Rainbow Beanie Pattern

Righty-o, haven't posted on here for ages!

I've just finished this rainbow beanie for Malachi, and thought I'd share the pattern :)



Materials:

3.25 mm double pointed needles
4mm double pointed needles

7 colours double knit yarn (lavender, dark blue, light blue, green, yellow, pink, red)

This is for the 2-4 years size (52cm)

Using 3.25 mm needles, cast on 104 sts in lavender

Round1- P, K, repeat til end.
R2-10- same as R1.

Switch to 4mm needles
Switch to dark blue

R11- Knit
R12- 32- same as R11

Switch to lavender

R33- Knit
R34-36- Purl

Switch to light blue

R37-39- Knit
R40- Knit 11, knit 2 together, repeat til end (96 sts)
R41-46- Knit
R47- Knit 10, k2tog, repeat (88 sts)

Switch to lavender

R48- Knit
R49-51- Purl

Switch to green

R52-53- Knit
R54- Knit 9, k2tog, repeat (80 sts)
R55-60- Knit
R61- Knit 8, k2tog, repeat (72 sts)
R62-66- Knit
R67- Knit 7, k2tog, repeat (64 sts)
R68-73- Knit
R74- Knit 6, k2tog, repeat (56 sts)

Switch to lavender

R75- Knit
R76-78- Purl

Switch to yellow

R79- Knit 5, k2tog, repeat (48 sts)
R80-84- Knit
R85- Knit 4, k2tog, repeat (40 sts)
R86-90- Knit
R91- Knit 3, k2tog, repeat (32 sts)

Switch to lavender

R92- Knit
R93-95- Purl

Switch to pink

R96-97- Knit
R98- Knit 2, k2tog, repeat (24 sts)
R99-104- Knit
R105- Knit 1, k2tog, repeat (16)

Switch to lavender

R106- Knit
R107-109- Purl

Switch to red

R110-112- Knit
R113- K2tog on all sts (8 sts)

Now work approx 10-12 cm on these 8 sts (long enough to tie a knot in)

Thread yarn through the 8 sts into the inside of the beanie, pull tight, break off yarn. Tie knot in stem. Sew in ends etc.

Adapted from 'Checkheaton- Handknits to Wrap and Adorn'

Natural Remedy for Impetigo (School Sores)

We've had impetigo in our household in the last little while, and I want to share the natural products we've used to combat it.

DH's daughter, E (6yo) visits in the school holidays. In the last few days of her christmas holiday visit, we noticed what looked like a large pimple on her bum, which had been rubbed by her clothes and was raw. I put a band-aid on it, to try and stop in rubbing any more, which didn't seem to help. Then she went home, and we let her mother know about it. She rang DH a few days later and told him that it was impetigo, and that E was now on antibiotics for it.

Maybe two weeks later, two sores appeared on DH's leg, and a few weeks after that, Malachi started getting them on his chin.

After doing a bit of googling, I decided to try a combination of Goldenseal ointment, olive leaf extract and extra vitamin C.

Twice a day, Malachi had the Goldenseal thickly applied to the sores, and took 5mL of olive leaf extract (which he said was yuck, but took anyway) and 250mg of vitamin C. When we started, there were a few large sores at the scabby stage, and more little ones coming up. Within a week, the scabby ones were unscabbed and shrinking, and the little ones didn't get any bigger. Within two-three weeks, they were just red spots. (We continued with the routine until they were totally gone).

A few weeks later (while Malachi's sores were still at the red spot stage), Zara had some sores appearing on her legs. Because she is smaller, she had two mL of olive leaf extract (and she also takes it fine) and 125mg of vitamin C- a quarter of the tablet- and I took the other quarter to give her more vit C through my milk. Zara's are still at the red spot stage.

Meanwhile, E had a few courses of antibiotics to deal with hers, and they took a lot longer to clear up than Malachi's and Zara's.

Happy Birthday to Zara...

OMG, I can't believe how fast that year has gone. Zara turned one on Saturday, and my parents and one brother came up for the day.
DH also built a sandpit- not specifically for Zara's birthday, it just worked out that way. She loves it anyway!

First, some random cuteness...



Ooh, fire...


And the sandpit!

Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Knitted Doll Instructions

Finally, a March post! I've been a bit busy this month :D
And my baby girl has just turned one... I'll do a photo post after this one :D

Anyway I made another knitted doll as part of a prize for our ABA trivia night, and took step-by-step photos (sort of) in case anyone wants to make one (it's dead easy).


Step one- Knitting the pieces. (3.75 mm needles and 8 ply yarn, all knit stitch unless you're feeling very creative)

Legs- Cast on 12 in skin/shoe colour
knit 15
change to pants colour
knit 55
cast off

Body- Cast on 25 in pants colour
knit 10
change to shirt colour
knit 25
cast off

Arms- Cast on 8 in skin colour
knit 9
change to shirt colour
knit 40
cast off

Head panel 1 (T shape)-
Cast on 20 in skin colour
knit 12
cast off 6 stitches
knit 8 stitches
cast off 6 stitches
reconnect yarn with remaining 8 stitches
knit 10
cast off

Head panel 2- Cast on 8 in skin colour
knit 10
cast off

Neck- Cast on 18 in skin colour
knit 4
cast off


Step two- Limbs and body

With invisible thread (fiddly, annoying stuff!) sew the legs and arms into tubes (closed at the hand/foot end), stuffing as you go. For the body, fold over and sew into a pillow shape, stuffing after sewing two edges.


Step three- Head and neck

This is the hardest to describe, and there wasn't much room on the camera, so I've got no photos of it *oops*
Anyway... 1. Sew the two head panels together into a cross shape
2. Fold into a box shape (open on one side) and sew together edges
3. Stuff the head so it stretches into a more circular shape
4. On the edge around the opening (where the neck will be), thread some invisible thread in and out of the stitches, so that you can pull it tight to close the opening somewhat- making it into almost a ball shape
5. Sew the neck into a ring shape, and attach it to the head around the opening. A curved needle is easiest for this


Step four- attaching

Sew legs, arms and head/neck to the body, using a curved needle.


Step five- hair and face

For the hair, I found a crochet hook excellent- I didn't have one the first time and the hair took ages. Also I did way too much hair the first time!
This time I attached hair along the rows of knitting, on the 'top stitch', by inserting the crochet hook under/through the desired stitch and pulling the hair strand through, then tying it off.

For the face, I did the simplest one possible, and I think it looks effective, but yeah, whatever face you want... I did mine with the same yarns but if you want more 'delicate' features, some embroidery cotton might work...


And voila, the finished doll! The mouth is a bit mongy on this one- I think the face is better on the first one, but the head shape is vastly improved this time, and it was much much easier sewing the limbs on with a curved needle :)

Naan Bread

Yep, finally got around to doing the naan while Malachi, Zara and I were at my parents' place last week.

600g baker's flour
2 tsp salt
3 tsp dried yeast
8 Tbs natural yoghurt
2 Tbs mustard seed oil
250 mL milk
melted ghee or butter, for brushing

Sift dry ingredients into a bowl. Make a well and add wet ingredients. Mix to form a dough.

Knead dough on floured surface for about 10 mins. Leave to rise in a covered bowl for around two hours.

Punch down dough, knead and break into 8 portions. Roll each portion into an oval shape and place on oven trays. Cover and let rise while the oven preheats to 230 C.


Bake for 10-12 mins.

Yummy...

Adapted from Anne Sheasby's 'Big Book of Bread'

Brioche Loaf

This isn't proper brioche as I don't have a brioche mould... but it tastes just as good in loaf shape!

450 g baker's flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp dried yeast
50g caster sugar
110g melted butter
4 eggs
2-4 Tbs milk
beaten egg, to glaze

Sift the dry ingredients and make a well. Add the wet ingredients and mix to form a soft dough.
Knead the dough on a floured surface until smooth & elastic (10 mins or so). Place in a covered bowl in a warm place to rise, two hours or so.

Punch the dough down, knead and place into greased loaf tins.


Cover again and leave to rise while oven preheats to 230 C. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 10 mins. Reduce temperature to 190 C and bake for a further 20-25 mins.

Adapted from Anne Sheasby's 'Big Book of Bread'

Knitted Doll

Yay me, I'm feeling special again cos I've finished another knitting project. A doll (or person, as Malachi says) for Zara. It needs a bit more finishing off- I'm going to get one of those funky curved needles and sew the head on a bit more securely- Malachi likes to make it (her) headbang now that she has hair, and her head's gotten a bit wobbly today.


The head is a bit of an odd shape. Next time I'll revise the head design a bit... and maybe the legs are a little too long. The shirt colours are brighter than they look in the pictures.


The hair took a fair while! The rest was simple and straightforward, it's mostly rectangles sewn together! The kind of knitting project I like :)


Next up is a bag for Malachi- he's asked for one like mine.