Guest Blogger Week 112 ~ Bowties and Fezzes

I would like to welcome 

Adriana Bon

from  Bowties and Fezzes

Raspberry jam jar cover

All around the north hemisphere, 

tons and tons of people are getting ready for the berry summer bounty. 

The pacific northwest is known for its abundance of berries 

and every season, my husband and I head towards our favorite ‘u-pick’ spot 

and get as many pounds of blueberries and raspberries as we can.

Since our small freezer can’t accommodate the large amount of juicy berries we pick, 

making jam has become a routine post-picking process. 

Some of that jam, often goes to friends and family as Xmas gifts 

or just a small something to make their pantry more exciting.

Cute labels are a must, but what better way to dress up your jam than a crocheted jam cover? 

This one was made using  100% cotton, which I highly recommend using for 

any kitchen crochet projects. 

A simple change of yarn color makes it adaptable to any jam flavor you like. 

Red strawberry, purple-ish blueberry and even peach orange!

 The possibilities are endless. 

And without further ado, here is the pattern:

Bobble jam cover

(instructions are in US terms, thus sc is the UK double crochet )

Crochet hook size 5 mm.

Gauge: after rounds 1, 2 and 3, your diameter should be about 7 cm. Enough to cover a small mouth jar.

Special stitches

Triple bobble stitch (TBS): yarn over and insert hook into stitch. Yarn over and draw a loop through the stitch. Yarn over and draw through two loops on hook. 2 loops remaining. *Yarn over and insert hook into stitch. Yarn over and draw a loop through the stitch. Yarn over and draw through two loops on the hook* twice.  Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.

Quadruple bobble stitch (QBS): yarn over and insert hook into stitch. Yarn over and draw a loop through the stitch. Yarn over and draw through two loops on hook. 2 loops remaining. *Yarn over and insert hook into stitch. Yarn over and draw a loop through the stitch. Yarn over and draw through two loops on the hook* three times. Yarn over and draw through all loops on hook. 

Pattern

Form a magic ring and make 6 sc in the loop. Join to first sc to close.

Row 1: Ch1. Sc in the same st. TBS in same st. *sc and TBS in next st* 5 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (6 TBS and 6 sc)

Row 2: Ch1. 2 sc in same st. 2 sc in each st around. (24 sc)

Row 3: Ch 1. Sc in the same st. QBS in same st. *sc and QBS in next st* 11 times. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 QBS and 12 sc)

Row 4: Ch1. Sc in each st around. (24 sc)

Row 5: Ch1. *Sc in first st, QBS in next st* around. ( 12 QBS and 12 sc)

Row 6: Repeat row 4

Row 7: Repeat row 5

Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Links:

Blog,    Etsy,   Facebook,   Pinterest, Ravelry

Wow thank you ever so much Adriana for sharing your wonderful pattern!

My mother-in-law makes a lot of jams so I'll be crocheting up some for her.

I hope you'll all join me in thanking Adriana

and check out her links to her other brilliant patterns!

Little Red is already asking me to make the Knight Helmet :-)

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Good News!

Dear All,

I just thought I would drop you a line to let you know

I'll be coming back to blogging!

I've missed you all sooo much.

I'm hoping to start back a week on Monday.

Little Red is off next week so I'll be spending my time with him.

I have been to the doctors and he has confirmed my suspicions

that it is highly likely I have developed fibromyalgia

as well as the CFS.

I have been trying some new meds and a tens machine

so I am hoping that the pain can stay under control so I

can at least function slightly.

There is still a long road to go but at least now 

my Dr. and I can treat it in the best way possible.

Due to my health I have decided I'm not going to

bring back the linkies for the time being.

I can't guarantee how much I'll be able to blog

so I'm going to keep it very flexible.

On the times I can post I'll hopefully get a few scheduled 

so it will seem like I'm here more often ;-).

I hope you enjoy me being back.

I've got a few things I've made to show off

and some reviews of some amazing books.

Thanks for all your well wishes!!!

It really made me feel a lot better!

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Guest Blogger Week 111 ~ Peacock and Rose

I would like to welcome

Catherine

From Peacock & Rose

A little story woven into every one ...

It started with Grandma’s button box – 

a treasure chest of memories that became an inspiration for original designs.

A swirling gypsy skirt of rich magenta and cerise tones in repurposed and vintage fabrics. 

The Peacock & Rose signature photo style is inspired by outer space spiral galaxy photos

Once upon a time, and a very long time ago now, 

I would sit on the hearth-rug at Grandma’s 

and her black cat would ignore me. 

So I turned to the button box, loving to rummage and run the buttons and beads through my fingers.  

Many years later the button box became mine.

In those days I was imprisoned in an office, 

trying to grow my hair long enough to let down for the handsome prince to climb up and rescue me. 

(The prince, it turned out, worked in the office, too. But that’s another story). 

All the while, when the office goblins let me visit home, 

I created beautiful things for my friends, and myself, sewing 

and stitching into the night as you do in fairy tales. 

And the button box helped. It had helped with my first tentative, dressmaking. 

It helped when I grew into a skilled seamstress. 

And it even helped with my first interior design assignment, and it gave me a colour- wheel all of buttons.

  

Some upcycled African print fabric and the shield-shaped button 

that reminded me of tribal warriors inspired this brooch

At last, when the button box saw that I was ill and fading under the office goblins’ spells, 

it snapped its lid at them and sent them away. 

And together we created Peacock & Rose.

The button box still helps, and has been joined by a magpie collection of rediscovered 

and vintage materials that, quite honestly, can look like a pile of old junk. 

Until it gets the Peacock & Rose treatment, that is. 

This 1920s wedding veil was, literally, held together by dust! 

I carefully cleaned it and supported the usable fragments between new tulle, 

then complemented the original embroidery with beaded tassel detail. 

It’s not often I get time to design a piece for myself but I wore the finished stole 

with a 50s Liberty dress for our wedding in 2012.

I rescue no-longer-loved textiles, broken jewellery, found objects and more. 

These are lovingly worked into creative and individual designs with strong eco and ethical credentials. 

I know from my customers that they value that fragment of embroidery, 

scrap of lace, or flea-market button each with its own history (or herstory) 

that gives their item such a different character from mass-produced trimmings.

“Does my bum look big in this?”

“Oooohhhh yes!”

Extra-bustle-y, squirrel –tail ‘Rag Queen’ bustle.

My designs range from beautiful bags and unique accessories to quirky 

and original altered couture, festival wear and tribal belly dance costume. 

Anything can come my way. 

I’ve just completed a squirrel-tail bustle in my ‘Rag Queen’ style for a tribal dancer, 

am working on a slave/warrior custom design to ship to the States. 

Then there’s whole shoe-box FULL of Liberty fabric samples going back around 50 years, 

to be transformed into wedding decorations that will bring happy memories 

of Grandma to my client’s celebration.

And button box waits faithfully for me when I go out to share with others 

how creativity is therapy and can help make their story a better one.

You can visit and share the story at my Etsy store

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/peacockandrose

on Facebook at 

https://www.facebook.com/PeacockRoseDesign

and find a range of lovely things, including Peacock & Rose at 

https://www.facebook.com/ArtParadeGallery

Wow what an amazing story!

I love the fact that from a box of buttons something so beautiful

is created.

I have always loved my mums button tin.

Once I started crafting in my own home I started

my own button tin.

I now have 2 and 2 jars as well.

I hope you will all check out Catherine's links!

She has a lot of amazing items!

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Guest Blogger Week 111 ~ Boyten's Blog

I would like to welcome

Katrine Boyten

From Boyten's Blog

My Make do and Mend journey

What started out as a passing interest in the idea of making do and mending took on a life of it’s own over the course of a year.  From a small child I’ve always been interested in sewing, painting and crafting things.  I’ve been delighted that over the last few years crafting skills have become popular.  No more hiding my cross-stitch interest as I had previously done in my twenties – over 20 years ago.  Back then it was seen as just another quirk of mine, adding to the ex-art student image.

So I decided to take the plunge and create a facebook page to provide an outlet for my creativity in the spirit of make do and mend.  Putting yourself “out there” on the internet can be scary but also cathartic.  Modern life can be very hectic and I do find that the simple act of posting something take you out of the, at times, relentless cycle of responsibilities.  It’s so good to take a moment of two to tap into the creative self, to remember and to nurture that side of yourself.  I really enjoy the interaction with other internet users too and have been delighted when people I’ve never met have joined in too.  Having a theme has kept me focussed too.  The idea of making do and mending is one that I’m familiar with having had periods of enforced frugality in my life.  Not much fun at the time, but it’s quite stunning how much you can make out of very little when you really have to!  I find that concept a very creative one and also one that perhaps I’m drawn to because of my easily distracted attention span.   I-want-to-do-everything-and-I-want-to-do-it-now was something I really battled with when I was younger and I’m sure resonates with many creative people.  Making do and mending can bring things sharply into focus and for me it also prompts deeper thought processes such as environmental impact. 

My year of blogging on www.katrineboyten.com has seen me try a number of crafty things such as knitting a patchwork blanket, making a bag from an old pair of jeans and fashioning a bag and fashioning a pair of leg-warmers out of the arms of an old sweater.   I’ve also become a bit of a “greeny” and have become quite aware of environmental issues.  I’ve also realised that in our busy lives it’s quite hard to totally embrace the idea of make do and mend so I’d welcome more awareness and anything to make it easier for us all to help the cause, so to speak.

Next on my agenda is learning to crochet!  As I often do, I got carried away one day in a craft shop and bought myself a book on crochet.  I’ve can do the basic stitch (would like to say I’ve mastered it, but that would be stretching the truth a bit!) but would probably fare better in a class setting or the crochet equivalent of a sewing bee.  Anyone know if there’s a term for a gathering of crochet enthusiasts? 

Kat x

Wow you have done so much in the year!

I'm going to be an avid follower from now on!

I hope you'll all join me in thanking Kat.

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Taking A Break

Dear All,

I have decided due to my health and some other reasons

I am going to take a break.
I am currently undergoing investigations as to whether I have
developed Fibromyalgia as well as CFS.
Whilst I am going through the process and the alterations to my medication
I am taking a break.

I hope to be back in the future.

I will keep my blog open so you can still

access all my free patterns and reviews.
I hope to pop in every so often when I'm up to it.

I want to thank you all for your support!!!

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Cast On, Bind Off ~ Book Review

Cast On, Bind Off
by Cap Sease
ISBN: 9781604684292
Publisher: Martingale
Publication Date: April 15th, 2014
RRP: £14.99
Photography by:  Martingale, and their Photographer Brent Kane

Wow I didn't know that their could be that many ways to cast on and bind off.

Now I know I can see how valuable to buy this book.

It makes such a difference to a project depending on which method you use.

The techniques are presented with step-by-step written instructions, 

clear how-to illustrations, and a photo of the finished edge.

With each method you learn the advantages and disadvantages, 

including suggestions for when to use it.

You discover workhorse and specialty cast ons and bind offs for colorwork, 

cuffs, ruffles, fringe, lace buttonholes, and more.

There are 120 ways to cast on and 80 different ways to bind off.

It's amazing the difference each method has.

Everything you need to know about the method is with each type.

This will be a fantastic book to have at your availability 

when ever making a project.

You can even use it to alter patterns you already have to make

them look better.

This book trys to take all the confusion away

and put all the different methods to a specific name and type.

You won't be confused anymore and you'll easily be able

to pick the correct method for each project.

This book will be an excellent addition to any knitters library.

I am sure designers will find it invaluable.

Could this book be the difference to your knitted projects?

   

I received a copy of the eBook to review. 

However all opinions expressed are my own.

Affiliate links are included on the post.

No monies were received in return for this review. 

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I've Made Friday Week 108

I hope you've all had a good week & are looking forward to the weekend!

If there aren't any projects here it's not because I'm not making anything.

It just means I'm spending time with my son over the Easter Holidays.

I wanted to make sure the post was here as I didn't want

you all to miss out on Linking up just because of me.

Once everything is back to normal and Little Red is back at school

normal service will resume.

I hope you are having a good week!

If I don't reply to any of your comments

please know I read them all.

I've got to be careful with my disability so 

I'm not able to do as much at the moment.

I do love reading all your comments so please don't stop!

I will reply when I'm able to!

Now it's time for linky love.

Please feel free to share anything you've made.

• Please visit other people to see what they have made.
• Add the link to here on your blog so we can share the linky love.
• I will try and visit as many people as possible.
• I will reply to all comments as soon as I can

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/search/label/I%27ve%20Made%20Friday" title="Crochet Addict UK I've Made Friday" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPP7sHinauEsQHoVpDxvGS59R32pr_OvBxkWHHcBZZ6jVihS-kcBpH_qGVGZwGffx6JiUXkBb7gWY9SmzxBgWvZNeMHEghsXutgGFeNIZLIwFVL9WUT-KhUDAwpGlIphtdjsKY57T6Rk/w158-h190-p-no/" alt="Crochet Addict UK I've Made Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Check Out Some of my Free Crochet Patterns:

  

  

 I'm also linking up with:

  

  

Mister Linky's Magical Widgets -- Thumb-Linky widget will appear right here!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
If this widget does not appear, click here to display it.

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The Big Book of Crochet Stitches ~ Book Review

The Big Book of Crochet Stitches

by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss

ISBN: 9781604684506

Publisher: Martingale

Publication Date: February 11th, 2014

RRP: Print Version + eBook $19.99 eBook Only $14.99

Photography by:  Martingale, and their Photographer Brent Kane

As you know I love books of stitches and this is going

to be a firm favourite.

Each stitch is detailed in written instructions so you can replicate it in your projects.

As a designer I sometimes struggle for inspiration, a stitch can set off

that inspiration and make the process so much easier.

You can use the stitches to make an afghan, placemat, coaster without

having to make any changes.

You can make your project to your own size.

It's made so much easier by having a beautiful stitch to follow.

Their are stitches for all levels of crocheter and you can use them

to expand your skills.

With over 350 stitches the only problem you may have is deciding which to choose!

The book is split into types of stitch and then within there you

have each stitch available.

The pictures are clear and the instructions are easy to understand.

The samples are all photographed in colour so it makes it easier

for you to see the look of the stitch.

Be aware that some of these stitches have been used in other publications

by the authors.

The difference is you now have all of these stitches at hand

in this one book.

The book doesn't include diagrams but the written instructions

are clear and easy to understand.

The vast array of stitches is amazing.

So if you love to learn new stitches, want it as a reference guide

then this book is perfect.

   

I received a copy of the eBook to review. 

However all opinions expressed are my own.

Affiliate links are included on the post.

No monies were received in return for this review. 

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