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.