Octonauts Gup-A Birthday Cake

Birthday time again, and this year an Octonauts Gup-A cake. Pictures will follow soon, but for my own recollection here's the blogs I used for inspiration:

Octonauts Cake from Mummy Wife Woman (this one really close to what I did).

Octonauts Cake from Bronnies Bakes - for making models of the characters, although in the end I used the toys.

Shellington Amigurumi

Lottie Doll Beret and Poncho

Spring Celebration Ballet Lottie

My daughter got a Lottie Doll for Christmas. She got the "Spring Ballet Lottie" which comes with a leotard, and tights, but Lottie looked a bit cold.

So I wanted to make Lottie some winter outer wear. Something simple and quick, and using some remnants of sparkly purple wool I had from another project. There are many Barbie clothing items online, but Lottie is a bit shorter than Barbie. So I modified a poncho pattern I found on Ravelry, and also made a beret to match with the same wool (also slightly modified from a barbie pattern online).








Here's the details:

Beret 

(based on "Barbie Basics" beret by Lynne Sears)

Lottie in her beret and poncho.

Cast on 24 st
Row 1-2 K1, P2 rib for 2 rows
Row 3-4 st st for 2 rows
Row 5 Inc in each st across
Row 6 (and all even rows) P across
Row 7 as 5 (or if tighter fit desired knit across)
Row 9, 11, 13 - K2 tog across
Cut thread
Pass thread through loops, draw and finish.

Poncho

(based on Poncho Barbie, by Silvana Catallo - modifications are making it shorter, and to knit in the round)

Cast on 88 sts, place marker

Row 1 (and all odd rows until Row 17) K around

Row 2 K10, 3x(s2kpo,K19),sk2po,K9 (80 sts)

Row 4 K9, 3x(s2kpo,K17),sk2po,K8 (72 sts)

Row 6 K8, 3x(s2kpo,K15),sk2po,K7 (64 sts)

Row 8 K7, 3x(s2kpo,K13),sk2po,K6 (56 sts)

Row 10 K6, 3x(s2kpo,K11),sk2po,K5 (48 sts)

Row 12 K5, 3x(s2kpo,K9),sk2po,K4 (40 sts)

Row 14 K4, 3x(s2kpo,K7),sk2po,K3 (32 sts)

Row 16 K3, 3x(s2kpo,K5),sk2po,K2 (24 sts)

Rows 18-24 K1, P1 ribbing (6 rows, 24 sts)

Cast off. 

(Patterns provided free for use, but with no warranty. This is my first attempt at writing down the modifications to a pattern). 

Pirate Ship Cake

It's early spring, which means birthday time in our house. The kids get to pick what I try to make.

The first choice for our son (4) was a pirate ship cake.

I based it on these instructions, and partially also this design.

As usual for a novelty cake I bought a cake mix, and also pre-made chocolate frosting.

I baked the mix in a baking tray, and cut into four pieces.

Shaped the pieces like a ship.

Sandwiched with some of the frosting, and cocktail sticks to help. 

That's all the layers on. This went into the fridge for a while before frosting (with frosting at room temperature). 

Covered in frosting, with portholes (rolos) and railings on the deck (rolos+flakes). Back into the fridge to set like this.

And here's the finished result. I'm pretty pleased with this one.  

DNA Scarf

I knitted my Mum (a retired A-level biology teacher) this DNA scarf using the "Rosalind" pattern  by @alicebell. It was part of her Christmas present last year.

My Urban Allotment

I enjoy growing a small amount of food each summer. I've done tomatoes, spring onions, lettuce and herbs for several years, but this year also have corgettes, potatoes, beet root, and did have som peas (thanks to a Riverford Buy to grow box). I don't have much space though, just a small border, and some pots in an area just bigger than a driveway (really not enough for the Riverford box), so this site Urban Allotment looks like it might be great for me. Thinking about buying a cherry tree to grow in a pot.

Custard Tarts

Tried to make Cantonese Egg Custard tarts from this recipe. I used pre-rolled puff pastry, and regular milk not evaporated. Wasn't a complete success, although tasted good. Think the filling needed to be deeper. Will try again sometime.