Meadow Grass Oya

This to me is the epitome of Igne Oyasi.  This is Cayir Cimen Oyasi which is made by a daughter in law for her mother in law.  This one was made by my M.I.L god knows how long ago.  This oya is famous in Konya, and no other place in Turkey makes this type of Oya like this.

At first you're probably thinking why the whole scarf isnt done, and just 2 sides plus 4 corners are done.  In Turkey they believe in "dort dortluk" which is like "nothing is perfect (except god)" so this scarf and Mezar Tasi (Grave stone) Oya they never did the whole scarf.

Theres also a great story behind this Oya.  Before the wedding, a girl will work tirelessly on this scarf to put into her mother in laws "bohca" (which are presents for the grooms family etc that are prepared before the wedding) in which she is trying to show her mother in law how diligent and skilled she is, and how her son will be happy with such a careful, patient and good worker.  After the wedding ceremony, The mother in law prepares a meal for them to eat, and the new bride is praying that she likes the scarf or something bad will happen.  If the mother in law doesnt like the new brides oya work, weather it be too lose, or not fine or whatever, she will make a yogurt soup, and finely cut the oya off into it.  This was a sign to the new bride that she needs to be more diligent and careful when she makes it again.

This is my most favourite scarf so far, and I'm so happy to have it in my collection.

I made a "Caputlu Ignelik"

So my partner used to get annoyed that I would leave needles everywhere, so I made myself a Turkish needle holder or "ignelik"  This needle holder has caput oyasi or "cloth oya" around 2 sides of it, and lots of evil eyes.  It was fun to make but sewing the cloth together is annoying.






I also finished my M.I.L's scarf and below is what it looks like.  Its a lovely scarf with green and orange needle lace around. 

Peace! x

Look What I've Gotttt

I must be really special, well to some anyway.  My partners mother is possibly coming to Australia to live and I cannot contain my excitement.  Anyway in preparing her papers and whatever my partner needed her to send over some information (passports and stuff) so he could fill out the application forms.  Anyway I hadn't asked for anything, except for some white thread for Igne oyasi because I'd run out.  Anyway so he opens the envelope and starts smiling and I had no idea why he was smiling and he said:  Shes sent something for you, I said yes I know I needed white thread remember? He smiled and said well this isn't white thread, its my grandmothers doily.  I nearly died.  His mother had sent me a doily that her mother had made for her for her trousseau!  So this thing is over 70 years old or so.  Its made with very fine cotton, not nylon thread and it has a crochet centre.  I often crochet my centres aswel, especially if doing a group of motifs because theres no guarantee that all the loops will be the same size. Anyway I love it and I'm thinking of framing it, because I can see already some threads starting to get worn out.

Lets make a bead oya TOGETHER!

So I dont make many tutorials but I thought I would do this one just for the bead oya lovers out there. I will be divulging into the many uses of the oya made popular by Adele Recklies on her website which teaches what she has simply named "oya stitch" which I know to be Yillan Kemigi or Snakes Bone oya, which originated in my mother in laws home city of Konya in Turkey.  This oya can be made simply as it is and attached to a scarf, or can have more complicated designs where the "snakes bone" acts as a sort of band that holds the rest of the oya.  Today I will be showing you a basic tutorial simply called "eyebrow."  My mother in law taught me this oya, and its really simple and beautiful to make.  To achieve the best results, I suggest becoming familiar with the yillan kemigi oya before beginning this tutorial, as I have simple pictures and captions to explain what to do.  You can find the tutorial HERE

Now I know there are some people out there who will disregard what I'm about to say, but I'd appreciate if you have a little respect and not post these instructions to your website, blog, anything without linking BACK to me.  I've taken the time to teach you something, atleast be kind enough to acknowledge the person who taught you.  Thankyou :)

Chain one, take one bead chain one.

Go into the 1st ch and sc, slide another bead down close it and ch 1

Go into bead and sc, slide down bead and ch 1, turn and repeat

This is how Yillan Kemigi is formed, Now for the "eyebrow" part...

So we have what it looks like on the left.  After 4 beads in total, chain 8 and go into left side of 2nd bead from
your hook and sc. ch 1 and take a bead, go into ch and sc.  Do this 7 times.  The 7th bead will become
part of the yillan kemigi.  The step by step is below.

Ch 8, sc into left side of 2nd bead from hook.

7 beads over chain.Ch 1 and sc into far side of snakes bone (continuing the snake bone oya stitch.)  slide down bead
ch 1 turn and go into 7th bead of the "eyebrow"  repeat these steps.  You can leave as many beads in between motifs as you like, I normally leave 2 or 3.

 .

When your oya is long enough, chain 8 and dc into left side of 2nd bead from hook.  Ch 6 and repeat till end.

I hope this tutorial is to your liking.  I hope you all have a lovely day!