I love the moment just before a storm hits, the atmosphere is both silent and electric, beautiful…
Archive | Summer
Mountain Biking in the HEAT!
Arriving at Modderfontein Bike Park
It’s so beautiful there.
Richard patiently waiting for me:)
Riding over the bridge at the end of the loop, I’m exhausted but thrilled to finish!
Richard braaing our meat for supper.
The girls picking carrots for our salad.
Today has been a boiling hot day! Richard and I got up early, drove to Modderfontien Bike Park and spent the next two hours riding around a mountain bike loop. At one stage his Garmin was giving temperature readings of 37 degrees Celsius! The ride was great but the hills were a killer, I actually felt like I was going to pass out on one of the steep hills, so I got off my bike and walked up instead. It was a great experience though, Richard was so patient and encouraging, which was wonderful. We rode 16km of hills and winding paths! I can now see why people fall in love with this sport, it’s really fantastic.
We had a lovely light lunch afterwards and then drove home, its been such a relaxing day otherwise and then tonight we had a family braai. Shew, I’m going to sleep well tonight:) Our veg garden is overflowing with produce, I need to get in there and do some weeding someday soon.
PS I’ve also just cast on for a new design for a Panda.
Have a lovely weekend xx
Bluebird Knitting Pattern Tutorial
I have been wanting to add this knitting pattern to my blog for a while to share. It was featured over at the lovely, Rhythm of The Home and now I am adding it here:) This little Bluebird is wonderful for nature tables, a small stocking filler at Christmas time etc…
This Bluebird of Happiness pattern is knitted with The Magic Loop method of knitting with circular needles.
Materials:
Brushed Mohair
Circular Needles
Fleece
Wool needle
Brown yarn for beak
Felting needle, black fleece for eyes
Pattern:
With circular needles, cast on 9 stitches (knitting in garter stitch (plain)). Join for knitting in the round and place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.
Round 1: Knit 1 round.
Round 2: Knit into the front and back of each stitch for 1 round (18 stitches).
Round 3: Knit 1 round.
Round 4: Knit into the front and back of each stitch for 1 round (36 stitches).
Knit seven rows.
Round 12: (Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 together) repeat across this round.
Round 13: Knit 1 round.
Round 14: (Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 together) repeat across this round.
Round 15: Knit 1 round.
Round 16: Knit into the front and the back of each stitch to increase.
Knit 4 rounds.
Round 21: (Knit 2 stitches together) repeat to the end of the round.
Break yarn and thread the yarn onto a wool needle and thread the remaining stitches through the wool needle and leave until you are finished filling your bird with stuffing.
Tail:
The tail is knit in garter stitch (plain).
Cast on 3 stitches
Knit 6 rows.
Cast on 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the row.
Knit 3 rows.
Cast off.
Wings:
Knit wings in garter stitch (plain)
Cast on 5 stitches.
Knit first and second row.
Row 3: Cast on 2 stitches at the beginning of the row and 1 stitch at the end of the row.
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Cast on 1 stitch at the beginning and knit 2 together at the end of the row.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Knit 2 stitches together at the beginning of the row, knit to the end of the row.
Row 8: Knit.
Cast off.
Fill your bluebird with soft fleece and ensure he is wonderfully firm, shaping him as you go. Take your needle and thread it through your stitches and pull firmly closed and finish off.
Shape your bluebird gently, by pushing more fleece to the back as can be seen in the photo.
Sew on wings and tail.
To make the beak, sew a loop in brown wool and weave in and out through the loop and finish off.
Needle felt on two black eyes with fleece and a felting needle.
And here he is finished!
Enjoy:)
Please note, this pattern is for personal use only, and not for resale, items knitted from this pattern may not be sold for commercial purposes, thank you.
