DIY: Cable Crochet Beret and Free Pattern

I crocheted this cable beret for Tomiko using turquoise 100% wool. I have a wool felt turquoise beret from Lilliput Hats, a traditional millinery here in Toronto. Tomiko ‘borrowed’ that hat for a while this winter, and I only got it back after I promised to crochet a similar hat for her. The free pattern works […]

DIY: Sparkly Blue Lacy Crocheted Infinity Scarf with Free Pattern

DIY Sparkly and Lacy Blue Crocheted Infinity Scarf Free Pattern

       This is an easy but lacy  and elegant infinity scarf that I crocheted with only one skein of fingering-weight yarn. To make the scarf a bit more fancy, I added beads for a bit of sparkle and shine. And since this scarf is rather lightweight and lacy, it’s not the best for […]

DIY: Shiraz Crocheted Adult Turban and Free Pattern

DIY: Crochet Adult Turban Free Pattern

Here is an easy pattern for a crocheted turban for an adult, crocheted in the round using a magic ring. The hat has some ribbing in it to give a bit of stretch and some visual interest. I also lined it with Thinsulate fleece so it will be cozy and warm for those cold Canadian […]

Tsukemono – Japanese Pickles

Pickles are an important part of a Japanese meal. When Meinhilde and I last visited Japan and overstayed our welcome with the very generous mottekurunoda, we ate rice and pickles almost every morning for breakfast. Not your usual North American start of the day! Maybe that’s why I now prefer a savoury breakfast over a sweet […]

DIY: Gilded Frame Jewelry Display

I am a jewelry addict: piles of chunky bracelets, tangles of delicate necklaces, and mounds of sparkly earrings burst from my bedroom. I have yet to find a way to properly store and display them all together, but here is one jewelry display project I have been planning for ages but only now completed. I am […]