The Rainbow Realta (aka the stash-busting blanket)

So in between all the baking I have done over the last 2 weeks, I have been trying to complete another afghan.  Back when I was completing this blue afghan  as a gift for my daughters teacher, my son decided that he  wanted a blanket for his end-of-the-year gift for his teacher too.  He didn't want a boring blanket though, his teacher "liked colours!".

I was on board with that, after all, I knew I had more then enough colours in the various yarn stashes around the apartment, and I had the perfect pattern for the job.

I found the pattern very easy to follow and it is very versatile to whatever colour pallet you have to work with.


The Realta afghan  created by the very talented Gingerbread Lady.  She is also the creator of the Kitties in a Row Blanket  that I made. ( shown in this post).  Check out her blog.

Kitty Cats and Bunnies

Well finally the nice weather has decided to join us so the kids and I have been spending lots of time at the park.  Yipee!  I've also been able to get a fair bit of Spring cleaning done...I don't know if it's just me...but I do my best cleaning when its bright and sunny.  If its raining ...forget it. 

So with one thing and another I haven't spent much time in the kitchen.  I did do a couple of batches of various berry muffins for the kids lunches but since they look like every other muffin on the planet I won't bore you with them here.  I did do some baking for Easter.  Mini Carrot cake  (Forgot to take a piccture) and for all the kids I made Brownie Bunnies Pops.

Yes, that is a snowman hiding behind them....my cousin has already teased me about still having that out at Easter....but thats not the worst bit I'm afraid...Mr. Snowman is also filled with my kids Halloween candy!!


So I haven't been baking but I have been continuing my stash-busting efforts and have just completed this stroller blanket.  Its in WW yarn so it can hold up to trips to the park and such.  I used the Kitty Afghan pattern that I found on The Adventures of the Gingerbread Lady although I did my final round different then hers.  (at 2 am I just couldn't follow the instructions..not her fault... so just did a simple 2 DC in each space going around...)

Pattern can be found here:   kitties-in-row-afghan

Goodbye Mrs. A, we'll miss you

Well I know I said I wouldn't be the type to post non-stop, but today is a bit of a special case.  Yesterday I found out that my daughters teacher is leaving tommorow.  (She was only filling in for another teacher who is now coming back from Mat. leave).  I'm not sure how I missed out on knowing this and I feel bad.  She is a great teacher and I know how hard it will be for my daughter to adjust to this change, this far into the year.

So anyways  yesterday after school my daughter makes this announcement and then says she wants to give her teacher something special to say goodbye.  2 days notice!!!!  Ack!!!!

Luckily I have recently come to grips with my yarn addiction and in an effort to reclaim my closets i have started to do some serious stash-busting.  (hey 8 large rubbermaid totes and 3 garbage bags of yarn take up ALOT of space you know).  So I have a couple of afghans on the go.  Just finnished one of them tonight with time to spare. (ha!)  Its a good size for a couch throw, as my daughter says, its a good cuddle blanket for her teacher to share with her husband.  I hope she likes it.

The pattern is one that I just ended up liking after about half a dozen false starts.  The finished size ended up being approx. 4 ft x 5 ft  and I used 2 - 400gram balls of Stylecraft Aran Knitting yarn (80% Acrylic 20% Wool)  I bought the wool probably about 15 years ago or so (I told you my yarn stash was bad...)

Chain length desired

Row 1 - DC in each chain stitch

Row 2 -chain 4,  skip 1st st then TRC through both loops (whole row is done through both loops) in next 2 sts, * skip one st, TRC in next 2 sts, TRC into skipped st. * ( * forms cluster)  Continue clusters along row until last 4 sts.  Skip one stitch, TRC last 3 sts. Turn

Row 3 & 4 -DC straight across crocheting into front loops only.

Repeat rows 2-4 until desired length is achieved ending with Row 3.