I saw this hat in Vogue (maybe) and just thought it was AMAZING!  Theirs cost £250, I have worked out a similar (but still distinct pattern, honest) and the grand total for 2 balls of 100g, chunky wool is £4, whoop whoop, or rather pom pom!  The pattern is really really simple, but I haven't typed it yet - but cross my heart promise I will really soon.  For now here are the pics (but you will have to excuse my face, I will endeavour to get some without me in them.

Tyrannosaurus Rex

This pattern is now available in a pdf for the teeny price of $3.00 from my Etsy shop xxx

Well now the little beast is getting bigger I thought it was time to pimp his clothes.  This little crochet dinosaur came about as a bunting idea but I think it's going to look uber cool on a baby grow instead/aswell?!  Believe it or not the pattern is half written up, and as soon as it's finished it'll be on here for free for a little while before making it's way to my Etsy shop.

I don't know about you, but I seem to spend half my time when out visiting or picnicking with the beasts, scrabbling about in the depths of my bag for lint covered, scrumpled tea bags (white tea is my tea of choice).  So this idea came to me as a quite lovely solution whilst at work (the utterly gorgeous Butler's Emporium in Hastings - don't worry, it's getting it's own post real soon), and is the easiest how to on earth:

Tea bag:
1. cut out 2 pieces of some teabaggy, natural fabric a bit bigger than a tea bag
2. sew up three sides with your favourite thread (mine's gold)
3. pinch your bosses stamp set and stamp 'tea' on the front

Simple but gorgeous.

A lovely crafty gal pal popped over for a seaside visit last week and mentioned an idea she'd seen and couldn't wait to try.  I have shamelessly stolen the idea and tried it myself and am very much enamoured with the result.  Knitting needle bangles.  Not original I know, but they really are very charming and sweet.  I trotted off to my second-hand mecca - Emmaus of Hastings (a whole corner of the charity superstore is home to the craft supplies of deceased old ladies, and an utter treasure trove of wool, needles, bias binding and fabric) grabbed a few lone, plastic knitting needles and set the family to work. Here's our how to:

1. boil up some water in the widest pan you have
2. drop lone needles in (one at a time is best unless you are an octopus)
3. whip out after 20 secs or so with tongs and bend in to a circle
4. hold in a bowl of cold water until cool, you'll probably find that the ends want to spring apart so...
5. bind ends together tightly with anything (I used wool) and drop back in hot water for another 10 secs
6. whip out and drop in cold water until cool
7. ta daa!

In my utter excitement to get going on Crobots 2, I have nearly finished 'Spy Guy', a crochet ninja robot, and had to share it with you!  The big beast is dedicatedly filing away at a little wooden ninja star to go with him as I type, but all the crochet is done.  This is the chap that Dexter specifically asked to have made, and who am I to disappoint a darlingheart nephew?  I promise to take photos in actual daylight when he's properly put together.  With all his weapons.  And post a pattern.  Brownies honour.

My most adorable, eldest nephew Dexter (age 6 1/2) has just been to stay, and he made me possibly the best gift I've ever received: 'Crobots 2', designed and drawn by him.  I have promised to make him at least one of them and will of course post pictures and patterns as soon as I have.  Thank you Dexter xxx

Just in case you didn't spot it I've amended the pattern on the last post, my favourite leftie gave the pattern a try and found a couple of bits that really weren't clear enough.  Hopefully all crochet anchors should now come out ship shape, but again, feedback is always welcomed!