Saturday 28 February 2015

Mr.Spock mug cosy



Friday was a very sad day….. A true sci-fi icon has left us; of course I mean the legend that is Leonard Nimoy.
I’m not a trekkie, but I still vividly remember watching the original series with Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk and still to this day I was all too aware of just how iconic those characters had become. Although Leonard Nimoy played quite a number of other roles throughout his career including films such as ‘Invasion of the body snatchers’ and the more recent sci-fi series ‘Fringe’, to me he will always be Mr. Spock.
So in honour of the great man, I felt inspired to crochet this star trek themed mug cosy, perfect for popping round a mug of hot drink fresh from the replicator ;)

The colours I’ve chosen are also a nod to his original uniform: blue top with silver communicator badge.

Grab a crochet hook, some yarn, make a cosy and raise a mug of tea (or whatever Vulcans drink) to the great man.



Abbreviations
ch - chain
ch-sp - chain space
dc (US sc) - double crochet (single crochet)
htr (US hdc) - half treble crochet ( hald double crochet)
tr (US dc) - treble (double crochet)
dtr (US tr) - double treble (treble)
trtr (US dtr) - triple treble ( double treble)
st(s) - stitch(es)
RS - right side
WS - wrong side


Materials
Oddments of DK yarn in blue and silver, I have used:
Rowan Handknit Cotton in blue
Rowan Cotton Glacé in silver
3.50mm (US E/4) crochet hook.
1 x button
Tapestry needle

Pattern
With blue yarn make 13 chains.
Row 1 (WS): 1 dc into second ch from hook, 1 dc into every ch to end, turn.
Row 2: ch 1, *1 dc into front loop only of next st, 1 dc in back loop only of next st, rep from * to end, turn.
Continue repeating row 2 until work measures 24.5cm (or however long you wish the cosy to be).
Break off yarn.
Buttonhole band
With RS facing, re-join yarn to 4th stitch on last row.
Row 1: ch 1, [1 dc into back loop of next st, 1 dc into front loop of next st] 3 times, turn.
Rep row 1, 5 more times.
Row 7: ch 1, 1 dc into back loop of next set, 1 dc into front loop of next set, miss 2 sts, 1 dc into back loop of next set, 1 dc into front loop of next set, turn.
Row 8: ch 1, 1 dc into back loop of next st, 1 dc into front loop of next st, 2 dc into ch-2 sp, 1 dc into back loop of next st, 1 dc into front loop of next st.
Fasten off.

Communicator badge
I have used two strands of cotton glacé held together for the badge, as I wanted it to really stand out.  Cotton glacé is mercerised cotton, with weight in between DK and 4 ply, has a gentle shine to it which is just ideal for the badge.
With your silver yarn make 13 ch.
Row 1: 1 dc into second ch form hook, 1 dc into next 2 ch, 1 htr into next ch, 1 tr into next ch, [1 dtr, 1 trtr, ch 1, 1 trtr] all into next ch, [1dtr, 1 tr] all into next ch, 1 tr into next ch, 1 htr into next 2 ch, 1 dc into next 2 ch.
Fasten off.

Making up
Weave in ends.
Attach button to the cosy, placing it in the centre of 5th row from the start of work.
Using photograph as a guide, sew on communicator badge on the side of cosy, pulling it into shape as you sew.
If you wish; with tapestry needle and silver yarn (I held it double) embroider LLAP (Live Long And Prosper) so it would display on the opposite side to the badge. 


Sunday 8 February 2015

Dave and Anna


Well Dave and Anna are getting married!! 

When Dave proposed it really took me by a total surprise, well we did talk about tying the knot at some point, but it was just that, talk. So when I came home on Friday and was taken for a lovely dinner, I didn’t think much about it, until we got home and Dave got on one knee, with a gorgeous ring in his hands. As you can imagine my answer was a big YES! Well how could I not!? I cannot say no to a man who has chosen the perfect ring!
To be honest the proposal was the biggest surprise as my Dave is not the romantic type at all, I always expected when he did pop the question it would be more in line of: ‘So shall we do it then?’
When I say Dave isn’t romantic, I mean in the traditional sense. He is romantic in a way that means far more to me than any amount of flowers and jewellery can buy. Dave is romantic in a way that he cares 24/7. If I want to scream and shout at the world he will listen, when I want to cry he always has a shoulder ready, if I need help or advice he’s always there.  And above all he makes me laugh like no one else  ever could, and he’s also a wiz with computers which is just amazing, it has come in very handy during the creation of moochka and all that has gone with it, and all it cost me was biscuits HA!
From our first snowy Christmas together to our many holidays to finding our first home with Ollie the cat…..and then upsetting him with the introduction of Brick the cat, it has been a fantastic and very special journey, and I can’t wait for many more years of adventures.
I have already started ‘operation wedding’, the secret board on Pinterest has been created, I have perfect venue in mind and of course the dress has already been sketched and Dave has taken to hiding under the bed in preparation of bridezillas arrival.

                       This is not the greatest photo of us, but it is my favorite. It was taken many years ago at the first concert we every went to.

The wedding will be a full knitted and crocheted affair (come on! You didn’t think I would just buy everything ready-made, did you? ) and I’ll keep you all updated on my progress.

With all this love in the air and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, to celebrate my pattern for ‘Love is in the air’ egg cosies is on special offer, just 50p until 14th.
The egg cosies are really adorable and will add a little quirky touch to your breakfast for two.
The pattern comes with alphabet chart to personalise your cosies. 

To purchase the pattern, please click here


Anna x