Getting Crafty!

Evening all.   a couple of days ago I discovered there was a craft fayre at my local town hall.  I know iv been a little behind on the goings on in my town since iv being out of work. But I am getting back into the swing of the goings on, well of the craft fares any way.  Who knew there were soo many!!!

Today I decided I was going to go to the craft fare and look for things for me. things that were not 'work' related. "How did that work out for you?" I got asked the answer was it didn't lol  I bought some fabric squares (like I needed more fabric) why? cos it was pretty!!!!!  but I also did some networking (yup again on the epic fail scale of no work!) and exchanged some business cards and met some lovely people. 

Here are some of them

The Soapy Cauldron 
Colchesters consultant is the lovely Becky







They make the most amazing handmade (and very yummy looking) bath and shower products, that are suitable for sensitive skin as they don't contain any of the harsh chemicals of regular soaps.  Becky does home parties for theses products, so you can have some good clean fun at home ;op
 Becky I think is going to be my goto for upcoming craft fares!!!


Next to meet a few stalls down was Susan from Cute Enough to Eat



OMG theses were soo cute and soo edible looking! Susan was to be found sitting behind all her items with a sharpie pen in hand colouring in a broach which she assured me, with a grin, was for display purposes. Susan makes the most amazing fimo items. pendants, earrings etc and she was kind enough to give me a few tips on working with fimo.

Sharing the stall with Susan was Laura from 13 Stitches



Laura makes the cutest Pyjama Bears, she also had a few fabric kits for bunting and other yummy fabricness (I know not a word)  It was this lady that held a gun to my head and made me buy her fabric!!  Laure also gave me a thought about fabric scrap swapping hummmm may look into that!! 

At this point I decided I needed a break and a cuppa and worked on turning the heel of a sock I had with me and had a lovely Pecan & maple pie nom nom nom

 

I had another wander round and stood talking to Becky for a while then decided the weather wasn't looking to good so decided to head home.  on my way out I passed another stall on the landing

I met Allison and her partner. Allison does wonders with recycling jeans into bags, storage baskets. and her partner makes really cool things from old coins, keying's, earrings, cufflinks one Alison has her Etsy shop up and running i'll post the link to it.

I came away with heaps of ideas that im going to put my own twist on.  On my way home I went to see if I could find some staples to fit a very old staple gun.  with no luck I bough a new one came home and made these





Mini ironing boards.  I saw a tutorial but a fellow crafter for one she had made as an emergency one for traveling, and taking to class with her so decided to have a go at making them for myself.  Im a sofa crafter and anything that will make it mean I can work and not leave my sofa im all for and these turned out great!!  need to tweak it a little but over all they turned out to be a success!! 

Im off to work on my socks :)

Please check out my new friends sites they are great bunch of people!!! 

have a great evening

A~X~

Pear fritters!!

Sorry iv been quiet for a while.  Iv been on holiday (will blog about that later) and have been busy working on my latest pattern submission. 

what I just had to blog about today started with me watching Fringe on Netflix.  Walter Bishop is a little obsessed with food and in one episode got bought some apple fritters. this thing was HUGE but looked yummy so I went on a hunt to see if I could find the recipe, and came across this blog post      "A face full of fritter" written by a really friendly Amy.  :o) after a few comments back and forth I decided to put my twist on her recipe and made Pear fritters!  (only cos I didn't have any apples!!)

OOOOOMMMMGGGGG!!! they are great. so I thought id share my recipe with you. It really fast make when you have a craving for something sweet!

Pear Fritters

Prep time: 5mins

Cook Time: 12 mins (6 mins each batch)

Yield: Aprox 14 mini doughnuts

 

 



1 c  Plain flour

 ¾ tsp baking powder

1 Pear (diced)

2 tsp olive oil

½ c smooth applesauce

¼ c milk (regular or soy)

¼ c  caster sugar,

1 tsp vanilla extract

Icing sugar to dust

 

 

 

1).Turn on mini doughnut maker!!

2) Stir together the flour, baking powder, in a bowl. Stir in the diced Pear.

3)In a separate bowl, stir together the oil, applesauce, milk, ¼ cup sugar, and vanilla.

4)Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, and pour in the wet, stirring just until moist.

5)Place a heaped dessert spoon full into each well

6) Close the lid and wait about 5/6 mins till brown

 

BE CAREFUL They produce a fair bit of steam so watch out when you open the maker!!!

 

7) remove carefully with a blunt knife

8)Repeat steeps 5&6 with remaining batter

9)Dust both sides with icing sugar and........

 

ENJOY!!

 



 

 

 

Cinnamon biscuits

Last week I took a craftsy class on How to teach. Part of the course material was a cookie recipe. I made a few changes to it and made some yummy cookies crispy round the edges and chewy in the middle. So thought I'd share it with you. 

Cinnamon cookies! 

Ingredients 

3/4  Cup butter 

1     Cup brown sugar 

1/2  Cup golden syrup 

1      Egg beaten (room temp) 

2 1/2 cups plain flour 

2tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp salt 

2tsp cinnamon 

**************************************************

• Cream together butter and sugar. 

• Slowly add the egg making sure the egg is well mixed 

• Add the golden syrup, mix well 

• Sift together the remaining ingredients and mix well 

Chill mix for 15 mins. 

Meanwhile preheat the oven 375f (190c GM5) 

• Roll mix into balls size of walnuts and roll in sugar. 

• Place on a baking sheet 1-1 1/2" apart 

• Bake for 10-12 mins until golden 

• Wait 1-2 mins before transferring to a wire rack to cool 

Store in a air tight container (if they make it that far!!) 

My boys loved these and I'm under strict instructions to make more!!  I may add a bit more cinnamon next time but that's just personal taste. 

ENJOY!!!!  

 

My Dream Ofice Sorage

 

A while back I went to Ikea and spent a marathon 6 hours there!!!  looking round drinking tea, knitting and repeating with my good friend from Fantasia photography.  and I saw this

 

 

isn't it just drool worthy?????

well in reality this is what I got,  (unfortunately I'm not a world famous designer that makes heaps of cash to buy such beauty.)

last month was looking the heaps of posts in freecycle and there was a post for a desk and some units. I emailed them back asking I was really interested in them but would it be possible for them to deliver it as I don't drive, the emailed back saying no.  I thanked them and left it at that.  well yesterday I got an email saying the items were still available and they would deliver them if I still wanted them.  of course I said YES!! she messaged me back asking for my number and address and that she would contact me once she had had a chance to talk to her husband and schedule a delivery time.  2 hours later I got a call saying they could deliver it at 7pm that evening, great.  only then after hanging up I realised I had a desk and book cases in the place where the one to be delivered had to go, and said desk and units would be here in under 2 hours!!!  so off I rush to sort out my so called office space and just as I was getting the old desk out of the room there was a knock at the door

and this is what was delivered 

along with what I can only describe as a pile of planks!!!

















well after some false starts and swapping bits over I finally got this




It may be a little out of alignment, and the pieces not quite flush, handles need replacing and theu unit will probably get a lick of paint but I'm pleased

This may not be my totally dream office space but its pretty close and didn't cost me a penny!!!!

FREE PATTERN!

Heres a Free Pattern for you!!  hope you enjoy it Post Pictures on my Raverly page as i'd love to see what you come up with!

Mystery Socks

 

Needle: 2.5mm (us 1) (4 or 5 X dpns)

Yarn: 100g Sock/4ply/fingering

Guage: 10 sts 12 rows to 1 inch

Sizes (foot circumference )

Small 7 ½” 19cm

Med – 8 ½ “ 21cm

Large – 9” 23cm

 

 

You will need a sock yarn that has at least 2 colours in it. The length of the colour change will alter the pattern but that’s where the surprise comes in!!!  

 

cast on 64 (72,80 )

join round being careful not to twist.  Divide between 4 needles

 

Cuff

 

***Pick one option from the 3 below***

 

Option 1

2x2 rib

K2, P2 to end of round

Rpt till cuff measures 1”

 

Option 2

1x1 rib

* K1tbl, P1  rep from * to end of round

Rpt till cuff measures 1”

 

Option 3

Cable rib

R1 *K4, P2  rept from * to end of round

R2 & 3 as round 1

R4 *c2f,P2  ret from * to end of round

R5, 6 & 7 as R1

R8 as R4

R9. as R1

 

LEG

Now this is where the mystery comes in and the bit where now it’s your choices that determine the outcome of the pattern.

List the colours of your yarn in the chart below, now you can either list them as they sequence, randomise it or just pick one colour to purl.

(I will give my personal opinion here, if you have a pooling variegation yarn pick your most dominant colour to knit)

COLOUR	STITCH
	Knit
	Purl
	Knit
	Purl
	Knit
	Purl
	Knit

 

***NOTE***

 

it is the colour of the stitch on the left hand needle that you go by NOT the colour of the upcoming yarn

 

 

Continue in pattern set as above ill leg measures 5” or desired length

 

HEEL

***Pick one of the heel options below***

Working across needles 1 & 2

Option 1

Short row shaping

Shorten rows

R1 k to last stitch wrap and turn last stitch

R2 P to last stitch wrap and turn last stitch

R3 K to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, Wrap and turn

R4 P to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap and turn

Rep R 3 & 4 till you have 10(12,13) wrapped sts either side

 

Widen rows

R 1 K to first wrapped stitch, picking up the wrap knit st together tbl with wrap, wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

R 2 P to first wrapped stitch, picking up wrap purl st together with wrap. Wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

R 3 K to first wrapped stitch, pick up 2 wraps knit wraps and stitch together tbl, wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

R 2 P to first wrapped stitch, pick up wraps purl wraps and stitch. Wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

Repeat rows 3 & 4 till 1 wrapped stitch remain each side

Knit to wrapped stitch Pick up wraps and knit with stitch tbl

 

Knit to end of round.

 

Pick up wraps and knit together tbl.

 

Knit to end of round.

 

***NOTE***

Go to foot section after you have completed option 1

 

 

 

Option 2

 

 Slip stitch Heel flap

R1 * SL1, K1 rpt from * to end of row

R2 SL1, P to end of row

 

Rept rows 1 & 2 16(18,20) times 

 

Option 3

Eye of the partridge heel flap

 

R1 – SL1( K1 SL1)to end

R2 – Sl1, P to end

R3 – SL2 (K1, SL1) to last 2 stithes K2

R4 – SL1, P to end

 

Rpt rows 1-4 8(9,10) times

 

TURNING THE HEEL (options 2 & 3 only)

 

K to 3 sts past centre, ssk, K1 turn

P to 3 sts pas centre P2tog P1 turn

K to 1 st before gap ssk, K1 turn

P to 1 st before gap p2 tog P1 turn

Rpt last 2 rows till all sts are used ending with a P row.

 

 

Knit across needles 1 & 2 pick up  and knit using needle 2  16(18,20) sts down side of heel flap, pattern as set across the top of foot, (needles 3 & 4)

Pick up and knit 16(18,20) sts up other side of heel flap and add stitches from needle 1 

Knit  all on needle 2 and pattern needles 3 & 4.

 

 

DECREASE INSTEP (options 2 & 3 only)

 

R1: K1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts on N2, K2tog, K1, Pattern across top of foot

R2: K all on N1 & 2 Pattern N3&4

 

RPT R1 & 2 till you have returned to original number of sts. 64 (72,80 )

 

 

FOOT

 

Continue to knit across the bottom and pattern across the top of foot, untill work reaches the base of your big to when slightly stretched.

 

 

TOE

 

***Pick one of the 2 options***

 

Option one

Short row toe (Grafting on underside of toes)

 

Transfer stitches from Needle 2  to needle 1 and working on theses stitches only

 

Shorten rows

R1 k to last stitch wrap and turn last stitch

R2 P to last stitch wrap and turn last stitch

R3 K to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, Wrap and turn

R4 P to 1 stitch before wrapped stitch, wrap and turn

Rep R 3 & 4 till you have 8(10,12) wrapped sts either side

 

Widen rows

R 1 K to first wrapped stitch, picking up the wrap knit st together tbl with wrap, wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

R 2 P to first wrapped stitch, picking up wrap purl st together with wrap. Wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

R 3 K to first wrapped stitch, pick up 2 wraps knit wraps and stitch together tbl, wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

 

R 2 P to first wrapped stitch, pick up wraps purl wraps and stitch. Wrap next stitch (2 wraps on st) turn

Repeat rows 3 & 4 till 1 wrapped stitch remain each side

Knit to wrapped stitch Pick up wraps and knit with stitch tbl

Purl to wrapped stitch Pick up wraps and Purl with stitch.

 

Graft stitches

 

OPTION 2

DECREASE TOE (grafting at tip of toes)

 

R1: *K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts on N2 K2tog, K1 rpt from * one more

R2: K all

 

Rpt 5 times

 

Then row 1  9 times

 

Repeat till you have 8 (16,24)

 

Graft sts

New finds

This week I've had a couple of new finds. 

New products 

Yarn

Now I've been eyeing this up at my LYS for a few weeks, and finally decided to bite the bullet and get some 

It's Fine Art from Rowan. It's made with merino wool, kid mohair polyamide and mulberry silk. Hand painted sock yarn. There is 400m (437y) to 100g. It comes in 8 colour ways take a look.  

http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/fine-art

 It knits up lovely, has a fine fuzz due to the mohair 

But has lovely stitch definition. 

Notions   

This week I caved In and went on a Etsy forage and found these 

Lovely little no snag stitch markers from 

Www.fripperiesnbibelots.etsy.com

They do different sizes and specialties for lace/shawls. They will custom make colours combos for you if they can just drop the owner a line and she will do what she can to help. 

Well I off to play with my new squishes and shinnies. 

Hugs 

Hi all and welcome to my blog!!!!

My names Ann and im Red Headed Girl. you can find me on
Raverly:  Redheadedgirluk
Facebook:Redheadedgirlmakes
Twitter: Redheaddedgirl
and here :O)

Im a published knitwear designer and general crafter.  I have 2 teenage boys 15 and 17 and 2 cats and love to bake.

My main area of design is socks.  Im an impatient knitter and like to see results or I get bored, endless knitting in stocking stich would be my idea of hell!!!!  (its the lesser known circle of hell)  but I have just ventured into the world of shawl design.  I took a craftsy class on shawl design and completed my first ever shawl a last week http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/skywalker  its by Laura Nelkin and it was a joy to knit! 

drop by, pull up a chair and join me for a cuppa and a chat, I look forward to meeting you all!!