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! 

This Is What Happens When A Crocheter Attempts...

...to model her work. This post is so vain. I know :p

So I wanted to show off the cowl/infinity shawl I crocheted with Hamanaka yarn by wearing it. I was with my boyfriend Rob at his office holiday get-together. I was wearing the crocheted cowl, so I decided to have some pictures taken with it. The experience was so excruciating. It's so hard to get a decent picture!

I was sort of going for some "look." The image in my head, well, remained in my head. Man, I'ma get me a model to do these things for me.

This may be the most decent one, out of 35 shots Rob took of me on that wall.

My right foot leaning against the wall is Rob's idea, by the way. I don't really know what I'm supposed to convey in this picture. As long as the cowl looks good, I'm good. Actually, it probably would have looked more awkward without the cowl.

By the way, if this post made you want that cowl (miraculously), go HERE for more details :)

Mad For Cowls: Made-To-Order Hamanaka Pieces

I am here to declare that the cowl is the new shawl :)

I'm a shawl girl. I like having something over my outfit especially when I'm in cold establishments. I also like having a shawl in my bag, just in case I may need it. It also changes my look if I'm wearing a plain outfit. 

Then I got drawn to cowls. They're like shawls that got connected on both ends. Check out this design by Hamanaka, from their 2012 catalog.

Photo belongs to Hamanaka from their 2012 pattern catalog (H105-962)

The draping differentiates it from a shawl. You can also change the look by twisting the cowl in the middle to wear it thickly enough to keep your neck warm (I don't know why she looks sad here).

This may come in handy for your cold-weather trips to Baguio or Tagaytay or even outside the country. Since I have Hamanaka yarn, I decided to crochet this design with, what else, Hamanaka yarn! I don't have the yarn in the picture with the model, but I have 2 delicious yarn that go well with this design.

This one is made with Cornetto (color 6) yarn. Nice, noh? The color has some shimmer to it and the variegation between colors are subtle - a characteristic I noticed of Hamanaka yarn with some variegation in colors. When laid flat and already folded into a cowl, the length is almost 23 inches. This will go longer once the cowl is worn over the neck because of the stretching of the yarn. I can attest to the lightness of this cowl as well.

The one below is made with Hamanaka's Rich More Percent Gradation, in color 206. The yarn is a bit thicker than the Cornetto and the length is longer at around 27 inches, when laid flat as a cowl. As usual, the color variegation is impeccable. 

Both of these pieces are available on sale. Just in case these aren't available anymore, we also offer them as made-to-order items and we're also giving you the option to choose from these available yarn and colors (subject to availability):

Cornetto Yarn 

50% Polyester, 28% Acrylic, 15% Nylon, 7% Wool

Percent Gradation Yarn

100% Wool
Colors: 206 (Left), 207, Right: 213

Hamanaka Claune Scarf

I've been getting my hands lately on shawls and scarves using Hamanaka's yarn. This is a scarf I crocheted using Hamanaka Claune yarn. This is also a Hamanaka design.

Hamanaka Claune is made of 45% acrylic, 32% Viscose, 14% Linen-Ramie, and 9% Nylon. 3 balls of this yarn was used to complete this project.

I like the gradation of the yarn. If you look up close, there are actually two different colors intertwined for a certain section and these two colors eventually change into two completely different colors for the next section. There's a lot of changing in colors going on. You'd think the outcome would look uncoordinated, but the colors seem to blend well with each other. This makes this yarn unique. Even if you use the same yarn (new ball of course) with the same pattern, you will most likely get a different look because of the gradation. To prove my point, check out the same project using the same yarn color.

Pattern and picture belong to Hamanaka

The picture may have been edited by the publisher since it looks lighter, but you'll see the different effects of the yarn on my project and that of the image above. And I may also need to have a good-looking model to wear what I crocheted :p The wooden hanger isn't doing it any justice.

I just call it a scarf, but I think of it more as a really cool accessory. It's actually a nice accent over a plain top. It's pretty unique because of how it drapes.

If you are interested to buy this scarf, send me an email at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com for details. This will also be available at my booth in Designer Blooms Cafe on Nov. 23.

Trey's Tray

On another note, here is my crochet tray - otherwise know as Trey's Crochet Tray :p

Well, it really serves it purpose. It helps me take my crochet anywhere in the house.

I made a shawlette using Hamanaka's Claune yarn. Will be showing "proper" pictures soon. 

Hamanaka in the Philippines

I am proud to announce that Hamanaka yarn, crochet hooks, and knitting needles are already available in my online store, Gantsilyo Guru Selections.

We are also offering free door-to-door delivery nationwide (in the Philippines) of your Hamanaka for orders that total P1,000 and above!

So why did I bring Hamanaka to the Philippines?

I think I've asked myself this question a million times before I decided to actually bring Hamanaka to the country. First of all, I've always been curious about this brand. If you've been a crocheter/knitter for quite some time now, you should know those Japanese pattern books we can't get enough of. Most, if not all, of them are actually Hamanaka pattern books.

Even if we can't read Japanese, we still buy these books because the patterns in them use universal crochet symbols. It is hard to resist trying the patterns out simply because they are pretty and functional. Of course, we end up improvising by using whatever yarn is available to us. These books got me intrigued by the actual yarn being used in them and the famous Hamanaka Raku Raku crochet hooks being featured usually at the back flap of the cover. These crochet hooks are regarded worldwide to be one of the best. It's quite the investment, but definitely worth it.

Scree grab from Hamanaka China's website

I got to know more about Hamanaka when one of its representatives from Japan visited the country to explore the possibility of introducing its products to the Philippines. Only until that meeting did I realize how established and highly-regarded this brand is in Japan and the rest of the world. Hamanaka is Japan's largest yarn manufacturer. It is known to produce quality materials under strict production standards.

One of Hamanaka's production facilities in Japan (Miyazaki)

I also got overwhelmed by the vast varieties of yarn they have. I got attracted particularly to their variegated yarn (which we call multicolored), or what they usually call yarn with color gradation. They are able to achieve this subtlety in the transition from one shade to another in this kind of yarn. This is something very few get to achieve. And this is where you get to appreciate the attention to detail they put in their production process. Here's an example.

Exclusive design by Hamanaka

This lovely shawlette is made with Hamanaka Claune yarn (available in our store with the exact shade used in this project).

I love how the mishmash of colors worked out. They know how to blend colors and make them look tasteful. The range of yarn I chose for my initial Hamanaka offering is primarily meant to make clothes with - from blouses to shawls or scarves.

Now back to the earlier question on why I brought Hamanaka here. It's simply because I want you to experience Hamanaka. If you want to make a special project - maybe as a treat for yourself or for someone special - give it a try :) I think you will also enjoy working with them - be it one of their crochet hooks or knitting needles.

If you have questions or inquiries about pattern suggestions for a specific Hamanaka yarn that catches your fancy from our store, feel free to email me at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com.

There are actually 3 yarn labels under the Hamanaka brand: Homemade, Hamanaka, and Rich More. You will get to know more about Hamanaka products in future blog entries!

TMA Crochet and Knit Trading is the exclusive distributor of Hamanaka in the Philippines.

Who Knew?

Who knew a crochet/yarn career would be this busy? I haven't been updating my blog that often (my apologies for that) because of the insurmountable work I have been faced with lately. I'm not complaining at all - it's just that I wish I have more time to do more things. But I love what I'm doing and I promise exciting projects and events for those who love crochet and yarn :)

So what have I been up to lately?

For one, I have been organizing my yarn stocks. Not stash, take note, but stocks. A year ago, if you told me I'd have this much yarn, I wouldn't believe you. I started with these yarn bins in an effort to make sense out of the boxes that are sprawling in my room.

While the organizing is happening, I have also been preparing for the launch of my latest offerings in my store. There's Hamanaka, which will be available in our store beginning October 27.

And the latest yarn from Red Heart! Soft, Celebration, and Creme de la Creme! These will be available in our store beginning November 4.

I have also been crocheting a shawl made up of 100+ pieces of african flower motifs! I'm halfway there already. More of this on a future blog post.

If crocheting that is not enough, I found time to make this combination of a beanie and scarf from one of the latest pattern books of Hamanaka. I just did this yesterday (fresh off the hook!). I couldn't resist making it. My hands were itching to make something else so I did it. I used Hamanaka's Yasai-Batake yarn, made of 100% soft wool. I will be offering this as a made-to-order item beginning November. More of this on a future blog post.

Oh, yeah, and there's the bedspread. I'm on it as well, but that's another story :) There are so much motifs involved!

Yeah, I have been pretty busy. It's the great kind of busy though. So now, back to work, b*&%*h! [This song does wonders. It makes me really productive.]

Psychedelic Shawlette

I wanted to experiment with the Ice Merino Gold Batik Yarn in Purple Pink Orange Lilac. Clearly, the colors of this yarn are not for the faint of heart. I expected not so subtle transitions from one color to the next because of the hues of these colors. I got attracted to this yarn because of the bold statement the colors make.

Pictures of Ice Merino Gold Batik belong to Ice Yarn

I decided to crochet a shawl using the pattern called "Almandine Shawlette" by Anastasia Popova. This was published in Interweave Crochet Accessories 2012. The yarn used in this photo is Fyberspates Sheila's Sparkle Sock made of merino, nylon, and stellina. It has the same yarn thickness - Fine 1 - as the Ice Merino Gold Batik, so it became the perfect substitute.

Scanned image from Interweave Crochet Accessories 2012

Working with variegated yarn can make the process of crocheting amusing because of the color changes from one stitch to the next. I took this picture when it was still a work in progress.

This is my finished version of the pattern. I used up 1 whole skein plus around 40-50% of a second skein of the Ice Merino Gold Batik yarn. I used hook 3.5mm (6/0 Japan or E4 US).

This is a shawlette, so don't expect a full-blown shawl that can cover your entire body. In terms of size, it might be between a scarf and a shawl. Check out the spread of this shawlette. The length from left to right is around 64 inches.

This is the back. The variegation has a different effect from this side compared to the front.

This shawlette can also be worn like a scarf. You don't have to go full on grandma wearing it like this. Wearing this shawlette can catch attention. If it can talk, it will shout :) I actually have a love-hate relationship with variegated yarn. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. Honestly, the pattern of the shawlette itself can work without any variegated effect because the design already stands out on its own. Sometimes though, I get the urge to "destroy the peace" and create a different character for the project.

I am accepting commissioned work for this pattern. A different yarn color may be used, depending on yarn availability. This shawl is also on sale. Kindly send me an email at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com or a private message at my Facebook Page, Crochet by the Gantsilyo Guru, if you are interested.

Ice Merino Gold Batik is currently being offered at Gantsilyo Guru Selections in varying colors.

Destashing With Shawls

I've been planning to destash some of the yarn I own for quite some time now. Instead of selling them, I just decided to make shawls out of these unused balls of yarn. And with this weather, I think it's the perfect time to offer shawls.

One challenge for me though is crocheting these shawls. It takes me days to finish one, so I needed to look for a crocheter who I can train and eventually take under my wing to crochet projects for me that meet my personal standards. I met Cristina (more of her in a future post) through our former family driver. She is a stay-at-home mom with no current source of income. She knows how to crochet some basic stitches and that was enough for me. After a few days of training, Cristina was able to crochet these shawls and give them a finish similar to my own :)

"Romantic Lacy Shawl" Pattern by Kathleen Sams for Red Heart

Available colors are (clockwise from top left): old rose, scarlet, pink, and purple. I only have a piece each of these so far. Depending on how much yarn I have left in my stash, I can accept additional orders for colors you may prefer.

Here's the full-length view. Length of the shawl is approximately 60 inches and width is approximately 21 inches.

If you want to make someone happy and warm (not excluding yourself, of course), email me at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com or send me a private message on my page Crochet by the Gantsilyo Guru if you are interested to buy one of these pieces.

It's Like Crocheting With Butter

Do you know how anything can taste good with butter? I mean, for me, anything with butter is a deal-maker. That's how I felt when I crocheted with 100% Silk. Dang. Let me say that again...100% Silk. Crocheting with pure silk is like crocheting with butter. It glides on your fingers like how semi-melted butter glides on your toast. It tastes good :p

These were given to me by my boyfriend when he visited Morris & Sons in Sydney in 2011. Debbie Bliss is more of a "luxury" brand of yarn. It has a sick selection of luxury fibers like silk, cashmere, wool and alpaca. I didn't know what to do with them. I was too scared to use them because they're just too good to be used. Won't you feel the same way if you had such luxurious yarn? You can just stare at them or go through them with your fingers and you'll already feel satisfied. You'll just want to have an altar for them :p Here's another glorious shot.

Blissful, yeah?

Ok, this is where the story takes a semi-awful turn. I took a deep breath one bored day and decided to unravel these hanks and make something. I was certain these 2 hanks alone cannot make a full scarf. But guess what, I tried to make a scarf anyway. I don't know what got into me. Once I started using the yarn, I couldn't stop. I didn't even care how my project would look like because it just felt like butter working with the yarn. It's like being possessed with the evil spirit of silky goodness. The silk made my hands keep crocheting without the help of my thinking brain.

I ended up with this. It's barely a scarf because it's only 35 inches long. This is probably the most luxurious sample I have. I'm gonna say it again...it's just a sample now. The stuff you show to people how yarn translates into a crocheted piece, and is not necessarily something useful. Tsk :p

Awesome yarn. Not so awesome output. I wish I could have done something else. But here I am :p I don't even know where to begin if I want to point out the things I did wrong with this project. I just experimented on a pattern and tried to turn it into a scarf. And the result is something I will probably dismantle to make something else in the future.

Maybe I can make a beanie with this, so I can feel the buttery goodness of silk on my head.

To end this entry on a high note, let's go back to the awesome yarn this (not-so) scarf formerly was.

Hidden Crochet Projects: Ta-da!

I've crocheted a lot of things. I've crocheted so much I've already forgotten what I crocheted and where I placed or hid those stuff I crocheted. This past week, I found two.

I found this one in between pages of a crocheted book.

Pattern for this cross was taken from the book, "At Home With Crochet" by Leisure Arts, Inc. ("Quick Cross Bookmarks," p.112)

This is an unfinished cross bookmark. I used to give this away to friends back in college, I think. It's unfinished because it's supposed to have some gold border. This is made of mercerized cotton yarn.

This one's been hanging under a pile of scarves.

Pattern for this belt/scarf was taken from the book, "Easy Crocheted Accessories" by Carol Meldrum ("Skinny Beaded Scarf," p.104)

When I made this belt/scarf, I wanted to experiment with the little yarn I had back then. These are all local acrylic yarn. I haven't worn this. I guess it's pretty enough for my mannequin (for now) :p

I hope I discover more! I'm still actually looking for this crocheted pillow I gave to my mom. She said she might have thrown it!!! Ugh. I really don't get why she threw it. I hope it's not that ugly :p

Fo' Shawl!

I know summer's almost here, but you guys might have some use for a shawl. Malls can be cold. Offices can even be colder (especially if the airconditioner is centralized and you have no control over it). I have 2 colors available on sale right now. I made these myself. It's 101% handmade love!

Green!

Scarlet!

If interested, please send me a private message at my Facebook Page: Crochet by the Gantsilyo Guru.

If you are interested to have the same shawl in a different color, let me know! This can be a made-to-order item.

No winter in the Philippines: Not an excuse for not crocheting a scarf

For a crocheter to get "devirginized" in the realm of crocheting wearable stuff, I highly suggest making a scarf. Even though it's practically unwearable in the Philippines (except maybe in the Benguet province or when it gets windy and cold during the "ber" months), a scarf can be your legit claim to crocheting prowess. It shows that you are patient enough to finish a big project and indie enough to make something you can wear yourself.

I did this one, back in 2006 or 2007 I think, for my friend Aica who lives in Baguio City (in the Benguet province).

Because I want to shy away from the typical "scarfy" shape, I decided to use a "wavy" pattern. I forgot my pattern source for this (not documenting projects before is a regret). I'm not really a fan of using multicolored yarns because I think the colors are too distracting and they tend to hide the beauty of the pattern. But I had to try it anyway :p

Aica said it keeps her warm when she wears it, so I guess it's officially a useful scarf :p

Thanks for the pics, Aics! I have officially made you my scarf model :p