Koalas for France

I haven't been blogging much, but I have been crocheting. We have had a few long car trips while we sort out my mum in laws business. Here is a little set I made for a special friend in France.

We had a French student stay with us a few years back. It was a fabulous time, and while her English improved heaps, my French did seem to go anywhere!

Time passes and she has now settled back in France with her man. This is lovely news as the poor chap would ring her up every night at seven on a Sunday night, for the year she was with us. There was a time when they split up as she thought she would check out the Aussie blokes. I couldn't understand this as a French man is well, French, and he had the most amazing "Ellooo" over the phone. But this chap was determined and came across to Australia with some friends, and by the time they had travelled up to Cairns, been to the islands and seen the Great Barrier Reef, they were an item again.

Several years later and they are building a home and have had a baby boy. Naturally I had to make some Aussie for the Little bloke. I remember the day we took her to see the koalas at the sanctuary, so I figured a koala set was the thing.

Anyway these are now on their way to France and I cant wait to see a photo of the little fellow in them.

Thanks for looking, baby stuff always gives me the warm fuzzies. I have quite a back log of things to share.

(c) crochetroo 2008

(oops I have no idea why this little koala is sideways)

Crochet Therapy

June was a sad and emotional month for our family. Many thanks to all the warm thoughts and hugs that were expressed.

My Mum in law lived about 2 1/2 hours drive north from where we live, and hub and I spent many an hour driving back and forth over the last few weeks. Crochet is my therapy, and it goes where I go. Here are some of the things I made over the last few weeks.

I have been meaning to finish off these koalas for yonks now, and I have finally done it. I have even finished writing the patterns up.

A Koala Party Beanie:
A Koala Party Scarf:

Another Koala Party Beanie.

Yes, I know I am obsessed but I just love koalas.

They are the most amazing animals, however after I was tiring of Koalas I thought I would do a kangaroo beanie.
Because I wasn't very organised, I had only grabbed a few colours so it is the same mix as the first koala beanie.

Friends of ours in Townsville also welcomed their new son into the world on the 4th June. He was well over 9lbs which is a whopper of a baby for my friend who is less than 5ft, and about normally about 45 kg. Babies are Gods little wonders and I made him some baby blue ugg booties. It is our winter here so these are perfect for the cooler weather up North. I surprised my self by not only making these , but also having mailed them off within about 3 days of bub being born. This was a happy moment amongst our sadness but reminded me how life goes on.

I have also been experimenting with some lacy mitts. Our Daughter took the first set I made as she was home for Grandmas Funeral. The ones below are a second set I made to see if I could remember what I did.

She also fancied the beanie and scarf to match. Again the scarf was an experiment in a loophole, shorter version.

The problem is that while I wrote down rough notes, the set is now back in Melbourne, and I am having fun trying to remember exactly how I made them!

The model is my eldest sons girlfriend. She is a terrific model and I ended up making her a beanie in blue and a scarf to match. She really likes the things I make. As many of you would know, there is a real buzz in having your crochet appreciated.

So crochet is my therapy, and I have been productive while I have been away from my blog. Grief is a terrible feeling. I find that the best thing is to keep busy. Grandma would have been 84 on July 19. She lived a wonderful life, had 3 sons, 3 daughters in law and 6 grand kids. She was fortunate to have lived independently in her own home, with her mind as sharp as a tack up until the week before she left us. She partied hard with us for my birthday in March, and was the life of the party in her sarong and hibiscus around her neck. She always had a sparkle in her eye, and took such interest in others. She would have enjoyed seeing what I have just shown you. We miss her already.

Sugar Cane Train Beanie and Scarf

I used to have one of those jobs where you travel a fair bit around the country. Probably one of my favourite parts is Tropical North Queensland. I spent some time doing a project in Innisfail, made famous in recent years by cyclone Larry. It is one of those lovely little country towns that oozes both character and history. To the South of Innisfail is Tully, and this is sugar cane country. When I was a kid we used to have a few acres of sugar cane growing down the back paddock. I remember the smell of the burn off, and the scurry of critters as the fire roared through. It all had a very distinctive smell. I also remember as a kid sucking on a bit of sugar cane. It was stringy and sweet. I haven't done that for years, but the smell and taste remains in my memory. These are things my kids will never have. The other thing they will never have is a mouth full of amalgam!


Because of the all the sugar we also have a few Rum distilleries as well. Beenleigh Rum and Bundaberg Rum or Bundy are probably the best known brands. A lot of the cane farms in South East Queensland have now been replaced by suburbia as land becomes more valuable. I heard recently that the old Rum Distillery at Beenleigh was going to be revamped as a DFO shopping centre. That is sure a sign of the times.

The other thing about sugar is that there are sugar cane farms scattered all up the coast of Queensland. This used to be the "Sunshine Route" and was one of those things that we had to remember in geography, was all the names of the towns from Brisbane to Cairns. the Sunlander was a passenger train that went from Brisbane to Cairns.



My husband was clearly a better scholar than me, as he can still rattle off all the towns. The Sunshine Route on the Sunlander was one of those trips that the retirees and Southerners do, particularly in Winter. It has become a bit classier now, and there is a Tilt train for a part of the journey.

Here is a link to the history of trains in Australia:

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/railways/

So I designed this little beanie and scarf based on the sugar cane trains. These are little trains that carry bins of cut cane from the farms to the sugar mill for processing. This is a remarkable network of little trains that connect the cane farms up the Queensland Coast. There is something like 4,000 km of track in the state which collects 37M tons of sugar cane each year.

Here is a link for the train enthusiasts:

www.lrrsa.org.au/LRR_SGRz.htm


When you drive up north you will see these little trains running along the highway. Some of them carry huge numbers of bins, and they add a distinctive flavour to the country side. I love to challenge myself to design things based on the local environment, and I enjoyed coming up with this design. Sugar cane trains in crochet, might sound a bit kitsch, but I think they are rather cute.


The scarf and beanie are a great use of scraps as the colours add a bit of visual pop. Thanks to my wonderful testers the pattern is now available at http://www.crochetroo.etsy.com/.

So here is the bit of the Sunshine Route that I can remember: Brisbane, Gympie, Maryborough, Gladstone, Mackay...... what comes next???? Bowen, Townsville, Home Hill, Ayre, a few more and then Cairns. Any one know the Sunshine Route? I googled and couldn't find it. I dont think kids learn things that that anymore.

(c) crochetroo please do not copy.

Frog Beanie for a dorky kid (free crochet pattern)

Since all the rain down here I am hearing frogs again in the garden. Yesterday number 2 son discovered a yucky cane toad in one of the pot plants. I hate those things and haven't seen one for ages. Cane Toads are one of those species that was introduced on purpose in the 1930s to manage the sugar cane beetle, and then took over the State. Apparently the toads couldn't jump high enough, so never effected the beetle population much. They are revolting things, and I remember as a kid stepping on them in the dark on the way to the backyard dunny. I also remember them in the hundreds on the rural roads at night and my dad trying to run over them with the ute.

So these things are not only fugly, they are also poisonous and have no natural predators. The number of native frog species has also been effected since the cane toad arrived on our shores. Here is a really cool link if you are interested in the Cane Toad in Queensland.

http://www.fdrproject.org/pages/toads.htm

My youngest son is a drama student and wanted me to make him a dorky frog hat for a role he was in. He wanted jiggly eyes, so that it would look like a frog peeking out over the bushes. Here is what we came up with: Yep he looks like a dork!

Here is my number 2 son, being a real drongo in it - yep he is an even bigger dork in it.


Here is the pattern for the frog lovers out there. I did this one in a night, as that was about all the warning I had that a frog hat was required for school.....the next day..

Please respect my copyright, and if you do take the pattern how about making one for a charity, and leaving me a comment?

Happy Frogging!

Frog Beanie for a dorky kid.

Note: Australian/ UK terms are first / USA Terms are second = tr/dc

• 8 ply yarn, worsted weight, double knit or equivalent yarn, hook size 4mm, J6


• 2 jiggle eyes 4cm / 1½ inches wide


• Hat measures 19cm/ 7½ high, 54cm/21inches around. Tension: 17tr/dc, 9 rows to 10cm/ 4inches

Beanie
1. 4ch, slst join into a ring, 3ch, 11tr/dc into ring, slst join to start ch = 12
2. 3ch start, 1tr/dc same st, 2tr/dc each st around, slst join = 24
3. 3ch start, (2tr/dc each next st, 1tr/dc next st) around, slst join = 36
4. 3ch start, 1tr/dc next st, (2tr/dc next st, 1tr/dc each of next 2st) around, slst join = 48
5. 3ch start, 1tr/dc next 2st, (2tr/dc next st, 1tr/dc each of next 3st) around, slst join = 60
6. 3ch start, 1tr/dc each st around, slst join = 60
7. 3ch start, 1tr/dc next 3st, (2tr/dc next st, 1tr/dc each of next 4st) around, slst join = 72
8 - 9. 3ch start, 1tr/dc each st around, slst join = 72
10. 3ch start, 1tr/dc next 4st, (2tr/dc next st, 1tr/dc each of next 5st) around slst join = 84
11 - 15. 3ch start, 1tr/dc each st around, slst join = 84 (alter number of rows to adjust hat height)

Band: work 4 rounds of 1dc/sc into each st. I used black for the second and fourth rounds.

Eyes: make 2
1. 4ch, slst join into a ring, 3ch, 11tr/dc into ring, slst join to start ch = 12
2. 3ch start, 1tr/dc same st, 2tr/dc each st around, slst join = 24
3. 3ch start, 1tr/dc each st around, slst join = 24
4. 3ch start, 1tr/dc next st then 2tr/dctog around = 12 finish off leaving a length of yarn so as to stitch the eye to the head. Stuff each eye firmly, and stitch one to either side of the hat aligned just below round 3 of the beanie.

Hot glue a goggle eye to the centre front of each eye bulb to finish off your frog.

Now you too can look like a dork, or have dorky kids just like me!

© 2008 crochetroo Australia. Do not reproduce pattern by any means. You may use it for personal use, gifts and charity fundraising. This pattern is not to be resold, uploaded to the web. It is ok to use to make items to sell on a small scale, as long as you don't claim the design as your own or sell on the web.

Daisy Chain Beanie - scrapbuster project (free crochet pattern)

I am a great hoarder of scraps, and seem to have a mountain of little bits and pieces of yarn from a multitude of projects. In a feeble attempt to reduce the yarn stock in my cupboards I have come up with a series of scrap buster projects.

This is called the Daisy Chain Beanie which uses up small bits of yarn for the flowers, joins them together and then creates a hat. They look good with a plain black or white background but I have experimented using different colours for the brim and edging.

Now the crochet enthusiasts will go wow, some might think this is destined for what not to crochet!

I personally like the colour and think they are great to donate to charities or to keep any little kids head warm.

So I post the pattern here for all the scrapaholics to enjoy. There are 2 sizes and you will have to experiment with the sizing. I suspect our yarn down here in Australia might be a bit lighter than the worsted stuff in the US.

I do ask that you respect my copyright. It has taken me a while to design this and write the instructions up so please don't copy, paste to the web, redistribute or sell my patterns. I also ask that in the spirit of paying it forward (PIF) if you do use this pattern for yourself, that you also make an extra hat for a charity.

Finished items are not to be sold.

......and it is nice to know who is doing what with my patterns so please leave a comment.

Daisy Chain Beanie

scrapbuster project

(c) crochetroo designs from Australia

This pretty beanie is made from scraps of 8ply, worsted weight yarn with a 4mm, J6 hook. Make each flower in a different colour, or use different colours for the flower centre. Approximate lengths of yarn for each round are given so you can estimate how to use up your scraps. Weave in your ends as you go. I use a steel hook to pull these into the work.

Australian/British instructions are first, American instructions are second in [square brackets]. I suggest you highlight the ones you need to follow.

While I have made a few of these, the pattern hasn't been tested by others. If you find any errors please let me know.

Sizing: this will depend on your tension and yarn the following is a guide only. My flowers measure 8cm/ 3inches across.

Small (Toddler) = 8 flowers, 44cm/17inches circumference, 17cm/6 ½ inches height,
Large (Child - Teen) = 8 flowers, 50cm/19½ inch circumference, 19cm/ 7 ½ inches height

Daisies

1. 4ch slst into a ring, 2ch 9htr [hdc] into ring, slst join = 10 (110 cm or 45 inches of yarn)

2. 1ch (1dc [sc] into next st, 4ch, miss 1) 5times slst join into first st. You should have 5 loops (90cm or 37inches of yarn)

3. Into each of the ch loops work (1dc[sc], 1htr[hdc], 1tr[dc], 2ch, 1tr[dc], 1htr[hdc], 1dc[sc]) slst finish off = 5 petals (250cm or 100inches of yarn)
For the large size replace the 2ch with 3ch for extra stretch.

Joining Daisies:

Make 1 start daisy and then join as you go with round 3. Work three petals, then work half of the fourth (1dc[sc], 1htr[hdc], 1tr[dc], 1ch) then insert hook into ch space of petal on first flower, join with 1ch, (make 1ch extra for the large size) then work the second half of the petal (1tr[dc], 1htr[hdc], 1dc[sc]). Join 2 petals in this way and then complete round three as above.

Flower 3: Join as for flowers 1 and 2 but check that placement matches the picture above. Every second daisy has a loose petal that points up or down.

You will need to join them in a circle when you work the last flower by catching 2 petals to flower 7 and 2 petals to flower 1.

Beanie Crown
Rounds 1 – 6 of the crown are worked with the stitches between the posts. Start each round with 3ch which counts a 1tr[dc], slst join at the end of each round.

1. Join main yarn to the ch space in any spare petal with a slst, 1dc[sc] into same sp, *3ch, 1dc[sc] between this petal and the next petal, 3ch, 1dc[sc] at petal join, 3ch, 1dc[sc] between next 2 petals, 3ch, 1dc[sc] tip of spare petal* repeat in this manner until you get back to the start dc[sc], slst join. You should have 24 of the 3ch loops.

2. 1ch space, *2dc[sc] into ch sp, 2htr[hdc] next ch sp, 2tr[dc] next ch sp, 2tr[dc] next ch sp, 2htr[hdc] next ch sp, 2dc[sc] next ch sp* work from * to * 4 times, slst join in start ch= 48

For the larger size work 1ch between each set of 2st.

3. 3ch start, 1tr[dc] same st, (this should be between 2 groups of 2dc[sc]), (miss 2st, 2tr[dc] in sp) around = 48st or 24 groups
.
4. For larger size only repeat round 3 = 48st

5. Slst to next sp, 3ch, (counts as 1tr[dc]) miss 2st, (2tr[dc] next sp, miss 2st, 1tr[dc] next sp) around, slst join = 36st

6. Slst to next sp, 3ch start, (miss 2st, 1tr[dc] in sp, miss 1, 1tr[dc] in sp) around. Slst join = 24st

7. You will work into the loops of the stitches from round 7 onwards.
3ch start, (2trtog [dctog], 1tr[dc] next st) around = 16st

8. 3ch, (2tr[dc] tog) around (you will finish with 1tr[dc]), slst finish off leaving 6inches/15cm of yarn. Weave loose end through the top of the loops and pull up tight, stitch in ends to secure.

Brim band

1. Working on opposite side of daisies repeat round 1 as for hat crown.

2. Slst to next ch space, *2dc[sc] into ch sp, 1ch, 2htr[hdc] next ch sp, 1ch, 2tr[dc] next ch sp, 1ch, 2tr[dc] next ch sp, 1ch, 2htr[htr] next ch sp, 1ch, 2dc[sc] next ch sp ,1ch* work from * to * 4 times , slst join in start dc.= 48 (this is the same as round 2 for the round but with 1ch worked between the groups of stitches)

3. Small size as for round 3 of crown, then work the edge

3 - 4 Large size repeat round 2 of band with the extra 1ch between the sets of 2. (You can do as many extra rows as you want to add length to your hat.)

Edge

1. 1dc[sc] between first pair of tr[dc], (3ch, miss 2tr[dc], 1dc[sc] in space) around. Slst join.

2. 3dc[sc] into each 3ch sp around, slst join and weave in ends.

This looks good in a contrast colour. For a larger hat you may need to work 2 rounds of round 3.

Daisy Chain Head Band

1. Make a daisy chain as for a hat.

2. Work both sides of daisies as for rounds 1 and 2 of the brim band

3. Work a final round of 1dc[sc] into each st and each ch space on both edges of your head band.

Using this technique you can also make a scarf.

Have fun and please send me pictures of your finished hats so I can show the world!

Chinese year of the red fire pig

Happy Chinese New Year!

This weekend celebrates Chinese New year. This has become a bit of an event here, particularly in some of the communities that were settled by the Chinese. One of the fun things about living in a multicultural society is the numerous celebrations we enjoy. You cant beat the Chinese for fantastic fireworks, festivities with the dragons and fantastic food.

The following years are pig years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 and 2007.
The year 2007 is the year of the red fire pig. According to Chinese astrology, children born in the year of the pig will be happy and honest.

Chinese people in Australia

The Chinese have a strong link with our history.When the first fleet arrived and dropped off British convicts, it went back to England via Canton.In the 1850s Gold Rush over 40,000 Chinese people moved to Australia. For the first time civilians outnumbered convicts. So basically the population were the British officials, the British Convicts and the Chinese workers. Of course the indigeneous people had been here for a very long time. The colonists would use the Chinese people as cheap labour (as happened in many other settling colonies)and because of the famine in China at that time, many Chinese sought refuge, a new life, and opportunity in Australia.

Things such as the Eureka stockade, and in the early 20th century the White Australia policy demonstate an unpleasant component such as racial discriminatation.Today people from Chinese backgrounds are the 5th largest ethnic group in Australia. Most of our cities have a China Town, and the Chinese are very active and valued people in our society. China is also a major trading country with us, and my kids have studied Chinese in school as this is seen as a most beneficial second language to have.

Pigs in Australia

Pigs have a bad reputation in Australia. They were introduced in the 1770’s, as domesticated farm animals as a food source for the new colony. Due to a lack of fences and pens, and inadequate control in these times, feral pig populations were soon established in the wild. Because of this “pig shooting” or “boar hunting” became a pastime as officials tried to reduce the number of feral pigs. When I was a kid I can remember my Dad and uncle would load up the ute, go bush and go pig shooting. I can't think of anything more revolting, except perhaps for roo shooting.

The feral pig has a huge impact on the Australian environment and is considered one of Australia’s worst pests. Feral pigs erode the soil and waterways; they kill farmed animals such as lambs and carry disease which affects our native wildlife. Feral pigs will eat animals and plants, in particular small mammals, frogs, birds, lizards and eggs. When they wallow in the billabongs and creeks they destroy the water vegetation and disturb the ecosystem. They pose a huge threat to our native animals and wildlife. There is nothing cute about a wild pig!

Our daughter, (believe it or not) worked part time in the pig industry for the Pig Board eqivalent here while she was at uni. She told me everyone had piggy things on their desks. She also told me that even farmed pigs are pretty nasty. We had pigs on the farm when I was a small child and I always remember my younger brother being bitten on the belly by an aggressive sow. People would ask hin "where's your belly where the pig bit you?" and he would show them. He still has a scar.

So I decided that number 6 in my rugalugs series would be pigs, albeit a feral animal, but also in honor of the Chinese year of the pig. The pigs alone make great little brooches for a piggy party, and I reckon with a magnet glued on the back they could become fridgies. My son who is always full of bright ideas suggested doing the pigs bum with the tail, and this looks good on the back of the hat.

I think they turned out pretty cute, despite my reservations.

The chocolaty brown hat looks good for an older child. Again I have this predisposition to do things for boys because I also have 3 sons. I reckon crochet for boys is always a bit ho hum so I put a bit of effort into making it a bit blokey but also with attitude.

When worked in a 4ply baby yarn they are pretty special. I reckon these would make a different sort of baby gift for bubs born in the year of the pig. While red isn't every ones cup of tea for a baby, I think it is quite effective. Certainly a change from the pinks and blues.

I designed a baby's beanie, and then went on to make a matching pair of booties. These are really something else! I hadn't designed booties before, but once I worked out what to do with the pig I was on a roll. When worked in 4 ply they are perfect for a newborn bub.

I have just listed this little lot on etsy. It is the complete patterns set from pig motif, 3 types of squares - pig face, pigs bum and a contrast square. Also included are full instructions for the heat and booties. This is a bumper set but I felt it worthwhile to achieve something different for year of the pig.

So while they are feral beasts that stuff up the ecosystem, being on a babies beanie and booties is a good place for a pig to be!

Again my images and ideas are copyright. Please do not download my pictures. Direct links are always welcome!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Fairy penguin crochet square - rugalugs motif

Fairy Penguin crochet square

This motif is based the Australian Fairy Penguin, the smallest of the penguin family and is found only in southern Australia and New Zealand. Fairy penguins weigh approximately 1 kilogram and stand 30 cm high. They live in burrows, and are seen on the beach. Fairy penguins never see the snow. I have seen these in New Zealand and in Victoria a few years back. They are the most fascinating little creatures. Some are more of a blue colour than black, and each year hundreds die because of oil slicks. A few years back there was a major problem in Tasmania and the community rallied and knitted them little jumpers. Next spill (not that I want one) I am organising a crochet jumper effort. Check out this link:

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-7145.html

Other penguins are found in Antarctica to the south of Australia.

Lots of kids cartoons show Eskimos, igloos, polar bears and penguins living harmoniously together. This in fact would never happen in the real world. Mainly because you will never see a polar bear and a penguin together as they live at different poles! A penguin would be very lost to have reached the North pole! I guess the poor little fellows would never get to meet Santa either.

This square is another in my rugalugs series which are for sale at my etsy store.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=44224

The only way I can promote my work is on the net. I also like to promote an environmental message as well. So crochet, the net and the environment - what an unlikely trio!

I am quite enjoying these and a few more on the burner. I start off with an idea, and then do several in order to get the look right. The hardest bit is getting them into a geometric shape. They will need blocking, and even if they are a bit wonky, they never the less seem to pull into shape if surrounded by a contrast block. A whole rug, or afghan would look so cool!

My son has decided he wants a rug to match his room out of these. They look very cute in brights as well as pastels. He wants black arround it, but I am thinking I might introduce some white into the contrast square.

I also then came up with a hat design. No point having a square if you have to make dozens of the things to make a rug! The hats turned out pretty ok as well.

The orangey one is in pure Australian wool which feels wonderful. Although it is our summer and people would think you quite crazy if you wore a beanie on the Gold Coast at the moment! They would look kinda comfy on a little head once the winter arrives.

The pastel penguins are quite sweet. I am imaging these in a pram rug in soft blues and pinks.

Thanks for looking. Please respect my copyright. These images and ideas are protected and remain my intellectual property. (c)2007 crochetroo.