Pebble Mouse

When Grace was staying at the weekend, she went down to the beach and collected more pebbles for us - she's keen to make her own pebble creatures.

Following my pebble fish, I have now made a pebble mouse.

I crocheted this cute little mouse last night - very quick to make.  I used 4 ply yarn and a 2mm hook and gave him a twisted cord for a tail.

Besides looking cute, he's also very practical - I can use him as a paperweight.  So now to start work on all the other pebbles!

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Just had a wonderful weekend - Grace came home to stay for a few days, so it was great fun to see her smiling face around the house again.

We went to the cinema last night to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

It was wonderful.  What a great line up of actors - many of them our favourites.

Loved it - a very charming film.

Needles Jar

I decided to decorate an old glass jar with some crochet so that I could store some of my knitting needles in it.  This is what I came up with.

It's a great way to use up old odds and ends of yarn and looks really jolly.  I may decorate some more jars - I have plenty of stuff  I can fill them with.

Pebble Fish

I've just joined a new group on Ravelry, called Pebble Dressing.  Feeling inspired by some of the finished projects of the other members, I grabbed a pebble (we have lots around the house - I seem to accumulate them) and crocheted up this little darling.

The pattern is called Merfish and it's by Knitalatte.  There's a photo tutorial available on how to make your own pebble fish, here.

I'll have to get down to the beach and accumulate some more pebbles - I'm feeling all inspired.

Petal Wristlets

A few blog posts ago I mentioned the adorable wristlets featured in Mollie Makes issue #10 designed by Monika Siwak.  Here are the objects of desire. 

Well I have now managed to make a version for myself.  The original pattern called for #50 crochet cotton thread - not easy to get hold off and very fine and labour-intensive!  My version of the wristlets is made using #10 thread, so although the final wristlets aren't as fine and dainty as Monika's, I think they still look pretty damn good. 

Obviously I made them yellow and pink!  I changed the lacy frilly bit - mine has more 'petals' and I didn't do a picot edging. 

It took quite a number of attempts to get it right but I am pleased with the finished results - well worth the effort. 

Happy Valentines Day

Have a lovely Valentines Day. 

I used my sweetheart earrings pattern with double knitting weight yarn to make these quick and easy cards for my Valentines. 

Valentine Hearts

As a little decoration for the approaching Valentines Day, I crocheted some little hearts to scatter love around the house!

I used double knitting weight yarn, a 3 mm hook and my pattern for Sweetheart earrings.  Each heart takes less than 10 minutes to make - couldn't be simpler. 

February Birthday Card

Here's a quick pic of the card I made for my friend, whose birthday it was yesterday. 

Ribbons, flowers and lacy bits - always look good. 

Wonderful Gloves

I've recently bought the latest copy of the magazine Mollie Makes...

And I've fallen in love with the wonderful crocheted gloves featured on the front cover. 

Last night I had four attempts at starting the gloves but my crochet cotton is too thick, it needs a really fine yarn - which I don't have at the moment, but I'm not sure my eyesight could cope with anything too fine. 

I've tried adjusting the pattern to suit my yarn but I can't get it right.  I shall have to rethink this because those gloves are utterly irresistable and my life is incomplete without them!!!

My Patterns for Sale? - I Think Not

I've recently been notified that one of my FREE patterns is available for sale on another website!!!!

I love designing and making things and part of the pleasure in this is sharing the patterns with everyone and seeing the results of their work, especially on Ravelry. 

I make no financial profit from my patterns so I don't think anyone else should exploit my time and effort by offering for sale what I give FREELY. 

If you ever come across one of my patterns for sale on another site, please let me know. 

On a happier note, here is a picture of Parky the Polar Bear. 

Parky the Polar Bear

He was made by Linda Kennedy from my Arthur the Polar Bear pattern.  Great job Linda. 

Paddington Bear Pattern

“Please look after this Bear”
Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact, that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear, for Paddington was the name of the station.
From A Bear Called by Paddington by Michael Bond

For my Paddington I used:
100g balls of double knitting yarn (Sirdar Country Style) in brown, navy and red
3 mm and 3.50 mm crochet hooks (US sizes D and E)
Notions – toy stuffing, safety eyes, 3 toggles, black embroidery floss.

The pattern is available as a PDF Download.

UK crochet terms used
dc (UK) = sc (American)

Finished size – approximately 29 cm (11 ½ inches) tall.

To supplement the pattern, I've updated this post on 9th January 2015 to now include photos of Paddington without his clothes on!  - to show how he is constructed.  I hope these pictures will be helpful.

Previously the pattern was included in this post but to save space and to look less cluttered I have removed the text of the pattern.  The pattern can be accessed through the PDF link.  It is also available as a free download on Ravelry, HERE.

Paddington Bear

Ever since I was little I have loved Paddington Bear from the books by Michael Bond. 

Here are all my treasured books (did they really only only 3 shillings?  - that's 15 pence in new money).

And the adorable illustrations by Peggy Fortnam.

Here are some other pics of the wonderful, well-intentioned but accident-prone bear. 

For Christmas, just for laughs the girls bought me a Paddington Bear jigsaw, and this got me thinking -

So I decided to make my very own Paddington. 

I think he's wonderful - obviously I'm biased, but I do feel proud of him. 

I'm just putting the finishing touches to writing up the pattern and then I'll share it with you.

Another Card and Audrey

Here's a picture of a card I made for a friend's birthday. 

Delicate shades of pink and beige - very dainty. 

I've just finished watching an Audrey Hepburn DVD (whilst knitting, of course) - Paris When It Sizzles. 

It was a Christmas present and I've only just remembered I had it!! 

The film doesn't seem to have had very good reviews but I really enjoyed it - I think it has to be watched with tongue in cheek - it is very much a parody of the film business.  I thought it was very funny and Audrey as always is delightful.

I always feel I should smarten myself up when watching an Audrey film - elegance is a definite requirement.

Good Luck Grace

Grace has exams starting today - so lots of luck to her - looking forward to meeting up again when they are over. 

Here is the card I made for her. 

To anyone else out there faced with exams at the moment - I hope they go well.

Sneaky Peek

It's 10 days since I last published a post - doesn't time fly when you are completely distracted!  I've been fiddling around and researching more of my family tree - it is so addictive. 

Obviously I'm still making - knitting and crocheting as usual.  Just so that you don't think I've fallen a sleep I thought I would let you have a little sneaky peek at what I'm working on at the moment -

Such a cute bear - and he's not finished yet.  The completed version and pattern will follow soon.

Putting Christmas Away

I was all excited yesterday - because I thought it was the day all the Christmas decorations came down.  I started taking them down but when I was told it I was a day early I had to stop - so I defrosted the freezer instead!

Don't get me wrong - as you know I love Christmas - but once New Year has passed, the decorations start to look tired and it's time to move on.  More importantly - I want my table back!  When the tree goes up, my table has to move out to make room for it.  I miss my table - my "work station" - the place where I am organised. 

But today it is back. 

So it's goodbye tree (see you in 11 months time)...

And welcome back table...

With Eve's 18th birthday rapidly approaching - I need my table more than ever to make sure I have everything organised for the big event!

Some Knitted Christmas Surprises

Getting up-to-date at last!  Here are some photos of some of the surprises I knitted for my girls. 

Firstly, I sat these mice on their pillows on Christmas Eve night with a label saying "Twas the night before Christmas..." and then I put a special message for each of them in the mouse's stocking. 

The mice are based on a pattern by Alan Dart, you can see some of his amazing patterns here. 

I gave each mouse a lovely long night cap and a colourful stocking.

Each mouse is about 4 inches high - so cute - I'm really happy with these. 

This globe, I made for Grace. 

It's knitted in the round and is quite challenging but great fun to make. 

Details of the pattern can be seen at the Ravelry pattern page, here.   

I Remembered the Camera

On my early morning walks I occasionally wander down to the beach.  It's not a very exciting beach - no cliffs or rock pools - just lots and lots of sand - and of course the Iron Men. 

Inevitably I always think when I'm at the beach - I should have brought the camera with me!

Yesterday was just such a morning. The beach was almost deserted - just me, one dog-walker and the iron men.  It was a beautiful misty morning - so peaceful.  

So this morning I made sure I had my camera with me.  The lovely peacefulness of yesterday was gone - it was freezing cold with a very strong wind off the sea - but I did take some photos. 

This next one is looking south to the docks of Liverpool - you can see the Liver Building between the 2nd and 3rd wind turbines from the right. 

I didn't stay long on the beach - even the gulls were struggling with the wind - but at least I remembered the camera. 

Happy New Year

A very Happy New Year to everyone. 

I hope this year brings you lots of pleasant surprises and plenty of contentment. 

I enjoy this time of the year - the calm after the storm of activity associated with Christmas.  Now is the time to get organised and plan ahead.  I still haven't shared with you all the things I made for Christmas - I'll try and rectify this in the next few posts. 

In the meantime, here's a special little knitting project I've been working on since Christmas Day. 

Fifty years ago I was given a lovely doll for Christmas - I called her Wendy and I still treasure her - so to celebrate her 50th birthday I've made her a lovely new coat, hat and shoes.

My Mum gave me some knitting leaflets she no longer wanted and among them was this one. 

"Best of Friends: 12 fun outfits for your favourite doll and Teddy" - perfect, just what I needed. 

Wendy is very pleased with her new outfit. 

There was another leaflet with some knitted outfits for Action Man - I may make some of these next!!