One month later and Tuesday Tallies

                                    

It's been a whole month since I've last posted. That's shocking! Where does the time go? Work has been manic (and not in a fun way) I also got to go on holiday last week to Norfolk so that was lovely.

I have a confession to make though.....
You know my Realta blanket I was making? The one I said I was going to finish and I was NOT going to start any other project befor I HAD finished? Weeeeellllll.........
I haven't done any of it since the last Tuesday tally over a month ago. I also started a few other bits as well.
I made this cowl/infinity scarf/snood for my youngest DD. It's made from James C.Brett Monsoon yarn and I love the colours in it. It's so autumnal and is very snuggly. Pattern is on Ravelry here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/calm-cowl

 I started making another but decided to make it longer. This was not so successful. It was so long it was a trip hazard and the although I used the same yarn in a different colourway it just didn't look right. It's in the frogging pile!

I started a scard for myself using crocodile stitch using this pattern and Chenille gold yarn and this pattern on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crocodile-stitch

It feels so luxurious and is incredibly heavy. It's long enough to be worn but I'm going to make it a little longer I think.

And finally...

I wanted a project to work on while I was away. If I were sensible I would have continued with the Realta. I've been accused of many things in the past but being sensible isn't one of them. I started on the Wool Eater blanket on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-wool-eater-blanket
It's a very easy pattern to work with once you get the hang of it and makes a lovely, thick material.
I'm enjoying it a lot but will it be a blanket or a cushion cover....it's at cushion size already so the question is, do I continue?

I look at all your lovely blogs and see your finished projects and wish I had the patience and dedication to finish something like a blanket but I think I'm a cross between a goldfish and a magpie. I have the attention span of about 5 seconds and am easily distracted by anything bright or shiny.
Has anyone got any blinkers? Maybe if I don't look I might get somewhere!

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

Peacock scarf pattern

This scarf is a real pleasure to make. I crochets up very quickly and I love the colour change I got by using the James C. Brett Monsoon yarn. I used Shade S3 as it reminded me very much of the colours found in a peacock feather but here's a link to see all the colours in the range http://www.jamescbrett.co.uk/yarns_monsoon.php. It's an aran wool so the scarf is nice and snuggly in these cooler autumn days.

I used a 5.00mm hook
3 balls of James C. Brett Monsoon in shade S3

I will be using UK terms throughout the pattern

Ch - Chain
DC - Double Stitch
DTR - Double Treble Stitch

The pattern is crocheted over 10 stitches (+1 for the foundation chain) I made mine over 50 stitches (+1) but it is up to you how wide you want it to be.

Row 1: Ch 51. Turn
Row 2: 1DC in 2nd Ch from hook. *skip 4 Ch, 9DTR in next Ch, skip 4 Ch, 1DC in next Ch.  Repeat from * to end. Turn.
Row 3: 4 C, 1DTR in first DC. *3 Ch, Skip 4 DTR, 1 DC in next DTR (the centre DTR of 9), 3 Ch, skip 4 DTR, 2 DTR in next DC. Repeat from *, ending 2 DTR in last  DC. Turn.
Row 4: 1 Ch, 1 DC in the space between first 2 DTR, *skip 3 Ch, 9 DTR in next DC, skip 3 Ch, 1 DC in space between2 DTR. Repeat from * ending 1DC in space between last DTR and turning Ch. Turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 for as long and necessary.

I didn't give the scarf an edge but I did consider using peacock stitch as a scallop. I ended up not using it as I was happy as it was.

I think my favourite silver peacock brooch looks lovely on the scarf.

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 :)