Friday Chat Day

Hello friends.

Welcome to another Friday Chat Day, they roll around 

pretty quickly don't they.

Hope you are all keeping well and still be vigilant. 

So in my little world a lot of the usual things going on.

Crochet:

I'm still loving all this extra time I have to crochet and delighted

at the progress of this Seaside Stashbusting Blanket which is for a friend.

It's folded in half here so much wider in real life.

I'm just over half way through and hoping I get this finished by next Friday.

I did not get around to making up all the flowers into a garland this week,

I think I'm procrastinating because I like seeing them all piled on this tray.

Bit of a dust trap though.

I've had a few people contact me to say how they would like

to crochet but have struggled to learn.

I definitely struggled, back in 2013 when I had my shop, I even enlisted a tutor 

to come and teach crochet classes but I couldn't grasp it.

My issue was holding the hook and yarn,

it felt clumsy and tension was all over the place.

Then last year I picked up a crochet hook and held it differently,

keeping both yarn and hook in my right hand, more like knitting and it worked.

My reason for sharing this is to ask you if any would-be

crocheters would benefit from some tutorials on a different way to crochet?

As mentioned, I'm still on furlough leave from my city job so 

I may have some time to dedicate to some tutorials.

I get time to think up this stuff when I'm in my 'crochet corner'

and this is it.  Nothing glamorous and yes, this is after a tidy up.

It is upstairs (away from my noisy neighbours!)

Out of photo shot is my full yarn stash - a little embarrassed to photo that!

Also out of shot, my TV, 

news of what I've been watching this week ...

please scroll down.

Recipe:

A great idea from Jean that I have a tab at the top of my 

blog for Recipes - I've done just that with links for the printables. 

Thank you Jean.

Chocolatey Chocolate Cake this week. 

It is lovely as an afternoon tea cake or as a dessert served 

with raspberries/strawberries.

175g/6oz self-raising flour, 

175g/6oz sugar, 

175g/6oz soft margarine or butter (room temperature), 
1½ teaspoons of baking powder,

3 tablespoons of cocoa powder,

3 eggs – beaten, 
1½ tablespoon of milk (optional)

Preheat oven to 180C, 350F or Gas Mark 4.

 Grease and line two 20cm sandwich tins.

Sift flour and baking powder together.  

Add cocoa powder, butter or margarine, sugar and eggs and

 beat with an electric hand whisk or food processor until well mixed.  

If the mixture is too thick add a little milk and mix again.  

Divide mixture evenly between sandwich tins.  

Bake for 25-30 minutes until risen. 

Remove from tin and cool on wire rack.

Buttercream: mix 50g/2oz of softened butter with 
100g/4oz sifted icing sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk.  

For the flavouring add 25g of melted chocolate (I tend to use more!) 

or as an alternative, 2 teaspoons of instant coffee 

mixed with 2 teaspoons of boiling water.  

Enjoy!

Click here for the Chocolate Cake printable.

Telly:

This week whilst camped in my Crochet Corner

I've been having a bit of a Netflix fest.

First one...

Hollywood.

Drama about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers just after World War II,

all trying to make their dreams come true.

It's cliche, a little bit saucy(!) but very entertaining.

I also love seeing the hair and outfits, they have the reddest of 

lipsticks and nail varnish. 

Second one...

 The English Game

Developed by Julian Fellows it is a six part drama series.

Imagine Downton Abbey crossed with Catherine Cookson

with a dash of footie thrown in! 

I am no football fan but actually there isn't a huge amount of football

in it, it focuses more on the relationships of the characters.

And I am a sucker for period dramas.

Craft:

Charity Kit Day this Sunday and this month we are supporting

the hedgehogs - The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Adorable and curious creatures.

Here's a sneak peek of Sunday's kit.

If it takes your fancy, please stop by.

And that wraps up another week, oh I nearly forgot the pooch.

Photo purely to show that she has a nice trimmed tummy -
hair wise not weight! She too is tempted by the biscuit barrel. 

 

Take care friends, wishing you a lovely weekend

whatever you may be doing - keep safe.