Is it safe to come out and play?

Three and a half years since the last blog post.

The world's been through tumultuous times.  

Like a turtle I retreated into my shell.

Time for Tricot (Going Potty)

When I need calming, I reach for crochet. It truly is a sanity saver.

Today I'm working on some tricot. You might know it as Tunisian crochet but Australians have been calling it tricot for decades so that's what I call it. It feels very much like a knitting process as I work it so, to my mind, 'tricot' describes the craft very well - knitting with a hook!

This is an example of honeycomb stitch. It's easy to reproduce.*

Royal Adelaide Show 2018 Entries Open

Entries into the 2018 Royal Adelaide Show are now open for the Handicrafts section online. Use this link to see the prize schedule and entry forms: http://theshow.com.au/show-entries/competitions/handicrafts/

Beanies to Berets Exhibition & Sale Now Open!

The Beanies to Berets Exhibition and Sale
is now open at the Onkaparinga Arts Centre,
Port Noarlunga, South Australia.

Some of the beanies and berets that will greet you on arrival.

A Touch of Tricot

People often think that tricot (or Tunisian crochet) means only this …

Afghan/Entrelac/Tunisian Simple Stitch in rainbow stripes of purple, pink, orange and yellow.

when tricot can actually be all this …

A sampler strip of twenty different tricot stitches in lemon yellow.

… and this …

A sampler strip of tricot lace stitches in lavender.

… and more!

Ravellenic Games Review 2016

The Ravelry Mascot, Bob, appears on the
commemorative pin.

My Ravellenic Games souvenir pin finally arrived in the post today! It was lovingly designed by Guin
(otherwise known as Octagonfudge on Ravelry) of
Perpetual Flights Studio.

Have you heard of the Ravellenic Games?  If not, you might like to find out more from one of my earlier posts (14 July 2016) which has links and an explanation of what you need to know.

While the Ravellenic Games were on, it was pretty busy but great fun.  I made faster crochet progress in two weeks than I have in two months!  Now that the rush of the Ravellenic Games is over, there is time to review and share the projects!

Maker Faire ADL 2016

Do you want to learn more about tricot

 broomstick and hairpin crochet techniques?

 Would you like your general crochet questions answered?

Come along to the Adelaide Maker Faire 

on Sunday 6 November 2016 at Tonsley.

The old manufacturing site is becoming an 'innovation' precinct and the building renovations have won awards for sustainability and design.  Flinders University and TAFE SA will also be open to visitors so why not come down and have a look?

 I'll be there, ready to share my passion for crochet.  

Come along and say hello! 

I'd love to see you there!

Tricot with a Double-ended Hook (Tunisian Crochet)

A long, long time ago … in a galaxy far, far away … NO!  

That's not it!

Well, maybe it feels like it because I've had the striped tricot scarf completed for more than a year but, despite promises and a few teasing pictures, never got around to blogging about it properly … until now.

A pair of tricot hooks

Adelaide Maker Faire 2016 – Call For Makers!

Image from Adelaide Mini Maker Faire 2015 Program

The call is open for makers to participate in this year's Adelaide Maker Faire which will be held on 6 November at Tonsley, South Australia. Did you notice it has had its title changed to the upmarket "Maker Faire Adelaide 2016".  It is no longer a 'Mini' Maker Faire since the 2015 one was such a success! 

Tricot Tableware Complete: Happy Anniversary!

Wedding View
of the Pacific Ocean

Today I wish special loved ones

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

for it was on this day three years ago that we celebrated their marriage at Dee Why beach.

Part of my gift was a set of 'breakfast placemats'
as a memento of their special day.

This blog entry features the finished items and technical details about my tricot design (Tunisian crochet) such as taming curled edges, a common issue with tricot fabric.

An introduction to this project can be found in the blog entry, "Tricot Tableware - a Special 'Tunisian' Crochet Project" (11 March 2016). Information about my choices of project, fibre and reasons for tricot are explained, along with some photos of my inspiration, Dee Why beach (New South Wales).

Tricot Tableware - a Special 'Tunisian' Crochet Project

Blissful crochet on the beach.

More beach weather this week:  34°C today with 37°C forecast across the working week. Why not continue the beach theme?  Especially after Kwokkie Doll donned her 'Bondi Bikini'!

Back in 2013, I designed a very personal and special tricot* project which had a few extra challenges and learning opportunities.

Adelaide Mini Maker Faire 2015

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.

Hooks, Needles & Nurses!

A day in hospital need not be boring, especially with hooks and needles in tow!

Adelaide Stitches & Craft Show

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.

What Do Trains Have to Do with Crochet?

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.

Two Elephants

One of the loveliest aspects of Lupey Loops is getting to know visitors through comments, emails and each other's blogs. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, stories, enthusiasm, advice and encouragement.

Thank you for also connecting through other means like Pinterest. I don't use it very often, but it is a great source of ideas, especially for visual learners.

Yesterday, regular Lupey Loops visitor, Ingrid K, shared a pattern for a cute crocheted elephant on her Pinterest board "Myfunkycrochet" and it reminded me of a special elephant that I crocheted in 2010 so I decided to share both here today.

Crochet Idyll

My favourite things: crochet and the beach,
How lovely to put them together this week.

A Crochet Christmas!

Someone must have told everyone that I like to crochet!  This Christmas I received a number of thoughtful crochet-related gifts–a mix of reading material, yarn and equipment (clockwise from top left):

Socks for Christmas

Do you give or receive socks at Christmas time? Socks are often an integral part of Christmas, birthday and fathers' day gifts. Last year, my family gave me the joy of socks...

Big Ambitions to Meet Crochet Targets

As the end of 2012 approaches, it's a good time to stop and reflect on the past year. This year was the first time I had ever deliberated about my crochet goals with a timeline in mind and actually committed them to paper. As if that wasn't enough challenge, I posted my list in online crochet forums so now there was no escape–I had to be accountable in twelve months' time too! Scary? Nervewracking?  Plain silly perhaps?