Mini Crochet Advent Caravans!

 I just wanted to remind you of this project I made for Christmas last year. This is one of my favourite patterns ever and I am so looking forward to filling them up with goodies for our tree again. You can find the pattern here.

Lots of love,
Kate. xxx

How to Crochet a Mini Christmas Wreath

With Christmas creeping up (at least in the world of handmade as there is only so much 'making' time until December), I thought it would be fun to add a festive project to the Lakeside Cabin from "Let's Go Camping! Crochet Your Own Adventure". A wreath for the door. Of course, once I made that, the caravan (also in the book) looked bereft. Now, I can't stop making mini decorations....

p.s. please ignore the paint on my fingers in the photos.

Materials:

gold or silver 4ply yarn

embroidery thread (or 4ply yarn) in red and green (or white)

needle

Abbreviations (US terminology)

ch = chain

st/s = stitch/stiches

ss = slip stitch

sc = single crochet

sk = skip

N.B. All rounds are worked in continuous spirals

 Round 1. Using 2.5mm crochet hook and gold yarn, ch10. Ss back into the first ch to form a loop.

Round 2. Working over the 10ch loop rather than into it, crochet 12sc evenly distributed around the loop. Ss back into the first sc. (12)

Round 3. *1sc, 2sc into the next st. Repeat from * until end of round. (18)

Round 4. *2sc, 2sc into the next st. Repeat from * until end of round. (24)

Round 4. *3sc, sk one st. Repeat from * until end of round. (18)

This will cause the wreath to start curving back around like a donut.

Round 5. *2sc, sk one st. Repeat from * until end of round. (12)

 Fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the first and last round together through the central hole.

For the French Knots 

Secure the thread to the wreath then wrap the needle anywhere between 1 - 4 times. 

 Place the tip of the needle back through the wreath and draw through the wraps.

 After a few french knots have been embroidered, thread the needle with green yarn and scatter some straight stitches to create leaves. Continue on with french knots until you think "Wahoo".

At this stage, my wreath is so new I have it stuck to the caravan with a needle. However, because it's going onto the door temporarily, I will fastsen it on with small pieces of double sided sticky tape - then it will be easy to remove after Christmas.

The  Lakeside Cabin wreath was made with a gold base and white embroidery thread for the french knots. 

If you are feeling particularly festive, you could attach a brooch back and wear it on your shirt!

Let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions.

Lots of love,

Kate. xxx

Monday Morning

 The boys are back at school today. The holidays have been wonderful but there is such a sense of joy that floods through my being when they hop onto the school bus ready to fill their minds with all sorts of things (mainly at lunchtime when they hang out with their friends). 

As you've probably picked up over the past few years, I'm not one for housework. But there is something almost mystical about that moment when you sweep and the floor stays looking sparkly for more than 5 minutes. I'm having a moment aren't I!

Anyhoo - I wanted to show you the watercolour above that my neighbour Dominique painted for my birthday.

 And that's me, blue hair and all, balancing on my own pair of stilts. I did have blue hair for the first half of this year but now it's blond. I like to think it's been captured for eternity in this painting. Look at the tiger's expression!

My dogs were looking a little sheepish this morning being used to store pav hats and birds so I had to take a photograph of them. Poor little things.

And I couldn't not show you my wisteria wisteriaring away. It's a glorious spot for a cup of tea or glass of wine.

 And my first bunch of roses. Yip, yip, wahoo!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxx

Birthday Presents!

 I am feeling utterly spoilt today after a wonderful birthday yesterday. Hugo (9) and I were at the local market last week when I spotted a salad sprouting kit which I thought was wonderful. Hugo stowed it away, later explaining it to Jonno. And together, they made one just for me! Archie (12) snuck away an enormous and very much forgotten glass jar I had filled with odds and ends and turned it into the most beautiful terrarium. So I am feeling very fortunate. I'm so glad they already have that ethos we all cherish in blogland, of making something special for someone you love. 

So today Hugo and I are going to start sprouting some seeds he bought. Very exciting..... watch this space!
Lots of love,
Kate. xxx