Greek day flower hairband

It is traditional for our primary school to hold "Greek Day" for the Year 5s (9-10 year olds). Boys go in armed with sheets to turn into togas to wear with their PE kit and trainers. Very authentic. Girls go all girly and wear white dresses and sandals and have their hair all curly (if their Mums can be bothered. I can't). When Little Man had Greek day in his year, there was no way on earth I would get him anywhere near the uncertainty of a sheet. So we bought a Greek dressing up outfit. Husband was aghast because what we bought, whilst looking Greek to me, was clearly labelled "Roman Emporer". Husband does like things to be accurate. Anyway, 2 years on and the Greek (oops sorry Roman) outfit got dug out for Little Miss who had her Greek Day last week.

Initially she declared she was wearing a knee-length strappy sundress - er no you're not, its Greek Day, not no-uniform-day, and you have to wear the Greek-Roman thing as I only bought it knowing it would be used at least 3 times. So we cut off the red emporer sash thing (looks less Roman already), tied a beaded belt thing of mine round her waist, and she put on her summer sandals. (Terrible photo sorry!)

Nope, she still wanted the sun-dress. Bit of an argument ensued, Daddy was called in as independent adjucator and agreed Greek-Roman thing looked the most Greek. Which only proves how unGreek the sundress was if the Roman thing looked more Greek than it.

Then of course we had to address the issue of hair accessories. What does a crafty Mum do when a hair-accessory is required ? Why, she makes one of course :)

Using plain white un-mercerized cotton DK I chained a chain long enough to go round Little Miss' head and with some extra to dangle down the back. It looked a bit bare though, and despite the fact that leaving it plain was probably more Greek, I couldn't resist making some weeny flowers (pattern below).

But I thought it was still going to look a bit plain so I decided to bling it up a bit. A raid upon Little Miss' bead box and I found some semi-transparent coloured beads. I just used the white cotton DK again to sew one onto the middle of each flower, then attached the flowers to the chain, and a few extra beads at the very ends.

And there you have it - Greek (ish) flower hairband.

Apparently there was lots going on on Greek Day - they played some Greek games "day and night", "delta", something called "cub"; they acted out a Greek play - Perseus and Medusa - Little Miss played Athena; and they ate some greek food. I asked what they ate - "pittas, feta cheese, hummus and carrots". I'm guessing carrots were the safe option for the non-adventurous type. Which reminds me, it was on his Greek Day that Little Man first tried pitta bread after years of refusing, and now he eats it every day as his snack of choice. I've yet to convince him of hummus, but he does like a carrot.

They also made Greek masks - I assume this is meant to look like those happy/sad/greek tragedy type masks, but it just looks a bit menacing if you ask me.

I'm so happy that I have the time, energy, inclination, and skill (just) to be able to make things ike this for my Little Peeps, I'm sure they're not that bothered one way or the other but I love being able to make these little bits and pieces for them :)

Weeny Flowers Pattern

1. Make a magic ring

2. Chain five then slip-stitch into ring. Repeat 5 times.

3. Fasten off.

Easiest pattern ever!

Secret Garden Crochet-along Part 1

As you know I have a slight, ok large, addiction to crochet magazines. Well, any craft magazine really, but crochet ones are my favourite. And close to the top of my list is Inside Crochet (and no I am not on commission or anything). I bought the latest issue - issue 67 - this week and as usual it's full of gorgeous patterns .... this bag that I mentioned before .....

.... and I know a young lady who would love one of these water bottle carriers (and I don't mean me, although I'd like one too) .....

.... and this funky bunting .... so cute ....

And then on page 26 ...... ooooooo ..... a crochet-along :) A new mystery blanket crochet along ....

The Secret Garden mystery blanket crochet-along.

I gazed longingly at the pictures, and then turned the page to the next article. Then I turned back and gazed some more. Then I paged forward to some other patterns. But then I turned back again. And gazed again. I think I may have stroked the page ....

I don't have a pink thermos and can't for the life of me find an affordable retro basket (without nicking my Mum's), but it was no good, I decided I HaD to make the blanket. I've fancied a crochet-along, especially a mystery one, for ages, but kept missing the boat as it were.  And somehow doing it after everyone else has finished isn't quite the same, not to mention the element of mystery is kind of gone.

So totally ignoring the fact that I really really really really don't need more yarn (or a new project, come to that), I decided to go ahead and buy the yarn pack! Ooooooo exciting!!!! And it arrived a couple of days ago ....

Scrump-sha-doobie (as my little brother used to say)!!! And actually I haven't got much cotton yarn. Yes, yes that's it. That's why I NeeDed to buy this yarn pack. Yes. 

It's Stylecraft Cotton Classique DK, yarn which I've fancied playing with for ages so how lucky was it that this perfect opportunity came along ? Destiny, I tell, you. Destiny.

I'm really excited about this, can you tell ?? New yarn. New cotton yarn. Deliciously summery colours. Bit of suspense and intrigue. And a holiday coming up on which to take my lovely mystery project :) I can't wait, can you ?

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Feeling hot hot hot

Ugh, how hot is it ? Too hot for me. I had great plans to sort the garden this afternoon, its a complete mess, I am not blessed with green fingers. However we've at least managed a sunflower this year. In my cumulative 29 years of parenthood (12+10+7) never before have we managed to keep a sunflower alive long enough to see it flower. Its rather bedraggled looking, but it is DEFinitely a SuNfLoWeR! Oh happy day! Not a parental failure after all!!

I've had these petunias (I think, I get a bit muddled with my bedding plants) for ages now, I really need to actually plant them. And yes that is a strawberry plant next to them. Also unplanted. It has produced a strawberry, but the snails got to it first. Pah. I bought a couple of strawberry plants, courgette plants and a mini red pepper plant a while back. Is it too late to plant them properly now ? Will they do much ?

But still I buy stuff to plant up, mainly as they keep getting them in at Asda, and I always give in to the temptation. I have managed to plant up a few and keep them watered on the front porch at least.

But the garden had to take a back seat today as we've been at the school summer fayre this afternoon. As usual it was a great social afternoon of meeting almost every school parent that you know, and having 3 children attend, and having worked there, I know a fair few! Lots of chit-chat and laughter, the Little People can wander around sort of doing their own thing, winning stupid amounts of sweets and hanging out with their friends. Traditionally the Yr5 children (age 9-10) run their own stalls. Bounce a ping-pong ball into a jar, win a sweet. Hit a target with a nerf gun, win a sweet. Spin the spinner, guess where it will land, win a sweet. Are you seeing the theme here ?

Little Miss and her friend were on the "tennis ball challenge" stall (I've stickered friend's face out for courtesy) and her job was provision of tennis racquets, so she took ours along. When I say "ours" I mean mine and hubby's from when we were at school. They are wooden and look like something out of a museum. The game invoved various challenges including "hit the ball with the racquet and try and aim through one of these holes" - in the piece of cardboard they were holding up. Surprisingly noone got a black eye or a broken nose.

Back home now I have a large glass of pink lemonade (my new find at Sainsbury's, oh my it is sooooo refreshingly lemony) and I'm watching Wimbledon (new balls please!) and doing a bit more of Little Man's mentor's present. I think I mentioned in my last post that she's a lovely calm, gentle lady, and is the perfect sort of unflappable, even-keeled personality to deal with an autistic boy. I've noticed she wears very muted tones - soft yellows, greys and blues, and this Araucania yarn is just perfect for her.

I decided to make a version of the "Strawberry Lace Scarf" from the book Crochet Noro.

Crochet Noro was one of the first crochet books I bought, and it is really gorgeous. Often it can be hard to find patterns for items that really showcase colour-changing yarns, but this book is full of great ideas. 

I didn't have enough yarn to make the full width (I MUST learn to either buy more of a yarn or none at all) so I am doing a half width instead. In the picture below you can just see the "strawberry" pattern emerging. The pattern isn't especially tricky, but its an 8-row repeat and I just can't seem to keep it all in my head. Thankfully the pattern has a chart so I'm glancing at that as I go along. 

I've almost used the first skein, and I reckon that so far the scarf is about half the length it needs to be, so with 1 skein remaining, it's looking like it will work out really well. I love using up just the right amount and having no yarn left, do you know what I mean ? I haven't made my mind up about the fringeing. The pattern calls for a very light at least 4-ply if not lace weight yarn. I'm using more of a DK weight, with a 5.5mm hook. I'm not sure if a DK weight fringe would over-power the delicate pattern ? Any thoughts people ? 

The scarf is looking a bit dishevelled at the minute but I know that a really good block will transform it. Can't wait for that bit! Happy weekend everyone :)

xxxxx

Catching up and slowing down

Gosh how long has it been since I last posted ?? Well, weeks, actually. Sorry about that. There's not  really much to report, I just lost my blogging mojo for a bit, but now its back - yay!

So what's been going on in my little corner of the world ? I'm certain that I've been super busy but not got much to show for it. As we approach the end of the academic year the days seem to be whizzing by with some school-related activity almost every day - sports days, concert rehearsals, concert performances, school trips, school fayres, annual school reviews, annual doctor's review, transition planning. We've also had lots of Little Man's medication tweaking to manage but we are there now and things have settled down loads and loads.

I was the proudest Mum on the planet last night when Little Man sang the opening solo in his school music concert. After the most challenging year, during which time we very nearly gave up on school altogether, to see my wonderful son standing up there on stage singing to an audience of hundreds, well .... I can't tell you how proud I am. There really aren't words to describe it. Such an amazing achievement, such an amazing boy.

In fact the year has been so challenging that I decided I had to mark it in some way. Little Man has just plodded on, challenging himself despite his anxiety and discomfort, he is an inspiration.

So, I've decided to run the London Marathon 2016 and raise money for the National Autistic Society (http://www.autism.org.uk). I have to wait until October to find out if I even have a place, but I've also applied for a charity place, and I'm hopeful, and full of fundraising ideas :) My backup plan is the Brighton Marathon in the event that I don't get a place for London. My fundraising pack has arrived, and  I'll bore you with lots of training details and fundraising tales over the coming year I'm sure!

In crochet news I have a few projects on the go.....

..... a couple of weeks ago I took the Little People out on their bikes while I ran along behind them. We stopped at the park and I worked on my skinny summer scarf ......

I'm using some gorgeous Araucania yarn that I bought at Unravel (http://emeraldcottage.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/unravel.html). Its soooooo scrummy, almost too good to crochet with. But not quite :) Look at the gorgeous colours .....

I'm also working on a sort of dressy scarf with some even srcummier yarn .... Manos del Uruguay silk blend in Jewel, again bought at Unravel. It is soo silky soft, not splitty at all as its a single ply, and thus is an absolute pleasure to work with.

And of course a special yarn deserves a special project. I spent ages and ages deciding what to use it for. Eventually I decided upon this Lacy Crystals scarf (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lacy-crystals-scarf), and started it a few days ago. I kept thinking it was quite familiar - and I finally realised that that's because I have un unfinished WIP of this pattern kicking around somewhere that I started earlier in the year! Funny! I am obviously drawn to similar (in the fact the exact same) patterns.

Ideally I'd have made this a lot wider so it would be more of a wrap, but I only have 2 skeins, and its just too pricey to justify buying any more, so a narrow wrap/scarf it will have to be. Its looking a bit scrunched up at the moment, can't wait to get it finished and block it to its full glory!

I've made this little sleepy head mouse (excuse the owner's dirty nails. Yuck!). Henry, as Little Tomboy has named him, is designed by a local lady, and you can buy the pattern here on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mouse-sleepy-head). He looks super fiddly but is really easy. A perfect introduction to amigurumi if you fancy giving it a go.

Next on my hit list is a beach bag for holidays. We are going to visit my parents in Northern Ireland so a beach bag isn't an absolute necessity, though we do manage a few days at the beach, swinging between getting sunburned and getting blown away by the gales! Anyway, I've had this great bag (here it is below with my Ballyhoo Neckerchief spilling out over the edge) for years. My Mum gave it to me originally, she got it free with some Estee Lauder perfume or something. Anyway this bag was perfect. We drive and take a ferry to get to my parents. Every time we go it's my "keep-in-the-car-on-the-journey-and-bring-on-the-ferry" bag. I shove in water, snacks, changes of clothes, magazines,books, colouing pencils, medication, teddies, paperwork, everything that we need handy in the car and on the boat. Over the years it's carried nappies, wipes, comforters, baby bottles, raisins, story books. More recently DS's and iPads. 

But the straps gave out last year, they detached themselves from the bag, and as they are a tough leather I haven't replaced them yet. I think I will eventually fashion some new straps, but when I saw the Starfish Bag pattern by Nicki Trench in the new Inside Crochet magazine, (issue 67) I decided to also make a crochet version of my bag. I'm still deciding on the colours, what do you think of the selection below ?

I'm also planning a something for my friend's 40th. But I really can't decide what. Maybe a bag for her as well ? And my neighbour is expecting a baby in July. And I really need to make a gift for Little Man's mentor, she has been the most amazing support to us all this year. I think another lacy crystals scarf maybe, she is a very calm, gentle lady and wears calm, gentle colours - lemon, sand, pale blue, so this Araucania yarn will be perfect. Another Unravel purchase :)

And I've also got lots of bits and bobs floating round my head ideas-wise to sell for marathon fundraising. More news on that another time.

I need to figure out a way to not need sleep, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Especially with so many Little-People-related things going on. But I try to make sure that throughout the chaos I sit down for a little bit each day and do some crochet just to keep myself sane :) These precious moments of downtime do really recharge the old brain for whatever the next chunk of the day will bring.

On a final and very sad note for today - I was so sorry on Monday to hear the sad news that Marinke Slump also known as Wink, of A Creative Being, had succumbed to the heavy weight of depression, and taken her own life. Wink also had Asperger's, which, as you know, my son has, and I always felt connected to her because of that. Wink's blog was a wonderful showcase of her creativity, full of inspiring patterns and great photos. I first visited Wink's blog when I made my first mandala from an issue of Simply Crochet which featured one of her mandala patterns. Wink had such a lovely warm chatty style to her blog posts, and there were always so many new wonderful things to feel inspired by, I was a regular visitor to A Creative Being.

Wink, you were a wonderful, special girl who touched the lives of so many. My mandala is for you. May you be at peace now and have contentment in your heart. 

xxxxxxx

Ballyhoo Neckerchief

It's been a few weeks since my last post, I've been feeling a bit flat, and haven't felt much like blogging. We're trying to sort out medication to help Little Man at school, and we are now on the 3rd different lot. The desperate hope then crushing disappointment is taking its emotional toll on him, and on me. First lot didn't work. Second lot were AMAZING but then he couldn't sleep. At all. He had 2 nights of no sleep whatsoever and of course then we had a terrible few days. The jury is out on the 3rd lot. The effect is short-lived so only people in school will see a difference. He can't tell if there's a difference himself, and I'm waiting for feedback from his mentor. We have a review with the doc on Tuesday where we will either try yet another lot or possibly change the dosage of the current one. Meanwhile he is not where he should be in school and essentially has lost most of this school year. Frustrating doesn't quite cover it.

Anyway, in crochet news I've finished a really cute neckerchief.

I bought this yarn ages ago (http://emeraldcottage.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/lazy-days.html) because it was a bargain. Thats a good enough reason isnt it ?? It sat in my stash for months, I just couldn't decide what to do with it, but I kept getting it out for a snuggle :) It's Sirdar Snuggly Smiley Stripes, 80% bamboo and 20% wool, and is so silky soft to work with, just gorgeous. Its very similar to working with embroidery floss. The yarn itself has no give whatsoever, but the finished piece is beautifully stretchy, flowy and drapey, I absolutely love it.

The pattern is the "Precious Jewel Frilled Neckerchief" from Simply Crochet issue 28. It's a very straightforward pattern, just rows of trebles with 2 increases at each end plus 2 increases in the middle. There is also a slight raised effect down the centre where a couple of front-post trebles are worked, but I'm not convinced that the effect was worth the bother, it's very subtle.

The edge is several dc's worked into each treble, then several rows of 1 dc in each dc. It gives a lovely gentle rippley edging.

The colourway is called Balihoo. What a fabulous name for a yarn colour! Very Northern Irish sounding, I think. I'm sure a ballyhoo was slang back home for a party or similar. So I've decided to call it my Ballyhoo neckerchief.

As it's traditional, I went a bit bonkers taking endless photos of the Ballyhoo ..... here is a selection .... and there's even one of it's creator modelling it :)

Its my birthday this weekend - on Sunday - so I'm sure I'll be back soon after that with photos of presents and cake :) Happy weekend,

Jillxxxxxxxxx