Mini Make Jars

Chris from Heavenly Hedgerows

I have been asked by my W.I. to come up with some 'mini makes' for us to do at a meeting. Last Tuesday we had Chris from ' Heavenly Hedgerows' join us for a talk on foraging and some basic plants and ideas to make, I have to say the rose hip jelly looked beautiful - far too good to eat!
The mini make I came up with was a decorated jar, that you could fill with jam, or sweets, or pickles, or bath salts, or buttons or .... 

Mini make - jars

Each jar (from IKEA) contained a square of the Cath Kidston Rosali fabric from IKEA, a length of ribbon, some small pieces of felt, two buttons and a small strip of paper. I had made two sample jars to share using those 'ingredients' one with paper bunting tied round the neck with a felt label and one with a felt heart on top.
The fabric was cut into a circle with the edges scalloped. I then cut a heart and a small label from the felt. If you were giving this to someone special you could embroider their name on the label. Ribbon and button detail was added. To get the fabric circle to stay in place I used a rubber band first before tying the ribbon on. But if you're making this with someone else they could hold it for you!
The paper bunting was made by cutting little triangles out of pretty paper and then using a double thickness of sewing thread to sew it as a length and then tie it round the lid.
I have to say that I was very pleased with them and so were the ladies! I thought they would also make pretty presents for a teacher or teaching assistant at the end of term filled with sweets or paper clips or a voucher ...

mini make lids

I'm joining in with Handmade Monday this week as it's half term - see you there!

Flower Power pattern

It's been a long time since I've posted a knitting pattern, so I thought this would be a good one with the end of summer term coming up (I'm being hopeful here!!) and people on the lookout for teacher presents. I know that there are many teachers with mugs of tea and coffee sitting on their desks/ tables/ window sills out there waiting to be drunk and getting cold!! I do have an insulated mug to use, but tea just doesn't taste right in one of those and never look closely at the lid!!! So my pattern is for a knitted mug hug or cosy.
I am also saying that it could be for you, your mum, a gardener or anyone else who likes a warm mug of something to drink - not just teachers!
So here is my so easy Pickle-Lily herself could knit it pattern!

Flower Power cosy

You need
Aran wool - I am a self confessed yarn snob and only use pure wool! It takes less than a ball to make a hug, so you can make for the lovely hard working teaching assistant as well. In fact I think I'd better! If you are interested I used Tivoli Celtic Aran to make mine which is a superwash wool that you can machine wash without it felting.
4.5mm knitting needles

Cast on 46 stitches using the thumb method so you get a nice stretchy cast on edge.
Knit 2 rows of knit one purl one rib.
Knit 20 rows of moss stitch - that is purl one, knit one on row one row and then purl one, knit one on the next row, so the knit stitch is on top of the purl and the purl on top of the knit in each row.
Then one row of rib to match the last moss stitch row and cast off.

sew the rib row ends only

To make up - sew the rows of ribbing together only leaving a gap for the handle.

blanket stitch

The cast on edge - it feel stretchier - is the bottom of the mug hug, it will need to stretch over the handle. The cast off edge is the top and you can sew blanket stitch on it to decorate.
Then add the flowers! I used a thick double knit yarn in bright colours, you could use whatever you fancy or favourite colours.

first petal

To make your lazy daisy stitch, bring the needle in and out of the same hole to make a loop, then, without pulling the loop out, make a small stitch catching the end of the loop the length you want your petal to be.

sewing the petals

Sew another four stitches or petals out of the same central hole, radiating round to make a flower. Sew a pretty button over the centre of the flower  to decorate.

finished flower

You can always buy a mug, pop the cosy on and put some biscuits or sweeties in the mug and gift wrap to complete the gift.

I'm posting this as part of Laura at Bugs and Fishes link-up, I am a week early - I got the date wrong!!!

Can foxes climb trees?

As you can see from my photo, the answer is yes!

Mia the fox

Mia the fox, jumped into the tree, rather than climb using her claws!
I spent a lovely day at Secret World Wildlife Rescue recently with Pickle-Lily watching this lovely fox snoozing in the sun. We also met some very cute badger and fox cubs and found out about the incredible work this charity does.

Badgers by Pickle-Lily

Hedgehogs by Pickle-Lily

foxes by Pickle-Lily

During the day we sold some of our animal themed goodies, which P arranged according to the animal.

badger cub

Secret World have more open week-ends across the year, the dates are on their website, and even better it's free admission. P and I are definitely going back if only to say 'Hello' to Mia!

fox cub