This Year’s Must-Have Tropical T Shirt Make-over
Yippee it’s summer!…….
Children
Reindeer Giftwrap.
I can’t believe it’s Christmas already. Where did this year go? I had such good posting intensions.
Fun With Pompoms.
I love pompoms.
Did I ever tell you how much I loved pompoms? No?
The great thing about pompoms is they couldn’t be more simple. You can make them easily. You don’t need to be able to knit, crochet, or even sew – just wind some yarn around a piece of specifically shaped plastic or card, tie and cut.
Craft for all.
There are various ways ways of making pompoms in all sizes (see below).
So I found myself with a pile of them. I’d had an afternoon of creative ‘holiday project’ fun with my daughter, and was wondering what to do with them.
They’re perfect for brightening up any space – particularly a little one’s bedroom.
Strung up and hung across the mantelpiece around the fire or against the wall? I’ve done that before and it’s a great simple effect. (Take care, if the child is very small that they are nicely out of reach.)
Then there was the new pair of curtains I’d recently made, I’d been wondering for a while if they just needed that something extra.
Yep, I think they did.
Such a cheap and easy way to inject some extra colour and texture. Pretty cool I reckon .
And if you’re like me and have a good few odd balls of yarn in your stash – it’s stash-busting heaven…. and pretty addictive.
I even made a Christmas garland with the extras. The colours were perfect.
Go on – make some pompoms – You’d be surprised at what you can do with them.
Stuff you can do with Pompoms
Crochet A Cool Rainbow Fur Cowl And Give To Charity
Cool Kids Crochet Rainbow Fur Cowl
My daughter has a bit of a thing for rainbows so how could I walk past this ball of multi coloured neon fabulousness when I saw it and resist picking it up?
There are some lovely patterns out for all manner of spaced-dyed cardigans, jumpers, dresses and accessories, but I was looking for something a little different… and I wanted a quick project, and one that’s nice and easy but still a little bit of a challenge for you folks who are new to crochet but want to push it juuuust that little bit further.
I thought this might be fun.
Rainbow Fur!
What to do with it though?
Texture is HUGE at the moment and this fur effect can be knit or crocheted quite easily.
This great yarn fur could potentially be made up into all sorts of wonderful shapes and styles and perhaps that’s another future project – but for now I’ m sticking with something simple… and quick…. a project that uses only one 100g ball.
A gorgeous little crocheted rainbow fur cowl….
My simple cowl, I posted a while ago now is one of my most popular patterns..
…and all the little girls are wearing cowls these days. they’re just so easy, and warm, and stylish.
I made if for my now 6 yr old and it was designed with youngsters in mind, but who’s to say it can’t be for a grown up. We can wear bright colours too yeah?
In fact, it can be made up in any DK yarn in any colour and doesn’t have to be space dyed either. Looks just a good plain.
Get an eyeful of this gorgeous teal wool
Great for when we’re all fed up of the darks, and neutral tones we’ve seen through the winter months, and for the onset of Spring with a fleece or hoodie and Autumn when we’re not quite ready to put on a heavier jacket.
Just think of those lovely colour combos you can get your teeth into.
2015 was a tough one – for people all over the world, and I’m perpetually in awe of those that give up their time and put their own lives at risk to help people in need. I thought I’d try do a little bit from this end and donate this pattern to p/hop (pennies per hour of pleasure) – a charity knitting project that raises funds for the incredible emergency medical aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
A Letter from the Tooth Fairy
It's Finally Happened......
It’s finally happened… we’ve been waiting aaaages. At last, after weeks of wobbling, it’s come out – the first tooth.
Already six and one of the oldest in the class, yet one of the last to start losing her baby teeth. It’s made me feel a little sad – she’s growing up – far too quickly if you ask me. But just look at that that little happy, gappy smile.
So Here I Am - With A Tooth.......
I had to ask around for the going Tooth Fairy rate (thanks mums), and it got me thinking of how it was when I was a kid. The idea of a fairy taking away my old tooth ….for money, was magic on so many levels. So thought I’d do a little embellishing..the sort of thing I would’ve loved. A letter from the Tooth Fairy…a 21st century tooth fairy of course. A modern day, urban tooth fairy who likes a bit of skateboarding as much as she likes her glitter. A fairy who’s not really that much into pink and isn’t afraid to get a bit messy sometimes … and I thought it’d be nice to share with anyone else who lost a tooth this weekend.
Tooth Fairy Letter Printable......
I’ve drawn up and made a little printable – a letter from the Tooth Fairy… complete with envelope. I’ve included pdfs which can be the saved as a an image file and placed it into a program of your choice (e.g. Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, or an online photo editing site). Write your message, print and cut it out, fold and stick where necessary. I’ve provided full instructions on how to add text, plus an example of what the tooth fairy might write – optional of course. You can print it using one of the many quirky, fairy-style fonts out there, or even handwrite it for that lovely personal touch. Blond, brunette – you get to choose. Plus you get to use it again and again – just change the message each time. Easy peasy.
Print Any Size
You can even make it ‘Fairy size
Let’s make the most of the magic, eh…. while it’s still around…..it doesn’t last long.
Get your customisable Tooth Fairy Letter HERE
Graduated Stripe Buggy Blanket
Another new baby in the ‘hood….a boy.
Seems that there are lots of boys being born round here at the moment.
Means only one thing….
…yep, another blanket.
This time I had hardily any time to whip one up.
Wait…. I really shouldn’t say that – handmade items are NEVER ‘just whipped up’.
So a nice simple stitch in an easy to do and contemporary graduated stripe. This can be made in any DK yarn. I used Stylecraft Life DK in classic, but not traditional baby colours. It is one of my favourite wool mix yarns and has a real quality soft feel. What’s more it washes and wears well and doesn’t break the bank.
Cream, Fern and Blue Haze – Perfect for a boy ….or a girl.
This is a great project for beginners.
I’ve made an easy to follow pattern with a chart for those more visually inclined, plus a guide to the graduated stripe pattern.
You can get it HERE
I’ve made an easy to follow pattern with a chart for those more visually inclined, plus a guide to the graduated stripe pattern.
You can get it HERE
A Letter to Santa
Christmas seems to be so much more fun with children around. They’re coming home from school with cotton wool snowmen and cut out snowflakes. They’re practising their Christmas songs and learning lines for the nativity. Their latest favourite read is the Argos catalogue (why oh why did I pick one of those up?) and every trip to the shopping centre needs a plan for avoiding the Disney shop. Those little ones are getting excited.
I’m very conscious and a little sad that those years of magic are very fleeting so I’m determined to make the best of them. Perhaps in a way, I’m wanting to relive the the magic I remember from my own childhood. Of course I also learnt the true meaning of christmas and our kids will too, but in the meantime there’s no reason why it can’t be fun.
I thought it would be nice to make a printable. A letter to Santa… in its own special envelope. Nothing pre-written, chances are they can write their own now – at least with some help from mum or dad. I’ve provided some lines, but hopefully that’s all the help they need…
Just watch them fill up that space in no time.
I wanted to share this as a printable download – in case you might like to do it too.
If you follow the link at the end you can download the 2 page PDF. You may reduce or enlarge as required by changing the details in the ‘scale box in the print menu.
Print and cut out on A4 (portrait setting). Fold the envelope (it’s easy to see where) and stick down.
It will need to be sealed with glue – my daughter was a little disappointed when she licked the top and it wouldn’t stick, bless her – never mind…. no big deal.
We (with an adult of course) put ours on the open fire, and sent it up the chimney… or you could do
If you do decide to send it in the post, don’t forget to include a stamped addressed envelope if you want a reply.
Get The free printable download by clicking
This is for personal use only. It must not be re-sold or used for commercial purposes.
For all permissions please contact
thredhed@btinternet.com
Baby Brights….Buggy Blanket
I’m hoping that those of you who have downloaded the pattern of the Buggy Blanket featured in my last post are enjoying making it as much as I did. In fact I enjoyed working with that particular stitch so much, I wanted to do another one straight away. It’s rather addictive, and it just so happened that one of the mums in my neighbourhood was having a baby. Another perfect excuse.
So…..as a follow on from my last post I thought I’d provide you with a new update of my latest buggy blanket to show how versatile the pattern is. I can’t believe how popular it’s been – it seems we’re well and truly ready for the new, Mid-Century-look pastels – I thought as much.
Having said that, let’s face it – not everyone likes the softer, paler shades….so how about a different, bolder colourway?
I am equally fond of brights and was curious to see how it would look, so I thought I’d experiment with another variation of the pattern in brighter colours.
Here I chose some real tropical zingers. I used Stylecraft Special DK in Saffron, Aspen and Silver and King Cole Comfort Baby DK in Sorbet. They are good quality acrylic yarns, which are soft, and which wear and wash well – so important with a newborn. This time I left out the black accent which I thought may have been a little too much in this case. I just continued with the same colour of the stripe. Works just as well. Great summer colours.
We’re midway through a heatwave in sunny London at the moment. Right now, blankets are out of the question, but heatwaves here are few and far-between and don’t last for long. The warmth of the orange yellow and turquoise-blue shades will carry nicely on through to the autumn, and beyond.
The beauty is that you can use any DK, or if you have a stash of 4ply you can use a double strand. For the more creative among you, the options for different stripe and colour combinations are many. What would you do? – would love to hear your ideas.
As mentioned in my previous post, I have donated this pattern to charity.
P/hop is a charity knitting/crochet project that raises funds for the emergency aid organisation Medicins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders.
Designers donate their patterns to P/hop, which are then available for you to download. The idea is that you decide the amount you wish to pay based on the amount of pleasure you get from knitting or crocheting your P/hop pattern. There is no fixed amount – it’s up to you what you pay. You can get more details HERE
The pattern comes as a downloadable PDF with clear instructions and easy to follow charts for those of you who prefer something more visual.
Make special gift to give to a Newborn and, at the same time, turn your enjoyment of crochet into vaccines, midwives and malaria treatments .
Get the pattern HERE via P/HOP and adapt.
Little Werewolf
Halloween – it’s fast approaching. The shops are full of scary props and decorations and the kids (and grown-ups too perhaps?) are looking forward to dressing up.
Here’s an idea for a a quick costume you can make using my Bear Hat no 2, some imagination and a little bit of help from Youtube.
All you need is a bear hat, some white and black(mix the two to make the grey) facepaints, a steady hand and this Werewolf face-painting tutorial from Beatrice R on You tube. It comes complete with scary music and it’s fabulous. I did a simpler, toned-down variation – perhaps a bit more child friendly ie. quicker – they just can’t sit for too long, and managed to create my very own little monster.
Doesn’t have to be a werewolf, can be a Witches Cat or any other scary creature.
Happy Halloween!
Back into the woods….Bear Hat no.2
I can’t believe we’re already heading into Winter. Seems like only weeks since we were looking forward to the Summer.
Now the days are getting shorter and colder over here in the northern hemisphere I thought it would be nice to give you another version of my Bear Hat… let’s call it an update.
Now the days are getting shorter and colder over here in the northern hemisphere I thought it would be nice to give you another version of my Bear Hat… let’s call it an update.
This one is a slightly different fit to suit the style and a little more versatile – possibly more suitable for a boy as well as a girl, having said that, a few older girls – even women have expressed a keen interest.
I’m sticking with the the double strand of fur/eyelash and 4ply yarn as it’s such an excellent combo for cold weather – not heavy and ultra warm, with the Trapper style flap this time, to keep those little ears cosy. Well, I say little ears – it comes in sizes up to adult. Who says only the kids should get to wear the fun stuff?
It knits up on big needles in only a couple of evenings, and makes a great pressie. There’s plenty of time to start making them for Christmas.
Watch out for the 120g pack of eyelash yarn in your local UK 99p Store. It crops up every now and again – an offer far too good to miss.
Hat can be made to order. For information contact thredHED