Toys, toys and George the turtle

Hello! So it's really not been very long since my last post, but I've got something super exciting that I can't wait any longer to tell you.

For a (very long) while I've been working on my first proper pattern, George the turtle. Isn't he cute?

George the turtle came about when I wanted to make a small toy for my then one year old - I told you I'd been working on it for a while! – we’d been to the aquarium and had been fascinated by them. I couldn’t find a small, quick pattern I liked so I made George.

I'm going to give you a bit more information about the pattern now, in advance of the actual pattern being published on my blog in two weeks time.

Notes on the pattern 

Dc2tog is a decrease over 2sts – I suggest using an invisible decrease (so first part through front loops only)

2dc into same stitch – this is the increase.

The number in brackets at end of round is the number of stitches you should have.

The pattern is worked in a spiral, with no turning or joining at ends of rounds, so using a marker helps to keep track of rounds.

When using magic circles, after closing sew in the ends securely so they won’t come undone.

Abbreviations

Dc - double crochet

tog - together

St(s) - stitch(es)


UK terms will be used throughout the pattern

Really important point that last one which is why I've made it bold and underlined it.

Materials you'll need to make your own George

Small amount of wool – I’ve used leftover DK

Appropriate hook (largest size that doesn’t leave holes) – I’ve used a 3mm

Small amount of toy stuffing

Stitch marker or different colour thread to keep track of the rounds

Noise maker (optional – if you want it to rattle)

Needle for sewing

Scissors

So, hopefully you're now set and know everything you need to in advance of the pattern being released on Tuesday 13 February, at 1pm.  I'm so excited to see other little turtles that get made.

Other toys

So in addition to that really exciting news, I have managed to make a few other toys over the months I didn't update my blog.

Probably my favourite is this snow leopard - they're one of my favourite animals. The wool is gorgeous alpaca, dyed by Lisa at Made by Penguins.  If you've not come across them and you like hand dyed wool I strongly suggest you have a look at some of the lovely things she sells!  Anyway, here's my snow leopard:

The colours work beautifully and saved me so much colour changing! Plus the end result is beautifully soft.  I have plenty left over so when I find time I think I'll make a mini version.

I've also had the pleasure of testing a couple of toy patterns recently - firstly this adorable panda that I turned into a rattle toy, designed by Itchy Crochet. The pattern is now available - it was really easy to follow and quick to make. My toddler did try to claim it, however it was a gift for a new baby. I think it's quite cute!

The second is this guinea pig by the talented Alison of petalscraftsandme. The pattern is coming soon and is really great. It has instructions on exactly where to put eyes etc so you can be sure of making a cute little creature. I tested the 'Ginger' version, using sirdar snuggly spots and here's the result:

I loved testing both patterns, so thank you Alison and Amanda for letting me. 

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say, so hopefully I'll see you back in two weeks for George the turtle's pattern. Wishing you much crafty time before then!

Nine months later... All things baby (especially blankets)

I can hardly believe it's been nine months since my last post! A lot (an awful lot) has happened in that time, as you'll know if you've seen my Instagram. Scroll past the next two paragraphs if you're not interested and just want to get to the crafty stuff!

Last time I was writing a blog post I was about to sit what I hoped would be my final exam. Well, it didn't go to plan (more on why in a minute) and I failed. So up to the end of September I had to focus really hard and try again - along with some exam counselling that resulted in me passing my last ever exam and becoming a qualified actuary. Probably means nothing to most of you but just know it was nearly seven years of hard work to get there, and they're very tough exams. I'm so pleased they're finally done (I'll have more crafting time!) and I now just need to get the paperwork sorted to make it all official.

Now the second big thing that happened is the birth of my second child - another gorgeous girl! I hadn't announced on here that I was even expecting - it was a difficult pregnancy (which affected my ability to study significantly) and along with the study is why I've not updated this blog in so long. She arrived at the end of November, rather dramatically as she didn't wait until we got to the hospital and instead the paramedics arrived just in time to deliver her at home! I've made so many cute baby items for her, but her favourite is this blanket, which she loves playing peekaboo with:

To be honest the blanket is very soft and squishy so I'm not surprised she likes it! It's tempting to make one for myself... Being made in wondersoft baby dk held double it worked up very quickly too. The main part of the blanket is simply rows of double crochet into the back loop, and the border is seven trebles into the same stitch (missing three stitches either side) interspersed with double crochet stitches to make the maths work! Here's a picture of the whole blanket:

I also became a little obsessed with baby hats at the end of pregnancy - good job too given how cold it's been. Though I did find time to knit myself a hat, pattern from TOFT:

It's made in TOFT chunky which is a luxury wool but so worth it as it's made the softest warmest hat I've ever owned. The TOFT fluffy pompom adds the perfect finishing touch.

Here are a couple more of my makes over the period - these were a gift for my best friend Claire who was due just a few weeks after me:

The toy is the polar bear from Edward's menagerie by Kerry Lord. The blanket is a granny square, and for the edging I simply did chain five loops between the chain spaces, then again chain five loops from the centre of each loop. I love the way it finished it off.

Yet another baby blanket I made is this pastel granny stripe, pictured here with one of the many hats I made:

It's made in stylecraft special dk, and I've had the colours picked out for a long while without a specific plan. I've used candyfloss, pale peach, apricot, lemon, spring green, sherbet, cloud blue, lavender and wisteria. For the border I did (2 treble crochet, chain 2, two treble crochet) into each chain space after doing a round of granny stitch all the way round. Here's a closer picture of the border:

The other thing I was planning to make lots of, but didn't quite get round to, is baby booties. I got a few pairs finished in time (and a few more pairs are still in the making) - of those these from TOFT have to be my favourite as they are just so soft and warm as I made them from baby alpaca wool:

That is a pretty good recap of just some of the things I've been making over the last nine months. Now it's a new year I've decided to make a new start on this blog - I know I've said that before but this time I mean it and I won't have exams getting in the way. Going forwards I hope to update it every couple of weeks. Being on maternity leave for most of the year I'll hopefully get lots of crafting done - at least I will do once baby starts to sleep! I've got some very exciting things in the pipeline, and so many ideas buzzing round my head I think 2018 is going to be very exciting indeed.