Face Lift

It's been three years since I started this blog.  Time certainly flies.

Time for a change - a new look - a Spring clean.

Grace has come to stay this weekend so she helped me revamp the blog.  I'm happy with the new look - but it may be subject to a bit more tinkering.

My Contribution

Today is the deadline for Eve to hand in all her work for her Art A level.  She left for school this morning laden down with her portfolio of work - a year's worth of it.

This past week has been a hectic finishing off and polishing up her art sheets.

We've had a horrible week of weather this week but on Wednesday the sun came out just long enough for her to take some lovely photos of the blossom tree in front of our house - to use with her art work.

They are just perfect - and the next day the rain battered the tree and it looks a mess now - so she was just in time.

My contribution to this - well - I brought out the step ladder so that she could get her close ups!

I made some chocolate chip muffins - to keep her spirits up.

And of course - I helped eat them!

Eveline's Motif

Thank you for your lovely comments on the reworking of my very first crochet motif.

As requested, I have written out the pattern.  In honour of my Gran, who instructed me in the original making of this motif, I have named the pattern after her.

The PDF version of this pattern is available, HERE.

The measurements of the motif are as follows:

Double knitting version – 13 cm (5 inches)

Sport weight version – 9.5 cm (4 inches)

4 ply version – 8 cm ( 3 inches)

#10 crochet cotton version – 5.5 cm (2 inches)

You will need oddments in the yarn weight of your choice, a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn weight – and that’s all. 

Please note that in all of my patterns I use UK crochet terms.

The American equivalents are as follows:

tr = USA dc
dc = USA sc
Other abbreviations:

ch = chain

sl st = slip stitch

sp = space

sts = stitches

Using the yarn of your choice and an appropriate sized hook, make ch 6 and join into a ring with a sl st.

Round 1: 3 ch (counts as 1^st tr), 15 tr into ring.  Join with a sl st into 1^st tr. (16 sts)

Round 2: 5 ch (counts as 1^st tr and 2 ch), 1 tr, 2 ch into each st to end.  Join with a sl st into 1^st tr. (16 spaces)

Round 3: sl st into next sp, 3 ch (counts as 1^st tr), 2 tr in same sp, 1 ch, (3 tr into next sp, 1 ch) to end.  Join with a sl st into 1^st tr.

Round 4: sl st into next 2 tr and into 1 ch sp, 1 ch, 1 dc in same sp, 5 ch, (miss 3 tr, 1 dc in next ch sp, 5 ch) to end. Join with a sl st into 1^st dc.

Round 5: (5 dc into next 5 ch loop, sl st into dc) to end. 

Fasten off and neaten all loose ends. 

You can of course experiments with different colour combinations. 

I hope you enjoy this pattern.  

You've Come a Long Way Girl!

When I was little we used to visit my Gran every Saturday morning.  My Mum and Dad would go shopping and we would stay with my Gran.  We usually played cards or dominoes but frequently my Gran would pass on some of her crafting knowledge to me.

When I was about 8 or 9 she decided to teach me to crochet.  I don't think I really understood at the time what was going on, it was so confusing but she persevered with me even though I could tell at times she was getting frustrated.  I still have that very first piece of crochet.  Here it is:

A bit wobbly in places but I'm glad I kept it.

Yesterday I suddenly had the urge to recreate the motif my Gran was trying to get me to make.  So here is the 2012 version:

It looks completely different from the original but IT IS the same stitch pattern.  This new one was made using double knitting weight yarn.  I added an extra round of stitches to give it a better finish.

I then made the motif with #10 crochet cotton:

And one with 4 ply:

And finally a sport weight version.

All four of the 2012 motifs took a total time of just over an hour - I suspect the version from the 1960s took several Saturday mornings!

I think I've come a long way in the last 43 years!  I've learnt so many new crafts and skills.  I hope my Gran would be proud of me.

Patsy - A New Cardi

It must be all of a few weeks since I finished my last cardi - time for a new one.

I've decided to go for another Kim Hargreaves pattern - from the book Touching Elegance.

The pattern is called Patsy.

I'll be making adjustments to the sleeves - full length and more fitted.  I'm knitting it in Sirdar Balmoral DK yarn, it's not as pinky as this picture would lead you to believe, more of a burgundy colour.

Having knitted enough of Kim's patterns I feel confident about the sizing.  However with this one I started knitting the XS size, but quickly frogged it and knitted up the S size instead.  It still looks like it could be quite a tight fit.  It's knitting up quickly as it is straight forward to knit - so I'll soon know if it will fit!

More Mice

I've just visited Ginny's blog at Ginx Crafts to see the Fair Isle Mice she has made from my pattern.

They are so cute and I love the cat.

Sunny Coaster

Having made a little coaster for Eve, I couldn't resist making one for me.

It makes me feel sunny and happy and it looks good on my table.

The pattern is available free, here.  It's by Lis Chaong and it's so quick to make.

It would look really effective in many different colour combinations.  I may make some more.

I hope you all have a lovely sunny weekend.

An Apple for Eve

Exams looming, coursework deadlines to be met and just the general stress of your last few weeks EVER in school.  Eve needs cheering up and cheering on when she gets in from school.  So today I crocheted up a little treat for her.  Something to bring a smile to her face - this jolly little coaster.
 

Very quick and easy to make.  There are a few patterns for something similar out there.  The one I used was this one, by Anne Marie.

It'll brighten up Eve's desk, and tempt her, whilst working, to nothing more than another cup of tea!

Finding Inspirations

I recently bought the latest edition of Mollie Makes.

I have now subscribed to this magazine, so in future it will be delivered to my door and I won't have to wait until I go to the shops to get my copy.  If you're not familiar with the magazine, it's a wonderful collection of handmade, homemade, vintage, collectible, lifestyle inspirations.

This month's magazine featured these.

They are cute little crochet daffodils fitted onto knitting needles - what a great idea - so simple and so effective - why didn't I think of that?  The idea comes from ingthings blog.  You can see her original blog post about the daffodils here.  What a lovely blog - very stylish photography.

Obviously, I have had to copy her idea - it's just too good to miss.  Here are my little daffodils.

And then I was reading the latest blog post from Lucy at Attic24 and couldn't help admiring the crochet blanket she is working on - so I used the idea to make a colourful mat for my vase of daffodils to stand on.

Lucy gives a great tutorial on crocheting a flat circle, here.

So put them all together and here is my new display.

What an inspiring time I'm having.  All I need now is some inspiration to do the housework!

Her Majesty

You may recall, a few days ago I came across a free Fiona Goble pattern to knit the Queen.  Well, I've been knitting furiously this weekend (whilst watching the Formula 1 Grand Prix from China) and here she is finished.

She's only about 7 inches tall but there's lots of lovely details.  See her pearl necklace and sparkly tiara.  She also has a stunning mohair cape!

What about those jewelled shoes!

Great fun to make - I'm all set for the Jubilee celebrations now.

Henry V

A bit of culture last night - we all (that's all four of us - yes hubby came too) went to the Playhouse in Liverpool to see a new production of Shakespeare's Henry V.

The production is a collaboration with the Globe Theatre and is directed by Dominic Dromgoole.  Last night was the opening night of the play and it is being performed in Liverpool until the 28th April.  After that it is touring the country before having a run at the Globe Theatre in June. 


It was a brilliant production,  I'm not familiar with this particular play but it wasn't too difficult to follow the action.  

Thankfully it wasn't a modern dress version.  The acting was excellent all round and there was a surprising amount of humour in the play (I thought it was all about fighting!).  This production featured significant musical accompaniments and a great dance scene at the end. 

We all enjoyed it and if you get a chance, I'd recommend you go and see it - even if just for the dancing at the end.  

Recycling - Tea Cosy

Flicking through my back issues of Mollie Makes magazine, I saw an idea for a tea cosy made from an old sweater.  So here is my version of a sweater recycled into a tea cosy.

First, I found an old sweater that had shrunk in the wash (this is why I stopped knitting with Rowan's felted tweed).

I cut out two rectangles and then turned them upside down, so that the bottom ribbing of the sweater is now the top of the cosy.

I gathered the top with some lovely bright red ribbon.

Seamed the sides (leaving holes for the spout and handle!).

I put a generous hem on the bottom.  Then I added some crocheted flowers and leaves.  I used the pattern from my Pot of Primroses for these and used double knitting weight yarn.

Put it all together and this is what I made.

There's life in the old sweater yet - anyone for a cuppa?

Knit the Queen!

You may recall that at Christmas I was attempting to complete the Twelve Knits of Christmas, here, and here.  These were from a book by Fiona Goble.  They were great fun to make and I'll finish off the remaining characters ready for next Christmas!

Well I just discovered that Fiona Goble has created a pattern for Deramores to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year.

I'm not a royalist but I'm going to have to knit this.  If you would like to make it yourself, the pattern can be downloaded for free here.