December 13th

some little inspriraion for your Christmas party today

I found these while searching the webs and liked them immediately

the strawberries are such a cute idea! just cut the top and add some cream or even white chocolate whipped up, yumm! (got the picture from a friend

OMG - I found these table stockings aka napkin rings via instagram, what a fantastic idea is this? I'm sure if you know how knit, knit socks and knit cables you can knit these even without a pattern

if I only knew about this method a few years ago {sigh} - I glued little balls onto a wreath and it was tons of money back then, this is sooooo easy and sooooo beautiful at the same time (source)

do you have a dog? I haven't but if I had I certainly would make this stocking for him or her (I think I would have a him, but I have no ideas about dogs, I like pugs) (source)




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oh and there is still one set of patterns to catch if you can guess yesterdays window correctly, two lovely ladies already made this sweetie and guessed it ^__^

all three winners are found, it is a cupcake, I will show some pictures tomorrow

Diana

December 12th

no pictures today {little evil smile}
because the first three to tell me what this pattern actually is will win a set of three patterns made by me. The winner will of course choose what patterns he or she would like to get.

what you need: yarn in three colors, preferably christmassy colors of course ^__^

abbreviations first:
sc - single crochet
m2 - classic increase
sc2tog - classic decrease
B2 - make a bobble stitch from 2 dc
dc - double crochet
slst - slip stitch
bpdc - back post hdc
fpdc - front post hdc

the pattern:

first part:
made from two colors, choose the lightest to be your color A and the darker one to be color B:
1__ A: make a double ring with 6 B2

now a little tricky here: attach the new color:
- first secure the loop from color A, you will not need this loop until row 3
- then attach color B directly to the next stitch and crochet row 2, after row 2 secure this last loop and leave it unregarded until you continue to work with it in row 4

2__ B: m2 x6
3__ A: B2 x12
4__ B: m2 x4, (m2, sc1) x4
5__ A: B2 x20
6__ B: m2, sc1, m2x2, sc1, m2x3, sc1, m2x4, sc1, m2x5, sc1
7__ A: B2 x35
8__ B: m2 x3, sc3, BO color B with a slst, sew in color B
9__ A: (hdc1, B2 x1) x19, hdc1
10__ A: (dc2tog, B2 x1) x13
11__ A: dc1, hdc2, sc23
12__ (sc2, sc2tog) x6, sc2tog
13__ (sc2tog, sc1) x5, sc2tog x2
stuff, but don't add too much
14__ sc2tog x6
BO and sew in ends


second part:
uses one color
1__ make a double ring with 6 sc
2__ m2 x6
3__ (m2, sc1) x6
4__ (sc2, m2) x6
5__ sc1, (m2, sc3) x5, sc3
! join this row with a slst
6__ ch2, hdc29 starting in same st as you just joined the slst into join round with a slst into beginning ch2
7__ ch2, (fpdc1, bpdc1) x15 [use ch2 of previous round for last bpdc], join with a slst
8__ repeat round 7
9__ ch2, (fpdc1, bpdc1, hdc1, fpdc1, bpdc1) x5, fpdc1, bpdc1, join with a slst
BO and leave a yarn tail long enough to sew this second part to the first part.

attach second part in four places evenly spread around first part, add some stuffing and sew around, secure and hide yarn ends!

now you're done!

hope you enjoy this little secret - Diana

December 11th

I'm a little late on todays window. Sorry for that. Today I needed to leave the house a lot {A LOT} earlier than usual as it was snowing for hours already and I needed to add the driving time to my plans for today. I still was too late for my appointment as it took me more than three hours for the ride (with good weather it takes a little over an hour)

anyways I wanted to show you something of my "fun" today: snow - snow - snow

what's your favorite winter song by the way? I always sing "Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen" a classic German childrens song about when finally the first snowflakes will show up.

take care, Diana

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oh, and the red hat, that's my santa hat, that I wear to work in December, cause I'm cool like that ^__^ I just find it's the season to be jolly and I like all the bright smiles I see throughout each day

December 10th

ornament monday ^__^
in case you follow my instagram you've already seen this:

it's a snowman ornament today!

I especially like that only the eyes are embroidered, because the "carrot nose" and "coal buttons" are worked while crocheting the main body! Also it's got my personal twist to it: a big belly

now let me share the pattern:

Snowman Tree Ornament

abbreviations:
sc - single crochet
m2 - classic increase
sc2tog - classic decrease
B2 - make a bobble stitch from 2 dc
B3 - make a bobble stitch from 3 dc
dc - double crochet
slst - slip stitch

head and body

1__ make a double ring with 6sc
2__ m2 x6
3__ (m2, sc1) x6
4__ (sc2, m2) x6
5__ sc24
6__ sc1, (m2, sc3) x5, m2, sc2
have orange colored yarn at hand and use it for the bobble stitch only (PICTURE: attach the new color on the last stitch before the bobble and finish the bobble with the old color to continue with it, cut short and knot ends)

7__ sc22, B3, sc7
8__ (sc3, sc2tog) x6
9__ sc1, (sc2tog, sc2) x5, sc2tog, sc1
10__ (sc2tog, sc1) x6
11__ sc1, sc2togx3, sc5
12__ sc5, m2x3, sc1
13__ (m2, sc1) x6
14__ (sc2, m2) x6
15__ sc1, (m2, sc3) x5, m2, sc2
16__ (sc4, m2) x6
have a dark brown/black at hand and use for the bobble only: attach the new color on the last stitch before the bobble, and finish bobble with the old color to continue with it, don't cut the new yarn just yet)
17__ sc27, B2, sc8
18__ (m2, sc5) x6
19__ sc42
use dark brown/black again for the bobble only: attach on the last stitch before and finish bobble with old yarn, now cut the new yarn/dark color and knot ends - PICTURE)

20__ sc32, B2, sc9
21__ (sc2tog, sc5) x6
stuff head
22__ sc2, (sc2tog, sc4) x5, sc2tog, sc2
23__ (sc2tog, sc3) x6
24__ sc1, (m2, sc2) x5, sc2tog, sc1
25__ (sc2tog, sc1) x6
stuff body
26__ sc2tog x6
BO wit a slst and sew in end

[if you prefer to sew the "coal buttons" into place, simply replace the B2 with a sc]

hat

1__ make a double ring with 6sc
2__ m2 x6
3__ (m2, sc1) x6
4__ in back loops only: sc2, (sc2tog, sc4) x2, sc2tog, sc2
5__ sc15
6__ in front loops only: m2 x15
BO with a slip stitch

happy crocheting,
Diana ♥

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{little disclaimer: please be a nice boy or girl and don't copy this pattern or parts of it, you can make as many snowmen as you want for yourself and family and friends, but please always link to this page}

December 9th

it's cookie Sunday!

Ginger-Stars

200g all purpose flour
100g ground almonds
50g brown sugar
1 egg
150g butter/margarine
100g ginger that's been conserved in syrup
100g chocolater to decorate

mix flour, almonds, sugar, chopped ginger (without the syrup), melted butter and the egg in the food processor. Wrap in foil and put in the fridge for at least 2-3 hours to let it rest.
Roll out dough and cut out stars. Bake in the preheated oven for 13 minutes at 175°C or until lightly brown. Let cool on a rack and decorate with melted chocolate.

enjoy!

December 8th

before we open todays window: a little typo found its way into yesterdays posting, the 6-point-snowflake is corrected meanwhile, so in case you ran into an issue there, just check back onto the pattern.

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how to stiffen crocheted snowflakes: mix 1 part sugar with 2 parts water in a bowl and bring to boil, let it cool and add you crocheted pieces. Drain them and pin them out onto a flat surface. I use an old cardboard box that I covered with clear foil/clear plastic folder. You can use three sides of the cardboard box, so every time you pin out your snowflakes onto one side, there are no snowflakes on the bottom side that would get "crushed"

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so what do you do with your million and trillion of crocheted snowflakes? hang them into your tree: add a hanger (you could use the yarn end for this)

source: left, middle, right

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or into your window:

source: left, right

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make a garland: just join each snowflake side by side with a few stitches and hang it up you wall:

source: left, right

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make a mobile: add hangers in different lengths and string them from the ceiling

source: left, right

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join them into a table runner aka scarf:

source: left, middle left, middle right, right

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make cards with them: either you dip it into color and use it as a stamp or you just pin it / glue it to your Christmas cards

source: left, middle, right

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and what did I do with mine?

I hung mine up on the wall:

have a lovely weekend, Diana

December 7th

what is THE thing that every winter makes a winter?

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snow!

I made a few crocheted snowflakes:

the one on the upper left is made from this pattern and the one on the upper right from this pattern. I especially liked the one on the left, it's super quick and very pretty. I made several from different yarn weights and also with two strands held together to get a few different sizes.

the next two are made from scratch and I wrote down the pattern as I went:

abbreviations:
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
dc - double crochet
ch6 - chain as many stitches as the number says, it this exp it's 6
tr - treble crochet
slst - slip stitch
P2 - chain2, slst into 2nd chain from hook
P4 - chain 4, slst into 4th chain from hook

5-point-star

chain 5, join with a slst to form a ring
1__ chain6 (counts as dc and ch3), [1dc in ring, chain3] 9 times, join with slst to 3rd ch of ch6
2__ slst in ch3sp, chain1, [(sc1, ch7, sc1) in ch3sp, sc2 in next ch3sp] x5, join with slst to 1st slst
3__ ch1, [miss next sc, (sc2, p4, dc3, tr2, p4, tr2, dc3, p4, sc2) all in ch7sp. miss next sc, sc2] x5, join with a slst to first chain
BO

6-point-snowflake

chain 6, join with a slst to form a ring
1__ ch4, (dc1, ch2) x5, join with a slst into 2nd chain of beginning ch4
2__ ch1, sc1 into next sp, [(ch4, sc1, ch1, sc1) into next sp] x5, ch4, sc1 into beginninh ch1 and join with a slst
3__ ch1, sc1 into next st, [(sc2, P2, sc1, P2, sc1, P2, sc2) into ch4sp, sc1 into ch1sp] x6, BO with a slst

let it snow!
Diana ♥

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{little disclaimer: please be a nice boy or girl and don't copy this pattern or parts of it, you can make as many snowflakes as you want for yourself and family and friends, but please always link to this page}