Sunday, October 26, 2014

Product Review - 6 Flowers Icing Images




Good morning lovlies!

Today I have something just a little bit different for you all. My very first non crochet product review! I was lucky enough to receive a trial sheet of cupcake toppers from the amazing gals over at 6 Flowers Icing Images to have a play with.

So let's start with the facts. The icing sheets from 6 Flowers are gluten free, egg free, dairy free AND vegan friendly. That's a whole bunch of safe right there, straight up making them great for parties.

The sheets themselves, providing they are stored in a ziplock/airtight dark environment will last for a whole year. That makes planning ahead a whole heap easier! Big win there that's for sure!




I started off with some basic vanilla cupcakes. I actually used a new recipe for them that I hadn't previously tried, and while they didn't rise quite as much as other batters, still tasted great.

We then topped them off with a basic butter icing with a soft pink tint to it.

Then comes the toppers! Right up these were super easy to remove from the sheets, they came right out without fuss, no ripping or effort needed. I was pretty impressed with that. Even the kids got in on the action and helped put them on the cupcakes.

The colour of the images is fantastic, like really fantastic. They are bright and vibrant, even after sitting in the fridge. No running or bubbling either which is great.

I guess the big thing here is the taste! I am happy to say they also taste great. None of that paperish taste that the edible images you get with premix box cakes has. All 3 kids really enjoyed them, and I'd call that a huge winner right there.

 All in all I am absolutely thrilled with these, and I can't wait to place an order for Christmas ones. If you are in Tas (Or Aus, as they will have posting abilities soon enough) then I can't recommend these enough. Especially if you are wanting a quick and easy way to make a fantastic looking cake for a party and have zero decorating skills. It could not be easier and at only $10 for a sheet of 15, a great price as well. They also do full sized round cake toppers and will be adding A3 ability to their range soon and can even print out your very own photos. Yummo! Pop on over and check them out on Facebook at 6 Flowers Icing Images



Saturday, October 25, 2014

Lincoln Beanie - Free crochet pattern



Good morning beautiful people.

I hope the start to your day has been gentle. Today I have a sweet little hat pattern for you that takes all of 10 minutes to whip up. It will fit 14-16 weeks gestation and used only a very tiny amount of yarn. Perfect for the scraps of special colours left over from bigger projects. It is only 6 rounds in total, so a very easy take along project. When you make the colour changes, I find it easier to drop the main colour and pick up the contrasting, rather than cutting the main and having to rejoin it.

You will need:
3.5mm hook
DK/8ply/light worsted weight 3 yarn in a main and contrasting colour

1: ch3, dc in the first chain 8 times, join
2: ch3, dc twice in each stitch around, join.
3: ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.
4: change to contrasting colour, ch1, sc in each stitch around, join.
5: change to main colour, ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.
6: change to contrasting colour, ch1, sc in each stitch around, join.

End off all colours and weave in tails.



Saturday, October 18, 2014

Molly Bonnet - Free Crochet Pattern




Good morning everyone.
Today's pattern is a super easy beginner one for a sweet little bonnet. It only uses dc's, hdc's and chains and is very fast to make. This bonnet will fit a bub of around 22 weeks and looks great in all sorts of colours.



You will need:
8ply/dk/light worsted/ weight 3 yarn in a main and contrasting colour.
4mm hook

Starting with main colour
1. ch3, dc 10 times into the 1st ch, join.
2. ch3, 2dc in each stitch around, join
3. ch3, *2dc in the first stitch, dc in the next sticth*, repeat around, do not join.
4. ch3, turn, dc in each stitch across.
5-7. ch3, turn, dc across.
8. ch2, do not turn, evenly work  hdc stitches along the neckline of the bonnet (edges of the dc rows) until you get to the corner. End off main colour.
9. With contrasting colour, chain 25, join to the corner of the bonnet, ch2, hdc in each stitch across until the second last stitch, ch2, sl st into the last stitch, ch25 and end off.

Weave in all tails and ends and if you like attach decorations.



Saturday, October 11, 2014

Elliot Beanie - Free Crochet Pattern



Good morning beautiful people,

Today's beanie pattern is bursting full of textures! The beauty of it is, you only need to know how to do 3 stitches! DC, FPHDC and BPHDC. If you are not familiar with front and back post stitching, there is a great video on it HERE by the amazing Clare aka bobwilson123 that will help you out.

This hat will fit a bub at 32-34 weeks gestation if made as below. I have included instructions after the pattern on making it fit a brand new baby and also 0-3 Months




For 32-34 weeks
DK/8ply/light worsted/weight 3 yarn in main and contrasting colours
4.00mm hook.

With main colour
1: ch3, dc 10 times into the first chain, join.
2: ch3, 2dc in each stitch around, join.
3: ch3, *2dc in the first stitch, dc in the next stitch*, repeat around, join.
4: ch3, *2dc in the first stitch, dc in the next 2 stitches*, repeat around, join.
5: ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.
Change to contrasting colour
6: ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join.
7: ch2, *fphdc around the first stitch, bphdc around the next stitch*, repeat around, join.
8: ch2, *bphdc around the next stitch (which will be a fphdc), fphdc around the next stitch (will be a bphdc)* repeat around, join.
9-10: Repeat rounds 7 and 8
Change to main colour
11-12: ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.

For Brand New Baby and 0-3 Months (Shown Below)
Worsted/Weight 4/ 10 or 12ply yarn in main and contrasting colours. (The yellow in this hat is RHSS, the brown is 4seasons Marvel 12ply (Aus yarn)
5.5mm Hook


With main colour
1: ch3, dc 10 times into the first chain, join.
2: ch3, 2dc in each stitch around, join.
3: ch3, *2dc in the first stitch, dc in the next stitch*, repeat around, join.
FOR 0-3 ONLY
4: ch3, *2dc in the first stitch, dc in the next 2 stitches*, repeat around, join.
For all other sizes continue on as follows.
5: ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.
Change to contrasting colour
6: ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join.
7: ch2, *fphdc around the first stitch, bphdc around the next stitch*, repeat around, join.
8: ch2, *bphdc around the next stitch (which will be a fphdc), fphdc around the next stitch (will be a bphdc)* repeat around, join.
9-10: Repeat rounds 7 and 8
Change to main colour
11-12: ch3, dc in each stitch around, join.


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Kaitlynn Beanie - Free Crochet Pattern




Good morning lovlies.
Today I have for you a dainty little beanie that features the V stitch. They will fit 30-32 weeks gestation and are very easy to memories. Ive made so many of these in the car doing the school run!

You will need:
4ply/fingering/weight 1(superfine) yarn.
3.5mm hook

1: ch2, dc 8 times in the first chain, join.
2: ch2, dc twice in each stitch around, join.
3: ch4, dc in the same stitch, (dc, ch1, dc) in each stitch around, join (to the 3rd ch)
4: slst into the ch1 space, ch4, dc in the same space, (dc, ch1, dc) in each ch1 space around, join (to the 3rd ch)
5-10: Repeat round 4
11: ch2, hdc in each chain and stitch around, join.

End off and weave in tails.