Movember

I have got in the Movember spirit by crocheting this moustache... brilliant for women (and those males who can't grow a moustache) to show their support for this fantastic cause and raise awareness.

Crochet Coffee Cup Cosy Pattern - No More Naked Coffees!

In recent weeks I have discovered coffee - and I love it! The University library has a Starbucks inside and I have visited more times than I care to admit. Sometimes my coffee can get neglected for a while if I 'get in the work zone' and ends up going a bit cool, I found this pattern on pinterest for a cute coffee cup cosy. I'm going to start a 'no more naked coffee cups' revolution!! (I'm getting a bit giddy now... maybe it's all the caffeine)

This is not my pattern, the original pattern can be found here. I have simply translated the pattern from US to UK crochet terminology.

The one I have made uses scraps of Rico cotton so it is easy to chuck in the washing machine to get rid of all the drip stains. It keeps my cup looking cute and my coffee warm.

You will need...

• Scraps of yarn, I have used some Rico cotton leftover from making my granny square blanket

• Crochet hook

• Cute button

• Needle

Abbreviations:

• ch - chain

• dc - double crochet

• tr - treble crochet

• htr - half treble crochet

Pattern (UK crochet terminology)

Ch 8.

Row 1: 1dc 1tr in second ch from hook, *skip next ch, 1dc 1tr in next ch, repeat from * to end of row, ch1 turn.

Row 2: *Skip next stitch, 1dc 1tr in next stitch, repeat from * to end of row, ch 1 turn.

Rep Row 2 until work measures 8 inches from beginning.

Next row: Skip 1st stitch, slip stitch in the next 2 stitches, 1 htr in each of the next 4 stitches, turn ch1.

You will now be working on these 4 stitches to make button hole strip.

Next row: 1 htr in each stitch, ch1 turn.

Rep last row until button hole strip measures 2″.

Next row: 1 htr in 1st stitch, ch 2 and skip next 2 stitches, 1 htr in last stitch.

Work dc border evenly around, working 3 dc in corners and 2 dc into ch2 button hole space. Join with a slip stitch in 1st dc.

Fasten off and weave in ends. Sew on button.

Enjoy! xx

Sneak Peek

As mentioned previously, I have revised the pattern I made for baby mittens. The other evening a new pair were cast on in yellow and a dusky purple (Sirdar snuggly baby wool, I can't find the labels)... and here is a sneak peek!

Unfortunately my phone camera hasn't captured the colours quite right :(

Pictures of the completed mittens coming soon!

This is also my first post via the android blogging app so I do hope it works okay. I am currently on my way to the craft shop as a break from uni work. X

ATTENTION: FREE YARN

Okay, so it might only be free if you win but still... 'gotta be in it to win it'. Just click on the link below to visit a lovely place in blogland and follow the instructions.

http://vintagesheetaddict.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/yummy-yarn-giveaway.html

Good luck! Not too much though; I have my eye on it ;) haha. x

Busy, busy baker

I have been meaning to write a post for a while now but I just didn't have anything crafty to write about. I didn't want to bore you with details of my life: get up, go to uni, go to library, make dinner, go to sleep. Unfortunately, since learning to crochet last month I have developed an acute granny square addiction so any crafty time has been spent doing those.

With the lack of variety craft-wise I have been doing a bit of baking. A few weeks ago I made mini victoria sandwich cakes which were a massive hit! So when I asked Tom what he would like me to bake yesterday he requested those again but I also wanted to try something a little different... I decided on apricot chelsea buns. 

I used the Paul Hollywood recipe  as I have never made dough before. I added apricots, raspberry jam and chunks of chocolate. They turned out very well but I will probably omit the chocolate next time because the chunks poking out look a bit burnt.

The first time I baked the sponge cake mixture in a swiss roll tin and used a circle cutter (it was actually the plastic lid from a deodorant can which I washed) to make the shapes before individually filling with jam and buttercream.

The second time I decided the first time created too much mess and fuss so baked the mixture in a square tin, split the cake in half, filled and then cut squares from it... quicker, less mess, not as cute but equally as delicious!

To prove I don't spend my life eating cake (oh how I wish I could) I snapped this colourful picture of some veggies. They were turned into bolognese or chilli, I can't remember.

Aside from a lovely weekend of baking (and not so lovely uni work), Tom and I took a little trip on the train to Southport. It was freezing cold, windy and raining but we had a fab day! We went to watch Southport v Cambridge because one of Tom's friends currently plays football for Cambridge and he managed to get us some tickets. 

Our football day out in pictures: 

1) Underground train station. At this point I had every intention of photographing everything.

2) Checking our accumulator bets... we didn't win (as usual). 

3) It isn't a trip to a football match without lager and crisps right?! We had pies too but they didn't stick around long enough to be photographed! 

4) A double rainbow at half time.

COMING SOON

Late last night I cast on a pair of baby mittens after a slight pattern revision. 

Should be finished soon, eeeek!!

How I upset the neighbours...

My living room looks like a bomb has gone off; there is hessian, rickrack, ribbon, tiny little pegs and general crafty goodness everywhere! I have been making hessian covered cork boards this morning to be used as pin boards, notice boards, jewellery displays... you name it.

I really love the shabby chic, neutral design. Unfortunately, they require the use of a staple gun which has rendered me quite unpopular in the flat... whoooops. Does that count as an occupational hazard? HaHa.

These boards are so versatile...

... a wall display

... a jewellery display

... a notice board or picture display

What do you think? I hope you like them!

They will be going on sale in my Etsy shop verrryyyy soon.

Weekend adventures

I haven't posted for a few days, it has been pretty busy with University work and working in the bar, but I have crammed some good things in. Tom called by my flat the other day and told me he had a present for me!! He was caught by the caretaker trying to bring it into my building and was sent back outside... I was very intrigued when he rang me to come down and meet him. 'What did he get you?!' I hear you ask?... a pony? a puppy?...

...a pallet!!

He thought I could make something with it, n'aaawhhhh. Cute thought. Unfortunately, I live in a Liverpool City Centre flat on the third floor with no room for a pallet. BUT one day I will have space to make wooden crafts *sigh*. Back to the skip the pallet went.

The same day we also made pie and crumble. Steak and stilton pie with apple and pear crumble. Delicious! With Tom's culinary background in a North Wales restaurant and my love of eating we make a good team.

I lost my voice at work on Saturday (too much singing) and had to resort to mouthing at customers into the wee hours of the morning. Luckily, I had Sunday off... the first Sunday off in ages and it was not wasted. Tom and I went for dinner with his parents who came over for the day. We started off in a little Irish pub near my flat, called Shenanigans.

Shenanigans is decorated with newspaper articles instead of wallpaper and full of random bits and bobs. I particularly like this mosaic as soon as you step in the door.

The good thing about the cold weather setting in is... Log Fires! I got cosy in front of this one with a nice vodka, lime and lemonade to soothe my husky man voice.

During the week we managed to secure a booking for afternoon Sunday lunch at a place called Alma De Cuba. It is an old church in Liverpool City Centre which has been turned into a restaurant/bar. I had my 21st birthday family meal there and it was fantastic; not just because I got a free birthday cocktail. It is wonderfully decorated and a gospel choir sings whilst you eat your meal. 

If you are ever in Liverpool for an evening I can highly recommend this place for drinks. At 11pm on the weekend Cuban dancers perform a carnival/parade and confetti rains down from the balcony restaurant area above... think glitter, feathers, sequin bras etc.

My favourite features are the chandeliers designed to look like Antlers. Above is a view from the restaurant with the bar on the ground floor.

I also think the tables in the bar are beautiful, they are covered with slate pieces. Dinner lived up to the decor, Sunday roast was the best ever. Even the bread and oil to start was amazing. The simplicity of bread dipped in oil shared with friends will never go out of style.

We had warm bread rolls accompanied by chilli jam and sundried tomato flavoured olive oils. Sunday dinner didn't last long enough for me to take a picture of it; I remembered half way through. Thinly sliced pink beef, Yorkshire pudding, the crispiest roast potatoes I've ever eaten, baby carrots, minted peas and cabbage and pancetta. 

Everything was washed down with a bottle of red wine which I chose. It is so much pressure to be the 'chosen one' when it comes to table wine, but I didn't do half bad (if i do say so myself)...

I would love to hear from any readers who can recommend good places in Liverpool to eat or drink.