Larry the Lamar

 I was around at my friends place one Saturday afternoon and I found this in one of her Handmade Magazine. I borrowed the book and rush straight home to get stuck in and to try and see if I could make this. Well I am pleased to say Tad ah and  finished by Sunday after noon.  

Change to Larry the Lamar . 

This sweet giraffe designed by Kathryn McWilliam well delight any little one and would also look great in bright primary colours

• Enough to make two giraffes 
• 50gm balls each of colours you have chosen
• 3mm (No11 Uk) crochet hook
• Scrap of black felt ( I used black buttons however if you  give to baby avoid ) Hazard to choking
• Short length of red wool for smile.
• Paddle-Pop stick for neck ( helps to keep the neck up right)
• Polyester filing 
• Darning needle

Mesurements finished size 45.5cm (18in)

Abbreviations: ch=chain, dc= double cochet tog= together 

Noted please this is in  UK terms . 

so if it saying dc,in USA terms it sc single crochet terms. 

Note: the giraffe is worked in rounds. Use a small piece of contrasting yarn as a marker at the beginning of each round. When a round is finished , move the marker to the start of the next round. Note: a yarn other than that specified will not give satisfactory results. ( I use a Crochet Marker that you can buy at your local wool supplier  

When I completed this lovely thing . I took it into work. My work Mates said something was missing from its head to make it look like a Giraffe . One lady said it looks more like a Lamar than a Giraffe. So I have changed it to Larry the Larmar.

HEAD

Starting at the nose with a  light brown yarn, wrok 2 ch then 6dc in second ch from the hook.

Round 1: 2dc in each dc.....12dc

Round 2: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc* repeat from * to * to end of round... 18dc

Round 3 to 5 : Dc.

Round 6 : *2dc in next dc, 1 dec in next dc* , repeat from * to * to end of round ... 27dc

Rounds 7 and 8: Dc 

Change to white yarn. 

Round 9: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in each of next 2dc*, repeat from* to* te end ...36dc.

Round 10: DC

Round 11: *2dc in next dc, 1dc each of next 8dc*, repeat from * to * to end 40dc.

Round 12: Dc 

Round 13: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 4dc*, repeat from * to * ...48dc

Round 14: Dc

Round 15: *dc2tog, 1dc in next 4dc*, repeat from * to * to end...40dc

Round 16: Dc

Round17: *dc2tog, 1dc in next 3dc*, repeat from * to * to end 32dc.

Round 18 and 19: Dc

Round 20:  *dc2tog, 1dc in next 2dc.

Round 21:  Dc

Round 22: dc2tog to end 12dc.

Begin to stuff the head with polyester filling before the opening is too small.

Round 23: dc2tog to end ...6dc

Finish stuffing the head firmly, trim the yarn with a long tail, thread it in the darning needle, then close the opening with a few tight stitches.

TOP TIP :  Use the different colour yarns randomly changing every four to six rounds. 

NECK AND BODY: 

Chain 19, join into a ring being careful to not twist the chain.

Round: 1 Miss 1ch, 1dc in each cha to end...18dc.

Round: 2 to 20: Dc

Round 21: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 5dc*, repeat from *to* to end ...21dc.

Round 22: Dc.

Round 23: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 6dc*, repeat from * to * to end...24dc

Round 24: Dc

Round 25: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 3dc*, repeat from * to * to end...30dc. 

Round 26:  30dc.

Round 27: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 2 dc*, repeat from * to * to end ....40dc.

Round 28 to 31: Dc 

Round 32: *2dc in next dc, 1dc in next 3dc*, repeat from * to * to end ...50dc

Round 33 to 39: Dc

Begin to decrease as follows: 

Round 40: *dc2tog, 1dc in next dc* repeat from *to * to last  2dc then dc 2tog ...33dc

Round 41: *dc2tog, 1dc in next dc* repeat from *to * to end ...22dc.

Round 42: Dc

Round 43: Dc2tog to end ...11dc. 

Begin to stuff body before opening is too small.

Round 44: Dc2tog to last st, 1dc...6dc

Round 45: Dc2tog to end ... 3dc.

Finish stuffing body, noting that the neck opening will be stuffed and closed after finishing the body. 

Cut yarn at body opening, leaving a tail, then sew the opening together as before. 

Rejoin yarn at neck edge in matching colour to orginal.

To close neck: Dc2tog to end of round ...9dc.

Dc2tog to last st, dc ...5dc. 

Finish off and cut the yarn with a long tail. 

The Neck can be made firmer by inserting an ice block stick or half a chopstick into it and stuffing around it. Finish off the thread and leave a long tail. Pin the head in place at the top of the neck then ladder-stitch them together with matching thread. 

EARS

makes 4

Note: these are worked as rows. 

Chain 12.

Row 1: miss 1st ch, 1dc in each ch to end.....11dc

Row 2 to 8: Dc

Row 9: Miss 1dc, 1dc in next 9dc, miss last dc

Row 10:  Dc

Row 11: Miss 1dc, dc in next 7dc, miss last dc.

Row 12: Dc

Row 13: Miss 1dc, dc in next 5dc, miss last dc.

Row 14: Dc.

Row 15: Miss 1dc, dc in next 3dc, miss lastdc. 

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. 

With right sides facing, sew two ears pieces together along the curved edges, leaving the bottom edges open. Turn it right side out, then stuff it lightly with polyester filling. Gather the lower edge, fasten off the thread with a few tight stitches but don't cut it Attach the ear to the side of the head with the rest of the thread. 

Complete the other ear in the same way.

FORELEGS: 

Makes 2 

Note: Change colour every six rows. One colour will be used twice. 

Ch2 then 6dc in 2nd ch from hook.

Round 1: 2dc in each dc to end ...12dc.

Round 2: 2dc in each dc to end 24dc.

Round 3 to 5: Dc

Round 6: *dc2tog, 1dc*, repeat from * to * to end... 16dc.

Change colour. 

Round 7 to 37: Dc changing colour after 6ounds. 

Stuffing foreleg firmly: 

Round 38: dc2tog to end ...8dc

Round 39: dc2tog to end ...4dc.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail, and close the opening with a few tight stitches. Sew the forelegs to the body. 

BACK LEGS: 

Make these in the same way as the forelegs, adding six more rows to the length before stuffing - two colours will be used twice. Stuff them and close the openings as before. 

Sew the legs to the body. 

FINISHING:

Cut two small circles out of the black felt for the eyes then sew them in place. Stem stitch the mount with red wool or black. 

You can hand stitch the eyes if you wish . I used buttons . But that was for my first trail. However if I was giving it to a baby for a gift I would hand sew black thread as this would not cause choking. 

I would not like that to happen . I have read up on toy making and this is a NO1 rule. 

Full of colour crochet hangers

Well Christmas is only just around the corner and I have a few orders to get sorted before then.

 I started with this order of crochet hangers and I am using up some of my odd wool and I had them in a box next to my seat.

Yesterday I was out and about with my youngest daughter and while waiting for her to finish her dance practice there was a lady selling her odd bits and pieces outside a shop, and look what I found , I had the exact change on me, so It was meant to be and I knew what I would use it for. 

I have three orders to get done and started with a order of six. and each one needs to be different just to make them look colourful and bright.

I  will try and get a few made for the xmas markets that we have coming up at the end of December . But I have a feeling I am ruining out of time. 

I took some of these into work and received some more orders. When I posted this on the Obancottage Facebook page we  received another order. 

We have got a price for them and based on the matrial and cost of time which is very hard to do. We have come up with a resalable price. 

$5 each or $20 for 5. 

Email me if you wish to place a order . tanya.williams@slingshot.co.nz 

Chicken roulade

I was completely and totally impressed with this recipe . This is 

is yet another great recipe from Kim Evan out of her new cook book Little and Friday. I found this recipe on the latest Taste Magazine . This was great and full of flavor. Just a little tricky but not too bad. I didn't use the Prosciutto as way to expensive , so I use streaky bacon which we pe-cook under the grill prior to making the dish up. So give this a go and see how easy this was and I am sure you will impress your guest with this dish.  

I serve this cold and made sure it was completely cold before cutting up. I took the leftover to work and just re heat this for a minute and I liked it hot more than cold but still very nice for a summer night meal served with a side salad and potatoes of your choice. 

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 glove garlic, crushed 

250g pork mince

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley 

1 cup breadcrumbs 

1 egg

6 slices of prosciutto

2 double chicken breast , skinless 

100 slices bacon 

handful of basil leaves 

4  hard boil eggs. 

1. Preheat oven to 180c 
2. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook onion and garlic until translucent.
3. In a bowl, mix pork mince, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg and cooked onion mixture until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Lay 2 sheets of aluminium foil on top of each other on the bench. Lay slices of prosciutto crosswise down the centre of the foil, slightly overlapping the slices.
5. Place chicken breast in a plastic bag and flatten, using a rolling pin or mallet. Lay flattened breasts over the prosciutto. 
6. Spread mince mixture over chicken breasts, then top with bacon, slightly overlapping the slices. Top with torn basil leaves, then line up hard-boiled eggs down the middle. 
7. With the long side facing you. Roll up the roulade in the foil, forming a tight roll. Twist the ends of the foil to sea. Place on a baking tray and cook in the centre of oven for 1 1/4 hours. 
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before unwrapping. 

This can be stored in your fridge for up to 2 days. However if your place is like mine you might be lucky to get leftover to take to work the next day for your lunch . 

This serve 5 adults and one child with leftovers . Great costs for at least two meals