Crochet: Hello Kitty

I had forgotten how cute Hello Kitty was. So when I was reminded by this post that includes a free pattern I was inspired to have a go. I decided to change it though, and made Hello Kitty in a cute blue dog costume. Although the biggest change I made was, I was too lazy to use the pattern, which is a pity because it's a nice looking Hello Kitty.

The dog hood comes off!

Websites: free craft projects, crochet patterns and more...

A few craft websites offering freebies:
Kind Over Matter - Free printable ideas to spread kind words and thoughts. It includes themed ideas for Christmas and Valentine's Day (among others).
Roxycraft - Free crochet, knit and craft patterns.
Free Amigurumi - Not currently being updated, but has a wide range of free patterns for the cuteness that is amigurumi.
K and J Dolls - free crochet patterns (found on the right-hand side).
By Hook, By Hand - free crochet patterns

Cooking: Lamb Stoba

I haven't posted much craft lately because I'm currently working on a 4 ply shrug. It's taking a while because a) I didn't have enough 4ply and b) I keep finding other tasks I need to do... and that's how I've come to another cooking post.

I've just bought a whole lost of Women's Weekly cookbooks. I haven't yet received them in the mail, but knowing they're on their way has made me feel guilty because I have a few others that I haven't yet used - Women's Weekly cookbooks and a few Jamie Oliver ones (all at reduced prices at Dirt Cheap Books or Catch of the Day). So the perfect opportunity came to flick through them when I decided I wanted to eat something different for a change, and I was actually going to be home to make dinner.

My three favourite things to cook are sweet foods, curries and toad in the hole. So it was easy to choose to look through my new New Curries cookbook by Women's Weekly for some inspiration. My criteria to choose a curry was simple: one where we had the ingredients at home to use up. So when I read the Lamb Stoba recipe I had hit the jackpot: we always have some lamb in the freezer, cumin, allspice, ginger, cinnamon stick, brown sugar and tinned tomatoes are always in the pantry. There's always capsicum in the fridge to stiryfry. We have chilli plants and lime trees in the backyard.

Lamb (and Veal) Stoba

 
I started to collect the ingredients... There wasn't enough lamb... That's ok; top it up with some veal... There wasn't any ginger... Oh darn!

I had another recipe I was going to make the following day. As we had those ingredients, I made it instead. So the next day ginger appeared in the shopping and the curry was back on the agenda! I made it without a hitch. It was delicious; although maybe too much sugar and not enough chillies. What I enjoyed about it most was that it's a different flavour to the curries I usually have, which at my house is SPICY, being sweet with a hint of spice. I actually like enjoying my curry without dousing the flames as I eat.

The Women's Weekly New Curries cookbook is really good. There's a variety of curries from around the world. At first I was disappointed that some recipes included curry pastes that you buy (because it's expensive and defeats the point of buying a recipe book), but I found at the back of the book there's receipes to make the mixed spices and some of the curry pastes.

Novelty Birthday Cakes

I think I missed out on something growing up. I can only remember having a cat cake for my, possibly, third birthday. Most cakes were whatever took my mother's fancy. Once I was in high school, though, it was up to me to make my birthday cake; and I've made one pretty much every year, but I was blindsighted by the phrase 'mud cake'. So in the past year I seemd to have regressed to my nnearly novelty-less cake childhood and use any excuse to make novelty cakes. Last year I made a giant cupcake for my birthday; then a castle with an invading choco babies army for my grandmother's 79th birthday (how do I top that for her 80th this year?!); and now I've moved onto celebrating my dog's birthday just so I could make a dog cake.

The dog cake: with chocolate and plain icing, and licorice face.

I went with a new cake recipe too - pumpkin and choc chip. Being Australian, I have never put pumpkin into a cake, pie or tart; and can't but canned pumpkin. So I claimed to be more healthy and utilised the kent pumpkin that was asking to be eaten every time I opened the fridge.

The result:
A cake I can claim is healthy (it has a 'real' vegetable - pumpkin and a want to be vegetable - chocolate!)
A cake that is way too cute (but not as cute as my dog!)

It's really easy cake to mix up. The dog face pattern is simple; although it's up to you how much detail you put into it. I really enjoyed cooking, decorating and eating it!

Dog face pattern, Pumpkin cake recipe

Crochet Banana

Mmm fruit is particularly delicious in summer.

I seemed to have lost the pattern for the above banana. It was a free pattern I found on the internet.

For inspiration, Crochet Pattern Central has a free banana pattern, as well as other food patterns.

Crochet Pattern Central banana design versus the above: about half of the banana is made with yellow yarn, and then make the other half with banana flesh colour (such as cream). Then make three triangles. Attach all together and stuff it before sealing off the middle.

Website: Crochet Pattern Central
This website is a treasure trove of free patterns. Have a look. Have a go!

Spreading Christmas cheer: ornament and jewellery

Christmas Bauble

crochet

Bauble (~4.5cm diameter)

Material

Yarn: Whatever scraps you have

Hook: 4-5mm

Decorations: ribbon, sequins, more yarn etc.

Hot glue gun / needle and thread, glue etc to adhere decorations

Directions

1. make loop. Chain 2.

2. 8 x double in first loop. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

3. 2 x double in each loop. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

4. 2 x double in first loop. 1 x double in second loop. 2 x double in third loop. 1 x double in fourth loop. Continue 2 x then 1 x double until reach end of round. Slip stich to first loop of round. Chain 1.

5. 1 x double in each loop. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

6. Repeat Step 5 two times.

7. 1 x double. 1 x double. 1 x slip stitch. Continue until end of round. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

8. 1 x double in each stitch, skipping those that are now a slip stitch (too small or tight to fit hook). Slip stich to first loop of round. Chain 1.

9. 1 x double. 1 x slip stitch. Continue 1 x double then 1 x slip stitch until end of round. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

10. Stuff it!

11. 1 x double in each stich, skipping those that are now a slip stitch until end of round. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

12. 1 x double. 1 x slip stitch. 1 x slip stitch. Continue 1 x double, 1 x slip stitch, 1 x slip stich until end of round. Slip stitch to first loop of round. Chain 1.

13. 1 x double in the last few stitches.

14. Tie off OR chain until desired length and slip stich to make a loop to hang, then tie off.

Christmas Tree Necklace

origami

Unique Christmas jewellery!

Material

Chain

Ribbon

Hot glue gun and glue

Origami paper (7.5cm)

Wire

Bead

Directions

1. Make Christmas Tree origami from Merry Christmas Eve post. Making sure to put wire in it before you glue it together on the inside and finish the outside of the tree.

2. Thread ribbon through chain as you like: leaving as small or big a gap between threading as you wish.

3. Use hot glue to adhere ribbon to itself (I folded it over on itself at each end).

4. Attach tree (when dry!), with the bead tree top decoration, to the necklace.

  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Origami for the festive season!

These are all earrings, but can easily be turned into ornaments by adding ribbon/string to the metal loop rather than the earring finding. Or do not even include the loop and you have table decorations. Imagination is the key!

If you are new to origami it's a good idea to start with larger pieces of paper and make bigger things such as ornaments or table decorations, before attempting to cut up the origami paper and make them really small (as the pictures below depict origami as small as 85mm and as large as 3cm). When they get as small as the present it's handy to have a toothpick nearby.

Materials:
Origami paper - you an use any paper as long as it's cut to the right shape to begin with.
Wire - I buy it in spools from craft stores as it's cheaper than buying packets of findings.
Tools - round nose pliers, flat nose pliers and cutting pliers (they come cheaper as a pack from craft stores).
Clear acrylic spray or finish (I use decoupage finish) to seal and protect origami for longetivity.
Earring Findings - at your local craft or beading store
Beads - at your local craft or beading store



Angel
Design is from 'Origami Jewellery' by Ayako Brodek.

Christmas Tree
Inspired by the Pinecone earrings in 'Origami Jewellery' by Ayako Brodek: it's the first 3 steps. Using a square bead for the base, a seedbead for the star and thread covered in clear decoupage finish for the tinsel.

Present
The present is a cube made up of 6 modules (the exact same piece folded 6 times and then fitted together). The design is called sonobe. A free pattern can be found here.
The paper used is about 1 inch square (making the present just under 1 cm in width). The paper must be thin or you will not be able to tuck it in!
So no one can mistake it for a a plain box, wrap it up using thread!

Peace Crane
This is my all-time favourite origami - the crane. After WWII and the story of Sadako and the 1000 paper cranes, it's a symbol of peace. There are a few different designs, such as the flapping crane; but my favourite is the one that is usually featured on the back of origami paper packets. Here is a free pattern.

I need more!
Book: 'Origami Jewellery' by Ayako Brodek.
This book is magnificent! It covers all the basic things you need to know, such as materials, tools, techniques and how to choose the right paper; as well as providings you with a variety of designs to make and enjoy all year through. Everyone always loves receiving origami jewellery!

Website: Free Christmas origami patterns by Origami Resource Center
This site has some great, easy (as well as more advanced designs for the seasoned pro) origami designs for Christmas. I particularly love the candy cane that seriously takes just a minute to make after you've done it once!

Here, sunny sunny! I've got ice cream!

A third of summer has nearly gone and I've barely had a chance to show off my summer wardrobe. So, to entice summer in, I crocheted a strawberry ice cream and a bubblegum ice cream. (Yes, I even gave it a choice of ice creams if it comes out to play - and shine!)

This one has no pattern, but to make the ice cream: chain 2, 4 x double in first loop and slip stich at the end. Then 2 x double in each of the 4 loops. Slip stitch, chain 1. 1 x double in each of the loops, then slip stitch to join to the start of the row. And then go around a second time. Slip stich and chain again. Then continue with second colour (the cone) and slowly decrease with slip stitches until come to a point (make sure to stuff it before you get to this point!) Tie off, hide any loose ends, and enjoy!

The Houses of Hogwarts - Gryffindor Scarf

Gryffindor Scarf

I was inspired when I saw Mode Vera’s ‘Cupcake’ yarn as their dark and devoted ‘red’ and golden and great ‘sunflower’ colours were just the perfect shades for Gryffindor! And particularly as it was also going out nice and cheap: this scarf cost me just over $1 in yarn!

The directions below make the style from the earlier movies that features blocks of colour rather than one main colour with stripes of the second colour.

Material

Yarn: 8 ply, 1 ball of each colour (about 50 metres of each). (I used Moda Vera ‘Cupcake’ in Red and Sunflower)

Hook: 8mm

Directions

1. Chain 10.

2. In 2^nd loop from hook 1 x treble.

3. Repeat step 2 of 1 x treble in each loop until reached the end of the row (8 stiches).

4. Chain 2. Repeat step 3 for 8 lines.

5. Change to other colour.

6. Repeat steps 3-5 until scarf is desired length.

7. Tie off and wear!

:) the recipient LOVES the scarf

P.S. Granted you could make whatever House you wanted, you just need the colours!

Spiral Scarf with a Simple Flower

Spiral Scarf

Crochet

They're currently trendy, and I love that it's a little whimsy: it's a scarf that's more for accessorising than for practical warmth. So I put one of my many $1 balls of yarn to good use, because I refuse to pay what the stores are asking!

Material

Yarn: 8 ply, about 180 metres. Check your ball band for how many metres it contains to determine how many balls you will need for his project. (I used just over 1 x 50g ball of Cleckheaton Studio mohair 8ply)

Hook: 8mm

Directions

1. Chain your desired length (I made it 150cm).

2. In the second chain (loop) from the hook, 1 x double crochet. Then next chain 1 x double crochet. Repeat until at end of chain.

3. Chain 2. In back of loop, 1 x double crochet. In the back of next loop, 1 x double crochet. In the back of third loop, 2 x double crochet. Continue 1, 1, 2 until reach the end. (Notice on current verso pattern of line along the scarf).

3. Chain 2. In back of loop, 1 x treble crochet. In next back of loop 2 x treble crochet. Repeat1 then 2 then 1 then 2 etc until reach the end.

4. Chain 2. In top two threads (the loop), 1 x treble crochet. In next loop, 1 x treble crochet. Continue 1 x treble crochet in each loop until reach the end.

5. Tie off. Wear it. Watch it spiral around!

Just not whimsical enough? Add a crocheted flower or two to an end.


Simple Flower
Crochet

Material
Yarn: a good few metres in the colour you want your flower to be!
Hook: 8mm (smaller for little flowers, bigger for larger flowers though may need to add a second strand of yarn or you'll have a holey flower!)

Directions
1. Chain 2.
2. In first chain (not the one with the hook in!), 1 x double, 1x treble, 1 x double treble, 1 x treble, 1 x double, 1 x slip stitch. (6 stiches in the one loop).
3. Repeat the 6 stiches for as many petals as you want/can fit in the same loop.
4. Tie off.
5. Sew onto garment. You could add a self cover button (or any button) to jazz it up too.

Crochet stitch instructions: JustCrochetIt (pdf)