,


Hope you are all well? I wanted to share my  excitement with all you lovely people..I am going home,to India after such a long time...two years!! The excitement is palpable. I don't have family here, so its always a major thing when I go home, kids in tow!! I have to say,the internet is such a boon, I can chat with my folks ,see them....its probably the next  best thing! i always feel I miss out on so many events back home.


Luckily this time, I will actually be there when my cousin sis( who is very close to me) will be having her first baby!! I cant believe my baby sis has grown so much!! As the only crocheter in the  family , I have to make the baby something ...a cardi, itty bitty booties? a cap? Mmmm,the mind boggles at the possibilities especially because my massive stash already has suitable yarn!


I think i might make my mum a bag,the beginnings of which have been in my WIP box for a while...I actually made these squares a  while ago and forgot about them as I chased other projects with my new found crochet skills! Here are the squares, I think I might christen it The petal square!! I am sure there are many other square patterns out there which might look similar but to me its one of my first attempts at crochet and very special.
 I will  do a tutorial and post it tomorrow.


  I have two younger sisters... should I do them scarves or maybe dinky party type bags?  Glasses cases for my dad? The possiblities are endless...I would love to hear your suggestions. 

I quite like the colour combination as it feels really summery and cheerful, can only do bright colours somehow! It isnt a perfect square,  I am hoping blocking will help?  My mum will love it anyway with all its imperfections, I am sure... it goes with the territory of being a mum,doesnt it?


Anyway, I will love you and leave you now  , daily chores beckon!! Will be back with my tutorial tomorrow!!


Ciao.


Hugs,
Ramya

Sunshine, sunshine, where art thou?

MILE A MINUTE? AFGHAN

Hello Friends,

 

Hope all is well with  you and yours? 

 I have  been meaning to post for a bit now but just been doing this and that trying to compose something nice for my blog....but it was only today that it struck me that that this blog of mine is meant to be a mirror of my soul and what is dearest to me which means there will be great days with wonderful things and the not so sunny days too just like with other things in life. All I need to do is honestly put my feelings down as they are on that day and know that there are kindred souls who can relate to those emotions and offer kindly words to spur a friend on!! 

So here goes --a random post about things done and meant to be done. first an update on my lil squares blanket which is coming along well thanks to my lovely friend Vanessa who is so generous and helpful. Hope you are feeling better,V!! 

 I found that too much counting bogs me down, so I have decided to keep at it and look at all the other bloggy friends and their finished projects for inspiration. I do however have a little notebook where I have jotted down  all the combinations required . My son who is a math whiz scores off the combis I have finished with a tally mark ...this is very helpful to me!! I always prefer to leave  the math to souls better able to deal with it than me!!

When I first started to learn how to crochet, some of the ladies at my LYS were working on a Mile-a minute afghan.  At first I was captivated by the name ...doing a mile of crochet a minute..wow! that afghan would be done in no time!!  Hence I embarked upon one hoping to use up a very sedate grey yarn (which I thought was duck egg blue and very  "in" last year),  the only problem being I had bought four 100 gm balls of that grey intending to knit a gilet for myself!!! As I found it too dull for  a garment, I decided to use it for the m a minute throw. I bought some peach-ish coloured yarn to go with it and started.  

As many of you would already know, the M a Minute concept requires you to make several strips using the pattern and then joining them together to make an afghan. Well, needless to say,I started with the  great gusto of a beginner and finished 3 strips, pics  which are on this post, then stopped as I felt the result was not great to  look at and doubtful  about the colour combination as well!I am doing this post in the hope that some of you out there will motivate me or guide me as to whether it is worth finishing or " frogging"!! 

Back to the title of this post,wheres all the sunshine gone? Grey is a lovely colour,dont get me wrong.....but not  soooo much of it please , in Spring!!  Here is hoping  the sun decides to shine wherever we are, it really makes such a difference to moods and life in general ,doesnt it?  

Wonder why I never appreciated it when I was living in India?  Strange, isn't it and food for thought.....

Will sign off and hope to see some suggestions from all you friendly souls out there!! I could do a tute if anyone is interested!!

Ciao,

Ramya

Hello Kitty StrappyGranny Boutique bag!!

Hello all!!


How is it where you are? Its grey here  but never mind, I have discovered the perfect antidote...colourful crochet!! 


My lil girl has been asking for a Hello Kitty bag for a  long, long time. I had got a knitting kit a while ago for this purpose but just didnt like the design and the kit  languished in a corner until I saw the lovely strappy Granny boutique bag made by Sara of tangledhappy.blogspot.com fame and decided that this was the pattern I wanted to do for my lil princess.


I just followed the pattern ,though the yarn wasn't chunky, then sewed on the HK patch and voila, lotsa smiles and happiness all around!! Very satisfying indeed!  Thank you Sara!!

Here are the pics..

I am off to pore over my new Felt friends book now,while the squares look at me beseechingly to finish them......


Ciao for now,
Hugs,
Ramya


Below is the link to tangled happy for the pattern for the lovely bag.


tangledhappy.blogspot.com

Stop a while and smell the roses........................

Hello all,


I know it has been a very short while since I started blogging but it is already becoming a big part of my life......just being able to jot down thoughts of the crafty variety and otherwise is very calming.


As I was sitting and enjoying my cuppa, I thought about how we get so caught up in the humdrum routines of life that we let so much beauty slip through our fingers and fail to savour all that life has to offer. This might be because we stop listening to the child within us....which might be begging us to stop and take a breath and just be ourselves...............


It is definitely alright to act silly, laugh  out aloud, hum a snatch of a song long forgotten....just because...


Sometimes just watching our children play and laugh with abandon is just the key to  total unadulterated happiness, don't you think?


The gist of my post today is that we should enjoy whatever we have and to the full...smile a lot.....and stop to smell the roses!!


I leave you with these lovely pictures of my cubs who need only some jumping on a trampette to make their faces light up- how I wish I was a child again.....

 

My first tutorial...Chakra Scarf!!

The Chakra Scarf tutorial

Hello friends!!

Hope alls well in your lil corner on the globe!! As I mentioned in my last post, I am soldiering on with my little square throw but have succumbed to temptation in the form of scarves and lil bags.....sound familiar?

In this post, I am about to do my very first tutorial!! It is a pattern for a scarf ,called the Chakra scarf as the centre is like a wheel -called Chakra in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language as many of you would know! Being a Reiki student ,Chakras are important to me in that sense. So here goes.  Please forgive my mistakes ,I will strive to improve!!

Chakra scarf

Yarn:    I have used Rowan Tapestry which is a DK yarn

Hook:   4 mm

Start with a magic ring, reading so many Japanese  books has convinced me that this is the best way to start if you dont wnat the centre of your project too "holey"!!! I hope the picture shows clearly how to make the magic ring...

wrap the yarn clockwise around  left  forefinger to form a ring.

Holding yarn tail between Right thumb and middle finger, insert hook into ring, grab the working end of the yarn and pull through.

Start with magic ring,then chain 5 stitches.Make a treble (Double crochet US terms).  Then chain 2 and make another treble, continuing in this way making alternate chain 1 and chain 2 spaces between the  trebles. Finish with a slip stitch into chain 5.

Chain 5 and make a treble. continue making the chakra  thus--chain 2, make a treble. Then chain 1 make another treble. Do this till there are 8 trebles in total alternating chain2 and chain 1 spaces between the trebles. Finish the chakra by slip stitching to chain5. The first Chakra chain 3 ,make two trebles in the same space.     Continue by making 3 trebles in each space Finally slip stitch into the chain 3

Chain3, make a treble(double crochet in US terms) in the same space.  Next  chain 5 and make a picot as shown in the next picture.

Chain 5 and slip stitch into first stitch to make a 5 stitch picot.

Make two more trebles after the picot. Chain2 ,  then make a double crochet(single crochet US terms) in the next space. Then chain3 and slip stitch into first chain to make a chain 3 picot. Chain2.

 Continue in this manner alternating  2  trebles-chain 5 picot-2 trebles with double crochet -chain3 picot-double crochet and a chain 2 in between these.

Attaching the two motifs by joining on the go using the picots as joining points. Chain 3.

Make a treble and then a chain 5 picot in the corner by  first chaining 3 and then looping through the corner and chaining two to complete the picot. The two corners are now joined.

Chain 2 ,double crochet in next space with a 3 chain picot looping through adjoining 3 chain picot of finished square. make another double crochet. Chain 2.

Continue in this manner with a chain 2 in between the spaces.

One side finished! Continue as for the first square motif finishing off the other sides as before.

Two squares attached at the picots!! This scarf could potentially  be made in a thicker yarn with appropriate hook. It is definitely easier making the chakras first and then joining them up as you go.

I am quite excited about my first ever tutorial and I hope it will be of use to fellow crocheters.Blogging is fantastic as a medium to express myself and to reach out to people on the web. I thought the internet had helped to shrink the world and figuratively  bring people closer. It is quite amazing to me still how people in opposite corners of the world can communicate so beautifully using the universal language of the web and feel  a bond instantly !!

Heres hoping my blogging efforts will find me many kindred souls to bond with!!

Au Revoir



PS:   I have finally managed to post this,yippee!!  I wanted to add a diagram of the pattern as some  might find the tutorial too wordy. but do not  want to take chances with Blogger!! I will put up the diagram as soon as possible!!