Owl Crochet Pattern

I have been looking for an owl cable pattern for quite a while. They are easy to find for knitting...

Check this out:

 It is neat!

But unfortunately I don't knit very well. So I wanted to find one for crothet.

They are out there, if you look hard, but somehow I didn't really like what I found. So I set out to make my own pattern, and I have published it below.

Owl pattern

- in dc circles from top down (8 stitches wide, 9 rows)

Abbreviations

ch: chain stitch

dc: double crochet

tr: treble crochet

fpdc: front post double crochet

fptr: front post treble crochet

fpdc-dec: yarn over, pull up loop from front post in first stitch, pull up loop from front post in second stitch, yarn over, and pull through three loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops

Pattern

Row 1: 8 dc (this will be a part of the pattern, as you use the front posts in next row)

Row 2: Skip 2, 2 tr, reach in front of the trebles and fptr in each of the 2 you skipped, skip 2, 2 fptr, reach behind the trebles and tr in each of the 2 you skipped

Row 3: fpdc, 2 dc, 2 fpdc, 2 dc, fpdc (repeat this row once for large eyed owl - the one on the left)

Row 4: skip 2, tr, fptr, reach in front of the trebles and fptr in the first you skipped, tr in the second, skip 2, tr, fptr, reach behind the trebles and fptr in first you skipped, tr in second

(This row is terribly difficult I'm afraid. But you can do it, I know you can!)

Row 5: 2 fpdc, dc, fpdc-dec, dc, 2 fpdc

Row 6: 2 fpdc, dc, 2 dc in same, dc, 2 fpdc

Row 7: 2 fpdc, 4 dc, 2 fpdc

Row 8: skip 2, 2 tr, reach in front of the trebles and fptr in each of the 2 you skipped, skip 2, 2 fptr, reach behind the trebles and tr in each of the 2 you skipped

Row 9: 2 dc, fpdc, 2 dc, fpdc, 2 dc

Fingerless Mittens

Today I made these fingerless mittens. They are great for typing on the keyboard, crocheting etc.

They are long sleeved but can be buttoned up, if you're wearing a jacket or just like the look better.

It is my own pattern, but you are welcome to try it out - please refer to my blog, if you use it!

Fingerless Mittens Pattern

(I used Alpaca Yarn and a 3 mm needle)
It is the same pattern for both mittens except step 8, which defines where the thumb is going to be relative to the button hole.

The rib:

1. Make a single crochet base chain with 30 single crochet (SC).
2. Crochet 32 rows of SC in the back loop only (this will make it elastic and makes the ribbing effect). with 2 slip stitches (SS) to stand for the first SC in each row.
3. Fold the first and the last row together.
4. 3 SC through both rows, 5 SC in last row only (skip 5 SC in first row), 22 SC through both rows (The skipped SC's makes the button hole. If you don't want it, just SC all the way).

The palm:

5. Make a slip stitch (SS).
6. SC around the wrist - 1 SC per row = 34 SC.
7. Do 2 more rows of SC in circles - be sure to mark the first SC in each row, so you can count them. (In my mitts the rib does not stop at the wrist but makes up part of the hand. If you don't like this - make more rows here until you reach the base of the thumb).

The fingers:

8. 16 SC, 4 SS, skip 8 SC, 10 SC (for the right hand mitten - 10 SC, 4 SS, skip 8 SC, 16 SC for the left mitten).
9. 7 rows of 30 SC in circles.
10. Fasten off (Be sure to use the invisible fasten off, if you don't want the border).

Thumb:

11. Tread the needle again and do 16 SC around the hole, we left for the thumb earlier (one in each SS (4), One in each SC (8) and 2 in each corner between the SS and SC).
12. 4 more rows of SC in circles.
13. Fasten off.

Finish:

14. Make a border with yarn in a matching colour *SC DC SC in first SC, skip one SC* - Continue like that around the edge.
15. Sew on buttons. (I did crochet mine, but I am not very proud of those, so look for a button tutorial somewhere else please).

The finished Chicken Barn

So here is the finished chicken coop. I am very proud of it.

The chickens seems to like it too. We have 2 black forrest hens, 2 Arucana hens and an Arucana rooster. He is the one on the left. Funny fellow with no rump...

Chicken Coop - Day 6

Brian finished the roof today, and I began painting the outside of the coop red.

When looked at from afar it really does look like a barn now – doesn't it?

Details (like the door) is still missing, but you can really see it coming together now.

Here's what it looked like from the back, before the last piece of roof was added. The whole backside of the coop can be detached for easy cleaning of the coop.

It took Brian most of the day to finish the roof, but he got to use a new tool, he bought yesterday, so I think he enjoyed himself.

Our whole lawn is covered in sawdust now...

I apologize for the crazy use of fonts here. Blogger really doesn't want to cooperate with me today... 

Chicken Coop - Day 5

Today Brian Did a lot of the roof, and we placed the chicken coop in the back of our garden.

 The chickens are going to have the best view.

I couldn't help admiring our work in the late sunlight.

Chicken Coop - Day 4

Brian finished the main construction.

I painted the wall boards we had so far, with the base coat, and Brian cut some more.
It is beginning to look like a barn, don't you think?

Chicken Coop - Day 3

It's monday, so we only had the evening. Still Brian started cutting the wall boards.

Here he is - admiring his work. Liva sneaked into the picture as well...

Chicken Coop - Day 2

Here is where we were this morning:

This is where we are now:

We (Brian) have made the upper construction and I have painted the floor boards. This is going to take a while...

Chicken Coop - Day one

We have decided, we want chickens in our garden, and we want to build them a pretty little chicken coop.

I love the look of old fashioned red barns like these:

Last night, we sketched and came up with this first draft:

We began building it today and found the construction more sturdy than we had imagined, so the supporting beams were not nessesary. We changed a few other details in the process as well.

Here is where we are so far:

It took most of the day, because we had to go and buy wood and a few tools. Also Brian was very perfectionistic with everything.

But will you look at that! - I'm very proud of his work.

Paper Orchids

Why hide away your orchids, while you wait for them to reebloom?

Make this easy paper flower, attach it to the plant - and it will still look beautiful, while you wait for the real flowers to come back.

Just follow this tutorial:

All you need is paper, sissors and a piece of wire.

Cut out the two pieces of the flower according to the template (at the end of this tutorial).









Pull the wire through the first part of the flower.

Bend the small leaves back around...

... and pull in front of the large petals.

Pull the wire through the back petals and twist.

Bend and shape the petals and attach to the stem or a stick with the wire.

All done!

Template

Self-Watering Pots

I was getting very tired of watching my herbs die because I forgot to water them EVERY day. So I decided to try and make my own self-watering pots for them.

All you need is some cotton string, a tall container and a plant in a flower pot that is just a little to big to fit into the container.

As you can see above I used different containers: An orchid pot, a metal tomato can and a plastic nudlecup. You can paint them, if you like.

Coffee mugs, will do as well and could look very pretty I think.

Soak the string in water and use a knitting needle to stick it into the bottom of the plant.

Measure how far into the container the pot goes. Fill the container with water below this point.

Make sure the string is in the water, as you insert the pot.

Here you can see, how the edge of the flower pot keeps it from falling into the container. The pot needs to be above the water or the roots of the plant will rot.

Check often to see if there is still water in the container. If you use a glass vase or a tall caffè latte glass as container you can easily keep an eye on the water level.

Woven Bird Baskets

I made this owl as a woven basket. It is my own design and it is not as complicated to weave as it looks. I glued the top parts of the red and purple paper together.

I think it turned out quite nice.

I had the idea from these birds, which I saw while window shopping this Christmas.

I am going to try to make some other bird designs later.

Easy Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Today I made pine cone feeders for the birds.
Here is how it's done:

You will need some bird seed - or grain, seeds and muesli from the cupboard (which is what I used), a pine cone, some string and peanut butter

Mash up the seeds and peanut butter.

Apply to the pine cone (from the bottom up). Hang in a tree and wait for the birds to come. Easy!

Beware Of Dog Sign

We have a small West Highland Terrier, which is often running loose in the garden. The gate is a large black door, and people who come visit have no chance of knowing, if the dog is behind it.

To make sure they will take ekstra care to close the gate behind them and not let the dog out, I cut this sign in fun foam and nailed it to the door.





Feel free to print and use: