It’s Shrove Tuesday today, so here’s my pancake recipe (well, my Nan’s actually). I’ve made it so often it’s engrained in the brain! They’re american-style ones that rise and must be eaten with maple syrup. Happy eating!

Never fail pancakes
3 heaped TSP self-raising flour
1/4 tsp each of bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar
1 TSP castor sugar
1 egg
add enough milk to dropping consistency

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I have now completed what was left in the boxed area at the bottom (see shots below) and also sorted the small border along the bottom edge too. Here is where you see me up to now, doing this wide blue floral band. I only have a letter band, then the bee border to go! If you can’t wait to see this finished, click here.

This pair of roses took ages to do. The silk thread (Caron watercolours) kept separating and you really had to ‘paint’ with it to get the rose looking right.

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Joy at Scrapalicious started Things I Love Thursday in the same vein as Self Portrait Tuesday. Joy decided to blog about all the things she loves for the month of love - February and now I’m joining in with the Flickr group!

This is just one of the pieces of embroidery I have of my Granny’s. She was an expert needlewoman and made many beautiful tablecloths, napkins, hankies and pillowcases over the years. This is one of a pair that were saved from some very worn old pillowcases. You can’t tell which is the right side, it’s so good and is certainly the mark of expert work. She will be 90 this year and unfortunately has Alzheimer’s disease and I really regret not spending more time doing embroidery with her over the years. I did some as a child but I took to knitting much more easily. I had a subscription to Australian Inspirations when it first came out with all good intentions of doing some embroidery and ribbon embroidery but it never transpired. Maybe I’ll do a class one day?

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Pumpkin
Pipsqueaks size 1-2 yrs
Kim Hargreaves for Rowan
Jo Sharp DK cotton 3.75 balls in Carmen

There is a surprising amount of finishing to this pattern but it certainly holds your interest throughout. I know alot of people really hate sewing up and finishing off but I relish it. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a beautiful flat mattress-stitched seam. I do suggest if you make this to keep a fresh ball aside for the hood. It does feel like you’re knitting that hood forever though! I started the new ball at the RHS front shoulder shaping so you don’t get any nasty joins. I finished with only 20cm left - by the skin of my teeth! I didn’t feel the need to block this either, the cotton responded very well to a light pressing only.

I’ve also been busy working on ideas for a ring cushion for a friend’s wedding. I know there does seem to be a red theme developing here but we do love other colours too. The bride wanted it to match her shoes, so she managed to find some for me and here’s what I’ve come up with so far. It’s a mini-version. I need to back the fabric because it’s very thin and hard to work on, so I may try some iron-on lining tomorrow. Wonder if my SP will notice that I’ve used some of her ribbon already!

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This is the second Pumpkin I’ve made but I realised the last little man I made this for is now 5! It’s knitting up quite quickly despite the fact that it splits very easily. Anyone else had this problem - it certainly made casting on a challenge. I chose some very rounded and blunt-ended needles, which made it easier. As it’s 100% cotton, I am a little worried it’s going to stretch and bag. We’ll just have to wait and see. You can’t see from the photo but the hood is completely in moss stitch and it really makes this little jumper stand out.

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I love making these. They’re so quick and you could just eat them - candy cane boots for a certain Welsh-Australian bub. I guess the colours are fairly apt for Valentines too.

Cashmere Bootees
Erika Knight
Simple Knits for Cherished Babies
3.75mm vintage straights
Rowan Wool Cotton in red and cream

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I started this some time ago and like many things, it got packed away when I got tired of it. Am having a bit of a tidy up of things before I get into new projects and this was begging to be finished. It’s a Butternut Road sampler by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum. You can see the finished product here if you can’t wait for me to finish!

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I got a lovely surprise in the post this morning from my secret pal. There was a little note along with some silky fabric, ribbon and some gorgeous heart-shaped stitch markers from The Devil Makes Work. They look like they’re millefiori murano glass. Very pretty and my first ones, so that’s exciting. Thanks SP!

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I had been meaning to order a shade card from Jamieson & Smith for ages. I bought Mum a copy of Heirloom Knitting for her birthday and she wanted some 1ply cobweb for a shawl. Sharon suggests their cobweb for the finer lace projects. It looks very fine and will take a while to do, so she’s got 10 balls coming her way soon! I, on the other hand, have too many projects in my head to make yet but it will be handy for future reference.

Also, go and support the incredibly talented gals showcased in Whip Up. There’s some fab articles on there already! Go and get inspired.

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