Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Crochet fun...

I have had some fun reinventing the past with some crochet.  It has been years since I have hooked.  I have started with this cute bloom necklace from a book I posted about here called Crochet with Flowers.


I love the look of crochet and really hope this time I can master it.  In past times I have felt my crochet has been uneven so let's hope I can work it out this time and deck out my house in crochet.

Do you crochet? If so, I would love to hear from you…
                                                                  Jan x

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Crochet craft book...



I eagerly spent my voucher today on this treasure: Crochet with Flowers by Nicki Trench. I am determined to improve my crochet this year.What a delight to spend a book voucher on craft books. I have a beautiful and growing collection.


I fancy myself in this necklace. Watch this space…
                                                                       Jan x

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Cardboard Car Park...

I found this idea on Pinterest and immediately knew Tom and I had to make it. The original source is from B-inspired Mamma Tom enjoys cars and he loves numbers so the combination of the two kept him busy for ages.



First we found a large cardboard lid and drew on car parks with a black text. We numbered each car park. We found 10x cars and labelled each car with a white sticky label.


The photos say it  all!

Thanks for playing craft with me...
                                            Jan x

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Christmas Star Bunting...

Three year old Tom and I had fun making this star bunting to use as a Christmas decoration.  First, we stamped Christmas images onto muted patterned paper by Studio Calico.

Then we cut the paper into star shapes and punched a hole in each one. Then using a tapestry needle we strung them onto yarn.

We love the effect and it was all achieved in 20 minutes! There is nothing like a quick craft with a little one as they don't lose interest. Tom loved threading the yarn through the stars and was very good at it.

Jan x

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Knitted Christmas Stocking...


Knitted Christmas Stocking (UPDATED PATTERN!!!)



My grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Mim’s Grandma’, belonged to an organisation in Australia called the CWA (or Country Women’s Association) and was the ‘Queen’ of their craft committee. Needless to say that in this role she produced hundreds, if not thousands of craft items that were sold for charity fundraising or as gifts for those less fortunate. The Christmas Stockings were one item she made for these causes.
Mim’s Grandma began knitting these Christmas stockings in the 70s and she made some for her own use.  She filled her Christmas tree with them.  She even popped a Santa chocolate inside to delight the grandchildren. I still own several and sentimentally hang them on my tree each year.
Like Christmas baking recipes, Mim’s Grandma handed down her stocking pattern to my mother, who has passed it onto me. I am passing it onto you.

WHAT YOU NEED
Needle: 
4mm knitting needles (US size 6). This is not stitched in the round so straight needles are fine. 
Yarns Used: Small quantities of 8ply/DK yarn are required for each stocking. I useD the white yarn to knit the cuff of each stocking.
This is where you can have fun! You can mix it up. The stockings look great in an array of colours. You do not even need to change the yarn for the cuff. I have seen them knitted up in all pink and they look just as cute.
Gauge: Not necessary
Other Notions:
3.5-5mm (US size E-G) crochet hook is used to make the hanging loop
Tapestry needle
Final Measurement: 
Length: 9cm (3 ½ inches)
Width: 4cm (1 ½ inches)
STITCH ABBREVIATIONS
K           knit
P           purl
K2tog    knit two together
P2tog    purl two together
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS
Cast on 23 stitches

Row 1-8 : knit

Row 9 (RS): K12, K2tog , then turn work (Yes do exactly was this says and turn your work around to the wrong side, so that you are now about to purl on the stitches you just knitted; there will be 11stitches remaining stitches on the needle that have not been worked on in this row. Don't worry about these 11 remaining stitches as you will work on them later)

Row 10: P4, P2tog, then turn work (total number of stitches on your needles are 21 stitches but in this row you only worked on 5 of them)
Row 11: K4, K2tog, then turn your work again (20 stitches)
Row 12- 13: Repeat the above rows (rows 10 and 11) once
Row 14: P4 P2tog, and continue purling to the end of the row of all your stitches (17 stitches)

You have now created a toe! 

You are now knitting again across all stitches
Row 15 - knit
Row 16 – purl

Rows 17- 26: repeat the above two rows (stocking stitch)
Change colour for the contrast cuff:
Rows: 27 – 34 – knit
Cast off all your stitches leaving a tail of at least 25cm long (10 inches). Pick up your crochet hook and chain stitch the tail 20 times to form the hanging loop. Thread your yarn through the last chain stitch to stop it unravelling.
Make-up:
Fold stocking in half right sides together. Using the tapestry needle, mattress stitch the foot and back of stocking until you reach the cuff.  Change to the cuff yarn and mattress stitch the raw edges of the cuff together.  Stitch the end of chain length to the top of the stocking to form a hanging loop.   Hang it on your Christmas tree or decorate part of your home with it.
You can even fill the stockings with a small chocolate in each!

I hope you enjoy this pattern... Jan x

Email me  at:  dandjgartlan@bigpond.com if you are stuck


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Car run...

Tom and I saw a cardboard ball run featured on a happy wanderer  and delighted in the simpleness of it.  We made one for his small  toy cars using a pizza box cut open and cardboard rolls cut in half then taped on. We had to have a trial run as we stuck the rolls down to ensure the cars went from one level to the next.


There is nothing like cardboard and sticky tape to while away the time with a child.
                                                                                                                  Jan x

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Didn't Get Time to Carve a Pumpkin this Year?


Here is the 5 minute solution!  I discovered this fabulous crafty idea on this blog.  What an effective little "pumpkin" was born from a mandarin using black cardstock, double sided tape and and stick for the top.



Happy Halloween!!!

               Jan x