The First Month

 The first month of the year has been a very busy one, I haven't even had time to post or visit you lovely people so I'm making time just to check in and say hi. 

I have been busy with my involvement with my local u3a we have a lot of issues to deal with at the moment one of them being my term on the committee is coming to an end along with six other committee members and trying to get people to come onto the committee is proving to be a challenge.  I will still stay on as communications officer and manage their website and as group coordinator as you don't need to be on the committee in order to do those roles. However if someone would like to take them over I wouldn't stand in their way.  It's a shame that people don't like to get involved in the running of things but enjoy the facilities and numerous groups that are on offer. If we don't have a committee then unfortunately we will have to close down but fingers crossed it won't come to that we have until April to get more committee members on board. 

I have been crafting none stop throughout January with lots of projects on the go I started this at the beginning of the year and hope to complete a section a month...

A YEAR OF DOODLES

I finished January yesterday just in time for the start of the new month and I'm now choosing colours for February, I'm thinking lots of pink and red because of valentines and maybe some yellow and purple because of the Spring bulbs that I hope will soon begin to appear.

You can find the pre printed fabric here to purchase on Stitchdoodles

I did complete the Festive Forrest embroidery and will show you once I have it framed.

Then just to keep things interesting along with the sewing I have been making these..

These little owls are requested by NHAP.  They place one in a little bag along with a message and are left outside for someone to find in the hope that it will put a smile on someones face and also to bring awareness of NHAP and the work that it does, I have just been to my sewing group today and they are going to make some fabric ones too.

As if that wasn't enough we are going to decorate our Mariner again, regular readers of my blog will remember this back in 2019, can you believe that display was left intact throughout the whole of the summer, people loved it and came from miles around just to see it.  It had a mention in our local press as well.  We felt that we needed to spread a little joy again in these depressing times so watch this space as all kinds of beach themed objects begin to emerge. 

I hope you have all had a lovely start to the new year, I'm going to have a pop around to see what you have all been up to. 😊

Tarting Up The Sideboard.

Hello all you lovely people, I can't believe it's two weeks since I last posted! lots of busy and quite stressful things going on here at the moment and not a second to spare but I always try to make time to crochet every single day it's such a great stress buster don't you think? it's usually not until the evening I can sit with my my favourite hook and just crochet away and let all the stresses of the day melt away while creating something lovely. This time it's doilies.....

I needed something for the top of my sideboard, it has just been repaired after the workman had damaged it when doing the work in my house after the burst pipe.  There was a huge scratch almost from one end to the other, I complained and they took it away and made it look like new again even though they had it for almost two months! I think they had forgotten about it. Anyways I was pleased with the result and decide it deserved not one but three new doilies to sit atop...

I really enjoyed making these thank you Pradeepa from the Lazy Hobbyhopper for the lovely free pattern 

 The first doily is made up of 24 squares, I've had these pretty squares  pinned on my pinterest  for ages and was just waiting for the right project to try them, they were perfect for this you can find the free pattern here

I used King Cole Dk smooth which I have had in my stash for ages, this is an acrylic yarn but looks like cotton, it splits easily but not so much that it's impossible to use.  I love the colour choices and the lovely sheen it gives to finished projects.  I chose colours to match the flowers and owls that I had previously made for the metal art,  Raspberry, Olive, Rose and Damson.

The flower pattern was taken from the book 100 Hundred Flowers to Knit and Crochet by Lesley Stanfield. 

You can find the pattern for Odele and Oyah the owls here

Have a great weekend 😊

A Gift For a Sweet Baby Girl

I have made many little girl things in the past most have gone to charity, some I have kept behind to put in my ever hopeful granny drawer but it's very rare that I get the chance to make something for a baby I know.

This sweet little dress was made for Simran my friend Mary's first granddaughter, I made it in the six months size so that it will fit her this coming Autumn and Winter.
This is one of Marianna's patterns but I have added sleeves to the original pattern.

and along with the dress I sent Oanna the owl as I'm sure you can recognise is one of Odoh's family, most of Odoh's family have flown all over the globe by now but I kept one or two back for occasions such as this. You can read all about Odoh and his family here and find the pattern there if you would like to make one too.

You can find the pattern for this lovely little dress here along with many other cute little designs.

Linking with



Snickerdoodle Sunday
Handmade Monday  
Creative Tuesday 
Cooking and crafting with j&j
Eyeloveknots
Link and share Wednesday 
Lunamon Design
Hookin on hump day

Cute Baby Cardigan and yet another Owl!

One of the lovely ladies that attends the Day Unit where I work asked me if I would knit a baby cardigan for a friends daughter who is having a baby.  I was pleased to do it because Judy has donated lots of wool in the past and is always very interested in what I'm making for charity.

She wanted something white and traditional, which I always think looks good on new born babies anyway.  Judy is now 85 and used to knit and crochet prolifically herself but unfortunately she is unable to now because of Arthritis.

The pattern I used for this little jacket was published in 1995, I found it amongst my hundreds of patterns which I can never bring myself to throw away. If you would like to make one yourself you can buy the pattern here it can be made from size 14 to 22.

It was very easy to knit but the finishing was a chore, I hate the sewing of button bands and trying to get the buttons evenly placed, then the sewing of sleeves, trying to make a neat flat seam that won't rub a delicate babies skin.  But once it's all done, washed and had a rinse in fabric conditioner and is smelling fresh and feels soft and cuddly, then I love it and feel it was worth all the work involved.

I love the simple pattern detail it makes all the difference I think.

I do hope Judy likes it and it meets her exacting standards after all she is an expert, I have seen her work and her knitting tension and attention to detail is amazing.

• Do you prefer traditional white and pastel colours for a baby, or do you like a modern bright coloured approach?
• What do you like most the making or the finishing off?.

Did you spot the little owl in the first picture... I know what you are thinking, has she not had enough of the owl making? I honestly thought that I had, I really though I had gotten them out of my system but then I came across this pattern and one thing led to another and before I new it another owl was born.

Meet Orman as you can see he is a key chain Owl, he was the easiest to make so far, or maybe I have made so many owls now I can do them in my sleep!

Find the pattern here

100 grams of stash busted.

Have a great weekend !

Meet Odoh's family

I thought you might like to meet Odoh's brothers and sisters!

Oakley

Oanna

Onslow

Odele          

Oyah

Ogden

Orlando

I don't know if you noticed but Odele and Oyah are twins, it's amazing that they were born with feet that show, just cos you can't see feet on the others it doesn't mean they don't have any, they do but they are hidden in their feathers
All of these cute owls were made with Dk yarn and a 4 mm hook except for the twins they were made with cotton 4ply and a 2.50 mm hook
As you may have guessed I love these cute owls and to be honest I can't stop making them.
 Thank you Lorene at Cre8tion Crochet for the great pattern

I think it only right at this point to introduce you to Odoh's cousins

Oliver

Osbert

Ora

Ojo

There were a couple of others but they flew off before I could get them I think they were a bit camera shy. Ora and Ojo are made with 4ply cotton and are ideal for bag charms or key rings.  The others are made in Dk yarn, I'm sure you all recognise these owls 
you can find them at Bunny Mummy, thank you Jaquie for the pattern/tutorial.

Then in flew these little cuties I think they just wanted to see what was going on!

Obie,Otto and their sister Olalla

They tell me they are made with 4ply cotton and like to hang on bags and key rings too, Otto says it's great fun to hang in the car. I suppose they would be cute anywhere really.
You can find the pattern for these here.

Now just when I thought I had finished I heard a little voice shout 'hey what about us!' I
looked around and found this pair

Oberon and Oheo

Oberon is made with Dk cotton and Oheo with 4ply cotton and you can find the pattern here 
Now you may be wondering why so many owls well you try it, go ahead and try if you dare, I can guarantee once you have started you won't be able to stop! Most of these owls will be going to Siblings together you can read all about this great charity here.

I think it's amazing how well they get on together.

No fighting or anything!


So is that it then? have I satisfied my owl making cravings, well....no, I think it's about time I made a little family for Odah don't you? 

Have you noticed all owls names seem to begin with the letter O, how strange :)
Which one is your favourite?

You can read Odoh's Story here if you haven't already

Each one a stash-buster.