Helpful owl

Hello everybody,
Today I would like to share with you one very special owl I made for my little daughter.
We have got the same problem every day. When I’m trying to style her hair I never have enough or the right hair clips handy. They are always all over the place. So I came up with this hair clip holder. I’m secretly hopping my daughter will be more motivated to clip them on the owl before she takes them off. It would make life so much easier for me every morning.

Owl Clip holder - pattern

Size: The owl on the picture is around 11cm (4,4”) in diameter, cca 12cm(4,8”) high, the ribbon cca 45cm (18”).

You need: 

Acrylic yarn or cotton of your choice (I used cca 50 grams of darker grey, grey, pink and white) 

Crochet hook E/3,5mm

Needle 

Around 1 m (40”) off pink/silver ribbon

Around 20cm (8”) off white ribbon

2 bigger black buttons with two holes for eyes

15cm x 15cm (6”x6”) cardboard

Glue (I used decoupage glue)

A few more buttons and beads to finish decorating the owl

Terms/Abbreviations: I used US terminology

ch           chain 

slst          slip stitch

sc            single crochet

hdc          half double crochet

dc           double crochet

2dctog.    2 dc’s crochet together 

3dctog.    3 dc’s crochet together

tr            treble crochet

st            stitch 

**           repeat

The Owls body

It is worked in circular crochet method, beginning at centre. Slst. join at end of each round. Don’t turn, but continue in same direction until instructed otherwise.

Round 1: White yarn

Begin with magic ring, ch3 (count as dc), 15dc’s into the ring. (16dc’s). Do not turn.

Round 2: White yarn

Ch3 (count as dc), dc into same st., 2dc’c into every next st. (32dc’s). Do not turn.

Round 3: Pink yarn

Ch3 (count as dc) – 2dctog. in same st., dc in next st., *3dctog. in next st., dc in next st.* around. (16-3dctog./16 dc’s). Do not turn.

Round 4: Grey yarn

Ch3 (count as dc), dc into same st., 2dc’c into every next st. (64dc’s). Do not turn.

Round 5: Grey yarn 

This row increase evenly 11 dc’s (roughly every 6th dc). (75dc’s). Do not turn. Do not cut the yarn.

Round 6: Grey yarn 

Ch4 (count as tr), tr in next st., dc in next st., dc in next st., hdc in next st., sc in next 10 st., hdc in next st., dc in next st., dc in next st., tr in next st., tr in last st. (20 stitches). Turn now!!!

Round 7: Grey yarn 

Ch3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 st., hdc in next st., sc in next 3 st., slst. in next 6 st., sc in next 3 st., hdc in next st., dc in next 3 st., (20 stitches).

Round 8: Dark Grey yarn

I used a (crab stitch ) all around the owl as you can see on the pictures. You can find the tutorial on Youtube.

White eyes: Make 2

Begin with a magic ring, ch3 (count as dc), 15dc’s into the ring. (16dc’s).

Tiny flower: Pink yarn

Begin with a magic ring, *ch3 – 2dctog. – ch3 – slst. into the ring*, repeat 3 more times (4 tiny petals).

Beak/nose: Dark Grey yarn

Ch5, 4 tr into 5th ch from the hook. (5tr).

Bigger flower on the end of the ribbon - Work in the rounds as follows:

Round 1: Pink yarn

Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1), * 1 dc into ring, ch 1 *; repeat 5 more times. Join with a slst. into 3rd ch of the ch-4 made at the beginning of this round. (7 ch-1 / 7dc’s). Fasten off.

Round 2: White yarn

Join the color into any of the ch-1 spaces, ch 1, *1 sc, 3 dc, 1 sc* into the same ch-1 space; repeat 6 more times into next ch-1 spaces. Join with a slst. into the first sc of the first ch-1 space. (7 petals).

Round 3: White yarn

Ch 1, and work behind the petals now, slst. into the stem † of the last sc made in round 2. Ch 4, sc into the stems of the next 2 adjoining scs (between the two petals) and then 

*ch 3, sc into the stems of the next 2 scs *; repeat 5 more times, ch 3, and then sl st into the first ch of the ch-4 done at the beginning of this round. ( 7 ch-3 spaces/loops behind each petal made in round 2).

Round 4: Grey yarn

Join the color into any of the ch-3 spaces/loops. Ch 1, *1 sc, 4dc, 1 sc* into the ch-3 space, repeat 6 more times into all ch-3 spaces; sl st into the first sc of the first petal made in this round. (7 petals behind the first 7 made). Fasten off.

Assembling:

The main crocheting is done now. Sew the white eyes with black buttons, beak/nose, and tiny flower with button. and other decorations on the owl’s body now. 

Cut the back out of cardboard. (I just pressed the owl onto the cardboard and drew around it). It should look like the one on the picture below.

Secure the ribbons on the cardboard as you can see on the picture below. I glued the ribbons and stapled them as well, just to give it extra strength.

Glue the owl to cardboard now. You can adjust it before it dries completely.

Sew the bigger flower onto the end of the ribbon. It looks pretty and it holds the ribbon down as well. You can add some hair to the ears if you like.

Now it’s up to the little girls to do they job. I certainly hope the excitement will last. So far the hair clips are on it, but in the future only time will tell.

We got so exited about this project, that we made one more owl. I used the leftover felt I had from the Christmas angels, and made a felted owl holder as well. As you can see, there are so many variations.

Have a nice week

Clara

Our Christmas

Hello,
Yes, as every year Christmas is here again, and a slightly bit different setup for us once again.
I did Wreath for us this year, from last years leftover Christmas decorations, and put it on the door. Lets hope this year nobody nicks it like last year.

And at least we made the tree look snowy. Nobody saw any snow around here on Christmas day for a few years. I remember sometimes when I was small girl, having white Christmas‘s.

Since this is Catholic region, Christmas is celebrated on 24th in the evening. Father Christmas comes in the afternoon/evening on the 24th. We only had an English Christmas on the 25th  until Angel understood what’s going on, but now she’s five years old, she sees it all around her on the 24th. So now, in the morning we do the Christmas socks. We go to Church at midday of 24th - it’s not really a Mass, it’s more like service for children. It’s not very long, and the kids like it. It does have very nice atmosphere and it occupies the Children while Father Christmas is doing his main job.

After Church we are having a late lunch or early diner. We are sticking with turkey this year as usual. The traditional dinner here is fish soup, fried fish and potatoes salad. It would not be that bad, except the fish is a Carp. Normally people don’t eat it all year, and you can only buy it in special shops, but before Christmas the fish stands appear everywhere in front of supermarkets and on main squares. We do not like to eat it, but we like to go look at them.

All afternoon and evening we are unwrapping gifts and playing with them, watching fairy tales on TV, since there is really nothing else much to watch on any Czech channel. Christmas TV here is all oriented around the children.

On 25th in the morning we going to visit those few relatives we do have here, and have a second Christmas. Everybody‘s happy. 

We decided to give Daddy little time off on his own last weekend. With Angel we visited local Gallery to see some Bethlehems. They are all handmade and privately owned. The owners are lending them to the Gallery only for two weeks at Christmas time, for everybody to see. I like to share a few of them with you.

 

There are so many of them. No one is prettier then the other, but each one is unique in its own way, and usually very old.

And as I promised, I finished Angel‘s curtain:

Angels curtain pattern

You need: 

Any Yarn suitable for size E (3.50mm) crochet hook 

Round plastic rings 4cm (1,6”)

Yarn Needle 

Terms/Abbreviations: I used US terminology

ch    chain 

slst  slip stitch 

sk    skip 

sc     single crochet 

dc    double crochet 

st     stitch 

beg  beginning

Pattern notes: Squares are worked in sort of “circular crochet method”, begin to crochet around the ring and in 2nd row forming up the square.  Don’t turn, but continue in same direction.

Inspired by Doni Speigle designs

Square Ring: 

Round 1: Join yarn with a slst around ring, ch 1, work 36 sc around ring, join with a slst to beg sc. Do not turn. (36 sc) 

Round 2 : Ch 1, sc in next st, sc in next st, sk next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts, * sc in next 2 sts, sk next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in next st, sk next 2 sts, sc in next 2 sts *, repeat from * to * around, join with a slst to beg sc. Weave in ends. 

Assembly:

I crocheted the first row of squares together in two corners as I went. Afterwards I secured them on the top with sc’s. I did three rows of scs. You may need more or less rows, depending on type of your project.

After I just kept adding the squares as you can see on pictures.

Finishing: 

I made it easy for myself. I put Velcro around the inside of the bed when I sewed the pink Manchester 

curtain and put them on. So now I just pressed it on the Velcro from inside. It holds on perfectly. So there it is.

I’m pleased (really I’m very easy to please) with the result. The colours are very happy. It’s covering all it needs to cover and still lets some air in and out. It’s a nice hideout for Angel and the main thing is - the colours are her choice.

In moderation this pattern can be used for all sorts of projects.

And here’s something little from my Grandmas attic. I found this pattern interesting.

Flower I - chart

Thank you all very much for visiting my new blog this year.

Myself, and my family, would like to wish you all a very Marry Christmas with as little stress as possible.

And from all of us, a Happy New Year. I truly believe that all our sensible wishes can come true in 2015.

Clara

Birthdays

Hello, just little update on what’s new in Emmhouse.

This is my beautiful Angel (age on picture one day). She celebrated her fifth birthday couple of day’s back. Until I had baby, I didn’t realize how time flies when you having fun.













I really like this setup on my favorite Attic24 blog. Inspired, I made little shelf of fame for my little Angel’s birthday.

There is unwritten rule here, that mums, whose child is having birthday, bakes cake for nursery party. The request was heaps of chocolate of course! I have to admit I’m not very good at baking cakes. Honestly its very time consuming and “worst” of all I love chocolate. The following usually happens: I bake it, I make it look nice and tasty. I’m trying to get Angel not to keep stuffing herself with sweets, so I keep eating the cake. I feel guilty, so I go on diet next week and that’s why don’t like to bake cakes. This scenario never fails :0))

I was cheating with this one – I bought it for our little home party. Those moments makes me rather upset, no big family. Everybody’s in England. Thank God for Skype.
But Angel was very exited; she didn’t even want anybody to cut it.

I had a forty plus something more! Birthday as well. I wasn’t as exited as Angel though. These kinds of roses, in these colors are my most favorite ones.









Now, a little progress report on my curtain under Angel’s bed. It looks.., well colorful. Every morning before I take her to nursery, she picks the colors for next row. That makes her feel a very important person, she’s the designer.

My ripple blanket is growing as well. Maybe not as fast as I would like it to, but we’re getting somewhere.

Have a very nice evening.
Clara

Angels room makeover

When I found out our temporary living here is becoming more permanent, that I originally thought, I was very upset and homesick. After while I decided it`ll be better to occupy my mind with something creative. Thanks to my Grandma I always crocheted, knitted and cross stitched, so I started to make our home more homely. With help of my little Angel, I started with dressing up her room into brighter colours.

In one Charity store I found pink Manchester Curtains-150cm x 250cm, 2 pieces, together cost me around £3. I had to buy it.
On first pillowcase I put Union Jack, using ribbons and left over cotton fabric I found at home.
I put hearts on second pillowcase. I found very nice hart shapes in Angels colouring books- just copy it on fabric and saw on pillowcase-using bits of fabric from home supplies.
Third pillowcase was more my cup of my tea, since I’m not master of the needle. Again a Union Jack motive, I bought a crochet pattern I liked from Ravelry.
The pattern for "V-stitch" blanket I found on Sucrette blog and it turned out beautifully. Not exactly my choice of colours, since I’m rather conservative, but my little Angel put them together, the way she likes it. After all who am I? - Her room, her choice.

I was so excited working with that pink fabric, that I sewed curtains under Angels bed from it as well. It provides nice storage space for toys (she’s got to have some special spell to make the toys multiply over night, I don’t understand where we got so many) and it looks different than all the curtains you can buy. I secured them with Velcro, so they can be washed. For the opening we came up with something special. At first I like to put strings of crochet balls or pom-poms there, but I figured out, that wouldn`t be safe or practical enough. On Ravelry I found some squares, adjusted them little bit to my needs, crocheted them together, and now I’m working on it. Originally they should be only pink, but on the picture below, as you can see, I was outvoted again. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

My Angel didn’t like to get rid of her baby chair, so I tried to dress it up little. That pink fabric seems to be endless. The round chair is standard Ikea model - I cover it with crochet circle shape with little flowers.

This picture is little bit “tired” already, but my Dad brought it to me from one of his business trip to Paris, when I was around five years old, just like Angel is now. So it’s got special place in her room.

What to say now? Just thank you Lucy from Attic24 for a fantastic tutorial - "Happy flower decoration".

This picture is from my crosstitching days. We all need some sort of protection sometimes.

After I saw so many beautiful ripple blankets, I had to start one by myself. Yes I’m not that adventurous with colours, but so far I like it.

Thank you for visiting and reading. I like to show you along the way, that there isn’t only Prague or Vienna in this part of the World, but many other interesting places in the countryside, lovely towns and people who are trying to keep up the old traditions even in these busy modern days. I will keep you posted as often as I can.

Bye bye for now. See you soon.

Clara