Workshop 8: Amigurumi Workshop on Apr. 7 & 20

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting (or knitting) stuffed animals or anthropomorphic creatures (or objects). Learn how to crochet an amigurumi creation and get tips on how to create your very own!

I have 2 workshop dates you can choose from in April:

April 7, 2013 (Sunday), 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Fully Booked, Bldg. 6, 902 Bonifacio High Street,

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

April 20, 2013 (Saturday), 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Craft MNL, Unit Y, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St.,

Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City

Participants must have basic experience of crochet. When I mean basic, if you know how to make a chain, do single and double crochets, and slip stitches, you're qualified! We want to make sure that we make good use of our workshop time by teaching you an amigurumi pattern and tips on how to eventually create your own. We'll cover amigurumi basics.

Workshop fee is P1,500. This is already inclusive of your very own amigurumi kit: 5 sets of acrylic yarn, double-ended steel hook, fiberfill, tapestry needle, stitch marker, scissors, patterns, and 5 pairs of googly eyes. You will also get a screen printed tote bag from Craft MNL!

To register for the workshop, please go to this link.

Check out scenes from my previous amigurumi workshop at Craft MNL last February here

Fully Booked is at Bldg. 6, 902 Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Click this link to access the location on Google Maps.

Craft MNL is at Unit Y, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City. To see where The Collective is, check out its location on Google Maps here.

Hidden Crochet Projects: Ta-da!

I've crocheted a lot of things. I've crocheted so much I've already forgotten what I crocheted and where I placed or hid those stuff I crocheted. This past week, I found two.

I found this one in between pages of a crocheted book.

Pattern for this cross was taken from the book, "At Home With Crochet" by Leisure Arts, Inc. ("Quick Cross Bookmarks," p.112)

This is an unfinished cross bookmark. I used to give this away to friends back in college, I think. It's unfinished because it's supposed to have some gold border. This is made of mercerized cotton yarn.

This one's been hanging under a pile of scarves.

Pattern for this belt/scarf was taken from the book, "Easy Crocheted Accessories" by Carol Meldrum ("Skinny Beaded Scarf," p.104)

When I made this belt/scarf, I wanted to experiment with the little yarn I had back then. These are all local acrylic yarn. I haven't worn this. I guess it's pretty enough for my mannequin (for now) :p

I hope I discover more! I'm still actually looking for this crocheted pillow I gave to my mom. She said she might have thrown it!!! Ugh. I really don't get why she threw it. I hope it's not that ugly :p

Wohooo! Gantsilyo Guru in Cebu!!!!!

And I love that it rhymed :p

Get ready to be hooked, Cebu!

Learn this craft with so many possibilities. This workshop will be your introduction to basic crochet techniques: how to hold a hook, crochet basic stitches (the important ones of course), read patterns, and use different colors in one project. It will also be our goal for you to finish a granny square at the end of the workshop. Even if takes some time for your hands to get used to the motion of manipulating the hook and yarn, it is possible for you to accomplish something :)

I have details in the "priority form" below. Just fill it up if you want to be given priority for a slot. You will be sent an email later for confirmation of your slot together with payment details.

Wish Granted! Finally Making A Crocheted Bouquet!

I've had so many firsts in my crochet career these past few months. Just these last few weeks though, I had crochet firsts in weddings: a crocheted bride & groom cake topper and a crocheted arrhae pouch.

Last December, I debuted my first sample crocheted bouquet. I've been wanting to make a full-blown and legit one for a bride.

Jut this month, I got commissioned to crochet one! I am super excited for this project. I like how my crocheting skills are being challenged by each client. I am grateful for the opportunity to show how great this craft is. I am grateful as well for the trust being given to me to make projects that become part of one's special day.

Here are my initial pieces for the bouquet. I'm feeling really good about the outcome. This is probably only 15% of the entire bouquet. I am itching to finish this already. It's a lot of hard work but it will be worth it :)

One good thing about having a crocheted bouquet is that it won't wither! You can even add your own scent to it because it's made of fiber. I also got commissioned to crochet boutonnieres for the male entourage and for the groom. This wedding will be a crochet showcase!

Of course, I can only reveal the completed one after the wedding on the 1st week of May. I cannot wait!

Pre-Loved Crochet Books Now Available

Even if there are thousands of free patterns out there on the net, there's nothing like having a crochet book you can flip through and keep.

I am selling pre-loved crochet books through my Facebook Page. Go to the "Pre-Loved Crochet Books" album and check out available titles. I also encourage you to do research on these books and read reviews before purchasing them. Send me a private message which contains the title of the book you are interested in and your email address.

So far, I have uploaded 6 and have sold 3 of them already. I will be updating this album with more stocks as they come.

Free Patterns With Your Hooks!

Freebie alert! Those who will be purchasing this set of 12 hooks from me...

...will be getting 5 free patterns that use locally available yarn!

Patterns are: Christmas Stars, Square Tissue Holder, Mini Pouch, Poinsettia, and Christmas Ball Accents.

For those who have already purchased the hook set, you will be receiving these as scanned copies through email soon! :)

Click here for more information on these hooks.

It's Up! Gantsilyo Guru Calendar Of Events

It's been an exciting year for crochet so far. In my pursuit to spread the love for this craft in the Philippines, I have put up a calendar showing my upcoming workshops. This is also displayed on the "Workshops" page. Click the link to each event for more information.



To get access to the links in the description of each event, click ""more details" seen at the bottom part of the description.

The Big Reveal 2: Crocheted Arrhae Pouch

Last weekend, my good friends Pao and Chat got married. When I found out about their engagement before, I told Chat to think about what I can crochet for their wedding. I declined when she asked me to crochet her wedding dress :p Just kidding, she didn't ask me to do that (even if she did, I would still refuse to crochet one - it's too hardcore).

She asked me to crochet an arrhae pouch. What a brilliant idea!

And here it is!

This is a vintage pattern. Unfortunately, I cannot name the exact source of the pattern because I was only shown the picture :) I've seen this design in a vintage magazine once.

I will be posting pics of this pouch during the wedding once I get them :) I want to thank my mom for making the lining and sewing it to the pouch.

I can't wait to see the official photos! This was placed on a burlap pillow. I love how the burlap provided a good contrast to the white pouch. It looked so organic and eco-chic! :)

Crochet-Supportive Boyfriends Are Da Bomb

Yes, I still use "da bomb." No judgement :p

This is what you get when you have a crochet-supportive boyfriend.

Yarn. More yarn. He surprised me with yarn from Australia. They're from Morris & Sons: Estate 8-ply  made up of 100% Australian wool. Yum.

He is so crochet-supportive that he got featured in Craft MNL's website as a craft-supportive boyfriend. Check out the feature here.

Edited photo courtesy of Craft MNL. Original photo of me and Rob courtesy of Lea Dordas.

He is so crochet-supportive that he wants to crochet himself. Check out my blog entry about it here.

He is so crochet-supportive that this is not the first time he surprised me with yarn. Check out my blog entry about it here. I haven't used them, by the way. I'm still figuring out what project to make out of these. It has to be a special one!

The Greatest Crochet Pairing Of All Time

White on wood. That's why doilies work. Just crochet a doily out of white yarn and put it over a wooden surface, and here you are. It's the kind of pairing that made millions of grandmas obsess over making millions of doilies to cover millions of tabletops and furniture.

Pattern for this doily was taken from the book, "White Crochet" ("Yarn Mat," p.32)

Every crocheter must experience making a white doily. Get over the trauma of having to make one for your grade school or high school project and ending up with an annoying curled up piece of crochet disaster. Maybe you used a smaller hook or there was just so much tension in your fingers. Try making one with thicker yarn like this.

I also like doilies because every round you work on is different.

A doily brings out the best in every plank of wood. Now that's love :p

It's On A Cake!

Here's proof that they look even more amazing on a cake (clap clap clap)!

I wanted to cry when I saw it on the cake! It's like seeing your own baby after giving birth (although I wouldn't really know exactly how that feels).

I was so relieved to see that the size of my dolls and wooden base fit the cake. I was given the dimensions but it was only during the reception that I saw the cake. Glorious! It was fitting to have a "grand" cake topper because the cake was simple. Suffice to say, the cake topper was the "main attraction."

I was so giddy I forgot to take a pic of the newlyweds, Gino and Tin, with the cake....and with me! Tsk. Another documentation fail! But the pic above is my closest pic with them and the cake (yep, they're the ones on the screen behind the cake). They're a lovely and stylish couple!

The theme of their wedding is travel. Check out the awesome reception.

The proud crocheter and her creation. Parting is such sweet sorrow! I will miss these dolls!

Wow, I didn't realize I had messy hair. Oh well :p

If you are interested to have your own customized wedding cake topper, let me know! Just message me at my Facebook Page or send me an email at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com.

Go to this link to see how these dolls looked like when I was working on them.

The Big Reveal 1: Amigurumi Cake Topper

So here it is, the Amigurumi cake topper I made for a lovely couple for their wedding day.

I customized the cake topper to resemble the bride and groom's attire. Even the bride's hair color and style is patterned after the bride's :) There are also details like the addition of studs to the gown.

The pieces of luggage symbolize the theme of the wedding: travel! The couple will go on a European honeymoon!

Watch out for the next big reveal of this crocheted cake topper on the actual cake and in the reception! The wedding just took place yesterday :) It looked even more amazing!

These Hooks Are Made For Crocheting

I plan on making you all "hookers" by offering you this 12-pc. crochet hook set.

I am selling this set for Php 445 (price is already inclusive of delivery within Metro Manila). This set is cheap compared to international brands like Susan Bates or Boye, well, because they're made in China. I've tried these though and they're pretty functional. It's a good and practical buy for beginners who want to experiment with different kinds and sizes of yarn.

The sizes in this set are labeled in the metric system ("mm"). If you don't know by now, there are different ways hook sizes are labeled. There are the US and English conversions. For your information, you can check this link for the equivalent sizes of these hooks here.

Sizes are from 8.0mm (largest) down to 2.0mm (smallest).

Send me an email at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com if you are interested to purchase a set. Remember, having more hooks will allow you to have more creative freedom in crocheting :)

Gantsilyo Guru Weddings

I cannot wait to show everyone my latest creations for weddings! One is an Amigurumi version of the bride and groom as a cake topper. The other is an arrhae pouch. I did them for two different couples to be wed within the next two weeks. Since I can only reveal them after the weddings, here are my teasers.

Here's the arrhae pouch.

Here's the other half of the cake topper.

Check out my work in progress for this cake topper last January here.

Workshop 7: Basic Crochet on Mar. 30 at Craft MNL

I will be having one basic crochet workshop at Craft MNL on March 30 (Sat.) from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM. This workshop is for beginners and is a good introduction to crocheting.

This is my only basic crochet workshop at Craft MNL for March. Check out some outtakes from my previous workshop last February 23 at Craft MNL here.

Workshop fee is P1,000. This is already inclusive of your very own crochet kit: 2 sets of acrylic yarn, 3 balls of mercerized cotton, double-ended steel hook, scissors, and patterns.

To register for this workshop, please go to this link. 

Craft MNL is at Unit Y, The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio, Makati City.

Map courtesy of Craft MNL

To see where The Collective is, check out its location on Google Maps here.

You Can't Go Wrong With Vintage Crochet

I just started the grueling task of organizing my "crochet library." I began with my vintage crochet magazines and patterns. I'm placing them inside plastic fillers so they're protected. And because I'm O.C., I have different binders to cater to different categories like home accents, wearables, and others :) It can be therapeutic, you know.

These pieces, in particular, are from the 1950s. Guess what crochet newbies, the patterns you see in those cool (expensive) colorful crochet books might just be taken from old patterns. I think most patterns out there are based on old designs. They're just "updated." If you really want to practice crochet, try learning vintage patterns. It can get you places :)

If your grandma or mom crocheted, try going through her library. She might have a vintage crochet book or magazine hidden somewhere there.