Thursday 31 December 2015

AKA Amigurumi

Kwokkie Doll wearing a red Christmas hat with a jingle bell on top, a red jacket over a black top and a black skirt covered in colourful polka-dots. She is wearing black sandals. She has long black hair which is tied up in a ponytail.Her button eyes are black with embroidered eye lashes. Her embroidered mouth is red.
My name is Kwokkie Doll
a.k.a. AKA Amigurumi!
(Made by Jodiebodie 2013)
G'day! 

It's me again, in my Christmas hat, wishing everyone hope and goodwill for the holiday season and beyond.

I first popped up on Lupey Loops at Christmas in 2013

Do you remember?  Jodiebodie promised to give me a blog entry all to myself.  I thought she was going to introduce me properly in April 2014 but that must have been an April Fools' joke because nothing more ever came of that.
How disappointing.


Not to worry! I am here to tell you myself! 
My name is "Kwokkie Doll" and this is my story


Tuesday 22 December 2015

More Examples of Crochet Spider Stitch


Diamond-Strike Banded Scarf in red on a black background. It is a filet crochet scarf with spider stitch diamonds.
Spider stitch features in this scarf.
(Made by Jodiebodie 2014.
Pattern: Diamond-Strike Scarf by Kristen Stolzfus)


Are you familiar with the phenomenon where you buy a new car and when you go driving, you suddenly start seeing lots of cars of the same model and make where previously you had never noticed them before?

I think that is what happened to me with spider stitches!




Thursday 17 December 2015

Adelaide Mini Maker Faire 2015

The coloured badge given to all attendees featuring the Adelaide Mini Maker Faire Logo
On the first of November I went to the Adelaide Mini Maker Faire.  It is all about 'makers' and 'making'. The first 'Maker Faires' were held in 2006 in the USA to promote the 'Maker Movement'. It sounds to me like fancy words to give a modern label to the old DIY (do-it-yourself) and home-made trends (some call them 'granny skills) which are experiencing a resurgence.

It's the second Mini Maker Faire to be held in Adelaide (the first was in 2013) but the first one for me and I have some photos to share.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Procrastinate Now!

The top strap section of a tea towel top worked in a plum colour.
Almost finished tea towel top!
The school term has finished and I'm settling into a more relaxed pace with more time to crochet but I have to ask myself, "If I want to get the crocheted projects done in time for Christmas Day, why am I getting out the sewing machine?"


Wednesday 9 December 2015

Adelaide Moon Lantern Festival 2015

Moon Lantern Festival logo with date Sunday 27 Sep 4-8:30 p.m.In October, I posted a Quick WIP Round of my activities as spring shaped up to be a hectic season. With barely time to pick up a crochet hook, it's been slow going on my projects; however, the good news is that my hospital treatments seem to be working and it has been a joy to be able to increase my activity levels and enjoy some outings.

Sunday 22 November 2015

Spring Stories & Spider Stitches

The outside corner of the kitchen window and windowsill. A redback spider is perched in a web in this corner displaying the bright red band on its abdomen.
A deadly redback spider.
Spring is not my favourite season.
Itches, asthma, too much sneezin'
Blowflies, spiders, creepy crawlies,
Coughs and colds and feeling poorly,

Lack of sleep from daylight savings,
Gives cause to senseless daytime ravings!
New growth, flowers, seeds and sprouts,
(until the bunny digs them out!)

Weeds and wildlife, changing weather,
Pure vexation altogether;
For a multitude of reasons
Spring is not my favourite season.

Here is a glimpse of my South Australian springtime with a few crochet inspirations too.

Wednesday 11 November 2015

What Happened to All Those Poppies?

A pile of crocheted poppies of different designs.
Did you guess the number of poppies
in this pile?
The answer is in June's blog entry
 "Poppies Shaping Up"
 


 
In June, I was busy making poppies for a special project.

Today, Remembrance Day, poppies come into prominence again.  These poppies were used in a commemorative project so today is an appropriate day to show you the results.

Thursday 5 November 2015

How to Add a Lining to a Bag

Sewing machine, materials and tools arranged on a cutting mat: quilter's rule, pin cushion with pins, a reel of sewing thread, a swatch of cotton quilting fabric, a rotary cutter, pair of scissors, steel rule and the WIP Project bag.Adding a fabric lining is my last step to complete Janet Brani's WIP Project Bag–a crocheted drawstring bag which converts to a backpack.

Why bother with a lining?  This post provides good reasons for lining crocheted bags and shows my method step-by-step.

Thursday 22 October 2015

A Quick WIP Round

The last month has been extremely hectic around here so if you haven't seen me online for a while, it is because I haven't been online for a while.  I 'ditched' the computer and got busy.  

Here's a quick whip-round of what I have been doing (WIPs* included) …

Thursday 15 October 2015

Sunshine Award

A picture of a sunflower with a yellow backdrop and the words "The Sunshine Award" in gold script.
Last week, Raphaela of the blog, Hummingbird Redemption, nominated me for a Sunshine Award!





Thank you so much for your kindness, Raphaela!

It is an honour to be recognised by someone who is a beautiful ray of sunshine herself.  That is what this award is about: 
to add 'sunshine' to other bloggers by sharing blogs that bring joy and inspire with creativity, positive outlooks and the overcoming of adversity.

Thursday 8 October 2015

How to Turn a Drawstring Bag into a Backpack

Crocheted drawstring bag laid flat. This useful drawstring bag is just the right size for a take-along crochet project.  

It becomes more useful when carried on your back, keeping hands free for riding a bike, wheeling a chair or holding on for dear life on crowded public transport!

Hold little ones' hands as you stroll to the park where they can play and so can you (with your crochet)!

This is how Janet Brani's "WIP Project Bag" pattern changes a simple drawstring bag into a convenient backpack.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Liebster Antwoorden in het Nederlands (Dutch Liebster Answers)

Further to my second nomination for a Liebster Award, here are the Dutch questions with my Dutch answers together with a list of other Liebster-deserving blogs.

Don't worry if you cannot read Dutch–my English answers can be found further down the page.

Eindelijk schrijf ik iets in het Nederlandse taal om de Liebster Award te eren. Bedankt Anne Vanderkerckhove. Zij heeft me genomineerd door haar blog Anne's Crochet Palace

Het spijt me dat een lange tijd had geweest - ik moet mijn verstand van het Engels naar het Nederlands veranderen - moeilijk als man altijd vermoien zijn. Maar vandaag ben ik blij en krachtig. Nu krijgen we de antwoorden van Anne's vragen. 

(Nederlands is niet mijn eerste taal - als je iets verkeerd zien, alstublieft vertellen! Dan zal ik het beter leren.)


Thursday 17 September 2015

WIP Project Bag: Progress Photos At Last!


Way back in January, I started work on a little bag.
A ball of multicoloured sock yarn (red and yellow mix) with a crochet hook stuck between the label and the yarn.  Attached to the ball of yarn is the beginnings of a striped bag.  All are resting on a photocopied page of the pattern instructions which shows a photo of the finished product.
I chose a variegated sock yarn from my stash
to highlight the stitch pattern.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Struggles with Blogger & Google+ Community Friend Connections




I need help with my housekeeping!

Blog housekeeping, that is; to link to the blog a friendly, private online space just for Lupey Loops friends to meet, chat and share with each other.

Now there is such a space: a Lupey Loops Google+ 'Community'https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/114403140403082646908

My problem now is to somehow connect the Lupey Loops blog 'Members' with the new Google+ 'Community' and your help is needed, especially if you would like to participate. 

Friday 11 September 2015

Access All Areas: Stairs or Stares?

I am trying to decide which is the greater barrier to disability access–stairs or stares?

Perhaps you or somebody else can be the judge.


Thursday 3 September 2015

Footy Friendships & Corporate Crochet

A Crows scarf with a yellow peaked cap resting on top.  The cap has a Crows logo on the front.  The scarf has horizontal stripes in navy, red and yellow with red fringing at each end.  One end of the scarf has an Adelaide Crows patch stitched onto it with membership badges pinned along the bottom edge.  The other end of the double-sided scarf has the words "Premiers back to back 1997–1998" machine-knitted in fair isle.


I'm losing my voice, 
My throat is hoarse,
But not to the lurgy–
From footy, of course! 



Let's just say I got quite excited at the Adelaide Crows' last home game for the season. There was so much to cheer about:

Wednesday 2 September 2015

Lost without Lists

Today I find myself revisiting  Packing for Hospital as I prepare for another overnight stay in hospital while undergoing more tests.  I have known this was coming since the iron infusion but infusion was so successful, I have been living a bit of the high life while I can!

Thursday 27 August 2015

Long Fingerless Mitts



A pair of fingerless mitts with extra length at the wrists extending two thirds of the way up the forearm.  This view is looking down at the back of the hands.
More fingerless mitts!
Hooray! A finished item! 

Actually, two finished items:
a pair of fingerless mitts.
 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Thursday 13 August 2015

Getting My Head Around It

"You've got to get your head around this, Jodie."

These are the words of my General Practitioner (GP) as we review my medical status.

I fear the positive effects of a recent iron infusion have been totally undone by the stress of forced household upheaval.

Monday 10 August 2015

Love a Good Yarn at the Migration Museum

Love a Good Yarn:
knitting and crochet from Nanna to now

–a current exhibition at 
the Migration Museum of South Australia.

Colonial two-story building with a verandah and balcony across the front of it.  The supporting posts and balustrades are wooden and decorated with yarnbombing.
This historic building houses the main display
of the Love a Good Yarn Exhibition


Open until 31 August 2015, entry is free.  

Last week, I went with my friend Cheryl to have a look …

Thursday 16 July 2015

Dutch Mandala #MandalasForWink #MandalasForMarinke

Two resin model bunnies flank the mandala made in Dutch colours: orange, red, white and blue.  Rings of red cluster stitches represent tulips with a touch of green beneath them for the foliage.
"Dutch Mandala"
crocheted by Jodiebodie
#MandalasForWink

These two Dutch bunnies hopped across their shelf today to discover my tribute to Dutch crochet designer and author, Marinke Slump, also known as 'Wink' from the blog A Creative Being.

Sunday 12 July 2015

Tiny Flower

A crocheted flower worked in fine size 80 thread. The 40 mm diameter flower has a 22 mm green centre disk, with 14 hot pink petals around it. Two threads can be seen to the right of the flower which will be used to attach the flower to a card.

Last night I made a tiny flower from very fine thread and I think I will be needing glasses very soon!

Friday 3 July 2015

A Tragic Twenty-four Hours

Last night, my family and I were greatly saddened to learn that the well-known and well-loved crocheter and blogger Marinke Slump of A Creative Being had lost her battle with depression.

This morning, I woke to the news that Phil Walsh, Adelaide Crows' coach, had died suddenly overnight in tragic circumstances. 

Thursday 2 July 2015

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Thursday 25 June 2015

Slip Stitch (Bosnian Crochet) Scarves

Two slip stitch scarves lying side-by-side; made from colour-changing yarn; left: blues, greens & dark greys; right: fiery oranges, reds and charcoal.
My two finished scarves!
Pattern: Slip Slope Scarf
by Vashti Braha


At last! Two complete scarves, both done with the 'slip stitch crochet' technique, also known as 'Bosnian crochet'. 

I promised to blog about this last May so now it is time to gather photos, pattern details and resources for further learning about slip stitch crochet.

Thursday 18 June 2015

Scarves, Exhausted with Colour


 Seeking comfort in the colours of crochet during a very challenging week.

Close up of crocheted scarf made of colour changing yarn: Moda Vera Bouvardia. It blends shades of turquoise, deep blues, purple, grey, charcoal, warm tans and muted lime greens.
Close-up of finished slip stitch scarf.


Thursday 11 June 2015

Going Out for a Crochet Night In

The month of May 2015 brought some happy crafting social events to my fair city of Adelaide, South Australia.

First of all, the Stitches and Craft Show which I attended with my multi-craftual friend 'M': I got to catch up with old acquaintances like Prudence Mapstone and friends, and make new friends like 'Sheepish' Sarah and Charmaine from Yarnarama.

Then I found out that fellow crochet blogger Michelle Westlund was coming to visit from New South Wales. How exciting! For the first time we would be in the same city at the same time and couldn't let the opportunity slip. 

Thursday 4 June 2015

Thursday 28 May 2015

BHG's Knitting & Crochet Collection

Front cover of the magazine with crochet hooks and pom pom makers packaged on the front. 


The Better Homes & Gardens' winter yarn crafting issue has hit the shops.



It comes with two acrylic crochet hooks 
(5 mm and 6.5 mm) and 
two pom pom makers (7.6 cm and 10 cm).




A 'Drafty' Mind as the Fog Lifts

Windowsill looking out to a trellis (left to right) green plant in white pot, glass jar containing crochetd poppies, terracotta-coloured windowbox with geranium foliage, statue of boy with bunnies.
A jar of crocheted poppies
between the pot plants


Has it truly been two weeks since the last blog entry? That's what happens when life gets hectic (and when one loses an entire week to being crook) but I managed to get so much done regardless!

Thursday 14 May 2015

Lots Going On! (Update)

Lupey Loops blog posts have been irregular lately because it has been such a busy time in many areas of my life: health, family, community, crochet and the blogosphere!

This post is about sharing all the news!

Saturday 9 May 2015

Adelaide Stitches & Craft Show

Rounded enamelled badge with the rounded logo which says "The Stitches & CRAFT SHOW Est. 1987"
This badge was given to me
when I collected my ticket.
After a short break from the online world, and with renewed vigor, I am here to tell you about the current Stitches & Craft Show in Adelaide,  South Australia.  

You have 1 more day (today) to visit the Wayville Showgrounds and enjoy some crafty goodness. The show started on Thursday and runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily until Saturday 9 May 2015.

Waking up with extreme tiredness and flaring symptoms, Thursday was not the best of mornings but I persevered and was rewarded with a happy day and some photographs.

Friday 8 May 2015

Access All Areas: Adaptive Crochet

International Access Symbol (white wheelchair symbol on a blue background) created with crochet by Jodiebodie using a freeform technique to create the shapes and finished with a white crab stitch border.
International Access Symbol
crocheted by Jodie
As a regular visitor to Rachel Choi's extremely useful and informative Crochet Spot web site, I was very pleased to read an article about 'Adaptive Crochet for the Legally Blind'. 

Monday 20 April 2015

Poppy Patterns

Lots of knitted and crocheted poppies displayed together. There are many different styles of handcrafted poppies mixed together.  Photo used with permission from Madison Prime.
A community poppy display (close-up).
(Photo: M. Prime)


As Anzac Day approaches, I'm on a quest to find the perfect crocheted poppy.

Here is a collection of poppy patterns …










Thursday 16 April 2015

What Do Trains Have to Do with Crochet?

Traffic warning sign - yellow diamond with silhouette of steam train.

Many people like to crochet (or knit) while travelling on trains.

Further to an earlier post about trains, I am continuing the theme to reflect on what makes a good pattern for travel and investigate train-themed projects; but before I do that, I have some photos to share of a recent encounter with steam locomotives.



Friday 10 April 2015

Access All Areas: Training the Transport Department

International Access Symbol (white wheelchair symbol on a blue background) created with crochet by Jodiebodie using a freeform technique to create the shapes and finished with a white crab stitch border.
International Access Symbol
crocheted by Jodie


 

In 2011, I attended a 'Come and Try Accessible Public Transport' day organised by the government's transport department. 

It was a chance to try out the various forms of transport in a safe environment while at the same time provide feedback to the government about the transport system of the day and how to best cater for the needs of people with disabilities.  

New trains and trams had been commissioned and the government was seeking advice from people with disabilities about how to design the internal features of the trains to make them more accessible.

It was very exciting to be able to influence positive change and communicate with decision-makers.

Sunday 5 April 2015

Tuesday 31 March 2015

Happy Hospitals

Tuesday: hospital day.

I woke just before dawn but this particular Tuesday found me feeling rather fragile emotionally and physically.  

Thursday 26 March 2015

Better Than a Bought One

This is the penultimate post about my purple Belcarra Cardigan of 2014. 
(Pattern designed by Robyn Chachula.)  

During the life of this project, I've grappled with indecision and incorrect information,  'swatch sagas' and 'tension headaches', over-analysis and adjustments, and fussing and finishing. 

Now, the Belcarra Cardigan is done in spite of mathematical and motivational challenges, and I am pleased to model it for you today!

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Nog een Liebster! (Another Liebster Award!)

I never intended Lupey Loops to be multi-lingual, but  participation by bloggers from all over the world is the beautiful nature of the blogosphere.

This week I must thank Belgian blogger Anne Vandekerckhove from Anne's Crochet Palace blog who loves her cats and loves to crochet toy cats and cat toys amongst many other amazing things.  

She has nominated me for another Liebster Award which is very kind
–thank you Anne!

Saturday 7 March 2015

A Week in WIPs

A collection of items laid out on a lime green crocheted blanket. Clockwise from top left - ball of lime green acrylic yarn, Inside Crochet magazine issue 61, small white 'noodle box' with blue bow on handle 'It's a boy!', multicoloured crocheted bag with knitting dolly resting on top, a skein of variegated sock yarn, a strip of purple ribbing, leading left towards its project bag which is made of red organza with gold chinese characters painted on it.
A summary of my week in crochet.


My blog entries have been irregular lately due to 
'hatches, dispatches and bad health patches'! 


Thank you for your patience with the pause between posts.



Wednesday 18 February 2015

Speedy Blankets

Need a blanket in a hurry?  

I managed to crochet a snuggly throw in less than 10 days. 

Here's how …

Friday 13 February 2015

Access All Areas: Michelle's Melbourne Adventure

International Access Symbol (white wheelchair symbol on a blue background) created with crochet by Jodiebodie using a freeform technique to create the shapes and finished with a white crab stitch border.
International Access Symbol
crocheted by Jodie

In the aftermath of Stella Young's untimely death, I am pleased to see active discussion about disability issues continuing around me.

I discovered that my blogging friend, MichelleWestlund of Crochet Between Worlds, is also a wheelchair user who has experienced exclusion from public spaces when using her wheelchair. This affected one of her (able-bodied) friends so profoundly that he wrote an article about it:


Tuesday 10 February 2015

Shocking News on the Radar

close up of 'granny blanket' in Crows colours of blue, red and yellow.
In June last year, I celebrated a 'hospital escape' by taking my crochet to the 'footy' to see the Adelaide Crows' Brent Reilly play his 200th game. It was such a happy occasion because he had fought to overcome injuries which had interrupted his career. 2015 was looking good …

… until last night when the news came through that Brent Reilly had fractured his skull!

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Thursday 29 January 2015

A Bad Case of …

This week I have been suffering from a bad case of … 'Start-itis'!


Three new crochet project beginnings. From left to right: Purple tie/belt for Belcarra Cardigan, WIP project bag in stripey yellow, red and green sock yarn, lime green baby blanket in DK acrylic.
Three projects started all at the same time!

Thursday 22 January 2015

Re-Cycle: Bike Shorts!

Black, short-mid thigh length bike shorts laid flat.



Crochet projects weren't the only projects this week–
the sewing machine got a run to turn a shabby pair of leggings into some neat bike shorts.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Seeing Double

Two red lacy scarves in filet crochet laid out horizontally with respective ring-shaped band fastenings next to them. Long sides have a scallopped edge; short sides have 15 cm straight fringe. The first scarf is at the bottom with 15 rows of spiderweb motifs, 2 per row.  The second scarf is at the top with 14 rows of spiderweb motifs, again the width is 2 motifs per row. The shorter scarf at the top has had its fringe trimmed but the longer one at the bottom  is yet to be trimmed.
Top: second and latest scarf (14 pattern repeats long)
Bottom: first scarf (15 pattern repeats long)


It's not your eyes!
I made a second filet crochet scarf just like the first (well, almost!)

These scarves differ in length. After making two scarves from one skein of 5 ply yarn, with barely anything left over, I am very pleased with the results. Now that I am not in such a (Christmas rush) hurry to make another scarf, there is time to explain the finer details.


Thursday 15 January 2015

Red Lacy Scarf Finished!

The filet crochet scarf has 15 cm fringe at each end.
A separate circular band can be used as a fastening.

I am so excited to have finished the red lacy scarf that I took with me to crochet in hospital.

Friday 9 January 2015

Access All Areas: Stella Young

International Access Symbol (white wheelchair symbol on a blue background) created with crochet by Jodiebodie using a freeform technique to create the shapes and finished with a white crab stitch border.
International Access Symbol
crocheted by Jodie

Australians are mourning the loss of a most remarkable woman, Stella Young, a passionate disability advocate, activist, knitter and blogger who died suddenly in December 2014.

To say that her influence was significant is an understatement and Australia (and the world) is poorer for her loss. If you don't know who Stella Young is (and I mean 'is' as her legacy lives on), you must read at least one of these articles to discover how clever, funny, witty, strong and passionate and colourful  she was (in clothes and language but don't let that dissuade you) about the rights of people with disabilities and more...