Biffsugar

Snowdrop garland pattern

The New Year is well and truly here.  Today both of the children are back at school and it feels as if January is definately underway.  It was so dark and damp here this morning that I feel in need of sharing my recently made Snowdrop inspired garland.  

Having seen the first signs of Snowdrops on our Stourhead walk it made me yearn for a little of that fresh spring green colour, that first glimmer of hope that we are moving forward into the year.  Also, it was a great use of my ribbon which I have had for ages (I think from Hobbycraft) but couldn't find the right thing to do with it.

So here is the pattern:

The large flower

Round 1

Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.

3ch (counts as a tr), 11tr into the ring.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning 3ch.  12 tr.

Fasten off.

Round 2

Join new colour in any st.

3ch (counts as a tr) 1tr in same sp.  

1ch, 3tr in each st around. 

Sl st to join the round.

Round 3

Join new colour in any 1ch sp.

3ch (counts as tr), 2tr in same sp.

1ch, 3tr in each 1ch sp around.

Sl st to join the round.

Fasten off.

Round 4

Join new colour in any 1ch sp.

4ch, sl st to next 1 ch sp around.

Sl st to join the round.  

Do not fasten off.

Round 5

5ch, sl st to first sl st around.

Sl st to join the round.

Fasten off and sew in the ends.

The colours I am using are Stylecraft Special DK in Parchment and the aptly named Spring Green.  I am also using a white which is not Stylecraft but something I already had lying around. 

So now the smaller flower:

Round 1

Ch 8.  Sl st to join the ring.

Ch3 (counts as a tr), 17 tr into the ring.  

Sl st to top of ch3 to join.

Fasten off. 18 tr.

Round 2

Join new colour in any tr.

Ch3 (counts as tr), 1tr in the same st, ch2, skip 1tr.

2tr in next st, ch2, skip 1 tr around.

Sl st in the first tr to join.

Fasten off.

Round 3

Join new colour in any ch2 sp.

Ch1 (does not count as a st),

1dc, 3tr, 1dc in each ch2 sp around.

Sl st in the first dc to join.

Fasten off and sew in the ends.

I then threaded mine onto ribbon which I love the effect of but of course you could crochet a chain to attach the flowers to.

I hope that all makes sense.  It is such a contrast to be looking at these simple colours after all the vibrancy of Christmas.  It's like a clean slate.

Of couse no photo opportunity is complete without one of the animals sneaking in there for a bit of attention.  If I'm looking at something, Crumble likes to make sure that it's him!

 

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All hail to Delia Smith for this 'Christmas in a Pan' recipe.  You don't even need the Port (I never add it).

Every year there are things that I make such as this and my braised red cabbage, and there's always a part of me that doesn't want to do it at first.  I mean, I want it, but I don't want to make it.  There is always so much else to do.  But then something magical always happens, just like birds flying south for the winter, something overcomes me, a primal urge to have to make it and then it just - happens!

Thank goodness.

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I have been putting it off because I thought I might ruin her and that while she was incomplete she still had the potential to be perfect.  But my tree needed a Fairy...

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Ron is obviously not allowed unsupervised contact with the tree although he has already sneeked in there unattended only to be discovered with his ample furry tummy covered in pine needles.  Needle surfing I'm guessing - that cat will try anything!

These are my beautiful angels which I bought at the Bath Christmas Market several years ago now.  I'm having a little thing about fairies and angels at the moment which is why in a break from tradition I have decided to abandon the usual star at the top of our tree.  We always have a star and I love a star but this year I am thinking a fairy.  So I am making one!  Trying at least.  She is part way there and I am at that stage where I can see how I want her to look but whether I will achieve it I'm not sure, so it's thrilling and nervewracking at the same time.  So for now, until she is complete and takes her position at the top of the tree - here is a frosty snowflake...

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