Self gifted crochet travel case

Doesn't that title seem to be weird?? But I don't. Because, this is an unexpected, unplanned gift that I presented to myself on my birthday two days back.

 

Two weeks ago when my kids went out with their dad for weekend shopping to buy groceries, they bought a cute cylindrical case of sweets. They were so happy that their dad bought it for them as both of us don't show much interest in buying sweets. We don't like their little teeth get harmed. But once in a while we do buy them some. When they came back home and showed it to me, though I was crossed at first, I was also happy to see their joy they put on their faces and joined them in their happiness.

 

I then asked them what they were going to do with the case. Each came up with their own ideas, Boy M said he will make a rocket out of it, Little V said he will make submarine, (wowwww, that's an awesome thought for his age, I felt. But he said he would definitely ask for his big brother's help. That is anyway expected, hahahahaha). My ladybird obviously had no choice other than copying her brothers. so she said she will make both of them. Permitted.

 

Later, I saw in their playroom the sweet case lying on the floor ignored. I asked them if they are not making any of their ideas to which they paid least attention. I then confirmed if they are not using it, then I might want to. Little V asked me what was my idea. I came up with my thought of using the case to put my crochet essentials while travelling. Kids liked my idea and immediately gave it to me for my purpose. Aaahhh, kids are so generous, aren't they????

 



I took some time to crochet a case cover wherein I can put my essential crochet accessories while travelling or waiting to pickup my kids until they finish off their school club sessions. To add details, I crocheted a multi layered two toned flower also. I crocheted a lid cover too and stuck it to the case lid. My cute crochet case cover is ready to use. You know how handy it is when you put it in your handbag or the crochet bag itself. You just need to take that case alone where you can find your crochet hook(s), tiny pair of scissors, tape, stitch marker, a couple of buttons, or beads etc. Thanks to my kids and hubby that they bought this. I have been looking for such a handy case while travelling when I don't need to take my entire box or just scatter it in my bag.

 

What a lovely gift I got !!! You know something. You can use it as kids' pencil case, or put agarbathis in the pooja room, or use it as a corner designer in your living room or hall with a couple of artificial flowers in it,  makeup brushes (kit).Options are endless. Tell me what would you like to use it as. Love to hear from you. Until then, bye from Kala.

Crochet cover for an almost to recycle travel clock

Coming up with a sudden thought, attempting it and the outcome becoming too awesome accompanied by much appreciation makes one person so happy that words become too short to express it. Wondering why I am saying this?? Yes, because it was me who came across the same situation yesterday when I showed my family this cute little crocheted cover for a travel clock which was somewhere lying in the house unused for past three years. See, how a plain travel clock is transformed ..... isn't it adorable ????

The situation arose when I very badly needed a wall clock for our bedroom upstairs in the new house in Leeds. Every time while shopping, I forget to buy one. So in order to avoid that, I amended it in the shopping list too, but unfortunately, I fail to take that list with me and as usual, I don't buy any clock. I then felt like buying a clock is not destined.
 

 

Yesterday morning, I decided I should at least do a temporary fix to this. Guess what??? Yeah, this little travel clock came to my rescue. I thought of replacing the wall clock in kitchen with a travel clock which has been unused for past three years, see the left side picture (almost at the verge of recycling in Glasgow, thinking it won't work). I had bought it from 99p in London which I had always visited in the beginning. Suddenly, an idea flashed in my mind, why not I crochet a cover for it. I didn't wait much longer. Grabbed some random colours of yarn and hook and started crocheting it. My sweetie pie also was feeling sleepy (good opportunity, hahahaha). She cuddled down by my side and I started concentrating on my work.   

 

I didn't have any clear idea of what to do. I started with the foundation chain and did single crochet stitches. All it happened in a jiffy that I was so surprised, hey what's going on ??? So I said to myself- no hurry, please slow down. Some instinct in me was saying to look into the work closely. It was turning out to be a bracelet type or bangle. No, that is not what I want, how did it happen? Then I realised, I forgot to make corners.

 

How can a square travel clock have no sides??? That's ridiculous. I unravelled the stitches, added an extra sc in the every corner in the foundation chain, counting exact stitches. When I finished my second row, it was taking the shape of a rigid square. I continued with it, alternating colours until it met its desired measurement. Then I felt why not I cover the area at the back just above the buttons and the battery cover.

 

 

Yes, that sounded good. So I worked on it too and it turned out to be a good sturdy cover. Of course, the sc itself gives a tight stitch pattern. I used a hook size lesser too for the back cover. So it was obviously tight enough for the cover. The picture on the left side shows the back side.

It was a bit difficult for me to crochet back panel, fiddling with the yarns maybe. However, interesting too. I couldn't wait to finish off the cover to see how it would look in that tiny timepiece.

I feel it should get a more definition, too reddish, isn't it??? But that's ok, it kind of blend with other colours. I am so happy with the unexpected outcome.


 

I just wanted to place it in the corner shelf, but it was too small to see the dial from a long distance. So I had to hang it. And eventually it turned to be a cute little hanging too. I threaded the same colour yarns in a big eyed pony needle, found out the centre leaving required stitches along the sides on the top, leaving desired length to hang, knotted on the top AND..... made a hanging item out of it.  

 

Ohhhh, I really loved it. How an unused item is transformed into a cute, adorable wall hanging within no time. Indeed an upcycling, isn't it??? This is how it sits on the wall of corner shelf in the kitchen. And the advantage is that it doesn't take much space. I can grab things from or place things on the shelf easily. Earlier it was really difficult and no space with a round wall clock. (And that too had a crocheted cover around it. I shall show it along with my two others later). But now, it isn't. Aweee, how elegant it is!!! You also should give a try. I have one more of the same travel clock, don't know where I have put it away. But I am now sure that I will make one more cover for that too once I find it. Again, a reason to crochet. May be will add more details to it.

I couldn't wait for showing it to everyone. In the evening, when the little men returned home, I showed them my new creation. They were taken aback seeing that. Maybe this was its destiny. My sweetie pie took it in her little hands holding it like a precious gem. She might have understood the value of it, and the effort her mum has put to make a cover. My hubby was amazed to see this cute little thing hanging in the corner shelf. (Ssssshhhh, I don't know if he is expecting similar things from me, wink). I know this isn't any new invention. Several others are there who come up with brilliant ideas, but for me what I do is boundless.

 

Do you want to know some more ideas on this. I came across of using it as a wall hanging, kids room décor (wall hanging in their room), study table piece, window sill piece, as a gift to your friend on moving to a new house, a birthday gift to kids, if you are travelling in scooter, you can stick it in the handle bar too (a wild thought, you don't have to divert your attention to see the watch in your hand though. sounds funny isn't it, but worth a try though). Wowww, amazing ideas, aren't they?? What do you think ?

 

Please leave your suggestions in the comment box below. See you in the next blog, until then its bye from Kala.

Crocheted multi-coloured butterfly keychain

Hi there lovelies, good to see you all after a long time. Settling down in Leeds took considerably more time than I expected.

 

Getting admission in school was the main overhead, but luckily, though I have to walk almost two hours a day, (yeah, pick up and drop is my responsibility), kids got admission in a good school. Other problem I faced was the intermittent access to internet. There was some problem with underground wiring which the BT person very lately detected. So it caused some delay in my addressing to the blogland.

 

You know what, after moving to Leeds, I felt like time is too short for me to do anything. I couldn't spend much time with my crochet work. I feel so guilty for that.  Is it because of the new place or kids are becoming bigger and they have new demands everyday, I had to meet it or I get tired walking up and down two hours a day, there are a couple of small steeps, so pushing the pram with little girl is tedious for me.  I don't know. Maybe it will be resolved in course of time, I feel.

However, I managed to help myself with learning a couple of new stitches and designing couple of dresses. I am so happy that even though I could spare very little time with crochet, I was able to do something which had given me confidence in designing dresses, identify mistakes, provide room for improving my skills etc.

Now coming back to the routine, today's post is about a multi-coloured butterfly keychain.

 

I liked this very much in this variegated colours. so apt for a butterfly to be. Its some time back I had made this which I misplaced somewhere at home. While shifting the house, I happened to see my old creations. I relived those moments when I was struggling to learn basic stitches and make some crochet cuties....

 

And guess what, I came across a bag which I first learned to make from youtube. It was half way done as I ran out of the yarn and suspended the work until I bought a new one. But eventually, I forgot about that. Now that is in my to-do list. I shall post on it sooner. I have a draft of posts which I have to and I don't forget about it. May I request you all to share your comments about my creations. I love to hear from you. Also please share your creations too. Love to see yours. So until then, its Kala saying bye, have a great week ahead.