Thursday 11 April 2013

Mini Rocket Pattern

I've been busy, busy, busy, making items for a charity craft sale in June... that's not much time for one person to make enough items to fill a table!

I've been trying to stick to items which are quick to make but great to look at. One example of easy and effective items are garlands and I've made a few so far, including this really cute space garland:



What really makes it cute is the little rocket; after I had finished all the stars, I thought it needed a little something else.

So, for the pattern for this little rocket, go to my Etsy page, (link below).

Mini Rocket Pattern

or to buy the one I made click below:

Space Garland


Tuesday 12 March 2013

Very Easy Fingerless Mittens

I car-share to work most days and one frosty morning I complained to my colleague about driving all the way to work with VERY cold fingers!

She said that her fingerless-mittens kept her hands warm, and I laughed... I've always thought they were pointless as, by nature,  they don't cover your fingers, only your palms and therefore, (in my eyes), they couldn't work.

So she made me put them on - and they defied my logic! I had to have a pair and of course I wasn't going to buy any!

They didn't need to be fussy so I made the easiest, quickest, simplest fingerless-mittens using the same chunky red yarn that I used to for the trim of my earflap hat, (I do like items that match subtly).

It doesn't matter what yarn you use for this project as I've written it so that it's adaptable, just use whatever you like and the appropriate hook for that yarn. Both mittens are made in exactly the same way so follow this pattern twice for two mittens!


Ch= chain
Dc= UK double crochet
Htr= UK half treble crochet
Slst= slip stitch
sk= skip
Rpt= repeat

Foundation Row: Create a chain which comfortably goes around your wrist. I made mine a bit bigger as I wanted a baggy effect but you could make them tight fitting. Sl St to form a ring. (Make a note of how many you chained for the other mitten).

Note: the Ch2 at the beginning of each round counts as the first half treble for each round.

R1: Ch 2, htr in each st around, sl st to ch2.

R2: Rpt R1 until the tube is the length you require, (measure from your lower thumb knuckle - where your thumb joins to your hand - down to however long you want the mittens to be.)

Make a note of how many rows you have done as you will need to know to make the second mitten, (I did 10 rounds total therefore I will continue to count from there.)

R11: Ch2, ch6, sk 6 st, htr to 7th st then htr in each st around, slst to ch2.

R12: Ch2, htr in each st around, slst to ch2.

R13: Rpt R12 until the mitten is as high up your hand as you want it to be, for me this was just on my knuckles, (R18 for me), as I needed to keep as much of my fingers out as possible as I needed the grip for driving but you could carry on a bit further.

Finish off.

For the thumb hole, you could either leave it as it is or you can build it up a  bit as follows:

Start by joining anywhere on the thumb hole,

R1: ch1, dc in each st around, slst to ch 1.

Rpt R1 until you reach the desired length.




And it's as simple as that. I'm writing this post on a snowy day in my tiny, cold, box-house and my mittens are keeping my hands warm whilst a thick pair of socks, slippers and a blanket fail to keep my feet warm... I really should make something for my feet!


**This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, reprinted or copied in anyway without my permission. If you would like to sell something that you have made using my pattern, I ask that you give credit to me as the pattern designer and that you include a link back to the free pattern so that others may have the opportunity to make the item themselves.**


Monday 11 February 2013

A Handy Bag


I made this bag for myself very shortly after teaching myself to crochet, as a ‘pocket’ to carry all the everyday items that the children expect staff to produce on demand, (whiteboard pen, eraser, pencil, tissues!). Many of the teaching assistants that I work with have these little bags, (not crocheted but made from material), which I was informed were made for them by an ex-member of staff many years ago!

I suppose, (even if you don't work in a school), you could carry your reading glasses, a pen and notebook, ID badge, your mobile phone or other necessary gadgets etc in it.

I used a 4mm hook and my yarn was for that size hook. When I made it, I worked the size out as I went along so I’ve written the pattern so that you can do the same J. It could even be made to be used as an everyday handbag, although I'm not sure how the handle would hold out if the bag became too heavy!


Pattern:
ch= chain

dc= double crochet (US single)

sl st= slip stitch
htr= Half treble crochet (US half double)
rpt*= repeat section between two *


For the bag: 
Foundation Row: Ch as many as you need for the length of your bag, (top to bottom), then ch2 more.
R1: Htr into 3rd ch from hook. Htr in every chain to end.
R2: *Ch2 and turn. Htr into 3rd ch from hook. Htr in every chain to end.*
Rpt* until your work is double what you want the width of your bag to be.
Sl st to secure but before you cut your yarn, make sure there is plenty still attached so that you can use it to weave the two sides together.

Thread this end onto a needle and securely weave together the two long sides, (your starting chain and the last row you have just completed).

You will now have a tube. Make sure your tube is inside out and position the seam you have just made so it is at the back of the bag, in the middle, then weave together the bottom with a new piece of your yarn and the main part of the bag is complete!



For the flap:



Note: The flap can close in any way you want. I chose to add a button loop which needs to be included in the last row of the flap. The link below is the source I used for the loop on my bag.








Foundation Row: Ch as many as you need to match the width of your bag then ch2 more.
R1: Htr into 3rd ch from hook. Htr in every chain to end.
R2: *Ch2 and turn. Htr into 3rd ch from hook. Htr in every chain to end.*Rpt* until your work is the right size for your flap.Attach your flap by weaving together the foundation chain side to the back top edge of your bag.





For the handle: 


Foundation Row: Ch as many as you need for the length you want your handle to be then ch 1 more and turn.

R1: Dc in the second chain from the hook and then in every ch to the end.

For me this was wide enough but if you want a wider strap then just do the same again until it’s wide enough.Then sew each end of the strap to the top inside corners of the bag, (I did this using the same yarn.









Then it’s finished apart from a couple of optional extras!








1. A Lining.

I lined my bag as I was worried about it sagging. I followed these instructions:





2. Decoration.

I crocheted little colourful flowers and sewed them on, including little buttons in the middles. There are hundreds of patterns for little flowers in books, magazines and online so use whatever you like the look of :)




**This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, reprinted or copied in anyway without my permission. If you would like to sell something that you have made using my pattern, I ask that you give credit to me as the pattern designer and that you include a link back to the free pattern so that others may have the opportunity to make the item themselves.**

Saturday 9 February 2013

Maggie's Mat



This is our beautiful dog, Maggie. We've only had her since October last year but she's already part of the family and so is becoming another unwilling victim of my crafts...



Despite being a lovely looking girl, Maggie has a beard that most grown human men would envy. The only problem that this causes, (apart from her occasionally being referred to as 'Beardface' or 'The Beard'), is that she creates a small lake on the kitchen floor when she drinks out of her water bowl.

I trawled the local pet shop and the internet in search of an absorbent but non-slip mat for her bowls to try to lessen the number of  cases of damp-sock occurring, but none were to my taste: either garish colours or silly slogans and none that could claim to be both absorbent and non-slip.

Cue light-bulb moment! Why didn't I think of making my own before?!

Due the its size and the monotony of the pattern, it took me a few hours to make but it was so easy I feel silly for even considering paying for one; I raided my stash so the yarn cost nothing.

To make it non-slip, I intend to buy some of that non-slip mat that you can get from pound-shops, (usually used for car dashboards to stop trinkets from rolling about when you're driving), cut it to a little smaller than the mat itself and sew it on the the underside. I also might crochet a little paw print and applique it on.

The mat I made measures 18" x 12". I used 2 strands of yarn, one black and one off-white. I have no idea of the yarn weight or what they are made of as they came from my stash, but I used a 5mm hook and it took 70 stitches across to reach the 18" length and 30 rows of UK half treble crochet, (US Hdc) to reach 12" wide.

The pattern is easily adapted to any size of mat required. See below:

I really like the random effect of two strands together.


Dog Bowl Mat
Foundation Row: Ch as many as you need to reach your desired length, then ch 2 more.
R1: Htr in 3rd ch from hook then in every st to end. Ch2 then turn.R2: Htr in every st to end, ch2 then turn.
Rpt R2 as many times as you need to reach your desired width.
And that's it! So simple, I don't know why I hadn't though of it before...


Finished :)


The perfect size for Maggie's two bowls.

Maggie approves... well, she's apathetic.


**This pattern is for personal use only and may not be sold, reprinted or copied in anyway without my permission. If you would like to sell something that you have made using my pattern, I ask that you give credit to me as the pattern designer and that you include a link back to the free pattern so that others may have the opportunity to make the item themselves.**

Monday 28 January 2013

A Quick Sunday Mini-Project

As much as I get a huge sense of pride and achievement from completing a big project, the quick-but-ever-so-useful ones always bring a little sunshine :) 

A little Sunday boredom struck yesterday, (we haven't been allowed our usual weekend woodland walks as Maggie was meant to be having some R+R while she recovered from her spay, poor thing), so I began trawling my boards on Pinterest for something to make. I chose this...



A nifty little wallet for storing the bags for picking up the 'little packages' that Maggie leaves!

It turned out like this:




I make no excuses for the garish colour scheme, it was, of course, made from acrylic scraps, but it will stand out should I drop it whilst wrestling with the dog lead as she fights to continue our walk before I've had chance to pick up her treasure.Although, hopefully, I'll remember to attach it to something using the loop but that may be a stretch too far.

Saturday 26 January 2013

Arm-Chair 'Catch-All' Pocket Finished!

Ok, so I've been quiet on the blog front for many reasons but the most important one being what I believe is my best crochet item yet! Not least because I have created my own design AND it actually looks good!

Here it is in action! Much tidier and prettier that what I showed you in my previous post: "In Search of an Arm-Chair Catch-All" 

The finished item, doing it's job fabulously!

Get the pattern from my Etsy shop :)


Sunday 13 January 2013

Bananas, Bananas, Bananas!

Yes, I am still procrastinating instead creating a crocheted masterpiece... (ha!)

The reason? Well, due to a very severe case of human error last week, instead of ordering 7 bananas with my online shop ... you guessed it... 7 PACKS of bananas. Far. Too. Many.

Too many bananas!
We had two options: think of the money- send them back and receive a red-faced refund OR challenge ourselves to find some inventive ways to use 50 bananas before they rotted. I wanted to take them back but I was persuaded by my home-brew-fanatic boyfriend that he could definitely use most of them in an experimental banana-brew, (not sure how it will turn out... it seems to have stopped fermenting after only 7 days....). To give him credit, he did use up most of the bananas although, we are yet to taste test the brew...


Inventing a banana-brew.
The remaining few bananas are beginning to go brown - perfect time to make a banana loaf! I trawled the internet for a simple recipe, I don't really think it's worth baking your own if there are hundreds of expensive ingredients or the recipe requires things that you wouldn't usually have in the cupboard. Eventually I found this:

http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/

A basic recipe, with store-cupboard ingredients which meant I didn't have to go out or spend any more money! :D

I did edit the recipe slightly: I didn't have any vanilla so exchanged that for a little ground cinnamon to add some interest, I also added a few flaked almonds as I had some in the cupboard.

I always make a HUGE mess when I bake, but that's part of the fun!

Five minutes to throw the ingredients together. I did use my mixer even though the recipes suggests that you don't need to, and I didn't melt the butter first because I am lazy and didn't want to make an additional item dirty. One hour in the oven - I checked on it after 50 minutes and a knife still came out dirty so the whole hour was necessary. This is how it turned out:

Looks a tad over-done...


We are yet to taste test it ;) Will report the verdict shortly.

Saturday 12 January 2013

In Search of an Arm-Chair 'Catch-All'



I want to make one of these:

http://pinterest.com/pin/124130533451417379/

My mission for 2013 is to get my house organised and in order, (and my life generally - I am such a disorganised person!), everything will have a place, everything goes back in its place.


I am nearly there but, as I am sure is the case in many households, we have too many remote controls taking up valuable surface-space or piled up on the arm of the sofa where they will inevitably disappear into the infinite abyss under the sofa cushions, causing much disharmony come TV time.

The offending button-boxes...
So, an 'arm-chair catch-all' would be perfect! So, the task I have set myself is: to design and create an arm chair pocket for my many remotes which is pretty and practical. Whether it is a success or a disaster, I will share the results here!

Teaching myself to knit will have to wait for now... :)


Thursday 10 January 2013

Knitting?

I love getting presents! - Doesn't everyone?!
During my 'lunch-break' today, (sitting in front of my laptop and a pile of paperwork), a lovely colleague of mine, for whom I once crocheted a hat for her son, brought me the first issue of 'Knit and Stitch', with free Bergere acrylic yarn and a pair of 3.5mm knitting needles!
I don't knit, by the way... but what a perfect opportunity to try and learn, and such a kind gesture. The magazine comes with a tutorial DVD, we'll see how this goes!

Monday 7 January 2013

My Favourite Ear-Flap Hat.

So, after a long time searching Ravelry and other crochet sites, and a few started-then-pulled-apart trials, I found this link on Pinterest:

http://stitch11.com/blossom-earflap/

It just looked right.... I already knew what yarn I was going to use, I had some left over from a blanket I had just finished, so as soon as I had the time I got started!

This hat really is as quick to make, as the pattern suggests. Starts with the usual increasing rounds for any hat, a few one-in-each-stitch rounds, (I did one round less then the pattern suggested - I must have a small head), then the easiest flap instructions I've come across and it's done: all but any extras.

I opted to change to a contrasting colour to put on a double crochet edging, (US single crochet). I then followed the patterns instructions to add braids to the flaps, (also very clearly explained and much easier than it looks), and pom-poms on the end. I also added a pom-pom on the top :)

Here are the results:




I apologise for the model... :/

I really love it! A few people have commented, (after the familiar: 'I like your hat!', 'Thanks, I made it.'), that it looks shop-bought... I guess my other hats don't!


Saturday 5 January 2013

New Hooks!

I'm fairly new to crochet. I received a basic crochet starter set from my potential-mother-in-law-to-be for Christmas two years ago and, within a couple of weeks, wrote it off as 'too difficult' and gave up.

One whole year later, I tried again. With the help of various YouTube videos, and a little more determination, I picked it up quite quickly!

I have gradually built up a fairly large stash of various yarns, mostly from charity shops and family members who no longer knit, bought myself some comfy-handle hooks (crochet-related hand sores are the worst!) and have had one project or another on the go ever since.

Now, anyone who crochets will tell you that a chunky-yarn project is not only satisfyingly quick, but also looks pretty pro. I had acquired some chunky yarns but my hooks only went up to 6mm, so I 'suggested' to my other-half that he could get me 7, 8, 9, and 10mm hooks as a stocking filler, (he professes to struggle with stocking fillers but does a great job!)

To my surprise he got me these:
12x bamboo hooks ranging from 2-10mm - how cute are they?!

As soon as Christmas was over with I had to try them out; I'd found a great pattern for an 'ear-flap hat' on Pinterest which required using two strands and a 9mm hook. The hat turned out brilliantly and was so quick, but that's a post for another time.

The hook was great to use, it has a well placed indentation for the thumb and once I'd done a couple of rounds and got used to it, it seemed just as smooth to work with as my aluminium hooks. The only small difficulty I found was that the hook is possibly not deep enough to grab the yarn however, this may have only been because a was using two strands, I'd never crocheted with two strands before. I'll make sure my next project uses only 1 strand and see how it goes. The benefit of the bamboo, I suppose, is that I could always carve the hook more to how I want it, should it prove to be too shallow after all.


Time to decide on a new project!