Star Wars Bento

Well, when the theme is "Movies" what comes to mind: Star Wars!





Here we have my Star Wars tribute bento:
From the top:
R2D2 banana (made with banana, peanut butter, crushed nuts and a kit-kat finger. For the recipe see the Banana Trees listed here)
Jabba the Hut Jelly - green with orange mandarin segments, and star shaped kiwi fruit.

2 suns of tatooine toast (toad in the hole, with 2 holes)
Sand people crackers with the droid I am looking for
Death Star cheese and coleslaw
In a galaxy far far away peppermint slice
Light sabred cheese, grape and pineapple

This was accompanied by some pumpkin soup.

The recipe for the no-bake peppermint slice is posted here, and the toast was a simple deal:




Cut out the crusts and centres of the bread





Toast one side in a pan with butter. Flip.



Pour a little egg mixture in the centre

Striped Cable Beanie - Knitting Pattern

I adore knitting cables: probably too much. This beanie has the simplest cables- twists.



Cast on 80 in black on 4mm needles.
Rib 10 rows.

Change to 5.5mm needles and red. Knit 2 rows.

Change to white.
1: knit
2: k1, p4 repeat over whole row
3: k4, p1, repeat over whole row
4: as row 2
5: k4, p1, slip 2 onto cable needle back, k2, k2 from cable needle, p1 - repeat to end of row.
6-12: repeat rows 2-5

Change to red
Knit 2 rows

Change to black
1: knit
2: k1, p4 repeat over whole row
3: k4, p1, repeat over whole row
4: as row 2
5: k4, p1, slip 2 onto cable needle back, k2, k2 from cable needle, p1 - repeat to end of row.
6-12: repeat rows 2-5



Change to red
Knit 2 rows

Change to white
Knit
Purl
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Stitch up the back of the hat and attach tassels or a pom-pom.
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Wordless Wednesday

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Cupcake Beanie Knitting Pattern

Cupcake beanie



This hat is worked flat using dk baby wool. You can embellish and change this pattern easily. Changing the rib pattern to k2, p2 is also nice, as is knitting in beads as "sprinkles" in the icing section.

You will need
3.25mm needles
4.5mm needles
3 colours of yarn (sample uses brown, pink and red)
Small amount of stuffing

Using the 3.25mm needles, cast on 60 stitches in colour A. The sample uses a plain brown as colour A. Knit one, purl one to the end of the row. Complete 10 rows. This will create the ribbed bottom of the hat.

Change to the 4.5mm needles. Using colour B knit a row on the new needles. This makes the icing. The following rows (in pink in the sample) are all numbered from after the ribbed piece.

1: k1 front, yarn around needle, k1 back in every stitch on this row.

2: slip 1, p2 together, psso over the whole row (this creates the muffin top area

3: knit

4: purl

5-16: repeat rows 3-4

Row 17: Continuing with colour B, knit 3 stitches, knit 2 together. Repeat until the end of the row.

Row 18: Purl the row.

Row 19: Knit 2 stitches, knit 2 together. Repeat until the end of the row.

Row 20: Purl the row.

Row 21: Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 together. Repeat until the end of the row.

Row 22: Purl the row.

Row 23: Knit 2 together. Repeat until the end of the row.

Row 24: Purl the row.

Row 25: Knit 2 together. Repeat until the end of the row.

26: purl 2 together over the whole row

Change to red
On the remaining stitches k1 front and back over whole row
Stst 7 rows
K2 tog over row.

Cut the yarn with 30cm remaining. Slip all the stitches onto the yarn, and pull tight.
With a little stuffing, the size of a small walnut, stitch up the sides of the red cherry, and stuff. Wind the yarn around the base of the cherry, tightly shaping into a sphere.

Stitch up the side of the hat in matching yarn.


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The Hat had it coming... Sherlock Inspired Beanie

Finding the awesome "The Wallpaper had it coming" chart on Ravelry inspired this had for a major Sherlock fan.



You will need
4mm needles
5mm needles
Cream and black dk yarn
Chart
Accent colour yarn (I used blue)

Cast on 84 on 4mm in cream
Rib (k2, p2 repeat) over 10 rows

Change to black and 5mm needles
Knit 2 rows

Copying the chart from ravelry, complete one repeat of the pattern.






Change to black yarn.
Knit 2 rows

Change to cream yarn
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Darn in all the ends

Embellish with a smiley face. I did this in blue on the top section, but you could use a more traditional gold over the pattern itself.



Tie a tassel or pom pom on the top.

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Music Note Beanie - Knitting Pattern

Here's a hat that proclaims a love of music.



You will need:
Size 4mm needles
Size 5mm needles
3 colours of dk yarn

Musician Beanie

Cast on 80 in colour 1 (rainbow) on 4mm needles
Rib 10 rows

Change to 5mm needles and colour 2 (blue)
Knit 2 rows

Change to colour 3 (orange)
1- Knit
2- Knit
3- K1, (yrn, k2 tog) repeat bracketed section to the last stitch, k1
4- Knit
5- repeat row 3
6- knit
7- repeat row 3
8- knit



Change to colour 1
Knit 2 rows

Change to colour 2
Knit
Purl
Insert chart in stst - chart repeats over 20 stitches. 4 charts per row.


Knit
Purl - cut off colour 2



Change to colour 3
Knit 2 rows - cut off colour 3

Change to colour 1
Knit
Purl
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Stitch up the back of the hat and attach tassels or a pom-pom.



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Tomato and Basil Soup

I've been on a quest to make great soups this winter, and I am literally on a roll.
This tomato and basil soup can be made quickly, and it is super tasty, and completely meat-free.

This recipe yields 4 hearty servings.



Ingredients
6 tomatoes
2 cloves garlic
1 red onion
Handful basil
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Vegetable stock cube
2 cups water
150ml cream
Parmesan cheese

1. Wash tomatoes, cut in half, and line a roasting dish, with the cut sides up. Cut the onion in quarter and give the garlic a quick crush with the back of the knife. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt, pepper and chopped basil leaves.

Roast at 180 degrees for about 30 minutes.


2. Remove from the oven and allow to cool a little... Or you will scold your fingers!
Peel the skin off of each tomato, discarding the skin, and throw everything else; juice, oil, onions etc, in a soup pot on a low heat.




3. Add the stock cube and a 2 cups of water. Heat until boiling. Add more basil. Blitz with a blender. Add cream. Stir until combined.



4. Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and a couple of basil leaves. I like it with sour dough garlic rolls.



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Totoro Beanie - Knitting Pattern

Recently I was asked to make a Totoro beanie, and I'm pleased with this pattern. Totoro is a character from the Japanese Anime "My Neighbour Totoro".



Totoro

You will need:
Grey, black and white dk yarn
4.5mm needles
6mm needles
2 goggle eyes

Cast on 80 on 4.5mm
Rib 8 rows

Change to 6mm
Stst 24 rows
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten

Belly
Pick up 16 stitches from the bottom of the hat along the ribbing. These should create a panel of knitting that rolls from the inside of the hat around onto the outside.



Stst 8 rows
9- K2 tog, knit to last 2, k2 tog
10- P2 tog, purl to last 2, p2 tog
Repeat rows 9 and 10 until 4 stitches remain.
Cast off.



Ears - make 2
Cast in 1 on 4.5mm
1- K1 front, yarn round needle, k1 back (now referred to as k1f,yo,k1b)
2- Purl
3- K1, k1f,yo,k1b, k1
4- Purl
5- K2, k1f,yo,k1b, k2
6- Purl
7- K3, k1f,yo,k1b, k3
8- Purl
9- K4, k1f,yo,k1b, k4
10- Purl
11- Knit
12-Purl
13-knit
14- purl
15- K2 tog, k to last 2, k2 tog
16- Purl 2 tog, p to last 2, purl 2 tog
Repeat 15 and 16 until 5 stitches remain
Purl
Knit
Purl
Cast off

Stitch on the ears, folding the last portion knitted into a thin tube first.attach firmly to the top of the hat.



Embroider a few chevrons on his belly.



Attach 2 eyes and a nose. Optional to include a couple of twisted yarn whiskers.
Stitch up the back of the hat.


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"Despicable Me" Evil Minion Hat - Knitting Pattern

After creating the One Eyed Minion Hat and the One Eyed Minion Toy, and both being quite popular, I turned my head to the 2 Eyed Minions, in both toy and hat forms. Check out both patterns. I've made the different so that you can chop and chose various elements for your own unique hat.

This one is for a 2 eyed Evil Purple Minion!



You will need
4mm needles
5mm needles
Purple, white, black and grey dk yarn

Cast on 80 in purple.
Rib (k1, p1) 10 rows.

Change to the 5mm needles.
Stst 10 rows.

Knit as per the chart. The four rows with black should be all black.
Knit 30, complete chart section, knit 30
Purl 30, complete chart section, purl 30 (repeat until chart completed)



At the end of the chart, stst 10 rows.



K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, thread remaining stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten.

Glasses surround
Cast on 3 in grey
Stst 80 rows
Cast off.
Stitch around the white eye sections, and some of the purple to create an eyelid as shown in the image.


Teeth

Pick up 14 from the first row after the ribbed band.



Knit whole row
Knit 4 stitches as 4 short rows- cast off these 4.
Purl next 4, turn, k2 tog twice, turn, p2 tog, cut yarn, thread through remaining stitch.
Knit 2 stitches as 6 short rows, k2 tog, cut yarn, thread through remaining stitch.
Stst 5 rows. Cast off.



Darn in the tails. Attach the top of the teeth to the hat itself.



Stitch up the back, and darn in the tails.

I gave this hat tassels. You could make a pom-pom or the minion hair as shown in the One Eyed Minion Hat


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"Despicable Me" Minion Toy (2eyed) Knitting Patten

So, I designed the One Eyed Minion Toy, and as he was becoming so darn popular, here is his buddy, the Two Eyed Minion! And yes... My mind is also thinking about the evil minions.....



He is a little shorter and fatter than his buddy, and uses medium eyes rather than a large one.




You will need:
Size 4mm needles
Dk wool in blue, black, yellow, grey
Stuffing
2 medium goggle eyes

Legs

Cast on 12
Stst 4 rows in black
Stst 6 rows in blue

Slide 2 legs together
K1, k1 front and back, repeat over whole row
Stst 9 rows blue
Stst 20 rows yellow
Stst 3 rows black
Stst 9 rows yellow
K2 tog over whole row
Purl whole row
K2 tog over row. Cut yarn, thread stitches onto yarn.

Overall front
Using a crochet hook, pick up 11 stitches on the front of the minion, in the last row of blue.
Stst 9 rows
Cast off.

Eye surround - make 2
Cast on 3 stitches in grey.
Stst 20 rows
Cast off

Arms
Cast on 12 in yellow
Stst 10 rows yellow
Stst 4 black
K2 tog over row, cut yarn, thread stitches onto yarn, pull to tighten.

Straps - make 2 (or you can braid 3 strands of wool long enough)
Cast on 3 in blue
Stst 34 rows
Cast off.

Attach twisted yarn hairs to the top of the head. Keep these in neat lines rather than all over like the one eyed minion has.
Stitch up legs and overall bottoms (blue knitting)
Stitch up head and black strap.
Stuff and sew up the back.
Sew up arms and attach to body.
Attach eyes to the front of the black stripe. These should just be touching without the surrounds on.



Sew grey eye surrounds into a circle, stitch around the eye. Run yarn around the side, and pull to tighten around the goggle eye.



When both surrounds are attached, stitch them together in the middle.
Attach straps to the back of the minion, crossing over his back.
Attach to top of overalls with black thread.
Stitch on a smile.





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Tardis Wheatie Bag - Sewing Project

This morning my wee beagle is sick... She has a slipped disc and a lot of pain meds. We decided it was time for a new heat pad/Wheatie bag to put on her neck and ease her suffering a little.



Ages ago I purchased this fabric from Spoonflower, and I would love to get more! The fabric quality is stunning, and I really want to find the time to design my own.

Any who, I used the Tardis Pillow fabric, which came with an additional tardis mini pillow, designed to be made into a pin cushion. Pin cushions aren't that much fun... So I made a Wheatie bag. You could use any fabric, fleece is divine, and my sister swears by using merino



Cut out 2 rectangles of fabric. If you were using something else, one really long one would be easier. Drop a little lavender oil on the fabric.



Stitch up 3 sides, reinforcing in the corners.



Sew a line down the centre. Using a rolled up sheet of paper as a funnel, pour again a handful of wheat, barley or rice onto the cavities. Sew across the pillow. I use rice for people who are allergic to wheat. Jasmine rice is brilliant.



Repeat this process until you have 6 or 8 pockets of wheat.

Zig-zag or surge the open end, then fold over to create a neat edge.



Heat in the microwave with a cup of water for a minute.

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"Despicable Me" Minion Hat 2 - Knitting Pattern

After creating the One Eyed Minion Hat and the One Eyed Minion Toy, and both being quite popular, I turned my head to the 2 Eyed Minions. Check out both patterns. I've made the different so that you can chop and chose various elements for your own unique hat.





You will need
4mm needles
5mm needles
Blue, yellow, white, black and grey dk yarn

Cast on 80 in blue.
Rib (k1, p1) 10 rows.

Change to yellow and the 5mm needles.
Stst 8 rows.

Knit as per the chart. The four rows with black should be all black.
Knit 28, complete chart section, knit 28
Purl 28, complete chart section, purl 28



At the end of the chart, stst 10 rows.
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Cut yarn, thread remaining stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten.

Glasses surround
Cast on 3 in grey
Stst 80 rows
Cast off.
Stitch around the white eye sections as shown in the image.

Stitch up the back, and darn in the tails.

I gave this hat tassels. You could make a pom-pom or the minion hair as shown in the One Eyed Minion Hat

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Sheep Knitting Pattern

I've been making these guys for years to give away to foreign exchange students. They are kinda fun because they are made backwards... You'll see.




You will need
Pipe cleaners
Stuffing
2 eyes
White and brown dk yarn
4mm needles
Pins
Black embroidery yarn
20cm ribbon

Start by building a skeleton from pipe cleaners. I fold 3 in half, 2 for legs and one for the face. Use others to strengthen and create the back and neck.



Cover with stuffing and tie on with yarn. (Told you this was backwards)



Head
Cast on 16
Stst 12 rows
K2 tog over row
P2 tog over row
Cut yarn, thread stitches onto yarn, pull to tighten.
Stitch up the side.
Slip onto head and stitch onto stuffing.

Legs - make 4

Cast on 10
Stst 16 rows
K2 tog over row
Cut yarn, thread stitches onto yarn, pull to tighten.
Stitch up the side.
Slip onto leg and stitch onto stuffing.



Ears - make 2

Cast on one
K1 front, yarn round needle, k1 back (kf,rn,kb)
Purl
K1, (kf,rn,kb), k1
Purl
Knit
Purl
Knit
Cast off
Stitch onto side of the face.

Body
Cast on 30 in white.
Knit 48 rows in any textured pattern. I used a basket weave in the images here, but I've also used blackberry, cables, chevrons, moss, and k/p patterns successfully.
Cast off.



Fold and pin around body.



Stitch on.
Tie a piece of yarn around the neck and tighten.
Add a bow, eyes and face.



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