Mermaid Chart

Because so many people have emailed me about the mermaid chart and making it a pdf file, I have listened and added it to ravelry (find me there also as NezumiWorld)

Old magazine

I collect old crochet and knitting magazines 1900's-1930's I love them, they combine knit, crochet, tatting, lace & embroidery, mixing and matching techniques with beautiful results. If they could make a cover for something or decorate an item they did, my favourite is the candle shades beautiful laces but, I wonder how many went up in flames eeekk!. The magazines have become harder to get hold of in the last few years, plus the price for many is getting to high (for my income anyway).
I have been trying to find out something about these wonderful designers for many years with little luck, Emma Farnes (love her designs), Marie Antoinette Hees, Sophie T. Lacroix, Anna Valeire their work appears in some of the Novelty Art Studios magazines also. If anyone knows of any details about these designers, websites etc. please let me know.

Ginger Squirrel

I was just about to chop up this piece of ginger when a family member said "why are you chopping up a squirrel" I had not noticed the shape until then. So I photoed it to share here, what do you think of my squirrel shaped ginger?

Easy Hand Exercise for crocheters and knitters (OK everyone who owns a wool of yarn)

I get asked a lot about painful hands when crocheting and knitting, I am not an expert and would always recommend going to a doctor when in pain to see whats causing it, but I know there are lots of things you can do to help yourself
I do try to follow these suggestions as I have osteoarthritis but if something feels wrong to you stop, remember one of the main reasons for crocheters and knitters getting hand pain is over doing it, so
1. Pace yourself.
2. Sit correctly, putting a cushion in the lower back to give support if needed (OK you say pain in hands not back, but if you sit correctly it helps support your whole body i.e. hands connected to arms to shoulders to back)
3. Use a bamboo or wood hook/needle (I find wood better than bamboo, but very expensive so only buy the size needed for the project I am making), this may seem like an expensive but how many years will that hook/ needle last you and how many hours will you use it.
4.Take breaks and do a hand exercise every hour, get the blood flowing back to your fingers (there a quick exercise I do and have added below). Don't think just one more row.... there's always one more have a tea, coffee, water and stand up, even for 5 minutes.
5. Hand supports for arthritis, hand pain (like handeze support gloves) are good to use when crochet/ knitting but remember to take them off as they will weaken your hands if worn when when not needed.

Super Easy Hand exercise

Take a ball of yarn (can use the one you are working on) and squeeze tight for 10 seconds

Let go
Repeat 2 more times
Visit NezumiWorld Hand Exercise page for a count-along image

Flower Belt

I have been playing with the blue flowers pattern and made a belt (still need to find some nice buttons as fastenings) and I am working on a scarf I will add that photo of that when its finished, plus how to join the petals.

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.