80's Music In Six Minutes!

For those who can't decide their fave!

The 80's

Lola asked.. What is your fave 80's group, song, or video????

Here it is :)

So my turn to ask ..
What is your fave 80's group, song, or video????

Head Over Heels Baby Helmet

Head over heels baby helmet. – Size 6 months up


I was inspired to create this by a post on Nappycino. Someone was looking for a hat her baby wouldn’t pull off. I had been thinking of designing this for a while. I wanted to keep Michael’s ears warm and not have to tie the ties under his chin like I do with the other helmet I made for him. This little hat also offers a little warmth around Michael’s neck. The kids think he looks like a spaceman in it!

The design is based on the construction of turning a heel on a sock. If I knit this again I think I’ll use less stitches around the face to make it a little snugger , but then it may not fit for long as he grows. It probably won't stay on if baby is determined to pull off hats

Yarn
8ply or dk weight

Tension
24st to 10cm

Needles
3.75 mm 40cm circular needles or a set of 3.75mm Double Pointed Needles

Neck
Cast on 92 loosely. Join in a circle, being careful not to twist.
Work in k2 p2 rib for 9 cm

Put the middle 28 stitches on a holder – the stitches that will sit under the chin - in other words rib 60 then place previous 28st on to a holder.

Work st st for 10 cm on remaining 64 sts working back and forth. Slipping the first stitch of each row.

Turn the Top – like a sock heel
K across 43 turn
S1 purlwise p19 p2tog p1 turn,
S1 purlwise k to 1 st before the gap ssk, k1 turn
S1 purlwise p to 1 st before gap p2tog, p1 turn

Continue in this way until 1 st is left either side:
S1 purlwise k to last 2 stitches ssk turn
S1 purwise p to last 2 stitsches p2tog turn

Face
S1 k 20 k2tog k to end (40)
pick up 14 stitches down the side of the stocking stitch, rib across the 28 on the holder, pick up 14 the other side. Kniting circular again. Knit around to the start of the ribbing at the neck then commence to rib all the way around.

Work in rib for 4 cm.

Cast off loosely in rib. Fold face edging in half and slip stitch on the inside.

The back on Michael.

Lilly who is 3 years old

I wrote the pattern as I knitted the helmet so it should be right. But I'm not perfect so if you find a mistake let me know and I'll fix it :)

A quilty post - the quilts from the store

A trip around the world. Large Cot Quilt - $150

Bassinet Quilt - $40

Gumnuts Large cot size $150

Froggy stars - Large cot $150

We're going on a bear hunt- Large cot. - $150

These are the quilts I had listed in the store. I cleared the store out a few weeks back to start afresh. I had someone ask me if I still made quilts for sale. I realised I didn't have any photos of these quilts I'd lost the files when my old Laptop died. So if anyone is interested in them email me at tracy at desertrosedesigns dot com dot au. Prices include postage. I'm still working on getting the store up again. Yep I'm a gunna ..I know.

Ebaying again ...

I promise I'm now going to avoid Ebay. It's way too addictive for me. But really who could pass up a complete set of Golden Hands including the extra three 16, 17 and 18. The freight to get them here cost almost as much as the books. All up they cost me $46 which works out at $2.55 a book a bargain really.
So, Peter, I'm really sorry but it was too good a deal to pass up and I promise after the last few auctions I have bid on, I'll stay off Ebay again.

I've been Ebaying again.

Three 'new' Enid Gilchrist magazines to add to the collection.

From: Baby Book

The ads make me smile.

Hidden treasures of patterns drafted long ago.

Episode 3 Better late than never.

This weeks podcast is a little late. Pete's away in Tennant Creek so I've been busy. I take my hat off to all the single parents out there. It's not something I would want to do on a permanent basis.

In the podcast this week:

On My Needles:
Jaywalker Socks available as a Ravelry download you need to be a member (link)
Fern's Pullover available as a Ravelry download you need to be a member (link)
Sharon at Purple Laughing Goldfish Designs Blog (link)
My quick scarfs (link)

In My Kitchen
Soups and gadgets - just a ramble

Australian Quilt Designers
Sue Daley's Blog (link)
Patchwork with Busyfingers (link)

Rambles on the Family
Close the door
Ouch! He bites.

Sewing tip
The Right Needle for the Right job
References : Althea's Needles and Threads(link) Threads Magazine (link)

The Book Review
Sew What Skirts (link)
My Skirts (link)

Around the Net
The International Quilt Study and Museum (link)
You'll have to search in itunes, can someone tell me how to put a link to an itunes podcast?

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Happy 6 th Birthday Liam

My little man turned six. All the kids sang happy birthday including a special friend, Josh ,on the phone who joined the fun.

Give Away..over at Lynettes blog..

Lynette Anderson is running a draw on her blog to giveaway a copy of her new Redwork stitchery pattern.

To be in with a chance you need to leave a comment on her blog and a link on your blog :) See I entered too...now don't you go winning it. ( Insert: threatening look and manic laugh of a Mad woman)

My day has improved. I met (on the Net) Gerda of Freelance Fibres . Gerda has been very helpful and I soon will be the owner of a pair of Hand Carders. Yippee

Friends from long ago had a beautiful baby girl and I got to see photos of the newborn beauty. ( Insert: clucking noises and batting eyelids, aimed at DH)

I got to see half of the kids assembly. We were late due to Lilly throwing yet another tantrum in the newsagents. Said tantrum continued all the way to the school and I had to quiet her before we could go in. Then Lilly told Liam what mummy had bought him in the newsagents for his birthday. Don't you love three year olds.

Friday the 13th

You just get days like this!

I woke to the dulcet tones of children arguing, screaming and fighting.
Remembered the kids needed money for dance, and had no cash so had to make a quick trip to get some.
Sat on my Harmony knitting needles and broke a tip.
Lilly isn't happy. She's tired and grumpy. I'm hungry .. followed by tantrum when she is only offered fruit. Won't look for her own shoes and socks so we can go out. Threw another tantrum when I wouldn't let her talk on the phone. Refused to change her clothes, she put them on backwards. So we still haven't gone out!
Then I tried to spin .. first the drop spindle kept dropping. Then I thought I'd try on the wheel which resulted in a huge mess.

Hopefully the day will improve.

Needles and hooks

The KOGO scarves.
The left knitted on 12mm needles, the middle crochet with a 11.5mm hook and the end knitted sideways on 20mm needles.

And todays project was a bath mat. My inspiration for this came from Sharon at LaughingPurpleGoldfish blog.

I started by ripping up a flannel sheet which had a hole in it. I ripped it into 1 inch strips following the advice of Karen who left a comment on Sharon's blog.

I got continuous strips by notching in an inch or so from one side, ripping across to an inch from the other side, notching a width (I think I did an inch wide) along, ripping etc.

I crocheted my bathmat and Sharon's was knitted. Crochet is quicker for me. And Sharon is right they do feel luscious underfoot.

Two skirts in one afternoon

Yesterday I managed to get in a couple of hours of sewing time. Michael was happy to sit in his swing and let me play for an hour in the morning and had a little nap in the afternoon. He's such a good boy! Lilly helped by entertaining Michael and offering him lots of toys to play with. I used Sew What Skirt's to draft my own skirt pattern and make two skirts. A review in the next podcast.

I made a simple A-line skirt and a wrap skirt. Both were made from Op-shop fabrics. I love my op-shopping!

Modeling one of my new skirts!

I was inspired to sew something for myself by the June Challenge on Crafty Mama's.

I'm still here

It's been a really busy week. Last Thursday we headed off to Adelaide. We came back on Saturday. On Sunday we went over to Pt Pirie and Pete caught the bus to Adelaide to pick up his works new truck. He came home that night and the next morning started the long journey to Tennant Creek. He's away for at least three weeks.

I have managed to do some craft. A crochet scarf and knit scarf for KOGO, using up some of the wool I found at the op-shop. Very quick projects using three strands of wool and BIG needles and hook.

I've done a little work on the podcast, it won't be out until the weekend at least.

I had a lovely surprise when I came home! A Blogging Award from Lola!

Now is the part where I get to choose 5 Blogs to award this to.

1. dearfii - Inspirational :)

2. Clickertyclick Linda's knitting is wonderful.

3. Laughing Purple Goldfish - Totally in awe of Sharon's creativity.

4. Omi Creates - Naomi is an amazing seamstress

5. thornberry - Lara is so creative!

Once you've been selected, please follow these guidelines and pay it forward:
1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
2) Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog by so everyone can view it.
3) Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4) The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Please post these rules!

Episode 2 Better Finished Than Perfect

A little of everything this week.

Magazine review
Ottobre design (Link)

Store review
Suzanne's House Of Wool (Link)

Rambles on the family
Make your own Pouch sling (Link)
Make a pouch sling video (Link)

Australian Quilt Designers
Anni Downs Blog (Link)
Hatched and Patched (Link)

In The Kitchen
The Cauliflower Conspiracy (link)

Places to visit on the net
Woolaholics (link)

On The Needles
DPN Project keeper (Link)

On My Hook
Crochet Head Band - narrow (link)
Crcochet Head Band - Wide (link)

To Listen CLICK HERE

The New Kitchen ...sort of

I'm saying 'sort of' because there are still plans ahead for other alterations. Removing the wall was only step one in the renovation. We have more walls to knock down, these are not that old, Bessar brick! I want a wood burning stove in the old fireplace but may have to settle for a pot belly as the wood burning stoves are way over the $2000 mark and that is way out of our budget.

DPN Keepers - Give Away (Australia Only)

needlekeepers, originally uploaded by Tracymumto5.

Be one of the first 5 people to leave a comment on this blog post and send your snail mail details to tracy at desertrosedesigns dot com dot au and I'll pop one into the mail to you.

I've got prepaid envelopes sitting here ready to go!

Drum roll please.....

My newest creation! I got the idea from those DPNS cases that are around. I thought that's a bit of a complicated way of doing it.... ummm I'd like one but they are expensive. I wonder if I can make something that will do the same job but cost a lot less?

And this is what I've come up with.



A very basic design. It's just a couple of pieces of fabric sewn to the end of 2cm wide elastic! And I thought of this all by myself! Maybe there are some brain cells left in there?

Here are the ingredients!

A half finished sock on needles.

A length of 2cm wide elastic, just a little longer than the needles ..to allow for the seams. Also you don't want it tight you don't want your needles to bend or worse break!

Two small pieces of fabric ..you could use felt and this would be even easier as you wouldn't have to sew and turn the fabric to get a nice finish. Mine are 4cm by 9cm. You don't want them too big just big enough to hold the points in.

Fold the fabric in half and sew up the sides. Clip and grade the the corners and turn through.

Sew the unfinished ends to the ends of the elastic. This will hide the ends of both the elastic and fabric, helping them not to fray.

Flip the fabric over the elastic and sew down the sides and across the bottom. I did it with the elastic up so I wouldn't miss sewing them together :D.

And TA DAH you're done! One Double Pointed Needles project holder!

I'm so proud of myself ..I think I'll go solve the problem of world peace now ....

We're cracking up ..

The kitchen is slowly getting there. Pete spent the weekend painting, where he could. We have some areas of the wall that have been damaged by rising damp, they need to be repaired before we can put a layer of paint over them. The large crack in the corner (on the right in the photo) we are having repaired by the stone mason next summer. The stone mason thinks it better to wait until after the winter to repair the crack. We've had a few years of drought here and we are hoping when the winter rains come the crack in the wall will close a little. The Stone Mason will also be underpinning one of the corners of the house which is also cracking and moving.

Although very romantic, old stone homes need lots of attention and money. We have lots of work to do. The floors need replacing due to white ant damage. We need a new bathroom, laundry and toilet. She's a beautiful old house, well worth preserving.

A little at a time.


I feel like I'm tied to the couch cuddling Michael. He only wants to sleep while someone holds him. If I'm going to sit all day, I may as well crochet. I put him in the sling and then I have my hands free.

This is just a wider version of the other headband. Very simple, mindless crochet.

Donna's Wide 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 - 7 One treble into the next two stitches, 3 chains turn.

Row 8 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 9 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 10 One treble at base of 3 chain, treble in each of the next five stitches, work two trebles into last stitch, make 3 chains, turn (9 stitches)

Row 11 One treble at base of 3 chain, treble in each of the next seven stitches, work two trebles into last stitch, make 3 chains, turn (11 stitches)

Row 12 to 15 One treble into the next ten stitches, 3 chains turn. (11 stitches)

Row 16 One treble at base of 3 chain, treble in each of the next nine stitches, work two trebles into last stitch, make 3 chains, turn (13 stitches)

Row 17 to Row 43 Treble in each stitch across (13 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 stitches to the last two stitch, work last two trebles together. (11 stitches)

Row 45 - 48 Treble in each stitch across (11 stitches) On row 48 only work 2 chains on the turn, this acts as a reduction.

Row 49 one treble in each of the stitches to the last two stitch, work last two trebles together. (9 stitches)

Row 50 one treble in each of the stitches to the last two stitch, work last two trebles together. (7 stitches)

Row 51 one treble in each of the stitches to the last two stitch, work last two trebles together. (5 stitches)

Row 52 one treble in each of the stitches to the last two stitch, work last two trebles together. (3 stitches)

Row 53 - 58 One treble into the next two stitches, 3 chains turn.

Row 59 Treble the next two stitches together. Do not turn

Work around the sides and create the ties.

Double crochet all the way around. Put two dc in the side of each treble. 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.

If you want to make these to sell, you have my permission. I think they'd go well at a craft market and you should be able to make a nice profit on them. They only require a small amount of cotton and don't take long to make.