The owl and the pussycat

Its been a another busy week. I've been working on a design commission for lets knit magazine. I can't show you any pictures till its in the mag but I am very happy that my first patterns to be featured in a magazine are some of the cutest creatures I've ever created :)
 I was also lucky enough to be asked to write about blogging for lets knit and after worrying about what to write for a few days I sat down and got my thoughts on paper and wrote my little article. It left me feeling a bit mushy about my blog and my readers so I thought I'd give you all a little treat in this weeks post.

After all that work that I can't post pics about I didn't really have anything to show for my week of work so last night I decided to write a new free pattern :)

 These little mini owls are really cute and quick to make.

i owl pattern

You will need

DK weight yarn one multicolour and one plain to match

3.5mm crochet hook

Wool needle

Toy stuffing

Scraps of felt

Felting needle

Long pins

Abbreviations

St Stitches (this is shown at the end of every row so you know how many stitches you should have at the end of the round)

CH chain

SS slip stitch

SC single crochet

HDC half double crochet

DC double crochet

INC single crochet increase (2 single crochet into the stitch)

DEC single crochet decrease (single crochet the next 2 stitches together by inserting yarn into the next stitch, draw through a loop, insert hook into the next stitch, draw through a loop, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook) *I like to give the yarn a little tug after doing this stitch to make sure the decrease is nice and tight which is important cause these guys are so little*

() around Brackets show an action that is to be repeated .

Owl body

This is worked in a spiral; use a contrasting piece of yarn as a row marker so you know when you have got to the end of the row.

Start with your plain coloured yarn

Row 1 – Start with 6SC into ring                6St

Row 2 – (INC) around                                  12St

Row 3 – (1SC, INC) around                         18St

Row 4 –  (INC, 2SC) around                        24St

Row 5 – (INC, 3SC) around                         30St Change colour to your multi coloured yarn now

Row 6 – (SC) around                                    30St

Row 7 – (SC) around                                    30St

Row 8 – (SC) around                                    30St

Row 9 – (DEC, 3SC) around                         24St

Row 10 – 1SC (DEC, 2SC) around, 1SC         18St

Row 11 – (1SC, DEC) around                         12St *Stuff your toy now*

Row 12 – (DEC) around                                  6St

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Using a wool needle weave the yarn through the last 6 Stitches and pull tight to close. Weave in yarn ends and cut off remaining yarn.

Wings

Make 2 using 3.5mm crochet hook

This is worked along the front and back of a foundation chain so your chain becomes the centre of the wing.

Ch 5

SS in 2^nd Ch from hook, SC, HDC, 3DC in last chain from hook

Turn and work along the back of the chain

HDC, SC, SS to join into your first stitch

Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and pull through loop to secure.

Sew the wings onto the owl’s body at the line where your yarn changes colour. One on each side

Weave in any loose ends and cut of remaining yarn.

Cut circles out of felt to make the eyes and attach to the body with a felting needle (you can sew or glue if you don’t have a felting needle)

Cut a small triangle of felt for the beak and attach in the same way between the eyes.

That’s you mini owl finished  happy crocheting 

In kitten news they are all doing wonderfully. Last time around I had trouble getting them onto solid food and toilet training but this lot have done it all with no bother at all. My little fave was very taken with my little owls

 Mummy checking up on the situation.

Not quite like the poem I'm afraid my pussycat killed the owl :)

Its my favourite time of week, its handmade monday time again. I'm gonna have a cuppa and catch up on the lovely crafters blogs why not join me :)

3 and a half weeks

The kittens are now 3 and a half weeks old their personality's are starting to come through and its time for me to start finding them lovely forever homes. I have 2 boys and 4 girls and now Cals older kittens are growing up its easy to see these kittens are gonna be more Bengal than tabby.

Remember little Sheldon well just look at him now

He is such a beautiful boy and he's getting huge.

and just a reminder here he is with mum Cal.
 Now for the new batch :)

 One little girl

 One grumpy little girl

 Bundle O kittens somewhere in this pile of cuteness is the 2 boys and 2 of the girls.

 This little man is gonna be the pick of the litter. He is the biggest and is colouring is going to be like a silver Bengal he is absolutely gorgeous and whoever takes him home is going to be very lucky.

My favourite :) this little girl is the outcast of the group and tends to spend most of the time looking worried and incredibly cute at the corner of their box as a result she gets the most cuddles so I think shes on to something. She will be leaving home last. I will do the same as last time and stagger when the kittens leave home. this makes it less stressful on Cal and it helps give the ones who need a bit of extra confidence time to find their feet.
 I haven't given them any temp names yet so if anyone can think of any let me know. Also if you want to offer a forever home to one of these lovelies email me at lizduttons@live.com