Knit 1, Chain 1

Hooking, Hooking, Hooking

2015-02-11T00:03:00.001+11:00

Hello everyone,

Wow, it has been nearly 4 weeks since I have shared with you what I have been doing and yes I have been busy.

Where to start...

Hmm think I will start with a little pair of overalls I made for my son's partner's nephew. I am calling them "The Mechanic's Overall's" because it has a cute little car on the front.

I adapted the pattern from a lovely little pattern by Melody's Makings There is some great patterns available that you should check out.

Anyway here are the photos. And before anyone says anything, yes I know they are very bright lol

What came next?

The next thing I made was another pair of slippers for our Miss Hannah. This time romance was the theme and let's face it, with Valentine's Day looming, a wise choice.

I used the Heart and Souls pattern and for the life of me I can not remember where I got it from and can't seem to find it in my files.

My apologies to the creator of this lovely pattern,

And then?

Then I made my hubby a new beanie for work as he is now going to be working nights and I don't want him to get a cold head.

It is called The Easy Ribbed Hat and you can find it on the ever clever, bobwilson123 website and Youtube channel.

Notice the quality of the photos are getting lots better?

Anything else?

And last but not least my favorite project.

I made this one for my great-niece and it only took a couple of days.

It is an Amigurumi (always have to check the spelling on this) and it is called Rainbow Cuddles Unicorn.

Not exactly the same as the one in the pattern but I am very proud of him just the same.

Current WIP'S?

Well my current WIP's are a pair of slippers for my husband with a twist. Stay tuned for these ones *wink*

I'm participating in my very first CAL (Crochet A Long) with The Crochet Crowd.

Apparently it is an afghan and I am very excited to start it. I'll keep you posted with my progress. I start tomorrow with it.

There is also a second CAL which is through Moogly and that started yesterday but alas I don't have the yarn for it until the end of the week, but I'm hoping that I will be able to finish it in time for niece's 30th birthday.

Anywhoo my fellow crafters,

I hope you have had a bit of a giggle at my work and that you are having a ball with your own projects.

Happy Crafting

Love

Penny

xxx

Owl Slippers, Fish and AFL Diaper Covers

2015-01-17T16:52:00.002+11:00

Hello my fellow crafters,

Just a quick one to show you what I have been up and some things I only just got the photo's for.

So let's start with the recently finished.

My son's girlfriend, Miss Hannah has a deep fondness for Owls and when I saw the following pattern, I just knew I had to get it and make it.

It is the Majestic Owl Slippers for Adults from Trifles & Treasures owner Tera Kulling. You can find Tera's store at Ravelry.

I had a little bit of trouble when making the slippers and I emailed Terra, All I can say is, if you EVER have a problem with a pattern, email the designer, THEY ARE FANTASTIC!

Cute Things Made as Presents

Well I am sure I mentioned the fact that my eldest son's partner was becoming an aunty and the delightful little man was born on New Years Eve.

Anyway I crocheted up 3 diaper covers for her to give to her sister and her partner for their little bundle of joy.

I made a little pair of blue ones with red trim and red fish on the back and as both parent's are die hard Australian Rules Football (AFL) supporters, but for opposing teams, I designed two more pairs of diaper covers in their team colors.

So when they go to watch Collingwood (Magpies) play, he can wear the little black and white ones or if they go to a Saint Kilda (Saints) game, he can wear the red, black and white ones. Not sure what they will do if they are playing each other though lol

I was actually rather pleased with the way they turned out and am actually thinking about whether or not to go into making them and selling them! Hmm something to think about I am sure.

Well that is all from me for today, I have a couple of projects I am working on and will fill you in next time.

Happy Crafting,

Penny

xxx

Cat Toys are just Purrrrfect To Make!

2015-01-10T19:54:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone,

Just a short one to let you know that I have been busy making a couple of toys for our cats.

For those of you who don't know me, yes I am THE crazy cat lady lol

My eldest is George, he is 3 years old in March, and I love him to pieces.
George is a Ragdoll and was given to me as a birthday present from my eldest son. George is an aficionado of yarn and will gladly let me know which yarn he would like his next toy made out of. He doesn't just go for any color or texture, it has to meet the face snuggle, pillow comfy .

George is patiently waiting to play with the Nesting Rainbow Owl. More information can be obtained below.

Now as well as George, hubby and I were lucky to be able to adopt a gorgeous pure white Domestic
Long Hair with David Bowie eyes (one blue, one green). Her name is Sky and originally belonged to my song along with her brother Walker. Unfortunately Walker was attacked and killed by some foxes and Sky became very distressed at not having her mate around, so we were asked if we would adopt her.

Seriously how can can anyone refuse such a request.

So this then brought our cat fubabies up to 2.

Now as little un-desexed females are apt to do, they decide to go out and play with the local Toms and tart about.

Needles to say, we now have 4 of the most adorable little kittens. There is Theon (male), Lucipurr (male), Turtle (female) and Dottie (female) and how they enjoy running amok in the house, along with their fascination for the curtains and toys.

Boy do they love their toys. Anything they can carry in their mouths, play tug of war with or roll along the floor.

So what does a good human foster mum do?

Why she crochets toys for them that she thinks

they will enjoy.

I found a pattern for Nesting Rainbow Owls by mojo-mojo designs and this became my very first amigurumi to crochet. So it doesn't quite look like the ones in the pattern but I am proud of it. So one down and a few more to go with those.

The second one I made was from Petals to Picot. It is a Little Chick Bean Bag sans the beans. This would have to have been the easiest thing to make and again I just love it.

The Crochet Crowd Crochet Challenge...I finished it!

2015-01-07T14:46:00.000+11:00

Hello fellow crafters.

I am heaving a sigh of relief as I type this post as I finally finished The Crochet Crowd Crochet Challenge for January 2015 which was the Women's Peaked Hat.

Picture courtesy of The Crotchet Crowd and Yarnspiration

This pattern has come courtesy of Yarnspiration, which can be found here.

Well what can I say?

I was very excited to do my very first challenge.

Wool was chosen, buttons picked out and hook was a raring to go.

First attempt....

I got to the brim only to find that the hat would not have fit an adult woman, perhaps a 3 year old child if I was lucky!
So I pulled it all out and restarted.

Second attempt

Decided to go with a 6.5mm hook rather than the 5 that was suggested due to the above reason.
Carefully followed pattern and video and finally finished it!

YaY go me...

But wait what's this? I have a bit of a bump on the side and my hat looks like it would cover up a Beehive hair do *groan*

Well I wasn't going to pull it out and redo a third time, instead, I sewed my cute little buttons on and submitted it to TCC.

Hubby thinks that mine does look like some of the others that are on display but I'm not so sure on that as the others all look a lot smaller from the crown down to the brim.

Anywhoo it is the fact that I tried and completed my first challenge which is the main thing.

I would though urge any of you who are looking for something a bit different to hook, to try this hat out, as I'm sure after seeing all the other entries, you too can make it look the way it should if not better.

So what materials did I use for mine you might ask.
Carnival 8ply Acrylic 100g Col 096 Lot 789344 ( In other words it is a mint green in color)
Size 6.5mm hook
Buttons: Transparent green/yellow x 2 by about 2.5cm diameter.

My attempt

Happy Crafting everyone,
Love
Penny

Newborn Pants with Bum Flap (My version)

2015-01-04T14:25:00.000+11:00

Hello fellow crafters,

Well I am happy to say that I have my first completed project for 2015 done and dusted.

I found the most adorable little crocheted pair of pants with a bum flap on it.

Check out the FREE pattern at Shirley and Eadie's Blog.

I knew immediately that I had to make it for my sons partner's newest nephew and keeping that in mind, I made just a few little changes to it. For example, I put a blue edging on the waist band and leg cuffs. I added an embellishment of a sun on the bum flap plus I decided to add braces in the blue trim to it.

All in all I am very proud of this little piece.

Happy Crafting,
Penny
xxx

What I have been up to...take 2

2014-12-28T19:34:00.000+11:00

Hello my fellow crafters,

Well as promised, I am going to share the other things I had been working on for Christmas presents.

My gorgeous little niece who is 4, has just begun to play with Barbie Dolls in earnest, pinching her Mum's face flannels and tea towels to make beds for her Barbie.

So being the "nice" aunty that I am, I decided to make some blankets and pillows for her.

Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the finished products *sad face*.

I also made her some headbands and hair ties as I know she loves wearing pretties in her hair.

For my son's partner's little girl who is 3, I also made her some headbands and hair ties as she just loves to wear her hair like Anna from Frozen.

Needless to say, remembering to photograph finished items is truly not one of my strong spots but one I am hoping to rectify in 2015.

The other things I made were some cat toys for our two cats and four kittens, they loved their little mice and santa sacks.

Last but not least, I crocheted nine Star Pot Holders to put on the tables for our Boxing Day lunch. I am so proud of them. Not only did they come out looking super good, but they were so quick and easy to do as well.

This time I do have a photo of them lol

Ok perhaps not the best photo in the whole world but hey ameteur photographers here.

I got the pattern from Petals to Picot. It is called the Chunky Crochet Doily pattern and it comes in two sizes. I chose to do the larger size because I wanted to make sure that the bases of any hot container would be kept away from the table.

What I liked the most about this pattern was that after the first two or three, I could do them without checking the pattern and the fact that they could be whipped up in just over an hour was a blessing and a half for me.

Well I think that is about it, If you are interested in reading my previous post please click here.

I am not sure I will be able to get another post up before the end of the year but in case I don't, I wish you all a wonderfully safe, happy and healthy 2015.

Happy Crafting,

Penny

xxx

What have I been up to?

2014-12-27T20:11:00.000+11:00

Hello fellow crafters,

Well I have been a busy little bee over the last few months, making Christmas presents and decorations for home.

Now not all of the items I have made have been photographed as I am really bad in that regard but my darling hubby was kind enough to take photos of some of the things I still have here.

To start with, I made some more diaper covers for "the little one", who made her entry into this world on December 22nd. Her parents have called her Rebecca and she is a little darling (not a proud Great Aunt much). We are going to meet her next week and get some cuddle time in. I felt it was important to let the new family settle in a bit before going to visit.

So these are the photos of the diaper covers/nappy covers that I have crocheted. They are different sizes but I am hoping that they will be liked and well worn.

Diaper Covers

Just plain red ones with white trim around it.
This was done in 8ply wool.

These little pink ones are a 4ply with white trim and a little golden crown on the back because everyone has to know that Rebecca is our little princess :-)

These purple ones are again in 8ply with a 4ply multi pink frill on the back. So easy to make and oh so effective I think.

These little pale blue ones with white trim look very unisex. Will go well with any little outfit that is blue or has a hint of blue in it.
Again I used 8ply for these ones.

The patterns I used were from the following sites:

Bobbles and Baubles, Free Pattern Friday, Adjustable Diaper Cover
Flowers Creations, Free Diaper Cover
Redheart's Cutie Blue Bird Hat and Diaper Cover (Pattern #LW4295 (This one I actually adjusted a bit to suit a newborn as the pattern starts off at 3 - 6 mo)

Now as well as these ones, I also made a few Diaper Covers for my sons partner's sister and her partner. They are expecting a little boy in the next couple of weeks so of course, I had to make something that was boyish.

A pair of royal blue diaper covers with red trim and little red fish on the back, were what I came up with. Note: there is not that many patterns out there for embellishments/applique when it comes to little boys.

As both parents are avid Australian Rules Football supporters, I felt it would be nice to make a pair in each team color that they barrack for. In this case it was Collingwood and Saint Kilda.

Photos of these to come at a later date.

Please read next post to see what else I have been up to.

Happy Crafting

Penny

xxx

I'm in Barbie Doll Heaven

2014-12-09T23:26:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone,

Photo curtesy of Rebeckah's Treasures

Well what can I say, my inner child is coming out big time and I have gone "nuts" downloading and buying knit and crochet patterns for Barbie Doll clothing and accessories.

This all came about because of my 4 year old niece Tahlia. For Christmas I have made her a some blankets and pillows and even a mat for her Barbie, so she can stop pinching her mum's face flannels all the time.

While I was doing this, I looked up on Google to see if there were any patterns available and woah baby, are there!.

I found some really excellent sites and then I found this one...Rebeckah's Treasures.

Oh wow, she has the most amazing patterns on there. Plus she entices you to join her newsletter, so
you can get a code to download five (5) of her patterns for FREE!

Well color me a rainbow, I did just that and can't wait for my first newsletter to appear in my inbox.

Rebeckah also has a lot of other incentives for her "Loyal" followers.

Check her out and bookmark her website as I am sure if you have little ones around, you are going to love this site as much as I am.

Happy Crafting!

Vote in the FLAMIES

2014-12-03T21:01:00.000+11:00

Hi all,

Today I have got some fantastic news...

The FLAMIES are back again.

What are the Flamies, you ask?

Well the Flamies is where you get to vote for your favorite crochet blog site (don't stress there is a list of the top ones there to choose from), favorite crochet emag, youtube presenter, designer, designs and so on.

Please go and Like the The Crochet Awards Facebook page and keep up todate with what is happening

BUT

Most importantly...GO VOTE!

Show these wonderfully, talented people how much we you love and appreciate their dedication to our yarn obsession.

This is a must have!

2014-11-29T18:53:00.000+11:00

Hello one and all,

Well I had to share with you all, this great post from The Crochet Crowd.

Heard of them?

If not, check them out...seriously, these guys rock.

Anyway, I was having a bit of a looksie the newsfeed on my Facebook page when I saw a post from The Crochet Crowd about Afghan Si ze Calculator.

"Woah baby", this looks good, was my first thought, which was quickly followed by a click on the link and a read of the article.

Woah baby then became a "Holy Hooking Mother of Yarn", I so got to share this on my blog.

So yeah, what has happened is that Mikey has written up a formula that can help determine the amount of stitches and rows needed when making an Afghan. So much easier than having to pull out the trusty calculator and hope you got all the correct info.

They have it so you download it into a .pdf and use it for future reference.

So that is what I have done.

Can't wait to begin an afghan using this tool.

Well that's it for me for now, I have to get back to crocheting one more horn for a viking hat but more about that and some other things next time.

Happy Crafting,

Penny

Baby Shower Gifts

2014-11-18T21:34:00.000+11:00

Hi all,

Well my niece had her baby shower on the 1st November 2014 and what a spoiled mum to be and

In honor of the woods theme in the "little ones" room

great niece they were.

There were some fantastic gifts made and purchased for the pair of them and from the look on my niece's face, all were well received.

My mother as the Great Marnie, made a gorgeous layette. All beautifully and lovingly knitted.
Other presents included singlets, handmade toys, brush and comb sets, socks, little outfits and so on.

It is amazing how little everything looked. Made me wonder if either of my sons would have ever fitted into the sizes she was given. Then I remembered...they were BIG bouncing baby boys, 9lb 5oz and 8lb 3oz. My grandsons were BIG bouncing babies as well. Our eldest now 7 years old was 8lb 3oz and our youngest who turns 2 next month was 11+ pounds born. So it truly was a lovely treat to see such petite little clothes, just the thing for little girls.

Now this excited Great Aunty had been furiously crocheting away making little outfits for the "little one" and was quite upset as one of the little jackets I had made got shredded in the washing machine. Mental note to self, use a worsted 8 ply/weight wool for it as it was just way too lacy for 4 ply/sock weight that I used. So will be redoing it again but making it so it will fit her in the cooler months.

Now what did I make, I suppose you are wondering, well take a look and be amazed (I know I was lol )

This was a lovely little romper set that I made in red and white with a matching head band and her first pair of Mary Jane booties. All little girls have to have a pair of MJ's *wink*

This was the finished product of the little yellow summer dress and hat I had made as well as her very first pair of sandals. I loved those sandals so much I wondered if I could get away with a pair for myself.

This was another little summer dress and it had a butterfly on the front that matched the ruffles on the bottom of the dress as well as the little headband and bloomers. Very quick and easy to make.

Now I have to admit, I loved this nappy/diaper cover and so did my niece and nephew in-law. So much so that they asked if I could make more of them. Have done a few up, just need to get the right buttons and do some embellishments on the back and then I will post it.
Seriously these whip up so quickly and look so special.

Lost and Found Lane: The only Crocodile Stitch resource you will ever n...

2014-11-09T20:29:00.001+11:00

Hello everyone,

Today I am linking up an incredible blog site I came across while trying to learn how to do the Crocodile Stitch in crochet.

"Does grrrrrrrr and which bloody way do I turn this around?"

And,,,

"That's it, I can not do this stitch, it is impossible...", throw yarn and needle on table in a huff, while turning the air blue ring a bell with any others?

It does???

Well then look no more.

The delightful Ginger Burch, owner of Lost and Found Lane will make your day. Not only does she have a very clear list of instructions but she shows each step in a photo (no pause, play, pause, play on Youtube)

Now that I have something to work by in clear step by step instructions, I am off to start making my 4 year old niece's Christmas present....a crocodile stitch afghan for her Barbie doll house lol along with other little goodies.

Click on the paragraph below to be taken to Lost and Found Lane.
Lost and Found Lane: The only Crocodile Stitch resource you will ever n...: I was very frustrated when searching the internet for a free pattern to learn the Crocodile Stitch. All I could find were youtube video&...

Happy Crafting,

Penny

Newborn Summer Dress and Hat

2014-10-13T21:39:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone,

I have been busy crocheting for "the little one" and this is the latest outfit I have finished for her. Her Mum (my niece) loved the photos I sent her of it, so that has made me happy.

The dress I found on Youtube and I fell in love with it. I purchased the pattern (no it wasn't free) from Hectanooga who has a shop on Etsy.

But me being me, I decided to change it up a bit and did a shell pattern for the skirt. I feel it came out really well.

The yarn I used was Carnival 8 ply Col 150 Lot 788416 in a gorgeous buttery yellow.

The hook was a 5mm.

I made a little flower in a multi colored 4 ply of pinks and purples, using the flower pattern that is also available on the pattern pdf.

The hat I found on a site called Anna Virginia Fashion. Check this lady's site out as she has the most marvelous things and some fantastic links as well.

This pattern is free.

I used the same 8 ply as the dress but with a 4mm hook instead.

Instead of the shell edging and ribbon to give it the flapper look, I did a ruffle edge on the hat and made a larger version of the flower as I used on the dress ie 3 layers instead of 2 layers.

The last thing I think I will make to go with this little outfit is a pair of booties befitting the summer style as "the little one" is due in December (Summer in Australia).

I do have a gorgeous little coat I need to finish off and a pair of Mary Janes, I have also made. I'm just horrendous about weaving in ends and sewing things together. Okay so this one involved no sewing but a lot of ends to weave in and buttons to sew on. As soon as I have that done, I'll post the results here for you all, including links to sites/patterns etc.

Well that is all from me for this evening.

Happy Crafting,

Penny

Crocheting For Dummies

2014-10-05T15:49:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone,

Was just having a random search on the world wide web, when I came across something tha at first I thought was hilarious and then realized wasn't so funny after all. In fact, for some I think it may be helpful.

CROCHETING FOR DUMMIES.

Yes those wonderful people who brought us other "Dummies books" over the years, have actuallygot a section dedicated to crafts, among other things

So if you find the umpteen Youtube tutorials hard to follow, or want to try something new but don't want to be embarrassed asking for help, check out the site.

I even found one on "Pinterest for Dummies".

You never need be afraid of learning a new skill with these easy to follow books available.

Go to "For Dummies Store" and enrich your learning.

Well that's it for me today,
I've just about finished a little outfit (coat and hat) for "the little one".
Will post it when finished.

Happy Crafting,
Penny

Crocheted Diaper Cover...cute as!

2014-10-04T15:45:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

Well I finished the first little item for my Great Niece to be, who will from now on be affectionately referred to as "the little one".

I wanted to make a diaper or as we call it here in Australia, nappy cover. After making the Minnie Mouse outfit, I thought it was a great idea, especially seeing as "the little one" is going to be put into cloth nappies (very eco friendly people).

So I scoured the net looking for a nice easy pattern and I found one on a website devoted to crocheter's called Crochetville. It is free to sign up and has a lot of great patterns, tips and forums to join in on.

So the pattern I used was by Hyphenatedlady, a Crochetville member and if you would like to view this FREE pattern then then click this line *wink*

I did do a little variation on the pattern though.
For instance, the pattern calls for elastic to be used around the waist, I preferred to use ribbon.
I did add a few extra rows in because to me it just didn't look long enough from crotch to waist to go over a nappy.
And finally, I did my own version of the "ruffles" around the leg. It was a simple 5DC in one DC then a SC in next DC and so on. I think it has given it a very nice little touch.

Material used was Panda Baby Soft 4 ply in a variegated pink/purple toning. White ribbon. Size 4mm (G) crochet hook.

I look forward to doing some more "bum wraps" and jazzing them up a bit with ruffles on the back, little embellishments etc.

Hope you enjoy
Happy Crafting,
Penny

Swing Jacket is Finished...

2014-10-03T07:13:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Well this time last week, I was busily putting the final touches on the Swing Jacket I had been crocheting for my Mum.

It has been a long and laborious challenge for me but after five months, I finally got it done.

AND

Mum loves it!

My apologies for the bad photos, they were done in a rush and unfortunately the photographer forgot to turn the collar down and make sure the jacket was all neatly laid out lol

Now if you remember I actually used a combination of two patterns.
The main pattern being Matinee Swing Jacket and utilizing the back pleat from the original pattern I was going to use...but didn't.

Anyway, that is it for me...for now!

Stay tuned over the next few weeks where I will be showing off the little outfits for my soon to born Great Niece.

I so love making little girls clothes!

Until then,
Happy Crafting
xxx

Crocheted Plastic Bag Holder

2014-09-14T16:35:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Plastic Bag Holder (PBH)

My youngest son and his girlfriend/partner have just recently moved out of home and into their own unit.

H is a very tidy young lady who likes everything to be in its place and was complaining about the plastic bags that they recycle from grocery shopping filling up a drawer that could be used for other things.

Having made a plastic bag holder (bad attempt on my behalf), H asked if I could make one for her and R.

Now what could I say but yes!

I had some white wool left over from earlier projects, so that was good. But when it came to what stitch I was going to use, that was an entirely different matter. I wanted something that looked good but not old and dowdy. So into my emails I went.

On the right hand side of this blog, you will find a link to New Stitch a Day. When you join up with them, you are given the option to have an email sent daily for both knitting and crocheting (I clicked yes of course).

Now the people who run the site, Johnny and Lacie, are the most adorable couple you will find on the net. Both of them are avid knitters an.d crocheter's, which is a nice surprise seeing as they are only a young couple.

Sorry I do tend to ramble quite a bit at times and have trouble remembering what I was going to say!

Oh yes that's right, the emails...

Well I decided that as I was going to make the kids a pbh (plastic bag holder) I may as well try my hand at a new stitch. Personally I think little projects like this is a perfect way to practice new stitches.

I remembered I had seen a tutorial for the DOUBLE CROCHET 5 TOGETHER BOBBLE and as it looked good and funky, I was going to give that a go.

The only difference I made to the stitch was to use a DC (double crochet) instead of a SC (single crochet) between each bobble.

As I didn't write the pattern down, I can't share it with you but the result turned out beautifully.

Anywhoo, I'm going to get going as I still have to finish off my Mum's Swing Jacket (1 and a half sleeves to go).

Have a great day everyone.

Happy Crafting,
Penny

Minnie Mouse outfit in Pink

2014-09-14T15:57:00.003+10:00

Hello everyone,

I finally finished the little Minnie Mouse outfit that my grandson asked for as a present to his mum who is expecting her first child with her partner.

It was great hearing him give it to her and in a proud voice saying that he had chosen it and Grammy had made it.

Needless to say his mum was full of praise for his thoughtfulness.

It makes the heart glow when you hear a parent commending their child on thinking of others.

Anyway, this is the final outfit, with many thanks to the following site for their free pattern, tips and hints.

Crochet Baby Outfit from followthestray

Follow the Stray's patterns were easy to follow and quick to crochet. I would highly recommend checking out her hubpage as she has a delightful assortment of articles, patterns etc to peruse.

Would love to hear some feedback on what you think,

Happy Crafting,
Penny

Minnie Mouse Outfit ~ Crochet

2014-08-15T21:04:00.001+10:00

Minnie Mouse Outfit ~ Crochet

My eldest grandson's (son's son) Mummy is expecting a little girl in September with her partner and my gorgeous boy has asked that I make her a Minnie Mouse outfit BUT it must be in pink and white--because pink is for girl's you know. I told you he is gorgeous.

So what is a Grammy to do but do as he so sweetly asked.

I have had a bit of a search on Google and Pinterest and found this adorable craation on Follow The Stray.

The pattern seems to be very simple and she not only explains what she has done but how she has enhanced on other people's patterns (with credits provided).

What I do when I find a pattern on a blog or website or even from an email, I click on print, then change it to save as a pdf. That way I can file the patterns on Google Drive.

When I have finished this outfit, I will post up photo's of my completed creation as well as the links to the different sites that have been used.

UPDATE ON SWING JACKET FOR MUM.

I completed the back when to my dismay I realised that there was no way it would fit my Mum, so after getting exact measurements of her, I have worked the fronts and back accordingly. I have completed the left and right fronts and am half way through the back. I chose an 8mm crochet hook and have found that even though it is just plain half double crochet, it is coming out as a nice warm but lightweight jacket.

Will post photo's when it is finished along with information on what I had done.

Until next time,

Happy Crafting everyone!

Can I get any more annoyed with this jacket?

2014-07-19T21:25:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone.

Well as the post title states, could I get any more annoyed with the jacket I have been crocheting for my Mum since March?

Oh you had better believe I can.

After all the problems I had had with it (see previous posts), I finally get to the sleeves. Phew, sleeves don't take long to do I tell myself, and then I can finally wrap it up and give it to my Mum.

Well that is what I thought. The actual result was that the sleeve did not turn out like the one on the pattern. The shape was incorrect and I had to muddle through the designer/printers errors. I mean, how on earth does one gain stitches when decreasing?

Not 100% sure on that answer but if you were to follow the pattern to the letter then when you have decreased, your heart starts to thump in a deadly staccato that would rival

Lars Ulrich, Drummer from Metallica, in any of his solo's.

So after an extreme amount of cursing and changing the sky from grey to blue, I spent the next 3 hours carefully pulling the jacket to pieces and winding the wool into a couple of huge balls before going through the pattern search once more.

By this stage I was starting to doubt I would ever find a pattern I was happy with and thinking it might have been a better idea to just go out and purchase a ready made jacket.

But really, a hand crafted piece of clothing made with love beats any machine made one hands down in my opinion. So on I marched, fingers flying across the keyboard, typing in all sorts of keywords and rejecting a lot of the options that were resulting.

Ahm silly woman, why don't you just go to the websites you have joined and look through their catalog
of crocheted jackets. Yes I mentally kicked myself...HARD. This goes to show you how desperate I was...I wasn't utilizing the resources I had bookmarked.

Slowly I made my way through the long, long lists until I came to Ravelry
(Oops, I forgot I was a member lol)

The pattern I found was for a Matinee Swing Jacket. It is one of the "free" patterns you can download if you are a member.

I was pleased to see that that there had been updates made to correct errors on the pattern (that always helps) and that the pattern itself is not a hard one. Basically working in HDC (Half Double Crochet) only.

As this is for my Mum and she really loved the pleat on the back of the other pattern, I have decided to increase the stitches for the back to allow for the pleat, as well as make it longer in the body, so it will sit nicely over her outfits.

I am happy to say that as of this evening, I have crocheted 30 rows of the back and here is the BEST news...I HAVEN'T HAD TO PULL IT OUT AND RESTART IT.

My aim is to have it finished no later than my birthday (August 13th) as Mum will be coming to visit and also because technically it will still be Winter, so she can't make fun of how long it has taken me to do it.

So that is as they say, that!

Until next time,
Happy Crafting everyone!

Finding treasure's online

2014-06-14T18:08:00.000+10:00

Hi all,

Well today on checking my emails, I received one from All Free Crochet Afghans (love this site).

Not only do they have an amazing array of different afghans to crochet but they also link up to great gems of posts.

This one I thought was very interesting as it deals in colors and choosing the right color for your project.

It is from Stitch and Unwind and is entitled Gorgeous Gemstones: Which crochet afghan are you?

They talk about what the different colors you choose means. They also suggest you choose one of the colors they have listed to work out what color you are.

So please go and check them out and if you haven't already, subscribe to All Free Crochet Afghans. I promise you won't be disappointed when looking for your next project or reading up on new techniques.

So until next time,
Happy Crafting.
xxx

Ergonomic Crochet Handle

2014-05-07T14:27:00.000+10:00

Well how excited was I yesterday when I received my new toy...the Ergonomic Crochet Handle. This link is

Ergonomic Crochet Handle

to the one from Annie's Crafts but unfortunately they don't deliver to Australia, so I purchased mine from Ebay.com.au

I chose to purchase one because I have a bit of arthritis in my hands and find that it becomes a tad difficult to hold the hook properly.

So now on to the good part...what do I think of it?

Placing the hook into the handle was very easy with clear concise instructions. The only downfall being that the colors on the back of the packet did not quite match the colors of the washers that you need to use to hold your hook in place.

First attempt, hook was wobbly.

Hubby to the rescue (bless his over generous heart). He was able to take one look at the hook I was using, a 5.5mm and able to pick the right washer straight up. I wonder if this is because he is a sheetmetal worker and deals with fiddly sizes all day...hmmm.

Anyway, with the right washer in, I found that the hook sat very securely within the handle, with no movement whatsoever.

It has taken me a little bit to get used to but I am slowly getting my rhythm back with it on and it is a lot kinder on my fingers, I must say.

So anyone who is having g problem handling their hooks to arthritis or any other form of hand problems, I would highly suggest you purchase one and use it. Bear with it the first few times and you will soon find that you wondered how you ever crocheted without one.

Happy Crafting everyone!

Check size first...silly woman!

2014-04-28T23:08:00.000+10:00

Hi all,

Well as you know I have been busily crocheting my Mum a jacket for her birthday.

It is now just over a week since her birthday and not only did I not get it finished BUT I have had to pull it out as it is the wrong size *groan*

So the story goes something like this...

Saw Mum on the weekend and took the partially finished jacket with me so she could see what I was making for her.

Result..

Mum loves the color and the style and the stitch.

But...

The rotten thing is not the correct size for her. So after pulling out the measuring tape and consulting the pattern itself, we have decided to go an extra two sizes larger as there really was not much difference between the size I thought would be fine and the next size up.

Result...

Mum is coming over for dinner the night before Mother's Day and has gently stated that she would love to have her new jacket for then.

So time to work my fingers to the bone and get this jacket done quickly. The only thing I know is this -- I won't be pulling it out a dozen or so times as I am already comfortable with the pattern.

Keep your fingers crossed for me crafters.

Toodles all and happy crafting.

Busy, busy, busy...

2014-04-17T20:46:00.001+10:00

Hi all,

Well it has been awhile since I last posted in here but I have you know I have been busy, busy, busy.

This coming Sunday (Easter Sunday) is my wonderful Mum's birthday, so this year I thought I would plan ahead and make her a present instead.

Last year I made her a Spider Web Block shawl for Mother's Day and she just loved it. Well at least that is what she told me *giggles*

Now what was I on about? *scratches head and reads last few lines*

Oh that's right, Mum's birthday and making her present. I am so forgetful at times it isn't even funny!

So I found this pattern on Annie's Crochet Daily (she also does knitting, fabric and other goodies) and when I saw it, I knew it was just right for my Mum.

This is the jacket I am making.

You know how you can actually see someone in something and no matter how hard you try not to keep going back to it--you do? Well I did lol

Anywoo, if you want to know the drama that went on in purchasing the wool and deciding on a different stitch than the one mentioned in the pattern, then have a look at my previous post by clicking here.

<insert interesting, yet highly boring interval music here while you go and check it out>

Right I think that has been long enough for you to have gone and read it and recovered from the giggles. At least I hope so.

Now the date I wrote that post was March 18th 2014, it is now April 17th 2014, nearly a month later and alas I have still not finished it. I would never profess to being a fast crocheter and given that I have the onset of arthritis in my hands, I have days where it will be work one row and take the next two hours off so I can get some feeling back in my fingers and wrists,

Oh I do so waffle on, sorry about that.

Anyway I have explained to my Mum that I haven't finished it yet so it will possibly end up as a combined birthday/mother's day present. So now Mum wants me to bring it up to her place on Saturday so she can see it.

All I can say is, I hope she likes it!

Anyway toodles all and happy crafting.

*All images were found using google.com images

Playing with balls and driving others crazy

2014-03-13T23:20:00.001+11:00

Hi all,
Long time no blog, shame on me *sad face*
But and there is a BIG BUT, I have been busy, busy, busy.
Firstly, I've slowly finishing off the clothes for charity, just left with sewing them *sigh* I so hate having to sew them together but it has to be done.
Secondly, I have started working on this fantastic crocheted retro jacket for my Mum's birthday. The start of it actually gave me a headache lol but 10 false starts and 3 different patterns later, I have finally settled on doing it in a houndstooth crochet stitch and it is coming along very nicely.
Thirdly, I have decided not to go into the Australian Wool Museum competition for Scarf Making, as I don't have enough time on my hands to complete everything on my list at the moment.

So now this is where I am going to tell you about the hilarious phone call I made to my local Spotlight store to order wool for my Mum's jacket.
I don't leave the house due to a mental disability and problems with my knees and back, so all my shopping is done either online or with instructions as to what I need for my darling hubby to follow but there are times when he just doesn't find or get exactly what I need.
Anywhoo, I ring Spotlight and spoke to one of the lovely sales assistants and explained I was looking for the softest 8 ply acrylic in burgundy that they had. She immediately told me about MARVEL SOFT 8 PLY and gave me the price per ball. Getting all excited I ask if she has 15 balls, working roughly on the specifications of the pattern. To my dismay she informs me that they only had 4 balls but could order more in if needed. No guarantee though of obtaining the same dye lot though.
The next half hour on the phone was spent discussing other brands and pricing but none were sounding as good as the Marvel Soft. Thinking I would just have to send hubby in and choose a color, she placed me on hold and came back 10 minutes later to inform me that she had checked out back in the storeroom and found more balls of the Marvel Soft, same dye lot. Eleven balls all up. This was enough to have me smiling again and feeling better about the project.
As I had asked for 15 balls, we decided to compare how much yardage the pattern stated to the meters of the yarn I wanted. Turned out I only needed about 8 - 9 balls, so without hesitation I got her to put them on hold for me, so I could send darling hubby down to fetch them. Laughing the sales assistant talked me into taking the entire amount off her hands as she said she would find it hard to get rid of such a small amount of yarn.
I did and am now the proud owner of Marvel Soft 8 ply Lot 1779.
Incidentally the yarn is made in Turkey for anyone who is interested!

Ok so now I have my yarn, finally settled on a pattern that I feel looks nicer than the one stated in the patter which if memory serves me correct I purchased from Annie's online in pdf format.
But my biggest bone has been the fact that I detest having to start with the outside thread, I prefer to use the inside thread from the centre.

HELLO PINTEREST!
Going through Pinterest one day, I cam across this pin that talked about how to wind your yarn into a ball so you ended up with a centre thread to use.
YAY
Being a good girl and thinking others may be interested, I like the pin and repinned it to my own board.
The blog site where this originated is call Knits with Balls. Yep you guessed it, this site is written by a man. I have never seen so many men doing blogs and tutorials about knitting and crocheting as I have in the last six months. I think this is excellent and to say some of these guys are either a bit of eye candy or have gorgeous sexy voices doesn't hurt either lol
So this evening I have started on winding my yarn up and man, I know this would be a fantastic system if you were looking for smaller balls to work with but considering I am not, I think I may have to hint that a yarn holder would be a great present for Mother's Day lol