Mint Tea

I always have mint & basil growing in pots on the kitchen window, this summer they have grown extra large which is great for me as I like to relax with a hot cup of mint tea.

Just take a handful of mint leaves, rinse in cold water, put into a pot (or cup), add boiling water and leave for 3-5 minutes, pour into a cup and sip and relax. (If you want to sweeten add honey or sugar to taste)

Bobble Yarn

I went to All the Fun of the Fair (yarn shop in central London) recently and bought a couple of balls of this very soft bobble yarn.
I am using it to make a knitted bag (the fabric was to holey looking when crocheted to make a bag) which I will attach a selection of knitted and crocheted flowers.
I have been using large needles and doing a simple stocking stitch. Its an interesting yarn to use you knit and purl between the bobbles.

The fabric looks great on both sides and is so soft.


I will line the bag and post when I finish (hopefully soon)

Book shop closing

For about ten years Borders bookshop in Oxford Street (near Oxford Circus) has been the place I could pop into for a quick coffee while browsing over the books I wanted to buy. Its the place I would meet friends & relations passing through London, it did not matter who arrived first as there was always books & magazines to look at while waiting.
Well today I popped there and to my horror it is closing :(
I confess the sadness of the book shop closing did go away (for a while anyway) when I noticed the 50% off all books posters, my mind spun at all the half price books that I could buy but, I am not sure how long it has been closing down as when I looked around there were only a handful of craft books left, a few cooking books that had seen better days, even the computer section was looking bare. I did manage to get one programming book and will try and have another look around next week when I am back near there. Its sad I liked that bookshop and will miss popping in there :(

Crocheted Star Flowers

This crocheted flower has a similar construction as the knitted flower (the flower in the pic above on the right) I posted last month

Yarn DK or worsted weight
I used:
Patons Linen DK (2 colours required - Colour a for petals Colour b for centre use colour combinations you like, experiment) You can experiment with with different DK or worsted weight yarns
Hook size 3.75mm (UK)/ 5/F (USA)
I used a slightly smaller hook than recommended for this yarn (which was a 4mm) to make a firmer flower

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

Pattern:
Petals (make 5 alike)
Using colour a
Ch 2
Row 1: 2 dc (UK)/2 sc (USA) into the 1st ch, 1 ch (2sts)
Row 2: 2 dc (UK)/2 sc (USA) into each dc(UK)/ sc(USA), 1 ch (4sts)
Row 3: 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc(UK)/ sc(USA), 1 ch
Rows 4, 5 & 6: As row 3
Fasten off

Make 4 more petals (don't break yarn or fasten off on 5th petal)

Row 7:Starting with the 5th petal - 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc (UK)/ sc (USA),
than 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc (UK)/ sc (USA) on the 4th petal repeat 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc (UK)/ sc (USA) for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st petals, 1ch (20sts)

Row 8: 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc (UK)/ sc (USA), 1ch (20sts)

Row 9: (Change to yarn b) *Dec 1 dc (UK)/ dec 1 sc (USA) over next 2 dc (UK)/ 2 sc (USA)** repeat from * to ** to end (10 sts)

Row 10: 1 dc (UK)/1 sc (USA) into each dc (UK)/ sc (USA)
Row 11: *Dec 1 dc (UK)/ dec 1 sc (USA) over next 2 dc (UK)/ 2 sc (USA)** repeat from * to ** to end (5 sts), fasten off cutting yarn leaving a long length to use for sewing up.
Sew up sides.and weave in all ends.

Bee spotting

Been having a play doing some crochet animation, hehe
Bee pattern coming soon

WWKIP 2009

World Wide Knitting in Public Day 2009

This year as with with last couple of years I joined The Stitch and Bitch London Knit Crawl, but this year due to the London tubes closing down lots of services I only managed to make it to the 3rd part of the crawl.
The Jubilee Gardens in front of the London eye
It was a wonderfully sunny day with a nice cool breeze, perfect for sitting outside knitting and crocheting with lots of like minded people.

I managed to knit a few petals (to much chatting to people) before we moved on to Trafalgar Square

The breeze across the fountains brought a much need mist of water.
And I meet a Hedgehog postman (wearing a moustache for the day) that was visiting London on his travels.

been looked after by Betty also with a knitted moustache (money for the knitting and crochet patterns to make the moustaches went to Prostate UK Charity) plus it was fun seeing lots of women with their knitted and crochet moustaches.

I managed to just about finish a flower before heading home.
A good relaxing fun day :)

World Wide Knitting in Public Day

As next Saturday is World Wide Knitting in Public Day I have added a knitted pattern for a change

Knitted Blue Flowers
Yarn DK or worsted weight
I used:
Patons Linen DK in blue and yellow

Tension/ Gauge 30sts X 22 rows = 10cm(4inches) X 10cm
Size 4mm(UK)/ size 6 (USA) needles

Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
kfb = Knit into the front and back of the stitch (this is an increase)
k2tog = Knit two stitches together as one stitch
sts = stitches
st = stitch

Pattern:
Using blue yarn (or colour of choice)
Cast on 1 st
Row 1 (RS): kfb (2sts)
Row 2 (WS): p2
Row 3: kfb 2 times (4sts)
Row 4: p4
Row 5: kfb, k2, kfb (6sts)
Row 6: p6
Row 7: kfb, k1, kfb 2 times, k1, kfb (10sts)
Row 8: p10
Row 9: k10
Row 10: p10
Row 11: k10
Row 12: p10
Row 13: k10
Row 14: p10 Break yarn leaving a length to sew in neatly do not cast off, leave on needle ( do not knit on until row 15)

Make 4 more petals (don't break yarn off last)

With all 5 petals finished and on same needle (50sts)

Row 15: k50
Row 16 k50 Change to yellow yarn (or colour of choice)
Row 17: k50
Row 18: k2tog 25 times (25sts)
Row 19: k2tog 12 times, k1 (13sts)
Row 20: p13
Row 21: k2tog 6 times, k1 (7 sts)
Row 22: p7 cut yarn leaving a long length to use for gathering and sewing up Thread the yarn onto a needle and insert through remaining 7 stitches. Pull yarn firmly Repeat going back through all 7 stitches again (as photos below) this will make a nice firm centre. Sew up sides.and weave in all ends