Crocheted Balls For A Cause: We Need Your Help!

There's good reason I'm making a blog post again after a long time and this is about asking for your help for a great cause. Of course, it involves crochet.

I was asked by Ms. Bane Agbon of Kids for Peace Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Cotabato City that conducts camps to promote peace and empower the youth, to help provide 48 crocheted balls which will be used in activities for their Emergency Pedagogy (an approach for psychosocial support) sessions for the young survivors of the assaults in Marawi and Lanao del Sur. 

These crocheted balls will not be given as toys but will be used as tools for age-appropriate body movement/games to help the survivors regain balance, rhythm, focus, let go, and be present in the moment. Crocheted balls are preferred for these activities because they are warmer to the touch (compared to plastic balls). 

So, how can you help? We need you to help us crochet these balls! 

We need 8 sets of 6 same-colored crocheted balls (total of 48) by July 5, 2017! 

It is important that we get sets of 6 same-colored balls. So if you plan to crochet them, it would be best if you crochet all 6 from the same colored yarn. You can ask friends to help them crochet with you. Colors should also be bright (no dull colors please) in plain colors only.

The pattern of the crocheted ball is taken from "The Ideal Crochet Sphere" pattern by Ms Premise-Conclusion.

I made very minor revisions to the pattern and laid it out specifically for this project.

Please download the free pattern HERE.

Suggested materials are already shown in the downloadable pattern. For the yarn, I am not requiring any specific brand, as long as the yarn is Medium (4) Worsted Weight and can provide a good shape/form (like yarn used for Amigurumi). In case you are wondering though, I have already used Red Heart Super Saver and Dapper Dreamer Combed Cotton to crochet a few balls.

Materials: Medium (4) Worsted Weight Yarn, 4.00 mm Crochet Hook, and Fiberfill

The size of the crocheted ball more or less fits a child's hand. When stuffing the ball with fiberfill, please make sure that the ball is not too hard (or soft). It should be squishy enough (but not too soft that the shape does not hold).

We have 2 drop off locations for the balls:

Gantsilyo Guru Selections Yarn Studio

(Open Wed-Sun, 10AM-6PM)

Unit 306 Emerald Place

604 Shaw Blvd., Brgy. Kapitolyo

Pasig City

Craft MNL

(Open Tue-Sat, 1PM-8PM)

Unit 302 Pasay Road Condominium 

(Pamana-Languages Building)

926 Antonio Arnaiz Ave. (Pasay Road)

Makati City

Deadline for drop off is on July 5, 2017 (Wed).

Holiday Headstart 1: Motif on Fabric Board

It's almost September. This means that it's already time to think about what you are going to give everyone for Christmas...especially if it's handmade. Yes folks, you have to start now :)

If you plan to give a lot of people something crocheted, choose something simple, classy, and pretty useful. I have some gift suggestions which you can consider, starting with this simple motif on a fabric board.

 Here are the materials I used for this project:

Gantsilyo Guru Balinese Cotton Blend

3.5mm Crochet Hook

Mod Podge Fabric Finish

Fabric Board

Paint Brush

The idea here is to crochet any motif pattern you want using any Light (3) or Medium (4) yarn and put it on any fabric board. This is a nice decor which you can hang on your wall or simply display on any table or shelf. 

I got the pattern from a Japanese pattern book with 300 motif designs (you can buy another version of this book here). 

This book has really nice motif and edging patterns. Even if you don't understand the language but have a good grasp of crochet symbols, you'll be able to use this. This book is available HERE.

I specifically chose Gantsilyo Guru Balinese Cotton Blend for this project because it holds a good shape and has a really nice sheen to it. The finish of this yarn is clean. It is also really nice to work with. 

After crocheting your motif,  bring out your paint brush, Mod Podge Fabric Finish, and fabric board. I got the fabric board from a Japan Home store in Greenbelt. It was a (lucky) chance purchase. I saw some and bought 4 boards. If you are not able to buy one, you can make one! I have seen several DIY tutorials online for fabric bulletin boards or cork boards, and I guess you can get ideas from those to be able to make your own fabric board. This one measures 10 in. x 10 in.

On the wrong side of the motif, apply Mod Podge with your paint brush. Don't be afraid to dabble generous amounts of it evenly (flat) on the motif. Mod Podge dries up clear, so don't worry about it being seen. Just avoid having "solid" portions so they won't look like "stubbles" when they dry. You can use a toothpick to remove those or spread them.

Flip the motif and position it flat on the center of the board. Leave it flat overnight to dry.

Ta-daaa! I think I was able to crochet one motif in less than 10 minutes. I am not so sure but I think one ball of the yarn can make 3-4 pieces of this pattern. You can hang this or put it on display using a small easel.

The Last Bedspread I Crocheted

Back in 2013 (which I can't believe is almost 3 years ago), I blogged about starting another bedspread. Well, I actually finished it after a year but I only found time to share it now!

I posted this "teaser" before, but I never showed the entire spread :) I used Red Heart Baby Sheen. Forgive me for saying this but I already forgot what hook size I used. Of all pieces of information, I forgot to list this one down. I think I used between 3mm-4mm. I wasn't also able to take note how many skeins of Red Heart Baby Sheen I used. This yarn, by the way, had already been discontinued by Red Heart so this makes this bedspread really special (and unique, I guess).

It's made up of 266 motifs sewn together through the back loops of the last round of each motif. It is enough to cover a queen-sized bed. 

I got the motif pattern from the "300 Classic Blocks for Crochet Projects" book by Linda P. Schapper. The spread is made of just one motif design but I played with various combinations for different rounds of the same color palette.

I love the layers (and textures) created by the front and back post double crochets as well as the popcorn stitches. They made the different colors in each round pop. 

I'm not really sure if I'll be able to make another bedspread soon. It depends, if that "itch" comes back for such a huge project :)

If you want to get the last (and rare) remaining skeins of Red Heart Baby Sheen, you can buy them online HERE. You must be warned though that there will no longer be restocks of this yarn in our store, so make each stitch count! 

Light Cashmere Blend Promo!

We are bringing our "Buy 2, Take 1" promo to February with our Light Cashmere Blend Yarn!

You'll be able to avail of this promo if you checkout your order of Light Cashmere Blend in multiples of 3 from our online store (or buy them directly at our Yarn Studio!). There will be no bulk discounts but you'll be able to save more with this promo.

 

This yarn has an almost silky texture. This is highly recommended for any apparel you want to undertake such as scarves, shawls, or tops. Although it is acrylic, it doesn't have the usual fluff of acrylic. It feels good on the skin and is quite light.

You can choose from 20 colors we have in stock! Included here are 7 new ones: Mahogany, Eggplant, Lavender, Smoke, Pink Berry, Scarlet, and Popsicle.

Crochet Hook Conversion

If you are new to crochet and you are just trying to figure out hook sizes, we have something for you.

Have you ever been in a situation where you noticed that the size 8 steel hook you have is different from the size 8 hook being used in the pattern you are following? Well, it turns out that even if they are both number 8, they might not be the same size. 8 might refer to IMIA or Japanese size 8, and it is different from 8mm or US 8. Think of it this way: 8 feet is not the same length as 8 inches.

Crochet hooks, and knitting needles too, are labeled with sizes based on different standards or should I say, systems. These could be UK, US, Metric, or Japanese.

I made a compilation of various hook sizes with their corresponding conversions so you will be aware of their equivalent sizes across various systems.

You also have to remember that there is a distinction between steel and aluminum/plastic/bamboo hook sizes. Steel is usually the material for the smaller hooks mainly used for finer crochet threads. Steel can withstand the extra pressure exerted when crocheting finer stitches. Aluminum, given its lighter weight compared to steel, is normally used for sizes 3mm up to 8mm. The larger hooks are mostly made of plastic or bamboo because they need to be even more lightweight than aluminum. It would be too much strain on your hand if your 15mm hook is made of aluminum instead of something lighter like plastic or bamboo.

I also made a compilation of knitting needle sizes.

Feel free to place a comment if you think there are corrections to these so I could provide more accurate information.

I hope this helps you for now (or at least prevents you from guessing hook/needle sizes).

Pantone Color of the Year for 2016

Almost every one involved in design whether it be in fashion, interior, or graphics, looks to Pantone for color standards. Every new year, they announce a color that will pretty much set the tone for the color palettes of the entire year. Last year, they announced Marsala as the color of the year. For 2016, they made an interesting choice of 2 shades: Rose Quartz and Serenity.

Please take note that actual color may vary from uploaded image due to lighting and/or screen color calibration.

The choice is an interesting one because this is the first time Pantone has chosen 2 shades as the color of the year. Here is a description of Pantone of these shades:

"Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace."

Very zen-like, huh? It'll be interesting to see how these shades will translate to design and how they will look like paired with other colors.

If you're interested to have these shades for your yarn, Gantsilyo Guru Selections has some that come quite close to Rose Quartz and Serenity:

Gantsilyo Guru Milk Cotton Light Pastel Pink & Pastel Blue

Dapper Dreamer Stardust Baby Pink & Powder Blue

Gantsilyo Guru Bulky Cashmere Blend Rose Pink & Powder Blue

Caron Simply Soft Soft Pink & Soft Blue

Gantsilyo Guru Milk Cotton Medium Lite Pink & Cornflower

Lion Brand Baby's First Twinkle Toes & Splish Splash

Dapper Dreamer Bamboo Cotton Powder Pink & Powder Blue or Arctic Blue (Available Soon!)

You can read more about Pantone's color of the year HERE.

Happy New Year, Gantsilyo Gang!

2015 was a remarkable one for me. I just opened my very first Yarn Studio (which I still have to blog about), launched quite a number of yarn varieties, and pretty much took on challenges I didn't think I could conquer. 

It was also an unremarkable one for this blog, sadly! Four blog entries in 2015! Now that is sad! I couldn't say I was distracted, because I diverted my attention to other things. I have to admit that I crocheted less in 2015. I am hoping that will change in 2016 :)

Coloring with Yarn

It's not exactly like adult coloring, but it's super fun too! Crocheting a mandala is a great example of coloring with yarn. And believe me, it's not that hard! It's mostly made up of basic stitches. I had been putting off making a mandala because I was afraid it might take up a lot of my time and I might get overwhelmed by the color choices. Guess what, I finished mine in 5 days!

My first challenge was to find a pattern. I wasn't looking for the most complicated one out there. I was just after something that had many color layers which used simple stitches like single or double crochets. I scoured the internet for a free pattern and found, "Lucienne's Summer Mandala." I think it was the perfect pattern! 

 The pattern/tutorial is shown at Lucienne's blog in several parts. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Do take note that she is using UK abbreviations, so you might want to consider the following:

Tr (UK) = Dc (Double crochet)

Htd (UK) = Hdc (Half double crochet)

I used Gantsilyo Guru Milk Cotton Light yarn with a 4.0 mm crochet hook for my version of this mandala. It was an easy choice for me because the yarn is lightweight and I have many colors to choose from this line. The lightweight factor is a major consideration because the mandala will be hanged. The yarn also holds a good shape with some stretch because of its cotton and acrylic blend. I ended up with this palette of 8 colors: Fuchsia, Burnt Sienna, Spring Green, Terracotta, Tangerine, Sky Blue, Sunshine, and Plum.

I had doubts about some of the colors in this set because they didn't seem to jive with the others, but they turned out pretty well in the mandala. I think mandala patterns make any color palette look good. They seem to make sense after the entire project is made.

The size of the mandala in the pattern was not enough for the wooden hoop on which I planned to mount it. I needed a mandala around 23.5 inches in diameter for the hoop, so I decided to add more rounds from Round 28.

It actually took me around 2 days to crochet the mandala and 3 days to attach it to the wooden hoop using single crochet. Attaching was so hard because I had to maneuver my hook around the hoop so it could get completely covered by the yarn. I'm pretty sure there's an easier way, but at least I was able to make the "harder" version. I'm happy with how it came out. I had some initial reservations though about the "imperfect" circle shape of the hoop, knowing that it would affect the shape of the mandala, but I guess "ignoring" in this case helps :p

Not bad for my first mandala, eh? You can also check out other mandala patterns available online:

10 Free Mandala Crochet Patterns from Moogly Blog

20 Magical Mandalas from Oombawka Design

Mandala Wheel by Attic24

Sophie's Mandala Pattern (Large)

North Sea Mandala by LillaBjornCrochet

Mandy's Mandala by RedAgape Style & Design

15 Gorgeous Crochet Mandala Patterns from Knit & Crochet Daily

Click the link below to see the pattern for the additional rounds.

Motifs Make Me Happy

Hello, hello! It's already July and it's been months since I made a blog entry! I will talk about this hiatus on a different post because projects need to be shared. Right away!

I have been busy decorating a "special place." As some of you might know, I am quite fond of crocheting motifs. I use them mostly to make accessories and home accents. The motif pattern I recently undertook wasn't new to me. I actually made earrings with it, using DMC Pearl Cotton Thread. This time though, I wanted to try it out with bulky yarn, and this is what I got.

I didn't exactly plan to make 7 pieces. My original plan was to use the original pattern as a jump-off point to make a larger piece by making my own pattern. I had several attempts but all of them didn't come out right, so I went back to the same smaller pattern and decided to attach each one as I went along.

Each motif is around 14 inches in diameter. I crocheted them using 2 strands of Gantsilyo Guru Bulky Cashmere Blend in Royal Purple and Grey and with an 11.5mm Susan Bates Crystalites Hook. I tried making a motif with just a strand, but it didn't come out as bulky as I wanted. I used 2 whole cakes and around 20% of another cake for each of the 2 colors (total of 3 cakes per color).

By the way, if you're wondering how I used 2 strands using the last cake (because for the first 2, I just put together the strands from both of them), I just pulled out the inner tip of the cake and combined it with the outer one. It's a good way to conserve yarn (instead of getting 2 cakes), especially when you're just going to use a short length.

Using this yarn for a "rug" is quite a splurge just because the feel is really nice. Projects crocheted or knitted with this yarn are usually scarves/shawls or afghans. I would rather look at it than step on it! This is a good project though if you want a decorative piece on your floor that you want to sit on or you want your kids to play (or lie down) on. It's not the kind of rug you wipe your shoes on (excuse the feet).

Aren't motifs awesome?!?! Try looking at them under a different light and experiment with them using bulky yarn. You can create an entirely new project just by changing the size of your yarn.

The motif pattern is Pattern No. 186 from the "300 Crochet Motifs Pattern Book." All materials are available at our online store, Gantsilyo Guru Selections.

Dare Your Mind To Create (To Crochet!)

I started this blog in 2012 because I love crocheting. My main "objective" was to convince anyone who stumbled upon my blog that crochet is not just one thing. It's not just about making doilies or coasters (although I love doilies and coasters). It's not just a craft you are limited to doing inside your room, hidden from the rest of the world (for fear of being called a grandma or potential spinster). And it's not just about "making a project," it is also a personal experience.

I got invited by DMC Philippines to share (part of ) my crochet story. Coincidentally, my first crochet project was a 3D Christmas Tree made of DMC yarn.

There will also be a big event coming up where DMC will gather fellow handmade enthusiasts who will showcase and also sell their crafts. I will be there, of course! Drop by my booth for crochet hooks, knitting needles, and other crochet/knitting notions. Of course, I will also be there to answer any of your crochet questions! Hope to see you there!

For my bit, I will be holding a free crochet workshop on these roses on Feb. 1 (Sun), 10:30 AM-1:30 PM. Please go HERE to find out how you can secure a slot! This workshop is open for beginners too!

Century City Mall is located along Kalayaan Ave. cor. Salamanca St. in Makati City.

Crocheted Rose Tutorial

Do you have a "go-to" crochet project if you want to make a quick gift? Well, mine is a flower brooch. I've been crocheting this same design for years! And it always works! I've given out so many of these as gifts that I have already lost count on how many I've done in many years of crocheting. The flower can also be used as an accent to a beanie or as a standalone clip.

Of course, I will show you how this could be done. Prior knowledge of some basic stitches is required.

For this project, I used 1 ball of DMC Natura Yarn and a 3.5mm crochet hook. A ball of DMC Natura can make several roses. This 100% cotton yarn is really soft and is also (more than being used for accessories actually) a great choice for clothing. 

This project involves the following stitches: chain (ch), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), and treble (tr). Please note that there is also a V-stitch, made of this sequence: dc-2ch-dc.

Begin with 48ch.

Now click the link below to see the rest of the tutorial!

Gantsilyo Guru Baby Cashmere Acrylic is Here!

Hello, new yarn!

Right off the bat, this is not real cashmere :) But let's just say it comes close enough to the real thing. This yarn is made of 100% acrylic that simulates the softness of cashmere.

I recommend it for just about anything baby - beanies, blankies, clothes, among other things - well, maybe except shoes because this yarn might be too thin.

And no, it's not just for babies! In fact, I crocheted a cowl with it using a 4.0mm hook. This is actually a pattern from Hamanaka (see a previous post about this pattern here). I knew this yarn would be a great choice for this pattern because its lightness complements the design.

The result is a lightweight cowl, which doesn't fall short of making you warm enough if you wear it in the mall or in a very cold air-conditioned office. And guess what, I only used 1 skein of this yarn to make this entire cowl! When draped over the neck (once), the cowl reaches up to 25 inches. You can wrap it twice and wear it closer to your neck without choking you.

One skein is 640 meters long (125 grams). Thickness is Fine (2) with a recommended crochet hook size range of 3.5 - 4.5mm and knitting needles  size range of 3.25 - 3.75mm. Don't be intimidated by the fine thickness of it though. I know it takes more stitches to cover more area, but this yarn is a good choice if you want design and detail to be the highlight of your project.

We have an initial batch of 13 colors you can choose from.

You can choose from dark ones.

[L-R] Black, Magenta, Teal, Plum, White

From bright ones.

[L-R]: Salmon, Turquoise, Apricot, Lime, Soft Grey

And from multicolored ones too.

[L-R]: Bluebells, Rock-A-Bye, Playground

You can buy your skein of Gantsilyo Guru Baby Cashmere Acrylic here at PHP 225.00 per skein. We offer a PHP 20.00 discount per skein if you buy 3 or more of this yarn. Please be informed though that for now, our online store does not automatically compute (yet) this discount, so you would have to wait for another email from us with your final (adjusted) deposit amount with shipping fee. 

I hope you enjoy working on this yarn as much as I did! 

Paper Stories Bazaar This November 8!

November will be a full month for me for weekend yarn pop-ups and I am excited to announce the first one this month! I will be part of the Paper Stories Bazaar by Paper Club at Heima Home and Lifestyle (Pasig) on November 8 (Saturday).

Paper Stories is a small independent market for crafts, art, and design. Check out last month's Paper Stories event HERE.

For this pop-up, I will be offering 8 varieties of my very own line of yarn which is still not available online at Gantsilyo Guru Selections. Here's a preview!

Not all colors are shown in this picture. Believe me, I have so much more! I am very excited for this initial offer during my pop-ups. Expect online availability of some of them within the month and more stocks and colors to arrive January next year.

Heima Home and Lifestyle is located at Unit 103, Three Brixton Bldg., #3 Brixton St., Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City. Bazaar will be open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

If you can't make it this Saturday, I have more pop-ups this November!

My New Crochet "Gadget"

Having a new crochet tool is like getting the latest version of some gadget for me. I just discovered one, thanks to a friend who introduced it to me (out of the need to have one as well). Can you see it here?

For those of you who have seen some of my travel blog posts, you might know by now that I like to bring my crochet along with me (as much as possible) anywhere I go. This tool has proven to be an essential (and badass) accessory for me. It's so badass, it deserves an entire blog post!

This is the Clover Yarn Cutter Pendant. Yes, it is a cutter. Yes, you can wear it! And did I mention, it looks badass too? I love it so much that ever since getting one for myself, I've been wearing it with my necklace. I retained the other pendant to make it look more "stylish." 

The yarn can be cut by using any of the grooves in the pendant. There's a very sharp circular blade inside. Don't worry, it won't cut any of your fingers! The blade is secured and masked by the thick grooves. It really cuts the yarn clean. 

I wonder if this will get through the last check in the airport. I still have to test it. I remember risking bringing my treasured Hamanaka aluminum crochet hook in my hand carry together with the skein of yarn I am working with. It went through, thank goodness! I don't know for this one. Cutters or scissors are not allowed in the plane, so this is a mystery I have to solve!

And yes, you can buy this cutter HERE :)

Gantsilyo Guru Selections is a Year Old!

Gantsilyo Guru Selections is a year old! We wouldn't be able to reach a year without the support of family, friends, partners, and of course, our clients - you who actually dared to buy our offerings even without seeing them in person and of course dared to create with them. THANK YOU!

We are excited for the coming days, weeks, months, and even years for the store. As a small gesture of our appreciation, we will be giving away this yarn stash (bowl not included) to one lucky person who will be drawn from a list of those who purchased any item from our store this month of August! The recipient of the stash will be named on September 1. The announcement will be made at my store's Facebook page, Gantsilyo Guru Selections.

If you're wondering about what these unlabeled skeins of yarn are, they are pretty much "clues" to what's coming ahead. Yes, that means more yarns :) Lots of them!

By the way, I created another Instagram account dedicated solely to the products we offer in our store. Follow us @yarnsph :)

Of course, I still have my other Instagram account, @gantsilyoguru. This is where I post my projects and crocheting adventures. 

You Know You're Addicted To Crochet When You...

How do you know if you're addicted to crochet? Well, here's my list!

Or I may just be describing myself here.

• Have tons of yarn in your Wish List. Just because.
• Bring it anywhere! In the airport, in the car, at work, in the salon, during your vacation, and possibly even during a date (?)
• Have skipped a meal because...you were crocheting
• Tell yourself you'll stop after this row or round but end up making 10 more rows or rounds before you actually stop
• Have a bag that has at least a hook and/or a skein/ball of yarn

• Think yarn hoarding actually means only "collecting" or "preparing" for a future project
• Know the etymology of the word "crochet"
• Have at least two of these sites bookmarked in your browser: Moogly, Ravelry, Petals to Picots, Red Heart, Yarnspirations, Crochet Crowd, Etsy, Interweave, Crochet Geek, Crochet Pattern Central, etc. 
• Are already used to doing it in public (alone) and don't care what other people think when they see you
• Take your coffee with your crochet (or the other way around). [This is another topic that can take up a whole blog entry for me]

• Have that "ability" to see the "potential" in every yarn
• Count how many skeins or balls of yarn your meal could buy
• Have more yarn in your stash than clothes in your closet
• Consider a bad day to be the absence of crochet
• Can easily spot in less than a second the "prodigal" stitch in a project
• Can crochet with your eyes closed (yes, it can be done)
• Already know your crocheting angle in pictures [insert vain crocheting picture here]

• Always have to post your latest work online and say, "Fresh off the hook!"
• Know the difference between a Hamanaka and a Clover or a Susan Bates and a Boye
• Already have your own yarn swatches
• Begin to worry about carpal tunnel
• Are actually considering getting a rocking chair
• Have 2-3 different kinds of hooks...of the same size!

• Look forward to the weekend because you can stay at home and crochet (and probably not socialize)
• Have more WIPs than finished projects
• Have worn a head lamp to try to crochet in the dark (or use a lighted crochet hook)
• Have crocheted at least 1 of each type of project: coaster, doily, shawl/scarf, blouse, afghan, bedspread, amigurumi
• Are already thinking of your next project while crocheting another one 
• Automatically daydream of crocheting when you see the sight of rain (or better yet, jump into it right away)
• Make a list like this :p