This is another wreath I made last year. Well the wreaths I make this year look much nicer, I like this wreath because it was the first one I sold!
Red Christmas Wreath
This is a Christmas Wreath I made last year, but did not publish about it until now. 
This is a close up on one of the decorative elements. The original piece was just the silver piece. I added the small red balls and brown pine cones with the red berries.
Felt Dolls
So, know we have not posted a lot lately. In fact, the last post on this site was in February; which is really sad, because we have been doing a lot a great things since then.
Most recently our new favourite hobby is to make little felt dolls. We found them from this great and adorable site called Gracefully Geek Designs. We made a couple, and now we cannot stop.
In a way, the are almost like paper dolls, except made out of felt. Hopefully that makes them more durable. The process of making these dolls is almost like embroidering, but more like appliqueing. They are made in a 5×7 embroidery hoop and everything is made in the hoop.
Each pattern comes with a doll and an outfit. Then there are more outfit patterns you can buy. They have a bunch of cute designs: Disney princesses and fairies, cute little girls, a monkey, and my favourite: Sherlock Holmes.
So far we love these dolls and we love making them. The only thing we would change is the instructions. As my mum says, they are “cryptic.” She said if she didn’t know certain embroidery techniques and was only left to these directions, she would not be as successful in making the dolls.
Also, these patterns do not come with a supply list. My mum really hoped it would say on each pattern: “You need 3 pieces of gray felt, 1 white, and 2 purple. You also need thread colours 12345 and 54321.” Unfortunately a list like that is nowhere on the instructions. Eventually what we will do is make a DIY tutorial for this blog to show how we made them (with pictures!), and provide a list of the supplies we used.
Until then, look at the ones we made so far. Aren’t they adorable?
Overwhelm Oberon Hat
As snow flurries fall outside, the fairies are at it again, adding a sweet hat to compliment your scarf. Just an extra little touch to overwhelm the Oberon in your life. This cozy warm hat is quick to whip up. Grab some bulky yarn and by tonight you can be on a romantic walk in the snow in your new chapeau.
Continuing with the fairy shell stitch this lacy hat is made in the round. Hat fits up to 23” head circumference.
Yarn Used
I love this chunky yarn! Color maraschino. 100% acrylic. Machine wash cold, tumble dry normal. (Huzzah! Easy to care for!) 3.5 oz/109 yards. This yarn is so soft and squishy. We still love working with it.
1 skein used
Hook Used N (9mm)
American Terms Used
space-sp
repeat-rep
chain-ch
slip stitch-ss
foundation single crochet-fsc
single crochet-sc
half double crochet-hdc
double crochet-dc
round-rnd
Special Stitch
shell-(2dc, 2ch, 2dc)
We will be working in a spiral. It can be helpful to place a stitch marker at the end of each row.
Begin
Magic Ring
Rnd 1– 6 hdc in magic ring
Rnd 2– 2 hdc in each hdc (12 stitches total)
Rnd 3– 2 hdc in first hdc, 1 hdc next stitch. *(2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next stitch.)* * Repeat from * to ** four times. (18 stitches total)
Rnd 4– 2 hdc in first hdc, 1 hdc in next 2 stitches. *(2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 2 stitches)** Repeat from * to ** 4 times. (24 stitches total)
Rnd 5– 2 hdc in first hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 stitches. *(2 hdc in next hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 stitches.)** Repeat from * to ** 4 times. (30 stitches total)
Rnd 6– 2 hdc in first hdc, 1 hdc in next 4 stitches. *(2 hdc in next hdc, 1 hdc in next 4 stitches.)** Repeat from * to ** 4 times. (36 stitches total)
Rnd 7– 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 7 stitches. 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 7 stitches. 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 8 stitches. 2 hdc in next hdc. 1 hdc in next 9 hdc. (40 stitches total)
Rnd 8– 1 hdc in each hdc (40 stitches total)
Rnd 9– Ch 4. sc in last hdc, skip 1 hdc, shell in next hdc, skip 2 hdc, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next hdc. *(skip 2 hdc, shell in next hdc, skip 2 hdc (sc, ch 3, sc) in next hdc.)** Repeat from * to ** 4 times. Skip 2 hdc, shell in next hdc.
Rnd 10-(sc, ch 3, sc) in first sc. *[(sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 2 sp, shell in ch 3 sp]** Repeat from * to ** around ending with (sc, ch 3, sc)
Rnd 11-Shell in ch 3 sp. *(shell in ch 3 sp, (sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 2 sp.)** Repeat from * to ** around ending with a shell.
Rnd 12– Repeat Row 10
Rnd 13– Repeat Row 11. End with shell. 2hdc in ch 3 space. sc in sc. ss in dc. Finishing
Cut yarn. Pull through. Weave in all ends.
Row 9 starts the fairy shell stitch. At the beginning of Row 10, (sc, ch 3, sc) happens 2 times in a row. Then at the beginning of Row 11 the shell happens 2 times in a row. In this picture, a shell has just been completed at the end of Row 11. The crochet hook is pointing at a ch 3 space. You need to place another shell there. It’s a little confusing. Remember to shell in the ch 3 space and (sc, ch 3, sc) in the ch 2 space of the shell. Don’t worry, when it’s all done, no one will notice you have two shells together.
Pond makes such a lovely model. This cheerful combination has certainly helped with our winter blues!
Overwhelm Oberon Scarf
Romance is in the air and the fairies are up to mischief. Oberon, king of the fairies, has merrily set his sprites to spread as much joy and love as they can. Titania has plans of her own for her husband this Valentine’s Day. Join the celebration with a romantic scarf to Overwhelm Oberon. Stay warm and cozy while enchanting your own true love.
This month’s featured stitch is the fairy shell stitch, a pretty lacy stitch just right for February.
Yarn Used
I love this chunky yarn! Color maraschino. 100% acrylic. Machine wash cold, tumble dry normal. (Huzzah! Easy to care for!) 3.5 oz/109 yards. This yarn is so soft and squishy. It is lovely to work with and so nice right up against your skin. We think it would make an incredible blanket.
Finished scarf is 6 inches wide and 70 inches long.
2 skeins used
This scarf is made from the middle out. A second skein of yarn is joined in the middle and worked out the other way. No seaming required!
Hook Used N (9mm)
American Terms Used
space-sp
repeat-rep
chain-ch
foundation single crochet-fsc
single crochet-sc
half double crochet-hdc
double crochet-dc
Special Stitch
shell-(2dc, 2ch, 2dc)
Overwhelm Oberon Scarf
12 fsc, ch 4, turn
Row 1- sc in 4th ch from hook, *skip 2 fsc, shell in next fsc, skip 2 fsc, [sc, ch 3, sc] in next fsc; rep from * across to last 6 fsc, skip 2 fsc, shell in next fsc, skip 2 fsc, [sc, ch 1, hdc] in last fsc, turn.
Row 2-ch 3 (counts as dc), 2dc in hdc, *(sc, ch 3, sc) in ch 2 sp, shell in ch 3 sp; rep from * across to last ch 2 sp, (sc, ch 3, sc) in last ch 2 sp, 3dc in 3rd ch of tch, turn.
Row 3-ch 3 (counts as hdc, ch 1 sp), sc in 1st dc, *shell in ch 3 sp, (sc, ch 3, sc) in next ch 2 sp; rep from * across to last ch 2 sp, shell in last ch 3 sp, (sc, ch 1, hd)] in top of tch, turn.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until first skein of yarn is used. Pull yarn through.
(As you can see, I joined on the opposite side of where my original slip knot is located. This scarf is reversible and it doesn’t really matter which end you start the second skein from. Lady Dorcus happens to be left handed and does things a bit backwards. The really wonderful thing about foundation crochet is it gives you nice place to work from on both sides. It should be very easy to see where your stitches should go.)
Join second skein of yarn along the back side of fsc. Repeat pattern-Row 1, Row 2, Row 3, then Rows 2 & 3 until second skein is used up. Pull yarn through. Weave in all ends. Enjoy!
Visit With Emma Part 3
As soon as the wristers were done, we started a hat. We have been using the crunch stitch for flat pieces and we were curious about what would happen if we stitched it in the round. We never would have guessed that it makes a lively, swirly pattern! We are thrilled with the results, and so was Emma.
Emma’s Crunchy Hat
Yarn Used
Plymouth Yarn-Baby Alpaca Grande. This yarn just gives a number for their colors. In this case 831. It’s a nice burgundy color. 100% baby alpaca. 100grams/110yards. Hand wash, lay flat to dry. It is a bulky yarn.
1 skein used
Hat fits an average size head. 20-22”.
All terms are American
Terms Used
Magic Ring
Chain-ch
Slip Stich-ss
Half Double Crochet-hdc
Front Post Half Double Crochet -fphdc
We are returning to using the crunch stitch for this pattern which uses (hdc, ss) repeats. It works up slightly differently in the round
Using size N hook (9mm)
Magic Ring. 6 hdc into magic ring. Gently close ring.
Row 1- 2 hdc in each hdc. (12 stitches total) Check ring, pull completely closed if need be.
Row 2-(hdc, ss) in first hdc. hdc. (ss, hdc) together. ss. (hdc, ss) together. hdc. (ss, hdc) together. ss. (hdc, ss) together. hdc. (ss, hdc) together. ss. (18 stitches total)
Row 3-[(hdc, ss) together. hdc. ss. (hdc, ss) together. hdc. ss. (hdc, ss) together. hdc. ss.]* Repeat 1 time. (24 stitches total)
Row 4- [2 hdc together. 1 hdc in next 3 stitches.]* Repeat 5 times. (30 stitches total)
Row 5- [2hdc together. 1 hdc in next 4 stitches.]* Repeat 5 times. (36 stitches total)
Row 6- [2hdc together. 1 hdc in next 5 stitches.]* Repeat 5 times. (42 stitches total)
Row 7- hdc around. (42 stitches total.)
Rows 8-16 have a total of 45 stitches per row.
Row 8- (ss, hdc) around. End with ss, ss.
Row 9- (hdc, ss) around. End with hdc, hdc.
Repeat Row 8, then Row 9 three times.
Row 16- Repeat Row 8
Row 17- 1 hdc 10 times. (2 hdc together.) 1 hdc 10 times. (2 hdc together.) 1 hdc 10 times. (2 hdc together). 1 hdc 9 times. (45 stitches total)
Row 18- hdc around (45 stitches total)
Row 19- fphdc around (45 stitches total)
Row 20- hdc around (45 stitches) 1 sc, 1ss. Break yarn, pull through. Weave in all ends.
We hope you have enjoyed our journey for Jane Austen January. We were unable to visit all of our heroines, but hopefully we saw a few of your favorites. We have survived the cold and gloom of January. We have left behind warm accessories that can be used for years to come. Three huzzahs for Jane Austen and helping us enjoy the winter a little more. Creating and visiting with excellent companions is a very satisfying way to occupy ourselves at all times of the year. Our thoughts are now filled with the romanticism of February with reds and pinks and purples. What will February inspire in you?
Visit With Emma Part 2
Emma was enchanted with the stitch used on Mr. Knightley’s scarf. As we still had plenty of afternoon left, we thought we could make something for Emma too. We had two more skeins of alpaca yarn to play with, this time in a burgundy color. We thought decided to make some wristers and a hat.
Emma’s Crunchy Wristers
Yarn Used
Plymouth Yarn-Baby Alpaca Grande. This yarn just gives a number for their colors. In this case 831. It’s a nice burgundy color. 100% baby alpaca. 100grams/110yards. Hand wash, lay flat to dry. It is a bulky yarn.
1 skein used
American Terms Used
chain-ch
slip stich-ss
single crochet-ss
foundation single crochet-fsc
half double crochet-hdc
Emma’s Crunchy Wristers
Using a size N crochet hook (9mm)
Make 2
Leaving a long tail to sew up the side, make 20 fsc
Row 1 ch 1. hdc in first fsc, ss in second fsc. (hdc, ss)* across. 20 stitches
Row 2 ch 1. (hdc, ss)* across. 20 stitches
Row 3-24 Same as Row 2
Leave long tail, break yarn, pull through.
You now have two rectangles.
For Both Wristers
With fsc at the bottom, hold left hand side of rectangle. Fold in half to the right side. Using the tail from the beginning, stitch 10 stitches together up the side of the wrister to form a circle. Secure yarn, break and weave in ends. Using the tail of the yarn from the end (top) stitch 3 stitches together down the side of the writster. Secure yarn, break and weave in ends. This leaves 7 open stitches for the thumb to fit through.
For the Left Wrister
With the seam on the right, attach yarn at the top right corner. (the seamed edge) 12 sc across the top.
Turn. Ch 3, ss in first ss (picot made). ch 3. ss in next sc across. (11 picots). Break yarn, pull through, weave in all ends.
For the Right Wrister
With the seam on the left, attach yarn to the top right corner (the folded edge.) 12 sc across the top.
Turn. Ch 3, ss in first ss (picot made). ch 3. ss in next sc across. (11 picots). Break yarn, pull through, weave in all ends.
Take care to keep the completed wristers together. Just like their glove cousins, it is very easy to lose one, especially on picture day. Luckily, Emma was much more careful with her wristers and was able to wear them on her next walk.
Visit With Emma Part 1
We have arrived in Hartfield to visit Miss Emma Woodhouse on the very last day of January. We find that the weather has not much improved except for the snow turning to ice and wind. We will not be sorry to say good bye to January this year. We are however heartbroken at saying farewell to Jane Austen’s heroines at this time. We have enjoyed revisiting them this month through novels, movies and yarny goodness. We have three last projects for today. They all use bulky yarn and the crunch stitch. We hope you have enjoyed exploring this stitch with us. We start with a quick to make scarf for Emma’s good friend, Mr. Knightley. We have an affinity for alpacas. We dream of raising them someday. However, it will just remain in our fantasies for Mr. Dorcus is highly allergic to everything they eat. Traditional sheep’s wool can also cause him problems at times, but he was certain alpaca wool would be different. We were very excited to sit down with Emma and some alpaca yarn and discuss the goings on in her neighborhood this winter. We used a beautiful dark green chunky alpaca yarn to create a gentleman’s scarf.
Mr. Knightley’s Crunchy Scarf
Yarn Used
Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky. 100% alpaca. 100grams/108yds. Hand wash, lay flat to dry. Color-577 (Another yarn with just a number for a color. It is a dark hunter green.)
Pattern uses American terms
Terms Used
chain-ch
foundation single crochet-fsc
slip stich-ss
single crochet-sc
half double crochet-hdc
Mr. Knightley’s Crunchy Scarf
Using a Size N hook (9 mm)
Make 100 fsc (If you don’t want to fsc, chain 101, hdc in second chain from hook, ss, (hdc, ss)* across. Continue with Row 2.) 100 stitches
Row 1 ch 1. hdc in first fsc, ss in second fsc. (hdc, ss)* across. 100 stitches
Row 2 ch 1. (hdc, ss)* across. 100 stitches
Row 3-12 Repeat Row 2
Break yarn, pull through. Weave in all ends.
We were delighted at the finished look of this scarf. We regret not having pictures of it in action to share with you. It turns out that Mr. Dorcus does indeed have a problem with alpaca yarn right up against his skin. In an effort to make the scarf wearable for him, we washed it. The happy news is that he can now wear it. The disappointing news is the stitch definition sunk into the scarf. It didn’t felt, it just isn’t as crisp as before. We wish we had washed the yarn before beginning to work with it. Ahhh, lessons learned. When we work with fabric, we always wash it before using it, yet with yarn, we just plunge in. Food for thought. Hopefully Mr. Knightley will not have this problem.
Longbourne Shawl
January is waning quickly. Our lingering visit with the Dashwoods was just the thing to help put a smile in our hearts during the long winter. As we get snow and possible more snow, we hope a short holiday at Longbourne will help keep our spirits afloat. With the five Bennett sisters all in residence, we certainly will have something to engage us at every moment. It happens the sisters are in the middle of a project. It was proposed some time past for a new shawl to be created. It would be available to each of them to use on their many walks. How five sisters were to fairly share one item, we do not know. The shawl was started with all diligence, but soon it became wearisome and took up residence in the work basket. No one cared to work on it anymore, but all of them wished it to live somewhere other than the basket for it was taking up too much room. With so many personalities in the house, deciding on one way of creating was not possible. The main body of the shawl was knit and it had been completed fairly quickly. The edging on the shawl was taking quite some time. The beautiful, lacy edging would be worth it in the end, if only someone could actually finish it. As we settled on the settee for a good gossip, we offered to help.
Longbourne Shawl
This shawl pattern is a fusion of knit and crochet.
American terms used throughout
Terms Used
Knitting
cast on, bind off
knit
knit fbf-knit in front, back and front in one stich. Makes 2 increases.
Crochet
chain-ch
slip stitch-ss
single crochet-sc
double crochet-dc
Yarn Used
Yarn Bee Diva Sequin-color: Scottish Heath
3.5oz/180 yards. Worsted weight (size 4). 84% acrylic, 12% wool, 4% sequin. Hand wash, lay flat to dry.
4 skeins used.
This yarn calls for US 8 (5mm) knitting needles and a size K (6.5mm) crochet hook. We wanted a lacier effect and used larger needles. This yarn is soft and easy to use. It has a nice color changing effect and the built in sequins make it shiny and fun.
Start With Knitting
Size 13 Needles (9mm)
Cast on 3 stitches
Row 1 Knit fbf, knit across
Continue Row 1 until there are 150 loops on the needle
Bind off. With one loop left on your needle, carefully remove needle and replace it with crochet hook.
Time to Crochet
~With one loop on your hook, ch 1.
~Turn shawl so you can work down the long side of the shawl. sc across
~At corner, ch 1. Continue to sc around the shawl. ss to first sc.
~ch 1, sc across long side of shawl.
(We are done working across the long side of the shawl.)
~At corner, ch 1. 3 dc in chain 1 space. dc in each sc around curved side of shawl. 3 dc in ch 1 space.
~[Turn Shawl. Work back down curved side of shawl. ch 4 (acts as first dc and ch 1). dc in second dc. (Ch 1, dc)* repeat around curved side ending with dc.]
~Repeat from [ to ] three more times for a total of four dc rows.
~ch 1, turn. 1sc in first dc. (ch 2, sc)* repeat around ending with a sc. Clip thread, pull through. Weave in all ends.
The crocheted edging did take some time to complete, but we are delighted with the drapey, lacy effect. We are now off to Hartfield to visit with Miss Emma Woodhouse. We will let the Bennett sisters determine who is granted the right to wear the shawl first.
Bonus Dashwood Visit: Marianne’s Wristers
After Marianne finished her scarf, she decided it would be lovely to have a pair of wristers to match. Elinor advised her it would be wiser to make a pair of gloves. “After all dear, there is snow on the ground. You need to cover your fingers as well as your palms and wrists.” Marianne was too busy to give an ear to her sister. She was already finished with her first wrister. Using the same stitches and yarn as her scarf, she quickly fashioned its mate.
Yarn Used:
Lang Yarn Moina. Colors used: silver and coral
54% viscose, 32% nylon, 14% silk. Delicate wash, no softener; lay flat to dry.
Using American Terms
Stitches used
slst: slip stitch
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
Size H hook used
Wristers
Make 2
Chain 40, slst in first chain making a circle.
Round 1: 40 dc into circle.
Round 2: Chain 4 (counts as first dc and 1 chain). *Dc, chain 1.* Repeat from *to.* Slst in first dc.
Round 3: Chain 4 (counts as first dc and 1 chain). *Dc in 1 chain space, chain 1.* Repeat from *to.* Slst in first dc.
Round 4: As in Round 2, but do not stitch in the last two stitches. Leave them empty. Turn work.
Row 5: Chain 3, dc in same space. Chain 1, 2 dc in 1 chain space. * Chain 1, dc in 1 chain space.* Repeat from *to.* 2 dc in the last two spaces. Turn work.
Row 6: Chain 3, dc in same space. Chain 1, 2 dc in next dc. * Chain 1, dc in next dc.* Repeat from *to.* 2 dc in the last two dc. Turn work.
Row 7: As row 5. Slst in first dc.
Round 8: Dc2tog twice. * Chain 1, dc in next dc.* Repeat from *to.* Dc2tog twice.
Round 9: Dc2tog twice. * Chain 1, dc in 1 chain space.* Repeat from *to.* Dc2tog twice.
Round 10: As round 8
Round 11: As round 3
Round 12: As round 2
Round 13: As round 3
Round 14: *Chain 3, slst in 1 chain space. Chain 3, slst in dc.* Repeat from *to.* Fasten off.
Edge
Marianne stitch in the first 3 space chain. Slst in the next. Repeat around.
Marianne Stitch
3 dc in chain 3 space, Chain 3, sc in third dc (picot made), 2 dc in chain space, chain 10, slst in first dc (an arch is formed), chain 3, sc in chain 10 space, chain 3, put hook through picot and under chain 10 space then sc (this connects the picot and chain 10 together), chain 3, sc in sc (picot made), chain 3, slst in 10 chain space, chain 3 slst in fifth dc, slst in 3 chain space
What an eventful time we had with Dashwood sisters. Next we are off to adventure with the Bennetts.
Lady Dorcus 