Brewing Review

The day of beer tasting finally arrived and the one of the bottles was opened.  However, we didn't realise that you're not supposed to tip up the bottles but to keep the yeast settled at the bottom so the first couple that were opened were undrinkable.

We were then told by a friend who has done this before that it's best to pour it into a glass and leave the yeast in the bottle so it's now drinkable apparently.  Well, drinkable enough for The Boy to take a box of 20 around to a friend's to split between a few of them.

So overall it was a success (although we all though it wouldn't work) and no doubt there will be more beer brewing in the flat again soon.

Om nom nom Crumble!

I decided to bake an apple and mixed berry crumble the other day and it was DELICIOUS!!!

We actually haven't finished it all off yet.

Here is the recipe I used:
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/516845

Although I used tinned mixed berries rather than fresh or frozen.

Christmas Tree Angel

I've finished my lovely little Christmas Tree Angel and typed up the pattern.  She turned out exactly how I wanted her to.

Let me know if there's any problems with the pattern.

It's also available to download as a PDF here 

The finished size is about 4 inches (10 cm) tall
Notes: inc = dc 2 in same stitch, dec = dc 2 together (dc2tog)

 
Need:

• 3.0 mm or 3.5mm crochet hook.
• Double Knitting or Worsted wool in the following colours:
• White
• Skin Tone
• Hair Coloured
• Black (for eyes – or you can use toy eyes)
• Stitch Markers.
• Tapestry needle
• Stuffing.
• Black cotton for the mouth.

Pattern: (English terms used)
Head
Skin Tone WoolRow 1: 6 dc in a magic ring                               (6 stitches)
Row 2: inc around                                             (12 stitches)
Row 3: (inc, dc 1) around                                  (18 stitches)
Rows 4-6: dc around                                          (18 stitches)
Row 7: (dec, dc 1) around and stuff head.         (12 stitches)
Row 8: (dec) around until hole is closed. Slip stitch and finish off leaving long tail to sew.

Body
White Wool
Row 1: chain 6 and slip stitch into first to create a loop.
Row 2: dc 8 into the ring (8 stitches)
Row 3: (inc, dc 1) around (12 stitches)
Row 4: Dc in every stitch around (12 stitches)
Row 5: Dc 1 in every stitch around (12 stitches)
Row 6: (inc, dc 2) around (16 stitches)
Row 7: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (16 stitches)
Row 8: (dc 2 in the same stitch, dc 3) around (20 stitches)
Row 9: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (20 stitches)
Row 10: (dc 2 in the same stitch, dc 4) around (24 stitches)
Row 11: Ch 1, tr in every stitch around (24 stitches)
Row 12: tr 1, (ch 2, miss 1 tr, tr in next stitch) around (24 stitches)
Row 13: (tr 2 in ch space, ch 1) around slip stitch into first stitch (24 stitches)
Row 14: ch 4, ss into ch space. Finish off and sew in tail.

Arms (make 2)
Skin Colour and White wool (start with skin colour)
Row 1: 6 dc in a magic ring. (6 stitches)
Row 2-3: dc around. change to white (6 stitches)
Row 4-5: dc around. (6 stitches)
Row 6: (inc, dc 2) around. (8 stitches)
Row 7-8: dc around. (8 stitches)
Fasten off leaving tail to sew to body.


Wings (make 2)
White wool
Row 1: chain 6 and slip stitch into first to create a loop.
Row 2: dc 8 in ring (8 stitches)
Row 3: inc around. (16 stitches)
Row 4: ch 1, tr in same stitch, (ch 2, miss 1 dc, tr) twice, double treble.
Fasten off leaving tail to sew to body

Halo
White wool
Chain 20, ss into first stitch to create a loop.
 
Hair
Hair Coloured wool
Cut several pieces of wool of the same length (I cut them about 8 cm long)
Tie together and sew onto the top of the head in the centre
 
Making Up
Stuff the arms – I didn’t stuff them firmly.
Sew the halo onto the head (over the hair).
Sew the head, wings, and arms onto the body.
Sew the facial features onto the face
To make the cheeks pinkish I coloured them in with a red coloured pencil.

  

Updated WIP Logo

I've adjusted the image so it is now clearer.

Here it is:

The miracles of photo editing software!

A New Project

I realised that I don't have an angel for my tree and it's not worth buying one as they're either cheap and nasty or horrendously expensive so I decided to see what Ravelry had to offer.

The angels don't have hair or a proper face so I'm making my own one.  So far I've only made the head (with hair) and started on the body but it looks pretty good.  Only got: arms, wings, and halo to do after that!  I'm writing up a pattern as I go along so hopefully it'ss be done so I can post it soon.

Also it means I get to debut my 'WIP' logo on Ravelry!

A WIP logo and a request

Typically as soon as The Boy saw my apple cosy he said he'd like one too.  He did say that he didn't want it to be the same 'girly' colours so it will be red, two shades of blue and black.

I also need to get planning what I'm making for Christmas so I've started a list and it's already scary!  However Eve and I started Christmas shopping yesterday (mostly just buying stuff for each other).

Last night I decided to draw a WIP symbol to put on Ravelry rather than a picture of a half-made object.

I wasn't sure if the writing is visible enough or in the right place (comments welcome) but it's quite cute.

A Finished Project and a Haircut

Today I went to the hairdressers for the first time since I was about 5 and was a bridesmaid (my Mum has always cut my hair).  Naturally I was very nervous but I chose to go to a place called Janet's Hair Design in Liverpool because my Mum is also called Janet.  The staff were so friendly and I was chatting away to them for ages.  £9 for a dry cut - I will definitely be going back there!

So here is my lovely hair:

It's nice and short so I shouldn't accidentally eat it any more!

I also finished a crochet project today.  I made one of Mum's patterns:
Jolly Little Goody Bags by Yellow, Pink and Sparkly 
I made this bag to protect my apples in my bag for uni. It was really quick to make and a simple pattern as it just depends on the basic motif for each side.  I made the large size bag as I only own DK wool and the middle size for 4ply would have been a bit too small.

I love the colours of the bag.  I chose to just use white, lilac, purple and black.

The Ladykillers

Last night I went with my Mum and Eve to see The Ladykillers at the Liverpool Playhouse Theatre.  As the Playhouse is in its 100th year it premiered the play ahead of it being shown a

It was so funny - I knew it was a comedy but I wasn't expecting anything as good.  It's the stage version of the 1955 Ealing Comedy of the same name (not the 2004 film).

The cast were mostly people I'd heard of: Peter Capaldi, Ben Miller, James Fleet, Clive Rowe, Stephen Wight, and Marcia Warren.

Here is the official website: http://www.theladykillers.co.uk/

I'm still here! Brewing update

I've been so busy again with my project that I'm actually surprised how long it is since I last posted.

Wednesday was beer bottling day which was pretty messy.  You have to use a siphon to transfer the beer from the plastic barrel to the bottle but to start it moving you have to suck the beer with your mouth and if you're not careful you end up with a mouthful of half-brewed beer - I did.

We did put the bottles in order into the boxes and numbered the first and last in each box.

The First Ten Bottles

All the bottles ready to be filled

Here is the barrel near the start

Onto the second box

And the barrel later on

So we now have 45 bottles of beer fermenting away in our spare room (sorry Eve for when you stay) and in two weeks it'll be drinkable (hopefully).

Remembrance Day

It’s Remembrance Day on Friday so I wanted to make a poppy badge for that. This pattern is easy to follow and so quick to make.
Crocheted Poppy for Veterans or Remembrance Day by SP Sandsteel.

It ended up being about an inch and a half and I sewed on a safety pin so hopefully it's more sturdy than normal poppies (even though I bought one of them today too).

A Comedy Gig

Last night The Boy and I went to see Lee Evans.  I got him the tickets ages ago for his birthday and I have to admit I'm not really a Lee Evans fan from what I've seen of him on tv.

But I went with an open mind and it turned out to be so funny.  The Boy laughed most of the way through (except when he insulted Time Team) so he clearly enjoyed his birthday present, which is good!

I missed WIP Wednesday!

Admittedly it was because we were doing project work together for about 4 hours then I just had time to rush home and get changed before the electrical engineering society at uni meal out.

Besides I haven't done much crochet this week because of our prototype deadline.

For the meal we went to Red Hot Buffet in Liverpool One which is a world buffet so I ate plenty of exciting food from around the world and I got talking to some new people from my department.

First of November

Well, Halloween is over now so I can start on my Christmas planning.  I also I want to make poppies for Remembrance Day.

Last night I sat and watched Nosferatu from 1922.  It is a film that I've always wanted to watch, being a big fan of Dracula.  It's the first ever film based on the book Dracula.  I haven't sat and watched a full-length silent film before so I did feel very cultured sat in bed watching it and drinking tea.