Pineapple Neck warmer

 

I whipped up this super cute pineapple neck warmer the other day in anticipation of colder weather.

I used this pattern.

It was so easy I might just make more of them.

I used a gorgeous little pastel multicoloured wool, which has worked up beautifully.

I only made 4 pineapples as that came to the size I was after.

I’m looking forward to wearing it, someone just needs to tell the weather we are almost half way through Autumn, it’s time to start cooling down.

 

 

 

I have been knitting…..yes, really.

So I ended up going to a few learn to knit classes, and I must say I don’t know how people find this relaxing, enjoyable, addictive. For me it is just awkward, stressful and the whole time I am doing it I am thinking how I just can’t wait to get back to my current crochet WIP.

Any way I wanted to share the few things I have made.

This is my sampler piece that I made during the first lesson. There is garter, stocking, rib and moss stitched in this rather messy little number.

This is the start of a diagonal scarf, so boring so I gave up on this one.

This is the gorgeous piece of herringbone stitch I created for the vest I am making (the whole reason I learnt to knit)

And last of all this is hoping to become a scarf one day.

During my last class I bought a ball of Noro yarn and started on this, it uses a twisted drop stitch. I like this stitch, it reminds me of crochet, however it is quite a loose stitch so it has been pretty easy to drop stitches. This aside I am enjoying watching the colours of the Noro emerge and it makes me excited to knit with this .

I can’t see knitting becoming a passion of mine, but it has been a good skill to learn.

Granny’s Jam Drops

One of my favourite childhood memories is eating home made jam drops. I would carefully nibble the biscuit around the jam centre and once there was no more biscuit to hold I would pop the little jam filled well in my mouth.

My Rooster also loves jam drops, however until today he had only had the supermarket variety. This is something that needed to change.

The recipe I have is the same recipe my great grandmother (aka Granny) used to make, I think I just remember eating hers, I definitely remember eating Nanny’s and my Mum’s though.

To make them you need

120g butter

3/4 cup of sugar

2 eggs

2 cups of plain flour

2 tsp of baking powder

a splash of milk if needed for consistency

your favourite jam

Start by creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and beat well,

gradually add flour and baking powder, if necessary add a splash of milk for a smooth consistency, I didn’t need to do this, so you most likely won’t either.

Roll teaspoon fulls of the dough into balls and place on a lined tray.

Now you need to make little wells for the jam to sit in.  I found using my knuckle gave the best results, a nice round deep well to hold all that lovely jam.

Spoon in your favourite jam, we used strawberry.

Now bake for about 15 minutes at 160ºC

My mini men couldn’t wait to get into these, they hadn’t even cooled before they were munching away on them.

Rooster declared they were the best jam drops ever, so much better than the supermarket ones, which made me feel happy as he often is not fussed on the home made versions of his favourite bakery/supermarket treats.

I already have a request for a second batch for his soccer carnival next month.

They were just as perfect as I remembered them too.

Why did she make things?

I came across this little picture on Facebook recently and it really spoke to me.

This is exactly how I feel about my life.

I love the things I do but it also gives me a sense of nostalgia and makes me think about the women in my family that came before me.

Especially my Nanny. 

 

March Goals

It’s almost a week into March already so I need to get my goals for this month in order!

So I bought the pattern for the huntress vest despite not knowing how to knit, but I thought “How hard can it be, right?”…..well I have signed up for a learn to knit course, you tube just didn’t cut it for me

Picture courtesy of Two of Wands Etsy store

So of course the first thing on my list is

1. Learn to knit so that I can finish my vest
2. Organise a job chart for The Rooster, he wants to earn money for school book club
3. Finish the last baby blanket, I have been working on. I’m not loving it so it is difficult to want to work on it
4. Add some bikram yoga into my exercise schedule, I did my first class in about 3 1/2 years on Monday, and I sure felt it the next day.
5. Sort the two boxes of junk that have sat under my dining table for several months.

March is going to be a good month.

 

 

 

 

Little Boy Blue

I recently finished the blanket I have been making for my cousin’s baby.

I was surprised at how wonderfully it turned out, as while I was making it I was having second thoughts about the square and colours I had chosen and to be honest I really didn’t  like it that much.

However, joining the squares and adding the border really transformed it and I now love it.

The square I used comes from Edie Eckman it combines bobbles with spike dc to create a peak a boo feel.

I joined them together with dc in the back loop only. This was something I had never done, I had always used both loops. By using back loops only the squares are really enhanced as they seem to get a little border around them.

I was attempting to do a bit of stash busting when I started the blanket, so this led me in my colour choices. I already had the light and dark blues and the white. I added the gunmetal  for some sophistication and keep it masculine as the baby is a boy. It is all acrylic, the gunmetal is 8 ply, thick , squishy and will be so warm for the coming winter.

For the border I mimicked the same style from the square, I toyed with a more embellished edge but in the end kept it simple and that was the perfect choice.

I didn’t block the squares individually nor have I blocked the final product, since the yarn and pattern are quite sturdy I am happy with the way it sits, I may change my  mind on this though before April.

I am really happy with this blanket, I love the tactile bobbles and I can imagine babies loving them too. I am in love with the colours too, the combination of neutrals and brights has to be my favourite.

Winter Hooking

A few weeks ago it started to get cooler at night and there was need of a blanket for comfortable sleep and I started thinking about hooking up some lovely winter woolies.

Last year I made a scarf and beanie for Rooster, this year Duckie has requested his own scarf and beanie. At the moment he thinks he is a Ninja Turtle so he will probably get something along the lines of this…

Image courtesy of Kimerin13 Etsy store

Last year I started a chevron blanket for Rooster which never got finished, so I will finish that for him.

My winter woolies list includes a pineapple scarf

I am completely in love with this, I have bought a lovely little pastel variegated wool  for it and can’t wait to get hooking it,

I also want a beanie like this….

The pattern for this sweet little bonnet style beanie is from the gorgeous Crochetlatte it is a toddlers size but should be easy enough to figure our how to enlarge it for me, I am also tossing up about the one sleeved hybrid cowl/vest that is being made popular by The Hunger Games. I have found an amazing version of the Katniss vest on Etsy

I am crushing on this hard, my only problem is the pattern has some knitted heringbone stitch, I have never knitted in my life but am tempted to try it out just so I can wear this fabulous vest.

Even the husband who always complains about my knitting has requested a beanie.

maybe to get him back for all the complaints I should make him something like this…

Are you thinking about your winter hooking yet? or is it coming into spring/summer where you live?

Come and share your makes at my Facebook page.

Misadventures in Craft turns 1!

I can’t believe I just wrote that title. So often I start these little whims, like writing a blog and forget about it within minutes, so I am quite amazed that I have stuck with it. I want to thank all of you lovely readers out there that have read, liked or commented

on the things that I have shared.

Today I wanted to share some cute little cupcakes that I made for Valentine’s Day.

These look impressive but actually were pretty easy and not as time consuming as I was expecting.

I used this  chocolate sponge cake recipe.  I was able to get 12 regular sized cupcakes from this recipe. I had never made sponge before, it was alright but I wish I had used a recipe I was more familiar with as it wasn’t great.

So  to make the cute little cut out heart cakes, take your cupcakes (whatever flavour you like)

Cut their tops off

Using a small heart cutter or any other cutter if you don’t like hearts, cut your shape from the top. The little tops are delicate and must be handled gently or they may fall apart.

For the filling I made butter cream and added fresh raspberries to the mix, you will need to add extra icing sugar as the liquid from the berries makes the butter cream runny.

Spread the butter cream on the bottom piece of cake

Dust the tops with icing sugar

then sandwich them together.

And there you have it a cute little cupcake for someone special.

I hope in a years time I can bring you another birthday post and I hope you all continue to enjoy the little insights to my life.

Thankyou

Stacie xxxxx

Hexie Heaven – My top picks

I recently started on the last of my baby blankets. This one is for a friend who is about to have her third little girl. I wanted something simple, a little lacey and definitely a hexagon. This is a round-up of my favourites, they all are delightful and all have free patterns.

1. This is such a gorgeous variation on the African flower motif that is so popular. This one comes from the lovely Crochetbug.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 2. This little lacey number comes from a Dutch blogger  Catherine from Blij met Draadjes . The instructions are in Dutch, obviously and Google’s attempt at translation is not completely awful so you may just be able to figure it out.

3. I heave recently had a little Pinterest potholder obsession and this climbing trellis from Ali Pyper is just so sweet and could just as easily be used for other larger projects  like blankets by leaving off the darling little scalloped edge.

4. This cute little daisy makes me think og Spring! It  comes from Daniela’s Needle art and she offers a few different variations on it too.

5. This was the inspiration for the hexie blanket I have just started on. This one comes from Scrap yarn Crochet. for mine I have changed the centre of my hexies just a bit to create a flower centre.

Are you in love with hexies now as much as I am? Have you made any hexie projects lately? Come share them on my Facebook page I would love to see them!

On the border – a round up of my favourite crochet borders

With 3 babies due to 3 lovely ladies in my life this April my life has revolved around baby blankets the last few months. I have finished my second blanket this week (post to follow once I can get some photos) and have started on the final blanket, pink hexies for a little bundle of pink. My fingers are stiff and my eyes sore from the amount of googling I have done to find the perfect inspiration for these blankets. I have come across some amazing patterns and ideas and I would like to share some of my faves with you.

1. Pom Pom edging from Once upon a Pink Moon this is by far my favourite border for a baby blanket. It is tactile, fun and whimsical. I used this in my citrus bobble blanket and I can definitely see myself using it over and over again.

2. Catherderal edge from Halfknits charity knitting. This is such a beautiful border. The simple addition of the picot turns a regular scallop style edge into something really special.

3. Link stitch with tassles from Poppalina. This edge is just amazing. here it was used on a baby blanket, but I think it would be just fabolous on a floor rug with those huge tassles.

4. I seem to be drawn to bobbles, that must be why I find this cherry berry bobble border by Hooked on Needles just so adorable

5. Rounding out my top 5 is this simple yet totally devine little border from Hooks and Yarns I think this is works so well with the granny to jazz her up a bit.

I hope you have enjoyed these gorgeous borders as much as I have and I hope they provide you with some inspiration for your next project.

P.S They all have free patterns!