Cat's Cradle

Last night in my Kundalini Yoga class I got a wonderful present - note the colours of the crochet strings (all intentional by the thoughtful giver, of course), which are part of the wrapping and the main part of the game.

Remember playing cat's cradle as a child? This is what this book from 33 years ago is about - and an immense number of other figures you can create with string - with poetic names like butterfly, lotus flower, starry sky, two islands connected with a bridge, birth of a child.

Did you know that this is an ancient international game with similar yarn

figures in Papua New Guinea, Siberia, Africa, Western Europe and among the Native Americans?

Carolina was fascinated with the book, as she is with most books.

And didn't want to give it back.

I hope, that the game will be something Clara likes - a game that practically takes up no space when going on vacation, with endless possibilities.

Thank you, steinreich. I love it.
(and your other well-chosen handmade gifts, too).

Sumatra and Skoja

This week's blog posts are a lot about dishware.
Today is no exception.
 

At Butlers (where I got the ribbing mug) I also found these beauties. Bowls by the name of exotic and wanderlust-inducing Sumatra.

Even though I am still addicted to buying home magazines, I haven't shopped for home decoration since summer. But it seems that the circle/flower theme has outlived the snow!

Also nice: IKEA's glass Skoja.

Sunday design pleasures.

Two Winter Friends: Ribbing and Stockinette

My new cup got company.

On a stroll through the city center I discovered this red mug by Butlers. Just perfect for having a friend over for tea.

Mollie Doilies

I really enjoy drinking from my new mug this week. While drinking, an idea came up from the back of my mind, something I had seen, something that would match the mug perfectly. And something that I could stitch up in no time.

Pink flower crochet coasters - a kit from Mollie Makes issue number 20 (oh I remember, I crocheted a pink floral thing from Mollie Makes magazine before). The cotton yarn and pattern were included, the colour is actually more dusky rose.

Warm cute coasters and a cute warming cup - never mind that one is crochet and the other knit knit.

Pink (Morning) Moment(s) of the Week

... with my new mug by Finnish iittala. In an antique pink with a knitting-inspired pattern called Letti - meaning "braid".

Carlotta's Vest

The first yarn purchase of 2013 (January 2) was for the first family baby of 2013 (January 9). When I asked the mother what kind of present she would like for the baby girl, she said: "Something handmade." Something knitted. A vest would be great. For when the baby is 6-12 months old. In a dark red.

You don't have to ask me twice.

She delivered. And I delivered, too.

I am a minimalist wrapper and don't like wasting paper. I keep ribbons from other presents and reuse them. So this is how the present looked like - complete with vest, card and ribbon. 

And this is how the vest looked like:

I wanted to keep the vest as minimalist as possible, too. The pattern is Easy Baby Vests by Diana Jordan (you see, I end the year with "easy" and I start the year with "easy"). It comes in two sizes 0-6 months and 6-12 months. My Ravelry notes here.

I kept all gauge and measurements and just wondered whether the proportions will be right - is it maybe too wide and too short? I tried it on Carolina, my nearly 14-months-old. A snug fit and too short on her, of course. So we'll see how baby Carlotta will fit into it.

Did I mention how out-of-this-world a newborn is?

Blogoversary Giveaway - The Winner

Congratulations, Siri Shakti!

Enjoy your green Quantum Balance Crystal.

Pink Moment of the Week

We discovered this bike on one of our winter walks.

Winter Yarn Graffiti

As I haven't seen any yarn graffiti action around town since October (blogged here), I was very pleased to see some snowed-in yarn in a front yard on a recent walk.

All knitted this time, this is a yarn activist I haven't seen before, it is neither ghost dog's crochet handwriting, nor Liselotte Strick. Interesting.

Mama's Mojos

2013 Sock Resolution: The first pair is ready! Proudly presenting and just in time for the recent drop of temperatures below zero.

It is a funny-looking pattern that is fun to knit. I must admit they do look a bit meaty and organic before you put them on. Based on the Mojo pattern with the help of this German website here.

As I find socks knitting per se a tad boring, I try to try new things while knitting them. This time I went with a short-row heel that promised no holes, which involved backwards knitting (find the German video tutorial here). Takes some time to get used to, but the result is looking good and backwards knitting is definitely a new skill. My Ravelry notes here.

The right sock is the last knitted thing of 2012 and the left sock is the first of 2013. My mojos. Interestingly, they are completely colour-reversed. The original pattern suggested working with 60 stitches for a regular sized foot, and as mine are bigger then regular lady's I cast on 64 stitches. They came out a bit too loose and so I am thinking of giving them to Hubby. He's been waiting for his knitted pair of socks for over a year. But that's another story I will tell when the next pair is ready...

Pink Moment of the Week

... literally the first sunshine of 2013, caught in my freshly arrived Quantum Balance Crystals (more about them here).

To celebrate this and also my second blogoversary (which was on December 29) and because I am a German distributor for the crystals (my yoga students love them) I am having a giveaway.

To win a crystal, enter a comment until January 20 and tell me which colour of the crystal you would like - I have the following to choose from: clear, magenta, aqua, green, pink and orange.

Good luck!

Hibernating

... hope to wake up soon and show you some knitted stuff I dream about.

Clara Crafts

Wooly adventures.

New. Year. Resolutions.

*1: I will knit socks this year. I have never considered myself a sock knitter, and only have one pair of knitted socks from three years ago. But during the last weeks I have been wearing this ol' pair extensively. Knitted warm socks are just the best in winter. So I intend to learn a lot about how to knit socks. Sensible things like socks and sweater. No more scarfs, shawls or stoles this year.

*2: Turn UFOs into FOs.

*3: Work from my stash.

 

At least I don't need any new sock yarn this year.