Happy Sunshine with Smiles Mandala

I made this mandala the other day, and have named it "Happy Sunshine with Smiles". It is a mandala for Marinke, aka Wink. I don't think I'll be able to manage to post it off to America, but I thought I could add the image to the interwebs to contribute in some way. Happy thoughts of Peace to everyone. This is one of Marinke's free patterns on her blog, I chose it because I didn't know how to do the spokes and wondered how to do it. I learnt how to do it, found it to be very difficult, but I persisted and it worked out in the end.

I made this in memory of Wink

Growing Zucchini

Well our zucchinis have been looking a bit sad lately, I wonder if its because I haven't been watering them enough? We've been fertilising them fortnightly with a seaweed solution, so perhaps that is enough? When I went out there this morning I discovered a beautiful zucchini flower in full bloom, and two baby zucchinis on another plant so maybe they aren't doing too badly? I've got the sprinkler on them at the moment so they can get a good soaking!

a beautiful zucchini flower in my garden this morning

two baby zucchinis growing in my garden

our modest zucchini patch in a 1.2m square raised bed

the edges of the leaves are a bit yellow

2 ripe bananas muffins

I did an internet search for a recipe that would use 2 ripe bananas as that's what I had and I found this recipe for banana cinnamon muffins. Its an American site so I had to translate the oven temperature to 190 degrees, and I used plain flour and bi-carb of soda. And I didn't do the butter and sugar topping, they are fine just as they are. They turned out deliciously! Nom nom nom!

this recipe for muffins uses 2 ripe bananas

A Colourful Premmie Beanie

I got some feedback on the 9.5cm beanies and they might be a bit on the small side afterall, so I am looking at my original premmie beanie pattern. This pattern is based on the premmie hat I was given when my son was born 2 months early. I made this colourful premmie beanie this morning with a 3.5mm hook and 4 ply yarn and its come out about 13cm wide.  I added an extra round of non-creasing stitches to get to be 12 cm high. Its probably a bit on the big side, but I will keep making them until we find the right fit!

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Chocolate Mohair Scarf

I started this scarf yesterday and finished it today, it was such a lovely quick project to work up and the end result is very satisfying. I haven't made this for anyone in particular, certainly not for myself as I have way to many scarves already! I used a 6.5m hook and some Moda Vera Believe yarn I had in my stash. Its a 49% wool 30% soya and 21% mohair blend. I followed a pattern I found on Ravelry called airy shells. I didn't do the edge though, just ended at a row 2. I wonder if anyone will like this scarf??

this chocolate coloured mohair blend scarf is so light and soft

the pattern is simple but very pretty

the mohair scarf in progess

here the scarf is about 50% complete

the scarf is about 1.4m long

Vintage Inspired Flower in a Square

I just made this square motif for fun, I used a 2mm hook and 4 ply cotton. I was inspired by a square motif my mother gave me, I think my great-grandmother made it. I like how there is a little heart in each corner, isn't it cute? Let me know if you would like the pattern, and I'll write it out.

this square motif was inspired by a sample my great-grandmother made

this sample is very old and has started to fall apart

6 premmie hats off in the post

I am posting off these 6 hats to WA to see if they are actually the right size needed by the ward there, hopefully they fit nicely! If not, I hope to change the pattern to suit! I bought some lovely soft acrylic yarn today and made a colourful hat, I wonder if anyone will use it? I hope it brightens up someone's day! Also included is a 3ply yellow shells premmie beanie that turned out to be 9cm across so I don't know if that is too small, we shall see.

6 premmie hats ready to post

a colourful premmie hat made with marvel soft baby 4 ply and a 3mm hook

this yellow shells premmie hat might be too small, we shall find out

Simple Premmie Beanie, free pattern

Here is a simple pattern for a premmie beanie that should come out around 9.5cm across. I used Patons 4 ply big baby yarn and a 3 mm hook. For a slightly bigger hat, use a 3.5mm hook. This pattern is in UK terms.

this hat was made using Patons 4 ply big baby yarn and a 3mm hook

this hat was made using Patons 4 ply big baby yarn and a 2.5mm hook

Simple Premmie Beanie, UK terms
approx. 4 ply and a 3mm hook
tension 5 trb per inch, or 2.5 cm
1. 3 ch, sl st to 1st ch to form loop, 2 ch (counts as 1st st) 9 trb into loop, sl st to 1st st (10 sts)
2. 2 ch (counts as 1st st), trb into same, (2 trb into next) repeat to end, sl st to 1st st (20 sts)
3. 2 ch (counts as 1st st), trb into same, trb into next (2 trb into next, trb into next) repeat to end, sl st to 1st st (30 sts)
4. 2 ch (counts as 1st st), trb into same, trb into next, trb into next (2 trb into next, trb into next, trb into next) repeat to end, sl st to 1st st (40 sts)
5-10. 2 ch (counts as 1st st), (trb into next) repeat to end, sl st to 1st st (40 sts)
11-12. 1 ch, dc into same, (dc into next) repeat to end, sl st into 1st dc (40 sts)
fasten off and weave in ends

7 Shells Premmie Beanie, free pattern

Here is a pattern for a premmie beanie that measures about 9.5cm across, which might be on the small side and is for the very tiniest of premmie babies. If you use a 3.5mm hook it turns out a little bigger. This pattern is like my Tiny Shells premmie hat pattern, but a bit easier with 2 increasing rounds of dc instead of the hdc shells. This is in US terms, please let me know if you need this in UK terms and I'll write it out.

Please remember these free patterns are copyrighted to Teena Sutton Murphy and should not be reproduced without permission, instead please provide a link back to this blog.

this premmie beanie measures 9.5cm and is made with 4 ply yarn and a 3 mm hook

Shells Premmie Beanie in US terms by Teena Sutton Murphy
3mm hook 4 ply like Patons Big Baby
for a bigger hat try a 3.5mm hook

1. 3 ch sl st to 1st ch to form loop, 2 ch (counts as 1st st) 13 dc into loop, sl st to 1st st (14 sts)
2. 2 ch (counts as 1st st) dc into same (2 dc into ea st around) sl st into 1st st (28 sts)
3. 1 ch sc into same (sk next st, 5 dc into next st, sk next st, sc into next st) repeat 5 more times, sk next st, 5 dc into next st, sk next st, sl st into 1st sc (7 shells)
4-11. 3 ch counts as last st, (sk next 2 sts, sc into next st, sk next 2 sts, 5 dc into next st) repeat 5 more times, sk next 2 sts, sc into next st, sk next st, 4 dc into last sl st of prev round, sl st into 1st sc of this round (7 shells)
12. sl st to next st, 1 ch sc into same st, sc into next 4 dc, (sk sc st, sc into next 5 dc) repeat to end, sl st into 1st sc
13. 1 ch sc into same st, sc into every sc around, sl st into 1st sc, fasten and weave in ends

For alternate brim, round 12 is the same as 4-11 and there is no round 13.

this hat was made with 4 ply yarn and a 3.5mm hook, and has the alternate brim

this pattern is perfect for Patons Big Baby 4 ply, made in Australia

Making 9.5cm premmie beanies

I stumbled across the Tiny Sparks WA facebook page today, and found their website which is asking for a crochet premmie beanie pattern. They need them to be 9.5cm across and 9.5cm tall. The premmie beanies I've made before are slightly bigger than that so I have worked out 2 more patterns that end up being 9.5cm across using a 3mm hook. One pattern is for 4 ply yarn and one pattern is for 3 ply yarn, which I also had in my stash. It was interesting to note that they don't like wool, that they prefer acrylic yarn, which is easier to come by at least. I'm not sure why, maybe the acrylic yarn is easier to wash? I found some acrylic yarn in my stash with the labels still on, the yellow 3 ply has a lovely vintage tag! The 3 ply pattern starts with a round of 10 dc, has a total 4 increasing rounds, 6 non-increasing rounds of dc, and 4 non-increasing rounds of sc. The 4 ply pattern starts with a round of 9 dc, has a total 4 increasing rounds, 6 non-increasing rounds of dc, and 2 non-increasing rounds of sc. I will write out the proper pattern if need be. I can also translate it into UK terms for Australian crocheters.


 

this beanie was made with 3 ply yarn and a 3 mm hook, and starts with a round of 10 dc

this beanie was made with 4 ply yarn and a 3mm hook, and starts with a round of 9 dc

a vintage tag on some acrylic yarn in my stash

 

Potted Dwarf Imperial Mandarin

For my birthday we bought a dwarf imperial mandarin, and potted it into a large pot with 2 x 25L bags of citrus potting mix. We will keep it in a pot for a couple of years, until we make some room in the yard to plant it out. We are waiting to do the retaining wall and fence first, and to also remove a large lily pily tree. The potted lime tree is doing well, despite having to remove branches due to gore wasp, so the mandarin should also do well if we treat it the same. For my birthday I also bought some African daisies, and thought I'd share a photo. Enjoy!

we potted up this dwarf imperial mandarin for my birthday

the potted lime tree is doing well in its new pot

we also got some African daisies from our local Bunnings store

Blue and Green Cushion

This project has been underway for a couple of years, I picked it up again last month and attempted to finish the back which failed dismally as it turned out all wonky. I unravelled the back to start it again. Then I found a photo tutorial on how to turn granny squares into a cushion and followed that, and had a bit more success. I also found this page on cushion insert sizes to help work out the size of the insert. But I didn't use a proper insert for this cushion, I just recycled an old pillow with a new cover. I did a large granny square for the back, and had to make it a bit larger than I counted on, but it's turned out alright in the end. I just like the blue and green colours together, especially since when I was a little girl I was told blue and green should never be seen together without another colour in between! But I think they look good together, don't you?

blue and green should never be seen except with a colour in between!

the tiny granny squares took a long time to join together

one side of the cushion is made up of 64 tiny granny squares

the wonky back I unravelled

the back of the cushion ended up being one large granny square

Gluten-free Diabetic Friendly Trifle

Well today was my birthday and we had a lovely day, we even made a trifle to celebrate! We made a gluten free sponge cake yesterday, I would use smart sugar, or stevia sugar, to make this diabetic friendly. We made half the sponge cake from this recipe of a prize winning gluten-free sponge cake. One sponge cut up is enough to cover the bottom of my trifle bowl. Then I used a low-joule jelly, one packet made about 700ml of jelly and that was enough to go on top of the cake. Then I used a tin of Australian peaches, next time I will use two. Then 3 cups of custard made with lactose free milk and a little more smart sugar, or stevia sugar. Next time, I think I will make 4 cups of custard. I finished off with strawberries and Australian blueberries, which made the final result quite pretty, if I do say so myself! Thomas had fun helping put the trifle together, it's quite straight forward and he couldn't wait to taste it!

this trifle is gluten-free, lactose-free and diabetic friendly

assembling a trifle is a fun activity for a young cook

Frangipani Square, free pattern

I've turned my frangipani flower into a square! Now this can be used as a block for rugs and other projects using squares! First you make a frangipani flower following my free pattern, there is also a photo tutorial that hopefully helps a little bit.

you can now turn the frangipani flower into a square for making rugs and other projects that require squares

Round 1 to 3 Make a Frangipani Flower

4. attach yarn to outside of wheel of round 1, 2 ch (counts as 1st st) 3 dc into ch sp, 4 dc into next ch sp of wheel of round 1, repeat to end, sl st to 2nd ch (20 sts)
5. 2 ch (counts as 1st st) dc into sl st, 2 dc into next st, repeat to end, sl st into 1st st (a circle of 40 sts)
6. [sc into next 4 sts, hdc into next 2 sts, (3 dc) into next st, 3 ch, (3 dc) into next st, hdc into next 2 sts] repeat to end, sl st into 1st sc

Frangipani Flower, free pattern and photo tutorial

I wrote this pattern for a frangipani flower in 2012 and have had it for sale in my Ravelry store since 2013, but now I have decided to share it as a free pattern! I have taken some photos, hopefully they help a bit. I have also a pattern for making this into a square for an afghan block to make rugs with! I will blog about that very soon!

this frangipani flower is now a free pattern

Frangipani Flower in 3 rounds by T.S. Murphy

In yellow or dark pink, or other colour of your choosing

1. 3 ch sl st into 1st ch to form loop, 6 ch (counts as 1st spoke), (dc into loop, 3 ch) repeat 3 more times, sl st into 3rd ch to finish round (a wheel of 5 spokes)
2. sl st around spoke, 2 ch 3 dc around spoke 2 ch sl st around spoke (one petal), 3 ch sl st to outside of wheel in next ch sp (sl st around next spoke, 2 ch 3 dc around spoke 2 ch sl st around spoke) repeat 3 more times for 5 petals, 3 ch sl st to outside of wheel in next ch sp, fasten off

In white or pale pink, or other colour of your choosing

3. attach yarn to outside of wheel in front of a petal, (1 ch sc into ch sp on outside of petal 1 ch, 2 dc into each dc of petal (6 dc), 1 ch sc into ch sp on other side of petal 1 ch, sl st into centre of loop of round 1, 3 ch sl st to outside of wheel in front of next petal) repeat for each petal, fasten off

When the ends have been woven in, curl the petals by pinching them in the middle, making them furl like a frangipani flower. The petals sit right way up.

the 1st round is a wheel of 5 spokes

a petal goes around a spoke

3 ch to edge of wheel

sl st around a spoke

round 2 is finished

attach 2nd colour for round 3

the sc goes in the ch sp of the petal

3 ch and sl st to edge of wheel

beginnings of 2nd petal

3 ch then sl st to edge of wheel to end 3rd round

the underside of the finished flower

the finished flower

 

I have a Crucifix Orchid in my Garden

I've identified the orchid that I have in my garden, its a Crucifix Orchid. Its also known as a poor man's orchid because its so easy to grow and propagate so is cheaper than other orchids. I've never grown orchids before, I had one specimen in a pot of normal potting mix sitting in water. After some research I've discovered that orchids don't like to sit in water! But that one has flowered at least so its not too unhappy, but its leaves are a bit yellow so I will repot it when it's finished flowering. I went up to Bunnings and got some orchid mix and potted some more plants that I pulled out from a dark corner of the garden. I hope I've done the right thing!

I now know this is a Crucifix Orchid, or poor man's orchid

an orchid growing wild in a dark corner of my backyard