This is a great stash buster, especially if you’ve made my other creations such as the passport cover and cup huggers. Its also a great little holiday project that crochets up so quick, could do whilst at the airport, in the car or even whilst sunbathing!!

YOU WILL NEED

3 balls of Knitcraft ‘In the Zone’ (3 different colours used are pink, turquoise and orange)

5.5mm Crochet hook

Scissors

Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS

Ch- chain

dc- double crochet

Htr- half treble

Tr- treble crochet

Headband

Chain 9
Dc into each chain (8)
Row 1- Tr (8)
Change yarn colour
Row 2-50 Tr (8)
Changing yarn colour as desired to create stripe/block pattern or if preferred can keep as one solid colour.
Fasten off and Tie a knot at the centre and then close/stitch the ends together to make the headband.
Using a tapestry needle, weave in any loose yarn ends.

 

It’s the small things that can make so much difference and these summer essentials are the ideal project that are quick and easy but so effective.
Take away the holiday hassles of rummaging around bag contents to find your passport with this snazzy crochet passport cover and whilst on your travels, why not crochet up a stylish matching knot headband.

YOU WILL NEED
3 balls of Knitcraft ‘In the Zone’ (3 different colours used are pink, turquoise and orange)
5.5mm Crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS
Ch- chain
dc- double crochet
Htr- half treble
Tr- treble crochet

HOW TO MAKE
Passport cover
There is tapestry crochet in this design, follow the chart below for where to change yarn colour. Need to bring in different yarn colour when pulling yarn through to finish tr on previous and last stitches.
Chain 43
Double crochet (dc) into each chain (42)
Row 1- Htr (42)
Row 2- htr (42)
Row 3- Htr until 15th stitch, bring in different yarn colour, pull through to finish Htr and then Htr for 2 stitches and on third htr bring in main colour to close htr. Continue to end of row.
Row 4- 12 Follow the pattern using htr as graph below
Row 13- htr (42)
Row 14- htr (42)

To make panel into a sleeve cover for passport, fold the panel ends back (approx. eight chains either side top and bottom) and stitch along top and bottom edge to create an envelope for passport ends to slot into.

Using yarn from each colour, cut off lengths 130cm approx., feed the yarns through the front edge at centre to half the yarn length to create 6 yarn ends. Separate yarn ends into two’s and then plait the yarn until approx. 10cm from end and then knot to create a tassel effect.

YOU WILL NEED
3 balls of Knitcraft ‘In the Zone’ (3 different colours used are pink, turquoise and orange) or any other preferred yarn of Aran weight
5/5.5mm Crochet hook
Scissors
Tapestry needle

ABBREVIATIONS
Ch- chain
Htr- half treble
Tr- treble crochet

HOW TO MAKE
There is tapestry crochet in this design, follow the chart below for where to change yarn colour. Need to bring in different yarn colour when pulling yarn through to finish Htr on previous and last stitches.
Chain 24
Row 1- Half treble crochet (Htr) into each chain (24)
Row 2- Start Increase- 2 Htr, Htr until 11th stitch, bring in different yarn colour, pull through to finish Htr and then Htr for 1 stitch and on second htr bring in main colour to close htr. Continue to end of row, 2 Htr in last stitch (26)
Row 3- 2 Htr, Htr (repeat above), 2 Htr (28)
Rows 4- 8 Follow the graph pattern using Htr as graph below

 

It’s been a year or so since I started to reduce our household plastic waste and make general changes to live more sustainably. It’s not been easy and still no where near where I’d like to be but sometimes just small changes can make a big difference and more of an impact than perhaps we think.

Still doing all the initial changes such as the glass bottle milk delivery, reusable cups/drinking bottles, bamboo toothbrushes (though now sourced without plastic packaging!) And reusable shopping bags.

Bathroom is still not completely plastic free much to my annoyance but just left with items that we rarely use and have had for years so it’s taking a while to get through. However, I’m using shampoo bars, soap, facial wash bar, traditional razor and facial rounds to remove make-up etc… As well as sustainable eco reusable sanitary products and converted to ‘who gives a crap’ toilet paper which comes wrapped in paper. So the changes are happening and will hopefully be plastic free in the near future.

Haven’t used cling film since starting the plastic free journey, only using beeswax wraps that I sell and also produce bags to keep items fresh/covered. Even making our own bread in a bread maker rather than buying it covered in plastic and have also reinstated our veg box delivery depending when can afford, though there’s many options out there, such as wonky veg that maybe the big supermarkets won’t accept.

However, since January we acquired our very own allotment, so can now grow our own produce of staple vegetables throughout the year which we will hopefully reap the rewards of in the coming months. Living the proper good life, though it’s not been an easy venture! There’s a lot of hard graft and maintenance involved.

My biggest bug bear or one of I should say, is food shopping and children’s items in particular, so much is covered in plastic. Yogurts, drinks/squash, cheeses, crisps and all the things kids love and parents hate but tend to give in to. I’m still struggling with this and also meat packaging or vegetarian options such as Quorn in the freezer section all come in plastic. I could take my own packaging to a butchers or deli counter, make my own crisps, yogurt or squash but with a family, time is precious and I struggle to manage my day as it is, that it adds in yet another element to make the journey harder than it should be but hope that options become available and more accessible for families or anyone for that matter to avoid the over consumed society we have become accustomed to.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• 5mm Hook
• Tapestry Needle
• Aran yarn

ABBREVIATIONS:

DC- Double Crochet
TR- Treble/Triple Crochet
SS- Slip Stitch

HOW TO MAKE:

Chain 6 into a magic ring
ROW 1- DC2 (12)
ROW 2- DC1, DC2 (18)
ROW 3- DC (18)*
ROW 4 to 9- Loop Crochet DC (18)
Slip stitch and tie off
SHEEP FACE
Chain 4 and slip stitch into 1st Chain
TR into centre of circle 11 times
Slip Stitch into top of 1st TR and tie off
Using a tapestry needle stitch the face onto the egg cosy sheep body and add some ears using the same yarn, then change yarn to add the eyes and nose detail
*Recommend adding a stitch marker in at this point

During the holidays we booked on the Crazy Claymation at Let’s Animate in Fargo village, Coventry.

Wasn’t sure what to expect or if Dude would like it or co-operate given the latest phase of 6yr attitude!! But we had the most fantastic time creating our models, story and then having a go at stop frame animation.

It was a resounding hit and two weeks on the clay models which you get to keep are still pride of place on the living room mantle place (if you can call it that as not really that posh, more a mock fireplace that sits centrally in the room!) Or maybe I’ve just not got round to tidying up but anyway we were super proud of our efforts and would highly recommend to anyone in the local area or further even.

A few months ago I wrote about some of the small changes I’d made to reduce our household plastic and the initial steps but what would be the next actions to implement now that we’d managed to comfortably convert them into our everyday life.

To recap on the first five changes:

1. Changing to a glass bottle milk delivery

2. Bamboo tooth brushes

3. Reusable cups and bottles

4. Reusable shopping bags

5. Using disposable or biodegradable options for parties or entertaining and paper straws

All the above changes we’ve hardly noticed the change but it can be frustrating in some places who haven’t quite converted when I’m asking to use my bamboo cup instead of there takeaway cups.

Here’s how we progressed onto the next five in the mission to reduce our plastic waste:

6. Reusable sanitary products and wipes- so many options out there to suit everyone from moon cups, biodegradable options and also reusable much like cloth nappies but sanitary towels that can be washed and reused each period

7. There’s also cloth wipes for kids (and adults) but also found biodegradable versions from Mum and You.

8. Reusable night time nappies- Squidge is still in night time nappies at the moment as a recent bout of chicken pox seems to have set us back where we were having some dry nights but not since, so opting for reusable nappies from Close- POP IN until we are ready.

9. Bees wax wraps- alternative food wrap to replace cling film and foil. Great for wrapping up the kids sandwich’s also. I’ve gone into making my own and am now selling these, having done a Fayre and plan to do others too.

10. Cotton ear buds with paper sticks or can get with wood. As with most eco sustainable products they are currently more expensive but supply and demand! The more people buying, more demand hopefully the price will come down with larger quantities being bought and even better would be the big companies getting on board with replacing the plastic ones.

Next on the agenda is Home products such as antibacterial sprays- my kitchen spray is almost run out but plan to reuse the bottle rather than chuck it into recycling and make my own spray. Found a few good recipes to follow so watch this space and I can use the homegrown rosemary from my garden and most of the ingredients I have already so reasonably inexpensive.

And another planned change but not done yet is Hair and body products- I don’t want to unnecessarily throw out the plastic bottles I already have as that defeats the object and becomes more wasteful but feel this is the next big area to reduce plastic and convert to soap bar options instead where possible. Lush have a great range and packaging free too.

Since reducing all these areas, our general waste does seem less overall and with home composting, the bins have been less overflowing but have then started to notice more now the packaging of my food. Do I convert to a butcher, baker and candle stick maker? Well maybe not the latter but the others maybe! Back on the search engine to research what to do next…

Oh the joys of toilet training! I was very lucky with Dude in that he went to nursery full time so they did the bulk of it but obviously we started it at home when he was showing the signs at ditching nappies but this time I’m on my own, apart from the one day at nursery, it’s Squidge and I on this jolly journey.

One thing I’d say is always wait until they are ready, don’t force it. With Dude I did this and to this day we’ve only ever had one wet bed at night in the last 3 years. So always go at their pace, don’t think ok they’re the right age so let’s do it now, every child is different. Look for signs such as taking own nappy off, mimicking family members on the toilet and saying that they need or have done a wee or poo, to name a few of the signs.

Here’s some tips I’ve found invaluable. It’s hard and I’ll openly admit it reduced me to tears and don’t expect it to happen instantly, it may take a few weeks or months of failed starts as although they are ready, there is resistance and still need guidance through this adventure. The right time will come when they’re ready and when they do it may only take a few days to crack it.

TIPS

No.1 POTTY/TOILET SEAT

Let them choose and/or decorate their potty or training seat with stickers. I bought both potties at around 6months old, so that they got used to having it around and having been told what it is for, they get acquainted with it’s purpose. It seems early and be prepared for it to be used as a toy, storage or headwear! But when the time comes its not then an unfamiliar object thrust upon them.

I also took the potty into nursery for the first few days or as long as it was needed, for some familiarity in other locations outside of home.

Having more than one is a good idea also, one upstairs and one downstairs or to take out and about so there is no sense of panic that one is not around when needed.

No.2 KNICKERS, PANTS, UNDERCRACKERS AND KNICKKNACKS

Take them shopping to choose there own knickers/pants. It gives them some ownership over the process. Putting them into the drawer at a level they can reach and knowing where they are. Let them choose what they want to wear, limit choice if it becomes difficult selecting a few pairs to pick from instead.

No.3 REWARDS

Offer a reward for each wee to start with and again when they are ready to do poos on the potty/toilet too. I did a treat out of a reward jar (a small chocolate) each time they did a wee/poo and then could add a sticker in a special potty book I bought to mark each occasion I.e I wore big pants today, washed my hands, asked for the potty etc… Choose something that works for you and your child, can be anything to give an incentive. Gradually they don’t even think about the reward once the process becomes second nature.

No.4 YOU LOOKING AT ME!

Distraction to start with is a good idea such as watching something or going through a book to take their minds off sitting on the potty /toilet and relaxing. Creating a zone/special area for privacy is good as well so not everyone is staring. Heard the term stage fright?!

No. 5 PEE PEE IN THE POTTY

Make it fun and don’t panic or stress (easier said than done!) Create a little song and dance if needed. We had a wee wee dance and waved saying our goodbyes when it went down the toilet. Bonkers I know but it’s all about praising, making it fun and not being scared. There will be accidents, possibly even poo on the floor as happened in my case (not me literally but Squidge on day 2 on toilet training) but need to stay calm, take them to the potty or toilet to finish if needed and remind them it’s not the right place to go, remember we do wee’s or poo’s on the potty/toilet.

No.6 NIGHT NIGHT SLEEP TIGHT

Tackle toilet training for the daytime only to start with, stick with night nappies for bed but getting them used to trying to have a wee before bedtime as part of their night time routine. Only attempt leaving nappies off at bedtime when you have a good few nights of dry nappies in the morning, maybe even a week to ensure they are ready to sleep through the night without anything.

Every child is there own person, so do what’s best for them. These tips are what worked best for me and my two scamps but hopefully they can help to make someone else’s journey from nappy to toilet.

We’ve probably all seen the mass of plastic that’s invading the sea and felt touched by what we saw when we watched Blue Planet. Like most, I felt a huge sense of shock and wondered what changes we could make as a family to lessen our impact.

In my late teens and twenties I used to enjoy water sports including surfing, even though I was terrible at it but from this interest I became a member of the Surfers against Sewage based in Cornwall, they are hugely active and have been for many years in reducing the pollution that enters our seas. A keen photographer I took some pictures back then (over 10-15years ago) of some of the plastic items that wash up on our coastline as image above but didn’t think about it in long term as you don’t when your in your twenties.

As my life took different turns I became uninvolved but it’s made me think again with all the recent media coverage about our footprint on this world.

I can’t make big changes but even if I start with a few changes and gradually introduce more new ways of living that don’t impact on our environment.

Here’s my Top 5 changes that I’ve converted to so far:

No.1 Bamboo/recyclable cup- some chains are offering an incentive for bringing your own cup such as Costa but for those that are yet to change, I’m bringing my cup wherever I go when indulging in a takeaway brew (which is a rare occurrence) but also good at doubling up for when taking a journey anywhere and want to keep that whistle wet!

No.2 Changing to Milk bottles. I’ve now got a milk delivery that comes to my house. It’s not so cost effective and will incur an increase to our monthly bills which is the only downside and possibly it may be hard to judge with a family of four how much we require. There may be rations! but it’s reducing some of my recycling, though the plastic ones are better at being recycled as long as guidelines are followed as what is and isn’t recyclable, which would be good to have more information readily available.

No.3 Recyclable Toothbrushes. I’ve bought bamboo/wooden ones for all the family. Bought them from Amazon

No.4 Shopping bags. I’ve changed my online food shop to be bag free which saves some money and have got some bags which i carry with me for those items when out and about. I’ve put one in the car to always ensure there’s one available. Just need to remember to take it in the shop now!

No.5 Paper straws and biodegradable plates/cutlery or reusable. Kids love a straw but I’ve avoided plastic ones for some time and have opted for paper ones but there are some great reusable ones too made of bamboo, silicone to name a few options. If you’re having a party or BBQ, paper plates are great but can get palm leaf options also as well as wooden cutlery if prefer to dispose. Otherwise, our good old kitchenware does the job but that involves washing up!

These are only small changes and would love to do more but converting one step at a time. It’s great to see the big companies starting to makes changes also. I’d definitely say it’s best to gradually make changes to get used to new methods and routines, so as not be completely overwhelmed and in big areas like food packaging, it would seem that there is work being done behind the scenes to improve which means part of the work to convert is done for us. After all as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Next step, get my compost bin for the garden so we can dispose of some of our food items at home rather than binning.

I’d also highly recommend cloth nappies, they’ve come such a long way since I was a baby in terry towelling towels and it’s so much easier. I have to admit i did a mixture of both with Squidge but wish I could have done it fully but convenience for everyone has to play a part. However, I’m now in the process of potty training (upcoming post on that soon) so nappies are almost over and going to source biodegradable wipes or reusable whilst we’re still are at that stage of mucky hands, faces and bums!

Something to also consider converting is sanitary items for the monthly’s, time of the month, when the painters are in and whatever else we like to call it in order to not have to shout it out blatantly that we’re on our period.

Watch this space for the next steps…

Craft months starting with the first letter of that month is ongoing but not forgotten, it can be hard to get motivated and I keep leaving it to the end of each month to get creative as have so many other projects on the go, as well as the usual life admin.

However, it is fun trying out something new and have a huge appreciation for those who have the ability to do these crafts to such a high standard, it truly is amazing what can be created. Practice really does make perfect, alongside some natural talent.

March was the month of Macrame, my attempt was brief and unfortunately only had time to try out a few knots to create a wall hanging. I’d also planned on doing a plant holder, which I may still do when that spare five minutes arises.

It was quite therapeutic once I got started but did take some brain power to figure out the knots as was following images rather than any tutorials which may be an easier option in hindsight.

The string I’d bought though recommended for Macrame was quite thick so hung stiffer than I’d envisaged but overall not a bad first attempt.