New design - crochet clutch

I was invited from the group plexi-class in ravelry to participate at a creative journey around the world, with the wonderful idea of Kostas, the group moderator, creating something inspired by Asia!
Traveling with my fantasy to Asia, I admired the amazing cherry blossom trees of Japan

and was inspired to create a crochet clutch! This was the first time I tried Tunisian crochet for the body of the clutch and I embellished the front side with a branch full of flowers and buds, while for the back side I choose stripes and two flowers for decoration. The clutch has cotton lining and closes with a zipper which is embellished with a tassel.

Autumn, finally time for knitting!

It's almost the end of November and the weather is still warm here in Greece, but the change of nature with the incredible colors of the leaves tells us winter is coming, the ideal season for warm clothes and the favorite season for knitters!
This year knits have a strong presence on the catwalks and the hottest trends are oversized sweaters, full with textures,but also with color!
Get inspired by the gorgeous knits of the season and start knitting! 

On a new design I'm working I decided to combine bold colors, fair isle and the honeycomb stitch:

The classic honeycomb stitch is worked as following:
Works with stitches multiple of 8

Row 1 (RS): *C4B, C4F,* rep from * to end.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: *C4F, C4B,* rep from * to end.
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Knit.
Row 8: Purl.
Repeat rows 1 – 8 throughout.

C4B: slip next 2 stitches to cable needle behind work, k2, then k the stitches from cable needle.
C4F: slip next 2 stitches to cable needle in front of work, k2, then k the stitches from cable needle.

no blogging for one year and a half ....

When I started my little blog four and a half years ago , my first post was my complaint for the so little love and attention for crafting and knitting in particular in Greece ! So many things have changed in so little time ! Recently I see a huge resurgence of crafting and I am delighted ! I do not know what exactly contributed to this shift .... fashion, who came from abroad and celebrities who showcase  the beauty of handmade? the crisis that from one hand made us stay more at home that generated to a need for creative expression , for relief? Whatever it is , however I like ! I see more and more Greeks most of all ages to learn to sew , knit , create ! Many new supply stores and many seminars and events for everything handmade ! New magazines!!
I left  my blog alone and completely neglected my online shops at Etsy and Dawanda, because I started alongside an exciting activity that does not leave me much time !
Looking back over the year today , the last day of it , I can say it was one of the most difficult years I have lived at least the last decade .... challenging ....But  I also lived  wonderful experiences and moments ! After many many years I had the chance to travel - another great love except knitting , meet new friends , amazing positive people !

I went to Nice and Monaco !

 

To magnificent Barcelona!!

To romantic Florence!!

And quite unexpectedly, I started working with a new magazine that was publisheda few months ago in Greece, " Brava" and now in each issue you can find one of my designs!

Knitting is for me passion, and psychotherapy of course and a creative expression that never stops! I may not be so energetic due to lack of time, but I continue to create and design!

 

This cape is my latest creation that was published in December issue of Brava ! The next issue to be released in January will have a handbag :)
I have already designed a brand new scarf / collar that will be published in the February issue and designed it wanting to please the most novice knitters who do not yet have the ability to work intricate designs and techniques. And soon I will have the instructions for for my two brand new creations ready . I will show them in the next post !
Concluding this review of this year , despite the challenges I had, I feel blessed and full of love , friendships , creativity, beautiful moments and I'm sure that next year will be magical ! I wish all a magical splendid year and I promise not to neglect my blog :)

my new creation - a jacket I have been working for long

I fianlly finished a jacket I started knitting long before Easter,with a beautiful silk yarn I bought last year in a very good price! The jacket of cource was meant to be worn the first warm days of spring, but summer came, before it was finished!
But I'm pleased with the result:

Fashion trend colour orange

The main color of the new season is, without any doubt, the energetic orange. Bright, positive and capable to arouse only good emotions, orange is the best vitamin and cure to the winter blues.

Voted as the colour of the year by Pantone, tangerine tango is one of the hottest colour trends of spring/summer fashion 2012.

The colour was popular in the 20s and 60s and began to ascend in popularity again last year, belying the argument that orange is uplifting and comforting during miserable economic times.

Whether teamed with a pair of jeans, worn as a dress, or used to accessorise, orange shades can easily add a bright burst of colour to your wardrobe.

Dolce e Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Jil Stewart 

Mulberry, Oscar de la Renta, Vivienne Tam

This is my new shibbori nunofelt scarf inspired by this colour trend:

Fashion trend SS2012 pastels and my new scarf

I made a new shibori scarf after a loooong time, inspired by the beutiful pastel hues that are so trendy for this spring/summer season!

Pretty pastel hues popped up all over the Spring runways from many designers such as 

Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Issey Miuake, Carolina Herrera, Versace and Valenitno. 

I  love this feminine color palette – lavender, mint green, candy pink, saturated coral, light yellow and sky blue !

 The upside for this trend is that it's both pretty and appropriate for the season. The downside for petites is that light colors tend to visually add bulk.  For those who still want to wear pastels, but don't look their best in pastel clothing, it would be easy to add a touch of light color with pastel fashion accessories, such as a pastel handbag, a bag or jewelry in pastel hues.

DIE FOR DIY - the culture of do it yourself

Going through the new issue of Elle, to my great surprise and joy I stumbled upon the article of Fotini Simos "DIE for DIY - The culture of Do It Yourself",

"The trend commands DIY in fashion, decoration, leisure, education and beauty. It is not just another lifestyle madness of hipsters, but a new social phenomenon that has its roots in the international economic crisis. A need therefore that is dressed with the mantle of beauty and style and steals the impressions, because behind everything there is an idea hidden. In other words, the DIY is the new "takethe  control in your own hands." A little fun revolution against consumerism. "

And more particullary for knitting: 

 "Knitting: The new yoga. The most hip girls in the city discovered embroidery, knitting and cross stitch and make themselves scarves, caps and sweaters. The trend started since psychotherapists spread that knitting is best stress buster. Researchof the Institute of Harvard Medical School, showed that knitting reduces the heart pulse to 11 in a minute, so the pressure drops. This is what the working girls of the city heard and pulled the needles from the grandmother's trunk! "

And because I'm working and hip girl ;) I knit with obsession: 

Two new bags in proccess:

An extravaganza cowl:

A surprise gift, trying for the first time the entrelac technique:

Playfully Posh - My new necklaces inspired by the D&G alphabet line for fall-winter

Dolce and Gabbana's young label included cute and playful tight fitting knitwear, chiffon skirts and boyfriend blazers. The traditional autumn colours of yellow and orange got a D&G revamp with flowery, swirling shirts and tight leggings imprinted with letters. 

Multi-coloured horizontal lines with alphabet letter imprints dominated a great deal of the collection in the form of shorts, trousers, leggings, shirts,dresses and pantsuits.

The D&G accessories for Fall/Winter 2011-12 were high heel sneakers and alphabet necklaces, bracelets and earrings. 

I was delighted by this colourful, playful  and cheerful collection and was inspired for my new line of statement necklaces "Playfully Posh", which I made with colourful chains and felt letters and beads: