Baby Bear & Sparrow

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Tea and Roses

Published by Dominique

An order for an 80th birthday present.

“Could you make a tea cosy for my mum please? I need it to be pretty with lilacs and blues.

I said “Of course and thank you for the order.”

I thought… got to get this right.

Ta dah!

There were some challenges along the way, namely finding lilacs and blues that blended together nicely, but I definitely enjoyed the whole creative process of bringing this little tea cosy together.

No pompoms this time, it was decided that roses would be the decoration of choice. It took a while to settle on what colour to use for the flowers, but in the end I went for peach, as I thought it complimented the lilacs and blues well and was not only pretty, but delicate looking too.

I wanted to get every detail perfect. I thought it would be more interesting to use three tones of peach in the roses and by varying the amounts I used in each rose I managed to make them all slightly different from one another. The leaves were almost an after thought, but their addition really added to the final design. Again it took a little while to find the perfect green in my yarn stash, but when finished, they made a lovely contrast to the peach of the roses and helped all the colours of the design to ‘pop’ just a little more.

I was really happy in the end with my efforts and hoped that it was a lovely surprise for the birthday lady. My wish (and what I like to imagine) is that it will bring a little jolliness to all future morning, afternoon or anytime teas! x

Garden Doorstop

Published by Dominique

Well, the sun is still out! Hurray! The kids and I are now back from supporting hubby in his cycling club’s time trial and I have decided to ignore the indoor mess and go out into the garden. I have some new grasses to get in the ground.

If the weather does fail me however, I always have my garden doorstop to bring a little of the outdoors inside.

I love a cute toadstool.

And I’m sure the ladybird moves when I’m not looking! x

Sunday Morning

Published by Dominique

It’s a beautiful, if a bit blustery morning here. The vapour trails in the sky are quickly turning fuzzy as they are pushed across the half moon still lingering in the sky. He must be feeling as lazy as me! Does the day really have to start now….x

Easter Projects Part 2

Published by Dominique

Well, it is Easter Monday (only just I know!) and time for Easter Projects Part 2!

It has been a lovely long weekend with hubby and the boys. We have really indulged ourselves doing nothing much in particular, just spending and enjoying time at home with each other and family.

We were lucky enough to have a visit from the Easter Bunny and the children, who I must say got up rather too early, enjoyed searching for the foil covered treasures left by him in our garden. In general though these bank holiday weekend mornings have been easy and everything has just be able to slow down a bit. There’s been lots of lounging too long in pjs, playing with lego, watching films as well as seeing family, making coffee in the machine and Cioccolata Caldo. Yay!

With things moving at this more relaxed pace I even managed to do the below in a moment of inspiration.

Yes, I rearranged our book shelf by colour!

Maybe its not that practical, but ever since first seeing it on Pinterest (where else!), I have wanted to do this myself.

The process was a little time consuming and there was a point where I almost regetted starting the whole thing, seeing the books all over the living room floor, but now that it is finished I really rather like the effect. We have read most of the books on these shelves so as my other half helpfully pointed out, it’s not such a biggie if we can’t find anything!

It makes me smile when I walk past it.

The shelves are also now dusted, and we took the opportunity to have a bit of a sort out so there is now a bag of books in the hall waiting to be taken to the charity shop. All good I say.

Crochet wise, I had intended to finish this bunting which I started last year!

I had the squares, which I worked up in double crochet using StyleCraft Acrylic in rainbow colours and I had even managed to cross stitch the letters on each one, but the appliqué details, well, they are still not quite finished or sewn on. I feel I need to have a bit of a play around with positioning and maybe even swap a few items out as I’m not entirely happy with the current selection but that’s part of the fun. Isn’t it?

Anyway, rather than be late or not show it at all, I decided to include a few photos and links now, and then maybe show the finished project at a later date (probably next Easter!!!!).

Double crochet creates a fabric with a grid-like pattern that is relatively easy to cross stitch on to. Each cross stitch is worked over the width of one double crochet stitch and between two rows (between two of the indented lines). Purlbee has a wonderful tutorial with loads of close up photos to follow here.

This bunny appliqué came from the Crochetpedia blog. There are several appliqué bunnies posted here but you do need to be able to read a chart to work this one.

Patterns for the blue flower and Lazy Daisy can be found in 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet, by Lesley Stanfield. All the patterns in this her book are given as written instructions and charts.

The bunny applique pattern can be found for free on Ravelry and is by ‘Need a Craft Room’ and bee comes from a pattern from 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet, by Lesley Stanfield

Bunny applique as before (Ravelry)

The butterfly pattern came from a Simply Crochet Magazine.

The above bunting project suffered because I got distracted by another bunting project which I couldn’t resist once I realised it would be perfect worked up in some Rico Creative Cotton I had acquired a while back.

Whilst having a coffee and my usual dip into Pinterest, I came across the original pattern for the bunting here. It looked nice and easy so I jumped in. Reading the pattern always helps, but I was in too much of an enthusiastic hurry and I had worked three eggs before I realised I was adding an extra chain space between each of the 3 treble crochet clusters of the last round. Rather than unpick everything I decided to soldier on and added an additional edging of double crochet to help with shaping.

I was rather happy with the results. So colourful and cheery.

One was inspired by a Cadbury Cream Egg!

Working the final chain to string all the eggs together, I was originally going to crochet each egg into the chain as I went along, but they kept turning side ways. In the end, I sowed each one by hand on to the finished chain to try and make sure they would face forward when I hung them up. A bit slow to do but the task was made easier with my real Easter egg on hand!

I decided to use starch spray on the finished bunting and then I went around the house merrily trying out different positions to hang my latest creation! I do LOVE finishing a project!!

Me = very happy. The colours are so bright and cheerful. It’s definitely a happy, happy bunting. I often crochet and finish commissioned items and samples for my classes, but rarely do I seem to finish my own projects.

So Yay! Thank you blog! You are working as I wanted you to, giving me a creative outlet and a reason to change that!

Happy Easter everyone! x

Easter Projects part 1

Published by Dominique

Inspired by this Pinterest image I decided to create my own version with a little willow wreath I brought from Hobbycraft ages ago and lots of mini chicks I found in Sainsburys Supermarket for a pound. I was going to stick the chicks in place but found that they could be fixed just by poking their little feet under the willow branches, leaving me to update or change the wreath should I wish after Easter.

I do like a quick fix project! Crochet projects can be very satisfying to work, but they can take time to complete.

Saying that , this morning I did manage to complete not one, but two crochet projects! A friend of mine had asked for two Easter toys, one for each of her children, as alternatives to chocolate eggs. She asked me only last week and needed them by today so I was busy, busy, busy. Here are the results…

one tiny mouse with his egg, inspired by this Pinterest image, and …

one hatching cutie of a chick, worked from this free Ravelry pattern by amilovers.

I’m really happy with the two Easter buddies.

I hope my friend’s children like them too.

As a quick side note, does anyone else find sewing up the most stressful part of the whole crocheting toys process? I worry about ruining all my hard work by getting the face wrong. The face gives the toy its character and it has to be right! Sorry, but it does! It doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’, a lopsided smile can be endearing, but the features have to perfectly ‘fit’ the toy and its personality! Toys all have personalities, right?! I know, crazy lady!

Anyway, I have a few other Easter projects I’m hoping to show you, so catch up with you again soon? I am finding this blogging malarkey is proving to be a good motivation for finally completing some of my unfinished projects! x

Easter Holidays underway…

Published by Dominique

Being kept busy with the boys! But this morning I did manage to grab a few sneaky moments in bed to finish off something I am crocheting for a friend.

Flo was as helpful as ever…

A quick breakfast…

and then it’s time to dive into another day!

Kite flying perhaps….

I seem to remember the cinema being promised (ah!!! Sponge Bob!), but I hope to post some crochet pics from a curled up position on the sofa after the wee ones have gone to bed!

Have a lovely day. x

Exploring the Midnight Zone!

Published by Dominique

Generally speaking it tends to be quite easy to find crochet patterns for toys of animals that are cute. An animal only need to have big adorable eyes, be perhaps fluffy and appear to mimic certain endearing human traits or emotions, and Pinterest is awash with awesome inspiration and patterns.

So, what do you do when your child asks for a deep sea Angler Fish!!!

My son loves all things to do with the sea and ocean. The Blue Planet DVDs have been played on a loop in our house. I love that he is so into it, but have you seen these guys?!

(He also likes dinosaurs, but Nanny’s already knitted up a whole bucketful of these prehistoric fellas!)

I searched and searched for a pattern online but with little success and then, when visiting my local library, I discovered ‘75 Shells, Coral & Colourful Creatures of the Sea to Knit & Crochet‘ by Jessica Polka. Boy, was I happy because there, on one of the last pages, was a pattern for none other than my elusive Angler Fish! Hurrah!

And it turns out Angler Fish can be cute after all!

Not suitable for very young children as the design uses a pipe cleaner for the lure and the eyes, although safety ones, are not as safe as ones which have been embroidered. However, he has been perfect for my son who’s a bit older.

I knew he had got the seal of approval when my son took him into school for Show and Tell!

Thank you Jessica Polka! x

It’s been a while…

Published by Dominique

Well, what can I say, I start my blog, get posting enthusiastically and then life happens and over a week goes by!

I have definitely missed posting. How have you been? All well I hope.

Well, although I have been absent from the digital world I have managed to do a little crocheting and I am really happy to be able to show you the finished items. As you may know, I am a crochet tutor at a local adult education college and a few weeks ago I was teaching a class on openwork and lacy patterns. At the end of all my lessons I like to offer a pattern or two for the students to try back home and I always try and include something a bit unusual. If I have the time I also like to work up an example for them to see.

Hence these…

Stones covered in crochet! I know there might be an small cry of ‘why?’ and ‘for what purpose?’, but I have LOVED crocheting these little beauties! And actually, just creating something for the pleasure of seeing it come together can be enough sometimes.

I just can’t stop looking at them.

They are so tactile. The stones are smooth ones collected from a beach. Even without their crochet embellishment they feel lovely to touch and roll round in your hand. The crochet cotton is delicate and pretty and its cream colour against the matt grey of the stone underneath I find very calming.

The original pattern came from Purlbee.com and is called ‘Little Urchin Crochet Covered Sea Stones’ by Margaret Oomen. Purlbee.com has some great crochet projects, as well as lots of sewing and other craft ideas. Each project is explained through clear instructions and lots of photos. The pattern’s designer Margaret Oomen’s own website ‘Resurrection Fern‘, is also well worth a look, as she has lots of other crochet stone work and her still life photography is both beautiful and inspiring.

I warn you these little crochet stones are quite additive. As I said earlier, I was just going to make the one from the original pattern to show my class, but fitting the crochet around the stone and seeing it all come together was soooo satisfying, that I needed to make another, and I couldn’t help having a bit of a play…

I started off by attempting another abstract pattern of my own design…

And then I wondered whether I would be able to manage…. an owl!

The shape of the stone just suggested an owl to me! I am rather pleased how he turned out. More a happy accident than design I would say!

Anyway, lovely to be back! x

The Chain

Published by Dominique

What to do with some gorgeous wool given to me by my lovely sister-in-law…..

A chunky cream yarn studded with flecks of gold. It was crying out for a project, but what?

The trouble was, that whatever I crocheted didn’t seem to work, normally because I kept loosing the gold details in the twists of the stitches. Pompoms (!!!) worked pretty well, but after experimenting with a few, I redundantly put the yarn to one side hoping that inspiration would strike sometime in the future.

…..It took a while! But when I was looking for ideas for my crochet class’ first project I came across the chain stitch scarf. I teach crochet part-time at an adults education college and for each new stitch or technique mastered, I try to find a project/pattern to give the students.

During the very first class I have to keep the projects simple because after housekeeping, student paperwork and learning how to hold the yarn and hook we generally only get to chain stitch. Usually we work a simple necklace made up of a long length of chain stitches and embellished with lace flowers, and a bracelet made out of three lengths of chain braided together. However, this year we also made a chain scarf.

A chain scarf is basically make from a long, long line of chain stitches.

Once you have worked enough chain stitches (and don’t be afraid to use up a whole ball of yarn!), you fold the length of chain in half again and again, until it is the right length to be worn as a scarf. By holding on to the ends and twisting slightly, you can wrap the scarf around your neck and fix it by placing one end through the loop created at the other end.

I made an example of the scarf for the students to see. I decided that it would be worth giving the cream and gold yarn another go and the simple chain stitch was great, as although not too clear in the photos, the all important gold detail was retained. Yipee! x

A little tip, when you are happy with the length of scarf, to stop it unravelling every time you take it off either tie it across the middle somewhere discretely with a length of the same coloured yarn or incorporate a knot into your scarf design.

(Thanks go to Flo for her help with the photos!)

Pompoms!

Published by Dominique

I love a pompom! Small ones, large ones and multi-coloured ones. I have even purchased a pompom maker or two. I know you can make them using the traditional cardboard cut-out rings, with the end of a fork or even your fingers but these wonderful little gadgets just make the whole process so simple.

I really, really want to make a pompom garland. I saw this one by Anthropologie this Christmas and it was really inspiring. I looked at it and thought ‘I could make that’ but have I managed to? No, not yet, but watch this space! It’s on my radar and I will definitely let you know of any developments!

For now, I couldn’t resist showing you a few more pictures of my tea cosies with their glorious, oversized pompoms. These cosies were nothing before their fluffy, fun adornments and now they just make me smile.