Tuesday's Tallies and others

I'm a One a Day first timer but I really, REALLY need the motivation to keep going on my Realta afghan. Don't get me wrong, I love it. I love the pattern and the yarn (Debbie Bliss Prima) but I'm a bit daunted into the sheer amount of work needed to finish it. I seriously underestimated the amount of octagons I'd need. I though 56.....it's closer to 90 ish.
So..... this week I managed 2 more octagons and 4 squares. I'm counting the fact that I started joining them together as one of my one a day!

In between times I made an octopus for my oldest daughter who was down on a visit as it was hubbys 50th yesterday. It's not something I'd usually make but she fell in love with the pattern.

She calls him Stanley Pickleson!

I've also started 2 scarves. One, made from James C Brett's Monsoon yarn. I loved the colours as they reminded me of peacock feathers so what better stich to use than Peacock stitch?
I've run out of yarn so I'm waiting patiently (not) for some more. If anyone's interested I'll write up the pattern whaen it's complete. It's very simple and I hope to finish it by the end of the week (posty hurry up!)

The second scarf is made from some recycled yarn. Youngest daughter bought a scarf from Primark at the end of last year discounted from £8 to £3. She wore it once and kept tripping over it. It was honestly over 8 feet in length. Sunday night saw me frogging it! It ended up being made from 2 strands of aran weight yarn and there must be at about 1kg of yarn. What a bargain?
I'm using the same ripple pattern as Lucy's ripple blanket using a size 10mm hook and both strands of yarn. This is another one that won't take too long.

It's got me thinking though, what else can be recycled for use again? I'll be hitting charity shops and bootsales I think.

Please don't forget to check out all the other lovely "One a Day" projects via Gingerbread Girl's blog.

Sue's Door Snake Draught Excluder

My first time making something from scratch!
I have a cold living room. In the winter we have the fire going, the door closed and the heating on at the same time some nights. Anyway, a couple of nights ago I had the living room door closed as my youngest was watching something on YouTube or Netflix or something....It was loud, whatever it was! I shut the door and sat back down to read. After a few moments I was aware of the indoor equivalent of a tornado blowing around my ankles. Considering it was a warm night it was pretty cold too. No wonder the room was freezing in the winter. I had no idea I had a gap under the door that a limbo dancer could get under!
The idea of the snake draght excluder was born.
I had a look for a pattern but was very uninspired with what I saw. Then I realised that it was basically a tube! How hard could it be?
Not very!

I thought I'd write out the pattern in case anyone wanted it.

Time to make - approx 5 hours

Yarn used: 100g (1 ball)James C. Brett Marble D.K Shade MT26
Crochet hook: 4.00mm
Kapok ( I used the stuffing from an old pillow)

I'm using UK terms so when I say treble stitch (tr) this is US double stitch (d)

Abbreviations used:

CH chain

TC treble crochet


sl st slip stitch
st stitch
yo yarn over
2TCtog 2 Treble crochet together = * yo, insert hook in first st, yo, draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook repeat (*…) in next stitch. Then yo and draw yarn through 3 loops on hook. 

Row 1 - 4 CH. Join with ss in first chain to form a loop

Row 2 - Ch 3 (counts as 1st TC) 11 more TC into loop. Join with a ss into top of 3 chain (12 st)

Row 3 - Ch 3 (counts as 1st TC) 1 TC into same stitch as 3 chain. *2 TC in next st**. Repeat * to end. ss into top of 3 chain (24 st)

Row 4 -  Ch 3 (counts as 1st TC) 1 TC into same stitch as 3 chain. *1 TC in next st, 2 TC into following st**. Repeat * to end. ss into top of 3 chain (36 st)
Row 5 to Row 53 - Chain 3. 1 TC into each st. ss into top of 3 chain (36 st)

Stuff the snake as you go along

Row 54 (start of decrease) Ch 3 *2TCtog 2** Repeat * to last st. TC in last st. ss into top of 3 chain. (18 st)

Stuff if needed

Row 55 Ch 3 *2TCtog 2** Repeat * to last st. TC in last st. ss into top of 3 chain. (9 st)

Stuff if needed

Row 56 Ch 3 *2TCtog 2** Repeat * to last st. TC in last st. ss into top of 3 chain. (7 st)

If you can decrease for another row then do so.  If there is not enough room and the snake is nearly closed then decrease as much as you can then ch 1 and cut yarn pulling tightly. This should have closed the snake completly.

Weave yarn end in.

Sew on eyes and add a material tongue if required.

My snake measures 29 inches (74 cm) and its girth is about 10 inches (26 cm)
Add more treble rows for a longer snake. If you want a wider snake then add another increase row (of course you'll need additional decrease rows too)

What's his name????

Severus Snake :)

 

 

 

 

 

Old and new

Where does the time go?
I'm back at work now after the summer holidays. Why can't I win the lottery? I certainly wouldn't be one of those people who say they wouldn't know what to do with themselves. I have so many things I'd like to do that I'd be busy for the next 40 years!

I finished the ripple blanket...sort of.

Hubby decided it was quite big enough, thank you, and stole it. It is fit for what he wanted it for (to cover him on the sofa) but I still have visions of it fitting my bed. I may have to steal it and work on the odd row here and there when he's not looking.

 

Because he stole this one I've started another just for me and it IS going to be for me! I'm making the Realta afghan pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/realta-afghan
I'm making it in Debbie Bliss Prima yarn which is on special offer from Black Sheep Wool.
I'm using these colours and cream as a base colour

 

I'm going to have to buy at least 7 more balls of cream, more if I decide to make the connecting squares all cream instead of coloured.
I'm going to have to do a minimum of 56 octagons. I've got 10 done so it's going pretty well.

The yarn is 20% wool and 80% bamboo. It has a lovely matte look that resembles cotton.

I'm not going to think of all the weaving in of the ends....not yet anyway :)