cupboard love

Some beautifully worked old linen tablecloths found at the back of a cupboard at my mother's while helping her move house. They are all handmade right down to the crochet edgings.

bears and blankies

These cotton baby blankies were inspired by these flannel receiving blankets at Purl Bee and motivated by two pre-Xmas baby showers - first one tomorrow. I modified the pattern to just 1sc, 1 ch all round and I used a #10 cotton with a 1.5mm hook. I'm quite pleased with the simple look but SewChic has several patterns available for some nice fancier edgings. The bears are made from gloves like this one.

Time now to focus on Christmas. How are your preparations going?

Reading Are you my mother? by Alison Bechdel + Eating strawberries fresh from the garden

charity stores and wombles

I love going to charity craft stores. They are nearly always full of amazing knitting at good prices. But mostly I love that so many people busily knitted for hours and hours. The stores vibrate with industry. And I wonder about the makers. Right or wrong I imagine an army of grandmothers sitting by their fires fortified with tea and knitting, knitting, knitting. I'm so glad when I can support them.

I bought the owl tea cosy at Dunsandel. I've admired these for some time but didn't think my crochet skills were up to making one myself. It fits my little black teapot perfectly. The gloves are from Variety Handcrafts in Dunedin and, as you can see, (as well as being an amazing green colour) they are knitted sideways. I've never seen this before but I've found a similar pattern here should you want some too. They are knitted on two needles and for each glove you make a front and a back and then sew them together. Genius.

The pillow cases were a vintage find - still bright and fresh. I think The Wombles, as supporters of recycling, would be pleased that these pillow cases that have probably been around for 30 years are still being used.

Reading 365 thank yous by John Kralik 

Foxies

Hoorah! I've finished my fox. I tried Nimoe's pattern again and it worked out well. What I've realised is you need to really pack the stuffing into the completed parts (head, body etc) to sort of mold them into the shapes you want.

I've been a bit fox obsessed ever since my UK trip. The friends we stayed with in London have foxes living on the rail embankment behind their house; foxes that sometimes even come into their garden - and bring their cute wee cubs with them. I saw a couple of foxes running along the rail tracks but, of course, on the day I stood out with my camera in that fine English drizzle, no foxes showed themselves. Even though National Geographic estimated that in 2006 there were “upward of 10,000 foxes” living in London! Where are they when you want one?

Apparently you don't even need to have a garden in London to see one. Just traveling by Tube could be enough - as this fox riding an escalator in the London Underground proves.

Sadly, no foxes in New Zealand – except amigurumi ones. I’ll think I’ll take mine to work. She can sit on my desk to remind me of my London friends and holiday.

And here’s a bit more awesome foxy stuff – cushion from Donna Wilson.

Crochet a-go-go

I've taught myself to crochet. Well, at least a bit of basic stuff. I used this great book.
And then I went on to make this strawberry!


The pattern is from "Tasty crochet" by Rose Langlitz. I just added the seeds. If you're into faux food, there are some cozy crochet moments in this book - really cute mushrooms, carrots, asparagus, pears, sushi... even falafel!

Anyway the reason for crochet was to make a cap for my acorn guy.

I've now been bitten by the crochet bug and amigurumi has never looked so tempting.