Little Baby Blue

Okay, here are the latest shorties that I have knit.

Pattern: Ladybug Loops (Ravelry)

Needles: 4mm for the waistband, 4.5mm for the body. 2 pairs of circular needles for each size.

Size: Newborn

Yarn: Custom dyed organic merino from in 10ply/worsted weight. Knits up like 12ply/bulky though.

Mods: I did a knitted cast on instead of a stretchy cast on because I like the look of it better. I did a 2x2 rib for the waistband with eyelet holes for a knitted I-cord. I did a garter stitch hem for the cuffs. Love how quickly this knit up with this yarn and with the 2 circulars instead of the 1 long circular using magic loop. I totally LOVE the way that the colours pooled in this knit.

Sewing, knitting and baking! :)

Hey all, it's been so long since I posted. Sorry about that. I've been crafting on and off; sewing, knitting and baking cool things. First up: Sewing! I made myself a knife roll for work at the start of the year. I also made one for my boss as a present.

Next up: Knitting! I knitted a little purple Milo for a friend's baby. She was thrilled with it.

I also knitted a pair of Newborn Ladybug Loops shorties. They're so cute! I forgot how small newborns are.

Lastly: Baking! I have been teaching J to bake. He can make cookies, pancakes and he helps with a lot of other things. He's a natural, like his Mum. :)

He is quite pleased with himself.

I created a new type of cookie at work last year. It is a gluten free cookie with marshmallow in the centre. I called them "pillows".

Last, but not least. I created a minecraft cake. It was a mudcake, covered in buttercream icing, layered with marzipan and then I applied around 250 "pixels" made from plastic icing. This was my inspiration: A minecraft grass cube.

This was my cake!

I promise I will try to be around a bit more. I am ever so slowly knitting again, so keep an eye out for that. <3

Vanilla Chai Cupcakes

Ingredients:

100g butter
1 cup caster sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 quantity chai spics mix (see below)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp bicarb soda
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Chai Spice Mix

1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Vanilla Chai Buttercream

125g butter
1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste
3 cups icing sugar, sifted
1-2 tbs cold milk
1/2 quantity spice mix

Cinnamon sugar to dust

Method:

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, add the vanilla. Stir in half the chai spice mix. Fold in the flour and the buttermilk, stir until combined but don't overbeat. Mix together the bicarb soda and vinegar and mix into the batter. Spoon into prepared cupcake cases.

Bake 15-20 minutes at 160 degrees celcius until cooked.

To make the buttercream, beat the butter until creamy and pale in colour. Add the vanilla and remaining spice mix. Slowly beat the icing sugar into the cutter about half a cup at a time to ensure that it isn't grainy. If the buttercream is too thick, add a splash of cold milk and beat until the desired consistancy is reached.

Pipe or spread buttercream unto cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Delicious with a chai tea latte!

10 Rules of Basic Etiquette for the non-Crafty:

1. Just because I am crafting in a public place does NOT mean I am fishing for compliments, comments, advice. etc…. I am minding my own business, how about you minding yours. Plus, before you decide to help yourself to my personal private space, from my crafting supplies, equipment etc. please pass me your wallet. If your gonna snoop in my personal belongings I get to snoop in yours.

2. Do not rubberneck my crafting project from two tables away or over my shoulder for 10 - 15 minutes watching me, then have the audacity to ask me “Did you do that?” You will get the “Nope. My invisible friend Matilda did it, but doesn’t like to feel like a freak so I fake it for her.” Plus do NOT crowd me, most crafts have sharp ended tools and I am not adverse to jabbing you with one so you get my point.

3. When gushing “I could never do that” be honest with yourself and the crafter in question, finish the sentence with “because I do not have the patience and I am a abject moron.”

4. All Family & friends, if I ever chose to create something for you it is an honor. It is NOT like going to the store and just picking something up. Creating the gift takes time, forethought, pre-planning, and time management. Keep in mind socks are NOT simple, neither is a scarf or a hat, they are basics where we learn and try new design and pattern ideas. Be very honored when we feel a practice piece is worthy of gifting to you.

5. NEVER EVER gift yarn, notions, patterns expecting it to be used for you. Do not hint that I make you something. Ask me simply and straightforward. I may or may not make it for free if you buy the yarn, or may charge you for my time… either way be proud and humble to think I would even consider doing it for you since you are too lazy to learn to do it for yourself.

6. If gifted with a handmade crafting item, thank the creator profusely even if you never want a hand made gift from them ever again, then state its beautiful and I’ll cherish it but handmade is really not your thing. This gets the giftee and the creator off the hook for more gifts that can be appreciated better by someone else on the creators list

7. If you are the recipient of a handcrafted item and decide within 2 years its not the thing for you, offer it back to its creator before selling it or regifting it to someone else. Its insulting to ask about a piece made for you to find out you donated it to goodwill, I got $5 at my garage sale for it, or hear from you “oh, that grey sweater. I gave it to my ex-boyfriends girlfriends best friend because it just wasn’t me.”

8. If the hand crafted item is wearable then WEAR it, if it is decorative USE it. If you are so overwhelmed that you want to take care of it so it won’t get destroyed FRAME it. If you choose to do none of these things give it back to the person that made the item because you do not deserve it.

9. Do not blame the creator if a thing you have bullied them into making for you does NOT turn out the way you want it. If you are so damned picky take the time to learn the craft and make it for yourself.

10. We craft because it relaxes us, we enjoy it, we can take our time and be proud of what we are doing. Selling our creativity for profit will stress us out, put us under deadlines, and generally make us want scream. That is why it is a hobby and not our JOB so quit pestering us by how much money we could make yadda yadda yadda.

Hot off the needles!

*A Star Crossed Slouchy Beret for Moi knit in Malabrigo Worsted (Love this yarn!)


*A pair of Felted Slippers for the Pa-In-Law in Cosy Wool

*An Easter Basket (my own design) for Jayden in Cosy Wool

Orange and Almond Friands

Ingredients:

Cooking Spray to grease
230g Pure Icing Sugar, sifted
185g Unsalted Butter, melted
100g Almond Meal
75g Plain Flour
6 Egg Whites, lightly whisked
Finely grated Orange Rind of one orange
50g Flaked Almonds

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200C. Spray friand pan lightly with cooking spray to grease.
2. Place icing sugar, butter, almond meal, flour, egg whites and orange rind in a bowl and stir until just combined.
3. Spoon the mixture amond the prepared pans. Carefully place some almond flakes on top of each friand.
4. Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean.

The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie..... with Raspberries!

Ingredients:

320g Unsalted Butter
1 1/4 Cups Cocoa
7 Eggs
3 Cups Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
1 1/2 - 2 Cups Dark Chocolate Chips
1 1/4 Cups Plain Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
Frozen/Fresh Raspberries (optional)
Icing Sugar to dust

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160C
2. Line a large baking tin/roasting dish with baking paper (I used one about 24x36cm)
3. Melth the butter in a large bowl (there are a lot of ingredients to fit in here) in the microwave.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat cocoa into melted butter
5. Add eggs, sugar and vanilla and whiz with the electric mixer for 3-4 minutes until the mixture begins to whip up in volume.
6. Using a wooden spoon, mix in the chocolate chips.
7. Sift flour and baking powder in and stir until fully combined.
8. Pour into lined baking dish. Give it a shake to even out the mixture.
9. If using raspberries, dot these evenly on top of the mixture, gently pushing them in just under the surface.
10. Bake in oven at 160C for about 1 hour, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
11. Leave to cool in tin for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to allow it to cool further.
12. Sift icing sugar over the top
13. Enjoy with coffee, chocolate milk or take to work to woo your co-workers.