Jelly Xmas Star Tutorial - revisited....

With Xmas only just over a month away I've been getting quite a few emails from people about the Crochet Xmas Star Tutorial I did back here. For some reason Google swallowed up all the pictures from that post back at the start of this year and with the help of a tech-y friend I have finally been able to recover them again....

So, here's the post again - same photos, same instructions, just in a 'newer' post.

If you'd like to make some Xmas-y Stars this year then grab yourself some 8ply yarn (1 used 100% merino in the pictures below but cotton would be equally as good) and a 4mm hook.

(note - american crochet terms are used for this pattern)

To start, make a foundation chain of 5, join with a slip stitch to the first chain to form a ring.

Round 1 - (you will be working this round into the ring formed with the foundation chain) ch3, 2dc, ch3, *3dc, ch3. Repeat from the * 3 more times (5 dc clusters and 5 ch3's total). Join with a slip stitch to the 3rd ch of the starting ch3.

 

Round 2 - slip stitch into the next 2 dc and into the first ch3 space. ch3, (2dc, ch3, 3dc) all in the same (1st) ch3 space. 1hdc in 2nd dc of next dc cluster (a cluster is a group of 3dc's worked in the previous round). *3dc, ch3, 3dc in next ch3 space, 1hdc in 2nd dc of next dc cluster. Repeat from * 3 more times.

 

Join with a slip stitch in 3rd chain of starting ch3.

 

Round 3 - Slip stitch into next 2 dc and into first ch3 space. Ch3, (3dc, ch4, 4dc) all in the same (1st) ch3 space. 1sc on either side of hdc from previous round.

 

(4dc, ch4, 4dc) in next ch3 space, 1sc on either side of next hdc from previous round. Repeat from * 3 more times. Join with a slip stitch in 3rd chain from starting ch3. Fasten off and weave in ends...

These stars are great sewn into a garland or hung by themselves on your tree. Why not make them in a thick cotton for a Xmas-y themed washer...

Garden Update....

The past 2 days has seen a much needed 32mm of rain fall over our farm so it was nice to step outside this afternoon to snap a few shots of a freshly showered garden - clean of all the red dust which is usually present....

I'm excited to have apple trees blossoming,

hundreds (and I'm not exaggerating!!!) of passion fruit ready-ing themselves for harvest in the coming month,

many a tomato starting to swell (mmmmm tomato relish),

pomegranates setting fruit,

'mini muncher' cucumbers just starting to appear,

heirloom zucchini's growing by the minute,

sweet radishes plump for the picking,

and rows of french corn finally starting to fill in (even if it is only just a little)....

What's happening in your garden at the moment???

Homemade Dressing

Although we are in desperate need of some good soaking rain here at the moment our veggie patch is still producing prolific amounts of delicious produce which I am grateful for each and every day.

 

This afternoon amongst my harvest was the first of many cabbages.

This is a 'Savoy' variety and has taken me approx 15 weeks to grow it from seed to plate. I water my cabbage patch every second day and fertilizer it weekly with some kind of organic matter be it sheep, chook, or horse poop, sometimes even seaweed solution...

 

I have peas planted on one side of my cabbage patch and broccoli on the other. These have helped keep any of those nasty pests away and has eliminated the need for spraying - YAY!!!  

I love raw cabbage and for dinner tonight am making one of my favourite salads - Coleslaw!!!

I don't care too much for the commercially made dressings so for as long as I can remember I've made my own... It's super easy, only takes a couple of ingredients and is really worth a try - trust me!!!

Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

 

2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons of sugar

1/2 cup of mayonnaise (I like to make my own but store bought is fine too just make sure it's a deliciously creamy one)

 

Put all ingredients into a jar and shake well for 10 seconds. Chop up some cabbage, grate up some carrot, slice up some sweet onions and why not even add a few slithers of fresh radish for a Summer-y kick. Stir through the dressing 10 minutes before serving and I promise you won't be disappointed in the least!!!

 

We love this Coleslaw on fresh buns with grilled chicken or sausages - Yum-o!!! But served on the side with a gorgeous green salad and a good piece of protein is also just as divine...

 

Enjoy... :)