Monday 30 September 2013

Easy Snowflake Christmas Decoration

These little decorations are really easy to make ~

Easy Snowflake Christmas Decorations




 

They are simple to vary .....
Make them in one colour, or with a contrast colour edging
 
or make them two tone
with the centre and edging in the same colour
  
 


 

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-snowflake-christmas-decoration 

 
To make the Snowflake Motif ~
 
These instructions use UK terminology
 
Use a medium weight yarn. I made these with DK yarn and a 4mm hook.
 
Chain 3 stitches and join with a slip stitch into a circle.
 
Chain 1, then make 5 double crochet stitches into the circle. Join with a slip stitch. (6sts)
 
Chain 5, then make 3 trebles and chain 2 into next 5 stitches, make 2 trebles in last stitch and join to first 5 chain with a slip stitch.
 
 
 
Chain 2, then (make 2 trebles, chain 3, make 3 trebles) into the first chain space, then (make 3 trebles, chain 3, make 3 trebles) into each chain space all around. Join with a slip  stitch.


 
 
To make an edging ( if desired) ~ in the same or a contrasting colour
 
Double crochet all around.
 
 

 
 
To make a hanging cord ( if desired) ~ chain 30. Attach to the motif.
 
 
 
Have fun .....
 
Grab button for Oombawka Design
 
 
 
 




Saturday 28 September 2013

Baby's First Christmas

My friend's daughter recently had a beautiful little baby girl ~ and I have really enjoyed making little garments for her. Then, as I have been making mini Christmas stocking decorations for a school bazaar I suddenly had the idea of making a little stocking to celebrate a baby's first Christmas. It's funny how two different projects have merged into a new one!


 



You will find the pattern instruction for the Mini Christmas Stockings on me earlier blog post ~

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/i-know-that-it-is-only-september.html


 
 
 
 
 
And don't forget to enter my free prize give-away!
There are only a few days left to enter.....
 

More details at     

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/september-give-away.html

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Very Easy Fingerless Mittens

Such a simple design ~ and with such a great result.

very easy fingerless mittens

very easy fingerless mittens in bright cilours
 
I run a knitting club in the school where I work. This is usually the first project for the new knitters.
It is cute, easy, and fairly quick to make.
 
 

The mittens are worked flat. Simple garter stitch to begin, then stocking stitch for the main part, finished off with garter stitch again.
It teaches the cast on, the two main knitting stitches - knit and purl, and cast off.
The side seam is then joined, leaving a gap for the thumb.
Easy & effective.
 
 

 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/marianna-mel/district-diy-mittens-2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Don't forget to enter my FREE prize give-away!
More details at     

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/september-give-away.html 

 

Sunday 22 September 2013

Candystripe Knitted Baby Hats

I recently had a great afternoon out - lunch in a pretty pub overlooking the river in Wareham. It was so pretty. The food was excellent, the sun shone and I had great company ...... What could be better?  Well finding a wool shop nearby of course! So I bought a ball of pretty baby yarn so that I could take part of the day home with me and make it last just a little bit longer .......

I made these pretty little baby hats

 
Candystripe Baby hat with crochet flower

Candystripe Baby hat with ribbon bow


Candystripe Baby hat with applique flower


Each hat took only 11g so I will be able to make quite a few more.
 
 
 
 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/candystripe-newborn-baby-hat

 
Basic Candystripe Baby Hat - premature baby
 
Using 3.25 mm needles cast on 57sts for a premature baby
 
Work 8 rows in K1, P1 rib
 
Change to 4mm needles and work in stocking stitch ( one row knit, one row purl ) until 8cm in length from the beginning
 
Shape Crown
Row 1:   S1, * k5, k 2 tog, repeat from * to end
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10:   Purl across row
Row 3:   S1, * k4, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 5:   S1, * k3, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 7:   S1, * k2, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 9:   S1, * k1, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 11:  S1, * k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 12:  S1, * p2 tog, repeat from * to end
 
Cut off yarn, leaving a tail. Thread tail onto a needle and pass through remaining stitches. Pull to gather up.
Sew side seam. Weave in ends.
 
 
Basic Candystripe Baby Hat - newborn baby
 
Using 3.25 mm needles cast on 64sts for a newborn baby
 
Work 10 rows in K1, P1 rib
 
Change to 4mm needles and work in stocking stitch ( one row knit, one row purl ) until 10cm in length from the beginning
 
Shape Crown
Row 1:   S1, * k5, k 2 tog, repeat from * to end
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10:   Purl across row
Row 3:   S1, * k4, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 5:   S1, * k3, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 7:   S1, * k2, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 9:   S1, * k1, k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 11:  S1, * k2 tog, repeat from * to end
Row 12:  S1, * p2 tog, repeat from * to end
 
Cut off yarn, leaving a tail. Thread tail onto a needle and pass through remaining stitches. Pull to gather up.
Sew side seam. Weave in ends.
 
 

 
 
Grab button for Oombawka Design
 
Find my patterns at ~
 


Wednesday 11 September 2013

Mini Christmas Stocking Decorations ~ for school craft fair


Christmas IS coming.......

And didn't you say - next year I WILL be more organized?
 
Here are some cute little Mini Christmas Stockings to get you in the mood!
  
collection of striped mini Christmas stockings
  
 
 Mini Christmas Stockings
 
Using DK yarn & 4mm needles, cast on 20sts
Knit 2 rows
Beginning with a knit row, work in stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl) for 16 rows
 
Shape heel as follows -
Row 1:  K12, turn
Row 2:  P4, turn
Row 3:  K6, turn
Row 4:  P8, turn
Row 5:  K10, turn
Row 6:  P12, turn
Row 7:  K14, turn
Row 8:  P16, turn
Row 9:  Knit to end
 
Beginning with a purl row, work in stocking stitch (one row knit, one row purl) for 8 rows
 
Shape toe as follows -
P 2tog all across row  (10sts)
K 2tog all across row  (5sts)
Break off yarn.
Thread the yarn on to a needle and thread it through the remaining sts.
Pull tightly and fasten off.
Sew up side seam.
 
Make a twisted cord, or crochet chain, or add a ribbon for hanging.
 
These cute little mini stockings look great in stripes - and any combination of colours look great.
 
I  have been making these for a school craft fair. I will put some sweets in each.
50 made ~ and I'm not finished yet!
 
 

 
Have fun!  
 
 You will find lots more of my Xmas ideas at ~

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/p/christmas-crafts.html
 
 
 
 

Monday 9 September 2013

Rosebud Baby Girl Cardigan Jacket


I designed this cute little baby girl jacket for a beautiful new baby called Rosie


Rosebud Baby Girl Crochet Cardigan Jacket

Pink Rosebud Baby Girl Crochet Cardigan Jacket
 
 
Welcome to the world Rosie - and huge Congratulations to your proud Mum & Dad
 
"A baby is the greatest gift that life can bring"

 
 

 http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rosebud-baby-girl-crochet-cardigan-jacket

 

Rosebud Baby Girl Crochet Jacket         For a baby of around 6 - 9 months

Written in UK terminology.
 
Chunky yarn   100g main colour, plus a little in a contrasting colour for the borders
5.5mm hook 

Worked from the top down

Foundation Chain 46

R1:  Dc in second ch from hook, dc in every chain to end.   45sts

R2:  Ch2, turn, trc in second st, * 2tc in next st, tc in next 3sts * repeat from * to * to last 3 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 2sts.

R3:  Ch2, turn, trc in first st, 1tc,  * 2tc in next st, tc in next 4sts * repeat from * to * to last 4 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 3sts.

R4:  Ch2, turn, trc in first st, 2tc,  * 2tc in next st, tc in next 5sts * repeat from * to * to last 5 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 4sts.

R5:  Ch2, turn, trc in first st, 3tc,  * 2tc in next st, tc in next 6sts * repeat from * to * to last 6 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 5sts.

R6:  Ch2, turn, trc in first st, 4tc,  * 2tc in next st, tc in next 7sts * repeat from * to * to last 7 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 6sts.

R7:  Ch2, turn, trc in first st, 5tc,  * 2tc in next st, tc in next 8sts * repeat from * to * to last 8 sts, 2tc in next st, tc in next 7sts.

Divide for the armholes

R8:  Ch2, turn, trc in second st, 14tc, ch3, skip the next 25sts, tc in next 34sts, ch3, skip the next 25sts, tc in next 16sts.

R9:  Ch2, turn, trc in second st, 14tc, tc in each of 3 chain spaces, tc in next 34sts, tc in each of 3 chain spaces, tc in next

       16sts

R10:  Ch2, turn, trc across

Repeat row 10 7 or 8 times more until the jacket is the required length. Finish off.

Armhole edging

For each armhole – dc around. . Finish off.

 

For the borders – Using a contrast colour, dc all around jacket and both armhole edges. Finish off.

 

Darn away ends. Add a pretty ribbon rosebud.

 



 

 

Saturday 7 September 2013

Sweet Little Feet

I made these beautiful little baby booties this afternoon - I did have some household jobs to do .......
but they will have to wait for another day.......

 
sweet little feet - baby booties
 




Aren't babies feet just adorable?
 
 
 
I made these in DK yarn with a 3.5mm crochet hook.
The first one took me a while to make as I wasn't really sure how the pattern worked ~ but after I got the hang of it I found that I could make a pair in an hour. Then I had some fun finding ways to decorate them all differently.
 
 
 
 
 
The basic baby bootie pattern instructions are at
 
I hope you love them as much as I do.
 
 
 
Don't forget to enter my free prize give-away!

More details at     

http://mariannaslazydaisydays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/september-give-away.html