Crochet flower blanket

This is my first crocheted blanket and I'm rather satisfied with the end result.

I learnt to make this flower from RoseHip's blog.

Initially, I didn't think of making this blanket. I just had the itch to crochet some flower (squares) with the leftover yarn from my popcorn stitch flower and sunburst granny square cushion cover project. Then I got addicted to it and started to buy more yarn to make flower squares of different colour-combinations. Honestly, I have lost count of the number of yarn-balls I have used in total. Here are some details of my blanket:

Yarn :: 7 colours of Zeeman Royal and Melange, using a 4mm hook
Material :: 100% acrylic
Weight :: Lighter than a kilo? Not quite sure.
Total number of granny squares :: 9 x 13 (5 rounds each. For flower squares, 3 rounds each)
Measurement :: 125 x 180cm

The length fits my 3 seater Ikea couch pretty well. I'm now snuggled up in my new blanket as I'm typing this blog entry on my couch. :) Home-made stuff = homely, cozy feel.

Here are some of the photos I took while working on my blanket:

Join-as-you-go method

9 x 13 granny square in total

I was looking forward to crocheting the edging of the blanket as it means I get to choose the right colours and experiment on the right kind of finish to complete the blanket. After experimenting for a while, this was what I decided for my edging:

1. Make 3 double crochet(3dc) and chain-1(ch1) with the colour I desire. 
2. On the next row (white), make a single crochet(sc) in the ch1 space of the previous row, then ch3
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 as many times as I want.
4. Sc into the previous row of ch1 space to prepare for the bobble stitch edging.
5. Make bobble stitch and slip stitch (sl) through the back loop of step 5. (sl through the back loop creates a more edgy feel and also helps to avoid curling. For my case I did a bobble stitch after every 2 groups of 3dc).

To make a bobble stitch, 

1. First, I make a sl stitch through the back of the sc loop.

2.  Yarn over (yo), slip the hook into the back loop and pull through the loop. (3 loops on hook)

3. YO and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. (2 loops on hook)

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 two more times until I have 4 loops on the hook.

5. Pull through all 4 loops.

6. Sl stitch into the same back loop to 'close' the bobble stitch.

7. Now I have completed a bobble.

I think the time duration for this project is about a month. I was mostly working on this project in the evenings after my daughter has gone to bed. I'm a happy person now :) 

Cushion cover and basket

I finished crocheting my mini granny squares cushion cover two weeks ago but I have been procrastinating about posting pictures of it.

64 mini squares

Joining the squares by sc the outer loops from the wrong side

Wrong side view while joining squares 

Front view

Back of cushion cover

I decided to create a big granny square for the back cover using the 8 existing colours from the mini squares and it turned out to be satisfactory. For the edging, I tried to keep it simple. First I did a sc into every space of the dc around the edges. Then, I joined the front and back cover by sc the inner loop of the sc of both pieces.

The button loops are created by doing a ch 2 and skipping one sc from the previous round, and then continue with your sc around the edges.

My home-made cushion covers

I have also made a basket for Milena for storing her toys. This was a quick project and it took me less than a day to make it.

P.S:
Milena started attending peuterschool since 2 weeks ago. Since last Thursday, she is down with viral infection from school and is still feeling miserable and cranky. As for me, I am still having difficulties adjusting to the change in my sleeping hours. I have to get up at 6 a.m. to prepare for her school. Milena doesn't cry when I have to leave her, even on her first day of school. She doesn't look like she has enjoyed school when I pick her up. You just can't tell much from her face. Once she has reached home, she's back to her normal self.

This week, I am rather emotional. Our father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, passed away on 23 March at 3.18am, at the age of 91. I have always had deep respect for Lee Kuan Yew since I was a child.  Without him, Singapore would not have survived. It was him who led us from a third-world country to one of the most prosperous nations in the world. His passing has a big impact on me and our fellow Singaporeans. Rest in peace, father of Singapore. Your legacy and spirit will continue. You will always be in our heart.

Knitted DROPS top with lace pattern and round yoke

Have been feeling rather down and uninspired these days. I feel kind of lost in my direction. Looking after your child without your family around is really tough, especially when your child is beginning to become really hyperactive and when you have to deal with her tantrums all the time. Past few days I had a series of breakdowns. I miss the old days when I was single and carefree. I had so much energy and drive in pursuing what I wanted to do and learn. Now, the only free time I have is in the evening. My brains are already quite dead in the evenings. I can hardly push myself to learn anything except to knit/crochet.

I'm done with my lace pattern summer blouse. Blogged about this project on 13 November. Somehow, I don't know why but I paused this project for a while. I have to say that this is one of the easiest knit projects for me so far. Definitely easier than knitting a sweater. I'm using DROPS PARIS, color code 61: LIGHT PEACH. The yarn is made of 100% cotton and has a non-glossy surface. It's super soft and comfortable. 

For this project, 8 balls of yarn (50g each) were needed instead of the indicated 350g in the pattern instructions for size S. 

I'm currently trying to finish up a new cushion cover using my 100% acrylic yarn from zeeman. I'm trying to clear up some of the leftover yarn as they seem to be accumulating overtime. Will blog about it soon. zzzzzz.

Popcorn stitch flower and sunburst granny square cushion cover

For the past two weeks, I have been working on granny squares (popcorn stitch flowers, solid granny squares, sunburst granny squares). I had wanted to turn the pieces into cushion cover. So I made the front piece with popcorn stitch flowers. As for the back piece, I combined both sunburst and solid granny squares.

Front piece

Initial back piece with solid granny squares ('X')

I looked up on different granny squares joining methods on YouTube and this tutorial caught my eye. Most people call this joining method the 'flat-braid' join. Although this joining method is really pretty, you have to keep removing your loop from your hook while joining. Just when I was ready to join both front and back pieces together, I realized that the back piece was much bigger than the front. I tried to think of a solution but eventually did a major clean-up, i.e. to remove the joining stitches, replace the solid granny squares with new sunburst granny squares and re-do the background stitches for the sunburst granny squares. Sounds really stupid and a waste of effort indeed. But I could not think of any other better ways than this. Well, hopefully, I will be smarter in future. I am glad that this project has come to a closure. Here is the final product:

Front cover

Back cover

Close-up view on popcorn stitch flower 

Close-up view on sunburst granny square

Attached buttons in one of the loops from flat-braid join

I joined the front and back pieces by doing:

1) a single crochet (sc) on the chain 3 space 

2) chain 3 (ch 3)

along the edges of the flat-braid joins. For the edging, I added pom pom edging to give it a cheerful look. This tutorial gives a good explanation on how to go about doing it.

Yay, time for a new project...

Milena's 2nd birthday!

Milena turns 2 years old today. When she woke up this morning, she was thrilled to see birthday buntings and balloons hanging on the wall. She went: "ba-roon ba-roon…A A A (referring to the alphabets on the buntings)!". She was happy to see daddy at home today with us. Of course, she was definitely excited when she got her balloons. In total, she burst two balloons. Each time a balloon burst, Milena just stood there for a few seconds and didn't seem to be afraid at all.

Sweater knitted by me last year

Around noon, we sang birthday song to her and had the cake cut. Milena was so excited when she saw the cake: "Cake cake cake!". She couldn't wait to get her piece of cake. For her birthday, I made a strawberry and peach Japanese shortcake (or sponge cake). For the cake filling in between the two pieces:

1) I spread a layer of home-made strawberry puree
2) Then I added strawberry + peach pieces
3) Spread the whipped cream on top to cover the fruit pieces

This is my 2nd attempt baking sponge cake and my first attempt making the filling and decorating the cake. I wasn't confident about the taste at all. To my surprise, it turns out to be so yummy! Milena loves it a lot that she kept asking us to give her more. This sponge cake has a light texture and the overall sweetness is just right. I was glad to have included peach too as the cake filling as it gives a fresh taste together with the strawberry pieces. Seeing Milena's happy face makes me happy too.

Taste so gooddd…

My husband decided to keep half of the cake for his family when they visit us tomorrow. Hmm, I hope they won't mind not having a complete cake.

In the early afternoon, I went running while my husband and Milena cycled next to me at the park. The sun was shining bright today despite the coldddd weather. Such a lovely day.

Around 3, the postman arrived with a big package. It's a loopfiets(push-bike) for Milena from papa! Milena had difficulty balancing herself on the push-bike, partly due to the weight of it. Well, she cried a little when she accidentally hit herself when she lost her balance, but got over it quickly.

For dinner, my husband made pancakes. After having the first piece, I didn't feel like eating anymore. I was craving for stir-fry Chinese food. Miss home. Well, I have had a simple yet wonderful day with my little family. That's enough for now :)