Make your own candy the easy way

This year for Christmas, I made baskets of home made goodness for friends. Amongst the yums was some jubies (or gummies, whichever you choose to call them) and I thought I might add a quick tutorial on how to make them. They are very simple, really fast and aside from the heat factor, your kids can make them with you!

You will need:

Plain gelatin in powder form 

a pack of jelly (jello) crystals. Any flavour is fine. I have Aeroplane jelly in lime and creaming soda, Ive also used cheap no name brand jelly and while it works the same the flavour isn't as intense.

Silicone moulds. Mine are chocolate/Icecube ones so quite small. You can use more solid ones but I find the silicone the easiest to get the finished product out of.

Glad (cling) wrap

A solid glass bowl

A saucepan the bowl will fit inside

a spoon for stirring

I have a mini ladle for scooping the liquid into the moulds, a soup ladle would work fine

1/2 cup and a tablespoon for measuring

Into the glass bowl put 1/2 cup cold water

Sprinkle 4 Tablespoons of plain gelatin over the water.

Tip the packet of jelly crystals in too

Stir it all up, it will have a consistency similar to clag paste

Cover the bowl with cling wrap and let is stand for 10 minutes

Heat a pot of water to simmering, once it is place the glass bowl inside and remove the cling wrap. Melt the Jello mush.

When there are no solid parts left and the mixture is runny remove from heat and let sit for a minute (Warning: Glass will be HOT) 

Scoop the liquid into the silicone moulds. Don't worry too much about making a mess

Place the moulds in the freezer for 10 minutes, then move them to the fridge for a further 10 minutes

CLEANING TIP: Let whats left in the bowl set, then you can just peel it off the bowl before washing it. Makes for a much less sticky mess.

Once your jubies are turned out let them sit and reach room temperature before packaging them, providing they last that long and you don't nomnom nom them!

Told you it was easy!! Make them in many flavours for some mixed jube fun!

Spikes and Stripes Preemie Beanie Pattern

Hello beautiful people and a very warm seasons greetings!

Todays pattern has actually been released for a little while, as a part of Sunset Crochet's 12 days of Christmas Charity Crochet Challenge! It was an absolute honour to design a pattern for this challenge and I have loved seeing all the photos of the hats people have made, both from my pattern and others. I hope to design for it again if she run's it next year!

Now that the challenge has been running for a while I figure its time to blog the pattern so everyone can get access to it here <3 If you are interested in the challenge which runs through to Jan 6th check out Sunset Crochet's Facebook Page

RAVELRY PAGE HERE

Stripes and Spikes

Finished hat should be 4 inches in height and 5.5 inches wide when laid flat, and will fit a baby born at 30-32 weeks gestation.


Simple little beanie that ties in stripes and spikes to create a unique look. This beanie looks fantastic in both pastels and bold colours. It is recommended that you end on a lighter colour so it does not clash with the skin tone of prem babies.


Supplies:
3.5mm hook
3 colours of DK weight yarn, I use Moda Vera Marvel but any acrylic or cotton DK yarn is fine
Needle for weaving in ends.

How to make an extended hdc (exhdc): start your hdc like usual by looping the yarn over the hook, instead of inserting the hook into the next stitch, insert it into the stitch directly below the next stitch, from the previous row, do not pull tight, complete the hdc like normal.

Starting with colour A

1: ch3, 14dc in the first ch, join (14)

From here on in, starting chains count as a stitch.

2: ch3, dc in the same stitch, 2dc in each remaining stitch, join (28)

3: ch3, dc in the same stitch, *dc, 2dc* repeat around, join (42) Do not end off colour A, just drop it so you can continue with it later.

Join colour B with a sl st

4: hdc in each stitch around, join

Pick up colour A

5: ch2, hdc 2, *exhdc, hdc 3* repeat around, join

Pick up colour B

6: hdc in each stitch around, join

Pick up colour A

7: ch2, hdc2 *exhdc, hdc3* repeat around, join

Pick up colour B

8: hdc in each stitch around, join

Pick up colour A

9: ch2, hdc, *exhdc, hdc3* repeat around, join

Pick up colour B

10: hdc in each stitch around, join

Join colour C

11: ch2, *hdc3, exhdc* repeat around, join


12: hdc in each stitch around, join.

End off with all colours and weave in ends.

Pattern and Images by Myshelle Cole 2012

DO NOT USE IMAGES

Do not redistribute, re-upload or resell this pattern.

Find more Prem and Angel baby patterns via my Ravelry page, Linked below.

https://www.facebook.com/MammaThatMakes

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/myshelle-cole

Bunches of Barbie Bags - Crochet Patterns

Ravelry Page Here, Please add images of your finished items.

Hello once again!

Today I have some very small, very quick and easy accessories for you to crochet. Barbie bags! Because we know with all the clothes Barbie has, she simply must have bags to match!

Here are a set of 4 bags for Barbie. All open and can be used to put small items in (perhaps Barbie needs to tote around some shoes or sunnies, who knows!) They use varying hooks and yarns so please read the supplies list on each one. There is a large granny bag, a produce bag (just like the string ones mum takes to the stores!!), a handbag with a front flap and a little basket type bag.

Id also like to put it out there that I am open to ideas, suggestions and requests when it comes to crochet patterns for Barbie, Ill do my best to work something up!

So onto the bags!

1. Granny Bag
2.5mm and fingering weight yarn (fine baby)
I used Moda Vera Gelato
Make 2

R1: ch4, join to make a loop.

R2: ch3, dc twice more into the loop *ch2, dc 3 times* 3 times, join. (ch2's make the corners, you should have a very small square)

R3: sl st across to the first ch2 corner space, ch3, dc into the space 2 times, ch2, dc into the same space 3 times (one corner complete) *ch1, dc 3 times, ch2, dc 3 times* into the remaining 3 corners, join with a sl st. Finish off and weave in ends.

Place the 2 squares together and join your yarn with a sl st in a corner. sc evenly around 3 sides of the squares which will stitch them together to form the bag. Be sure to put 2-3 sc in the corners to help the bag retain its square shape. when you get to the top of the bag do not end off. Chain 30 to make the bags handle, sl st to the opposite corner to join the handle. End off and weave in ends.

Produce Bag
crochet thread
2.5mm hook
4mm hook

R1: with the 2.5mm hook ch3, dc into the 3rd ch 8 times, join

R2: ch3, dc in the same stitch, 2dc in each remaining stitch (16) (ch3 counts as dc)

R3: Swapping to the 4mm hook for the middle of the bag , ch3, dc in each st around

R4: ch4 (counts as dc and ch1), sk 1 *dc, ch1, sk1* repeat around, join

R5: sl st into the next ch1 space, ch4 (dc and ch1), sk 1 *dc, ch1, sk1* repeat around, join

Swap back to the 2.5mm hook to complete the top

R6: ch1, sc in the same space, sc in each ch1 space and dc around, join (16)

R7: ch1, sc in each stitch around, join.

R8: (handles) ch1, sc in the next 4, ch4, sk4, sc in the next 4, ch4, sk4, sl st to the ch1 to complete handles. Finish off weave in ends.

Basket Type Bag
3mm hook
dk weight yarn

R1: ch7, hdc2 in 2nd chain from hook, hdc in the next 4, hdc3 times in last ch, (working arounf the corner on the opposite side of the stitches you just completed) hdc in the next 4, hdc in the same stitch you started with, join

R2: ch2, hdc in the back loops only of each stitch around, join.

R3: ch2, hdc in each stitch around, join (14)

R4: ch2, 2hdc in the next, hdc in the next 7 stitches, 2hdc in the next, hdc in the last 5 stitches, join.

R5-6: ch1, sc in each st around, join.

For handles. I place my handles 4 stitches apart on the sides, you may choose to place them closer and have a longer handle. I mark off the 4 middle stitches on the side, slst to join the yarn, chain 10 and slst to the opposite side so the 4 middle stitches are between the handles. You could also ise ribbon for the handles.

Handbag with front flap
dk weight yarn
2.5mm hook
Small button

R1: ch9, hdc in the 2nd ch from hook and each across to the end, working on the opposite side hdc in each st back to the start, join

R2-3: ch3, dc in each st around

R4: ch3, TURN, dc in the next 4 stitches (If you wish to make the flap another colour this is where you would change your yarn)

R5-6: ch1, turn, sc, dc, dc, sc

Sew on a button to close.
For the handle, sl st to the side of the bag and chain as many as you like (I did 15)

Well there you have it. Some really simple bags that your little one will just LOVE adding to their Barbie collection. Imagine the colour combinations!