Beaker Button Blog

I've designed a pattern which requires a crochet cord to run through the top (it's a bag and it'll be available as soon as it's tested).  Anyway, I looked at I-cords for crochet, and found some really good websites with very clear tutorials like June Gilbanks video (here) .  However, the I-cord wouldn't work for me as you have to take your stitches of the needle, which was proving problematic with the yarn I was using.  So I came up with this instead.  It's highly probable that someone else has thought of it first, but I haven't seen it yet so I thought I'd share it with you.  It's really fast, much faster than a knitted I-cord, and doesn't require you to take any stitches off the hook.  I've only taken photos of the complicated bit. Start with a foundation chain the desired length of the finished cord.  Double crochet (single crochet if your using U.S. terms) into each chain.  Make three double crochet into the end chain so you go round th...

There was sun today.  You know, the big shiny round thing in the sky that used to come out and brighten the world.  Well it came out today and I decided to make the most of it.  I wanted sea and Mum and Alex are always up for going to the beach so we picked a bit of coast on the map between Milford-on-Sea and Lymington called Keyhaven and headed out with a picnic.  It was a beautiful drive down through the New Forest with ponies, buzzards and trees to look at. As we drove through Milford-on-Sea I spotted an English Heritage sign and we worked out that it must refer to Hurst Castle.  Hurst was originally one of Henry the Eighth's castles.  It sits at the end of a spit of land which you have to walk along to get to it. Hurst Castle and the light house Keyhaven nature reserve seems to be popular with all sorts of people.  We saw kite surfers, walkers with and without dogs and people like us on day trips.  Mum decided to stay in the car and ...

I've had man flu over the last few days, which means I sit on the sofa and knit or crochet.  I've taken to writing down all my 'patterns' as I go on my smart phone (I've found a nifty little app called Notel!st which means I can email things to myself. Saves me writing and then typing the notes into patterns).  On looking through what I've achieved during my man flu I was pleasantly surprised to find I had untested patterns for a crochet project bag, a knitted project bag and a shawl, which was going to be simple but ended up being a Mensa test in maths.  I also managed to get a jumper pattern written down that has been floating round in my head for months.  I'm really looking forward to seeing if they all work.  I love the fact that I can write patterns in a couple of days from a test swatch.  I'm sure my maths is improving, although I pity the very brave people who have volunteered to test them.  They are real heroes! I don't have photos yet so h...

I had my first long walk of the year yesterday.  I'm just starting the Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers Certificate of Achievement in Spinning and I needed to take photos of the woods in winter.  I have to create designer yarns and my theme for them is Fruits of the Forest.  I'm taking inspiration from the woods during the changing seasons.  I keep my horse Archie at Vernham Dean with my best friends horses and she suggested a 6ish mile route to a hillfort called Fosbury, which would take in gorgeous scenery, forest and hills, and some road work.  I invited my Dad and my uncle Simon, who are both avid walkers.  The day before was beautiful, sunny and clear.  Yesterday was dank, misty and cold.  Typical, although usually when my Dad and I try to go for a walk it decides to howl a gale and rain cats, dogs, livestock... We had a fantastic walk despite or perhaps due to the weather.  It stayed relatively dry, and the views were moody and atmo...

I taught myself a new skill today so I thought I'd share it with you all.  Of course I'm probably doing it all wrong but it worked for me.  I've tried blending on our wild carder but could never get a nice smooth batt to spin with.  I've realised that blending fibre using a carder works much better and takes very little work.  The photos are in order below.  It was fun trying to take them one handed.  Big thanks to the Boy for helping. 1. Pick your fibre.  I used  commercially dyed and carded merino tops 2. Pull off small amounts.  I used 2 colours as a base and 4 more as accents.  The ratio was about 2 - 1 base colour to accent.  I wasn't too precise about this however.  I was more interested in getting a nice random mix. 3. Lay the carder on your knee. 4. Taking the end of the first base colour in one hand comb it through the carder starting at the edge.  I held the fibre at the end so that the teeth on t...