#tbt: Little Harry Potter Scarves

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

Having made myself and a friend some Harry Potter scarves for our trip to see the last movie over five years ago, there was some left over wool, so I crocheted the boys small versions. There wasn't enough wool to make the stripes go in the proper direction so I had to make do.
I printed off the Hogwarts and Gryffindor shields onto t-shirt printing paper, cut them out and stitched them on. They still wear them when it's chilly out.

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Monday Make: Crochet Jellyfish

Monday Make: This week's project

This week's make took a few attempts before I was happy with the pattern.

The first attempt had a wibbly face, the second attempt had a head that was too big and tenticles which were too short.

The third attempt is an adorable miniature version and a firm favourite of the boys but it was too small to give it curly tenticles so it still wasn't quite right.

The fourth and final try is super cute but one of the tenticles managed to stretch, but I couldn't face re-making that one tenticle so I left it. If you have a bash at this yourself, just be gentle when you're making them.

I don't honestly know if these instructions will make any sense, but good luck and let me know if you're confused.

You'll need 4 ply wool of any two colours you like and a 2.5mm crochet hook.
key: st=stitch
cs=chain stitch
ss=slip stitch
sc=single crochet
dc-double crochet


Start with a row of 4 cs.
Ss them together into a circle, sc 1 to start a new row and sc 2 in each cs to increase the circle.
sc 2 in each st on the next row giving you 16.
On the next row, sc 1 in the first st, sc 2 in second, 1 then 2 and so on, leaving you with 27.
On the next row increase every 3rd st; 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc, and so on leaving you with 36.
On the next row, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 2 sc, and so on leaving you with 45.

Sc 6 more rows.

The next row has 41 st, so decrease every 10th sc.

On the next row, decrease every 9th.

On the next row, decrease every 8th.
Then we'll change colour to do the inside, so tie it off.
Sc one row in the new colour, then on the next row increase every 8th.

On the next row, increase every 9th.

Then, sc 6 more rows and tie it off.

Then do the tentacles. I did mine 50 st long, but you can do them shorter or longer. You can do them in either colour or a mixture of the two.

I did a string of 50 cs, hooked it through the middle of the inside, then 50 more. Then I put 3 ds stitches through each cs to make them curly. If you put 2 dc in each or even 4, you get a different result and it could make for a lovely organic look. Or do triple crochet stitches. The choices are endless.

I hope that makes sense. Good luck! If you give it a bash or make something similar, please send me photos.

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Friday Inspiration: Crochet Flowers & Leaves Table Runner

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

I think I cut this out of a magazine years ago and scanned it into my computer to save space rather than keep all the scraps of paper I'd collected. I would really love to make something like this, though I have no use for a pretty table runner and it would get destroyed as a rug, so maybe some kind of wall art thing? Who knows. Crochet makes me happy and these colours excite me. I'll keep thinking and keep you updated...

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Monday Make: Pokeball Hat

Monday Make: This week's project

I made the bigger boys one of these each for Christmas. It was quite challenging, not only making them in secret but also making them the right size in secret. I just had to hope they would fit ok and they seem to have turned out quite well. They are loved and that's what matters mostest.

I didn't keep track of what I was doing at the time, but after some serious stitch counting I've done my best to come up with a pattern for you. Hopefully this makes sense. I don't follow patterns well, so I don't actually know what a pattern looks like, but if you can do a basic double crochet stitch, I'm confident you can do this.
I used a size 3 hook.
Make 90 stitches in black, then chain stitch it together into a loop and give it another row.
8 rows in white.
2 rows in black
6 rows in red.
1 row in red decreasing every 15 stitches (you're basically dividing it up into 6ths).
1 row in red decreasing every 14 stitches.
1 row in red decreasing every 13 stitches.
2 rows in red decreasing every other stitch.
1 row in red decreasing every stitch.
You'll want to take the last few in the biggest bundles you can to stop it going all pointy.
Knot off your ends.

To make the circle, make 4 chain stitches in white, chain into the first to make a loop, then work 12 double crochets into it.
The next row is double so increase every stitch.
For the next two rows, increase every other stitch.
Then change to black and increase every 3rd stitch.
With a darning needle, stitch the circle onto the middle of the hat, tucking all the tied off ends inside.

I don't know how anyone else does it, but I stitch my loose ends into the crochet stitches a little and snip off the extra length.

I hope that makes sense, I've never tried writing a pattern before. 
Try it and let me know in the comments below if it worked/what went wrong. I'd love the feedback.

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#tbt: Ed's star hat

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

This turned up on my time hop this week and, actually, it breaks my heart. The hat that squishy faced Ed is wearing was amazing but sadly it was lost. I think it was stolen, though I don't remember the circumstances. The stars on it were hard work and it took me ages the get them how I wanted them. Still, I shall have to try again. It's too cute not to give it another go.

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Friday Inspiration: Funky Scarf

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

Please excuse the terrible picture quality, but it's a screen shot of my TV half way through watching an old episode of Shetland. I love this pattern and I totally think I can recreate it in crochet...I think.

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Monday Make: Baby Beanies

Monday Make: This week's project

This week, I noticed the school had gotten a little chilly all of a sudden, so I decided to knock up a few hats for the little guy. I figured he's a baggy beanie kinda guy so that's what I was going for.

I found this wool in B&M, nice and cheap, gorgeously chunky.

And this wool was found in Lidl. There's enough left to make me one - yay!

Do you think I should do a hat making tutorial? 

I'll be honest, I make it up as I go along, but I could try and note down what I've done.

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Friday Inspiration: Crochet Cactus

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

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Friday Inspiration: Yarn bombing

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

I took this picture in Oxford. 
I love yarn bombing, or whatever you want to call it. The explosion of colour on everyday streets makes me smile inside and this method is particularly easy to emulate. 
Each and every flower was different, made by lots of different people and chocca full of personality.

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#tbt: Harry Potter Scarves

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

I made these for the boys in celebration of the release of the final Harry Potter movie, from the leftovers of making my bestfriend and I matching full size scarves. They popped up on my Timehop the other day and the cutest thing is they still wear them on cold days.

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Friday Inspiration: Baby Pumps

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

My Mum bought these for Zander. I'd love to make him another pair when he grows out of them, maybe little crochet converse...

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Monday Make: Finn Hat

Monday Make: This week's project

I started this at least two winters ago, and found it while tidying up. It only needed the ears stitching up and the velcro adding to the strap, but of course these things take much longer to get around to than anything else. 

I can't remember how I did, and apparently I have to make another one for Bean, so I'm going to have to look at it really hard and work out what I did. As with most things, I made it up as I went along, re-did it several times until I was happy, so it may take me some time. 

I am mildly annoyed by the stitch change half way down the hat, but there's probably nothing I can do about that, it's totally the easiest way to make it without having lots of parts to stitch up. 

I'll update when I make Bean's, possibly with a pattern.

Friday Inspiration: Baby Headphones Hat

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

Freaky baby doll but epic and easy to make hat :)

Friday Inspiration: Crochet Stitch

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

#tbt: Crochet Zigzag Blanket

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

I bought this wool a few years before I actually got round to using it and it was originally intended to make the boys a cute blanket for their room. At the time I was thinking granny squares in a lovely pattern. I got as far as drawing out the design but of course I've no idea where that's gone.

I came across this stitch when I first taught myself how to crochet, in the bloody brilliant book I used to do so. I always thought it'd be amazing to try, so at some point, possibly about three years ago, I went for it.

It's actually really simple once you get into the swing of it.

I don't know how long it took me, but it must've been at least a year. It was one of the projects that sits around in the living room, driving Mr Strawberry barmy, but since its been finished, it's been draped over one of the sofas and it's completely gorgeous.

I kind of wish it was slightly bigger, but that's all the wool I had so never mind.

If you're thinking of giving it a go, google 'spike crochet stitch'. I'm sure you'll get better instructions than I can provide ;)