Blue Flowers

Springs coming and the flowers in our little garden are starting to bloom making me feel inspired to post another crochet flower pattern. :)

Blue Flower (or any colour you prefer)

Make into a brooch, add to a bag, shoes whatever takes your fancy :)
(look out for the wire crochet version of this coming to NezumiWorld soon)

Super chunky/ Bulky (USA)/ 16ply
I used Rowan Little Big Wool (very small amount used, left over from another project)

6.5mm (10 1/2 / K) hook

Abbreviations:
st – Stitch
sts – Stitches
dc (UK)/ sc (USA) – Double Crochet (UK)/ Single Crochet (USA)
ch – Chain
sl st - Slip Stitch

rnd - Round

Rnd 1: Ch 2, 6 dc (UK)/ 6 sc (USA) into 2nd ch from the hook (the 1st ch that was made), join with a sl st to top the 1st dc (UK)/ 1st sc (USA), 1 ch (you should now have 6 sts)

Rnd 2: [sl st into the back of the next dc (UK)/ sc (USA), 8 ch, sl st into the back of the same dc] repeat 6 times (you should have 6 petals)

Rnd 3: [sl st into the front loop of the dc (UK)/ sc (USA) you made the first petal in, 6 ch, sl st into the front of the same dc (UK)/ sc (USA)] repeat 6 times (you should now have 12 petals 2 rows of 6)

To finish pull thread through to back of the with your crochet hook flower. Use the ends to sew on a brooch of attach the flower to item of your choice.

Sushi Weekend

I love eating sushi, so last weekend I decided to give it a try to make my own, with my brothers help tasting everything. To be fair he did make the rice, I did the seasoning/ vinegaring and assembling part :)

Its much easier than I though, maybe not as pretty as the shop bought stuff (I will practice more) but I could put in all the ingredients I liked, yummy :)

Plus a few Christmas's ago my lovely knitting students gave me a present of some beautiful Japanese plates, its nice to get a chance to use them.

Rose Brooch

I have been making these brooches for many years in all colours, I based them on this little rose tree in my garden (the crocheted brooch and the real rose are about the same size).

This is the first time I have written the pattern out (its embeded in my brain) and as valentines is near, why not make yourself a rose brooch.

The pattern starts with a row of loops

Red Rose Brooch (or any colour rose brooch you prefer)

DK yarn/ Light worsted weight

3.75 mm (5 / F) hook
Brooch Back
Abbreviations:
st – Stitch
sts – Stitches
dc (UK)/ sc (USA) – Double Crochet (UK)/ Single Crochet (USA)
tr(UK)/ dc (USA) – Treble Crochet (UK)/ Double Crochet (USA)
ch – Chain

Row: 1
[Ch 10, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 8th ch from the hook] X 7
(You should now have 7 loops)
[Ch 8, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 6th ch from the hook] X 5
(You should now have 12 loops)
[Ch 6, 1 dc UK/(1 sc USA) into the 4th ch from the hook] X 4
(You should now have 16 loops)

Row 2
3 ch,
Into the 1st 4 ch loop
3 tr UK/ (3 dc USA) , 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into 2nd 4 ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 4 ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 4ch loop
4 tr UK/ (4 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

Into the next 6 ch loop
5 tr UK/ (5 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
6 tr UK/ (6 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop6

7 tr UK/ (7 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
8 tr UK/ (8 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 6 ch loop
11 tr UK/ (11 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

Into the next 8 ch loop
14 tr UK/ (14 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
15 tr UK/ (15 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
14 tr UK/ (14 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
15 tr UK/ (15 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops
Into the next 8 ch loop
13 tr UK/ (13 dc USA), 1 dc/ (1 sc USA) over the two ch in-between the loops

You should have something that looks like this

Starting with the larger loops twist 4 loops as in the photo
Twist the next 4 on top so you can see the 4 below
continue until it looks like a rose

Sew into the back to hold all the layers together
Sew on a brooch back and wear

EEEKKK!! Snow

Last night about 10pm I noticed the snow settling, popping my head and camera out this morning at 7am its freezing and so much snow everywhere. i have to walk to work later as the buses and tubes are not running not to far 20 minutes but eeeeekkkk I hate the cold....... and not to fond of snow. I will bring my camera along and blog the results later (if i don't fall and break camera or me)

Out 'n' About in Portobello Market

I decided to take a walk through Portobello Market at the weekend, the market is about 15 minutes walk from where I live, but I have not been there for a few years (you forget what is right on your doorstep). I found my favourite stall, its been there for years. It has wonderful vintage buttons, lots of beautiful glass and metal and just what I needed for some new (new as in projects that just needed that something to finish them, like a button and have been living in a bag for ages) projects I have been working on. The picture does not do these button justice.

I also visited a stall and got some nice trimmings, its worth a visit to the market if you are in London. There's so much to see.

Happy New Year 2009

Happy New Year 2009 to Everyone
I was going to post a list of resolutions for a New Year day post.... like post more often, health and such but as i missed the 1st January post because of this stupid head cold I think I will just see what the years brings me instead maybe have a make no plans year (if only)

Sales sales sales

Out 'n' about in the bitter cold again to visit the sales, I must say I was very good and only bought a pair of shoes. The same shoes I wanted before the sales and had decided to wait and only buy them if they were reduced. Luckily for me they only had one pair left in my size so I believe I was meant to buy them and for half the price :)
I also popped by John Lewis in Oxford Street, they always have reduced yarn in the sales, there was some nice Rowan little big wool I bought a few balls (I had a present of some John Lewis Vouchers, Thank you, you know who you all are they went on the little big yarn) but everything else was tweedy multi-coloured type yarns, not that I do not like tweed yarns but past experience makes me buy one ball and experiment to see if the colours and texture work before committing to buying a larger amount. Solid colour yarns like the little big wool are always safer sale bargains to buy.

I finished by walking along Regents Street and having a look at the lights. I really liked them this year, they reminded me of giant sparkly spiders webs.