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25.1.14

Crocheting out of a suitcase

Sawadee Ka from Thailand!
How are you?

ByHaafner, crochet, doily, pastel

I'm quite well, as I have the luxury of travelling for quite a while through South East Asia. Having arrived two days ago in Thailand, via Laos (beautiful!), I still have many, many weeks ahead of me. Hooray hooray! Being away from home for a relative long time, left me with a big (and when I say big, I mean Big) decision to make. Made even more difficult by the fact that I like to travel light (and when I say light, I mean Light: one small suitcase, plus one carry on bag). Which (and how much!) yarn to bring with me?

So what is in that (really small) suitcase? Well ehm... See for yourself...

ByHaafner, yarn, travel

Oh dear, this is rather embarassing, isn't it? And this is even without the balls of yarn pictured below... Beforehand I couldn't decide which project to make. It had to be practical, but satisfying at the same time, if you know what I mean. So in the end I quite randomly took quite some cotton pastels with me (the ones I usually use for doilies) and silver grey and natural white acrylic (because the acrylic is light weight).

I still can't decide what to make of the pastels... I have been trying different things. Like the lacy circles from the first picture. I thought they would make a nice blanket. But the pattern (inspired by a Japanese pattern) is too fiddly and fuzzy when travelling. A lot of short rounds means a lot of ends to sew in, and that is just not the thing to do when travelling in a bumpy bus for hours. ('Where's my needle? Sir, excuse me, my needle is under your seat. It's my favourite needle you see. Oh dear, I think I might have fallen between those bags of rice. Would you mind removing them?') Also I think this pattern would work better with a softer cotton, like Drops or Vinnis. So this sample will end up as a doily or hotpad. (I haven't blocked it yet, so it is a bit wonky still.)

ByHaafner, crochet, solid granny squares, pastel, wip

So after the blanket-ending-up-as-doily, I tried these solid squares. I think this might work out. The idea now is to make a big bag of them. What do you think? And should I throw the bright pink in too? (Pictured on the right.) Probably.

Because it needs to be a travel friendly project I'll have to compromise on my principle that even within one-colour-squares I cut the thread after each round in order to start the new round on another side of the square. Is that a weird thing to do...? It's just that in that way the first stitches are less visible as such.

Meanwhile I'm working with the grey yarn. It's going to be a huge scarf. I'm using the same shell stitch as for the pink scarf that is still waiting for me at home. Couldn't finish it in time.  Anyway, I like the stitch, and it's a perfectly travel friendly project. Especially in this very light acrylic meant for a 3 mm hook - but I'm using a 4,5 mm hook, which makes it very soft).

ByHaafner, crochet, scarf, wip, shell stitch,





















Anyways, quite enough of my ramblings for today, I think... I'll try to post some travel posts soon - with a yarny angle. Thanks for visiting. Have a lovely day!
(And of course I would love to hear your yarny - or other - travel adventures...)
♦♦

19 comments:

  1. Are you coming even in Indonesia??? If yes, don't hesitate to contact me!!!! ;oD
    I really love your grey scarf!!!
    xxxxx Ale

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    1. Hey Alessandra,
      Thanks for the kind offer! I'd would love to, but unfortunately I'm not coming to Indonesia. (Although it is definitely high on my 'want to go' list!)
      Thanks and enjoy your weekend!
      Haafner

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  2. Lovely work as ever! Enjoy your travels!

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    1. Thanks Michelle & have a lovely weekend!
      Haafner

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  3. How very exciting!! I lives travelling through Thailand and it seems you have your priorities right with your packing arrangements. I'm loving the pastel squares and no dark pink for me. Enjoy your travels xxx

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    1. Thanks, I'm glad you agree with the priorities! ;-)
      Thanks for kind comment and enjoy your weekend,
      Haafner

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  4. Oh I love that doily on the first photo!! ♥ Too bad that the pattern isn't travelfriendly. But the squares are nice, too, I think I would go with pastels only and not add the darker pink. About joining rounds, there are several ways to make the join less visible. Don't start the row with ch3 (ch2 is better anyway) but e.g. with (ch1, dc in the same stitch) (end with sl st in dc, sk that first ch always), or start with (ch1, sc in same st, ch1) (end with sl st in last ch), or... Have a look at youtube for "crochet invisible join", there are severaly ways shown. Maybe on of them works for you! Your grey scarf is wonderful, makes me wanna start something similar just in this second ;-). Greetings & enjoy your trip!!
    Nata

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    1. Hello Nata,

      Thanks for commenting! I'm glad you like the doily. I do quite like it, and it's definitely on my todo list after I get back... (With other yarn.)
      Thanks for your suggestions: these are reallh helpful I definitely check them out! I do - as a default - start my new row with ch2 in stead of ch3, and that definitely helps. I tried a 'standing' (I think it's called that?) begin dc a couple of times but I don't seem to get it right. So I'm happy with your suggestions.

      Let me know if you make a similar scarf!

      Happy weekend!

      Haafner

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  5. What a marvelous trip you are having. I am looking forward to seeing some of the sites you are visiting, but meantime really like each of the crochet projects you're working on.

    Those Japanese-inspired circles are so beautiful, but I completely understand how fiddly it might be to work on those color changes on a bus! The squares and the scarf seem absolutely perfect "for the road."

    On my last trip to the UK, I took along one huge ball of light, soft, lace weight wool yarn and a light weight circular needle. Train and plane rides were perfect places to work on this portable project. I finished the scarf after I got home...still need to block it!

    Bon voyage wishes to you. xo

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    1. Thank you Frances! It is so nice to actually make your own travel souvenir, isn't it? I'd love to see your blocked scarf.
      Take care!

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  6. So pretty! Enjoy your time traveling! xo Heather

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  7. Sawadee ka! You are travelling my valley - we LOVED living in South East Asia and I really enjoyed shopping at the Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Emporium, Disvovery, Chatuchak market and many more! Not to mention the fabulous food hmmm. Will you also travel via train? I liked using the train that travels from Bangkok to Singapore - it is slow but a great way to get around as well. I love the Japanese inspired doily and have had this pattern bookmarked for a throw for a while now. It really is super pretty. The scarf is gorgeous too. The squares are adorable - I would use the hot pink as one gets the idea of how it pops the other colours in the Japanese inspired doily. I always start my rows on squares in the corner and therefore hide all the joins effectively. See http://pigstails.blogspot.com/2012/09/tutorial-hiding-chain-stitches-on.html - it works on traditional granny's as well as solid squares. Have the time of your life and enjoy the weather too. Cheers!

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    1. Oooowh... I just love train rides - so I probably will ~ but I haven't planned anything yet. I decide day by day if + where to go. :-)
      Thanks for the link to your tutorial!
      All best, Haafner

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  8. Looks so pretty and soft!! Enjoy traveling!! :) xo Holly

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  9. Wow it all looks so pretty, and LOVING how you prioritise your packing in your case! I really love your squares and even more so your scarf. Utterly gorgeous. Enjoy your travels and cannot wait to hear more about them!

    Take care

    vanessa xxx

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    1. Thanks Vanessa! I'm happy you sympathise with my packing priorities. Not everybody would understand, I think. Ha!
      xhaafner

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  10. I'm new here - curious if you've shared the pattern for the motif you have used in your banner at top of your blog. It's beautiful - doesn't look too fiddly to do.

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    1. Welcome here! I think the pattern was probably a combination of a pattern and improvisation, but I'm not sure since it's quite a while ago since I made this one. I'm sorry!

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