Oliver Boliver

New Page - Errata

I have to admit it, firstly to my husband and then to everyone else. It's true, I'm not perfect and there's proof!  I'm afraid that a couple of errant typos have been spotted in 1 or 2 of my patterns. Frustrating all round!!  I will be correcting these for all new patterns and for those who purchased on Ravelry a new link will be available so you can download the revised pattern. In the meantime I have created an Errata Page which can be found at the top of the blog for ease of finding or in the left hand side bar under Pages of Useful Stuff which sets out the very minor corrections.

So I'll be off now to do my self imposed detention and 100 lines and sincerely promise not to do it again!!!

Pen x

Pattern Giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the birthday giveaway!  I've really enjoyed reading all your comments and learning a little about my readers. I think I also have a few suggestions which I will have to make a note of and do those things on my own birthday!

It's also been lovely to see other blogs and I will be popping back to visit you from time to time.

This post is really just an update to say that I'll be doing to random number generator thingy later this evening and will post the winners names tomorrow! 

Good luck everyone!!

Pen x

Free Pattern Giveaway and Oliver Boliver's First Birthday!

I've just realised that I am very close to the first anniversary of my blog and to celebrate I'd like to give something back to all those who have been following me over the last 12 months!

I currently have 5 published crochet animal patterns (frog, bunny, lamb egg cosy, bunny egg cosy, cheeky chick) and 2 knitting patterns (bobble blanket and skinny scarf) on Etsy and Ravelry and I would like to give away the following:

1st Prize: Your choice of 3 patterns

2nd Prize: Your choice of 2 patterns

3rd Prize: Your choice of 1 patterns

All you need to do is add a comment below telling me what you'd ideally like to do on your birthday (keeping it clean please!). I will then generate 3 numbers through a random number generator and post the lucky winners names on my blog.  Please make sure you leave a valid email address otherwise I won't be able to contact you about your choice of patterns.  All patterns are in PDF format and will be emailed to you.

The deadline for comments will be 5pm (GMT) on Sunday 9th May 2010 to give plenty of time for those across the pond to have a chance to leave a comment!

Good luck

Pen x

Knitting Pattern For Frog Prince and Daisy

I've been asked for a knitted version of my Frog Prince Crochet Pattern and since I fancied a challenge I'm busy clicking, writing and frogging (though mostly frogging). Seems quite apt to have to frog a frog pattern!

I'm happy with his head so far but there's a bit of a journey ahead of me before the pattern will be uploaded on Etsy and Ravelry. So, if you fancy an update as to that release just add a comment below and I'll drop you a line confirming its release date.

PS Frogging Definition: Frogs say "rib it, rib it." or if you squeeze your ears together tightly "rip it, rip it". So to frog in knitting terms is to rip it or unravel your precious but incorrect rows of knitting.

Crochet Pattern for Frog Prince and Daisy (Amigurumi Crochet Pattern)

Here is my new spring animal ....

He is a real gentleman and would never turn up without a bouquet of fresh daisies!

I've posted the pattern as a download in Ravelry and also in Etsy depending on whether you prefer to shop using pounds (Ravelry) or dollars (Etsy).  My frog prince is more complicated than my other patterns and will take longer to make although he would still fall within the easy/intermediate level. The pattern is 6 pages long and has 27 photos to help you along the way.

He's about 10cm high and the daisy is about 14 cm long depending on your final tension.

Here are some more pics so you can decide which is his best side!

  

Oliver Boliver Designs on www.ravelry.com

I'm so excited as I've managed to open my pattern shop on Ravelry! I think it must just be me as everyone else seems to be pretty sussed when it comes to using Ravelry but I've found it a real chore trying to work out what to do.... I totally accept it's just me, by the way!

For those who are new to Ravelry, it's basically a website tool aimed at us blessed knitters and crocheters full to the brim of patterns, free or paid for, for just about anything you could wish to create! You can also use it to organise your projects, needles, stash etc. If only it could tidy out the greenhouse....

I've listed my lamb egg cosy on there for the moment and I'm busy transferring my other chick and bunny patterns to pdf's so they should be popping up there too. Oh and by the way - all transactions are in £'s rather dollars. Not that it makes any real difference to the buyer as paypal sorts out the conversions for you but it helps me pay for stuff like bread and cereal and more wool!

Anyway - here is a link to my pattern shop and I'll be popping one in the side bar once I work out how....!

Happy Easter!

Firstly, Happy Easter! I hope you are having a peaceful time and enjoying the sunshine. Here are some bunnies and some lovely daffs (my favourite) which I hope will make you smile.

Well, Oliver couldn't quite believe his luck this morning when he was allowed...no.. positively encouraged to eat chocolate easter eggs for breakfast.  Although we did pay for that rather reckless decision about an hour later when he became the Sugar Monster. Thankfully I managed to locate Wallace and Gromit and 20 minutes later the sugar tide inside him had quelled and he returned to being a relatively normal (?) 2 year old.

 
I've been meaning to plant my sweetpea seeds since last October - no - really! I always get them planted early so they flower in May and I just don't know where the time has gone. I also had the task of sorting out my chaotic greenhouse --(I'm sure I left a greenhouse in the garden here somewhere....) and I had promised myself that I would tidy it up before making any more mess. I guess that was the fly in the ointment which is why I only got round to doing it today.

So, 6 packets of sweet peas and about 100 toilet rolls later, Oliver and I managed to get most of the seeds and some of the soil in the right place and fingers crossed they should be poking their little pea shoot heads up soon. I'll pop a picture on the blog then as they just look like bog rolls filled with mud and aren't very Easter-ish or particularly inspiring.  The pictures on the empty seed packets are nice though - so here you go.....

I've been making a new non-Easter amigurumi creature and I'll post more about him once he's all sewn together. He's a bit different to other bunnies and chick and will take longer to crochet but he's worth the effort I promise!  More soon... 

Easter Bunnies

I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist. I think it's the thought of eating chocolate without the guilt that did it...

The little white bunny is an egg cosy and will happily keep you soldiers company and your egg warm, all at the same time!

   

The little grey bunny is made of the softest cashmere yarn and has the cutest little fluffy tail.  He's about 4.5inches tall.

I have listed the patterns and some finished bunnies on Etsy. Please let me know what you think.

I have a feeling that they may start doing what bunnies do best and I suspect there'll be some more popping up in the next few days.

Lamb Egg Cosy inspired by Lambing Live!

Ok, I admit it.... I've been one of those millions of "oohing" and  "aahing" viewers watching Kate Humble on Lambing Live shown on the Beeb this week! Although my parents weren't farmers, my brother and I grew up in a farming community and always looked forward to lambing time. 

It never failed to raise a smile watching the fluffy white bundles race up and down playing 'follow the leader' and then 'king of the castle' improvising a castle out of a bale of hay. I still love to see them when they grow invisible springs in their little legs and go boing.. boing.. boing.. all over the place like frogs on trampolines!

So to help me cope with Lambing Live withdrawal symptoms and as a double whammy a totally non-chocolately calorie free Easter treat.. I've been busy crocheting a little lamb egg cosy and here he is.......

I shall be popping him and also the pattern over on Etsy and Ebay shortly.

Finished Hexagon Blanket

Hurrah - the 3 balls of yarns have arrived and I've got my fingers busy again!

I have finished adding the edging to the crochet blanket for my friend's baby and here is the finished article...

 

 

I hope you like it. I had a few moments whilst crocheting the edging where I wasn't sure of the colour combination so I hope it brings it altogether. I just need to make a note of the sizes etc before I wrap it up for Baby Flo and send it on its way.

If you would like the pattern please add a comment and I'll pop it on a page. I would say that the edging was a bit hit and miss to get the tension right so as long as you bear that in mind it should turn out just fine!