Barnaby

Meet Barnaby ... the crochet giraffe.

He loves sunshine and enjoys hanging out by the lake. He also likes babies and has made a home with his new best mate, Baby Barney. Only Barnaby has arrived first :)

Pattern: Crochet Stripy Giraffe 

Hook: 3mm

Yarn: 8 ply scraps 

It is a fun pattern. Easy to hook up and a great way to use up all your odd bits of left over yarn. I have started a sister for Barnaby. Only she plans on heading over the ocean to New Zealand to live with her BFF, Sienna. 

luv Neen x

Aussie Battler Jacket

The Aussie Battler button I found in the last post was used to finish off my first ever cardigan. Knitting a cardigan has been on my crafty to do list for a while now. Ok, I might have meant an adult size cardigan for myself ... but this is a good start :)

Pattern: Top down Garter stitch Baby Jacket by Nancy Munroe. It is available as a free download on Ravelry.
Needles: 4mm circular (although the cardigan is knit flat, apart from the sleeves).
Yarn: Bendigo Wollen Mills Rich Alpaca (60% alpaca, 40% wool) in the colour rich grey.

It was a pretty easy knit with a few new techniques to learn such as a stretchy cast off. While I love the finished jacket, I would not choose an alpaca yarn next time. It is quite a hairy yarn and I am not sure how suitable it will be for a newborn. But it will definitely keep him warm!

To go with the jacket I made a pair of socks ... crochet this time. For some reason I loose interest when knitting socks and usually stop at one! But these were quick and easy to whip up.

Pattern: Arianna Baby Socks

Hook: 3mm & 3.5mm

Yarn: Sock yarn from the stash (I have lost the band)

I think a crochet toy would complete this handmade gift perfectly. I have until the 19th ... better get started :)

Luv Neen

The Perfect Button

I have just been searching for the perfect button to finish off my latest knit project. I could picture the ideal button in my mind ... it was just a matter of finding it.

Unfortunately my buttons are not sorted by colour, or by shape, or even by size. Nope .... just three large jars full to the brim with buttons, collected over the years. So I upended them all onto the floor and amongst the pile I found this little beauty. Not the one I had in mind. But perfect for the project all the same.

More on that project later .... when the light is better to take a photo.

My problem now is what to do with the pile of buttons ... I think it is a great time to join in the button swap hosted by Taz over at Butter and Buntings.

Do you have a pile of buttons you'd like to share?

Luv Neen

Ginger Kisses

I can't think of a better way to start my blog journey than over a cup of tea. Especially a stimulating blend of ginger, lemongrass and rosella. Care to join me?

Let me introduce myself ... my mates call me Neen. I love craft, particularly crochet but will try my hand at almost anything. I enjoy working in the veggie patch and searching for a treasured find in thrift shops. I love getting out into nature .... hiking, fishing, kayaking, or just having a BBQ at the beach with friends.

I strive to lead a simple life, although at times my life can seem anything but simple.

I live in Sydney, in a household of 8. Actually make that 9 if you include my crazy conure Ned :) I work full time leading a 56 bed unit in an aged care facility while studying to achieve a Masters of Nursing, Advanced Practice. I am rapidly chasing away the years to 40. And I am in the process of buying a house in rural NSW, a 5hr drive away! Luckily I have a wonderful partner, John, to join me in my adventures.

Luv Neen will be a place to share my love of craft, perhaps with a little gardening, cooking, thrifting and general life thrown in. But more importantly, I want this to be somewhere I can slow down, a place to stop and appreciate the every day beauty in my life. 

So pour yourself a cuppa and get comfy. You are more than welcome to join me on this journey. I would love your company :)

Luv Neen x