A few things that I have made this year

So, it seems that I am as rubbish as ever at keeping this up to date. I guess blogging just isn't really my thing. I used to write in a journal almost every day and since I stopped doing that I think that I've just got out of the habit.
I have made a few bits and bobs this year that I wanted to show. This isn't everything, of course, but just some of the things that I'm most pleased with, or are the most unusual.

Firstly, this is a Chanson en Crochet capelet (pattern available free on Ravelry)
I found the pattern a little tricky because of the errata, which are freely available, but flicking back and forth between the two was challenging. It's made with about half a 400g cone of aran acrylic. I added an extra row before the border, which in retrospect I didn't need. I made another one in mint green acrylic for a friend but I can't find a photo of that one.

Next up is a teal Coral Capelet from Edie Eckman's book. I found this really difficult, but mainly because I didn't read the pattern properly! It's made from a teal/petrol smoothie acrylic.

I also made myself a hat and mittens set based on Wonder Woman's costume! I'm really pleased with these. They're made from acrylic dk.

Next up is a cowl I made from bamboo/cotton mix dk. It's not as long as I'd like as I only had one skein of it, but I'm pleased with the way the stitch pattern turned out.

Chris asked me to make him some gloves like CM Punk's. I think they turned out okay. I used surface crochet for the crosses, which is a technique I've not tried before, but I followed a tutorial online. (I can't remember where I found it, just google)

Last is a red hooded cape that I have been working on for months and months! I finally finished it on halloween, which is quite apt although it's not actually intended as a costume! I couldn't find a pattern that was exactly what I was looking for so I ended up just making it up as I went along, which involved an awful lot of frogging! I think in the end I started it seven or eight times, got halfway through and then pulled it back. I put it down for a few months and then went back to it. It's made with 400g of aran acrylic with literally nothing left over. I even had to redo the last row in a tighter tension to have enough yarn to finish it! I am really happy with it, though. In the last picture the part of the wolf is played by Colin.;D

Update (long time coming)

Well, what a year it's been. I have spent a long long time trying to work out what to do with this blog and how to start anew. In the end I have decided that what does it matter? It's a blog. It can be whatever I want it to be; I don't have to follow rules. I don't even think there are rules.

So, as mentioned in a previous post, I had been a vegetarian for over 20 years. During the last maybe ten years I had become lazier and lazier about it. I never ate anything that wasn't vegetarian, or anything like that, but I had started wearing leather shoes again and had become lax about checking for non-tested cosmetics. Then around three years ago, I started to develop an intolerance to milk and made the switch to soya milk, but still ate other dairy products. But as time went on I looked into veganism more and more and started to think about it as something I could work towards. I began a couple of years ago by having two days a week when I would avoid all dairy products and eggs as well as continuing to be vegetarian. As of January 2011 I have been eating 100% vegan all the time.
I spent the first year getting rid of all my 'pre-gan' shoes, bags and toiletries. I also thought long and hard about wool. For anyone who doesn't know, vegans don't eat or use ANY products that come from or are produced by animals. I wasn't sure what to do about my stash. Like most crocheters, I have built up a ... well, 'massive stash' sounds bad, but that's kinda what it is. Having spent a lot of time, not to mention money on various types of yarn including wool and wool mix ones, I wasn't immediately sure if I could just get rid of it all. Since becoming vegan I have not bought any yarn containing any wool, but I decided not to get rid of all of my stash yarns that contain wool straight away. I went back and forth a lot, in my mind trying to establish my own line about what I would and wouldn't do. In the end I have given away almost all of my wool/mix yarns to various charitable causes - the organisation where I work has a weavery and much of it went there. Other yarns I have used to make items and they have been given away to various non-vegan friends, family and charities. Some are still to be found homes, but they will eventually all go.

So, having a shop selling wool items and a blog showing wool items doesn't really fit with my new lifestyle. I wasn't sure what to do about this blog. I wanted to start a food blog about all the new stuff I am cooking and eating but also, I still crochet a lot and make other bits and bobs so I wanted to still have somewhere to talk about that. I thought about shutting this blog down and just starting another one, but since I have been so lax about making entries here I thought starting again would be too hard. So for now, this is it. Sometimes I might write about crochet, sometimes I might write about food, and sometimes I might leave it empty for months at a time.

I've been working on a few patterns to share, so my aim is to get one of them up in the next month. I've also been playing with felt (polyester of course!) and have made a couple of things that I'll show another time.

Take care.

George Shawl Pattern

It has been a looooong time since I updated here. There has been a lot going on for me, some of which I will explain in another post.

For now, however, I am just offering up a free shawl pattern that I designed last year. It's a simple pattern, perfectly suitable for beginners, I think.

The pattern will be linked up to Ravelry, if you're on there. If you would like a PDF of the pattern sending to you then email me at badschnoodles (at) g mail (dot) com and I'll send it to you. If you'd rather print it out yourself then just cut and paste into your choice of documents.

So here's the pattern, with all original notes. It has been tested but if you find an error or have any questions then please let me know.

George Shawl

I designed this simple shawl as a mum-to-be gift for my friend. I wanted her to have something that was light enough to wrap up baby, but big enough to throw round her shoulders during a night-time feed. It also needed to be machine washable and easy-care!

The shawl is made really simply in filet crochet style. Once the pattern is set up there are just three rows to repeat and the way the stitches are laid out means that you should always be able to see what the next stitch should be – ideal for beginners and working on the go!

You can use any yarn and a hook to compliment it for this pattern and gauge isn’t too important. If you want the shawl to have more drape then I would recommend using a hook size slightly larger than recommended. The shawl pictured was made in baby 3-ply using a 4mm hook.

Pattern

Pattern uses US terms.

*the turning chain does NOT count as a stitch*

R1. Make a magic circle. 10DC in ring, join with a slip-stitch (10)

R2. Ch2. 2DC in first 5DC. Ch2. 2DC in next 5 DC. DO NOT JOIN (10dc, 2ch, 10dc)

R3. Ch2 turn. 2DC in DC *Ch1, skip 1 DC, 2DC in next DC* Repeat * * to the ch2 space. 2DC ch2 2DC in ch2 space. *ch1, skip 1 DC, 2DC in next DC* to end. (2dc 1chsp x5, 2dc ch2 2dc in point, 1chsp 2dc x5)

R4. Ch2 turn. 2DC in first DC, DC in next. *ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2 DCs* repeat to ch2 space, (2dc, ch2 2dc) in ch2 space *ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2 DC* until end. 2DC in last DC.

R5 – PATTERN ROW A – Ch2 turn. 2DC in first DC, DC in next 2 *ch1, skip ch1 space DC in next 2* repeat to point. (there will be 4DC before and after CH2 space – DC in first 2, Ch1, skip 1, DC in next) (2dc ch2 2dc) in ch2 space, DC in first DC, ch1, skip 1, DC in next 2 DC. *ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2* repeat to end. 2DC in last DC.

R6 – PATTERN ROW B – Ch2 turn. 2DC in first DC. Ch 1, skip 1dc, DC in next 2 DC *ch1, skip ch1space, DC in next 2 DC* repeat to point. (There will be 3 DC before and after ch2 space – DC in first 2, ch 1, skip 1) (2DC ch2 2DC in ch2 space) Ch1, skip next DC, DC in next 2 DC *ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2* repeat pattern to end with 2DC in last DC.

R7 – PATTERN ROW C – Ch2, turn. 2DC in first DC, DC in next. *Ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2 DC* repeat to point. (there will be 2DC before and after ch2 space Dc in each) (2DC ch2 2DC) in Ch2 space. 2DC in next 2 DC. *ch1, skip ch1 space, DC in next 2 DC* repeat to end with 2DC in last DC.

Repeat pattern rows A B and C until the shawl is the desired size.

Edging

Ch1. Working along the edge, 2HDC in the side of each DC. 2HDC in corner. Continuing around HDC in each DC, 2HDC in each Ch1 space, 3HDC in point, continue to start, 2HDC in corner, join with a slip stitch to first HDC . Finish off and weave in the ends.

Folksy Friday Stars

This week's Folksy Friday is all about stars. I love star shapes all year round but at Christmas time I think they are particularly apt!

Hammered silver necklace by Dream of Silver
I love this simple, pretty necklace. I don't wear a lot of jewellery (although I do own quite a lot) but when I put a necklace on it tends to stay on for quite a long time. This is the kind I really like; it will go with anything and become a real signature piece.



Glass by Poulsom Glass Painting
Oh I think this glass is beautiful! I have looked through this shop so often! How I would LOVE to drink my Christmas tipple from one of these!



Glass bowl by Lazy Daisy
This is so pretty and there are coasters available too! I think it would look lovely piled high with mince pies! (And I don't even like mince pies!)



You're A Star Birthstone necklace by Poppy Sparkles
This is a lovely gift and it can be personalised with the recipient's birthstone. Poppy Sparkles also has a gorgeous snowflake necklace in the same style, but this week I am posting stars!


Little Ninja Companion by Lilley's
These little Ninjas are so cool and this one's holding a star! I can imagine that once you start buying these they will become quite collectable.

I know it's a bit gauche including my own items here... but I'm quite proud of these and I just noticed that they fit the theme so I'm risking it!



Yin Yang Star Mitts by Badschnoodles

So that's it for this Folksy Friday. I hope you see something you like! :)

In other news, I have a few lovely fellow Ravellers very kindly testing a shawl pattern that I wrote! They are from as far afield as USA, Sweden and Australia! It makes me feel quite cosmopolitan! (Or is that 'feel like having a cosmopolitan!?)
When it's finalised I will be posting it here so watch this space... ;)

Super-quick Folksy Friday - Stationery!

I didn't think I would have the time for this, and to be honest I probably don't but I though hey - just do it anyway!
Without further ado -
I <3 stationery.



List maker's notebook by gooseberrymoon




Green Dinosaur notebook by She Draws


Print your own Stationery set - Kawaii Poo by Papercake make and print


Gorgeous postcard by Hide n Seek



Vegan mini journal by Susan Green Books

So - that's the fastest blog I've ever done. (Sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors!) I had found the items before this morning but even so - if I can post this fast all the time I could blog every day - or at least every week!

Have good weekends!
:)

End Year Resolution and Photography

It's been a while *hangs head in shame* but I've made an end-year resolution to be better organised. The main problems I had were time and over-ambition. I don't have enough time in the evenings to research, compose and post as well as wind-down, crochet and occasionally cook! But I realised that I don't have to do it all in one evening.

I've downloaded the Blog Booster app for my iPhone so I can make drafts anywhere. I can research items one night and post them another. So hopefully I will be able to post more regularly in the future.

Speaking of apps... I've been getting back into photography recently thanks to my new iPhone and two fantastic apps.

Hipstamatic is a brilliant camera app where you can choose different lenses, films and flashes to produce some amazing retro shots.


Like these ...


The other app I've been using a lot is Instagram. It's a social networking site using photographs instead of statuses. A bit like twitter for photos I guess. It's free too!
With Instagram you take a photo or choose one from the camera roll and crop it square with the ability to zoom in as well. You then have the option of sharing it as is, or choosing a filter to overlay it. Depending on the filter you choose, the effects can be quite dramatic.

Here's a picture of the sky behind my flat.



And here's the same photograph with the 'Gotham' filter over it.



All the photos go into your feed, which other users can follow. You can follow users, 'like' photos and comment on photos. Popular shots go onto the 'popular' pages. There are some amazing photographs out there!

Here are a few of mine.




This was taken on my way to work one morning. It's in Mistley.

This bee was on the wall of my office one day when I cam back from lunch. I managed to get pretty close to it and then enlarged it using Instagram when I posted it.

I took this one morning while walking the dogs. It's a school fence round the corner from me.


This map is on my desk at work. I got it from a charity shop.


Aloe Vera on my kitchen windowsill.

So, I hope you like them. If you want to follow me on Instagram my userame is Badschnoodles there too!
:)

Soya Pineapples

Gosh, I am completely shamefaced by how long it has been since I have updated. I have lots of draft posts but none of them have made it here.
There's a couple of things that I've been working on.

This is a shawl I made from sirdar just soya dk. It's the Aphrodite Shawl pattern. It took me about two weeks to finish it.










It's the first time I've tried pineapples. I love the way they look but always thought they'd be really complicated. It was actually quite an easy pattern to follow.That's the beauty of crochet for me - it's all stitch by stitch, row by row so as long as the pattern is clearly written you can follow it and create something beautiful!




The other thing I've been making on and off for the last couple of months is two pairs of day gloves for my friend's bridesmaids.The original pattern was from The Art of Crochet (issue 23 I think.) I just happened to see it when I was thinking about patterns for the gloves and it turned out to be exactly what my friend was after. The pattern came up really small so I had to increase the number of stitches and use a larger hook than stated. I also increased the size of the fingers individually.

Basically the process was that I made one glove and sent it to my friend. I then worked on other things while she tried it on the bridesmaids and sent it back for editing. I was really pleased with how they turned out. And apparently they got a lot of compliments on the day, which is always nice! ;)

At the moment I am working on a new fingerless glove design. I've made several pairs and I think they are nearly ready... I am also looking at baby patterns on Ravelry because another friend just had a baby girl!