17'TH of MAY, HURAY HURRAY FOR NORWAYS NATIONAL DAY!!

Here I am, in Italy. In Norway it's a big day today,

everyone celebrating the national day!

CONGRATULATIONS NORWAY!

From crochet slippers to street Loafers! My new Denim-Slippers, added Cord-Soles!

Cord-Soles added to the crochet slippers!

I worked a heel-protection to the soles, and applied Sophie and Me-labels to the back of it!
2in1-package for the Crochet-Slippers + Tutorial for the Cord-Soles.
PDF-instant download on Etsy, link:
HERE

MORE CROCHET LOAFERS! NEW PATTERN - THE BASICS!

I had this beautiful, soft denim-yarn, and it came out as slippers. Exactly 2 skeins.
Actually I think it's too soft. As I always apply soles to my slippers,
and wear them as street shoes, these are more "slipper-like" than I wanted
them to be. The yarn is Lovely Jeans/Filatura di Crosa, 100 % cotton.
The brand is no longer available. I wouldn't purchase it again anyway,
it was quite awkward to work with, splitting, as it was almost no twist to it.
But I'm happy with the design, all post-dcs and dcs.
Very comfy and fitting with the stretchy rib-pattern.

The pattern is here on Ravelry
And here on Etsy

THE BEAUTY OF A HANDMADE CORD-SOLE!

I'm happy with this one. 

Going to be applied to my next crochet shoes!

Coming up soon.

Wouldn't you like to make a pair of these for your next crochet slippers!
Yes, to turn them into street-shoes!
Better than any Espadrilles!
Go to this link in my Ravelry store, and read more about it.
Or purchase an instant download PDF with all the information for HOW TO!

FREE TUTORIAL FOR HOW TO MAKE A LUCET-CORD!

I use this method to work cord for my espadrille-soles!
Download Free Tutorial here

The Lucet-technique makes a beautiful cord, squared
with lots of stitches to insert the hook in!

This cord is used for my Pink and Brown Moccasins!

MY VERY FIRST CROCHET ESPADRILLES WITH CORD SOLE!

This pair of crochet shoes I made in September last year. I applied my first cord sole to these gray one-piece slippers. They are worked entirely with double crochet, and embellished  with colored outlines. Note the pretty in-soles! Makes them very comfy to wear.

I have used them indoors all winter, with socks in! Which have made them larger. So now I had to lace them with some cotton twine! Works fine. They are so comfortable! And it's so practical that I can leave the house, and go into the garden without changing shoes!

Super Simple Sophie and Me-Basic Crochet Slippers.
Find the pattern here
For the Cord-Sole Tutorial, go here.

PLANTING AND MORE PAINTING!

I suppose that 1 week to fix up the out-door space after a long winter, 

is not too much,

but when other stuff are waiting...

It makes me hurry up to finish!

I want my front- and back yard in shape to move out -

NOW!

HAPPY HAPPY SUMMER!!

Painting, paining, painting!

My personal, very best painter.

Some tomato plants, giving sufficient tomatoes for us this summer. 

Adding some flowers.

WHAT TO DO WITH OUT-DOOR CHAIRS AND TABLE??

3 winters outside have ruined the table and chairs.

The chairs- and the table foundation were silver metallic.

All the basic metal I sprayed with opaque black paint.
3 bottles needed!
Quick and easy, but not very lasting I'm afraid.
The table top....well. I'll find a way to cover it!
Continuing!

PAINT YOUR DOORS! AND ANYTHING ELSE!

The spring force me to take action outdoors!

It's fun but time-eating.

When it's all done, it feels really good though!

So now I'm moving my studio into the garden, can't wait!

Ugly dark red kitchen doors, painted cobalt-blue.
Nice with the white walls. The door at right was painted the
evening before, placed flat on a table.
Practical, but not smart if you have misty and foggy nights!
This is what happens with wet oil-based paint,
when humidity accumulates on top of it:

To re-paint! I had to do a 2'nd hand anyway.

Finished! Very happy!
Painting doors like this is not fun!

CROCHET SHOE FEVER!

Leather-Look Lace-Up Crochet Shoes!

The design is inspired by my favorite leather shoes! 
Soft, light flats, with lace-up front. 
Even the tongue beneath the laces are there!

As all my crochet slippers, 
also this pair is turned into street-shoes!

Fresh off the hook, the basic slippers.
Pattern here

Handmade Rose-pattern fabric insoles added.

Black Crochet-Soles added!

Crochet slippers turned into Street-Shoes!
See How To HERE

CROCHET LOAFERS/MOCCASINS - FRESH OFF THE HOOK!

Another pair of crochet slippers - turned into street shoes!

Simple - just apply a handmade cord-sole!

The simple indoor-slipper

Adding handmade insoles! 

Apply handmade rope-soles!

You have............Street Shoes!
Just wonderful to walk and wear!
Like to treat yourself with a pair like this?
The link for the slippers only are HERE:
Or you can purchase the 2 in 1-package, with Basic slipper patter +
The Cord-Sole Tutorial with Sole Treatment for outdoor use; HERE

Reversible Cowl - Shawl - Hood with Pom-Pom Buttons

Last time I was in Norway, I purchased this beautiful, soft and chunky wool. 

4 different colors of Easy/Sandnes Garn, 2 skeins of each.

I didn't know what to do with it, as it was really not enough for anything!

But during this winter I decided to make a cowl/shawl, with possibilities to turn it into a hood with help of some kind of buttoning.

I found it strange that I never saw this solution anywhere on the net. 

So neat to transform a shawl into a hood!

I swatched a LOT, to find a pattern that could be reversible; look nice on both sides. 

With the 4 colors I had, I ended up with a striped pattern, that appears different on the two sides, also becourse of the the special stitches.

I really like it!

Only a petty that I'll never be able to use it here in Italy!

Maybe in the house; it happens real often that it's colder inside than outside!

Pattern in my Ravelry-store for instant download here:

Album here for more transforms and shapes!

It was the Pom-Pom-Buttons that finally made
me able to achieve all the shapes and transforms!

The buttons can be pushed into any gap between the stitches!

The Bubble-buttons can also be pushed to the opposite side,
in order to use the piece on both sides!

This is WARM!

GOOD-MORNING-SLIPPERS!

These slippers was born while swatching. I've been obsessed trying to find a way to crochet nice knit-stitches, and this is the result! It do look knitted, don't it? 

The best way to make a nice and flexible crocheted knit-surface, is the slip stitch method. The problem is; it's worked sideways; the sts does not come out vertical, but horizontal, so you need to turn your work to achieve the vertical knit-look. Challenging for most designs!

This is the Split Single Crochet Stitch. Also challenging, becourse it's a bit hard to insert the hook into the middle of the stitch. It's all technique and practice. I'v made a tutorial for the stitch in this slipper-pattern. But I need to say; it works only on the round! Working flat the pattern changes, still nice, but not with the distinct knit-sts as on the round. Well, you can't have it all!

This is the basic clog-slippers without in- and out-soles.
Pattern here!

The slippers with tailored crochet-soles applied, and personalized insoles.
This requires the special patter-tutorial you'll find here:

Detail insoles with personal message from Sophie and Me;
Good Morning. Have a nice Day!

Reinventing the Sock: Free-Sole!

Today's article in Knitting Daiyly, by editor Kathleen Cubley

WELL WELL WELL! 

The knitters have discovered it too!

Add an extra, reknit-able sole to your knitted socks!

It's kind of incredible that no-one never thought of it before!
The clue is ofcourse to get your socks to last a life-time!
See the story here

And if you wonder if it's possible to do the same with crochet socks,
slippers and shoes;
It's already invented by me!
Here you are; The one and only adaptable, adjustable, changeable
CROCHET TRAY SOLES! CLICK CLICK!!
Not only; in my pattern, there is also tutorial for how to
turn your crochet slippers into street-shoes! 

"LA SIGNORA" my Dress Form

I call her "La Signora". She has been my best studio mate since 1973! Actually it's a clone of myself! At the first year of Art/uld not believe my luck! On a Flea Market I found the PERFECT stand, handmade anDesign school we all had to make a dress form of ourselves, assisted by student colleges. The problem was to find a stand for the form. 
After 2 years I cod very special as it has a kind of "skeletal" for inside support.

I'm sure the most of my ex-companions don't even know where "she/he" is, but my "Signora" has followed me through several movings in all these years, and helped me with hundreds of projects! Now she lives in Rome! 

LA SIGNORA

ME!

LIKE TO MAKE YOUR OWN DRESS FORM?
See this site, this is more or less how I did it!
Clone Yourself A Fitting Assistant

TALKING ABOUT DRESS FORMS:

 I have to show you this British artist and the fantastic dress forms she's selling on Etsy!

Look at this:

The most incredible dressforms!Visit their Etsy-shop:
http://www.corsetlacedmannequins.co.uk/

Free Download Tutorial for How To make Sophie's Summer Under-Dress!

I made this dress for wearing under Sophie’s openwork crochet dresses, skirts and tops. 

With her white “skin” the images often looked better with something under the garments.

It’s cute and easy to wear, also as a light summer dress, so if you like this super-simple dress, I have made a tutorial for you to copy! It works with any kind of dress shape!

Download the Tutorial here:

It IS coming a summer....soon! Crochet halter dress for Sophie and friends

Click here: Pattern for this cute summer dress

Winter White Buttoned Ear Warmer/Neck Warmer

To style my white winter-coat, I made a chunky head warmer, 

and fingerless mittens. The headband-pattern

is finished and published now! The mittens.......hm,

there are so many projects going on in my head
and on the hook now, but I'll try to finish them
before the garden is flowering!

You'll find the pattern for instant download here in my Ravelry store:

SPECIAL TREATED SLIPPER-BOOT-SOLES FOR WALKING THE STREETS!

Sophie's slipper-boot-soles are treated with a special method,
to turn indoor crochet slippers into street-shoes!
It's quite incredible but true!
Go here and read more!

WARM SLIPPER-BOOTS FOR KIDS! CROCHET PATTERN!

The super-cutest crochet boots ever!

I think!

For you to crochet. Pattern for 2 - 7 year-kids. 

Cool for boys too. Just adapt the colors!

For more photos and info about this crochet pattern,
see my Ravelry-store for instant download here.

These boots are designed for Sophie's winter coat. They came out like this,
and I think they look quite great!
Actually, I thing I'll design them for adults too!
Not for this season though. Next: Summer-shoes!
But first; Sophie's red bird-purse, and my winter head-band
and finger-less mittens for my white winter coat.
Not a lacy day!