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Review – Wind In The Willows by La Boite Theatre Company

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We were invited to attend Wind in The Willows at the La-boite Theatre Company. I took along my two children 5 and 7. Let me start by saying the play was great! Luke Carroll was great!

I recommend the play, but don’t take young kids. From 8+ onwards depending on their maturity would be ok, and they would need to know the story of Wind in the Willows to truly grasp the character changes. (My daughter read the book a few days before in preparation). I feel the play was misrepresented and here is why :

I had seen a few different advertisements around for the show. Obviously the write-ups were taken from the media release. Most had the image shown above of Luke Carroll. He did not wear this costume, he did not have whiskers on, he was not as cute as a mouse (as in the image). He was just a man in dungarees and changed in and out of a coat to transform between characters  (hard for my usually concept grasping 5 year old to grasp this time).

Several write-ups (including this one at Creative Drinks and havenmagazine.com) had written that the costumes were magical and the sets meticulous. The costumes were creative and imaginative: at one point a towel on Luke Carroll’s head transforms him into a judge. Yes, very creative but really would kids get it? By the noise of children chattering and fidgeting around us I am guessing no. It clearly states it was aimed for 4-12 year old’s or anyone who enjoys playing in boats. Um there was only a few sections where the boat was used. I can see some boat loving kids rocking up for a “boat” themed play and being hugely disappointed and we mum’s trying to console them afterwards. Oh the pressures of being a mum, do they have any idea what false promises can do to children.

I personally found the acting very fast as it was hard to follow the lines at times and I am worried how children could follow. There were some fun bits where the audience participated including becoming a sock puppet at a party and making the chugging sounds of a train. These were towards the end which was good as the children who were getting restless and bored or distracted were brought back in again even if they had no idea what they were doing it for.

Check out this review by Rachel and this one too by Absolutetheatre which covers more of the actual story line.

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How to Fix a Missed Crochet Stitch (No Frogging Needed!)

how to fix a mixed stitch title image

How to Fix a Missed Crochet Stitch (Without Starting Over!)

We’ve all been there. You’re happily crocheting away, making great progress on your project, when suddenly you notice something’s off. The edges don’t look quite right, or your piece seems narrower than it should be. Yep – you’ve missed a stitch. But don’t worry! Before you even think about unraveling your hard work, let me show you how to fix this common mistake the easy way.

First, How Can You Tell You’ve Skipped a Stitch?

Missed stitches love to hide, but they usually give themselves away if you know what to look for. Your project might start looking narrower than it should, or the edges might appear wavy instead of straight. Sometimes you’ll notice your stitch count is suddenly off. The most common places this happens are at the very beginning or end of a row, or when you’re switching between different types of stitches.

Five Simple Ways to Fix a Missed Stitch

1. The Drop-Down and Rebuild Method
This works great if you’ve just made the mistake in the last row or two. Find where you missed the stitch in the row below, carefully undo just the stitches above it, then re-crochet them correctly. It’s like giving your project a tiny do-over.

2. The Chain-Up Fix
Perfect for when you’ve missed a stitch at the end of a row. Just add an extra chain at the end of your current row, then treat it as a real stitch in the next row. It’s a simple way to keep your edges even.

3. The Invisible Increase Trick
If you missed a stitch somewhere in the middle of your work, try working two stitches into one in the next row. This sneaky trick keeps your stitch count right without making the fix obvious.

4. The Surface Crochet Patch
For those times when other fixes won’t work, you can literally sew a new stitch over the gap. Match your sewing to the surrounding stitches, and no one will ever know there was a mistake.

5. The Creative Cover-Up
When all else fails, get creative! Add a cute button, an appliqué, or some embroidery over the spot. This works especially well for projects like amigurumi or decorative items.

How to Avoid Missing Stitches in the Future

Now that you know how to fix missed stitches, let’s talk about preventing them. Always count your stitches every few rows – stitch markers can be a huge help here. Make a habit of marking your first and last stitches so they’re easier to spot. Good lighting makes a big difference too, especially when working with dark yarn. And remember, consistent tension in your stitches helps keep everything even.

Remember: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

Here’s the most important thing to remember – crochet is supposed to be fun! A missed stitch here or there doesn’t mean you’re bad at crochet. In fact, most small mistakes won’t even be noticeable in your finished project. Unless it’s a really major error, don’t stress too much about being perfect. Those little imperfections are what make handmade items special.

Now that you’re armed with these fixes, you can crochet with confidence, knowing that even if you do miss a stitch, it’s no big deal. Happy crocheting!