Finished Projects

 

Finished this crochet dress awhile ago so thought I had better post a photo.

 

Also finished this crochet blanket for my daughter which was a CAL last year with Shelly Husband from Spincushions. The pattern is  here

 

 

 

 

 

It's A Warm One Today

Well it could be a long hot summer here downunder. We had 36 degrees yesterday and today is shaping up to be the same. A great way to spend Sunday, inside in the cool with an iced tea and working away on the Christmas gifts.

I hope you all are enjoying a relaxing Sunday too.

Triangle Patchwork Cardigan



I have started a new project the Triangle Patchwork designed by Joyce Renee Wyatt. The pattern can be found in the book Great Garter Stitch by Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss. This is a fun pattern made with 86 triangles that are joined.

Below is a photo of the finished cardigan from the book.

Photo courtesy "Great Garter Stitch"

Crocheted Dress

I have started a dress for a little one. The pattern is from the book "Hooked for Toddlers" 20 Easy Crochet Projects by Margaret Hubert. The pattern is called Grow a Year Jumper. I am just using up yarn from my ever growing stash. I just have to show restrain and try not to keep acquiring more.  Easier said than done.

Bacon & Egg Cups

 

This is another one of those simple easy recipes that taste so good. Great for breakfasts, lunches even cold on a picnic.

 

Lightly spray a 6 or 12 cup deep muffin pan with oil. Fold around a piece of bacon in the bottom of each to from like a basket or a base. Crack an egg into each one, add some grated cheese and cracked pepper. Break the yolk with a fork. Bake in the oven 180 - 200 degrees for about 20 mins or until the eggs are set.

 

You can add anything you like to these, sometimes I add chives, parsley, cherry tomatoes, what ever you fancy at the time.

 

These are very satisfying although its hard to stop at just one or two.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Baa-ble Hat is Finished

I finally finished by Baa-ble Hat a great free pattern by Donna Smith which I provided a link to in my previous post about this hat.

I am sure I will get some wear out of it still this year as I don't think winter is over for us yet.

Finished - Crochet Tunic

 

 

 

Finally finished the crochet tunic, really happy with how this turned out.

 

 

 

 

 Here it is being modelled by the happy recipient.

 







Farmyard Friends

We have five chickens and the girls have just come back on the lay after molting. We are getting 4 eggs a day, which is pretty good from 5 chooks.

Fresh eggs are beautiful, I really appreciate these little gems and make sure my girls are well fed, housed and watered. They taste so much better than the supermarket variety.

And this is Max enjoying the last rays of afternoon sun. Max has just turned 14 - shares my birthday which is special - I think thats 98 in human years. He is a bit blind and deaf and suffers from arthritis, but is a real character and has such a great gentle temperament.

Our Winter Garden

A beautiful sunny, calm winters day today, perfect to be out in the garden. We have lots of Grapefruit this year.

Plenty of Mandarines too, which have sweetened up after the frosts.

The poor lemon tree though is struggling, it is overshadowed by too many other trees. We need to plant another one out in the open where it will get plenty of sunshine.

Hubby likes to vege garden and has but in alot of raised beds, there is not much in there at the moment but this English Spinanch has not been bothered by the frosts. I bought a bunch of this from the supermarket which still had the roots on it, so I cut off the leaves and planted the roots out and this was the result.

 

 

The silverbeet is also going well, looks like we will have to harvest some and put it in the freezer. We eat alot of silverbeet so we grow it all year round and freeze the excess.

 

 

Happy Gardening!

Knitted Spa Cloth or Dishcloth

This was a lovely pattern to knit, and I will make more. Great for gifts and something a little bit different withs its round shape. I will gift mine as a spa cloth with some soap. It was made from cotton from my stash. The pattern was from the book "fashionable projects for the new knitter" by Alison Barlow of The Wool Cabin.

Family Favourite - Quiche

 

This Quiche is another family favourite which is very nourishing and easy to make.

 

 

Pastry

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

45gm margarine

45gm lard

(I just use 90gm margarine)

Cold water to mix

 

Filling

30gm butter

1 small onion sliced

2 eggs beaten (for a richer quiche I use 4 eggs)

4 rashers chopped bacon

1/2 cup grated cheese

2/3 cup of milk (add more if you are using more eggs)

salt & pepper

Sift flour & salt into bowl. Rub in magarine and lard until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in enough water to bind mixture. Knead until smooth. Cover and chill for 30 minutes. Push into a flan tin or quiche dish.

Melt butter in pan add bacon and onion. Spread on top of the pastry. Mix together cheese, eggs, milk and salt & pepper. Pour over bacon and onions.

Bake 200 degrees for 25- 20 minutes.

Enjoy

Tunic Progress, Socks and a Birthday

I have made a little more progress on the crocheted tunic and also finished a pair of socks for my daughter.

 

 

 

 

It was a busy week last week which did include a birthday (yes I was 21 again) and yes there

was some online yarn purchasing.

Shop Update

I have put some new goodies in my Etsy and Madeit stores - so please pop over and have a look - just click on the tabs above and it will take you there.

Handmade Crochet Fingerless Mitts - $30.00

Handmade Crochet Cowl - $25.00

 

 

Handmade Crochet Cross Book Mark - $8.00

 

 

 

Handmade Crochet Minnie Mouse Hat - $13.00 

 

 

 

Handmade Crochet Team Supporters Cowl - $20.00

Shepherd's Pie

This recipe is another family favourite and a great way to use up left over Roast Lamb. I have also made it with Roast Beef and it tastes just as good.

4 large potatoes boiled
2 tablespoons milk
30 gm butter
salt & pepper

500gm Lamb or Beef cooked
2 onions
1 clove garlic
1 1/4 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 tablespoon cornflour blended with 2 tablespoons of water
salt & pepper

Mash potatoes with milk and butter, season to taste with salt and pepper. Mince together or chop finely the meat, onions and garlic. Place in a saucepan and add stock, worchestershire sauce, herbs and blended cornflour. Add salt and pepper. Bring to boil stirring for 1 minute. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Put the meat mixture into a casserole dish and spread mashed potatoes over the top. Put under the grill to brown.

Enjoy!!

Garter Stitch Scarf is finished

The garter stitch scarf for my son in law is finished, it is so squishy and soft I know he will get alot of use out of it and it will certainly keep him warm when the cold winter winds are blowing.

Crochet Tunic

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have started a crochet tunic for my grand daughter. The pattern is free and here is the link for you  Ripple Dress by Janette Williams and is on her blog The Green Dragonfly. It is done in a ripple stitch made by increasing and decreasing with trebles. I have used double knit mainly in cottons and acrylic from my stash as the recipient prefers that to wool.

Simple Garter Stitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When my son in law asked if I would knit him a scarf - a wide scarf I thought a simple garter stitch scarf would fit the bill.

I find it so relaxing knitting garter stitch - you don't have to think about what you are doing, or count stitches like you do knitting a lace shawl, it is so easy to do while watching television or socialising. So I was quite happy to oblige with his request.

Who else enjoys the simple nature of garter stitch?

Shizuku Scarf

This is my second Shizuku Scarf, the first was gifted to a friend. The pattern designed by Angela Tong is easy to follow and is knitted sideways with droplets created along one edge. The pattern link is here

I used 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden.

Warmth for Winter

Nearly finished my Baa-ble Hat which is a great free pattern from Donna Smith. It is well written and easy to follow. Here is the pattern link for you.

I ran out of the bluey green colour so introduced a light grey just need to finish it off and do a pompom, haven't made one of those since I was about twelve, so that will be fun.

Quick and Easy Dinner

I don't know where this recipe came from as I have been making it for years. It is great for a mid week dinner as it is quick and simple but so yummy, we serve it with rice - so please enjoy.

Chicken with Orange and Almonds
60gm butter
4 chicken portions
salt & pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup flaked almonds
paprika
3 oranges

Melt the butter in a pan and fry the almonds gently until brown and then remove from pan. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika fry until golden brown, cover and cook gently for 30 minutes.
Squeeze the juice from 2 oranges and segment the 3rd. Transfer the chicken to a serving dish and keep hot. Add the orange juice, segments and sugar to the pan juices and boil for 2 minutes. Pour over the chicken and sprinkle with almonds.

Fun With Fair Isle

 

 

Currently on my needles is Harvest Jewels a cardigan pattern from an old  Knitters Magazine K104. The pattern calls for steeking but I decided to use a long circular and knit back and forth omitting the steeking stitch allowance. I am using a yarn which has been in my stash for a while Moda Vera Cardellino and various other yarns from my stash for the colour work.

My Right Hand Assistant - Lucy

Meet Lucy. She loves yarn. Any type, with a preference for fine merino or cashmere. She is always there to assist me, even to help sort out situations similar to the tangled mess above.