Custom

Hi Loves. 

I was commissioned to reproduce a 3 piece swimsuit from a picture.  I was a bit nervous as this was the first time I would be making something for this customer.  She sent me the picture and I studied it and did a little more research to ensure I was confident about taking on this job.

You may be wondering what's the big deal, right?  Well being a perfectionist and a believer that my work speaks volumes and is a representation of myself.  I tend to worry a lot about doing a great job.  With my confidence boosted, I began to ask the pertinent questions and request the measurements required to ensure I would get a good fit.  

My customer was not good at taking measurements so she decided it was best to drop by and allow me to take what I needed.  With measurements done and colours decided on. 

I started with the easiest of the three pieces the Bralette. I then went to the bikini (if I am being honest this is the piece I was most worried about).  Then finally the skirt and I am all done.

Can you tell she was satisfied with her order?

What she sent vs what I did... Did I do a good job?

Until next time, let's be friends! 

You can find me on Instagram 📷, Facebook 👍, Ravelry 🧶, Twitter 🐦, YouTube 🎥, and TikTok 🎵. I also have an Etsy page you can check out 🛍️. Please feel free to like 👍, share 🤝, and comment 💬 on my posts across all social media platforms.

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. Live, love ❤️, and laugh 😂 until next time! - Khenzuri

Herringbone Stitch (crochet)

 Hi loves,

Today, I want to introduce you to the beautiful and unique crochet Herringbone stitch, which has a knitted version as well. Let's learn and create something beautiful together!

I recalled the name of the stitch I used a few years ago when making a doll top. As I was writing about different stitches for my blog, 🤔 I thought of it. However, I couldn't quite remember how to do it, so I decided to refresh my memory on YouTube. 🤔 I clicked on the first video that appeared.

Armed with yarn and needle in hand, started practicing, but something wasn't right... This was not the way I remembered it.  YouTube here I come again...

That's when I realized there was the half double crochet herringbone stitch and the double crochet herringbone stitch. Phew!! got to say I was a bit worried I'd bitten off more than I could chew.  I was worried, I'd only be able to talk about the basic easy everyday stitches.

Here we go, for the half double crochet (hdc)  herringbone we start as we would the hdc, by yarning over, inserting the hook, and pulling up a loop. We now have 3 loops on our hook... Here is where the fun begins. Pull the last loop through the second loop only... Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook... There you have it. The hdc herringbone stitch is completed.  For the tutorial this week I would like to thank Tiffany Hansen.

Double crochet (dc) herringbone stitch. 

To do the dc herringbone stitch, yarn over as you would when doing the dc, insert your hook and pull up a loop, you now have three loops on your hook. Pull the last loop through the second loop on the hook. Yarn over pull through two loops. Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook and there you have it. You have just done the dc herringbone stitch.   
For this tutorial I would like to thank Hopeful Honey

Until next time, let's be friends! 

You can find me on Instagram 📷, Facebook 👍, Ravelry 🧶, Twitter 🐦, YouTube 🎥, and TikTok 🎵. I also have an Etsy page you can check out 🛍️. Please feel free to like 👍, share 🤝, and comment 💬 on my posts across all social media platforms.

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. Live, love ❤️, and laugh 😂 until next time! - Khenzuri

Butterfly Prom Dress (Part 2)

 

Hi Loves, 

As promised, this post will be showing the progress photos of my daughter's prom dress.

It's finally finished. 

Unfortunately, she is smaller than the mannequin so didn't want to stretch it out after adding the finishing touches.  Don't worry though the final post will be showing her in the dress going off to her Prom.

Until the next post...

Let us be friends, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Ravelry, Twitter, and TikTok   Check out my Etsy page as well.  

Thanks love for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Until next time. Khenzuri

Summer All Year Round

 Hi loves, 

After the beanie/slouchy spree the paradigm was switched completely.  It started when I received a call from my aunt who taught me how to crochet. I was so excited I didn't even listen to what she was saying, I just told her "Give me 30 minutes and I'll be by your house".  When I got there she was on her phone talking, I heard someone else's voice and tried asking if it was her daughter but she was busy chatting away.  To my surprise, I saw a figure step into the room and it was that of my cousin I haven't seen in over 5 years (she lives abroad).  We had our greeting, and then she asked if I had a swimsuit she could purchase.

I replied yes, showed her the picture then informed her I would return home to retrieve it so it can be fitted.  

 

I took the bikini to her, the bottom was perfect but the bra cup was no match for her DDD (man I didn't see or guessed that from the outfit she had on).  I decided to make a completely different bikini for her.  This was Wednesday and she needed it for the weekend.  Short notice right she thought... But ya girl loves a challenge.  I went home and decided on what color and yarn to use as she was open to "whatever".  Before the night was done I completed one bra cup but decided to take that for a fitting, as your girl has never made any bralette for that size before.

With cup #1 completed and fitting perfectly, I did cup #2, finish the top, then on to the bikini bottom.  Time was not my friend that week as though I was done with the top in a matter of hours, the entire bikini had me thinking I would not meet the deadline.  I am happy to report that, not only did I make the deadline but it fitted her perfectly and was instantly loved.

A few rows in

Cup finish.     

After completing the bikini, I had no time to get any pic as it was already night.  It was delivered and in the morning a notification came in.  My IG page was instantly lit.

Until the next post...

Let us be friends, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Ravelry, Twitter, and TikTok   Check out my Etsy page as well.  

Thank you loves for taking a read. Live, Love, Laugh... Until next time. Khenzuri  

 

Speaking It Into Reality.

 Hi loves, 

Have you ever wondered why something keeps affixed to your imagination or dreams?  I have.

I've dreamt many years ago of owning my own Beauty Salon which was operated as a classy beauty salon, with an actual start and end time. This last bit (opening hours) was very important, as at that time I was working in a hair salon that did not have an end time.  I would go to work by 9am and in comes someone after 3 pm requesting to get their hair braided small (if you have ever gotten your hair braided with extensions you know it takes time).  Once my boss accepts this client it means I could be at work until after midnight and still have to be back at work by 9 am the next morning.  That was exhausting and to say the least, I wasn't getting a lot of pay.

Fast forward a couple of years I got certified in general Cosmetology but right after completing tragedy struck and I was forced to seek employment fast as the sole breadwinner at the time died and my baby was just about to turn 2 years old.  While working at my new job I continued to do natural hairstyles (my specialty).  This was my second job, my weekend job, but a little over a year I had to change department and this caused me to lose clients as  I started working on weekends.  I stayed in that job changing departments and moving up the ranks until 2017 when I got laid off.  This is when my dream of becoming my own boss came to life, though not as a salon owner.

I've always been creative at heart, whether it's creating beautiful hairstyles, crocheting/knitting, or embroidering... So it came as no surprise when I registered the business name Khenzuri's Treasures.  I was really pumped up about sewing my seeds and getting my name out there.  But it's not that easy.  

My daughter's first day of school hairstyle

A simple twist with beads

I did my own hair as well

crochet braids

crochet then twist out

I've had good days and some not-so-good days but that doesn't stop me from believing that I will succeed.  I know I will not just own a successful business where I crochet and knit other people's designs... But I will become a designer as well... 

How are you so confident you will become a designer?

I am sure because no matter what pattern I am making my mind is racing 100 miles a sec with new ideas of what to make or how to change the current pattern I am working on. I have designed things in the past it's just not written for others to remake and that is what I am working on.

For instance, I made a dress from a scarf I test knitted.  While I was knitting the scarf, the idea came to turn it into a crop halter top.  However, after starting the new project that idea shifted and became a dress. Can I tell you how this dress stayed on my mannequin for almost a year before the final touches were added?  Take a look and tell me what you think.  Did I do well? 

My design, it was birthed from a scarf I test knitted for Petra Breakstone.

The issue I have now as to why I am not actively pursuing this part of my dream is designing takes time and I am a bit stretched at the moment but the stars are being aligned as we speak so it's just a matter of time.

And you know as long as there is life a dream can still become a reality.  Come along with me on my journey.  Until next time.

Thanks loves for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Please follow me on FB, Instagram, Twitter. You can also purchase yarn to make your masterpieces here.

Spiderweb

 Hi loves, 

2021 started with a challenge presented to me by my mother.  She sent me a pic and requested the item for her birthday in February.  I was like wait a minute mama, I have never just looked at a pic and replicated it... I was about to back down but told myself this year, I will definitely step out of my comfort zone and really try to get my business off the ground as this is what I really love doing.

This is what she sent me.

I honestly went searching on the net for a possible pattern.  I typed in the search engine what I think this may be called... I search for images, I checked the page on Facebook, where she got it from, and no such luck. 

She then made another request....... Lady are you serious right now????   I am still trying to locate a pattern for your requested top.  You see, that item was made out of yarn but she hates yarn as she thinks all yarn is scratchy (trust me. I've tried telling her otherwise).  So, she wanted her's made out of crochet thread, you know that thin thread they used for doilies.

Yeah, that's the one... Aunt Lydia's size 10.. yup.. this same one.

On a side note, before you tell me there is one that was made for fashion (Aunt Lydia's Fashion 3, that's thicker), I found that out recently, but not available where I live.

Now back to the scheduled programming.....

I had to decide:

• How many chains I needed to do to get her size (which when asked for her bust measurement she replied... "measure yourself and add about 4")
• For the spacing how many stitches to skip etc.

With my picture, thread, and hook in hand I started to replicate... 

I also decided to hold 2 strands instead of two.  After working out how many chain stitches were needed. I started the easy part... Double crocheting the top section.

Now...... Here comes the hard part.... How am I going to start the design without a pattern now? Sighs!!!   Well, I did a thing.... It looked almost like the picture, but when I got to the end of the first round... Sighs again!!! there were too many stitches left, which means the last stitch will be too wide.. 

Aaaawwww!!!!

ok Melissa, think...... I counted the last stitches.. and did a little math and just perfect... I got equal spacing.. 

Working, working, working.. Crocheting, crocheting, crocheting... not feeling what I'm doing... Pause! Pause! Pause!

I finally got to the desired length... But something was off... Bummer!!!!!!!

This is what it looked like.

I wasn't feeling this look... then I did a thing... I slip-stitched the last row and felt that it looked better.. If you know me... I could not leave the others so I ripped back all the stitches back to the beginning of the pattern.  OMG, you say... That was easy to do... It's what followed next.. I did each round twice... 

What? How so?... Well after completing each round I do through each stitch and slip stitch around. That, in my opinion, thickens the strands and it looked better to me.  Let me know what you all think.

The end product.

Thanks loves for taking a read.  Live, Love, Laugh... Please follow me on FB, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also purchase yarn to make your masterpieces here.