Saturday, 12 December 2015
Friday, 11 December 2015
Home made cider from Suzi
Suzi and Dan have made their own home brew cider this year! It's somewhere between 8-10% and it may taste interesting.
The version I have been gifted us carbonated and suzi was explicit is her instructions that I must not open it facing anyone or anything I like as "the top may come off with some force".
Wish us luck. ..
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
I can't believe that this was 7 years ago!
Traff's 24th Birthday road trip to watch Norwich city play- with a sleep over at Andy's man pad!
We're all so young!
Where does the time go?
We're all so young!
Where does the time go?
Monday, 7 December 2015
Vintage crochet hook stash
Today tina, Phil, Chrissie and I made 4 meters of bunting for a celebration event at work next week.
In our making and looking for fabric and resources for the bunting I found these!
The box was empty so I have adopted it. I also found a whole tin of crochet hooks. These are a small few the bigger guage ones. I left all the teeny ones. I don't do delicate! This has made my week.
Sunday, 6 December 2015
Bridging the gap project progress
I met with Sarah, Abdul and May on Friday and we have made a really positive start.
We worked remotely with ISAAC and they were able to give us really helpful feedback. Now I just need to write another 8 questions for my department and then we'll be well away!
This whole project so far has been really positive and now it's really started to take shape it's very exciting to be a part of it.
Unicorn crochet pattern from Hobby craft
Twinkle Toes the Unicorn Crochet Pattern
Suitable for : Beginners
You Will Need
- 3 mm Crochet hook
- 70 grams of Aran / worsted weight yarn in white or cream
- Small amount of contrasting colour (20 grams) for the hooves
- Small amount of very chunky yarn for the hair and scarf
- 9 mm safety eyes
- Crayon (for the rosy cheeks)
- Black cotton/embroidery thread for the eye lashes
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Toy stuffing
- 10 mm crochet hook (just for scarf)
Abbrieviations
- sc – single crochet
- sl st – slip stitch
- ch – chain
- 2-sc inv dec – single crochet invisible decrease
- 2-sc inc – increase stitch
- dec – decrease
- yo – yarn over
Please Note!...
| UK Term | US Term |
|---|---|
| ss (slip stitch) | Sl st (slip stitch) |
| dc (double crochet) | sc (single crochet) |
| htr (half treble crochet) | hdc (half treble crochet) |
| tr (treble crochet) | dc (double crochet) |
| dtr (double treble crochet) | tr (treble crochet) |
| trtr (triple treble crochet) | dtr (double treble crochet) |
How to Make
Stitches and techniques used
Slip Stitch
Insert hook in next st, yo and draw through all loops.
Single Crochet
Insert hook in next st and draw up a loop (two loops on hook), yo, draw through both loops
on hook.
on hook.
Single Crochet Decrease [ 2-sc dec ]
Insert hook in next st and draw up a loop, (two loops on hook), insert hook in next stitch,
draw up a loop (three loops on hook), yo and draw through all three loops.
draw up a loop (three loops on hook), yo and draw through all three loops.
Single crochet Invisible Decrease [ 2-sc inv dec]
Please note that when making the invisible decrease you will be working in the front loops
only of your two stitches.
only of your two stitches.
Insert your hook into the front loop only of the first stitch. Do not yarn over and pull up yarn
as you would in a traditional decrease. Insert your hook into the front loop only of the next
stitch. You will need to turn the tip of your crochet hook downward to do this. Then swing
your crochet hook up, and under the front loop of the 2nd stitch. You now have three loops on
your hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops on your crochet hook,
leaving two loops on your hook. Then yarn over again and pull yarn through the last two loops
on your crochet hook.
as you would in a traditional decrease. Insert your hook into the front loop only of the next
stitch. You will need to turn the tip of your crochet hook downward to do this. Then swing
your crochet hook up, and under the front loop of the 2nd stitch. You now have three loops on
your hook. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops on your crochet hook,
leaving two loops on your hook. Then yarn over again and pull yarn through the last two loops
on your crochet hook.
Changing Colour
Insert the hook in next stitch and draw up loop (2 loops on hook). Drop the first colour, yo
with new colour and draw through 2 loops on hook. Continue with the new colour. When
working stripes keep each colour attached until you need it again then just pick up the
dropped colour and continue.
with new colour and draw through 2 loops on hook. Continue with the new colour. When
working stripes keep each colour attached until you need it again then just pick up the
dropped colour and continue.
Magic adjustable ring
First make a loop with your yarn leaving three inch long tail. Insert hook in centre of loop made, yo
and draw up loop. YO, pull through to make your first chain. (Do not count this as your first
sc) Continue to crochet over the loop and the yarn tail until you have the required number
of scs for your first round. For example, if the pattern calls for six scs, then sc six times into
the ring. (Insert hook into the center of the ring and draw up loop, YO and draw through
both loops.)
and draw up loop. YO, pull through to make your first chain. (Do not count this as your first
sc) Continue to crochet over the loop and the yarn tail until you have the required number
of scs for your first round. For example, if the pattern calls for six scs, then sc six times into
the ring. (Insert hook into the center of the ring and draw up loop, YO and draw through
both loops.)
When you’re finished, pull the tail to close the ring.
Always move your stitch marker up at the end of each row as you will be working in
continuous rounds.
continuous rounds.
Stitch count is in ( ) at the end of each row.
Head
Using your white/cream colour yarn and 3mm hook
1. 6sc in the magic circle, tighten the loop and place marker (6)
2. [ 2-sc inc ] rep (12)
3. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep (18)
4. [ sc x 2, 2-sc inc ] rep (24)
5-8. [ sc in each st ] (24)
9. [ sc x 3, 2-sc inc ] rep (30)
10. [ sc x 4, 2-sc inc ] rep (36)
11. [ sc x 15, 2-sc inc x 6, sc x 15 ] (42)
12-16. [ sc in each st ] (42)
Place safety eyes now between rows 11 and 12 approx 11 stitches apart, making sure they are exactly where you want them before you attach the backs as you will not be able to adjust their position once they are in place. Stuff now adding a little at a time until quite firm, you can add more as you continue to decrease to close the head.
17. [ sc x 5, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (36)
18. [ sc x 4, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (30)
19. [ sc x 3, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (24)
20. [ sc x 2, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (18)
21. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (12
22. [ 2-sc inv dec ] rep (6)
Weave through the last six stitches to close the head neatly.
Ears (Two)
1. 5sc in the magic circle, tighten the loop and place marker (5)
2. [ sc in each st ] (5)
3. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep *sc in the last st* (7)
4. [ sc in each st ] (7)
5. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep *sc in the last st* (10)
6 – 7. [ sc in each st ] rep
Sl st to finish off leaving a long tail. Don’t stuff the ears flatten them.
Horn
1. 4sc in the magic circle, tighten the loop ( you may want to wait to place the marker until the beginning of round 3 as it’s quite tight)
2. [ sc in each st ] (4)
3. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep (6)
4. [ sc in each st ] (6)
5. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep (9)
6 – 7. [ sc in each st ] (9)
8. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep *sc in the last st* (13)
9 – 10. [ sc in each st ] (13)
Sl st to finish off leaving a long tail. Stuff the horn, use the end of your hook to get the stuffing right up to the point. Pin the ears in place approx. Four rows behind the eyes and sew in place. Pin the horn to the middle of the head and sew in place.
To make a spiral of yarn around the horn, take a length of yarn (in your contrasting colour) around 30 inches long. Put your needle into the top of the head a few rows behind the horn and bring it out 1 row up in the horn as in picture one below. Leave a tail of yarn hanging out and hold this in place with your finger, now tightly wrap the yarn around the horn, it should naturally follow the rows of stitches. (pic two).
When you get to the top (this is the tricky part) keeping the yarn tightly wrapped onto the horn put your needle into the top of the horn (the very middle stitch may be too tight, so one just below will be fine) and bring it out through the horn and back to where your tail of yarn is hanging out. Making sure the yarn is all still tightly wrapped around the horn make a double knot then hide the yarn tails inside the head and cut.
To make the hair, Take your chunky colourful yarn and wrap it around your fingers about 15 to 20 times (depending on how much hair you’d like) cut along the bottom fold with your scissors. (picture 1 below) Take a hair strand and fold in half, pull the loop through a stitch on the top of your unicorns head around the horn. Take the ends of the yarn and pull them through the loop to knot them onto the head. Carry on this way putting hair just on the top of the head and a few towards the back to make a little mane. Once the hair is all knotted on you can give her a little trim to tidy it all up. You can now add some eye lashes if you wish using black cotton or embroidery thread as in picture 4 below. Knot and hide the tails of cotton inside the head.
Legs (Two)
Starting with your contrasting colour yarn. Don’t fasten off on the second leg.
1. 6sc in the magic circle, tighten the loop and place marker (6)
2. [ 2-sc inc ] rep (12)
3. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inc ] rep (18)
4-5. [ sc in each st ] (18)
Change to Main colour
6-12. [ sc in each st ] (18)
Sl st to finish off ON FIRST LEG ONLY.
On 2nd leg
13. Ch 3, join to the other leg with a sc and work 1sc in each st around both legs, working a sc in each of the ch 3. Your round will end when you have completed the other side of the ch 3 (42)
Place your marker. You will now be working the body of the unicorn.
Place your marker. You will now be working the body of the unicorn.
14-30. [ sc in each st ] (42)
31. [ sc x 5, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (36)
32-33. [ sc in each st ] (36)
34. [ sc x 4, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (30)
35-36. [ sc in each st ] (30)
Stuff now adding a little at a time until quite firm, you can add more as you continue to decrease to close the body
37. [ sc x 3, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (24)
38-39. [ sc in each st ] (24)
40. [ sc x 2, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (18)
41-43. [ sc in each st ] (18)
Sl st to finish off leaving a long tail. Finish stuffing the sew the head to the body.
Arms (Two)
Starting with contrasting colour
1. 6sc in the magic circle, tighten the loop and place marker (6)
2. [ 2-sc inc ] rep (12)
In back loops only for ONE round
3. [ sc in each st ] (12)
**Back to both loops**
4-5. [ sc in each st ] (12)
6. [ sc x 1, 2-sc inv dec ] rep (8)
Change colour
7-21. [ sc in each st ] (8)
Sl st into the next st to finish off leaving a long tail. Stuff the arms in just the hooves. Sew the arms to the sides of the body. Make the tail in the same way as the hair but leave the strands longer and use 2 strands together to make the tail thicker. You should make 2 or 3 knotted hair strands very close together.
To make a simple chain scarf use a large hook 10 to 12 mm and chain 25 with your chunky yarn, pull each end tight to knot and cut the ends. Fold the scarf in half and put it around the unicorns neck and pull the ends through the loop.
To make the rosy cheeks, take a pink/red crayon and lightly rub the crayon onto the cheeks.
Alison : “Yey! I hope you enjoyed making your very own Twinkle Toes!”
Follow Alison on instagram for her latest updates and sneak peeks into new patterns @Kornflake_stew
Thursday, 3 December 2015
Presents from chrissie
This seems to be some kind of trim. It's a very heavily beaded ribbon.
Flapper dress springs to mind.
On of our colleagues mother has passed away. She was a bit of a hoarder and has loads of haberdashery items. Beads buttons ribbons whistles. You name it. It's all beautiful and an impressive collection. It's all just a bit mysterious. I can see how she ended up keeping it all!
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
The Kitsch Christmas tree
Le tree is now up! :)
Usualy we have a colour theme- last year we had pink and black decorations and flamingo lights.
This year I'm just feeling retro. I've used lots of my Granny's old Xmas decorations, some from my parents house, and some which were given to me as a child for my own little tree in my room- as well as some of my charity shop finds from last year, my ugly decorations from Tesco and some bits and bobs people have give us as gifts.
I can't wait until we have a bigger tree!
I test these pictures to my mum and she was all excited talking about where some of the decorations came from and she spotted all my Granny's old ones too.
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Pine cone xmas trees stage 2
So, once the paint has dried you can decorate your mini xmas tree.
If pinterest is anything to go by, all other people must have the entire contents of a Hobbycraft lying around their homes as the 'odds and ends' to be used up are always extremely well coordinated.
I have decorated less impressively with gold plastic buttons for the star, sequin tinsel and glass beads as baubles.
It's still cute and it's still going on my desk at work.
I think some iridescent glitter as 'snow' would be a good addition but otherwise I am happy.
I glued on my decorations with pva as I was worried superglue might react with the spray paint. Hot glue would work much better.
Photos from nomsa
I sponsor Nomsa to go to school through Plan international. She writes to me about every 6 months to let me know how she's getting on and every year Plan sends me photos and a report. Without Sponsorship Nomsa would not be able to attend school as her parents could not afford it.
I haven't heard from her since last December- I did ring Plan and they said everything was OK, I was sad when I received the report to read that her village suffered a crop failure so she's been reliant on red cross food parcels, and even with all that she hasn't missed a singe day of school.
I hope she achieves her dream of becoming a nurse- Her drive and enthusiasm are incredible.
Pine cone xmas trees stage 1
I have to say that living in a nice area has it's perks. No-one batted an eyelid when I spent a whole say in the car park collecting these and not one person made a comment when I sat on the step and spray painted them green.
Maybe my neighbours just think I'm crazy. ..
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