Jar Cosy {crochet}

A nice simple stitch-up. Two jar cosies with more to come. A really easy and adjustable pattern to suit any round jar size.  Follow this link to the free pattern from bec @ handmade and home. 

Jar Cosy Pattern

  

These two were worked up in 8ply bendigo cotton with a 3.75mm hook. 

L.

made for you: millie (monday) monkey

Meet Millie. Monkey Made on a Monday Morning.

 

 

Made for a special friend, who I got to have a catch-up visit with. I chose to make Millie out of a pair of Explorer socks (nice thick socks that are generally worn inside workboots) because of her love for the outdoors. **So happy I could find female coloured Explorers - and striped at that!  And to be honest, I will make future sock monkey's out of Explorers too. I am so much happier with Millie then Rio. I think it is because of the thickness of the socks.

 I wanted to have the Explorer sock tag visible so made sure that I cut the right sock for the legs. I also wanted to leave the fluffy-rolled top that Explorer socks have, visisble.

 

 

It is a relatively easy pattern to follow, using machine and handstitching, with beautiful clear photos.

 Rio and Millie

pattern link: Sock Monkey from CraftPassion.

**photo update: during cooking dinner time last night, master 8 comes into the kitchen and proudly tells me that he has "found a pair of socks in his cupboard, that would make a nice sock monkey for his birthday" (it's not till next October.) This morning I found it pinned up on my board. Thank you son. Consider it done. Another one to join Rio coming up.**
 

L.

made for you: sock monkey (RIO)

Another handmade gift from last week.

Rio, the sock monkey.

 

 

 

With little miss 5, we managed to get Rio made in an afternoon. She helped by pushing all the stuffing into his arms and legs, and loved seeing him being put together.

Pattern link: craft passion

 

 

Rio was made from a mens sock: 11-14. Different sized socks make different sized monkeys.

And I have a few more pairs of socks set to the side, ready to be made into more sock monkeys.

 

L. 

 

 

made for you: chevron cardigan

Before I share the childrens activities so far these holidays, here, hot off the crochet hook and after a few finishing touches, is  the Chevron Cardigan!

(click on link for pattern)

 

100% cute and beautiful.

 

I really liked how it was worked all as one piece. I left it as a short sleeve cardi, so it can go over a longsleeve onesie.

 

 

 

100% cotton and a a 3.25mm hook.

 

Now to get it to the post office and mailed off to my little niece, before she grows too much and doesn't fit it anymore. Otherwise it will just have to decorate her room on a nice satin hanger.

 

L.

 

Bouncing Balls

It is finished, and we had a most beautiful day today weather wise, just perfect to take some photos outside.

 

This pic below is more true to colours.

 

 

 

My labels came just in time to be stitched onto the blanket, nicely covering the last join.

 

...now its time to get it delivered...

 

Pattern used from Ravelry; I added three more rounds of dc to the edge of each white square.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.
L.

made for you: daddy

With the calendar saying it was Father's Day this past weekend, and all the shops and junkmail shouting out that they have 'the perfect gift for dad', we have decided we are not going to support this over-commercialised business any more, because Dad is special everyday.

Instead, it was agreed upon around the dinner table, that if the children would like to give dad a gift and card for that Sunday, it is to be handmade. Quick reactions were "oh goody, I know what I am going to make" to "I don't know what to make". With different craft and satisfaction levels within our four children, I thought I had better step in and help/encourage them.

And because Dad wouldn't appreciate wear crocheted socks, or doesn't need another beanie, we went for a quick trip to the supermarket, and a message to a fellow crafter, I think we have it all sorted, and the children think it is a wonderful idea.

 

Those that know me personally, will know that me and my kitchen don't really mix. No, rather put it, me and baking don't mix. I left those genes for my younger sisters.

 

Once I saw this cute chocolate mould, I knew that I should be able to pull off this suppose-to-be simple cooking exercise.

And yes, all was going well, till the last batch I was going to make swirled ones, and ahem, I melted a plastic container in the microwave and my house lost its hot chocolate smell to a rather awful burnt chocolate and plastic smell... but with three batches completed without mishap, I wasn't going to try and rescue the plastic and burnt flavoured choc melts.

   

 At least we have 72 yummy chocolates ready to giftwrap for Dad - and homemade with love and (one set of) little fingers.

 

 

All gift wrapped thanks to Rachel, for making these special food-gift-boxes!

 



not 100% perfect, but 100% yummy, and 100% ready to eat

 

Cards are still being drawn and written in at the desk at time of writing this post. These take time, as thoughts for design and message change daily... :)

 

You may do it different, and you are allowed. But here, our children show their appreciation regularly with the daily hugs and kisses, sharing job loads, special outings, one on one time, and odd playfight for the boys.

 

Above all we thank our Heavenly Father for giving us Dad, as our daddy, husband and family leader. Our thoughts are also with those that would love to be a Dad, but for reasons beyond their control, have not been blessed with children.

 

with love

your noisy bunch

xxx

 (and I think I should leaving baking alone...)

made for you: simple & girly

When my daughter received a party invite, my brain went into overdrive.

Something simple, and something girly, something I could whip up quickly (like in an afternoon sitting of quiet time, oh plus a bit of time in the evening darning in the ends).

and after a quick trip to the shop and a look in the gift box in the cupboard, I have a cute little granny-square bag fit for a little miss turning 5. Which little girl doesn't like having a bag to carry her treasures in?

Notepad and pencil, and tissues like mum, and a matching necklace and bracelet to look all pretty... little fiddly stuff 5 year olds enjoy!

Now the pattern...? I saw a similar one pop up in my newsfeed on facebook the otherweek, and thats where I got the idea from. But the pattern is my own. Two granny squares, joined together on the three sides and add a carry strap, and then have fun darning in all the ends from the various colour changes.

Easy and simple. And girly.

Enjoy your week.

L.

Happy Snap

Today I received a gorgeous photo of one happy little dolly with her Shell Stitch beanie and scarf from a couple of posts back.

Glad to see if fits well, the scarf is living up to its job

and being 2 is just as much fun as being 1!

As for some WIP, I am currently busy working on a granny stripe bag for her older sister. Post coming soon.

L.

made for you: playdough

winter weather outside.
groceries (and ingredients) bought and packed away.
promises made, must be kept.

with only one little pot in the house of playdough and when split between two children, it doesn'g go very far. this is what kept our six hands busy one morning last week.

following a simple recipe:

1 cup of plain flour
1/2 cup of salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup of boiling water
1 tablespoon oil
food colouring

combine all dry ingredients first. then add the water, oil and food colouring. stir well.

 

kept them amused all afternoon... 

while I got to clean up the mess :)

Oh, and one of the containers is for a gift.

Crochet post next time...

L.

rainbow

This past weeks challenge: with time running out till my little niece turns 2, and to find something that can be sent via airmail...

After a bright idea from my sister, my hook came out earlier this week and after looking at my stash of yarn,

and with 10 mins spare at school pickup waiting patienly for the children,

and 10 mins with a cup of coffee here and there,

(this above photo shows true colours.)

and when the house is quiet after the children have all dozed off to la-la land in the evening

and inspiration from my new crochet borders book

here is a little dolls rainbow blanket headed to miss happy birthday.

Knowing how much enjoyment my young girls get from a zigzag crochet dolls blanket made by my grandmother a few years okay, I know her little dolly will be put to bed under a cozy blanket.

And consequently my Block 13 isn't finished, and Block 14 was released this morning...

L.