Not your granny's doily

Well I never.



I've become a bit partial to a doily or two, since finding some in a charity shop a while back.

And then I saw this on t'internet and was inspired. A giant doily rug? Genius!



You know me by now- I do love some chunky yarn and a big hook, so I bought some lush Hoopla yarn from the lovely Stocki at Stockton Crafts and a mahooooousive 20mm (comedy) hook and got making.



Pattern from here. 
(What, I ask you, did we do before Ravelry?)



The Hoopla yarn is great fun and easy to work with (mine has some stretch to it) and as it's made from selvedges from the textile industry, eco-friendly too. It does have a few joins and isn't perfect, but that, I think, adds to its charm.



The only problem?



Ahem.
Mine is a leeeeetle bit too small. I only used about half the yarn!

Back to the drawing board, methinks with a slightly bigger doily pattern...

(...if anyone has any patterns they think would work, I'd love to know)

Have a happy, happy, happy New Year!
Xx

Woaaaaahhhh! Slow down, December.

Don't you realise that you are slipping away from me at light-speed?
I have not written Christmas cards, wrapped presents or baked Mince pies.
I have not organised things to keep the children happy over the holidays.
I have not made hand-made presents for the people I wanted to. 
I have not finished Christmas shopping.

And when did I last write a blog post or read everyone else's? 
Eons ago, it appears.



But December, I am being a little unfair, for you mark the anniversary of my beginnings.

It is a year ago that I decided I needed something to 'engage the grey matter' after giving up my beloved teaching to become a mummy.
So I learned to crochet.
Something I never really thought I'd be able to do (due to calamitous knitting attempts in the past) but learn I did.
I can't crochet anything really complicated, but I have mastered a few basics, explored a few cheats, and made stuff that people actually want to pay for, which amazes me completely.



And from those tentative beginnings a year ago, I am starting a little business selling the things I make. Nothing huge. Nothing much. Just some crochet and some little wooden blocks.


So there we are, December; I know that there are only 10 days to go and although I am panicking ever so slightly about getting it all done, I know that I will.

And most importantly, I have a wonderful Christmas with friends and family to look forward to.
And for these things, I am most glad.

Happy, happy Christmas to you all.
Xx

Getting organised...

Pegs. 
Stamp with wording of choice. 
Attach magnet to back. 
Stick on fridge.
Marvel at your new ability to never forget stuff again.

(adapted from an idea seen here)

Have a great weekend, all.

Crochet Christmas Trees

I'm the happiest Christmas tree, 
Hoo hoo hoo, hee hee hee 
Someone came and they found me, 
And took me home with them!



Oh, I'm the happiest Christmas tree, 
Hoo hoo hoo, hee hee hee 
Look how pretty they dressed me, 
Oh, lucky, lucky me! 
 


You might remember their simple beginnings a while back:



And many of you clever peeps had guessed correctly, too!

They have taken me an age to finish. For no other reason than being distracted by everything else: 
1. Craft fair/shopping night. Big success. Sold lots- now panicking ever so slightly over need to replenish stocks for more upcoming sales.
2. EBay. Compulsive. (Bob the builder pants sold at a profit)
3. A cowl. For myself. I would actually like to finish it while it is still cold.

Back to the trees.


Fancy making one, or two, or a shelf-ful?

Here's my pattern to make the smallest, squattest tree. 
Want a taller one? The instructions are below too.

If you make some, then do let me know how you get on and don't forget to link back to this post if you mention them on your lovely blogs. 

You'll need:
Whatever hooks and yarn you have to hand
Stitch marker
Stuffing
Felt for base
Beads/buttons etc to decorate


These are crocheted in the round, amigurumi-style and I use US crochet terms

Sc 4 in magic ring (find good tutorials for this on YouTube)
1) [sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (6 stitches)
2) [sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (9 stitches)
3) [sc, sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (12 stitches)
4) [sc, sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (16 stitches)
5) [sc, sc, sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (20 stitches)
6) [sc, sc, sc, sc 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (24 stitches)
7) sc 24
8) [sc 2 tog] repeat around (12 stitches)
9) sc 12
Stuff
10) [sc 2 tog] repeat around (6 stitches)
11) [2 sc in each stitch] repeat around (12 stitches)
12) [sc, 2 sc in next stitch] repeat around (18 stitches)

Decorate.
Cut a felt circle to stick to the bottom of your tree to neaten things up.

These will stand quite happily on their own, but would also be perfect as tree ornaments too. Just attach some ribbon.

To make your tree taller, insert the following rounds:

2a) sc 9
2b) sc 9

3a) sc 12
3b) sc 12
You get the idea.



Job done.

Xx

Cosy

Boring old jam jars.
Now cosy warm.



Not anything new- I've done the same sort of thing with tin cans before, and many other fabulous peeps have done similar.

But I just like it. It warms my cockles most merrily.

And I am craving autumnal warmth right now: 13 tog duvets, sheepskin boots, pub fires and chunky yarn made into anything on a 10mm hook.





Some simple back loop single crochet does it.



Really. It's that easy.
Xxx

GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Oooooo, the Korknisse Witches want to help with choosing the giveaway winners.
Look at all the entrants they have found:



Kazaaaaaaaaammmmm!



Oh, look.
The winners are:

Jo from My Pangaloon,
Famfa from Busy Butterfingers and
Kate from Signed With An Owl.

Well done girlies- do email me your addresses and I hope to get a little something to you before Christmas!!

Wait a minute, the black witch has arrived.
Late AGAIN.
(she clearly did not learn her lesson re: the frog incident)



Oh dear. The blue witch is not happy....

.........KERBLOOOOOOOWWWWIEEEE!!




Crikey!


Have a good week, all.
Xx

Apologies and new makes

I need to apologise twice.

Firstly, for making Christmas things.
Madness.
It's not even the end of October.
Sorry.



My excuse?
I have a craft sale at the beginning of November, and I thought people might like to buy these little blocks as gifts.




I've used a mixture of old Christmas images and music scores to cover the sides and am quite pleased with how they've turned out.



There's these too.



And, you'll be pleased to know, some commissioned blocks for a friend, which are distinctly non-christmassy.



So that's my first apology.

My second is for my absence from visiting all your wonderful blogs as often as I'd like.
My excuse for this?



One word.
eBay.

I am seriously selling everything from the loft in a bid (ha ha) to make some money and make some space in said loft.

This has so far involved a lengthy process of eliminating the good stuff from the rubbish and creating towering crates of boxes around the house; some to be put back into the loft (to be eBay-ed at a later date), some to be 'charity-shopped' and the rest to be photographed/ put onto eBay/ sent in post.

It's become a new obsession as I begin to check my items to see how many 'watchers' I have (spooky) and how many bids there are on my unopened pack of aged 2-3 Bob the Builder pants (no joke).

So, apologies.
I will try to catch up with you all as soon as I can.
Thank you for following, reading and commenting. You are marvellous people.

Have a great weekend, all xx

PS Don't forget to enter my giveaway- I will draw winners in Oct 31st. X

Make this!

A really easy-peasy, quick and, more importantly, cheap project.

So my niece has been after one of these:


[Source]

A New Look headwarmer. Nice. Only £4, so not exactly bank-breaking.

Hmmmmmmmmm. I think I could make something a bit like that, methinks...




I used about 40 grams of cheap and cheerful King Cole Big Value Chunky, so it cost less than a quid to make. Most bargainous. One for the recession.

Here's one is oatmeal too:



And one being worn:


(sorry for model, but Betty's in deep storage ready for an upcoming craft sale, so it had to be me.)

Fancy making one?
I used a 10 mm hook and King Cole Big Value Chunky.

Chain 12
(I used me old favourite chainless foundation stitch)

Round 1: ch1, sc in Back Loops only (12 stitches)

Repeat row 1 until you've reached the desired length. (mine seemed best at about 45 cms)

Sew the two ends together.

For the flower, I switched to a 7mm hook and hooked the first 4 rows of this pattern from Red Heart.

Then stitch the flower to your headwarmer and add a button, if you like.

Simples.

Don't forget to visit my Pay it Forward giveaway post! I'll be drawing a winner on Oct 31st.

Enjoy you week, all.
Xx

A Giveaway

So as promised, this is my Giveaway post!



Recently, I was very lucky to be a winner of Karenskrafts (now My 4 Lil Girls) 'Pay it Forward' giveaway and so now, it is my turn to announce my own GIVEAWAY!!

The rules of this giveaway are that I now have 365 days in which to find three bloggers who would like a handmade gift from me and are prepared to do the same.

It's so simple.
Here's how you can enter:

1: Be a follower of this blog somehow and leave a comment
(entries accepted from all corners of the globe and you don't have to have your own blog to enter, either)

You can gain an additional entry into the draw by:

2: Posting a link on your blog or website about this giveaway, linking directly back to this post.

3: Adding the giveaway button to your sidebar and linking to this post.

If you do any of the extras above, then make sure you comment to let me know- I don't want you to lose out on a chance to win!  

The winner will be drawn on October 31st 2011 at random.  


Good luck, all!

Xx

A give-away win!

Well, meloves, I am all a-gush and very excited to tell you that I AM A WINNER!!

Yes, my very first giveaway win arrived today from the gorgeously talented, clever and all-round lovely Karen at KarensKrafts!



I cannot tell you how excited I have been since learning that I was one of 3 winners from Karen's 'Pay it forward' giveaway.
(the postman clearly thinks I am a nutter as I have been stalking him for a few weeks now)

So, said parcel arrives... I unwrap a bit..


Wow!
What lush fabrics, colours, flowers... what could it be? ..


Ohmegosh (sharp intake of breath) it's a beauuuuuuutiful bag.

See how lovely it is!


But what else?


Eeeeep. The cutest tissue-case I've ever seen.

And look!


The sweetest Flower Fairy tag- the Geranium Fairy (really takes me back to being little- I used to love these little creatures- and still do!)

More!


A sweet detachable crochet flower corsage!!

Come see!


The most adorable lining of rose sprig fabric (including little compartment for special things).

Who could not love this:


Thank you again, Karen.
This has blown me away...!

And so...


Keep your eyes peeled- my next post is a Pay-it-forward giveaway!!

Have a great weekend, all.
Xxxx






Xxx

Halloween korknisse

The season of falling leaves, conkers and red and brown is upon us here in the UK.
(along with a well-documented heat wave)

Time again to visit the house of the Korknisse, methinks.
I wonder what they are up to?

Let's knock on the door..



Oh hello, Mr Pumpkin.
Anyone else in?



Of course!
Witches.
Spooky.
What are you two up to?



Aaaahaaa.
Potion-making.

Wait a minute.. Someone else is here.. And they're late.



Oh dear, an argument is breaking out.



Watch out!
The blue witch has her wand out.....

KERSHAZHMMMMMMBOOOOOOOM!

Oh dear.



No, I don't think she'll be late again, either.

Have a good week. Xx