The Great Dandelion Harvest of 2013

With a final break in the weather on Sundays it was time for the great dandelion harvest of 2013. 

I had already set away two demijons of dandelion wine last week as I do annually, but decided i couldnt let such a huge crop go to waste. Although I still have dandelion stain under my nails I was able to pick enough blossoms to create infused oil, dandilion tincture and some liqueur, before john went mad with the mower.

I haven't yet decided whether to turn the oil in to ointment or leave as a liquid when it is ready, but I will add it to my marigold tincture and comfrey ointment in the home remedies kit.

Making herbal remedies is one of the things I love doing, I am not sure why I haven't done many since moving here, time mostly I think, but I am now back on form.

This Year's Spring Lambs

It is always a joy when the farm next door lets the first of the lambs into the paddock behind us. They spend there first days here before being moved to the more open fields.

The fence is only a few feet from one of the lounge windows allowing you to get really close to them.

As much as I like the taste of meat, seeing the animals so closely does make you think twice.

Orkney produces fantastic meats and is sold locally in the butchers and restaurants, a lamb or a calf you have fawned over could in all likelihood end up on your plate in a few months.

I have attached a couple of short videos I took of the sweeties for you to fawn over too. enjoy !!

Crocheted Fox Brooch Tutorial

Here is my tutorial for a fox brooch that I have been working recently.

 I created a teeny tiny pin tutorial a few weeks a go, but wanted something a little bigger to wear attached to a cardigan or scarf, and came up with this. Hope you all like it.

For this tutorial you will need brown, white and black yarns, I have used dk weight and a 3mm hook, but you could use any size yarn and use and appropriate size needle, e.g if using american worsted weight you could use a 4mm hook but your fox will be a little larger.

I have also used UK terms through the tutorial, so:
double crochet (dc) is US single crochet, half treble (htr) is US half double crochet, treble (tr) is US double crochet.

Slip stitch: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Double crochet: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
Half treble: Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.
Treble: Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hooks.

To Begin: Create a magic ring, sometimes known as a magic circle. 

There is a great video tutorial on how to do this Here.
Make sure to create a slip stitch when making your magic ring.

                                                             Make 6 dc into ring.
                                  Pull your circle mostly closed but not over tightening,
                                                     do not join with a sl st here.

Make 2 dc into the top of each of the 6 dc you made in the first round 

without joining at the end of the round. Finish by tightening the magic ring.

Make 1 dc in the first st, then 2 dc in the second st. Repeat this 5 times.

 (You should have 18 stitches at the end of the round)

As we are working in a continuous spiral rather than in separate circles,

 be sure not to miss the first stitch on each round as it can be a little smaller.

 If in doubt use a stitch marker, and count your stitches at the end of each round.

Make 2 dc in first st, and 1 dc in each of the next 2 sts. Repeat 5 times.

(You should have 24 stitches at the end of the round)

Make 1 dc in next st, and 2 htr in the following st.

Make 2 htr in each of the next 2 sts.

Make 1dc in next stitch, then 2 htr in each of the following 3 sts.

Make 1 dc in each of the next 7 sts.

Make 1 dc and 1 htr in the next st.

Make 1 htr in the next st.

Make 1 htr and 1 dc in the next st.

Make 1 dc in each of the next 6 sts. End of round.

(You should have 32 sts at the end of this round)

Make 1 dc in first 2 sts, and 1 htr in following st.

(Be sure not to miss the first, often tiny stitch on the round)

Make 2 htr in each of the next 2 sts.

Make 1 htr in the next st, then 1 dc in the following 3 sts.

Make 1 htr in next st, then 2 htr in each of the following 2 sts.

Make 1 htr in next st, then 1 dc in each of the following 2 sts.

In the next st, make 1 dc switching to your white yarn.

Make 1 sl st, in each of the next 4 sts.

Make 1 dc in the next st, switching to your black yarn.

(I leave the coloured yarns I am not working with attached,

 just leave some slack when re-attaching them for later snipping and sewing in.)

Make 1 dc in next st, 1 htr in following st, then 1 dc in the st following that.

In the next st, make 1 dc switching back to white.

Using your white yarn, make 1 sl st in each of the next 5 sts.

Make 1 sl st in the next st, switching back to brown, then 1 dc in the following st.

(End of round. You should have 36 stitches)

Make 1 dc in each of the first 4 sts.

Make both 1 htr and 1 tr in the next st.

Make both 1 tr and 1 htr in next st.

Make 1 dc in next st, 1 sl st in each of the next 4 stitches, then 1dc in the following st.

Make 1 htr and 1 tr in the next st.

Make 1 tr and 1 htr in the next st.

Make 1 dc in each of the next 4 sts.

In the next stitch make 1 sl st in brown, 

then in the following stitch make 1 sl st switching to the white yarn.

We are going to use the back loops only for these white stitches.

Sl st in the back loops only, in each of the next 5 stitches.

Using both loops of the next stitch, make a sl st switching to the black yarn.

Carry on using both loops of the next few stitches.

Make 1 sl st and 1 dc in the next st.

1 htr in next st.

In next stitch make 1 dc and 1 sl st switching over to white yarn.

Sl st through both loops of next st.

Sl st through back loops only of the next 5 stitches switching to brown yarn.

Sl st through both loops of each of the next 2 stitches. Fasten off.

Sew in your ends and block if needed (I haven't), rinse and repeat to make a second one.

Then it is purely personal preference. I have attached a brooch pin to one half and 2 vintage buttons from Nana's buttons tin to the other, before lightly stuffing and whip stitching together.

You could also use this pattern as an embellishment, keyring etc.

Thank you for visiting my tutorial, I hope you like it and find it useful.
 If you wish to do so you can also find me on Ravelry, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Also linking up to the following link parties:

http://www.craft-o-maniac.com              http://www.huckleberrylove.com              http://www.the-chicken-chick.com 

http://madincrafts.com                                   http://www.sewcando.com                        http://jembellish.blogspot.co.uk
http://makingtheworldcuter.com            http://saynotsweetanne.com                     http://www.ablossominglife.com
http://www.thisgalcooks.com           http://www.skiptomylou.org               http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net
http://nap-timecreations.com               http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.co.uk          http://www.thegunnysack.com
http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com       http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.co.uk    http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
http://ladybug-blessings.com        http://memoriesbythemile.com        http://hodgepodgecraft.com
 http://www.chef-in-training.com