Crochet Headband

I promised my sister, months ago, I would make her a crochet headband.

I finally got around to making her one.

Donna's Crochet Headband

( Australian Crochet terms used)

4ply cotton
3mm crochet hook

tr - treble (American DC)
ch - chain
dc - double crochet (American SC)

Row 1 Chain 4, work two trebles into the 4th chain from hook, work 3 ch, turn.
You should have 3 stitches, the chain counts as the first and two trebles.

Row 2 One treble at base of 3 chain, treble in the next stitch, work two trebles into last stitch, make 3 chains, turn (5 stitches)

Row 3 One treble at base of 3 chain, treble in each of the next three stitches, work two trebles into last stitch, make 3 chains, turn (7 stitches)

Row 4 to Row 43 Treble in each stitch across (7 stitches) remember not to work a treble into the base of the turning chain or your count will be out.

Reducing the stitches to shape the end of the band.
On row 43 only work 2 chains on the turn, this acts as a reduction.

Row 44 one treble in each of the first 4 stitches then work the trebles in stitches 6 and 7 together, work 2 chains turn. ( 5 stitches)

Row 45 one treble in each of the first 2 stitches, work the trebles in stitches 4 and 5 together (3 stitches) 2chains turn

Row 46 Treble the next two stitches together. Do not turn

Work around the sides and create the ties.

Double crochet all the way around. Put one dc in the side of the treble and one in the stitch. Work to row one. Make tie. Chain 50 then slip stitch back along the chain, dc into the next stitch and continue working dc's around the second side. When you get to the beginning make the second tie. Chain 50 and slip stitch back along the chain. slip stitch into first dc and fasten off. Weave in ends.

This is adult sized. To make smaller reduce the number of rows worked in the middle of the band

I give permission for these to be made for commercial gain.

Please let me know if you have any problems following this pattern or of any mistakes you find.

Playtime for me.

New toys! the Clover Yoyo maker, Ottobre Design and Sew Pretty Homestyle.

I had a bit of a spending spree last week. I've made a few yoyos already and plan on turning them into a yoyo toy, haven't decided what yet. I made the little needle case from a pattern in Sew Pretty Homestyle. There are a few nice quick sewing patterns in there.

I'll pack these into a little bag and take them with me this evening. We're off to Futsal and Scouts. I have plans of finding a nice cosy corner and stitching up a pile of yoyos.
A great idea for using up those scraps of dressmaking fabrics I can't bear to throw away. I don't think I'm going to run out of scraps too soon!

Show Notes - Episode 1

Book Review
Sew Pretty Homestyle - Over 35 irresistible projects to fall in love with. (link)

Gadget
Clover Yoyo maker (link)
Some pics of toys made from yoyos (link)

Places on the net
Crafty Mamas (link)
Nappycino (link)

On my Needles
Jaywalker Socks ( link)
Fern's Pullover. Pattern hosted on Ravelry (link)
KOGO scarf (link) oops it's 150cm not 120cms

Other things I ramble on about ...
Enid Gilchrist (link)
Ravelry (link)
Cute Tooshies (link)
Ittibitti Nappies (link)
Oz Cloth Nappies - links to make your own MCN (link)

Who's blue jumper is that?

Episode 1 of Madquilter

It's after midnight so I've missed a post for yesterday ..just!

But I've been busy making my very own Podcast!


Here's the first Madquilter Podcast!

I'll be back later today and put up the show notes ..just to look professional! Please let me know what you think but be gentle this is my first attempt!

Crochet Helmet

Pattern from HERE

I used up the remaining wool from Michael's High Pants. The helmet will keep Michael's ears warm.

The builder finished up this morning. Now it's Pete's and my turn to get in there and do some work. We need to get the ceiling sealed, undercoated and painted. The walls need to be washed down and prepared for painting.

Michael High Pants

A second tooth

High Pants for Michael

It's starting to feel a lot like winter. I crochet and knitted these up for Michael. The rise is to his underarms and I added some straps to stop them falling down. These should keep him warm and the sheets dry.

The wool is an 8ply dyed by the wonderfully talented Susanne of Susanne's House of Wool.
I used a pattern of double crochet and trebles to create these.

Michael in his high pants. He has a singlet under these. I'll see how that works tonight. If his singlet gets too wet I'll just leave it off tomorrow night.

And here he is ready for bed with a skivvy over the top.

I pulled out my study today. Just looked at it. I may actually try to do some tomorrow. I have two courses on the go. Fashion Design and Dressmaking and the Masters Programme with TKGA.

Day 5 - plaster dust and cornices

We now have cornices! And today's dust was plaster.
More plaster dust to come in the next couple of days and then it will be time to paint.

KOGO - scarves

Scarves for KOGO

Not my choice of yarn or colour! I'm not a huge fan of Mohair. The yarn was supplied to me to knit the scarves. The pink one was knitted from the pattern supplied, just a plain garter stitch scarf. Cast on 20 and knit for 150cm. The middle one I decided to hurry things along a bit and using two strands together and 15mm needles whizzed this one up last night while listening to podcasts. The orange one on the end I crochet up this morning in two hours. Just crochet a long chain and used trebles to make up the scarf using two strands of yarn.

The miniatures I posted yesterday aren't new. I just wanted to show them off. I found them in the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. I go through phases with my craft and miniature quilt making was one of them. Once I get inspired to do something I tend to go a little mad with it and that particular craft will become my passion for a little while. I end up overdosing on the craft and then it sits in the corner waiting for attention again. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none, as the old saying goes. The challenge of learning the craft is what I really enjoy.

Miniature Quilts

Puss In The Corner
Machine pieced and hand quilted
10.5 inches square
Block size: 1.5 inches finished

My Flower Garden Fence
12" x 10.5"
Machine pieced
block size: 2"

Woodlands Fence
8" square
Block size 1.5"
Machine pieced

Pretty pansy four patch
8.5" square
machine pieced
block size:1 inch

Blue Chain
8" x 11"
machine pieced
Block size 1.5"

Tiny Logs
Hand pieced
1 1/8 inch blocks
6 1/4 inch completed
Made from a kit from ( need to find the site)

Another Chain quilt
machine pieced Hand quilted
8" square
1 and 1/8 inc blocks

Another Enid - A shift for Lilly

I used the remaining cord, from Michael's overalls, to make Lilly a simple shift. I lengthened it by a couple of inches. I made the facings, pocket and Yoyo flower in a contrast fabric.

Shoeless again!

Day 4 - Up goes the ceiling

The ceiling is now up! And it's Friday so we have a weekend of rest before the plaster gets sanded. Pete and I plan on ripping out the white wall cupboard and chipping the tiles off the wall.

I'm not planning on a new built in kitchen. I have some nice kitchen dressers and they do me fine. I'd like a new sink and larger stove. We are planning to put a wood heater in to the fireplace at some stage. A little bit at a time :)

New Overalls for Michael

Made from a pattern in 'Sew for Baby, the fun way' by Kerstin Martensson

The cord came from my op-shopping yesterday. This is too small. I really should read instructions. The design was made for stretch fabrics! It fits but not for long. I really should have drafted it myself. That way I know it will fit and I can add some generous nappy room.

I still have another 1.5m of this cord and I'm planning on a little pinny dress for Lilly. If I can get Michael to settle early tonight. I plan on getting into the shed for some sewing time.

Day 3 - preparing for the ceiling

The rafters for the ceiling are all in! Less mess today.

1970 K-Tel Knitter Commercial

This is the retro tool I bought from the op-shop. I managed to get a pattern book, two knitters and the box.

I've had a play and decided it's not something I'll get addicted too!

When the reno gets tough, I go shopping

While the builder did his magic and the bigger kids at school Pete, Lilly, Michael and I went shopping in Port Pirie. And I found some fabulous bargains at the op-shops.

Curtains!
These are fully lined pleated and 7 ft long. They are in great condition. Perfect for keeping the cold out in the lounge room. Pete will have to put up a very secure curtain rail as these are HEAVY. I only paid $30 for them.

Fabric, fabric and more fabric. Some magazines and books. A couple of strange retro crafting tools. One called a K-tel Knitter and the other called a magic loom, both with their instruction sheets.

A tupperware container, more fabric, more magazines. A full box of knitting cotton, heaps of wool oddments, some trims and two drop spindles. I had a fantastic day finding my treasures.

And when I got home there was a parcel to pick up from the post office. Two wonderful AIO Wet Drop nappies from Cathy at www.reddroppads.com. Cathy had also popped in some wipes and bibs for Michael. I can't wait to put them onto Michael. Thanks Cathy :).

All these goodies helped to keep me in a good mood as I tried to contain some of the mess. I brushed the kitchen floor twice, Peter once and then we tried the mop. Even after brushing the surfaces down the damp cloth was just turning the dirt to mud. Pizza for dinner, made the kids happy.

I didn't think it could get worse....

The ceilings got pulled out today. Oh My Goodness this was worse than yesterday. The dust and dirt of 98 years all over my kitchen table, floor walls and everywhere!

New bracing has gone up for the new ceilings and the floor and walls have had a covering of render. We aren't going to paint the walls or replace the floor until the second stage is complete. Which may be a while. We will be sealing and painting the new ceilings.

Fleece Longies

Another "oldie" but goodie.

I made these using the pants pattern. I altered it by increasing the rise, especially at the back. I simply added a fleece waistband, slightly stretched. The rise on these is huge almost goes up to Michael's armpits, just the way I wanted them. It's so cold here at night and often when I pick him up his singlet and top will rise and expose his tummy and back. The extra high rise will keep him warm on cold winter nights. He's in cloth nappies and an All-in-one suit tends to not fit over his bulky bottom, it's also a little tricky to change in the middle of the night. These pants are made out of Polar fleece and they act like a waterproof nappy cover, keeping the bedding dry.

Michael and Peter.

Now you see it.... Now you don't

The Wall

No Wall!

The kitchen renovations have begun. Everyone warned me of the dust and I "thought" I knew what I was in for but... it's so fine, it's everywhere! It will take weeks to clean it up. As soon as you damp wipe, the dust resettles from the air.

Ii turned out, the wall was load bearing. A beam had to go in to support the roof. Then the wall was removed. The builder saved as many of the bricks as he could. He thinks the wall was original to the house. We'd all though it had been added on much later. I feel like a vandal now.

The builder is back tomorrow to put in the new ceilings.

Be back later tonight with a sewing post.

Another Enid - Baby Matinee jacket

I've made a few of these now. Another one of Enid's simple designs. So simple, so easy. The instructions suggest making this from an adult's woolen jumper.

This one in printed polar fleece. The edge is finished with a hand blanket stitch and the button holes are also done by hand.

This one is a knit lined with microfleece. Lining it means I don't have to finish the edges, just sew it up and turn it through. Nice and warm. I still need to add the closure.

And this is the one I made from an old sweatshirt. To make this one I placed a cutting line along the shoulder and sleeve. The edges are turned and hemmed and a couple of appliques to jazz it up.

Once you get the pattern drafted these little jackets are so quick to make! You can really go to town embellishing them too. Wouldn't it be great if Enid was re-published with modern fabrics and style! Maybe someone needs to ask New Idea if they could please update and reprint these classic designs...

Soakers - crochet with knitted bands

Made from Colourworks Machine Washable hand painted wool, made by Naturally.

I added knit waist and leg bands a less bulky fit than crochet bands.

With lots of extra nappy room. I added a lot of short rows!

The builder starts tomorrow. I spent a few hours this weekend packing up the kitchen ready for the demolishion of the wall between the back foyer and the kitchen. The wall isn't original to the house. It was probably erected in the 1960's or 70's. By combining the two areas I'll get a nice size kitchen. At present we are pretty cramped with a large 8 seater table.

And today was a wonderful day. We had a visit from some very good friends. It was wonderful to see how much the children had grown. And like true friends it didn't feel like the two years it has been since we last met.

Op-Shop Pillowcases

I was lucky enough to find two pillowcases in our local Op-shop yesterday. Both only 50c each in great condition.

I drafted another of Enid's designs to make a shift top for Lilly.

I had just enough fabric to make a top. I had to tweak it to fit a little ;)

I cheated and used the snap machine to add snaps at the back. My machine doesn't like doing buttonholes at present, it needs a service. I bound the neckline and arms rather than facing them. Fiddling getting a facing to sit right is a pain. I find it easier to bind with a 1 inch bias strip, enclosing the seams making a nice finish.

The other pillowcase I made into a Play Dress. I had to make it a little shorter than the last one I made but it's still longer than the original pattern.