Kitty Cat and baby Mary Janes

It seems to be baby season and I have many baby gifts to make! With some already here and more on the way, I'd better get a move on quick! So, what fast things can I make for a little baby girl? Well, I found this amazing pattern for some cute crochet Mary Jane slippers. When I went to buy some baby yarn I found Sirdars Snuggly Snowflake, its super soft and when crocheted up its super snuggly and soft and looks like a little cloud.

Information
Size: 0-6 Months
Guage: Sole measures 3 1/2inches
 
Materials

A small amount of baby yarn - I used Sirdar Snowflake in white!
5.50mm Crochet hook

How To:
Sole
Ch 8
1. 2 HTR in 3rd ch from hook, TR in next 4 chs, 6TR in last ch. Working on other side of chain, in free loops, HTR in next 4 chs. (3 HTR) in last ch. Join w/ sl st to beg ch. (20 sts)
2. CH 1, 2 DC in same st. DC in next 8 sts, (2DC in next st)3 times. DC in next 6 sts. (2 DC in next st) 2 times. Join with sl st to first DC. (26 sts)

Sides
3. (Working in back loops this rnd) Ch 2, HTR in each st around. Join (26 sts) 
4. Ch 2, HTR in next 10 sts, (TR next 2 sts tog)3 times. HTR in next 7 sts. HTR next 2 sts tog. Join to first HTR. 
5. CH 1, DC in same st. DC in next 9 sts. TR 5 sts TOG as one--->[(YO, insert hook in next st, YO, pull up a loop, pull through 2 loops on hook)5 times. YO and pull through all loops on hook]. DC in next 7 sts. Join to first DC.

The Strap
6. Ch 1, DC in same st. DC in next 6 sts. Ch *4*, DC next 7 sts. DC in last 4 sts. Join to first DC (15) 
7. Ch 1, DC in same st. DC in all stitches around. Join (15)
The Bow - using a size 3.00mm crochet hook and some baby yarn.
1. Ch 17, TR in 3rd ch from hook and in each st across (14)
Row 2-6: CH 2, HTR across
Row 7: Sl st in next 7 sts, ch 10 and then tie off, wrap the chain around the bow making the centre tie. Leave the end to attatch to the Mary Jane shoes.

The second present I made was a little cat! I thought I wanted to make something along the lines of the Fox that I made my friends little boy when he was born, but this time I chose a cat. I chose a fleecy fabric to make it super soft and embroidered onto the cat rather than using buttons, just in case baby swallows them. A cute little make I think! :)

 

Santa bring my baby back (to me)

It is exactly one month until Christmas! There is still so much to do. I have hardly had time to do any Christmas crafts, I need to write my cards (usually I make them so this makes me feel sad), but the one good thing is that I can start listening to Christmas songs.. Like Santa bring my baby back (to me) by Elvis Presley!

Craft time will start tomorrow :)

Stitch Markers

With Christmas coming, I have lots of intricate patterns that I need stitch markers for. I went to all my local haberdasheries to find some but was shocked when I wasn't able to find one in any of them! So, what did I do then? Well I made my own of course!

You will need:
Beads - different sizes and shapes, it doesn't matter what you want, just make them you! :)
Lobster clasp findings for necklaces or bracelets
Needle and thread
Scissors

Method:
Take your thread and put it on your needle. Tie a knot in the end making sure it's secure enough to hold the beads, especially if they are a little heavier. Then thread your beads onto the thread. When they are all on, thread the lobster clasp onto the top and take your needle and thread back through the beads and tie at the bottom to give it extra security.

And that's it, all sewn up!

Granite Snood

Recently my spare time has been filled with a few different projects but I don't seem to be getting anywhere with them, so I decided that I needed to concentrate on one at a time. So snood it is! Winter is coming, and it's definitely getting colder in the mornings. I love to wrap up in a knitted snood.

I used the Granite stitch in crochet from my earlier post to make the snood. It's an easy stitch and one you can do while not really paying attention to it. I made my snood by chaining 26 stitches with a size 6 crochet hook, and I stitched until the piece was about 130cm. When I finished, I put a twist in the piece and crocheted the two ends together.

 

Stay Warm x

You've got her in your pocket

I love going to a gig and being swallowed up by the atmosphere. After being very ill last week I managed a moment of emotion at a Jack White gig. He sang his song 'You've got her in your pocket' and even he choked back the tears. The whole crowd was silent and sang along right at the end. A beautiful moment for all involved! I know that youtube videos never give the full effect of the moment but this isn't a bad audio to show you the beauty. Have you ever had a moment like that? Please share, it would be good to hear!

Hand Warmers

Getting up in a morning is something that I struggle with at the best of times. But knowing that I have to go out to 3 degrees cold in a morning really makes me want to stay under the covers. So, I decided to make a couple of hand warmers to keep my hands and pockets warm on my way to work. They are so simple and easy to make, I recommend that you all try.

Materials:
Some cosy fabric of your choice (I used some fleece fabric from an old blanket)
Some yarns
Some decorative pieces
Barley or Rice
Scent filling (optional, but I used dried lavender)

 

I took my fleece fabric and cut out two shapes, I chose hearts as they fit nicely in the palms of my hands. I then used the knitted hearts from my earlier tutorial and stitched the heart to the front of one of my heart cut outs.

Then using a blanket stitch I took my yarn and stitched all around the edge of the heart, making sure that there are no large gaps and leaving about an inch gap near to the end to be able to put the filling in.

Then I mixed up some pearl barley and some dried lavender and spooned it into the gap that I had left. Make sure that you fill all the corners and gaps inside the warmers and fit as much in as you can (you don't want a saggy hand warmer). Then stitch up the final section and finish off. 

Then when you are ready to go out, pop them in the microwave for around 20 seconds and they should last around 20 minutes in your pockets or your gloves (if they are small enough to fit). They are great for short journeys and something that I am going to be making for a few friends for little stocking fillers! Now I am looking forward to my morning walks.. x

Hearts of mine..

After noticing a lot of purple knits on the high street recently, my love for purple has grown. So, as part of some Christmas presents I am going to be making, I decided to knit some cute little hearts as embellishments. I have been knitting 2 years now and I have never knitted a heart before, how can it be? But they are pretty easy and so here is my tutorial on how I made my hearts.

The materials that I used for my little hearts are size 4mm knitting needles, applicable scrummy heather coloured yarn (I found it in my stash, no idea what make it is), scissors and yarn needle for tidying up the ends.

Abbreviations:

sts = stitches

m1 = make a stitch from the previous row

ssk = slip, slip, knit

k2tog = knit 2 together

k = knit

Directions for a heart 6 cm across and about 5 cm down

Cast on 3sts

Row 1: K

Row 2: K1, M1, K1, M1, K1

Row 3: K

Row 4: K1, M1, K3, M1, K1

Row 5: K, Tie off at the end.

Then cast on another 3 stitches and repeat these 5 rows. At the end of the 5th row the second time around don't tie off. Your two sections should be side by side on one needle making sure that purl side is facing towards you as you go into the next row.

Row 6: K all the way across the two pieces to join them together, making sure you pull tightly in the centre to keep them together.
Row 7 - 9: K
Row 10: K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K
Row 11: K
Repeat rows 10 and 11 until there are just two stitches left. Then bind off and there you go, a cute little knitted heart. Suitable for so many purposes!

To finish, the heart darn the loose threads into the heart, coaxing it into shape if its a little misshapen. A good tip is to slip stitch the first stitch of every row to make a nice boarder, but it's not necessary, I didn't this time around.

To make a wider heart just add more stitches into the first 5 rows where you can, and to make a longer heart add more knit rows before you start the decrease at row 10.

Lovely! x

Remembrance Poppy

Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day or Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War 1 to remember all those who have died in the line of duty. The Poppy has been used as a sign of remembrance since the 1920s and every year thousands of people go out and purchase a poppy to wear on their chests to show their support. But this year, after my poppy lasted all of 5 minutes, I decided that something more substantial was needed, so I decided to get my crochet on.

Take a lovely red yarn of your choice, a crochet hook that's applicable, and some black buttons (with a bit of sparkle for something different). I am using Artisano Aran yarn which usually takes a 5ish mm hook but I am using a 4 mm hook to make it tight. Using this size hook gives me a poppy that is the same size as the standard paper ones from the Royal British Legion.

Round 1: Make a magic circle and SC 10 sts, pull tight to make the centre of the flower.

Round 2: *ch1, sc, ch1, 2dc in next st, 3 dc in next st, (2dc, ch1, dc) in next st, ss in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around and join with a ss.

Round 3: *ch1, 3sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next 5 sts, 3sc in next 2 sts. Repeat from * around and fasten off.

Then sew a black button into the centre and add a brooch back and there is your remembrance poppy. I actually only did half a round of round 3 to make my final poppy, not sure why, think I had a mishap. Next time I will do it properly.
All I ask is that if you make one of these, or more for friends, that you also make a donation to the British Legion and help support today's troops :)
x

Sorry

I just want to say sorry for going quiet this last week. I am living in a house full of the flu. I should hopefully be back soon with a little make for Remembrance Sunday :)