Travelling Ted and a month of crochet

Daffodils the flowers of Wales and St David

March 1st ~
Happy St David's Day
This post has been edited as of 04/03/16 with much added towards the end of the post so if you have already read it, skip down and see lots more...

Having two teenage children in the house I had thought my days were over having to write imaginary diaries of a teddy bear but no, today at work I was presented with International Ted and asked if I could accompany him on his travels for the next week or so!  Let me introduce you...

International Ted

He even has his own webpage and twitter account,
pop over and see here and here

Now so far this post has had nothing to do with knitting, crocheting, sailing baking or my own little corner of the world, so why would I blog about this?  Well my friends  I'm thinking that as an International Ted, surely he needs a wardrobe fit for one to travel the world.  I see he has already travelled from the UK to Canada and brrr he was seen in the snow wearing just his lovely blue school top, but how can that keep him warm? These days my life is wildly busy but I am going to try and sneak in some clothes making time, obviously either knitted or crocheted, what should I make first? Suggestions please... or better still if you fancy lending a hand and are interested in kitting this fine fellow up with a wardrobe that other bears would growl for, drop me a comment below and I can give you his personal body dimensions (he asked ever so politely that I do not post his measurements on the www for all to see, but I can direct message you back; he said that would be ok.)  Let's try and get International Ted looking uber cosmopolitan, better still, thinking out loud, national clothes would be great too...

What clothes should be made for International Ted?

Did you also know that today heralded the beginning of national crochet month?

I admit I did not until this morning, infact previous years of national crochet month have passed me by.  The joys of following fellow crochet geeks on Instagram alerted me to the fact this morning...

Nallieradloff always has such joyful images on IG

I needed to delve further and found that it all began with a national crochet week in 1998 in the USA and has led to it becoming a whole month, for more information and on the history of crochet itself see    here and  Crochet History    Continuing to scroll through Instagram I came across not one but TWO different crochet photo a day challenges for March in celebration of national crochet month.  My creative juices flowing with ideas... which to follow... have I time to post every day and then the realisation that it doesn't matter if I don't, I can delve in and out and still be having fun with crochet...  are you interested... are you tempted to have a go?

So in honour of it being the first of the month I give you a photo to fit each of the above challenges...

Last week I happened to stumble upon a fantastic yarn shop
and may have purchased a rather unhealthy
number of skeins... including this set of pastels in 100% cotton

Can't show you the whole WIP as it's my own design
and so far it needs tweaking, but I'm enjoying the
challenge of crocheting with yarn that requires a 8mm hook

♥  Wishing you a creative month of crochet

or whatever takes your fancy  ♥

Let me know if you can help out with Ted's wardrobe

 

I really wanted to join in on Five on Friday this week as I missed last week and I know I shall not be able to post next week either.  Life is wildly busy, think I may have mentioned that already.  Do you find that?  The older I am getting the busier I seem to be.  I am taking on several new things at present and not relinquishing others and so it all has to be squeezed into the same amount of time...roll on retirement, oh hang  on, that's still a couple of decades away... I really need to sort myself out... 

 

So to allow this post to qualify  for 5 on Friday I need to give you three more snippets of life in the eclectic home, are your ready, you haven't dozed off yet have you?

 

International Ted now has his first item of clothing, albeit a quickly rustled up hat.  there have been suggestions so far to make him, dungarees, a ruck sack, pants, not sure if that was undergarments or trousers as we Brits like to call them.  And some clever clogs who shall remain anonymous suggested gloves!  Can you imagine making a pair of gloves this small?!!?  Am still hoping and waiting for someone to offer to knit, sew, crochet or anything to make this wardrobe of clothing come about... anyone?

 

International Ted complete with crocheted hat

 

I wish to also share with you something that I have finally managed to secure for myself.  As an avid IG addict I had come across this darling subscription called a Little Box of Crochet but the mean streak in me decided when it began in November to not go for it.  What a mistake that was and each month when wonderful creations have been posted I have been green with envy.  Each month I tried to subscribe thereafter but to no avail as there are limited numbers.  Amanda and her daughter Jenny have set up this exclusive and extremely well thought put package deal that they compile from their Victorian home here in the Uk.  They ship world wide by the way.  And finally last month I managed to sneak in a subscription and have not been disappointed.  I signed on only for 3 months but can tell already I shall be extending it, want to see...

 

Great quality from start to finish, it's the little details, isn't it?

 

 

Beautifully packaged and thought out

 

Look closely and you will see everything that is needed for that months make is included in the box: crochet hook, yarn , stitch market, needle, button, instructions.  The instructions are clear and introducing it Amanda gives a monthly update on her and Jenny, so that you feel you belong to a wonderfully exclusive homey community.  Each month a new designer, often someone we follow or know has made and designed something just for this little box!  I'm loving it.  There is even a tea bag provided each month too!

 

Inside the Little Box of Crochet

 

And finally, thank you to Phil over at the Twisted Yarn for sharing her ridiculously quick and easy beer bread a few blog posts ago, see   Beer Bread  I have never made bread so quickly and so far each time I've had 100% success.  This is now a firm new family favourite.

 

From this to...

 

...to this

 

 

Joining in with Amy and sharing with you my Five from this week.  Hope you have enjoyed my blabbering on , I really appreciate you patience with me X