Crochet: Lady Edith Coasters

April 1, 2013Craft, OrganisationCrochet, Crochet Patternsubversivereader One comment

I have a new crochet pattern! And, in fact, I have a new crochet website!

I’ve decided I didn’t want to flood you over here with lots of patterns, so I’ve decided to move them over to Crochet of a Subversive Reader. This means more books and parenting type stuff here, and all my patterns together over there. I’ll still link to the patterns each week, though, so you won’t miss a thing.

Today I finished writing up the pattern for the Lady Edith coasters. The best news? I’ve written them in both UK and US terminology!

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Downton Coasters

Crochet: Cookie Monster Bag

March 28, 2013CraftCrochet, Crochet Bag, Crochet Pattern, Free Crochet Pattern, Sesame Street Crochetsubversivereader View all 16 comments

This was the final of my little Sesame Street designs. Since the coin purse, pencil case and nesting bowls were all able to hold things, I wanted to continue that with this piece. And every Cookie Monster needs a bag for their cookies!

The body of the bag is made up with rows with multiple double crochet in one stitch and rows with clusters. Clusters take a little bit of time to get right, but really get the up and down pattern.

I hope you enjoy this pattern!

Cookie Monster Crochet Bag: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

Cookie Monster Bag

Download the pattern here (PDF)

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – Blue yarn. Small amounts of white, black and two shades of brown (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 5mm and 3mm
Other stuff – scissors, yarn needle, material for lining (if required)

CROCHET (US terminology)

Special Stitch

Cluster stitch – (3 dc cluster) Yo, draw yarn through stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops, (2 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through next stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through next stitch, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops (4 loops remain on hook) yo, draw yarn through all loops (like decreasing 3 dcs together)

Front/Back (Make 2)

Use 5mm hook and blue yarn

Chain 33
Row 1 – sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc to end (32)
Row 2 – ch 3, dc 3 into third stitch from end, *skip 2, dc 3 into next stitch, continue from * until two from end, skip 1, dc 1 (31 dc)
Row 3 – ch 1, sc across, last sc in third chain (32)
Row 4 – ch 4, make a cluster stitch beginning 2nd stitch from chain, *ch 2, cluster stitch, continue from * until one from end, dc 1 (10 clusters)
Row 5 – ch 1, sc across, (last 2 dc into the 3rd and 4th chain from row 4) (32)
Rows 6 – 21 – repeat rows 2-5
Row 22 – 23 – repeat rows 2-3
Row 24 – (creating the handle) – ch 4, cluster stitch (from 2nd stitch), ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 14, cluster stitch starting at the10th stitch from the end, ch 2, cluster stitch, ch 2, cluster stitch, dc 1
Row 25 – ch 1, sc in each (32)
Row 26 – 27 Repeat rows 2-3

Eyes

Use 3mm hook and white yarn

Row 1 – sc 6 into a magic circle, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – ch 1, inc in each stitch, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – ch 1, inc, sc around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – ch 1, inc, sc, sc, sc, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – ch 1, sc around, ss to close (30)

Use black yarn to embroider eyes on, off center

Cookie

Use 3mm hook and light brown yarn

Use darker brown yarn to embroider choc chips on

Putting it together

Sew the eyes with white yarn just under the handle on one of the two sides. As you sew, stuff the eyes with some toy stuffing to make the eyes 3D
Sew the cookie with brown yarn near the bottom on the other of the two sides
Sew the two sides together at the bottom

Line the bag with fabric, making sure that the fabric stops below the handles, and just short of the edges (I used a sewing machine, but you can hand sew it in.)

Sew the sides of the bag together using blue yarn

Squirm’s Book Reviews: The Not Quite Right Edition

March 27, 2013Books and ReadingAWW 2013, Book Reviews, books, children, Reading, Squirm's book reviewssubversivereader Leave a comment

Each week I review books we’ve read with Squirm. Find other reviews here

Ivy Loves to Give by Freya Blackwood

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Ivy Loves to Give

(AWW 2013 Squirm Challenge: Book 36)

Ivy is a young girl who loves to give things. Only the things she likes to give don’t always work. And sometimes they leave people without the things they need! Luckily Ivy likes to give things back to the people they belong to.

This is a sweet little tale about taking and giving. The whole book is told in just four sentences – two longer, two shorter – and through the illustrations which tell the real story. There’s a whole family around Ivy (including a baby who might be breastfeeding in one picture!) and there’s a real feeling of warmth and love in this book. Some of that comes through the various animals in the illustrations – including a goat and a snail – which give a slightly scrappy feel.

This would be a great book for an activity on sorting and matching. It could also be one to use with children who are learning about putting things back in the right place. You could use the book to draw pictures of the people and the items and match them up, or collect a group of items from different rooms in your house and get your child to sort them back into the right room.

The Terrible Plop by Ursula Dubosarsky

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: The Terrible Plop

(AWW 2013 Squirm Challenge: Book 37)

I LOVED this book. It’s the story of the terribly plop which happens in the middle of the forest and terrifies everyone. Except the big brown bear who is sure that he’s brave enough to face the Terrible Plop.

This is a rhyming book which is one of the best read alouds I’ve read in a while. The rhythm of the words works perfectly, and while this looks easy, I’ve been reading several other rhyming books which reminded me that this is something which takes considerable skill. The cause of the terrible plop is hidden in the illustrations, requiring the eagle eyed to be paying attention to find it.

This would be a brilliant book to introduce onomatopoeia. You could create a list or directory of the different ‘sound words’ which you know. You could also use instruments or other noise makers and make your own ‘sound words’. You and your child could even make up a rhyme or song completely of ‘sound words’. You could also use this book to talk about blowing things out of proportion – it would be a good story to match with Chicken Little and a good book for talking about unfounded fears.

Wordless Wednesday – Pattern

March 27, 2013PicturesCrochet, wordless wednesdaysubversivereader View all 8 comments

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Pattern

Linking with My Little Drummer Boys

Movie Review: Goddess

March 26, 2013Opinion and Other Random Thingsmovie, reviewsubversivereader View all 5 comments

Goddess: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

Squirm and I are regular visitors to our local cinema’s Bring Your Baby sessions. Although it’s not perfect (we’re usually the only people with babies, so there’s pressure to ‘be quiet’, I have to remind them to keep the lights on and the sound down, the movie choices can be . . . questionable) it’s a nice way to get out of the house, and at least I’m seeing some movies instead of wistfully listening to all the movies I’d like to see!

Yesterday’s movie was Goddess, and I thoroughly recommend it!

Think Australian musical with charming UK leads. Think story of a mother who’s feeling isolated in a small town with her children while her husband works away. Think about a mother who happens to be quite a good musician and decides to share her talent for making funny little songs with the world. Then what happens when the world comes to her and promises to make it big time.

The actors were all really adorable and the story is, on the whole, excellent (though I’m a little over ‘lusting over/being tempted by other people story lines’. There doesn’t need to be a third party to be relationship problems. And don’t get me started on non consensual kissing . . .) The songs are incredibly catchy and lovely. And there’s some really interesting questions for those involved in online pursuits – such as blogging. Is there really only one opportunity? Do we have to sell out to meet the opportunity? What happens when our online world and the offline world collide?

I’d really recommend getting out to see it. Event/Greater Union cinemas will show it on Wednesday as Bring Your Baby (though probably not Friday, being Good Friday and all) and hopefully it’ll be around for a while longer. And here I’m going to leave you with a treat . . .

(This is not a sponsored post. We paid for our ticket and do each week. It really is an awesome movie, though)

Subversive Reader Reviews: Mazin Grace (AWW2013)

March 25, 2013Books and ReadingAWW 2013, Book Reviews, books, Subversive Reader Book Reviewssubversivereader View all 2 comments

Book reviews and AWW posts can be found here.

AWW2013 – Book 31

Mazin Grace

Dylan Coleman
Adult Historical Novel

Kindle eBook

I’ve been trying to write this review for a while now, but was having trouble with where to start with it. Then I’ve read a few posts on reviewing and figured I really need to jump right in – much like I did with the book itself.

This is a book that reads like a song. Music rings through the book, woven through the traditional language used throughout the book. Although there is a glossary for the language, I found that most the time I didn’t need to use it. Instead, I let the words fall over me, finding that I knew what the author was telling me, without needing to translate it into ‘my language’.

Although it might be a song, it’s not always a happy one. Mazin Grace is about life, but not a particularly pretty one. It’s a life where food can be scarce and acceptance is scarcer. Where fear is a constant – fear of people leaving, fear of being taken. It’s a world that seems so remote from my own safe upbringing – my fears were imaginary, Grace’s are very, very real.

Although Mazin Grace was sad, and at times gut-wrenchingly confronting (and you must read the author’s note at the end), I was left with a feeling of hope – hope because stories like this are entering our consiousness, that writers like this are making long lists for awards, that books like this are available – easily – to readers like myself who don’t always find it easy to go to small or specialist book stores.

Now I’m reaching the end of my review, I realise I haven’t said much about the actual story or ‘what happens’. And I’m not going to. Instead, I’m going to suggest you read it yourself – it’s a pretty short read – and experience a life in our own country, not that long ago.

The Great Library Tour: Cleveland Library

March 25, 2013Library Tourbooks, Exploring South East Queensland, libraries, library toursubversivereader View all 3 comments

Adventures of a Subversive Reader: Cleveland Library

The Great Library Tour

While this post might attract those looking for libraries in Cleveland, Ohio, I actually packed myself and Squirm in the car and made our way out to the bayside town of Cleveland, South East of Brisbane (more east than south, really). This is a remarkably beautiful part of the world, even when you get a day which is gloomy at times. It turned out to be a fabulous day all together!

The Cleveland Library is situated on what you might call the ‘main street’ of Cleveland. It’s across the road from the council buildings (and a very impressive art gallery – I adored the Stradbroke Island exhibition) and on the same street as a number of shops and the shopping centre (which is actually split across the street). The library is large and airy, with big windows a feature in the children’s section. The children’s section had an underwater castle theme – there was even an arch to walk through! Then there were stickers (I think) which were designed like portholes (or castle windows) looking out on sea life. I’m pretty sure that the sea life shown was all the kind of life you would see locally – it wouldn’t be too hard to imagine that there was a castle, waiting for you, in the middle of Moreton Bay.

One thing which was quite different about Cleveland library was the way the picture books were arranged. Instead of facing outwards, they were arranged sideways on the shelf. Although I usually prefer facing outwards, I’m finding it increasingly hard to sort through books which have been filled to full in the low shelves. At Cleveland, although the covers faced to the side, it was very easy to sort through and find some real gems. Squirm and I had a great time exploring their collection!

We also enjoyed the furniture in the children’s section. One thing I immediately noticed was that the furniture – low tables and a long low row of soft seats – were incredibly movable – so you could easy change the section around to suit a different purpose. That sort of thing appeals to the teacher in me! Squirm also loved their big bead and wire table – it was just the right height for him to practice his standing.

The staff were extremely helpful and friendly – one of the library assistants even helped me get Squirm wrapped securely on my back! I think this would be a lovely library to spend time at, and I wanted to spend more time there myself!

We did have to move on, though. I had thought I was all planned, asking for recommendations from the brilliant Redland City Living. Alas, in the rush to get out of the house, I had left her recommendations at home! So we walked around the main streets for a while, enjoying the real ‘town’ feel of Cleveland. (We also managed to find Darrell Lea chocolate in the newsagency near Woolworths!) before I remembered my in-laws talking about the area near the historic Cleveland lighthouse. That turned out to be brilliant, with Squirm and I enjoying a fabulous meal overlooking the water and out to North Stradbroke Island.

All in all, it was a truly fabulous trip. I can’t recommend Cleveland enough – the people were friendly, the food was good and the library was brilliant!

Where Squirm and I enjoyed our lunch!

The best parts of Cleveland Library

Excellent book collection
The moveable furniture
The friendly staff
The theme allowing for imaginings of underground castles!

Important Information about Cleveland Library

Cnr. Bloomfield & Middle Streets, Cleveland

Website

Open Monday to Saturday

On street parking is available, but it’s reverse angle parking! There’s also parking around the back and a couple of nearby lots. I parked a few blocks down (where parking was normal again) and enjoyed the walk up

Where is this blog heading?

March 24, 2013Books and Reading, Craft, Family, Opinion and Other Random Thingssubversivereader View all 7 comments

Some upcoming crochet – check out the inspiration!

When I first started the blog I knew it would probably be a little eclectic. My interests change, they wane, they become a bigger part of my life. I didn’t want to button hole myself into one type of blog, when I knew there was a very real chance I may not be so interested in that topic down the track. Additionally, I wanted to be able to talk less about Squirm, particularly as he grows older and becomes more ‘recognisable’ and less baby.

Some parts of blogging have been really easy for me. The library tour, though it requires some planning to get out to a library, has been a lot of fun and a really rewarding experience. I may not be able to get to a library every week, but it will definitely remain a feature of the library. The kids book reviews can be harder at times, just trying to keep track of the new books we’ve read and which ones will be good to review. However, it’s also been rewarding and a very good way to think more about the books we read to Squirm. I’d like to keep it as a regular feature long into the future.

Weekly reflections on the other hand, or posts about organisation, have fallen by the wayside. They’re things I’m just not so passionate about, and things which become a chore easily.

You may have noticed a change in the blog over the last couple of weeks. I’ve been focusing more on reading and crocheting in my ‘offline’ life, and it’s great to be able to share that here at the blog. The posts with patterns have been quite popular, and I aim to continue designing patterns with a pop-culture element, and writing up the patterns to share. I may include some paid patterns down the track, but I’ll make sure there’s plenty of free ones to enjoy.

I’m also determined to get back into the AWW challenge with gusto. Over this week, I’d like to catch up with a number of reviews, which I’m really looking forward to sharing with you. Keep an eye out for some kids book reviews too.

Another thing which will stay are posts on play and on reading advocacy. These may not be regular, but they are things I’m passionate about and I’d find it nearly impossible not to talk about them!

So that’s the (near) future for me right now. So here’s a chance for you to put in requests – what kind of crochet patterns would you like to see?

Crochet – Big Bird Nesting Bowls

March 22, 2013CraftCrochet, Crochet Pattern, Sesame Street Crochetsubversivereader Leave a comment

When I was little, Big Bird was definitely one of my favourite Sesame Street characters. It took me a little while to work out what I would create with a Big Bird theme, but in the end, nesting bowls seemed obvious!

The joy of these nesting bowls is that they’re very adaptable. Adding or removing rows will allow you to make different sized bowls and allow for different nesting combinations. You can also try these bowls in different colours!

Big Bird Nesting Bowls

Downloadable Version (PDF)

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – Yellow (about a ball) small amounts of pink and blue (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 4mm
Other stuff – scissors

CROCHET (US terminology)

Small Bowl

Big Bird Nesting Bowl: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

Use blue yarn and 4mm hook

Base

Row 1 – Make a magic circle, sc 6 into it, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Ch 1, increase in each, change to yellow in the ss (12)
Row 3 – Ch 1, [inc, sc] around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – Ch 1, [sc, inc, sc] around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – Ch 1, [inc, sc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – Ch 1, [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (36)
Row 7 – Ch 1, [inc, sc 5] around, ss to close (42)

Sides

Row 8 – Ch 1, (work in back loop only) sc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 9 – Ch 1, (work in both loops) sc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 10 – Ch 2, hdc in each stitch, ss to close (42)
Row 11 – 14 – Repeat Rows 9 and 10, change to blue on the last ss
Row 15 – Ch 1 – sc in each stitch, ss to close – change to yellow on the ss (42)
Row 16 – Ch 1, [sc, hdc, dc, tc, dc, hdc, sc] six times, fasten off

Middle Bowl

Use yellow yarn and 4mm hook

Base
(Use back loop only, unless otherwise stated)

Row 1 – Make a magic circle, sc 6 into it, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Ch 1, increase in each, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – Ch 1, [inc, sc] around, ss to close (18)
Row 4 – Ch 1, [sc, inc, sc] around, ss to close (24)
Row 5 – Ch 1, [inc, sc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (30)
Row 6 – Ch 1, [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around, ss to close (36)
Row 7 – Ch 1, [inc, sc 5] around, ss to close (42)
Row 8 – Ch 1, [sc 3, inc, sc 3] around, ss to close (48)

Sides

Row 9 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 10 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 11 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close changing to blue (48)
Row 12 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, changing to yellow (48)
Row 13 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, changing to pink (48)
Row 14 – (front loop only) ch 1, sc in each, ss to close, change to yellow (48)
Row 15 – ch 1, sc in each, ss to close (48)
Row 16 – (creating the posts for crocodile stitch) ch 3, dc in the same spot, ch 2, skip 2, dc two into next stitch, continue around, ss to close (16 pairs of posts)
Row 17 – (crocodile stitch) ch 1, turn basket on side, base facing to your left, dc 5 around the top post, ch 1, rotate basket 180 degrees, dc 5 around the pair of the first post. ch 1, skip the next pair of posts, repeat crocodile stitch around the bowl, ss to close (8 ‘scales’)
Row 18 – ch 1, sc around the top of the basket, fasten off.

Large Bowl

Use Yellow yarn and 4mm hook

Base

Sides

Row 11 – Ch 1, sc around circle in back loops only, ss to close (60)
Row 12 – (creating the posts for crocodile stitch) ch 3, dc in the same spot, ch 2, skip 2, dc two into next stitch, continue around, ss to close (20 posts)
Row 13 – (crocodile stitch) ch 1, turn basket on side, base facing to your left, dc 5 around the top post, ch 1, rotate basket 180 degrees, dc 5 around the pair of the first post. ch 1, skip the next pair of posts, repeat crocodile stitch around the bowl, ss to close (10 ‘scales’)
Row 14 – ch 1, sc around the top of the basket, fasten off

Here’s the big bowl in a different colour combination!

Crochet – Elmo Pencil Case

March 19, 2013CraftCrochet, patternsubversivereader View all 2 comments

After finishing the Grouchy Oscar Coin Purse, it made total sense to create some more Sesame Street inspired goodness. One of my best friend’s has an Elmo-Obsessed toddler, so I had to experiment with red and orange to make a little pencil case. This pencil case would be perfect to hold your crochet hooks, or a selection of crayons for your next drawing.

Note – At the moment, I only have US terminology for the pattern (that’s what I crochet in). If enough people are interested, I’d be willing to ‘translate’ a UK terminology pattern.

Downloadable Pattern

Online Pattern

Elmo Pencil Case

Elmo Crocheted Pencil Case: Adventures of a Subversive Reader

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Yarns – small amounts of Red, Orange, White and Black. (I used acrylics, but quite thick ones. You might need to add rows or adjust tension to get the exact size you want)
Hooks – 4mm and 3mm
Other stuff – scissors, yarn needle, zipper or other fastening

CROCHET (US terminology)

Ends (Make 2)

Use orange yarn and 4mm hook

Row 1 – Make magic circle. Crochet 6 into circle, ss to close (6)
Row 2 – Inc in each stitch (12)
Row 3 – [Inc, sc] around (18) Fasten off
Row 4 – attach red yarn at a different spot. [sc, inc, sc] around (24)
Row 5 – [inc, sc, sc, sc] around (30)
Row 6 – [sc, sc, inc, sc, sc] around (36) Fasten off

Body

Use red yarn and 4mm hook

Foundation – Chain 37
Row 1 – sc into second chain from hook, sc to end (36)
Row 2 – (crochet in back loop only) sc in each to end (36)
Row 3 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end (35)
Row 4-7 – Repeat Rows 2 (finishing last stitch in the starting chain) and 3, change to Orange on last stitch
Row 8 – Repeat row 2, change to Red on last stitch
Row 9 – Repeat Row 3
Row 10 – 17 – Repeat Rows 2 – 9, change to Orange on last stitch of Row 17
Row 18 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end, change to red in the last row(35)
Row 19 – (crochet in back loop only) ch 2, hdc in second loop from end, hdc to end (35)
Row 20 – crochet in back loop only) sc in each to end, putting the last sc in the starting chain(36)
Row 21 – Repeat Row 19, change to orange in the last stitch
Row 22 – Repeat Row 2, change to red on the last stitch (36)
Row 23 – Repeat Row 3 (35)
Rows 24-31 – Repeat Rows 2-9
Rows 32-35 – Repeat Rows 2-3 (twice)
Row 36 – Repeat Row 2 (36) Fasten off

Eyes (make 2)

Use black yarn and 3mm hook

Row 1 – Make a magic circle and crochet 6 stitches into it, ss to close circle. Fasten off (6)
Row 2 – Attach white yarn. Inc in each stitch, ss to close (12)
Row 3 – ch 1, Inc, sc around. ss to close (18)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc around, ss to close (24) Fasten off

Nose

Use orange yarn and a 3mm hook

Row 1 – Make a magic circle and crochet 5 stitches into it. ss to close (5)
Row 2 – ch 1, inc, inc, sc 3 into next stitch, inc, inc, ss to close (11)
Row 3 – ch 1, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, inc, sc, inc, sc, ss to close (17)
Row 4 – ch 1, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc 3, sc, sc, inc, sc, sc, inc, sc, ss to close (24) Fasten off

Putting it together

Use a yarn needle and yarn to sew the eyes together. Sew the nose between the eyes

Sew the eyes and nose to the case (either side ways or up-and-down ways)