A crochet Halloween

So today we come to the end of October, and find ourselves at Halloween. 

My memories of Halloween were costumes made from black bin liners , paper hats, and carved turnips (now that took some effort!), there's nothing that reminds me of Halloween more than the smell of burnt turnip.

My own children would dress up as ghosts, witches, or characters from Harry Potter, but the weather was always so cold the costumes would have to be covered by warm coats.

Now that they are all grown up and not needing me to take them trick or treating or stay with them at parties, I have to make do with making costumes for my fairies!

Tonight I shall sit at home and listen for the knocks on the door, and act scared as small children giggle.

Most years we don't get too many visitors, which means I get to eat most of the treats myself.

I wonder what mischief the fairies will get up to tonight?

Happy Halloween

Love Kaie x x x

A Prickle of Hedgehogs

I was looking up the collective noun for hedgehogs, the official term is an array of hedgehogs, but I much prefer the more apt prickle of hedgehogs.
A couple of years ago we had to round up 6 hoglets that had been nesting in our garden, after their mother was killed. Not an easy task as the nest was under the bramble bush! Eventually we had them all snuggly in a box and taken to the local hedgehog rescue centre, where they were weaned and fattened up before being released.

This year I have not managed to spot any of our prickly visitors, but I know they have been from the little 'messages' they leave.

So I have had to make my own prickle of hedgehogs instead.

Crochet Hedgehog

You will need

Dark brown yarn, light brown yarn, 3mm crochet hook

1.       With light brown yarn make a magic ring, 5dc

2.       1dc in each st

3.       2dc in first 2st, 1dc in next 3st   (7st)

4.       2dc in the first 4st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st.     (12st)

5.       1dc in first 2st, 2dc in next 4st, 1dc in next 6st.       (16st)

6.       1dc in first 4st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8st.  (18st)

7.       1dc in each st.

8.       *dc in 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat from *     (24st)

9.       1dc in first 6st, 2dc in next st, *dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat from *2 more times, dc in next 8st.     (28st)

10.   1dc in first 8st, 2dc in next st, *dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat from *2 more times, dc in next 10 st.    (32st)

11.   1dc in first 6 st, 2dc in next st, *dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat from *6 more times dc in next 8st.   (40st)

Attach or sew eyes between rows 8 and 9, 5st apart. Sew on nose.

Change from to dark brown yarn

12.   From now work in BLO, 1dc in each st

13.   1dc in first 4st, 2dc in next st, repeat around.  (48st)

14.   1dc in each st.

15.   1dc in each st.

16.   1dc in each st.

17.   1dc in each st.

18.   1dc in each st.

19.   1dc in each st.

20.   1dc in each st.

21.   1dc in each st.

22.   1dc in each st.

23.   1dc in each st.

24.   Dc in first 4st, dc2tog, repeat around   (40st)

25.   Dc in first 6st, dc2tog,*dc in next 2st, dc2tog in next st, repeat from*6 more times, dc in next 8st.   (32st)

26.   Dc in first 8st, dc2tog, *dc in next 2st, dc2tog in next st, repeat from * 2 more times, dc in next 10st.   (28st)

27.   Dc in first 6st, dc2tog, * dc in next 2st, dc2tog, repeat from *2 more times, dc in next 8st.    (24st)

28.   Dc in first 2st, dc2tog, repeat around, 

29.   Dc in next st, dc2tog, repeat around

30.   Dc2tog, repeat around.

Finish off and sew in ends.

Small crochet hedgehog

1.       With light brown yarn make a magic ring, 5dc

2.       1dc in each st

3.       2dc in first 2st, 1dc in next 3st   (7st)

4.       2dc in the first 4st, dc in next st, 2dc in next st, dc in next st.     (12st)

5.       1dc in first 2st, 2dc in next 4st, 1dc in next 6st.       (16st)

6.       1dc in first 4st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, 1dc in next 8st.  (18st)

Change to dark brown yarn, sew in eyes between rows 3 and 4 , 3st apart. Sew on nose.

7.       Working now in BLO, 1dc in each st.

8.       1dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat around.

9.       1dc in first 6st, 2dc in next st, *dc in next 2st, 2dc in next st, repeat from *2 more times, dc in next 8st.

10.   1dc in each

11.   1dc in each

12.   1dc in each

13.   Dc in first 6st, dc2tog, *dc in next 2st, dc2tog, repeat from *2 more times, dc in next 8st.

14.   Dc in next st, dc2tog, repeat around.

15.   Dc2tog, repeat around.

Remember if you are having a bonfire this autumn check that no hedgehogs have chosen it as a good place to hibernate under, before you light it!

Love Katie x x x

Autumn nights and crochet blankets

I've been back at the day job for one week and summer already feels so far away. The nights are drawing in and the mornings have that fresh chill to them. I have so many ideas in my head that I want to make, so am looking forward to the dark nights of sitting under a pile of homemade blankets with my hook and yarn.

I have a rather large collection of blankets that I've made for myself, but an even bigger stash of blankets I just make because I need to keep my hands busy.

My daughter decided to set me up with an Etsy shop, so I had to start getting the blankets out to photograph and measure. So far I've got 32 of them done, and I still have more to do!!

oh goodness, I had no idea I had such a collection. 

I love trying out new patterns for blankets, it's fun to try out new stitches and see how they work together, but I also love old favourites that work up quickly (and that you don't have to concentrate on).

Making personalised blankets is also a favourite of mine. I love to be able to give someone a gift that is totally unique.

I'm not sure what my hubby thinks of all these blankets, my daughter thinks I'll end up on an episode of extreme hoarders with rooms full of them.

Hopefully I'll get more of them on my Etsy shop (I've only got as far as putting one on) and some of them will find a nice new home.

Hoping you all have a lovely cosy yarn filled Autumn

Katie x x x 

A Frolic of Fairies

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved fairy stories, I have looked for the magic around me, hunting for fairies in nature.

Now I have a love of making my own fairies.

My house is full of fairies, my best friends house is full of fairies, and the fairies are setting out on their own adventures.

My most recent love has been making small fairies to hang in trees. I spotted a picture on Pinterest but there were no written instructions so I came up with my versions.

For each fairy you need 2x8mm beads, 2x10mm beads 1x20mm bead

Begin by making the arms, legs, and body.

Thread the 10mm beads then the 8mm beads onto your yarn.

Begin by starting your first chain with a 8mm bead, ch18 add second 8mm bead, finish. These will be the arms and hands

Start the next chain attaching a 10mm bead, ch60, put your hook though the 21st st from the bead, then through the centre of the arms, wrap yarn around the hook and pull though, ch20 more before adding last bead, finish. sew in ends of yarn.

Dress

 make a magic circle and make 6dc

R1, 2dc in each   (12)

R2, 2dc, 1dc, repeat around    (18)

R3, 2dc, 2xdc, repeat around   (24)

R4, 2dc, 3xdc, repeat around   (30)

R5, 2dc, 4xdc, repeat around   (36)

R6, ch2, dc in next st, repeat around, finish leaving a long tail (this will be used to stich along the arms.

You can change colour at any round or just leave as one colour.

Hat

Make a magic circle and make 6dc

R1, 2dc in each   (12)

R2-4, 1dc in each

R5 1dc 1tr in each st, finish leaving a long tail for attaching to dress and head.

Draw the face on your bead.

Use your hook to pull the loop through the centre of the dress, followed by the bead for the head, then the hat (put through second row, not the centre).

Use the tail on the dress to stich where the sleeves divide, then the tail from the hat to stitch the hat to the back of the dress, then the hat to the loop. This will secure the head from being pulled off.

Although when I first began to make these, they started out as white Christmas fairies, I soon began adding colour to make them more flower like. 

My best friend was so taken by these she has her own frolic of fairies living in her home!

Please let me know if you create your own frolic of fairies x x 

Katie

Finding Fairies

So many people loved the angel wings which I previously posted the pattern for, I have decided to share some more of the wings that I have created for my fairies. 

When I began I wasn't sure whether to make dresses with wings on, or put the wings on the doll. I decide to put them on the dolls  (you can see this on my other page A wander with the fairies ), apart from Mabel (all my fairies get named) so she can model the different styles.

Today I have chosen these delicate wings, which are quick and simple to make and look beautiful on dolls or teddy bears alike, or simply strung with some ribbon and hung as a decoration.

For these wings I have used Stylecraft special dk and a 3.5mm hook. 

You can make the wings larger or smaller by changing your yarn or hook.

R1 ) Magic ring, 6dc

R2 ) 2dc in each st, slst to join   12dc

A (first side of wings)

R3 ) ch3, 1tr in same st, 2tr in next 3 st, ch1, turn.

R4 ) 1htr in first st, 2htr, 1htr, 2htr, ch1, turn.

R5 ) miss 2st, 7tr in next st, miss 2st, slst in last st. finish

Rejoin yarn in 5^th st of R4

R4 ) ch2,2tr in next st, 2tr,1tr, ch1, turn,

R5 ) miss 2st, 7^th in next st, miss 2st, slst in last st. finish

B (second side of wings)

R3 ) miss 2 st from last st worked in this round rejoin yarn, ch3, 1tr in same st, 2tr in next 3 st, ch2, turn.

R4 ) 2tr in next st, 2tr,1tr, ch1, turn

R5 ) miss 2st, 7tr in next st, miss 2st, slst in last st. finish

R4 ) rejoin yarn , 1htr in same st, 1htr,2htr,1htr,ch1, turn

R5 ) miss 2st, 7tr in next st, miss 2st, slst in last st. finish

I love how dainty these wings look on the fairies.

Please if you make or share these wings please credit me for the pattern.

Remember to keep an eye out for fairies, and believe in the magic of every day.

love Katie x x

Angels watching over me

For a long time I have been coming up with my own designs, but never really thought they were good enough. 

Yesterday I posted a picture of some angel wings I had designed and the response amazed me and encouraged me to keep going. 

Thank you to all you creative people out there who boost each other and help us to feel like what we do is worth it x x

It is down to those people and their kind words that got me to share this pattern. 

Use it to remember those you have lost, or spread love to someone in need x

(Please give credit to myself for the pattern when you share pictures of your work, thank you)

I've always been reminded of those we've loved and lost when I see a white feather floating down, it's comforting to think they are watching over us. This inspired me to come up with this angel wings pattern.

I used Stylcraft special dk and a 3.5mm hook, uk terms

Begin by making a ch of 17

1. dc in second ch from hook and then to the end, ch1, turn
2. dc in next 16st, then work 1dc into the side of the row, ch1, turn
3. dc in next 15st , ch1, turn
4. dc in next 14st, 2dc in next st,1dc on the side, ch1, turn
5. dc in the next 15st
6. dc in next 14st, 2dc in next st continue along the side, 2dc, 2xdc, 2dc, then work 6dc along the opposite edge, ch1, turn
7. dc in next 7st, 2dc in next 2st, dc in next 3st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 12st, ch1, turn
8. dc in next 13st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5st, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6st, finish

Repeat for the 2nd wing.

If you want to make the hanging decoration, place the two wings together and rejoin the yarn through both wing in the 2nd st from the end of the last 6dd. 

Work 5dc through both wings ch20 the join at the top of the 5dc with a slst, finish.

Please feel free to pop by my Facebook page and share your wings with me.

Much love

Katie x x