before I left Algiers ... part 1 - Artisan Fair

Before I left Algiers, I finally got to go to the artisan fair held at the Safex exhibition centre.

It was a lovely opportunity to see (and feel) locally crafted products from soft handwoven rugs to colourful mosaic-topped tables. And those heavily embroidered traditional kaftans and dresses! The items were mainly from various Algerian cities but there were some from other parts of Africa.

One of my long-standing missions, while in Algeria, was to source local, spun wool. Unfortunately, in a country full of glorious sheep, it was extremely difficult to find any. What I realised was that it's really only used for weaving rugs ... And stuffing mattresses and pillows! I am fortunate enough to have friends that humour my yarn-geekiness and so I have acquired a couple of bags of Algerian unspun, uncarded wool!

A loom used for weaving rugs

Traditional Kabyle dresses

Looking back, it was a nice experience, seeing locally made and traditional products. And from the exhibition centre, we could see the Grand Mosque, mid-construction! 

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my creative space - finding ...

... that crocheting with plastic is FULL of challenges but it's growing on me!

... that it's great to do something different on the weekend

... that I don't always appreciate the nature of glowing, pre-dusk sunlight, even if it is in amongst the concrete

... some tiled patterns on a walk

... that I don't miss this kind of thing as much as I thought I would

... that even after shopping for that dress, I keep having the urge to take pictures of dresses. Is my subconscience telling me something?

... a nice day bed, not buying it, just admiring it

... that after 14 years of marriage, I didn't know that my husband once had a summer job carving traditional, wooden furniture and that his mother used to make her own looms, all by herself and weave mats, some of which were made out of recycled plastic bags ... YES, she was in the game well before us trocheters! 

... that it's been raining today!

... that Palestine is in the thoughts and prayers of many

And here my other new and not so new "finds":

a shop full of handcrafted items, where they have done new things with traditional Arabic accessories (yes, those wrap-around trousers)

and they have this great gift idea of a recipe and spice mix (this is one is for Kablie Rice)

and everything is made by needy women!


a creative mint - beautiful, creative blog

annie's place - and another one!

alternating cast-on for ultimate stretch - a knitting tutorial I'd like to try!

a great way to use up those awful adhesive book covers that I didn't have to use this year because our paperwork hasn't come through and so we decided to homeschool the kids full time!

thought walking - a great way to solve problems (article)

My contributions to #amonthof #mycreativespace can be found on instagram! I'm Fruitful Fusion .... what else? Look me up! 

And more creative spaces here!

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shalom cardigan - finally

Once upon a time, I started crocheting a sweater for myself. I had a change of heart somewhere along the way and asked you what I should do. 

Yes, that was in October. I somehow ended up doing the unthinkable. I frogged my almost finished sweater (it had no sleeves at that point) and pulled out my circular knitting needles. I was inspired by my blog friend to knit this.

I learnt new stitches and I loved the circulars just like Jenni once said I would!

It has a very handmade look. But that's completely fine with me! I had holes in it too which I mended. Knitters, what did I do wrong? Was I just not paying attention to the tension or did I skip a stitch?


While this project was on the go, I loved the Debbie Bliss cotton so much, that as you know, these two were made as well!

Yes, I really loved that yarn!

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my creative space - green

Happy to finish a knit project after so long. Needs blocking! Pattern here.

It's been cold in other parts of the world. Here too. It's been snowing in other parts of the world. Not here though. Here, we've had cool weather, then cold-snuggle-under-duvet kind of weather, then the sand and dust got swept all over the place and in to our homes through the little cracks. Now? It's hot again. 

Knitting, I have been enjoying you!

At times I wished I was in the snow. I haven't been in snow since 2003. But people are freezing and some of the effects of the snow have been fatal. As they saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. 

But crochet, I have missed you! 

It happens a lot that I think of what I don't have and I have to smack myself back to appreciating what I do have. Alhamdulillah. How is it where you are? I hope you can enjoy the weather wherever you are.

Can you tell I've been loving the greens?
More creative spaces here!

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my creative space - to knit or to crochet?

Are you a yarny type? Or keen to be but haven't taken the plunge. Perhaps knitting is your thing? Or you just can't get enough of the hook? Or you want to give one of them a go but don't know which one?

I started knitting when I was about 10. I learnt the "throwing" method, where you work the yarn around the needle with the right hand if your right-handed. For a LONG time I had no idea there was another way. I knitted up a few baby sweaters and forgot about the needles. When I had my first baby though, I decided to knit a blanket. But knitting took too long! When I was expecting my fourth baby, I thought I'd give it another go and knit him a blanket too. 

By then I'd seen some crochet projects and started using nursing time, to Google it up and get started. Yes, I learnt from crochet sites like this and youtube videos aplenty! My first crochet projects were awful, but that's how we start, right? And practice makes perfect! 

A couple of years down the line, I thought I'd never knit again until someone, somewhere mentioned something about the continental method of knitting. I looked it up and it appealed to the crocheter in me. It is also known as the "picking" method, where you hold the yarn in your left hand and move the needle in your right to around the yarn. It is definitely worth checking out the videos if you like knitting.


I've also got my favourite yarns to work with and my favourite hooks and needles. This makes a huge difference as to how much I love working on a project. I love the circular needles in bamboo for knit projects!


Why I like to crochet


Projects work up quicker
I'm more familiar with the different stitches
I think there is more versatility in that you can crochet a huge thick blanket or the finest of doilies and of course many in between

Why I like to knit

You tend to get a smoother, more dense finish with garments
Sometimes the flow of work is smoother, especially with dpns!

So lately, I have been alternating between the two (and the laundry ... and the mopping ... and the tidying up ...)

Here's a round up of most of my crochet projects of 2011. Not as many as other years. Perhaps, 2012 will have a few knit projects thrown in, in sha Allah.

What's your craft of choice?


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ETA: I appreciate all of your comments.
I am enjoying knitting the Shalom Cardi, yes, that's what it is enim sou, inspired by JenMuna. But, crochet is a little bit in the lead for me because, for some reason, mistakes are easier to correct. And I think I'm a neater crocheter. There are no live stitches generally, that are sitting on the hook, so no stitches get lost. I tend to lose stitches somewhere when I knit. Any tips on dealing with this? 
And Joyce made a good point there. If you're working rows, crocheted projects tend to look the same on both sides.

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lessons in crochet

Sometimes I think you don't know me. 

You don't understand me. 

We're so different. 

You'll never really "get" me. 

But when you go traipsing around town, 

searching high and low, 

just so I can finish this 

no matter how crazy it might seem to you,

 I know you care about how I feel 

and 

I know 

you know me. 

Allah yahfadhak.

I tweaked a shrug pattern. And you can too! I used a different yarn, hence completely different sized hook and kept trying it on until I had it how I wanted it. 

This is the pattern I used, but there are lots on Ravelry.

Following the pattern, I worked up a rectangle.

As you can see, I used a chainless foundation because ... it's brilliant!

I continued with the pattern but making sure that I had the right multiple of stitches along the side.

I had an inkling that I wouldn't have enough of the cotton-viscose mix I was using and "decided" that I didn't want long sleeves. You could always add increases and have your sleeves flare out a bit.

For the collar, back and front, I carried on with the pattern. I didn't stick to the number of rounds given in the pattern that I used. I kept trying on the shrug to check!

Lessons learnt:

• Don't be afraid to do it your way.
• You might find the yarn you need (in the teeny tiny stationery shops of Jeddah) where you don't expect to.
• If it's old stock, check that they have enough BEFORE you start working on your project, because they're not likely to order more in from France or Turkey or wherever they got it from!
• If you're making a garment for a particular event, start well in advance so you don't have to deal with last minute, panic-inducing hitches!
• ALWAYS appreciate the special people around you!  

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currently loving ...

This beautiful crocheted top! In perfect colours!

That I can make my brown couscous and peas much more exciting with some pomegranate!

It did the same for my salad too, just like Joy's.


I love this yarny gift wrapping!

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still not sure!

Thank you all so much for your input on that last post. I cheated really. I started this a while ago...

Yes, it's number one!

But there's something not quite right. It's just not doing it for me. Is it the colour even though I'm quite drawn to teal?

Is it that it's not blocked? Is it that I dread working on sleeves because I've adapted the measurements and it's going to be a nightmare to work this out? I find myself quite willing to start something else, like the third option with the rest of the lovely Debbie Bliss yarn and see if it works for me. What do you think?


While I decide, other goings on around here ...

Pomegranate love.

Some Tiramisu love too.

And another crocheted baby dress. This year seems to be a baby girl year!

This year seems to be a baby girl year ma sha Allah!

Great pick-me-up smoothies! This one is a banana-orange-date-almond-rocket concoction!

What's going on at your place?

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