Moose Beanie Pattern

 

So, I made this Moose Beanie.  My beanie obsession may be going too far....... muha ha ha.  But may the record state that they don't stay with me.  I send them on their merry way to happy new homes.  This one now lives on Mitchell's head.  Anyway, here is the pattern.

Moose Beanie

Size:  Teen-adult

Gauge:  As you knit really. It doesn't matter too much. 

Materials Needed:

4mm needles
5.5mm needles
1 x dark brown yarn
1 x light brown yarn
2 x eyes
2 x black buttons
Stuffing
Needle to sew up with

Notes:

Knit the antlers tightly. Stuff well. Attach near the top as they do fall over a bit.

Directions:

Main hat: pale brown wool

On size 4mm needles, cast on 70 stitches.
Rib (knit 1, purl 1) the first 10 rows.
Change to 5.5mm needles
Stst 30 rows
Row 41: knit 3, knit 2 together - repeat to end
Row 42: purl
Row 43: knit 2, knit 2 together - repeat to end
Row 44: purl
Row 45: knit 1, knit 2 together - repeat to end
Row 46: purl
Row 47: knit 2 together - repeat to end
Row 48: purl
Row 49: knit 2 together - repeat to end

Cut yarn. Thread remaining stitches onto thread and pull to tighten.

Using a crochet hook and dark brown wool, pick up 22 stitches from the centre front of the hat.
Work in garter stitch (knit all rows) slipping the first stitch of each row
Knit 18 rows
19: s1, k2 together, knit to last 2, knit together.
20: s1, k2 together, knit to last 2, knit together.
21: s1, k2 together, knit to last 2, knit together.
22: cast off.

Antlers - dark brown. Knit 2
Cast on 20 on 5.5 needles
1: knit
2: purl
3: knit
4: purl
5: k2together, knit 8, inc 2, knit to last 2 stitches, k2together
6: purl
7: k2together, knit 8, inc 2, knit to last 2 stitches, k2together
8: purl
9-20 repeat knit and purl rows
21: k2 together over the whole row
22: purl
23: cut yarn, thread all stitches onto the yarn and pull to tighten.

Antler hang on bit - dark brown
Cast on 14 on 5.5 needles
Stst 10 rows.
11: k2 together over whole row
12: purl
13: cut yarn, thread all stitches onto the yarn and pull to tighten.

Ears - right. Pale brown wool
Cast on 14 on 5.5 needles- slip the first stitch on each row
1: knit
2: purl
3: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to end
4: purl
5: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to end
6: purl
7: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to end
8: purl
9: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
10: purl
11: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
12: purl
13: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
14: purl
15: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
16: purl
17: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
18: purl
19: slip one, knit 2 together, psso
Cut yarn, thread through last stitch and pull.

Ear - left. Pale brown wool.
Cast on 14 on 5.5 needles - slip the first stitch on each row
1: knit
2: purl
3: slip one, knit to end, knit 2 together
4: purl
5: slip one, knit to end, knit 2 together
6: purl
7: slip one, knit to end, knit 2 together
8: purl
9: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
10: purl
11: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
12: purl
13: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
14: purl
15: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
16: purl
17: slip one, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together
18: purl
19: slip one, knit 2 together, psso
Cut yarn, thread through last stitch and pull

Assembling

Sew the side of the hat from top to bottom using the yarn from the casting off.

Sew the longer antler pieces into a tube, turn inside out and stuff. Attach to the top of the beanie. Sew the smaller antler pieces the same way, attaching to the inner portion of the main antler.

Attach the ears just below the antlers on the hat.

Using 2 buttons, sew on nostrils to the dark brown add-on bit. Fold up and attach loosely to the hat itself. Finally attach 2 eyes to the front of the hat.

Adding the nose piece on..... with the help of a beagle

The nose-piece added on to the main hat.

All the pieces laid out where they need to be attached

Flautas - with an Asian Flair

Alright, I admit it.  Sometimes I try to fix something that is already delicious.  Simply because I can.
This time it was my favourite Mexican food of the moment - flautas.  Makes 4.

Ingredients
- 3 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, sliced
- several birdseye chillies (or one)
- a tomato, diced
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- ginger, about a 1/2 cm, smashed with a mortar and pestle
- sweet chili sauce
- dark soy sauce
- spring onions
- corriander
- 4 flour or corn tortillas

Method

Brown the chicken in a large fry pan.

Add the tomato, red onion, sauce, garlic, soy, and chilies into the pan.

Heat through until everything is soft.  Allow most of the moisture to evaporate.  Season with salt and pepper as desired.

Slice the spring onions length ways.

Heat a sandwich press, and lay out the tortillas, and fill with the chicken mixture.  Don't overfill or the whole thing becomes soggy and very challenging to manage.  Lay the spring onions and corriander on the top.  Fold over the tortillas and close the press.  Allow to brown.

Slice and serve with a spicy guacamole or sour cream.

Soup, wonderful soup.

It's officially winter. Here is my fridge, clearly soup is in my future.



I've been making a lot of the stuff, and doing several things with it.
1. Eating it. Duh. It's delicious.
2. Freezing it. I can't make it through a full pot of soup in my own time.
3. Taking it for lunch.

Freezing has been a revelation. I've been putting it in 2 cup full bags - glad medium sandwich zip top baggies specifically and labelling the stuff for the deep freeze. I usually make the soup with less water so that when I defrost the stuff, I can add more water and have soup easily... For dinner and lunch.



I've been taking it for morning tea and lunch. Morning tea is like 11:20, and lunch 1:20, so it's a long time from my leaving home without 2 meals! Lol. The stay fit soup container is great for morning tea, and the soup is still warm then, but by lunch it is cold. I bought a small thermal cuppy thing from Kathmandu, and it is burbling.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Knitted Star Whale Pattern

After loving the Star Whale in Doctor Who "The Beast Below"... I decided I needed one.  And there was no knitting pattern.  So I made one.  I'm rather pleased with myself really.

So this is it.  One knitted Star Whale Pattern.  Free.  He is clearly in Mark 1 status, and I will probably rework the pattern soon, but he is cute... I call him Raulf.

Size:

Finished whale is approx 40cm long

Gauge:

Stitches should be knitted tightly so the filling can't peak out.

Materials Needed:

1 ball of purple dk yarn. 50g should suffice.
Size 4mm needles.
1 pair safety eyes.
1 pipe cleaner
1 needle
Stuffing

Notes:

If making for a small child (under 3) do not use pipe cleaner.

Directions:

There are a number of components to sew.

Lower tail fins:

Small
Cast on 3 stitches
1: Knit row
2: Purl row
3: k1, k1 inc k1b, k1(making the row 4 stitches)
4: purl
5: k2, k1 inc k1b, k1(making the row 5 stitches)
6: purl
Stocking stitch the next 14 rows. Slide to the end of the needle and begin next fin

Large
Cast on 6 stitches
1: Knit row
2: Purl row
3: k1, k1 inc k1b, k3, k1 inc k1b, k1(making the row 8 stitches)
4: purl
5: k2, k1 inc k1b, k5, k1 inc k1b, k1 (making the row 10 stitches)
6: purl
Stocking stitch the next 14 rows. Slide to the end of the needle and begin next fin

Knit 1 small, 1 large, 2 small, 1 large and 1 small in this order, leaving them all on the same needle. Slide all together and knit as one piece as the body.

Body
Stst 6 rows
K10, inc 1, k10, inc 1, k10, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 more rows
K21 inc 1, k to end
Stst 3 more rows
K10, inc 1, k12, inc 1, k13, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 more rows
K24 inc 1, knit to end
Stst 3 more rows
K10, inc 1, k14, inc 1, k14, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 more rows
K2, k2together across the whole row
Purl whole row
K3, inc 1 across whole row
Purl whole row
K10, inc 1, k16, inc 1, k16, inc 1, k10
Purl row
K10, inc 1, k35, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 rows
K10, inc 1, k37, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 rows
K10, inc 1, k20, inc 1, k19, inc 1, k10
Stst 3 rows
K1, k2 together to end of row
Purl whole row
K2, inc 1 to end of row
Purl whole row
K32, inc 1, k31
Stst 3 rows
K32, inc 1, k32
Stst 3 rows
K33, inc 1, k32
Stst 3 rows
K2, k2 together to end of row
Stst 3 rows
K2, k2 together to end of row
Stst 7 rows
K2, k2 together over whole row
Stst 3 rows
K3, inc 1 over the whole row
Stst 3 rows
K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, knit until the last 8 stitches, p1, k1, to end
(Maintain rib pattern over the next row)
K1, p1, k1, p1, k2 together, k1, p1, knit 2 together, (k2, k2 together) repeat () until last 8 stitches. P1, k2 together, k1, p1, k2 together, p1
K1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p to last 7 stitches, k1, p2, k1, p1, k1, p1
K1, p1, k1, p1, k2 together, k1, p1, knit 2 together, (k2, k2 together) repeat () until last 8 stitches. P1, k2 together, k1, p1, k2 together, p1
K1, p1, k1, p2, k1, p to last 6 stitches, k1, p2, k1, p1, k1, p1
K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, (k2 together k2) repeat () to last 6 stitches, K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1
K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, purl to last 6 stitches, K1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1
K2 together the whole row.
Thread all stitches onto cut off yarn. Pull.


Large fins - make 2

Cast on 6 stitches
1: knit row
2: purl row
3: k3, inc 2, k3
4: purl
5: s1, k1, psso, k2, inc 2, k2, k2 together
6: purl
7: k4, inc 2, k4
8: purl
9: k5, inc 2, k5
10: purl
11: knit
12: purl
13: k6, inc 2, k6
14: purl
15: knit
16: purl
17: knit
18: purl
Cast off

Medium fins- make 2
Cast on 4
1: knit
2: purl
3: k2, inc 2, k2
4: purl
5: knit
6: purl
7: k3, inc 2, k3
8: purl
9: knit
10: purl
11: k4, inc 2, k4
12: purl
13: knit
14: purl
15: cast off

Short medium fins- make 1
Cast on 4
1: knit
2: purl
3: k2, inc 2, k2
4: purl
5: knit
6: purl
7: k3, inc 2, k3
8: purl
9: knit
10: purl
11: cast off

Short, fatty fins - make 4
Cast on 4
1: knit
2: purl
3: k2, inc 2, k2
4: purl
5: k3, inc 2, k3
6: purl
7: k4, inc 2, k4
8: purl
9: knit
10: purl
11: cast off

Head stalk
Cast on 6 stitches
Stst 14 rows, slipping the last stitch of every row.
Knit in the front and back of each stitch (thus increasing to 12 stitches in this row)
Stst 5 rows
K2 together over the whole row
Slip all stitches onto the cut off yarn and pull to tighten

Facey danglers - make 3
Take one length of yarn, approx 20cm in length. Twist with the twist if th yearn, causing it to start to twist upon itself. Holding both ends of the now twisted wool, and the centre of the yarn in the same fingers, smooth the twisted section into 2 tightly twisted coils. Tie at the end in your hand with the original ends and the centre to secure.

Assembly

Attach head stalk first. Stuff the knobby end and fold a pipe cleaner in half. Sew to top of head. Use safety eyes and attach to face. Sew up just the head section.

In the lower fins, sew the sides of the wider fins together. Stuff. Sew around the edges of the smaller fins, to create a total of 4 fins at the bottom. Sew up the back of the, stopping at the neck area. Stuff, then sew up gap.

Fold all fins in half and sew up the open side. Attach to the body.

 

Part way up the body

All the components knitted

Attaching the facial danglers

Securing the pipe cleaner on the headstalk

From the front

Silver Beet and Potato Curry

Long term followers will be aware of the love the husband has for curry.... and meat.  The curry I don't mind.  Meat however.... I don't eat the stuff and I hate cooking it.  However, a great compromise has been various vegetarian curries.

At the moment, while I am super proud of my winter crops growing in the garden, it's certainly not like the cornicopia of goodness we had in autumn.  The silver beet is going great guns - and finding out that it's called chard elsewhere has made me very happy indeed.  I am not a fan of the stuff.  I need it hidden.  But i do like the colours.

So this is my Silver Beet and Spud Curry

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, ready to be smashed in the mortar and pestle
4 green chillies, chopped and ready to be smashed
Clump ginger, chopped finely ready to be smashed.  I don't worry about peeling it.

A small bunch of coriander

3 cardamom pods, bashed
2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoon garam masala

1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 purple onion, diced

1 tomato, diced

4 potatoes, chopped into about 8 pieces each.

1/2 cup water

6 massive silver beet (chard) leaves.  Different colours are the greatest.

Juice of one small lemon

Salt and pepper

 

Chop everything.  Admire the colours. :D

Throw the garlic, ginger, cardamon, corriander and chillies into the mortar and pestle, and crush it.

In a large saucepan, heat the oil.  Throw in the dry spices (garam masala, turmeric, mustard seeds, cumin seeds) and the crushed ones with the onions.  Stir and cook until the onions are somewhat soft.  Add the tomato and stir again.  Stir in the potatoes and coloured silver beet stalks, and stir it all around.  Add the water at this point.  Cook on a low heat until the potatoes are ready.  The water will have just about all disappeared.

Throw in the silver beet leaves on the top and lemon juice.  Add salt and pepper.  Allow the leaves to wilt, then stir them all in.

It does look a little dogs breakfasty in the pot, but I was an idiot and forgot to photograph the actual plate. It does make the silver beet palatable.  And the husband likes it because its curry.  Go figure.

The Funky Knitted Hat

This hat has done the rounds.  Well.... the general pattern of this hat gets re-vamped and changed every time I knit it.  But I also thought it time to share the pattern.

 The colours can of course be changed.  It does include braided cables, so is a little more challenging than some hat designs.

Size:

Small adult head - or teen.

Gauge:

Not too tight. It's really hard doing cables with tight knitting.

Materials Needed:

1 ball rainbow
1 ball orange
1 ball purple
4mm needles
5.5mm needles

Notes:

This hat is for a small head. For a larger head you will need more stitches.... I recommend 80 for a regular sized adult head, or 90 for a large head or one with a lot of hair. This pattern would need altering in the cabled orange sections to change the size of the final product.

Directions:

Cast on 70 sts on 4mm needles.

Rib (k1, p1 to end) for 10 rows.

A row by row run down follows for the complete hat.
Where one instruction is given for a row, complete the entire row that way.

1: rib
2: rib
3: rib
4: rib
5: rib
6: rib
7: rib
8: rib
9: rib
10: rib
11: change to 5.5mm needles - knit whole row.
12: knit
13: knit rainbow
14: knit rainbow
15: knit 2 tog, yf, repeat to the end of row
16: knit rainbow
17: knit 2 tog, yf, repeat to the end of row
18: knit rainbow
19: knit 2 tog, yf, repeat to the end of row
20: knit rainbow
21: knit orange
22: knit orange
23: knit purple
24: knit purple
25: knit orange
26: knit 10, purl 6, knit 16, purl 6, knit 16, purl 6, knit 10
27: purl 10, (slip 2 cable needle in front, knit 2, knit cable needle, knit 2), purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 10
28: as row 26
29: purl 10, (knit 2, slip 2 onto cable needle back, knit 2, knit cable needle), purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 10
30: as row 26
31: purl 10, (slip 2 cable needle in front, knit 2, knit cable needle, knit 2), purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 10
32: as row 26
33: purl 10, (knit 2, slip 2 onto cable needle back, knit 2, knit cable needle), purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 16, repeat bracket, purl 10
34: as row 26 - cut off orange wool leaving 30cm for sewing up
35: knit purple
36: knit purple
37: knit rainbow
38: knit rainbow - cut off rainbow wool leaving 30cm for sewing up
39: knit purple
40: purl
41: (knit 3, knit 2 together) - repeat to end of the row
42: purl
43: (knit 2, knit 2 together) repeat to end of the row
44: purl
45: (knit 1, knit 2 together) repeat to end of the row
46: purl
47: knit 2 together to the end of the row
48: purl
49: knit 2 together to the end of the row
50: Cut off the purple wool with 30cm of yarn remaining, thread all stitches onto the cut piece and pull tight.

Plait 12 lengths of each colour together. Fold in half. Sew to the top of the hat

Sew down from the top towards the rib until you reach the orange section.
Sew the ribbed section from the bottom up with the purple tails.
Sew the rainbow and orange sections with tails.

Darn in the remaining tails.

Revamping the blog

Well, over the last few months I've been trying to work out why I don't post as much stuff on this blog as some of my others.  And while I don't have an answer to that question, I did have a brainwave.

Combining!

I looked at what I have here, lots of recipes and lunches, as it started as a lunchbox blog.  Then grew.  Then the gardening stunk in without anyone really noticing.  And now my crafting seems to feel homeless on the other blog.... one that began as a travel blog. (Beyond Island Hopping)  So it will move over here.  Well, not so much move, as just appear.

My URL will remain the same, mainly as it is linked to so many sites as it is.  And I think the additions will fit within the frame of where the blog has been going naturally.  So I hope this doesn't offend anyone.