Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Toy Drop Lands In Brisbane

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Brisbane’s (Australia) largest handmade collective, BrisStyle, is joining forces with the Toy Society to co-ordinate a MEGA Toy Drop throughout the South East and beyond during the month of May. Hundreds of toys with notes to “take me home” are set to be anonymously tied to trees, lamp posts or left in other prominent places throughout the immediate Brisbane region, and with BrisStyle’s networks reaching a global audience drops are set to be made the world over.

The Toy Society started this global gift giving exercise as a way to give random recipients the buzz of receiving a “something for nothing” experience as well as for creative communities to contribute to their local streetscape and encourage people to notice and engage with their surroundings.

The local BrisStyle project will give crafty souls near and far purpose to their creative passions by lifting spirits throughout the communities where they secretly drop their handmade toys. The emphasis will be to think big and drop not only in urban areas but also those suburbs which may be in need some extra care and attention such as those which have been recently affected by natural disasters.

The May 27th BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets will mark the end of the project with King George Square being transformed into a toy giving hub. Leading up to this celebration, the Square will see random acts of toy giving kindness bringing it to life as well as highlighting Brisbane’s sense of community.

WHEN :: From 9th to 27th May –  ending with the BrisStyle Indie Twilight Markets in King George Square on Friday May 27th from 5pm – 9pm

WHERE :: Think BIG! Drops can be made in your local areas (whether you are local, out of state or overseas), a flood or cyclone affected suburb or any suburb in need of some care and attention.

WHO :: Whether you are in Queensland, Australia or even the other side of the world you can participate. Get your Mum and your Nana involved; your friends at work or school – anyone who loves to craft for a purpose.

WHAT::  As featured in the courier mail our sister site CraftBits.com is chock full of plushie patterns so everyone can have a go at making something to “Drop” away.

Don’t forget to come back here and tell us if you are “dropping” something we know we certainly are and will share the pictures soon.


MORE INFORMATION: http://brisstyle.blogspot.com/2011/04/brisbane-comes-to-life-with-its-own-toy.html or  http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/

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Crochet Christmas Hat and Mitten Ornament

This tiny crochet Christmas hat and mitten set is such a sweet little holiday make. It works up in festive stripes and looks lovely as a tree ornament, package topper, stocking decoration, or tucked onto a wreath. It’s also one of those fun small projects that uses up leftover yarn, which is always satisfying around Christmas.

Materials

  • Red Heart Super Sport or 3 ply sport yarn in Christmas colours such as: 
    • Blue 
    • White 
    • Green 
  • Size 1 steel crochet hook 
  • Yarn needle for finishing 

Finished Size

  • Hat: approximately 1½ inches long 
  • Mitten: approximately 2 inches long 

Abbreviations

  • ch = chain 
  • sc = single crochet 
  • sl st = slip stitch 
  • st = stitch 
  • sts = stitches 
  • tog = together 
  • rpt = repeat 
  • rnd = round 
  • lps = loops 

Pattern Notes

  • Unless otherwise stated, work in the back loops only. 
  • Join rounds with a slip stitch. 
  • The mitten is worked from the cuff upward. 
  • The hat is worked from the cuff upward. 
  • For a more traditional Christmas look, try red, white, and green. 

Christmas Mitten Ornament

Cuff

With mitten colour, ch 6.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the remaining 4 ch. Turn.
 (5 sc)

Rows 2–12: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 13: Hold the first and last rows together, matching stitches. Working through both thicknesses, ch 1, sl st in each st across to form the cuff. Do not turn.

Hand

Rnd 14: Working in the ends of the cuff rows, ch 1, (sc in next row end, 2 sc in next row end) around. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (18 sts)

Rnd 15: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off.

Rnd 16: Join stripe colour with sc in first st, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off.

Rnd 17: With mitten colour, repeat Round 16.

Rnd 18: Join stripe colour with sc in first st, sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st, leaving last 6 sts unworked. Join. Fasten off.
 (13 sts)

Rnds 19–21: Repeat Rounds 17 and 16 alternately, ending with Round 17.

Rnd 22: Working in both loops, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

Rnd 23: Working in both loops, ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in each of next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog) 2 times, sc in last st. Join.
 Leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off.

Thread the yarn tail through the stitches of Round 23, pull to gather, and secure.

Thumb

Working in both loops, join mitten colour with sc in the first unworked st of Round 17.

Thumb Round 1: Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (7 sc)

Thumb Rounds 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

At the end of the final round, leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off. Thread yarn through the stitches, pull to gather, and secure.

Christmas Hat Ornament

Cuff

With hat colour, ch 4.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the last 2 ch. Turn.
 (3 sc)

Rows 2–32: Working in back loops only, ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 33: Repeat Row 13 of the mitten pattern to join the cuff into a ring.

Hat Body

Rnd 34: Working in the ends of rows around the cuff, ch 1, sc in each row around. Join with sl st in first sc.
 (32 sts)

Rnd 35: Working in back loops only, ch 1, sc in each st around. Join.

Rnds 36–38: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join. Fasten off at the end of Round 38.

Rnds 39–44: Working in back loops only, repeat Rounds 16 and 17 of the mitten alternately for festive striping.

Rnd 45: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in next 2 sts, sc next 2 sts tog) around. Join.
 (18 sts)

Rnd 46: Repeat Round 45.
 (12 sts)

Rnd 47: Ch 1, sc in first st, sc next 2 sts tog, (sc in next st, sc next 2 sts tog) around. Join.
 Leave an 8 inch tail and fasten off.

Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pull to gather, and secure. Turn cuff up.

Tie

With mitten colour, ch 20. Fasten off.

Sew one end of the tie to the mitten cuff and the other end to the centre top of the hat on the wrong side.

Hanger

With mitten colour, ch 18. Fasten off.

Tack both ends of the hanger to the centre top of the hat on the right side.

This tiny Christmas set is adorable worked in classic holiday shades, and it would be very cute hanging on the tree beside handmade stockings and mini crochet candy canes.