Birdhouse

I have become addicted to licorice tea lately.  Being indoors working, as spring has been miserable here, has not helped. The birdhouse is by a friends father who made it for the garden but I will have it in the living room until spring comes for real.  

Simple Crossed Stitch

There is nothing simple about this pattern but the person that named it must have thought that there was an even harder "crossed stitch" out there. 

Instructions

Make a multiple of 4 plus 2.

Row 1: 1 dc/sc in 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc/sc in each of the ch untill the end, turn. 

Row 2: 3 ch (counts as first tr/dc) miss first dc/sc, 1 tr/dc in each of next 3 dc/sc, yarn over and insert hook from front to back in the first dc/sc, yarn over and draw a long loop through (make sure not to squash the 3 tr/dc group) yarn over and draw through the 2 first loops on hook twice (also called a long tr/dc), *miss next dc/sc, 1 tr/dc in each of next 3 dc/sc, 1 long tr/dc in the missed dc/sc; rep from * to last dc/sc, 1 tr/dc in last dc/sc, turn.

Row 3: 1 ch, 1 dc/sc in each tr/dc to the end, turn.

Row to infinity and beyond:  repeat row 2 and row 3 till desired length.   

Cocktail Culture

Another books for a good host to have handy when guest are coming over. Found Cocktail Culture in a charity shop in Reading just after posting the Esquries Handbook for Hosts. It is written by Mark Kingwell and the great illustrations are made by Seth. 

Crochet rib stitch

The drain is from Holloway Road and the pattern it inspired is Crochet Rib Stitch. I like its texture but it does consume quite a lot of wool.   

How to make: 

Make a multiple of 2 ch. 

Row 1: 1 tr/dc in 4th ch from the hook, 1 tr/dc in each ch to end of row. 

Row 2: 2 ch (which counts as first stitch), miss first tr/dc, *1 tr/dc around the post of next tr/dc from the front, 1 tr/dc around the post of next tr from back* repeat from * to end of row, 1 tr/dc in in top of turning ch at end. Turn.

Row to infinity and beyond: Repeat row 2 till sufficient length. 

The instruction is written in UK/US abbreviation - tr stand for treble and dc for double crochet. Click here for instruction how to make treble stitch/double crochet.

Variation on rust

I love finding designs in urban landscapes that can translate into patterns and I've been obsessed with manhole covers for a while now. Reason being that they are everywhere, they come in different design, and they are perfect inspiration for crochet blocks. 

Will upload the first block and instruction soon. 

Esquire's Handbook For Hosts

I'm reading Esquire's Handbook For Hosts which I picked up in a charity shop in Lund - of all the places - last summer. I love the illustration and the thought that has gone in to creating it.

I hope to become a better host after reading it.

BDAY GIFTS

I turned one year older last week and here are some of the presents I received from family and friends. The hat is made by my very talented younger sister and the beautiful woodcut card is by Ana.

Got a new mobile as well and it was so shiny and new I had to make a "mobile sock" for it. Don't know how long it will stay on - I'm bad at keeping things as they are - but at least I made one.