un-Tyrolian hat

Sharon found this book in a charity shop. How we laughed at the hats!

… then I realised that three of the styles were very similar to some of the hats I make myself! hahaha – maybe it’s just the photo that’s dated :-)

I decided to try the green “Tyrolian” hat, top left in the pic. Shaped hats are difficult to achieve with crochet, even using thicker and less flexible yarns, so maybe there was some secret to this pattern?

Nope, there wasn’t. I have ended up with an un-Tyrolian hat – the crease will not stay, however hard I thump down on it, and the brim will not stay up at the sides, however hard I shout at it. Consequently, I have a completely different style of hat that I really really like. With some flowers or a band or a brooch pinned on, it’s versatile, warm and very vintage-looking. As in old-fashioned but in a good way.

Happy Sunday to all of you :-) x

How to turn a crochet flower into a brooch

To attach a brooch pin to the back of a flower:

You need a needle, thread and a brooch pin (available in bead and habby shops).

Leaving one long end free, weave all the other ends of the yarn neatly into the back of the flower and snip off.

Thread the needle with the long end of yarn and run it under a few stitches towards the centre of the flower, where you want the pin to be.

If your flower doesn’t have a loose long end that you can use to attach the pin, cut a length of yarn in a similar colour and use that instead.  Start by working a few stitches into the back to anchor the yarn.

Open the brooch pin, hold it in the position you want, and stitch through each of the three holes in the bar. Be careful not to stab yourself. I do this frequently.

Stitch through the other side of the bar as well, then weave in the loose thread. Snip off all loose ends.

I like to dab on a bit of clear nail polish or a tiny bit of fray-check or craft glue, just for safety’s sake.

And, as they say in France, walla!

wishing you all…

…a very happy and creative holiday season, whatever it is you do or don’t believe in. It’s definitely the time of year for a catch-up with family and friends, and for spreading a bit of love. And, as Sharon says, it’s not the time for laundry.

Here is my [very silly] contribution to the festivities:

It’s the telephone cable thingie at the entrance to the complex I live in. I realise not all the residents will like it but, as they say in the classics, “tough cookies”.

Back soon x

little flower

There are gazillions of flower patterns on the internet, but I made this one up myself. However, there are only so many ways you can make a simple five-petal flower like this, so if it’s similar to anyone else’s – then, so be it!

If you make one, will you let me know if my instructions were spot-on or not? **The stitches are in British terminology.

I used DK cotton and a 4mm hook.
Ch 3, dc 10 into the first ch, sl st into beg ch3.

Round 2:  Ch1, 3tr into next st, ch1. st into next st. Repeat 4 times. You should now have five petals.

Round 3: Ch1, 1dc into next st, 3htr into next st, 1dc into next st, ch1, sl st into sp between petals. Repeat this 4 times. End off and pull tight, and weave in the ends at the back.

Quickly quickly go pick up your hook and a scrap of yarn…..!!!!!!!

hear hear

I spend a lot more time crocheting these days than I ever used to. You got that already, I know. But think about this – do I want to have only my own thoughts to entertain me while my hands work? I don’t THINK so. I’m a terrible conversationist and I’d bore me in no time. DVDs – yes, now and then, but I’m not a big tv watcher and I get tired of images coming at me from a screen for too long.

Enter Andy the Android.

Andy was an unwanted gift to Rob from someone (who doesn’t read this blog, by the way) and now he is mine. Rob introduced me to audible.com and now I have some Hiaasen, some Deaver, some Palin, and some Bill Bryson to keep me company while I beaver away. A great technological stride for me, that is! Today’s beavering so far has been spent on the flowers in the photo, another ten to hang on the silver tree in a little girl’s bedroom.

Back soon x