School Bag Buddies -  this is a stash buster.

 (Everyone will want one!)

When I first designed these, I thought they'd be great for tucking into a pocket but then I thought how cool they might be if they were attached to a bag and taken to school as a buddy, especially if  a child is feeling a bit shy or  if they're going to a new school.  Ask your child to choose a buddy that suits them best, let them select their own colours from your stash. Make it over night! It’s that easy!  Only basic skills are needed.

 Find me on Ravelry, Ludouglasdesigns and look for the buddies at:

     http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/school-bag-buddies  

Spike 

This buddy is made as a rectangle and stitched along the top and sides after it’s done. 

FACTS

*Small amounts of turquoise, red, green and orange (or colours of your choice)

 *Small amount of white and black          *Silver clip to attach to bag

*Tapestry needle          * 4mm crochet hook       *Three buttons                                                                                                            Finished size: 15cm from top of spikey hair to bottom of curly foot                                                                                                            ‘Spike’

METHOD (Spike)

With turquoise yarn, ch 23sts, turn. 

1. Dc in second chain from hook.  *Dc in the next 3sts, 3ch, dc in same place as last dc. ( this creates a tiny picot on the bottom)

Repeat from *across until last stitch.  Dc in last stitch, ch1, turn. (do not cut off turquoise yarn)

Join red yarn  

2 & 3. Dc across row, ch1, turn (change back to Turqouise on the ch1 turn, do not cut red yarn)

4 & 5.   (turquoise) Dc across row, ch1, turn.  Change back to red to Red

6-8. Repeat row 2.  Bring in green in the last stitch on the row, cut off the red. 

9-14. (green)  Continue repeating row 2.   Fasten off.

LEGS

Legs are stitched as two long foundation chains with 30ch for one, 25ch for the other. Turn at the end of each foundation ch, dc into the second chain from the hook and dc along length of leg. Fasten off.   (These will be inserted into the base before backstitching the bottom together.)

 HAIR, and stitching the body

Wrap hair yarn around three fingers for 2 inches (5cm).  (photo(i))  Slide off carefully.  Set aside.

     

Wrap hair ( photo i) 

Place right sides together (photo ii)

                

Turn right side out Photo (iii)

 Place wrong sides together with the hair tucked down inside ( leave just a small amount poking out on the wrong side  - photo ii) into the top of the head, back stitch across the top of head then stitch down the sides only. Turn right sides out through the bottom.  (photo iii)  Place bottom opening together, insert legs into base and topstitch using a backstitch to secure opening closed and to secure legs inside body.  Cut hair on the fold. Tease it out by unravelling it. 

FACE (Spike)

EYES - Stitch buttons on using sewing machine thread.

MOUTH -  white

Ch8, turn, dc in second chain from hook.                               

1. Dc across row, ch 1, turn

2. Dc across row. Fasten off.  Leave a long tail to stitch mouth to face. 

Once attached, use black yarn to backstitch teeth in place.  Use the same black yarn to make two stitches to create nose.  Lose the yarn inside the head and cut off.

Hanger

Ch 50 sts.  Dc in second ch from hook. Dc all along.  Attach to top of head securely. Hook silver clip through hanger and attach to your bag!  :-) 

___________________________________________________________________________

 

 Blinky the beandrop   

*Variegated 8ply yarn - body.  Blue for mouth.     *   4mm crochet hook

*Small amount each of black and white perle cotton or 4ply if     desired (eyes)

*Tapestry needle      *Silver clip to attach to bag

 Finished size: 12cm

METHOD                                                                 

Blinky is made in spirals. 

Magic ring. 1.  Dc 6 into ring, slst to first dc. 

(Place marker on the last stitch of each round)

2. 2dc in each dc (12sts)

3. *Dc in first stitch, 2dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * around

4. *Dc in first 2 dc of previous row 2dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * around.

5-9. Dc all round in a spiral pattern, placing marker at last stitch          

       of each round

10. *Dc in first 2 dc, dc2tog.  Repeat from * all round.

11. *Dc in next dc, dc2tog. Repeat from * all round

12. * Dc2tog all round

13.  Dc2tog all round.   Pull up the remaining stitches to close 

the opening and chain 50 stitches.  Turn, dc in second ch from hook,

 dc all the way back to Blinky’s head.                                            

Secure the thread in the head and fasten off. 

You have your hanger ready to go!!

EYE – Magic Ring in black

1.  Dc 6 into ring, slst to first dc.  Change to white on the slip stitch.

2. 2dc in each dc (12sts). Slst into the first dc.  Fasten off.

MOUTH

Backstitch a blue mouth and outline in black.

 Make the arms separately. 

 Add the arms by attaching yarn to the side of the body, chaining 30 ( or as many chain as desired), turn and dc into the 2^nd ch from the hook.  Chain all the way back to the body, secure the tail and fasten off.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Charlotte the ladybird 

 

Did you know that a group of ladybirds is called

                  ‘a loveliness of ladybirds’ ? 

I think that’s just perfect!  Charlotte is such a sweet beetle. Make your own collection of

                        loveliness!  

FACTS    

                                                                                                                     Finished size - 5.5cm long, 6cm wide                                                                  made in the spiral format

 *4ply yarn, black, red/orange/yellow

* 3mm hook

*Tapestry needle   * Silver clip to attach to bag

 UPPER BODY

1.  Dc 6 into ring, slst to first dc. (Place marker on the last stitch of each round)

2. 2dc in each dc (12sts) (Photo i)

3. *Dc in first stitch, 2dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * around.  (18sts)

4. *Dc in first 2 dc of previous row 2dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * around.   (24st)

5, 6.  Dc all round. Fasten off.

LOWER BODY in black

Repeat for body ending on row 5. Do not break yarn. 

You will use this to stitch the base to the body using a tapestry needle.                           Upper body  made

                                          

                                                      

LEGS

Legs are stitched as 3 long foundation chains of 18 ch each.  Ch 18, turn at the end of each foundation ch, dc into the second chain from the hook and dc along length of leg. Fasten off.   (These will be inserted from side to side, inside the two body sections before stitching together around the side. 

                                                                                                       Legs

NOTE: Lay legs across the inside

of the body before 

stitching the bodies                                                                     (Photo i)

 together with the

WRONG sides together

               

                                                                                                       

Head cap  (photo ii)

(Attach head cap once Charlotte has been stitched together.)

Black yarn

Magic ring, dc6, slst into the first dc.                                                      

1.  2dc in each dc, slst into the first dc. (12sts)       (Photo ii)                                    

Fasten off.  Leave a  long tail to stitch the head onto the body using small anchor stitches, securing the head cap through top and bottom, and to make the eyes. 

                                                       

              

 Head cap  (left)                                                Spine and spots (right) 

 EYES: Once head cap is attached, make two French knots to make eyes in black. Sink the thread into the body and cut off.

Spots – make the spots and the spine-line with  black yarn and your tapestry needle.  Backstitch is used for the spine and the spots.

Hanger

Ch 50 sts.  Dc in second ch from hook. Dc all along.  Attach to top of head securely.   Attach silver lock.

                                                       Fly, fly ladybird. 

There!  Buddies made and ready to hang on your bag! 

Happy buddy day!

Lu 

(Please link back to my designs on Ravelry (ludouglasdesigns) or wildaboutyarn.blogspot.com.au if you use them.  You may make any to sell or to give to friends. ) 

               

                                                                                                       

Garden  Creatures

Esmerelda (hedgehog) , Bumble, Scarlet (front), Winston (hedgehog)

I had a lovely time creating the garden creatures. I first saw the hedgehog at Tangled Yarns in Brisbane and knew I had to make it.  You can never stop at one so Esmerelda and Winston were born.  (I’ve decided I need to make a baby...Quills will soon join his parents!)   The hedgehogs – a pattern for sale by Marika Uustare, find them here 

                      http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hedgehog-11

The ladybird – (Coccinella septempunctata)-  this beetle is my favourite motif so don’t be surprised if you see her in everything!  I just worked her up one day and lo and behold,  Scarlet became my creation!  I’ve since made quite a few. They're lovely to send with gifts to friends or to attach to a card, or to give to children - a pet to hold in the hand and quick to make.  (see below for free pattern)

Watch Scarlet star in her own animation buzzing around my crocheted Valentine’s heart.

And then there was Bumble…oh Bumble!    You deserve a post of your own.   Come by tomorrow to see Bumble.

Happy Gardening.


Lu xx

             Scarlet -  free ladybird pattern   

Facts

4ply yarn, 3mm hook, tapestry needle

black, red, small amount of  toy fibrefil

BODY

Scarlet yarn.

Magic ring, dc6 into ring, slst into the first dc.

1.  2dc in each dc (12sts)                                              photo 1 (right) 

   (photo 2 left  place a marker on the last stitch of the row)  

2. *dc, 2dc in next dc repeat from * around. (18sts) 

3. *dc, dc, 2dc in next dc repeat from * around  (24sts) (photo 2) 

4. dc all round (if you want a larger ladybird, increase again in this row and decrease another row accordingly) 

5. dc, dc, dc2tog, repeat all round (18sts)

6. dc, dc2tog, repeat all round (12sts)  (stuff body with fibrefill)

6.  dc 2 tog all round. Fasten off and leave a tail. Gather up last six stitches onto a tapestry needle and pull tight.  Sink the knot into the body of the ladybird. Don’t hurt her too much.  ;-)          

The body should look like this... (left)  

Fold the heap cap in half and sit over the body (above) 

  

.

Stitch back and forth through the body and heap cap to secure

Making the dots and spine, stitch two rows of backstitch  down the spine 

 Twin Scarlets

L is for ladybird

HEAD CAP

Black yarn

Magic ring, dc6, slst into the first dc.

1.  2dc in each dc, slst into the first dc. (12sts)

Fasten off.  Leave a tail to stitch the head onto the body using small anchor stitches, securing the head cap through top and bottom. 

Dots – make the dots and the spine line  with yarn and your tapestry needle.  Backstitch is used for the spine. 

(Ladybirds were introduced  in our country - Australia -  from America to reduce scale/mites on plants. Their brightly coloured bodies are a warning sign to birds and prey, meaning they are distasteful or toxic.  They are associated with good luck and other myths.  They seem to find me wherever I go! :-) )   

Hope you spot one soon! 

Lu x

       

Vintage Floral motif 4

Motif 4 - Vintage Floral 

I just love the centre!  My only lament about motifs/doilies is that often, the most beautiful design is in the middle and gets covered up.  Now and then I just sit an arrangement of doilies on a table to show them off!  I might have to do that with this one. :-) 

FACTS

Yarn – 4ply

3.5mm hook
Finished diameter - 20cm (7 3/4") 

Abbreviations -  UK terms

Ch – chain                  tr - treble

Dc – double crochet    2 stitch dtrcl -  2 stitch double treble cluster
3 stitch dtrcl - 3 double treble cluster - made over three stitches **

**   2-stitch dtrcl -  2-stitch double treble cluster

Omit the last step of each double tr – to begin: go into the first stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the next stitch and do a double treble to the last step, then yo and pull through the  three loops on the hook.

3-stitch dtrcl : 

Omit the last step of each double tr, go into the first stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the next stitch and do a double treble to the last step, go into the third stitch and do a double treble to the last step,  then yo and pull through  two loops, yo and pull through the three loops on the hook.. 

 4dtrcl: 

Omit the last step of each double tr and instead of going into the stitch, go into the chain space of the row before.  Repeat  in the same manner as for 3stdtrcl  but do one more repeat before pulling through all the 5 loops on the hook. 

Magic circle  

1. Ch1, 24dc into ring.  Join with a slst into the first dc.

2. Ch4 (counts as 1tr), 2dtrcl, (the ch4 and the 2dtrcl is equal to a 3treble cluster)  *ch7, make a 3dtr cluster over the next 3 dc  . Repeat from * around joining the last ch7 with a slst in the top of the 1^st cluster. 

3.  Slst into each of the next 3ch, ch1, dc in the same loop, *ch8, dc in next loop.  Repeat from * around, joining the last ch8 with a slst in the 1^st dc.  

4. Slst into the loop, ch4, make three 4dtr clusters with a ch5 in between, *ch5, three 4dtr clusters  with 5ch in between in the next loop. Repeat from * around.  

5.  Slst into  1^st 2 ch of the 5ch space,  dc in the same loop, *ch5, dc in next loop.  Repeat from * around. Join with a slst to the dc. 

6.  Dc in same place as the slst, 7dc in 5ch space, *dc in dc of previous row, 7dc in 5ch space. Repeat * around.   Fasten off.

 Block using your preferred method.

This reminded me of a handkerchief from the old days...

There...a fresh bright Spring  floral motif.  (It's Autumn here in Australia.  The nights are a bit cooler but the days are divine!)

Look...already Vintage Floral has been made by Imagine Knits, Alicia. (Follow her on IG @knits_with_husky)   Thank you, Alicia!  I love it! 

FLYING NORTH -  a little trip away from home for a change

I had a trip recently to an artist friend's place in the hinterland of Rockhampton, Queensland.  I love flying over this landscape, the meandering river, the patchwork designs on the ground and the ever changing palette depending on the weather changes.

The Fitzroy River, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

So green after the recent rain...the area has been in drought for a long while.

Coming in to land over a tributary of the river

Now I'm working on a special  crochet project for Easter . ;-) Of course working on a project means I need fuel by way of a muffin and a coffee!  

I bought a new mug. I don't like the plastic or styrofoam kind so I generally take my own.  Today I forgot so I bought this one on the way...lovely, isn't it?

Happy crocheting,

Lu x