Lullaby Lodge

Hello lovely people, I have a new project ready for testing.  This one is suitable for beginners and is made using Caron Cakes yarn.  The pattern is super easy and testing will take place over on Ravelry at  The Testing Pool .  If you would like to take part prior testing experience is not necessary, just head on over to the testing page and sign up. Caron Cakes have so many scrumptious colours to choose from, making just one blanket is never an option for me... Look forward to hearing from you Catherine x

Hello everyone.  I have a new pattern ready for testing.  This one is perfect if you want to get a head start on presents for Christmas.  It is for this very simple knitted hottie cover.  I have used Drops Eskimo yarn, which is a super soft, super chunky wool.  The cover knits up in just a couple of hours and features cute pom pom ties. If you would like to take part in testing this pattern please head on over to  The Testing Pool  over at Ravelry, where the test will take place.  You don't need to be an experienced tester and only need know the basic knitting stitches and be familiar working in the round.  Look forward to hearing from you and happy knitting Catherine x

Hello friends.  I have been meaning to write this post for quite some time, but with one thing and another it has gotten pushed to the side and forgotten.  This heatwave that has been going on for what seems like forever, has finally broken and I am loving the freshness of the air and the sound of the raindrops outside my window.  This gives me the perfect opportunity to take some time to write on my blog. Everything is growing really well this year with all the hot weather.  It has taken some considerable efforts to keep everything watered though and little T has been very helpful on that front.  As you all know we do not have a garden at home and so our allotment garden has become our haven and we love to spend as much time there as possible.  Mostly little T likes to sit in a shady spot and read while I get on with the gardening.  He does love to help with planting new things though and has asked for his own  "bit of earth" .  So we decided to make a small bed for lit

This hot weather has been doing crazy things to our berry patch at the kitchen garden.  We have so many berries ready for picking and many more ripening on the bushes.  Little T has been really enjoying picking them and enjoying the berry crumbles even more.  A couple of years ago I made some blackberry vodka and it was delicious, so I thought I might have a go at a mixed berry version.  He's how I made it... Bramble Berry Vodka You will need... A few handfuls of berries (we used blackberries and the mystery berries, you can read about them here ) Sugar to taste (around 150 g) Vodka (the cheap kind is fine) A large jar First give the berries a good wash... ...then add them to your jar... ...tip in the sugar... ...and cover with vodka.   Give the jar a good shake and leave in a cool dark place for a few weeks shaking every day until the sugar is dissolved. When your vodka is ready it will be look all gorgeous and b

Hello everyone!  I have a new pattern ready for testing.  It is a cute granny square baby bonnet perfect for keeping little ones cool in this hot weather we are having.  This is the first of 3 sun hat patterns and will be released as part of an e-book.  Granny Square Summer Bonnet If you would like to take part in testing this adorable pixie style sun hat, head on over to  The Testing Pool  on Ravelry where the test will be taking place.  You need not be an experienced tester or crocheter.  This pattern is suitable for beginners and I will be available to help all the way through the process. Enjoy the sunshine! Catherine x

Hello everyone, I have a new pattern ready for testing.  It is a cute baby blanket featuring a lovely gingham pattern dotted with daisies.  What new baby wouldn't look gorgeous wrapped up in this?   If you would be interested in helping to test this blanket you can sign up  here  on my Facebook page or head on over to  The Testing Pool  on Ravelry.  All testers will receive a free pattern chosen from my store as compensation.  You don't need to be an experienced tester as long as you have some crochet experience I can help you with anything else you need to know... Look forward to hearing from you Catherine x This pattern can be found in my Etsy Store...

With this gorgeous weather we have been having recently, things seem to be finally taking off at the allotment.  What with the really cold winter and late start to spring and also the pesky birds and slugs, we haven't had much growing this year so far.  We have had a few strawberries but everything else has been playing catch up...  Even though we have not had any great harvest, it is lovely just to sit in the kitchen garden and enjoy the sunshine.  Living in a small flat really makes me appreciate the space we have at our allotment. Last year (our first year of growing) was a constant battle with the weeds.  One which I cannot say we won...  So this year we are trying things a little differently and keeping the majority of the ground covered in black plastic.  We have a lot of perennial weeds to tend with including bindweed and nettles.  Also the previous tenant was growing horseradish which has spread over most of the plot.  It puts out really deep tap roots and is impossibl