A little bit of everything

I have many exciting things to report so this may become a messy blog post.

Firstly, a couple of weeks ago I went on holiday with my family to a little village called St Dogmaels in west Wales, near Cardigan on the River Teifi.  We had a lovely time, our mornings were spent relaxing and our afternoons spent on picturesque walks in the countryside.  Here are a few photos from the holiday but more can be seen on my Mum's blog post

When I got back from my holiday I was met with a beautiful bunch of flowers from The Boy which made me smile.  He had previously bought me flowers when I had two uni exams on the same day.  

Exam Flowers

Holiday Flowers

I like the colours of the holiday flowers best but both are beautiful and so sweet of The Boy to surprise me with them.

I'm halfway through crocheting a little surprise present for The Boy which is difficult to do when we live together so I can't hide things as easily.  It's mostly done so hopefully I can find a bit more time to finish it off.

I've got a significant birthday coming up in 3 and a half weeks and to celebrate I'll be inviting my family over to our house.  The house is definitely a lot tidier than when I first moved but we have surplus furniture that we need the landlord to take away that is cluttering up the living room at the moment.

This weekend I've been making an extra effort to get organised - I'm carrying a notebook around in my handbag and made a to-do list board based on an idea I found here at heartmadeblog.com.  As soon as I saw this daily prioritiser I had to come up with my own design using robots instead of people.  I also decided to use clips to hold the notes rather than use post-it-notes.

The other thing I did this weekend was a spot of baking.  I've been meaning to make little cupcakes inside teacups with jam in the little glass ramekins I've saved from eating Gu desserts.  They turned out exactly how I had hoped but I had forgotten how difficult it was to mix by hand and after a long time with no exercise this tired me out! 

I'll have to make these again soon but I have already planned what I'm baking next weekend.  Also, The Boy's Mum said next time I bake she is coming over to eat at our house - I'm just glad people like my baking!

WIP Wednesday

This week I have been working on the jumper I started ages ago for The Boy. I've completed the back and am making good progress now on the front. Hopefully I can continue to make good progress. If you can't see the image below it can also be found here

Keeping Busy

I've been very busy recently.  As my Mum mentioned on her blog here The Boy and I moved out of our flat into a much bigger house.  We're both working full time over the summer and we only have evenings and weekends to unpack so the place isn't that tidy yet - that's our excuse and we're sticking to it!  We'll get the place sorted in the next week most likely.

Here is a picture of me in the doorway of the house:

Work is hectic - the two projects I've worked on so far have been tested and worked successfully so it has been worth the effort.

Need to dig out all of my wool and get back to crafting soon though but so much to do!  No finished objects to report but lots of progress made on my ongoing projects.

Happy Birthday, Bestie!

Oh dear I feel like Amy from The Big Bang Theory saying that - although she's the character my uni friends say I'm most like anyway.

Today is my Best Friend's 25th birthday.  I start my summer job on Monday so will see him every day but I wanted to give him his card and present early.

He was very good and didn't open it until today - I'm rarely that patient.

This is the card I made for him:

And here it is with his presents in little origami boxes:

We are both huge Lego fans so when I saw Lego cufflinks on Etsy I knew he would love them as he wears cufflinks to work - he is about the only person I know who wears cufflinks.

I also got him some old style lemon bon bons because who doesn't love sweeties?

Titus the Barn Owl Pattern

I have always loved barn owls and I’ve been looking for a good barn owl pattern for a while but none of the patterns I saw were what I wanted to make.  When I saw Stacey Trock’s Design Week idea I was inspired to start designing this barn owl rather than put it off any longer.

He got his name from the scientific name for barn owl – Tyto Alba.  Although every time I think about the name I just think of the explorer nicknamed ‘Titus’ (Lawrence Oates) on Scott’s mission to the South Pole who said the famous line: “I am just going outside and may be some time”.

The pattern can also be downloaded as a PDF here

The body and head are made as one piece then the face, tummy, and feet are sewn on.

Need:

·         3 mm crochet hook.

·         Double Knitting or Worsted wool in the following colours:

o   Tan.

o   White.

o   Straw (for the feet and beak).

·         6mm Safety eyes (or black thread to sew eyes).

·         Stitch Markers.

·         Tapestry needle.

·         Stuffing.

Pattern:                    (English terms used)

Note: dec = dc 2 together, inc = dc 2 in 1 stitch.

Head and Body 

(Starting at the top of the head)

Tan wool

Row 1:  dc 6 in a magic ring.                                                      (6 stitches)

Row 2: inc around.                                                                    (12 stitches)

Row 3: (dc, inc) around.                                                             (18 stitches)

Row 4: (dc, dc, inc) around.                                                       (24 stitches)

Row 5-8:  dc around.                                                                 (24 stitches)

Row 9: (dc 2, dec) around.                                                        (18 stitches)

Row 10-11:  dc around.                                                             (18 stitches)

Row 12: (dc 2, inc) around.                                                        (24 stitches)

Row 13-17: dc around.                                                              (24 stitches)

Row 18:  (dc 10, dec) around                                                    (22 stitches)

Row 19-20:  dc around.                                                             (22 stitches)

Row 21: (dc 9, dec) around.                                                       (20 stitches)

Row 22: dc around.                                                                   (20 stitches)

Row 23: (dc 8, dec) around.                                                       (18 stitches)

Row 24: In back loops only (dec, dc) around.                             (12 stitches)

Stuff body at this point

Row 25: decrease until hole is closed.  Fasten off and sew in ends.

Face

Note: ‘tr inc’ is 2 trebles in the same stitch

White wool

Row 1:  dc 6 in a magic ring.                                                      (6 stitches)

Row 2: inc around.                                                                    (12 stitches)

Row 3: ch1, dc1, tr inc, (1 tr, 1 dc) in next dc, sl st into next 2 dc, 1 ch, 1 dc, 1 ch, sl st into next 2 dc, (1 dc, 1 tr) in next st, tr inc, 1 dc, sl st into next st, sl st into 1st dc.

Row 4: 1 ch, 1 dc in next 2 sts, inc in next 2 sts, 1 dc, sl st into next 2 sl sts, sl st into ch, 1 ch, 1 dc, 1 ch, sl st into ch, sl st into next 2 sl st, 1 dc, inc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, sl st into sl st.  Fasten off leaving long tail to sew.

Tummy

Starting at bottom edge

White wool

Row 1: ch 6

Row 2: turn, dc in 2^nd chain from loop and every chain to end, turn.

Row 3-7: ch, dc across, turn.                   (5 stitches)

Rows 8: ch, dc, inc, dc, inc, dc, turn.         (7 stitches)

Row  9-10 : ch, dc across, turn.              (7 stitches)

Row 11: ch, dc, dec, dc, dec, dc, turn.     (5 stitches)

Row 12: ch, dc across, turn                     (5 stitches)

Row 13: ch, dec, dc, dec, turn.                (3 stitches)

Row 14: ch, dc 3 together.  Finish off leaving long tail to sew.

Wings  (make 2)

Tan wool

Row 1: 6 dc in a magic ring.                                                       (6 stitches)

Row 2: (dc, inc) around.                                                             (9 stitches)

Row 3: dc around.                                                                     (9 stitches)

Row 4: (2 dc, inc) around.                                                          (12 stitches)

Row 5: (3 dc, inc) around.                                                          (15 stitches)

Row 6: dc around.                                                                     (15 stitches)

Row 7: (3 dc, dec).                                                                    (12 stitches)

Row 8: dc around.                                                                     (12 stitches)

Row 9: dc around.                                                                     (12 stitches)

Row 10: (2 dc, dec) around.                                                       (9 stitches)

Row 11: dc around.                                                                   (9 stitches)

Row 12: (dc, dec) around.                                                          (6 stitches)

Row 13: dc around.                                                                   (6 stitches)

Row 14: dec around.                                                                 (3 stitches)

Fasten off leaving tail to sew to body.

Feet      (make 2)

Straw wool

4 ch, ss into first chain, (4 ch, ss into same chain) repeat two times.

Making Up

Stuff the body and head. 

Put safety eyes on face and sew a few stitches on using straw yarn to form the beak.  Sew face onto the head.

Flatten the wings and sew onto the body.

Sew the feet onto the body.

Happy 1st Birthday Blog!

Wow it doesn't feel like I've been blogging for a whole year.  In that time I've crocheted lots, written patterns, and (most surprisingly) people have made the things I've designed.  I've made lots of bloggy friends who have made me feel loved and like my post are not just rambles.

Today I'm finally getting around to publishing the pattern for Titus the Barn Owl - thanks to my Mum for checking the pattern for me.

FO Friday - Tetris Blanket

I really can't believe it is all done but I finished crocheting the border this morning.

I started it on the 28th of January and my predicted finishing date was the 14th of August (based on 1 a day) but as I was crocheting a lot more towards the end I managed to bring the date forward.

200 squares later this is how it looks:

I'm thrilled by how it looks and it was good fun working on such a large project.  Also it did require the best spreadsheet in the world to keep it organised but I love Excel so it was ok.

Quick Mention - The Journey Man

One of my uni friends has just started a blog about Software Development and other stuff he is interested in called 'The Journey Man':

http://justajourneyman.blogspot.co.uk/

I can't wait to read more of his posts - I love his chatty style of blogging.

Hello again!

I just wanted to prove I haven't disappeared.  It has been far too long since I last posted so I'm getting withdrawal symptoms! 

I'm still snowed under with revision but my last exam is on Thursday so I will be back on Thursday or Friday.

I made a little toy for The Boy as he has exams too.  It is a Trojan by NeedleNoodles:

He's with a cute little book I got for The Boy ages ago.

His favourite computer game is Rome: Total War so I knew he'd love it.  I didn't make the sword as I don't have any felt (Mum can I use some of yours?)

I've been making granny squares in between revision so I've only got 25 more squares to make for my Tetris blanket!!!

Oops

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged.  I've been so busy revising that I haven't had time to blog.  My exams start on Monday and I have 5 exams in the first week then 1 exam a week later.  I mostly haven't had to craft, but I've been making the odd Tetris square or part of housewarming present for my best friend. 

The housewarming present is going well but there is still a long way to go.  I've put it on my Ravelry project page here or you can see a photo of it here but I'm not putting a photo up here so my best friend can't see it until it is done (I assume I can trust him not to peek).

At some point I need to start making presents for Eve for when she goes away to uni in September but that can wait until I have more free time.

I mentioned last week that my Boy was doing a 10k run.  I went to watch him run and support him (and take some photos). 

He managed to complete the run in 70minutes which is a good time.  He also did a sprint finish and overtook 3 other guys right at the end.

Here he is with his medal and t-shirt (after he'd thrown a bottle of water over himself to cool down).

I am so proud of him for doing the run.

Getting back to blogging and Happy Star Wars Day!

It's been a while since I've blogged because I had to write my project thesis to hand in yesterday. It's done now so that project is completely finished.


Last weekend my Mum took me to my first craft fair (Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts - Liverpool) and it was really good.  A bit overwhelming though, especially when it came to choosing the wool at the Black Sheep Wool stall - a whole pile of packs of yarn that I had to wade into in order to get wool that Mum and I wanted.

 This is a photo of the wool I bought.  10 x 50g balls of red Sirdar Escape Chunky, 500g of grey DK, and a 50g ball of Sirdar Snuggly Kisses DK.


I didn't do much crafting while I was away from blogging, and absolutely NO crochet! Anyone who saw my Mum's blog post the other day will know that we sat together crafting as she taught me how to make I-cords and how to use double pointed needles and since then I haven't wanted to do anything else other than knit in the round.


I've known about the adorable Mochimochi Land patterns for quite a long time but, not knowing how to make them, I didn't really think much more about it. However now I can knit in the round I've started making lots of Tiny Baby Bunnies.  So far I've got 5 - the little green one I made with Mum and 4 little white and blue-ish ones I made with the Sirdar Snuggly Kisses wool from the craft fair.

They're so quick to make and are only about an inch long (I'm using DK wool and 3.25mm dpns).  No doubt they will keep multiplying!  I'm thinking of putting the book Teeny-Tiny-Mochimochi on my birthday present list even though it is still months away.


The other exciting thing that happened this week was that my crochet bracelet arrived.  It is not an ordinary bracelet, it is handmade by a lovely boy called Eli who likes to crochet.  You can find out the story behind the bracelets from Strumpet's Crumpets blog post.  It came with my name written by Eli on the envelope

I made an apple pie last night for The Boy and myself which we're cooking and eating tonight:

Should be very nice.  Also, on the subject of Boy, he's doing a 10k run on Sunday so I've been out jogging with him after uni.  I'm sure he'll be fine for the run.  I think I'll be going along to watch and cheer him on.


Finally, it's Star Wars Day today (May the Fourth be with you!) so I just had to make something Star-Wars-related.  I chose to make this chapstick cosy which (surprise surprise) is knitted in the round - I assume the novelty will wear off soon.

I did check that purple lightsabers really exist first!

Oops I meant to add:

FO’s 2012 = 25 + 2 = 27

WIP’s =  9

Queued =10

Feeling special

I got an email from one of the editors at Craft Corners the other day saying that they like my blog and offering to give me a little blog widget.

Craft Corners recognizes you!

I was flattered by their kind words so now it is on display at the side of my blog

FO Friday - A Knitted Cowl

After I made my crocheted snood cowl I still had a lot of autumn coloured bulky wool left and didn't know what to do with it.  I just put it in my stash basket ans ignored it.  However, after I had made the little knitted bear toy last week I decided I would knit myself a cowl with the remaining wool.

I just improvised the pattern - 70 stitches for 41 rows, mostly stocking stitch but starting and ending with 6 rows of garter stitch.

So here is the finished cowl: