Past ideas.

Being an artist, I possess a sketchbook. I used to draw all anime when I was younger. Because I limited myself, I got artist block frequently.
Recently, I've learned to let myself draw whatever I want, and it will be what it will be. That is how I got into designing clothing, knitting patterns, and other crafty stuff. I also still design characters.

Here are a few pictures of concepts I wish I could design one day.

Slightly meshed tunisian lace stitch

So I've been wanting to create new stitches, mainly in crochet, because there aren't enough of them.
I've been experimenting with Tunisian crochet (or afghan crochet). Its where you use a long hook and keep loops on the hook instead of immediately completing the stitch. The backbone of all of the stitches is the chain stitch. There is a forward pass and a return pass.

If you want to know more, check this out here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_crochet.

I cannot teach you the stitches, but youtube has plenty of videos to demonstrate the stitches.

This stitch pattern uses tss and ch. The return row is the standard return row. Each row assumes that you return pass afterwards.

Slightly Meshed Lace Stitch

Chain an even number. For the example I use 20 stitches.
Row 1: Tss in all 20 stitches.
Row 1.5: Normal return pass through all 20 loops.
Row 2: Tss in first stitch, *sk next st, tss in next stitch* to the end of your row. End the row with one std tss.
Row 2.5: Ch 1, complete first stitch, *ch1, complete next stitch* all the way to the end of the row, complete the last stitch with normal return pass.

Continue these 4 rows for pattern till desired length.

Happy Friday! And clothestalk.

Modcloth is a great site.


I feel, if you don't want to even bother to make something in my size, or its not "properly" in my size, I should be able to replicate  the garment.
Theoretically, they could make every main size range under the rainbow. (sizes 0-32+). But they choose to make sizes 0-12 or 0-10, catering only to a few customers. It is within their legal right, yes, but it is unfair to other potential customers.

A little bit of a regretable absence lately

Sorry I haven't been around. Have lots of homework. I'm just saying I'm here still, I haven't disappeared, I just have bio lab work and some essays to write. D= Still knitting and crocheting. I haven't been sewing because it takes a lot of time. I've drafted some patterns that I will share later on when I actually have time.
Not cool, but what can you do.

I"ve also been working on making stuff in minecraft. Its really working my technological side, what with the logic gates and electrical circuits.

I haven't gotten to wear lolita lately, its just not practical atm as I have sculpture and its messy. I also have biology labs, which are messy. Its also not practical to be climbing up hills and several flights of stairs in cute heels.

 I don't want to mess up my nicely sewn lolita clothing.

I need new lolita stockings for my thicker legs for that matter. I need more socks and such too. Well, this is what weekends are for. Along with homework. =.=

Will come up with new content soon....
I swear...
Maybe I can just photograph the diagrams I have in my sketchbook and make those the tutorial.


-MNR

Japanese hook sizes - "steel"

I read a lot of japanese crochet patterns. Many of them are thread weight.

There is this beautiful bolero I would like to make into my size, it would be perfect for classic lolita or mori kei or even himegyaru.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/p21-lace-bolero
Its absolutely gorgeous but even in the book itself its very complicated, so I'm thinking about making this pattern instead. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/p23-bolero . Its slightly simpler.

I can read a little japanese: hirigana, katakana, and some kanji. MEEEH why would you use kanji in a pattern?? Then only those who are absolutely up to reading level in japanese can read it. The people who make these patterns are usually good about making diagrams. I plan on learning japanese more, but for now, diagrams will do. I guess.

Oftentimes these patterns are one size fits all. At least they are good about making them in a size that is highly adaptable, somewhere in between bust size 32 and bust size 38, a medium for a lot of people.

Japanese patterns use an "#/0" symbol for the size of their hooks and needles. US and UK use "size #" for their hook sizes in patterns. I keep forgetting the japanese to metric to US conversion for the needles. I think I'm going to make a chart in english. Or at least borrow one from the Rakuten site: http://www.rakuten.co.jp/gosyo/438728/672881/





Japanese steel hooks No.      2/0   3/0       4/0      5/0      6/0       7/0       8/0      10/0 　 　 　
Size in mm                         2mm 2.3mm 2.5mm 3.0mm 3.5mm 4.0mm 5.0mm 6.0mm 　 　 　
Japanese bamboo hooks No. 2         3           4          5          6           7          8          10       
Size in mm                         2.7m/m 3.0m/m 3.3m/m 3.6m/m 3.9m/m 4.2m/m 4.5m/m 5.1mm


I think hooks that don't have labels are just listed in mm size in the pattern.

If I got some info wrong, do comment and I will try to fix it.


-MNR

Crochet bow patterns

These are currently a work in progress. Check back.

They are for crochet.

Net Bow

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, chain 21.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (20 sc)
Ch 4, turn.*Skip one sc, dc in next stitch, ch 1*
Ch 4, turn.Skip 1 ch, dc in next dc, continue from *.
Continue previous row for 30 rows.
Row 31: Ch 1, sc in each dc and space. Fasten off.

Tie:
Ch 8.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (7sc)
Ch 1, sc in each sc across.
Continue previous row for 2 more rows.
Do not fasten off.

Fold the bow in such a way that it fluffs up. Wrap the tie around the bow and secure both ends of the tie with slip stitches along the ends.



Bobble Bow

Bobble stitch: insert hook into stitch, yo, draw up loop, pull through two loops. Do this 3x more, then yo and draw through all loops. Do not chain one.

Base:
With a g hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 25.
Sc into 2nd chain from hook and across the chains. (25 sc)
Sc in first two stitches, bobble,