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

Foundation Single Crochet

Hi Loves

We will be learning about the Foundation Single Crochet (FSC) stitch today.  This stitch has you completing the chain and single crochet rows in one go (2 rows in one).  Now, isn't that fun? 

This would be a great way to start a project that requires a lot of beginning chains.  Imagine not having to chain 200 and then single crochet (sc) across before you can start your project.  This stitch will have you completing these 2 steps in one go.  Not only would this make it easier to start working on that fun piece you can't wait to see finish but would lessen your beginning time.  Now that's a win-win for me.

How is it done?

To do this particular stitch we begin by chaining 2, then insert your hook in the first chain from the hook, yarn over pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through one loop, yarn over then pull through both loops.  To make another FSC, insert your hook into the V that was formed at the back of the first stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through the first loop, yarn over then pull through both loops.  You would continue for the number of stitches you need for your project.

Let us get some visuals and for that, we would like to thank Evelyn And Peter Crochet for those visuals..

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

Extended Single Crochet (ESC)

Hi Loves,

Today we will learn about extended single crochet  (ESC).  This is done by making a few modifications to the way in which you do the single crochet.  It can be done in rows or rounds.  It is not as dense as the single crochet as it gives a little drape and is good for clothing, bags, etc.

To do the ESC, you begin as you would the single crochet.  Insert your hook in the stitch, without yarning over,  with two loops on your hook, you yarn over and pull through two of the three loops on your hook.  Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops and there you have it, the extended single crochet is completed.

Let us get some visuals for clarity.  We would like to thank MJ off the hook for our tutorial today.

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

Little Miss Daisy

Hi Loves, 

So, I've been feeling inspired to take my creativity to a new level and experiment with designing more than just the usual bags and hats. Recently, a family member asked me to make some swimwear for them and I couldn't have been more excited! They gave me free rein to do whatever I wanted, as long as it's high-waisted. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

She sent the yarn for me to choose my colour combo. I selected the Lion Brand 24/7 cotton with white as the main colour and the lovely terracotta as the accent colour.  My cousin and I are almost the same size and measurement so with her not here for her measurements to be taken, I used my own.  

I haven't received her pictures yet, but she was really happy with the finished product. I named the bikini set "Little Miss Daisy" because it looked too plain after making the shorts and bralette. That's when I decided to add the little flower details, which made a huge difference. What do you think?

 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

The Knitted Popcorn

 Hi Loves. 

"Wow, time flies! It's already the third month of the new year and this is only my second post. I didn't mean to stay away for so long, but unfortunately, there were some circumstances that were out of my control. I hope you all missed me as much as I missed you."  

In the previous post, we spoke about the crochet popcorn stitch.  This post will be about the knitted version of the popcorn stitch.  

So without further ado, let us dive into how the stitch is made. To make the knitted popcorn stitch we work the same stitch multiple times by knitting and purling in that stitch 6 times, sliding the stitch off the left-hand needle then decreasing the stitches on the right-hand needle until only one stitch remains.  We then continue working on our piece as usual. 

In this post, I would like to thank Alexis Winslow for her easy-to-follow tutorial on how to do the knitted popcorn stitch.

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

Popcorn Any One... Stitch that is.

 Hi loves, 

Thank you for being here! 😊 It's been a while since I've said hello. 👋 I had to take a break due to some personal issues. 💔 This is my first post for the new year, as it's now 2024. 🎉 This post has been sitting in my drafts for some time now. ⏳.  It's Finally posting time.

It's movie time, so let us get our popcorn 🍿🍿, sit back and enjoy the show... Just kidding.  Today's stitch is the popcorn stitch.  This is a fun somewhat easy stitch to do, it takes a little more time than most stitches to complete.  You can do your entire piece with it, whether you are making a bag, a fun skirt, or a blanket, the choices are endless.  It also doesn't matter if you are a knitter or a crochetier as the stitch can be done in both crafts.

How is the crochet popcorn stitch done you asked? No problem man! I'm happy to tell you.

Crochet version:  The popcorn stitch is worked by doing 5 double crochets (DCs) in the same stitch.  you pull up the loop of the last dc stitch made, remove your hook, insert the hook into the first dc and pull the loop through, chain 1, and just like that the popcorn is made.

Now that I've told you, let me show you. For the visuals, I want to thank Modern Made for her video, which is simple and easy to follow.

Next, I will tell you about the knitted version.  Until then

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

Double Trouble.

 Hi Loves, 

Timing is everything.  After posting the monokini in the previous post I got an order request.  Can I say how excited and nervous I was all at once?  Why you asked?

Well! Let's see...

This was made 5 years ago back in 2018.  It was posted and a blog post was written and nothing happened then.  Secondly, though I had the bag pattern, I don't remember what the hell I did back then.  Luckily the actual item was still within my household.  I retrieved the piece of clothing and studied it the best I could.  With the colours decided by the customer, the ball was set to roll.

A little back story;

I don't know the person as this was a gift from her mother and she wanted it to be a surprise so couldn't get any measurements.  She sent me a picture and said "This is who you are making it for" when I asked for the cup size.  I prayed and asked for guidance, and just like that I made a well-fitted monokini. 

How do I know this? I was sent pictures along with praises for the work I did (see the last photo of the post).  The highlight of my day.

Excitement overload. This colour combo is spot on and made this piece pop. It was made with Premier Cotton Fair in the colour way Lemon Drops, the accent black is from a local yarn seller.

So without further ado...

Hey there! 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

Monokini

Hi Loves, 

Back in 2018, I decided I was going to start making swimsuits, as previously I was told not to as many persons were already doing so. I listened but with any other calling one has to follow their hearts. I knew there were many video tutorials on how to make them but I wanted to make one of my own designs.  Being the creative I am a normal design was not going to work.  

The design I used was a granny square pattern for the Wildflower Shoulder Bag. Now here's where the fun started.  I knew I wanted to use the square pattern, but had no clue how it would translate into a monokini.  My blog post Square... No Diamond outlines what happened while creating this beauty.

It does fit a small bum.

I gave the finished item to my daughter who back in 2018 didn't have much boob, and the butt fits... Fast forward to 2023... I had to make adjustments to the monokini.  We decided to highlight using white (shh don't tell but I had no more of the yarn left so we improvised).  I also had to make alterations to ensure there was support for her now busty chest.  There were also modifications made to the bottom to give a more slick design as well as a more comfy fit.

Drumroll, please... Now after 5 years, this masterpiece has seen the sand, sun, and sea.  Yeah, it was finally worn and, how marvelous it looks.  Don't you agree?

Hey there! 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 (Finale)

 Hi Loves

It's the finale..... And a grand one at that.  Can I just say how proud I am of this dress,  and how proud I am of the young lady wearing this dress?

I am elated that she trusted and had so much faith in my abilities to entrust her Prom dress to me... Little old me. 

As promised this post is a showcase of the final product and the model wearing it.  

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