Some Songs In My Crochet Music Playlist

I'm straying away from the typical crochet post here. I know you've seen me in my crocheting pictures amid scenic tropical backgrounds, but you haven't really seen me crochet at home. I won't scare you (for now) by posting a picture of me in my unhipster(ly) thick eyeglasses wearing some shirt I must have worn during P.E. class in high school.

When I crochet at home, there's always the TV or there's music on. When the TV's on, for some odd reason, I like having CNN or the ANC News Channel on. It's multitasking, come to think of it. Being up to date with the latest news happening in the country and around the world while crocheting stitches that at the end of the day will have no impact whatsoever to the affairs concerning humanity.

Then there's music. I love listening to music. I don't choose one particular genre over the other. If it clicks, it clicks. Sometimes, I am influenced by friends who happen to love a lot of the blues and rock and roll. Sometimes, I just like listening to boy bands. Sometimes, I like it loud. Sometimes, I want it to be the kind of music you want to listen to while lying down and staring at the cracks of your ceiling. It really depends on my mood. I just want to share with you some of the songs in my crochet playlist. One thing in common about all these songs is that I love singing along with them.

Icona Pop - "I Love It"
You don't want to hear me singing this song while crocheting. Cray Cray in the house. Makes me feel cool while doing the grandma-ish stuff.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "I See A Darkness"
The video's a bit freaky, but I like the message of the song.

Click the link below for more songs in my playlist!

2nd Wave of Coffee, Cupcakes, and Crochet!

Kim, El, Ivy, and Leace joined me in the 2nd wave of my special series of beginners' crochet workshops in partnership with Red Heart® and Cannon® yarn. 

Except for Kim, the rest were first-timers!

It felt like a steady Saturday morning last weekend. The "intimate" session allowed me to give more guidance over each participant.

In the picture below, I'm teaching Ivy and Leace how to hold yarn. Actually, there are different ways how yarn is held while crocheting. There may be a standard one but crocheters put their own variations to it. It really depends on what works and what is comfortable for every person.

Check out what happened in my previous Coffee, Cupcakes, and Crochet workshop here.

My First Colorful Chevron Afghan

I'd been wanting to make a chevron afghan ever since I discovered this pattern and the many color combination possibilities it offers. I finally found the time to start making one. And I must say, it's looking glorious so far!!! [Enter the sound of the gates of heaven opening]

I started making this one on Election Day in the Philippines just this May 13. I actually made the 1st row while waiting in line for my turn to vote. It was a long wait. I'm glad crochet is a convenient craft. You can take it anywhere!

Love, love, love, chevron!!! The color possibilities for this pattern are endless (didn't I say that earlier?!?)! This is still a work in progress. The size so far is 41 in. x 45 in. I'm planning to make it 60-in. long. It would make a good accent in any home that welcomes pops of color. The yarn is really light and I think it will be irresistible to wrap yourself with it under a rainy or cold weather. I am actually not planning to keep this afghan for myself. So if any of you are seriously (yes, seriously) interested to purchase this unique (like, really unique - unique to the extent that you will be the first and only one so far to have something like this in the Philippines), just send me an email at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com. Delivery will most likely be end of June or early July.

This is not an original pattern, but it is an adapted one. When I say adapted, I used an existing pattern and made changes to it so it could come out the way I wanted it. I used a different yarn and hook size and tweaked the pattern count and row stitches. This one is an adaptation of the pattern called "Bicolor Chevron" from the book " Comfort Knitting & Crochet Afghans" by Norah Gaughan, Margery Winter, and the Berroco Design Team.

Images from Berroco Fine Handknitting Yarns Website: http://www.berroco.com/patterns/bicolor-chevron

I pretty much think though that it is an original design on its own :) You take inspiration from other projects and make them your own :)

Amigurumi Workshop at Craft MNL on June 22!

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!

Workshop is on June 22 (Sat.) from 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM at Craft MNL.

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: 10 sets of acrylic yarn, double-ended steel hook, fiberfill, tapestry needle, stitch marker, scissors, patterns, and 5 pairs of googly eyes.

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

Check out scenes from my previous amigurumi workshop last April here.

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.

Basic Crochet Workshop at Craft MNL on June 15!

I will be having a basic crochet workshop at Craft MNL on June 15 (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 in June. Check out some outtakes from my previous workshop last March 30 at Craft MNL here.

Workshop fee is P1,200. This is already inclusive of your very own crochet kit: 2 sets of acrylic yarn, 3 balls of mercerized cotton, 2 double-ended steel hooks, 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.

Back In Cebu! There's Crochet, Of Course!

Halloooooo, Cebu!

This "font string" was made with a chain and slip stitches on both sides of the chain to make it thick

I was in Cebu with friends this past weekend to celebrate the marriage of our friends, Charles and Grace.

Their reception was held in an islet in Maribago Bluewater Resort. We were transported by this big raft to get to this place. The venue was a reflection of this couple's quirky and creative personalities. The tables were adorned by painted flowers and salt rocks! Don't even ask how we figured out if these were indeed salt rocks - it was a toss up between salt or allum ("tawas" in Tagalog). See the neon lights by the shore forming CBGB? That's the couple's initials! I love it! It's like fate! CBGB was this rad music club in New York City that featured a lot of punk institutions like the Ramones and Patti Smith when they were still starting. It fits the couple's good taste in music :p

We "took advantage" of this time in Cebu to get some break. It was my first time to stay in Mactan.

Of course, what would a vacation be without crochet?!?

Even in the airport, I had crochet in mind! The picture on the left shows my relief when my aluminum Hamanaka crochet hook got through the final security check for our flight to Cebu. The one on the right is me crocheting while waiting for our flight back to Manila. I am working on a chevron afghan right now. I'm super excited to show the finished product soon!

Before leaving Cebu, I visited ANTHILL Fabric Gallery. ANTHILL is a creative social enterprise and a lifestyle store. They showcase indigenous fabrics from all over the Philippines and Asia. There's also something brewing between Gantsilyo Guru and ANTHILL :) Watch out for this!

Check out my other crochet adventures in Moalboal (Cebu) and Bohol.

Day 2 of Coffee, Cupcakes, and Crochet!

Day 2 of my crochet workshop for beginners with Red Heart® and Cannon® was a packed one. From making motifs on Day 1, they were already able to start their own Amigurumis on Day 2!

Day 2 was probably not as "intense" as Day 1. At this point, they already knew the basics.

We were joined by Jackie of Coats Manila Bay in the morning. Participants were introduced to other crafts like bracelet-making using Anchor Embroidery Threads. Of course, they were given free bracelet kits!

It's nice to see that only after 1 day of learning crochet, you already notice how much they have improved :)

The kids were definitely up for the challenge. They managed to make basic shapes!

Carmen and her daughter Gabie requested if they can crochet a shell cozy for their baby tortoise (yes, there is such a thing, and you can see a sample here). I made an original pattern for them. They put their own twist to it by adding a shark's fin! Now I want to have my own baby tortoise :p Picture of the baby tortoise was taken by Carmen.

We were joined by Jenny of Coats Manila Bay in the afternoon for our Anchor bracelet-making kits.

There's something about crocheting and time just passing by so quickly. Next thing I knew, the day was almost over.

Our class pictures! The morning ladies.

The afternoon ladies and kids.

Raffle prizes, courtesy of Coats Manila Bay, were also given away!

My thanks to Baba, Billie, Mars, Levy, Cris, Alexa, Carmen, Gabie, Lolo, and Amy for being part of this special workshop! Happy crocheting!

If you were not able to join this 1st wave, I have opened a 2nd wave on May 15 and June 1 (Sat). For details and registration, please go to this link.

They Got Hitched With A Crocheted Bouquet & Boutonnieres!

I don't even need to describe how wonderful these pictures are! The groom is Adrian and the bride is Rose. I am blessed to be part of their special day through the work I do. This project for me is one for the books.

I would like to thank Adrian and Rose and Paul Vincent Photography for allowing me to post these beautiful pictures.

The bride, Rose.

So far, I've thought of three advantages to having a crocheted bouquet. It doesn't wilt, therefore it will always look like that, and as the bride you will have that as a keepsake to remind you of that special day. You can apply your own scent to it. And it will never give you any allergic reaction. Oh, there's a fourth! It can be a good accent to your home! Won't it look lovely on a vase?!?

The groom, Adrian. And his posse. Adrian is wearing his crocheted boutonniere here. Of course, his is different from the male entourage.

The male entourage and their crocheted boutonnieres. Check out the boutonnieres up close here.

Rose on her way down the aisle. She is wearing a Veluz creation.

The bouquet's so pretty Adrian wanted to hold it (just kidding). Love the lighting background!

Cheers, Rose and Adrian!!! 

See the bouquet up close here.

Photo Credits:

Paul Vincent Photography

Website: http://paulvincentphoto.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/paulvincentphotographyphilippines

Day 1 of Coffee, Cupcakes, and Crochet!

The 1st wave of my 2-part crochet workshop for beginners has started! Literally, all the elements of this workshop are represented in this picture :) Thank you Red Heart® and Cannon® for providing the colorful yarn for the participants!

The venue. GIGI Coffee & Cupcakes in Eastwood. Yummy cupcakes!

Let the crocheting begin! Waking up early on a Saturday takes a lot of effort, but these ladies did not mind doing it at all. They were ready to take on their hooks!

Mars and Levy (shown below) actually know how to crochet already but they wanted to learn more techniques.

Baba and Billie remember being taught crochet in high school. They're relearning it again!

We had a full afternoon session made up of 6 participants.

Cris and Carmen brought their 10-yr. old daughters with them! Meet Alexa and Gabie! Starting this young in crochet is awesome.

Amy has never crocheted before but she was able to make her first granny square in this session. Lolo is a participant from a previous workshop but she wanted to learn more techniques.

I really like teaching crochet :)

Both the AM and PM batches of participants were given the opportunity to get to know the different kinds of Red Heart® and Cannon® yarn currently available in the local market through a presentation  by Jenny of Coats Manila Bay.

No class pictures yet :) I cannot wait for our next session this coming Saturday when we get to learn more techniques in crocheting!

If you were not able to join this 1st wave, I have opened a 2nd wave on May 25 and June 1 (Sat). For details and registration, please go to this link. Only 6 participants are allowed and to-date, we have 4 slots left!