crafternoon

Don't you love an afternoon of crafting? There was a rare moment of calm around the Truly Myrtle kitchen table this week, everyone intently making and creating. Now, don't go thinking it's usually like this around here because it's not. We have more than our fair share of squabbling and shouting! But, all the Myrtle kids love to make stuff and if I get a little organised, sometimes we can spend an hour happily making stuff all together.

There were a range of things happening at this crafternoon. Gabe had a go at making a papier mache cup, Zoë was busy with origami, Nelly and Tess helped me make black (lemon flavoured) and pink (strawberry flavoured) playdough and of course I had my knitting. I am speedily making myself a pair of fingerless mitts for the show of hands kal hosted by Evelyn at Project Stash. Mine are the Nalu mitts, a free pattern by Leila Raabe and I'm really pleased with how they're turning out. There's a simple cable pattern up the front and although I'm not a huge fan of knitting cables, this is quite fun and not too fiddly. 

The yarn is lovely. I wasn't too sure how it would knit up but it's looking great and actually I can see it making a great cardigan ;) It's Baby Merino Silk DK by Rowan; 66% merino superwash wool and 34% tussah silk in the teal colourway and it looks like I'm going to get a pair from just one ball (135m / 147 yards). My photographs don't do the colour justice. It is more blue than grey in real life. I'm working hard at my photography skills. Mr Myrtle treated me to a lovely new camera for my recent birthday and I'm trying to figure out how it works. I had a little point and click camera before, so shutter speeds, ISO and F stops are all very new to me .... plus, most of the time my subjects are not the most cooperative of models :)

By the way - if you've never made playdough it's super easy. Here's how: 

Put all the following ingredients into a medium sized pot;

1 cup of plain flour

1/2 cup of salt

1 tablespoon of cooking oil

2 teaspoons of cream of tartar

1 cup of water

A good squirt of food colouring

A good squirt of a food flavouring or essence (this makes the playdough nice and smelly - it's NOT for eating!!! It won't hurt you if you do, but it'll taste yuck)

Stir well on a low heat. The playdough will thicken and form a ball. Tip it out and knead a little. Done!

I tend to be a little heavy handed with the oil because it makes it lovely and pliable.

Playdough can be stored for a couple of weeks in an airtight container. Enjoy!