Granny Stripe Owl - Pattern Free Download

Granny Stripe Owl Pattern - Free Pattern

Materials: Stylecraft ‘Special’ Double knit.

Colours:

Col 1: Border colour, wings and tail.

Col 2 and 3:  for body

Col 4: for the beak

Col 5:  Eye centre.

Col 6: Eye outer colour

2 buttons for eyes.

Hook Size:  4.5mm

Abbreviations:

Chain - ch

Double Crochet – dc

Treble Crochet – tr

Single Crochet – sc

The main body of the owl is worked in treble clusters.

Instructions:

Base of Tail:

With Col 1:

Make 6ch,  

In 2^nd ch from hk make a 3 trbcl, *5 ch, sk 1 ch. 3trbcl into next chain, Rep from * once more. Do not fasten off.

Body:

Turn work upside down. Work as follows into the unused loops of the beginning chain.

Row 1:             With Col 2, ch 1, 2 dc into 1^st lp, 1 dc into next lp, 3 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next lp, and 2 dc in last loop. (9dc). Turn.

Row 2:            Beg trbcl into 1^st dc, * ch 1, sk 1 dc, trbcl into next dc. Rep from * to end. ( 5 trbcl including beg trbcl.) Change colour on the last stroke of the trbcl to alternate colour of body. Turn.

Row 3:            Ch3, * trbcl into 1 ch space, ch 1. Rep from * three more times, 1 tr into top of last trbcl from Row 2. ( 4 trcl). Change colour on the last stroke of the tr. Turn.

Row 4:            Beg trbcl into tr,  * ch 1, sk 1 dc, trbcl into next 1 ch sp. Rep from * twice more, ch 1, trbcl into 3ch space. ( 5 trbcl including beg trbcl.) Change colour on the last stroke of the trbcl to alternate colour of body. Turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4  four more times. (11 rows of clusters)

Border

Row 1:          With Col1 – from tail, make 1 dc evenly around the body of the owl, making two dc in each corner to ease, 1 dc in each of the chains in tail. It is important to keep the dcs evenly as you should be able to get two dc’s in each of the sides of the trbcl rows.

Join to first dc with sl st.

Row 2:            In this row you will make the ears.

Ch 1, 1 dc into same space as joining, 1 dc into each dc from prev round, making 2 dc in each corner dc. Continue until you reach the stitch just before the corner of the ear, and work as follows: ch, 1 trbcl into dc, 2 ch, 1 trbcl into same dc, ch 1, continue with dc until the next ear.

Continue round, and joining with sl st into first dc. Fasten off.

Wings:

In Colour 1, join col into dc in line with base of third row of body and work as follows:

Row 1:             Work 1 beg trb cl into 1 dc, * ch 1, sk 1 dc, trbcl into next dc. Rep from * twice more. (4 trb cl including beg trbcl.) Turn.

Row 2:            Work 1 beg trbcl into 1^st trb cl, *ch 5, 1 trcl into 1 ch space. Rep from * twice more, 5 ch, 1trbcl into last trb cluster. Fasten off.

 Repeat for other side of Owl being careful to match alignment of wing.

Eyes:

Make two the same:

With colour no 6, Chain 5, join with sl st to form a ring.

Row 1:             Make Make 9 dc into ring. Join with sl st to first dc, changing colour in the sl st.

Row 2:            Ch1, 1 dc into same ch as joining, * 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into each of the next 2 dc, Rep from * once more, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into last dc. Join with sl st to first dc.

Row 3:            Ch1, 1 dc into same ch as joining, * 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into each of the next 3 dc, Rep from * once more, 2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into each of the next 2 dc. Join with sl st to first dc. Fasten off.

 Beak:

Make 7 ch.

Row 1:             1 dc into 2^nd chain from hook, 1 dc into each ch to end. (6 dc) Turn.

Row 2              Ch 1 (counts as a dc), skip next dc, 1 dc into each dc to end) (5 dc).

Repeat Row 2, decreasing 1 st on each row until only 1 st remains.

Fasten off.

Making up:

Sew in all ends.

Sew on the eyes and the beak positioning as per the picture.

Make Ear tufts using weaving in ends made into little tassels and sewing

to the front of the ears.

Block carefully under steam paying attention to the wings and tail. Pin out if necessary. 

Crocheted Granny Stripe Owl

I have recently been admiring 'Owls'.  I have been noticing knitted owls, crocheted owls, some beautiful fabric owls and applique owls.  I have bought Greetings cards and wrapping paper with adorable 'Owl' designs.  I am not sure what style you would call them.  'Folk Owls?'  'Arts and Crafts Owls?'  'You Catch My Drift Owls?'  I wanted to make a 'Crocheted Granny Stripe Owl'.  This is my second attempt.  I whipped  her up this morning.  It is amazing how much mess one little owl can make, I have yarn ends and buttons all over the place.  I do think she is rather cute though.  I tried to write the 'pattern' as I went along so will attempt to post that later.

  

Blue Cheese Scones

I have blogged recipes for:
Lemonade-scones,  Ginger-beer Scones,  Cheese Scones and Cheese-and-Beer Scones.  I thought I had pretty much done 'The Scone' thing for a while, until I blogged my recipe for Pear-and-Vanilla-Butter.  It was suggested it would be delicious spread on 'Blue Cheese Scones'.  I have never heard of Blue Cheese scones so I went back to the Lemonade Scone recipe and adapted it to use Soda Water and  some creamy, crumbly Blue Shropshire Cheese.  So much easier and quicker than rubbing the butter and flour together and you get a lovely light textured scone.  I chose Blue Shropshire cheese over Stilton as Blue Shropshire has a wonderful golden colour.  They were easy peasy to make and I have just indulged with with some butter and Pear and Vanilla Butter.  What a great taste combination.

 
Ingredients
350g of Self Raising Flour
170ml of Soda Water
170ml of Double Cream
200g of Blue Shropshire Cheese, grated
Salt to taste

Method
Put the flour, salt and cheese (save some of the cheese for sprinkling on top of the scones) into a large bowl.  Mix the cream and the soda water together then add it to the flour and cheese mixture.  Mix quickly and lightly to make a soft sticky dough.  Turn the dough out onto a floured board.  Press the mixture out to about 2cm thick and cut into scones.  Place on a tin covered with baking parchment.  Sprinkle the scones with the remaining cheese and bake in a medium hot oven for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown.
(They smell fantastic while they bake and are delicious warm).

My First Blog Award

I do not really understand Blog Awards but I do know it is a kind gesture and it was nice to receive my first one from 'Bunny Mummy' .  Bunny Mummy's blog is a very pretty place to go with lots of beautiful crochet work.  Thank you for nominating me.  I think as part of this award I need to tell you 10 spectacular things about myself that you would not already know,  hmmm.  Here goes then:
 
1)     My home town was the home town of Led Zeppelin's Drummer John Bonham.  (I think that is cool).

2)     My favourite Film is 'Educating Rita'.  ( It makes me cry!)

3)     I have Kissed John Taylor from Duran Duran!  (I was about twelve and kissed him on the cheek.  He is the one in the middle.  How dapper did they look!)

4)     I have got my name in the acknowledgements section of a book.
        (The book is about 'Glastonbury Festival').

5)     I have eaten lunch at the top of the CN tower.

6)     I have also been to the Grand Canyon in thick thick fog!

7)     I saw Bill Clinton Jogging in Washington DC with all of his security, he was jogging I most definitely   wasn't, I have also been in 'The Whitehouse'. ( That's two but they are kind of connected and they are all pretty lame so I will throw in one extra for free.  lol)

8)     At school I was a prefect and in the choir!

9)      I have won three separate prizes for cooking or recipes in my lifetime.

10)    I can impersonate 'Olive Oyl' from Popeye ( I can also do an impersonation of 'Tweetie Pie').

  Shame I can't show you really beause you would see how talented I am!

I would like to give this award to the following Blogs they belong to my blog buddies near and far
You are the bestest blog buddies a girl could wish for:

Teresa Kasner  This site is like popping round to a friends for a natter, sharing daily life, craft, gardening and a busy family life with beautiful photographs.  I love the two way communication with Teresa.

Tickety-boo  This site has a range of quality craft posts, crochet, knitting, felting, button making and stain glass design, it is written in a fun, down to earth style by a busy Mom with great ideas and a brilliant outlook on life.

Mimis Mommy  Life as a busy Mom in India, this site is a joy.

ChalkyGilbert.blogspot.com  This site gives you the feel good factor, so many nice projects often for other people, very inspiriational and uplifting. 

Sheep, Spinach and Strawberries  I always look forward to the posts on this site, the recipes are practical and tasty with a touch of the exotic.  The photographs are always fantastic too.  I particularly love the sheep.

Lally Lou-Lou  This site is always a pleasure to pop in to, lots of crafting and gardening eye candy from another busy Mom.

Eggbird Designs  This site is great.  The Design ideas are fantastic and innovative it is a very upbeat place to visit.

Tatknitcat.blogspot.com  I love this site, it is updated regularly with a wide range of crafts completed to an exceptionally high standard.  I also enjoy the Garden photographs and cute cat photographs.

Bobby la  Robyne is incredibly talented in Needlework,knitting and more.  This is a very inspirational site and it is written with great humour and humility.

Scratch and Peck  The true adventures of a small flock of hens and 'some other critters', written by a talented illustrator.  This blog makes me laugh.  The illustrated stories are a joy.  I have recently really enjoyed 'Where's Marky?'

Saggy Bottom - Advice Needed Please

This is one of my current 'Work in Progress' projects.  An Attic 24 style Crochet Bag.  It is very colourful and will be perfect for 'Summer Glamping'.  There is just one problem, it has a rather saggy bottom.  Do you think this will sort itself out?  If you have ever made one or something similar I would be grateful for some advice/reassurance.  I intend to use cotton to line it when it is finished but I think the bottom may sag away from the lining.  I cannot possibly go Glamping with a saggy bottom.  Your advice would be appreciated thank you. 

Rice that is Twice as Nice...

I am trying very hard to waste less food and to be increasingly thrifty.  It is quite a challenge when you are busy and unable or unwilling to shop frequently during the week.  I generally shop only once a week and maybe pop out for extras a couple of times a week.  This week I made a Sweet Potato, Chicken, Spinach and Coconut Curry in the slowpot.  It was delicious to come home to after a day at work.  I cooked Basmati Rice to go with it and I always struggle getting the quantity of rice right and made enough to feed the street.  Usually this gets thrown away!  Very bad.   I have a large dog but she has severe food intolerances and cannot have any kitchen scraps, she is even intolerant to chicken and rice.  I have discovered the chickens love cooked rice and get very excited when I sprinkle it into their run, there is only so much they can eat though.   The above 'dish' was my Dad's Signature Dish in the seventies ( he also makes great 'Eggy Bread').  My version isn't exactly the same as my Dads but it is pretty close.  It is a simple 'Rice Salad'.  It is rice, grated carrot and sultanas with a dressing of vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and mustard, (shaken together in a jar and poured over the rice).  We used to enjoy this as part of a cold buffet,  I had it for tea and it was very tasty.  I am feeling pleased with myself in a frugal sort of way.