Audra Kerchief Cowl

Hello friends!

Here is my April pattern for my "Pattern a Month Challenge!"

I'm pretty excited about this one. It's so simple, works up fast, only uses a small amount of yarn & makes a very versatile kerchief style cowl. It's easy to wear, won't get in your way while you're working or playing & isn't bulky :-)

And for those of you wondering, Audra is Lithuanian for "storm" :-) Have fun making your new cowl!

Audra Kerchief Cowl

Materials: approx. 105m (115yd) DK or 8ply Yarn.

  4.5mm crochet hook

  Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

  Scissors

Tension/Gauge: 16sts and 8 rows to 10cm (4")

This pattern is written using British/Australian crochet terms. U.S. terms are in parenthesis)

Abbreviations: ch = chain

           st or sts =  stitch or stitches

           sl st = slip stitch

           tr = treble (dc = double crochet)

Pattern:

ch 81, join with a sl st to work in the round, taking care not to twist your stitches.

Rounds 1-5: 3ch (to count as 1tr (dc) here and through out pattern), 1 tr (dc) in each st to end, join with a sl st in 3rd ch at beginning of round.  (You can add more rows here for a taller, bulkier cowl :-)

Row 6: 3ch, 1tr (dc) in each st until there are 3 sts remaining in the round unworked, turn.

Row 7: sl st across to the 4th st from beginning of row, 3ch (to count as 1 tr [dc]), 1tr (dc) in each st until there are 3 sts remaining in the row unworked, turn.

Repeat Row 7 until you have only 3tr (dc) remaining. Fasten off, weave in ends.

NOTE: If you're using wool, this cowl could benefit from blocking, to help make the point of the "steps" more pronounced. If you're not familiar with the technique of blocking do a quick search on youtube, you'll be happy that you did! Blocking is a valuable skill to have as a crocheter or knitter :-)

Copyright is held by the author (SharaLambethDesigns). Copyright remains that of the author at all times. The pattern is for personal use only. Reproduction of this pattern in anyway (electronic, email, photocopying, transcribing etc) is strictly prohibited, except with the explicit permission of the author. Please do not sell the pattern or the finished product that is made using this pattern without permission of the author, as this is a direct infringement of the copyright laws protecting this pattern. Also please be aware that copyright laws vary from country to country (sometimes even from state to state), I am Australian, in Australia, therefore my patterns are protected by Australian copyright laws. This copyright protection still stands no matter what country the item is made in or who makes it. Thank you!!

If you do want to sell the cowls you make using this pattern at a market, craft fair or in your online store please do ask, as in most cases I will give permission :-)

And please feel free to make as many cowls as you can, to donate to your local charities.

Jewellery

Hello friends!
Recently I showed you some of my polymer clay creations, some necklaces with various beads and shapes and textures. I tried my best to photograph them well, but yesterday my very clever brother did a much better job of photographing them for me :-) So here are some of the pictures from the shoot :-)

I've also been making a series of new laser cut earrings. Below are a sneak peek of a pair made using mirrored perspex & sustainable Rimu wood :-)

I'll be back with more images of the new earring collection soon, so stay tuned! :-)

Chocolate Cake!

Hello Friends!
Today we had a Birthday party for my mum and I made her this cake :-)
Gluten free chocolate cake, with chocolate fudge icing, baci chocolates and chocolate covered popping candy! Yum!
Happy Birthday mum :-) xox

Textured Beads

Hello friends!
In my earlier post I told you I had been experimenting with texture in my bead making, and here are the results.
I know, the round yellow ones look like Froot Loops, don't they? :-)

I really love the look of the little grey ones, sort of like little rocks or geometric gems, I'm calling them "Geogems" :-)

This week I'll be experimenting with more colours, different shapes & different sizes. So stay tuned to see the results!
xo Shara

Beads & a Native Rat

Hello friends!

Today I have been experimenting with polymer clay. I haven't played around with polymer clay for quite some time and I had forgotten how much fun it could be. I made some beads of varying shapes and sizes, none of them quite match the others, but I like the "organic" feel of them :-)

I used a 4.5mm double pointed knitting needle to make the hole in each bead, and also to suspend them over a muffin tray while baking them, so that they didn't get any flat, shiny patches (which will happen if you bake them sitting directly on a tray :-) I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them yet, so for now I have just threaded them on a length of silver tone ball chain :-) I've also been doing a few experiments with adding texture to the beads (but they'll have to wait for the next round of photo's :-)

While I was in the back yard photographing the beads so I could show them to you I could hear a rustling noise by the back fence... I went to investigate and discovered that it was a little native rat gathering some old corn husks, discarded from the veggie patch, to make a nest?? I watched it for quite a while, it was very cute. It had a little friend too, so I'm hoping we might be lucky enough to have a whole brood of little native rats soon :-)

I know that photograph isn't very good, but I was trying not to scare them, so I couldn't get very close :-)

P.S. By native rat, I mean native to Australia. They're much cuter and sweeter than a regular rat. They're smaller, have rounded ears & a tail that is as short or shorter than its body length :-)

Knitting Weather

Hello friends!

It's Easter Monday and the weather has suddenly turned very Wintery! An icy wind is blowing down through the hills, the rain is making a marvellous racket on the tin roof. It's perfect weather for snuggling up indoors with some knitting.

At the moment I'm working on the Manayunk Cardigan by Kate Gagnon Osborn. The pattern is beautifully written.

I'm using a Merino/Angora/Silk blend yarn in storm cloud grey & ivory, and it feels amazing. I wish it was already finished so I could be wearing it today!! :-)

Max the dog is keeping me company while I'm knitting :-)

Delicious Lunch in Healesville

Hello friends :-)

Today I was lucky enough to share this delicious antipasto for lunch at Essenza in Healesville, in the Yarra Valley. It was so delicious, followed by one of the best coffees I've had in years :-) And to make it even better the service and staff were lovely as well :-) I think I'll be heading back there very soon :-)

Their website doesn't actually seem to be up and running yet, but you can see some great reviews on Urbanspoon by clicking on HERE and you can take a look at their Facebook page HERE