Time for some crochet OCTOPUS

I had a play with some crochet and decided to make an octopus. I had made one a while ago and liked it. I hadn’t stitched the eyes on yet. So I completed that one. She has a bow on her head.

And made 2 more. A friend wanted a blue one for her daughter’s friend so that’s a good reason to get stuck in.

My friend also took the pink one as her daughter just had a baby girl .

Making a crochet dolls bed and bag

 A friend had made all these teddies but the group she made them for ended up not wanting them. She asked if I had any suggestions. Well, years ago when my daughter was small I made these for all her friends when she was going to their birthday party. We couldn’t afford much so made a lot of gifts. The girls ended up hiding their treasures in them and really loved them. It was a good way to use up odd balls of yarn.

First up you need a large margarine container and cover the outside with plain paper.

Then crochet a basket for the outer and the lining. I used dc stitches and just continued until big enough. They are not exactly the same. Near enough is good enough for me.

Place one inside and outside of the container.

Crochet around the top edges to join them together

Make some sort of loopy stitch as a base row for a Lacey pattern.

Start the Lacey pattern. Anyone you like doing. It is meant to be loose and gathered

Then I made 2 twisted cords for the ties/handles

I also crocheted a mattress, pillow and blanket

Look how cute this is. Teddy is all tucked in to bed.

Fold up the frill and pull the ties. It is now a handbag to hide your treasures.

This took just over 100g of 8 ply acrylic yarn. Just use some scraps.

So now I am collecting margarine containers for her.

What have I been doing

 Not my challenge no 1, or anything much else really. I have been unwell this week with no energy. Snugged up at home and trying to stay warm.

However, I have been crocheting. A friend has requested some help with donating some 8” squares to charity. I could surely manage that. So out came some yarn scraps and off I went. I have made 20 C2c squares. That’s corner 2 corner. Easy to make without too much concentration. 

I have wanted to pick up my Kawandi tablecloth and get some more stitched but I felt it was too big for how I felt. Instead, I worked on a small project for a friend. I had an idea to make a gift card for her birthday card. I pulled some scraps of fabric with a few things she liked. We have travelled together, we both like scraps, she likes artsy projects, she uses script fabric, loves her garden, loves blue and really enjoys vintage things. I had mums old threads so used some to stitch with..

My idea was to make a Kawandi inspired card. 

This is the result….

Linking up with Kathy on Slow Stitching Sunday

Crochet dolly bed and blanket

 I have been using up mums yarn. There was a box of 5 ply. I like making the C2C pattern blanket. I wanted to make a rectangular sized baby blanket but instead of decreasing on one side I mistakenly decreased on both sides making it square. By the time I realised I was not going to unpick. I continued and finished the blanket.

My work colleague has a little girl so I am giving it to her for a dolly blanket.

Years ago, mum and I, used to make a little crochet bag that also made a dolly bed. I thought I would make one for her too to use up the leftover yarns.

 It is made with an empty margarine container as the base.

Then a crochet lining for the inside

Next is the outer part of the bag

A nice frill for the top of the bag, a mattress, pillow and mini doll blanket

Put in a cute little doll/teddy

Here it is with the bigger dolly blanket

And the bag is closed ready to take and play

A very cute little set for a sweet little girl.

C2C crochet blanket.

 I have a few crochet blankets that have been started and I just wanted something easy to do. I haven’t got too much to do to finish this one.

I enjoyed just sitting for a while and did a couple or more rows.

This blanket is now finished. It covers my 2 seater couch.

Just need to sew in the ends.

It’s been a month and what have I done?

Yes, the title says it all.

My last post was a month ago. It isn’t because I haven’t done anything but my motivation is lacking. I have been reading posts but not doing any myself. So her is a long overview of what I have been up to. There might be some more posts about a few things if I feel up to it.

First up back in July I went down to Melbourne and caught up with some friends to see the stage show 9-5. It was great but the the sound wasn’t quite right.

Over the next 2 days I attended the Melbourne Quilt & Craft fair. It was wonderful and I did a bit of cash damage.

 

It was good to see this Sashiko quilt because it is the one I did a class on a quilting cruise with Jane MacDonald. I have not done much of it but I think it is time to get this of the shelf. I think I have most of the hexies done.

A little while later, when hubby returned from his around Australia trip, we headed back to the Macedon Ranges for a weeks break together. We caught up with a great friend and enjoyed the day together. We had lunch at The Top of the Range Cafe, a very special place for us, did the tourist walk through Kyneton and did a drive by of the filming and building sites in Gisborne for the the tv show THE BLOCK.

The main reason for the break was for me to attend the Kilmore Kwilters 25th Anniversary luncheon. I was part of this group for many years before I moved away. It was fantastic to see them all again.

I then spent a sewing day with the Gisborne group but forgot to get a photo. I do miss those Mondays. The week had come to an end and the locals came out by our cabin to say good bye. They were very happy grazing in the morning while we packed up our car and headed home.

On the sewing front I have done very little. I have been working on placemats for charity. We make them for Sun Assist to give to meals on wheels recipients at Christmas time. We have now made about 60 but would like another 100 by end of November. I am not sure we will end up with that many though. The girls are getting a bit burnt out. I haven’t got a photo of them all but here are some in progress.

Then I tried to crochet a little beanie. It didn’t take long but the yarn isn’t very soft.

Next I knitted 2 little snuggle bunnies. I am yet to fill the head and embroider the faces. My concentration span hasn’t been great of late.

I have now found a great ginger biscuit that my hubby likes so I have to make a batch every weekend. They are full of spice and real ginger chunks. I bake them a little longer as he likes the darker colour and them being hard. Better to have with coffee. The batch makes about 36 small biscuits.

Ingredients

• 200 g plain flour
• 2 tablespoon dry ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb)
• 115 g Butter
• 115 g castor sugar
• 30 g golden syrup
• 250 g uncrystallised ginger diced

Preparation steps

1. Preheat oven to 170 deg
2. Place 200 g plain flour, 2 tablespoon dry ginger and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarb) in bowl and mix 
3. Set aside.
4. Cream together 115 g castor sugar & 115 g Butter then add 30 g golden syrup and mix. 
5. Add 150g - 250g uncrystallised ginger diced (to your liking)
6. Add flour mix. Beat until mixed.
7. Roll teaspoon of mix into a ball and flatten with your hand. Bake in 170' preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. I check mine from about 14 minutes so they don’t burn and they turn out hard and crunchy.    Cookies will harden on cooling.

We also love these Parmesan crisps and as my brother was coming for a visit I made some for our snack.

I sent him on his trip with a batch too.

So that’s about it. Yesterday at my sewing group I actually got out a ufo which is about 8 years old and worked on it. When I unpack that bag I will take some photos and do a post. Today I am going to do some hand hexie work. ( these are nearly finished too).

Have a great week every one.

2020 A NEW YEAR

Pulling out the corded bag and crocheting a new bag.

This is going well.

Unfortunately this is over a year old, closer to 2, and I still don't like it so it has now been pulled out...

Time for a new year, a new project.

More wool work

I'm nearly finished this block knitted blanket. Just some ends to sew in.
It really was fun to knit and it used a lot of scraps too.



This one is little size blocks that will get bigger and bigger.

These blocks measure about 2"  square

I have started another crochet rug. As you can see I grab 1 ball of scrap yarn and use untilmit runs out. That means I need to work on one project at a time. A little bit here and on to the next for a little bit. Sometimes I even knit a beanie first.

Granny squares

I had a pile of started crotchet granny squares given to me.
I added quite a few rows to each of them and now have them all will 10 rows.
I have sent them to Jan Mac who joins them altogether and makes blankets to donate to the Peter MacCallum Hospital.

Have a look at other things Jan donates
sewmanyquiltstoolittletime.blogspot.com

String bag looks good but failed.

I thought I would continue with knitting this bag after pulling out the corded crochet one.

It is a great size.

My string bag is Knitted and sewn up.. it is so soft. I am really liking it.

        

I have got one handle done and it's looking good.

The handles are done.

And the bag is ready to take to market and use.

Oops.. not really.......

The failed part of this bag is that the opening is just too small.

I think I might pull out the handles and start again.

Use bigger needles and pick up the stitch/row every 2nd row.

I'll see how that goes.

Here is the link if you want to try your own bag.

https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2007/06/28/elisas-nest-tote/comment-page-1/#top

Crochet Basket/Bag & HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The mood here has had to change swiftly. After yesterday, today is my husbands birthday.
We are heading out to a lovely steak restaurant & I am so hungry.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY.


While I was  travelling I thought I would try something new.

Crocheting over some cord to what I thought would be a basket.

Mmmmmmm it's not working out very flat or even.

I have added the next ball of yarn for a bit of contrast.

I'm not sure about this one yet.

I have decided that I really don't like how it is turning out. SO OUT IT COMES...

Now I am crocheting a string bag



Here is the link to the pattern I am following.

So far, I like this much better.

https://marie-lucienne.blogspot.com/2017/05/lets-go-shopping.html