Options, the 2nd Edition

Hi my peeps,

So it's yet another Glenda Winkleman's yarn review, this time it was about @knitcrate.  I've watched her review their yarn before with envy as I would love to try "premium, hand-dyed yarn", heck why not?

However, this time was oh so different they were having a special, "subscribe to their membership crate and get another free just pay $5US for shipping". Now getting 4 skeins of hand-dyed premium yarn for under $30US is a steal, (well in my eyes) as all hand-dyed yarns I've ogled over were anywhere from $24US up per skeins.  I thought long and hard should I really, "yes you should," says that little annoying voice in my head.

I did, and in a few short days two green boxes were delivered and I squealed with excitement when I finally saw and felt what "premium" yarn felt like.  This was the very first time I saw and touched fingering weight yarn.  "Oh so soft!".  I squeezed them, rubbed them on my face, and showed my neighbour, I was like a child on Christmas day.

My very first fingering weight yarn

Just look at this colourway though.

I already knew what I was going to make with my fingering yarn, "I'm all aflutter". I went unto putting my yarn into a ball to start my top.  The yarn was so easy to work with, I couldn't get over just how soft it feels.  The top was completed and I just couldn't wait to try it on.  I live in the Tropics and I could wear this just about any day of the year. Do you wanna see my top? Do you really?

Halfway there

"Tell me you don't like it. you really can't say it, can you?"

I felt sooooooo darn hot, sizzling sexy in it

And with a stroke of luck or blessings rather I was able to keep my subscription for September and October as well.  Yes! Yes! Yesssssss!

September's box (this purple is sooo pretty)

October. 

I couldn't get the November box even though I wish I could.  I tried so hard to get the much-needed points to get the box free but fell short.

This is an outrage! For the first two months, I was asked to review yarn and earn points but none came for my October box (this was what I needed to get my $25 off coupon), darn it. No November crate for me 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

You can get your November box though via  https://www.knitcrate.com/
happy shopping my loves.💓💓💓

Options, the first edition.

Hi Friends,

Being in Jamaica and doing crochet/knitting isn't easy as I have limited options regarding the types of yarn or thread I have access to here locally.  I have been yearning to try some of the different types of yarn that I see online or in my Facebook groups.  I have visited so many of the yarn websites and for the most part, they don't ship to my homeland Jamaica.  The ones who do, shipping is way too much.  I am used to Redheart yarns (even though they don't ship here when I tried their website) as that's what my retailer sells and she still doesn't supply all their yarns.

It was while watching one of Creative Grandma's (Glenda Winkleman) yarn reviews that I learnt about Ice Yarns.  I visited their website (www.iceyarns.com) and even though it's not free shipping and you have to buy in bulk it is somewhat affordable and ships right to my door.  I made my first order to try it out.

My order came in about 4 weeks (you do have the option of express shipping).  It was exactly what I ordered even though, honestly, I didn't know what I ordered.

Baby fine (looks familiar, just thinner than I'm used to)

But! What was kid mohair anyways?

This is 😂😂

These are fine and they weren't crochet thread, get out of here.

Ok, you have new yarn, soft yarn, what are you going to make, 🤔 idk!  Then the opportunity came 😀😁... The founder of my favourite Facebook group was looking for test knitters for her pencil skirt and I volunteered.

The baby fine is really easy to work with, it knits well and the finish is great as well.

Now, just look at this beauty. 👌💓❤

Now, there was the "kid mohair", what am I going to make with this thin fuzzy yarn🤔🤔. I have no clue.....

Two months pass and still had no clue what to make... I tried a suggestion "use it with a thicker yarn together"

I came up with this pretty little flower, that was turned into a clip btw.

A few weeks pass and Petra Breakstone posted in her FB group "Yarnz2go Groupies" for an "All Petra Design KAL (knit along) / CAL (crochet along).  I thought this couldn't hurt, secondly, I'll be rewarded with patterns (now who doesn't love free patterns).  Which yarns will I use? And it hits me, why not use two skeins of the kid mohair, together 🤔🤔.  So I did.....

Now, doesn't this look nice?

Even better.

To be continued........

Bitter Sweet

Hi wonderful people,

I've been eyeing a knitted pencil skirt from the very first time I saw the designer (Jen Giuntoli) share it in the group Yarnitude back in 2017.  I've been inquiring about the pattern and it's always "not yet ready".  Then the most awesome thing happen in September 2018 ........ She needed test knitters for the said skirt.  I gladly raised my hand✋✋, "me teacher, teacher me, please pick me".

Guess what she did...... Yeeessssss...... She picked me as one of her test knitters.  (screaming yes, yes, yes 😁😁😁😁).

I got the pattern and it was not like any other pattern I've done.  No, no, no, this pattern requires measuring, calculating, and more calculating.

Ok, Melissa, your size would be a large (don't judge me 😂), and Sani would be a medium... Soooo, let's do Immi's as she's small, her measurements would be easy to do..... And so I decided on the colour and yarn, measure her... I did the calculations.

I was the first to complete my skirt.  She loved it and I confirm this with "mommy make more pretty clothes for me".  Aaawww, she melts my heart.

My first two cable repeats were completed.

Almost completed

Fitting, yes... It fits perfectly.

I was pleased with it, now it's time to tackle a size bigger.  "Sani, want one?", I asked. " yes" came her answer.

I knew exactly what colour I was going to use, Redheart Soft, in the colour Coral.

Measurement ✔ calculation ✔

Oooohhh lalala, 😍😍😍😍

I worked on the skirt following the measurement to the Tee.... It's completed, yes!

It's nice, right.

She tried the skirt, it's nice but something wasn't right..... It's not as fitted as I would have liked.  I tried it on and guess what? I got my skirt after all (and you thought you couldn't do your size just yet, ha). It was a bitter SWEET moment for me.

It fits like a glove.

I'm all aflutter

Hi loves,

July 16th started like any other day.... but something happen that made that day super awesome.  Here I was browsing through Facebook, going through my favourite groups and there it was a post asking if persons would be interested in test knitting.

Now, shut the front door, I am a newbie to knitting and have never, I say never test knitted before... But I said what the heck, it shouldn't be hard, right?

I volunteered and got the ball rolling.  The materials needed were fingering weight yarn (what is that 🤔?), size 5, 16" circular (check ✔) size 6....... Aaawww, I don't have that... Oh well, it shouldn't hurt to use what I had, right?

Sure, I got the pattern and looked for the thinnest yarn I had, as this should be what fingering weight looks like (don't know).  The chart was very easy to follow and with my enthusiasm, I was able to finish my top in record time....... Butttttt... It didn't fit. 😭😭😭😭

And yes it's the same top above.

I was not to be deterred.  I searched my stash, found another "thin" yarn, did the first set, checked my gauge and it seems on point, blouse #2 started.  I did the lace bit, started working on the actual top and 3/4 way in that yarn ran out, not to worry you have another skein or so I thought. It turned out to be a bit thicker than the one I was using but it's the same colour so onward I go.

Checking my gauge.

Yes, right on point.

Just look at that design.

I completed my top, blocked it overnight, and bam it's finished my "I'm all aflutter" top.  The top looked good, but I wasn't satisfied as I didn't use the same material.

I finally got my hands on some fingering yarn and attempt #3 began.  I finished the lace bit and placed my work on hold as I was determined to follow the pattern to the tee those times.

My very first fingering (Knitcrate)

My checklist:

Correct yarn ✔
Correct needle sizes ✔

Just look at it... It's not yet completed but aaaawwwwsome!!!!

Photo shoot time😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

A rose like no other.

Hi loves,

I would like to tell you how I turn a rose into a clutch purse.  I was asked by my cousin to make her a rose to put in her hair.

She selected the yarn, I told her "that's going to be big as the yarn is too thick".  She insisted.

The rose was made by following the above video.

The rose was lovely but as predicted, " it's too big".

We both pondered what we could use it for.  Think, think, think (doing the Winnie the Pooh).  Then eureka..... Why not make a cross bag.

I started to make it after a few rows, the thought came, this would look really good as a clutch, but it's not my choice to make is it🤔. No, it isn't.

Showed her where I was and told her what I thought and she liked the idea and then the magic began.

.

Jamaican Bandana material

How I made the bag.

1.  Chain (ch) 41, half double crochet (hdc) in the 2nd ch from hook and in every stitch across.  40 stitches (st/s)

2. Ch 1, turn, hdc in each st across.

3.  Repeat row 2 until the desired length is required. (Ps ensure you crochet enough rows to fold into the actual purse and the flap to close it)

4.  Once the desired length is reached, hdc in the next 19 sts, ch 3, skip the next 2 sts, hdc in the next 19 (buttonhole created). fasten off. Cut a piece of material and lined the bag.  You can do so by sewing with a machine, hands, or fabric glue.  I actually hand sew mine.

5.  Fold your work to make the purse and the closing flap (this should be around half the size of the purse.

6.  Use any sewing method to close both sides.

7.  Attach button

8. Sew the flower above the buttonhole(the button will be hidden by the flower).

After completing the purse, we decided to add straps to be able to wear it as a cross-body as well as a purse/clutch.  The straps were positioned inside the bag so that it was easily hidden if they were not needed.

And just like that, I transform a simple rose into a clutch purse.

It's A Fashion Extravaganza

Hi, my fashionistas out there,

Someone asked me a while back if I could draw... I was like "not to save my life"... Well, I'm no artist (not with a pen or pencil, paintbrush, you get the gist).  He replied, then how can you create those 👉 referring to my dolls.

I told him, I just envision the look I want and just do it.  It sometimes takes me weeks to perfect a look while other times a few minutes.

The easiest part of making my dolls is the blank canvas, the framework, and the body. Everything else requires me to be comfortable, focused, and void of distraction.

I decided to make a few dolls back in June yes June.  Within a few days, I finish 6 bodies, and within 2 weeks a dozen bodies were completed... Then comes the hard part... What look should I give them?🤔🤔🤔🤔

Think, think, think, think........ Okay, check yarn stash, check available colours... Days pass, weeks pass, then before I know it, it's August... Oh man, what are you doing Melissa? At this pace, you'll definitely not get anywhere. 🙄  Or so you think....

I finally got my inspiration when I got a package with some embroidery thread... These pretty bright colours were all I need.

Aren't they just so pretty?

One week or so and my fashion show was ready to begin.....

Group pic

The Glam Squad

The Newbies

It's date night

Chocolate boy Nico getting some love

Stanford and Rochelle

Nico, Tricia, Stanford and Rochelle 

I just love his pearly whites.

The only gents of the Glam Squad

Vanessa, Rochelle, Tricia and Izabell

Girls chit chatting.

That mess bun though😁

It's all about the green

Isabell is rocking her white hair

Vanessa before her hair is completed

Can you tell this is Tricia?

One man standing

I tell you, it amazes me to see the transformations

Hair and makeup left.

Just look at all those loose strings

Waiting on the ladies

No, wasn't ready for the pic😂😂😂

Ready for the road.

"Thought you changed your mind, you took so long"....... " Darling to look this fab takes time"....😘

Greys and the likes

oh, colours 

That pink puff though🤔, slayed.

Waiting on the others

Hair or no hair, still pretty.

"I can't decide on the hairdo"

85% completed.

"Oh, darling you look ravishing"

"😍😍😍"

Just a beanie and I'm ready.

Oh, they are just so many to choose from... What colour lips🤔🤔🤔🤔

Girl, slayed

This is before the hair and makeup😀😁

Is this 2 gals and agent? Or 2 gents and a gal. 🤔🤔... Wait, you already know, don't you?

How it all began.

THE END