Merry Christmas

Wall E and Eve

Wall E and Eve

My friend's son's 3rd birthday was coming up and being the huge Wall E fan that he is, they went looking for Wall E toys and weren't able to find any.  So, I put a few patterns together and came up with these.  I'll post the instrusctions as soon as I iron them all out.

Peep and the Big Wide World

We LOVE these guys!  No matter your age, I think you'll love it too!  To feed my daughter's obsession with character playing with her daddy, I had to create these characters somehow.  A couple of years ago I found this pattern on Esty for Peep, Chirp and Quack and then the other day, after watching the episode called Newton's Big Adventure , she asked me for a "Newton" so I had to get busy.

Newton

What You'll Need :
Acrylic, worsted weight yarn.
Polyester Fiberfill stuffing.
Hook Size: 3.50mm

Shell
With shell color
R1- Make a Magic Ring and work 7 sc into ring
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (14 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (21 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (28 sts)
R5- *Sc 3, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (35 sts)
R6- *Sc 4, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (42 sts)
R7- *Sc 5, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (49 sts)
R8-20: Sc 49


Change to the color you want for the bottom of the shell, I used a light green
R21- Sc 49 through back loops only
**Leaving the front loops for the bottom edge of the bottom
edge of the shell**
R22- *Sc 5, dec 1*, repeat around (42 sts)
R23- *Sc 4, dec 1*, repeat around (35 sts)
R24- *Sc 3, dec 1*, repeat around (28 sts)
R25- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat around (21 sts)
R26- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat around (14 sts)
Stuff shell
R27- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat around (7 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end.

Bottom Edge of Shell
Using the same color as the top part of the shell and holding shell upside down, join yarn to one of the front loops we left in R21 and:
R- *Sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, hdc 1, sc 1, sl st 1*, repeat around (49 sts)
Bind off, weave in loose end

Eyes (make 2)
R-1 with white, ch3
R-2, sc in 2nd chain from hook, 3sc in next st.
R-3, turn and work on underside, sc in next st, sl st in first sc.  Bind off

Eye Lids (make 2)
R-1, Using the same green for body, attach yarn to the back loop of the eye about mid-way on the long side.  Sl st in the next 5 sts.
R-2, ch1, turn.  Sk first st, sc next st, sk next st, sc in last st.
R-3, ch 1, turn. Sc across.  Bind off

Head
R1- Make a Magic Loop and work 6 sc into ring
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (18 sts)
R4-7: Sc 18

R8-10: Sc 18
R11- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
R12-16: Sc 12
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing.  Attach eyes: Fold green behind the eye and fasten to head in proper place. Stitch with green yarn, when you get to the white of the eyes, use the stitches in the back loops to secure the whites of the eye.  Also, make sure to use a couple of stitches to secure the green lid to the side of the white of the eye (see photo)
Embroider a cute little smile


Stuff head and sew to shell (I used a couple of extra stitches to make sure his head stayed up)

Legs - make 4
R1-Make Magic Ring and work 5 sc into ring
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (10 sts)
R3- (working in back loops for this row) *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat around (15 sts)
R4-6: Sc 15
Bind off, leaving long tail for sewing, stuff and sew to shell

Tail
Chain 5
Beginning at second chain from hook: sl st 1, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing and sew to bottom part of shell.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I am an amateur pattern writer.

Mud Room Before and After

Before

After

I bought this great fabric at Walmart, it was sold by the yard and the measurements seemed right (I'm not the most accurate measurer) but once I finished the curtains they were a wee bit too short...I haven't made very many curtains.  Anyway, it worked out well because I had to think of something to fix the problem.  I came across this tutorial on pillow case edging and decided to try it with the curtains and I think it turned out great!

Well it's a Sunny Day....

Peep and The Big Wide World!

If you've never seen an episode of Peep and the Big Wide World, than you don't know what you're missing!  You don't have to have kids to appreciate this show...to LOVE this show!  Here's one of my favourite episodes!  

Peep of a Different Colour

Party Time!

 

 

 

Peep lives in a tin can and loves to explore the big wide world so I gave each child a tin can filled with a list of things to create a scavenger hunt as well as the items themselves.  I also crocheted a small peep for each can!

Peep pattern can be bought on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/28082975/peep-and-the-big-wide-world-set-crochet

The scavenger hunt idea came from the Peep and the Big Wide World website: http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/printables/pdf/Peep_safari_childactivity.pdf

...and a cookie for the road

Crowning Glory!

This cozy crown is a quick knit.  I was tired of all of those cheap hard plastic crowns that seemed to last through only a few rounds of dress up.  This crown is so comfy, it can be worn all day long.
You'll find the free pattern at This Cosy Life, another great blog full of pattern's to purchase and a few freebies too!

Child's Play Crown

Supplies*1 skein worsted weight yarn. You only need about a hundred yds (probably not even that much) this would be a great project to use some of that gorgeous handspun you’ve been hoarding. Just DO NOT use cotton. No elasticity. Stretches but won’t bounce back. I like to use Paton’s Classic Wool.
*16” circular needle, size US 7 (4.5mm)
*Tapestry needle
AbbreviationsK2tog-Knit two stitches together (This is a right slanting decrease)
SSK-Slip two stitches knit wise onto the right needle, replace them onto the left needle and knit them together (This is a left slanting decrease)

Begin knitting the brim.
Cast on 84 stitches. Being careful not to twist, join and begin knitting in the round. Knit in stockinet (knit every row) for approximately 1”.
*Purl 1 row.
Knit 1 row.*
Repeat ** once more.

Begin Points.
Row 1:SSK, k 10 stitches, K2tog
Row 2: Turn work and knit across 12 stitches
Turn work and repeat rows 1 and 2 until 4 stitches remain, decreasing 2 stitches every right side row.
Next row SSK, K2tog
Turn and knit last 2 stitches together. Break yarn and weave in tail.
Repeat for 5 more points, attaching the yarn at the beginning row of each.
***Tip*** When I attach my yarn at the beginning of a new point I like to carry it along with my yarn, knitting it into either the first or third row. Cuts down on having to weave in too many tails.

Weave in all ends and enjoy!

I attached little crochet flowers to some of my crowns and they looked super.  This is a pattern for a basic flower and a video tutorial staring...moi!

5-Petal Flower Pattern

Materials:
Any size hook (depending on what size flower you want)
Any weight yarn

Rnd 1: Make a magic ring  .
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as first dc), work 9dc in ring, join to top of ch w/sl st -- 10 dcs.
Rnd 3: **Ch 2, work 3dc in next st, ch 2 sl st in next st** five times. Fasten off.

magic ring

Cheater, Cheater

I haven't posted in a little while, it was a busy week!  Things are quickly wrapping up at Sophia's school and she had her first end of the year summer concert.  It was a pleasure to be there for her debut in front of an audience and she was a pro...  OK, so she picked her nose on stage, lifted her hand as if to ask a question during the performance, excitedly waved at us and then adjusted her undies on the way off the stage.  Isn't that what everyone looks forward to with the JK class?  I'm just glad that she didn't freeze on the spot and that she was so comfortable in front of so many people!
This is the last week of school for both Sophia and my husband and then...let the good times roll!  Between the three of us, I'm not sure who is the most excited!?

So, because I haven't had much free time, I thought I'd post a cheater and share my favourite pattern site, ravelry.com.

I have lost a lot of hours browsing this site full of inspiration and so many free and inexpensive patterns!  Love, love, love it!  Happy knitting (or crocheting)!

A New Designer on Board!

I love getting my daughter's worksheets home from school, not to see how well she's writing her name or able to recognize a pattern...don't worry, all of those abilities still amaze me, but it's all the drawings on the reverse side of her worksheets that I REALLY look forward to seeing!
She seems to be going through a bit of a monster phase in her drawing and when this monster came home last week, I fell in love! It also gave me an idea...why not try to bring her imagination to life?
I thought it turned out pretty good but Sophia? Well lets just say that the look on her face said it all!

Hats, Hats and More Hats!

Last weekend's Art In Bloom was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out to support local artists and mental health services in our community.

http://www.cmha-sm.on.ca/About%20Us/Art%20In%20Bloom.aspx

I received a great response to my hats and especially the beautiful models....thanks again mommies for bringing your kids out to the park for a photo shoot.