Cardboard Car Park...

I found this idea on Pinterest and immediately knew Tom and I had to make it. The original source is from B-inspired Mamma Tom enjoys cars and he loves numbers so the combination of the two kept him busy for ages.

First we found a large cardboard lid and drew on car parks with a black text. We numbered each car park. We found 10x cars and labelled each car with a white sticky label.

The photos say it  all!

Thanks for playing craft with me...
                                            Jan x

Christmas Star Bunting...

Three year old Tom and I had fun making this star bunting to use as a Christmas decoration.  First, we stamped Christmas images onto muted patterned paper by Studio Calico.

Then we cut the paper into star shapes and punched a hole in each one. Then using a tapestry needle we strung them onto yarn.

We love the effect and it was all achieved in 20 minutes! There is nothing like a quick craft with a little one as they don't lose interest. Tom loved threading the yarn through the stars and was very good at it.

Jan x

Knitted Christmas Stocking...

Knitted Christmas Stocking (UPDATED PATTERN!!!)

My grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Mim’s Grandma’, belonged to an organisation in Australia called the CWA (or Country Women’s Association) and was the ‘Queen’ of their craft committee. Needless to say that in this role she produced hundreds, if not thousands of craft items that were sold for charity fundraising or as gifts for those less fortunate. The Christmas Stockings were one item she made for these causes.

Mim’s Grandma began knitting these Christmas stockings in the 70s and she made some for her own use.  She filled her Christmas tree with them.  She even popped a Santa chocolate inside to delight the grandchildren. I still own several and sentimentally hang them on my tree each year.

Like Christmas baking recipes, Mim’s Grandma handed down her stocking pattern to my mother, who has passed it onto me. I am passing it onto you.

WHAT YOU NEED

Needle: 

4mm knitting needles (US size 6). This is not stitched in the round so straight needles are fine. 

Yarns Used: Small quantities of 8ply/DK yarn are required for each stocking. I useD the white yarn to knit the cuff of each stocking.

This is where you can have fun! You can mix it up. The stockings look great in an array of colours. You do not even need to change the yarn for the cuff. I have seen them knitted up in all pink and they look just as cute.

Gauge: Not necessary

Other Notions:

3.5-5mm (US size E-G) crochet hook is used to make the hanging loop

Tapestry needle

Final Measurement: 

Length: 9cm (3 ½ inches)

Width: 4cm (1 ½ inches)

STITCH ABBREVIATIONS

K           knit

P           purl

K2tog    knit two together

P2tog    purl two together

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

Cast on 23 stitches

Row 1-8 : knit

Row 9 (RS): K12, K2tog , then turn work (Yes do exactly was this says and turn your work around to the wrong side, so that you are now about to purl on the stitches you just knitted; there will be 11stitches remaining stitches on the needle that have not been worked on in this row. Don't worry about these 11 remaining stitches as you will work on them later)

Row 10: P4, P2tog, then turn work (total number of stitches on your needles are 21 stitches but in this row you only worked on 5 of them)

Row 11: K4, K2tog, then turn your work again (20 stitches)

Row 12- 13: Repeat the above rows (rows 10 and 11) once

Row 14: P4 P2tog, and continue purling to the end of the row of all your stitches (17 stitches)

You have now created a toe! 

You are now knitting again across all stitches

Row 15 - knit

Row 16 – purl

Rows 17- 26: repeat the above two rows (stocking stitch)

Change colour for the contrast cuff:

Rows: 27 – 34 – knit

Cast off all your stitches leaving a tail of at least 25cm long (10 inches). Pick up your crochet hook and chain stitch the tail 20 times to form the hanging loop. Thread your yarn through the last chain stitch to stop it unravelling.

Make-up:

Fold stocking in half right sides together. Using the tapestry needle, mattress stitch the foot and back of stocking until you reach the cuff.  Change to the cuff yarn and mattress stitch the raw edges of the cuff together.  Stitch the end of chain length to the top of the stocking to form a hanging loop.   Hang it on your Christmas tree or decorate part of your home with it.

You can even fill the stockings with a small chocolate in each!

I hope you enjoy this pattern... Jan x

Email me  at:  dandjgartlan@bigpond.com if you are stuck

Car run...

Tom and I saw a cardboard ball run featured on a happy wanderer  and delighted in the simpleness of it.  We made one for his small  toy cars using a pizza box cut open and cardboard rolls cut in half then taped on. We had to have a trial run as we stuck the rolls down to ensure the cars went from one level to the next.

There is nothing like cardboard and sticky tape to while away the time with a child.
                                                                                                                  Jan x