Doily, What?

Here's an idea. Get any doily pattern (any doily!) and instead of using the usual mercerized cotton yarn or thread, use a thicker (and shimmery) yarn, like this one!

I used Red Heart Holiday yarn with a 5.0mm hook (US H8 or Japanese 8/0) to crochet a big "doily" of sorts. I got the pattern from this vintage book, published in 1975, called "Decorating with Crochet" by Anne Halliday.

The place mat in this picture had a diameter of 16.5 inches. Mine ended up with 24 inches, because I used thicker yarn. Instead of using it as a table place mat, I plan on making it a decorative floor mat! Because floors need to be pretty too!

Red Heart Holiday and Red Heart Celebration yarn may already be branded as the kind of yarn you use for holiday projects, but try to see past that and you can create playful things with them. The shimmer on them ain't so bad too!

I'm not so sure if I can give the pattern away, but click HERE for free vintage crochet patterns for doilies (ssoooooo many pretty doilies)! Choose your doily and make a bigger version of it using Red Heart Holiday or Red Heart Celebration yarn!

Because you reached this part of my blog entry (thank you!), I have a treat for you! Please click the link below to see!

White on Brown Coaster

Don't you just love a classic white crocheted piece on top of a brown surface? I saw a coaster pattern from the vintage pattern book, "Madonna Crochet," and had the urge to crochet it. The pieces displayed in the book had some touches of color in them, especially on the petals circling the coaster. I opted to just make it all white. I think it's lovelier and "classier" that way.

I had a ball of Cannon white mercerized cotton yarn lying around and managed to make two coasters out of the yarn left from the ball. 

I didn't block these anymore or starched them to make them stiffer (they'll get wet anyway). I used a size 3 IMIA steel crochet hook for this project. 

The coaster has an elevated edging encircling the base.

This is a time-consuming coaster to make! I think it took me around 1.5 to 2 hours to make just one. Honestly, you only need the base part to make this a functioning coaster, but of course, don't you think it's prettier with the petals? The hard work's worth it. 

Check out another blog entry I made about another white piece HERE.

My Whirlwind of a Summer (So Far)

It's already April and I feel like it's only January! Where did time go!?!?! I checked my blog post count for the past months and wow, I have a lot of catching up to do! I've been going through a lot of (good) changes lately and updating my blog somewhat took a back seat. Oh time, I wish I had more of you!

I just want to share with you some snippets of my past few weeks - what I have been up to and where I have been.

I've been taking a lot of "crochet-fies" lately. It's my travel thing, I guess. Some people have their pictures taken making cartwheels or doing their own signature poses. I get my picture taken crocheting...anywhere! This one is taken in the ruins of a library in front of the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap last month.

This one was taken just last weekend in Hale Manna Beach Resort and Coastal Gardens in Moalboal, Cebu. I posted a blog entry last year about this place. I'm so glad we came back this year!

In other news, I started making coasters! I had the urge to make something white. I tortured myself by choosing a time-consuming pattern which I got from a vintage pattern book called "Madonna Crochet." I will be posting more about this soon!

I have also been out and about the Metro teaching crochet. I've been having schedules every month for Basic Crochet and Tunisian Crochet. I am working on a new module for advanced techniques so I can accommodate crocheters who want to go beyond the basics. Watch out for it in my workshop lineup!

I also attended the book launch of the The Candy DIY Book!

Great DIY projects from Alessa Lanot (Life After Breakfast), Mansy Abesamis (Hey Kessy), Mikko Sumulong (I Try DIY), and Macy Alcaraz (Macy's Fields and Candy). Grab your copy from any bookstore or newsstand nationwide for only PHP 175.00! Congrats, ladies!

I've also been quite busy with my online store, Gantsilyo Guru Selections. Got big plans ahead!!!

And yes, I'm still working on THAT bedspread!