Anemones in November

Those little buds from my 11.11 vase have just decided to open.

Sometimes we push ourselves forward in the wrong season, we do not shine so brightly, we are much smaller than we could be, but still we insist on flowering.

Will they flower again in Spring, I wonder, or will they have exhausted themselves.

Joining Cathy for In a Vase on Monday

Solitude

A line of dialogue in the television series ‘Shetland’ by Ann Cleeves, 

ASMR

Sounds on Saturday

 

 

 

There are masses of ASMR clips on You Tube, but most of them come with annoying intro music, chat or ads. This is the Channel I like the best.

ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response

“a feeling of well-being, as experienced by some people in response to a specific gentle stimulus, often a particular sound.”

Squeaky gates are still my favourite though!

Silent Sunday

Scrap Happy Stitchbook

This month’s Goody Pack from The Stitchbook Collective, is all about dyeing and staining.

It probably comes as no surprise that I have a Rust Collection. These are all pieces I have gathered over the last 5 or 6 years whilst beachcombing.

I have been waiting to use them for dyeing fabric, but every time I looked online for instructions, I came across confusing information, so didn’t have a go …. until now!

Helen Birmingham’s written instructions are clear and run alongside a helpful video tutorial. This gave me the perfect kickstart. You can still buy the kit in her online shop.

I relished getting each rusty piece out and arranging them.

enjoying the texture and colours.

Then the happy task of wrapping them in white-vinegar-soaked fabric.

Leaving them overnight was a challenge – I’m SO impatient

Some were stacked on a trivet above my cooling wood-burning stove to speed up the process

I also stained a few bits of paper for collage at the same time.

The larger pieces were put on top of vinegar-soaked fabric and put it in the oven.

I put the oven on the lowest temperature for just five minutes and left for a while, repeating this several times, sprinkling with white vinegar to keep it moist.

The grid effect came from a disposable barbeque mesh, that had been left on the beach.

Fun!

Nails wrapped in strips of an old calico curtain and the lining were my favourite little experiments

My intention was to dye strips of fabric and embroidery thread to use in textile art

– but I loved the look of the wrapped nails so much I have kept some of them wrapped

and will use them as they are.

To preserve them, I have painted them with some old acrylic varnish found in the garage, left by the previous owner – it must be at least 15 years old, but it did the trick.

So exciting.

This is a little stitched sampler that will go in my Stitchbook.

I am enjoying this so much!

Joining Kate for her monthly Scrap Happy get together.

There are lots more Happy Scrappers to check out as well.

Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

Have you been creative with things destined for the scrap heap? If so, leave a link in the comments of Kate’s post and join in the fun.

Free Seahorse Pattern

I have been trying to make the pattern for this little Seahorse easier to understand. This little chap has led me a merry dance! Here goes.

There is a simpler printable pattern – with just one photo of the finished seahorse, for sale in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.

The pattern is written in US terms. I am left-handed, if you are right-handed the seahorse will face the other way.

Use a 3mm up to a 4.5mm hook and any double knitting yarn.

I have used Stylecraft Special DK

or the pattern can be made in cotton with the appropriate sized hook.

(Use the bigger hook if you like the motif a little bigger and looser)

Abbreviations

ch      chain               sc      single crochet                dc     double crochet

hd     half double     sl      slip stitch                        tog     together

 

BODY

Ch 35

Dc into 4th ch from the hook, 1dc, 3 dc2tog

2 dc, 2 tr, work 2 tr into each of the next 3 chs.

1tr, 2dc, 2 dc into each of the next 2sts, 2 hd, 3sc2tog,

2 sl (leaving the remaining chs unworked)

1ch

TURN

Miss one st, sl 8, 2sc, 1hd, 2hd in next st, 1dc, 2dc in next st,

2dc, 2dc into next st, 1dc, 2hd,

3sc, 2sl, miss 1st, 2sl, (to the neck)

Ch1

TURN

Miss 1, 6sl, 4sc, 2hd in next st 4 times, 2hd, 2sc, 3sl

Ch1

TURN

Miss 1, 3sl, 16sc, sc2tog, 3sl (you are now at the lower point of the neck)

HEAD

ch 8, sl into 5th ch from the hook to form a loop, (the loop will form the eye)3 sl into the chains (working back towards the neck).

TURN

6dc into loop,

TURN

miss 1^st, 2 sl,

SNOUT

ch5, sl into 2nd ch from hook (forming a picot that will be the top tip at the end of the snout), dc, sc, dc.

Flip the snout over, so that the picot is facing upwards.

Sl into the top of the last of the dcs into the loop to attach the snout to the head.

2dc into loop, 2hd into loop, ch3, sl into the top of the hd

1hd and 2dc into loop

sl into the first ch of the HEAD (at the neck).

2sl to the top of the neck,

TURN

1dc into each of 3 sts, on the top of the head

ch2,

TURN

sl into the top of dc directly below the chs

sl, ch3, sl into 3rd st from the hook, sl into dc directly below the picot just made,

(sc,* ch4, sl into 4th ch from hook, sl) twice, sl

The picture below is at this first sc*, which is made into the loop at the base of the foundation chain.

ch3, sl into 3rd ch from hook, 2sl

(ch4 miss a st, sl) 3 times, sl

FIN

ch4, 2 tr into next st. twice, ch1,

TURN

(sl, ch3) 5 times.

Fasten off.

Sew in the end.

When sewing in the end of the tail pull slightly to get the tail to curl.

This new improved pattern with many more photos is untested. If you have a go, I would love to know how you get on.

It would also be fun to see how you use the motifs.

I put them on a Hoodie.

Rainbow Junkie made a wonderful wall hanging for her bathroom.

Happy Hooking!

Celebrate!

It is Cathy’s 6th Anniversary of In a Vase on Monday!

Congratulations Cathy you have brought together some wonderful gardeners from all over the world. Warmest heartfelt thanks for the floral camaraderie and all the knowledge (and plants) shared.

Cathy has set us a challenge to celebrate with a miniature vase, but as you can see, I have not stuck to just one.

I have combined the meme with my birthday celebrations and here we have Hot Princess, and there is the rose on the left of her (corny I know, but hey it’s my birthday, I’m allowed!)

On the right are some anemone buds (!) and wallflowers (!) – what are they thinking?! They need to pipe down and wait til Spring.

And the dianthus continues to produce sweet pink buds, even if the flowers do get a little frosted.

All put together in a bit of a rush between birthday shinanigans, but I did not want to miss out on celebrating with Cathy. ❤