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LoveCrafts

Happy New Year 2020!

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I hope this year will bring you, happiness, joy and of course lots more yarn... Catherine x Don't forget our New Year Stashdown and 2020 Temperature Blanket cals both start today! Join the Facebook group here...

Boxing Day Pie - Use up all those leftovers from Christmas lunch and make this delicious pie...

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We like to go all out for Christmas lunch in our house.  We have the traditional English Christmas fare of, turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and parsnips, sprouts and more.  So as I'm sure you can understand, there are a lot of leftovers, but, not wanting anything to go to waste we always have a delicious turkey pie on Boxing Day, to use them all up and I thought you might like to try it too... Boxing Day Pie Ingredients (serves 4-6) 2 leeks Double cream 1 sheet of ready rolled pastry (short or puff is fine) Stilton cheese (optional) 1 heaped tsp plain flour Christmas Lunch Leftovers Turkey, veg, stuffing, pigs in blankets, gravy Wash and slice the leeks and gently fry them in a little oil.  We use olive oil, but you can use your favourite. Cut your cold turkey into chunks and add to a pie dish Do the same with leftover veg, stuffing and pigs in blankets (you really can use whatever leftovers you have) Once the leeks are sof

Wishing you a very merry Christmas...

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Have a great day! Catherine x

The Hot & Cold Blanket - Join me in 2020 for a temperature blanket crochet along...

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So you want to make a temperature blanket?  Well you have come to the right place.  We will be starting a new crochet along in 2020, with a brand new blanket design.  If you took part in this years crochet along, then you will be well on your way to completing your blanket.  If you didn't then you can read all about it here.. .  So what's new this year?  New colours, new design and a different approach to choosing temperatures, I give you, The Hot & Cold Blanket. For those of you that have never made a temperature blanket before, the concept is simple.  You allow the daily temperature, to dictate what colour you will add to your blanket on that day.  There are many different styles and patterns to choose from.  Our pattern for 2019 was a stripy blanket, in Linen stitch using 20 different colours.  This year I will be using only 10 colours, with 1 extra colour for joining. Hot And Cold Blanket Abbreviations US Terms (UK conversion) dc - double crochet (tre

Velvet Baubles - Make these decadent decorations for your tree, Christmas Cal...

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Well hello everyone.  This is the last addition to the Christmas craft along this year and is so quick and easy you can make it in a matter of minutes.  What better way to finish our craft along than with something pretty to hang on your tree.  I have loved using the Bernat Velvet yarn so much and this is the perfect way to use up those last scraps of yarn. Velvet Baubles Materials Bernat Velvet (small amounts) Darning needle 60mm bauble Stitch marker Ribbon Hook 6mm (J) Abbreviations US Terms (UK Conversion) sc - single crochet (double crochet) sc2tog - single crochet 2 together (double crochet 2 together) ch - chain st(s) - stitch(es) pm - place marker Other notes:   Velvet Baubles are worked in a spiral, do not join.  Move marker up at the end of each round. Starting with a magic loop Round 1  ch1 (does not count as st), 6sc into ring.  Pull tight but do not join. Pm in 1st sc. Round 2  Starting in the first sc

Belated Temperature Blanket Update - The end of summer...

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So I'm a little late with this one, OK a lot late, but better late than never right?  I have been very busy catching up with my temperature blanket over the last few days.  I have set myself a minimum of 10 rows a day in order to catch up and have now reached the end of summer, so thought I would share my progress with you. If you would like to make a temperature blanket, you can find the   free pattern here... I love the summer colours, especially now that the weather is cooler, it's a reminder of those warmer days spent in the sunshine... A little look at all the colours together so far... We are definitely on the home stretch now and I can't wait to see it finished.   Pin it! I am even more excited to be starting a new temperature blanket and crochet along next year.  I will be posting the new pattern at the weekend, so make sure you are subscribed and don't miss it. See you all soon... Catherine x Sub

Christmas Bread & Butter Pudding - A delicious way to use up stale bread - Christmas craft along...

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Hello friends.  I have something a little unusual to share with you today.  I'm not really sure if cooking counts as a craft, but I thought it would make a nice change to do something different.   I always like to cook a nice roast for Sunday lunch and finish it off with some kind of homemade pudding.  During the week we try to be a bit more healthy, so the weekend is time for treating ourselves, especially as it's almost Christmas. Although I do love to cook, I am not really much of a baker.  All that faffing around weighing stuff and being precise, it's just not me.  I like to experiment and just chuck stuff in when I'm cooking, so I tend to stick to a few deserts that I can make, without needing to check a recipe or watch Youtube.  Bread and Butter Pudding is one of my goto puddings, as it's so simple and can be adapted to suit your mood.  One of our favourite ways of making it is with chocolate spread sandwiches.  So yummy!  So I thought why not try and ma