Crocheted Christmas Holly and Berry Bottle

In November I went metal detecting with my dad and one of the items I unearthed was a 1900's square gin bottle, I loved the shape and decided I wanted to do something Christmassy with it.

I selected a couple of Christmas colour yarns, Patons Merino Extrafine DK in shade 00173 green for the main part of the bottle and Millamia Natural Soft Merino in Moss for the holly leaves, Patons Merino Extrafine DK in shade 00131 red for the berries.

I didn't have a particular pattern for this I crocheted a foundation chain and joined it to make a circle. I then ensured it fit around the base of the bottle, I double crocheted around the foundation chain over and over until I got towards the top, when I then needed to reduce my stitches to ensure it would fit nice and snug around the neck of the bottle.

The pattern I used for the holly and berry leaves is from Attic 24.

My Uncle cut some of his willow for me and sprayed it white, I love the effect.

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Christmas Hares

I picked up two hares from a lovely shop called Brambles in Ulverston, I couldn't resist them. I gave them a home next to my fire and tried to explain to my dog that they were not new toys for her to play and chew. After I put my Christmas decorations up I decided they needed to be a little bit dressed up and decided to knit them some scarves.

I used Patons Merino Extra Fine DK yarn using a double crochet stitch throughout and attached them using a couple of extremely small buttons.

 

 

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Christmas Decorations

I really wanted to crochet some more Christmas decorations this year. Last year I crocheted lots of little stars for my minature Christmas tree. This year, I decided on a couple of projects, the first project is a Happy Christmas Garland to go across the top of my wooden fireplace, the second project I wanted to incorporate a 1900's glass bottle which I dug up a month ago while out with my dad metal detecting, more on that project in the next couple of days.

To start with I decided on traditional red and green colours. I used Patons Extra Fine DK yarn, I needed eight red circles and seven green circles.

I stitched the letters using MillaMia Merino yarn in the colour Moss. I then stitched a foundation chain the same length as my mantel piece and used a double crochet stitch all the way down the foundation chain. I stitched each circle onto the long chain using two small stitches and I then threaded a small pieces of MillaMia yarn through the top of each circle and tied a small bow.

 

 

 

 

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Dad and Daughter Day

My Dad asked me yesterday if I would like to go metal detecting with him, I of course jumped at the chance I love digging for buried treasure. Unfortunately, the weather was not the best just as we started to dig, it decided to pour down and we looked like a pair of muddy drowned rats, that did not stop us though. We had a great time and although we didn't find any Viking treasure we did find some lovely stoneware and vintage bottles.

I was very lucky and found two vintage cream pots from Carricks Cumberland Dairy, I think they are aged about 1880.

I also found a vintage glass ink bottle, medicine bottles and I think the large one may have been a gin bottle, although I am not sure I will have to do a bit of research on some of these.

The photo above shows two dark green bottles. The first one is 5 1/2 inches high and the second one is 5 inches.

The last items I unearthed were four brown Bovril bottles.

My Dad also unearthed some stoneware and glass bottles, although I haven't had a chance to have a look through his hoard!!

 

 

 

 

 

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Crocheted Fingerless Gloves

I visited Loopy, the wool shop in Ulverston and picked up two balls of Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print wool in the reduced basket, £3.00 each, I couldn't resist. I have never crocheted using multi coloured wool before. I do know that if you crochet for example a pair of socks you must always start each sock with the same colour so they match. However, I wasn't particularly bothered if my gloves matched or not, I just wanted to see if I could crochet one pair of gloves using one ball of 50g wool, which I did, although it was a close call as I did make the cuff a little longer 15 stitches instead of 10 and also made the thumb a little bit longer as well by about three rows.

I loved crocheting with this wool, it's extra fine merino and feels so soft compared with crocheting acrylic which always leaves my fingers feeling a little bit sore afterwards, although that could be the fact I do not like leaving things half finished and push myself to the end :)

The pattern I used is the same pattern as the mustard coloured fingerless gloves in one of my previous posts.

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Mini break to York

I went on a mini break to York recently we stayed at the Crook Lodge Hotel which is just five minutes walk to the town centre. The rooms were lovely, breakfast was great and they have private off road parking which is definitely a huge bonus. Brian, the host is very nice and has loads of helpful information on where to eat and visit.

We had some amazing meals while we were in York and I always like to try something new wherever I go. On one occasion we decided to try The Lamb and Lion in High Petergate, I ordered roasted wood pigeon with caramelised carrots and layered thyme potato. It was gorgeous and definitely something I would eat again.

Hot purple figs, plums, apricots marinated in mulled wine with a clotted cream and apricot purée and homemade ginger biscuit.. gorgeous!

On the walk back to our hotel we went past a lovely shop window which had a large decoupage stag, this reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend at the Ulverston Scrap Store, she mentioned she was going to decoupage a little cow with Liberty fabric (which she has recently done and it looks fantastic).

To get to our hotel you can walk through the Museum Gardens, there are so many squirrels, my husband and I could not resist feeding them, they are so cheeky.

I also managed to find a bit of yarn bombing on my travels are well :)

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A bit of everything

I have been doing a little bit of everything this week. I started a new crochet project a charcoal grey and mustard shawl, I will post photographs once finished. The only problem is everytime I start to crochet my dog Tilly thinks the ball of yarn is a pillow, she is not too happy when it keeps moving.

In between doing this I have been making a few things for Ulverston Scrap Store, I volunteer at the Scrap Store once a week, Thursday's between 2pm and 5pm. I try to make things using items from the store to give people a few ideas on what you can make. I have made two items this week, the first one was pin wheels using sample wallpaper pieces.

The second project was a fridge magnet made using tin lids from the store.

I have also been making lots and lots of jam, redcurrant, blackberry, blackberry and elderberry, damson, plum, crab apple. It's been a great year for fruit and vegetables in the UK, much better than last year. I have just harvested all of my sturon white onions and boltardy beetroot, yellow and green beans, pointed cabbages. It's the first year I have ever grown turnips and I have been pleased with the results. The only items I have in the allotment left are cabbages, turnips and green and purple sprouts. It's a good job they are not ready to harvest yet as I'm rapidly running out of storage space.

 

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What to make with Plarn?

I decided to crochet my Plarn and crocheted a bag (my husband did look slightly confused as to why I was crocheting a bag out of carrier bags, but sensibly kept quiet!). I used quite a large crochet hook for this a size 7mm (US K). I also used green and white Asda carrier bags for my Plarn.

 

 

 

The bag is quite thick and holds quite a lot of shopping as well, I'm pleased with the result.

 

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What is Plarn and how to make it?

I was having a look at the various crafts on Pinterest and came across something called Plarn. Plarn is made out of carrier bags cut a certain way and joined together to make plastic yarn. It is easy to make and quite addictive. All you need is a hard work surface, carrier bags, measuring tape, pen and scissors. Once the plarn is make you could either knit or crochet it.

First of all flatten the carrier bag on to a hard service.

Fold the bag in half

Fold the bag in half again

Cut the handles off at the top of the bag and cut the bottom of the bag off.

I then measured and marked the bag at one inch intervals and cut them into strips.

Now to join them together, open two strips up and lay one on top of the other.

Take the bottom loop and bring it through the top loop and then bring it through itself.

Gently pull them together and they will form a knot, carry on doing this until you have the length of plarn you want.

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My new coffee pot

A photo of my new enamel coffee pot, I bought it today from Chesters by the River at Skelwith Bridge. They also had the coffee pot in midnight blue and cups to match. The company that makes the enamel items is called Wild & Wolf Ltd

Coming soon....... how to make plarn (plastic carrier bags made into yarn) and then crocheted.

 

 

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