The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Lesley Silvester on February 03, 2018, 11:19:21 pm

Title: Ideas
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 03, 2018, 11:19:21 pm
I'm looking for ideas for things I can make for my twin grandchildren, due in July. I'm doing a shawl for one and can make jumpers and so on but wanted something they might not already have saved from their firstborn.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Dogwalker on February 04, 2018, 07:19:51 am
As it's twins and second time I'd think they'll need plenty of easy wash things to save time.

For specials I don't know, are they into dressing alike but different colours do you think.
And don't forget the older one will need something special too.

Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Backinwellies on February 04, 2018, 07:53:34 am
when my twin boys were about 8 months my mum knitted some very brightly coloured jackets ... sort of check pattern .... in different base  colours .....  everyone loved them ..... they were christening in them at about a year old.... I probably would have kept them for memories .... but managed to get them into a hot wash :(
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Buttermilk on February 04, 2018, 07:56:27 am
A member of one of my craft groups made a wonderful cot blanket that doubled as a snakes and ladder game that could be used as the child grew up.  She even made counters and dice that lived in a pocket.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Backinwellies on February 04, 2018, 08:08:10 am
A member of one of my craft groups made a wonderful cot blanket that doubled as a snakes and ladder game that could be used as the child grew up.  She even made counters and dice that lived in a pocket.

do you know the sexes?    a car track or farm could be done in a similar way?
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 04, 2018, 09:39:16 am
A member of one of my craft groups made a wonderful cot blanket that doubled as a snakes and ladder game that could be used as the child grew up.  She even made counters and dice that lived in a pocket.

do you know the sexes?    a car track or farm could be done in a similar way?

Linda!!!  Why would the sexes matter??!! :o
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Backinwellies on February 04, 2018, 10:28:17 am
Depends on how pc you want to be I guess!  But if 2 girls then the car track might not be wanted.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 04, 2018, 10:46:40 am
Depends on how pc you want to be I guess!  But if 2 girls then the car track might not be wanted.

Speaking as a girl who wasn’t allowed Mechano, got in trouble for swapping a doll (hated dolls, only liked animal toys) for a garage with the boy next door, I shall remain incensed and rather surprised!
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Buttermilk on February 04, 2018, 10:56:31 am
I was furious when my mother gave away my train set to the cousins who were boys.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Fleecewife on February 04, 2018, 12:23:52 pm
I wasn't allowed in the same room as my elder brother's train set, and was told off in no uncertain terms for daring to touch my other brother's Dinky cars and the brilliant system of tunnels and tracks he'd made for them in the sand heap. He got two live pigs (and the profits from them) and a mechano set, while I was supposed to play with DOLLS  :rant: .  I never understood what I was supposed to do with dolls  :thinking: .
When my first son was born, I got a mechano set - not for him but for me  ;D


I love everyone's ideas, but I think it's worthwhile discussing a few things with the mum to be so you have some idea about her approach to having twins.  Basically will she be maintaining their individuality, or does she want them to match.  You might get some clues by how she treats the older child.


I love the idea of the cot blanket as a farm yard, or a zoo, or a magic forest or similar.  But you'll need to make two different ones, and I agree something for the older sibling.


Sounds like you need to get working MGM  :knit:
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Dogwalker on February 04, 2018, 01:46:15 pm
Great idea to make a farm blanket, good excuse to keep making more animals later.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Fleecewife on February 04, 2018, 03:13:33 pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42642727 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-42642727)   This link will probably only stay up for a day or two.

How about one of these MGM?  A crochet village project?  You just need 30 friends and helpers and 7 months
:innocent:


This might stay around for longer: 
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cloughmills+model+village&rlz=1C1ASUM_enGB714GB714&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjckf67xozZAhUEDcAKHYDdA7QQ7AkIUw&biw=1280&bih=590 (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cloughmills+model+village&rlz=1C1ASUM_enGB714GB714&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjckf67xozZAhUEDcAKHYDdA7QQ7AkIUw&biw=1280&bih=590)
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 04, 2018, 03:32:33 pm
I’m loving these ideas. Not sure I could manage a whole village. I doubt I have 30 friends, let alone one who can knit or crochet. The twins aren’t identical. Sophie is hoping for at least one girl as they already have a son. I’m hoping the same as, so far, we have four grandsons and three granddaughters and I’d like to keep it even.  ;D  I don’t think they would desperately want identical clothes but if I did matching jumpers, I would do Manu one as well so they all matched. He is two.


I’ve been saving pattterns on Ravelry and a file on my laptop so not short of patterns. It’s just deciding what to make. they do have another granny who does knit but is not very good at it (according to her daughter). They will be sharing a cot because they think they’ll be happier that way so won’t need lots of blankets. In any case, they live in the south of France so it’s never freezing cold.


I may well have a go at a blanket that doubles as a game though. Unless anyone knows of a pattern, I’d better start planning.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Fleecewife on February 04, 2018, 05:10:23 pm
Ah - the south of France!  Well, they won't really need a cot blanket, unless it's very lightweight.  How about a play mat, reversible and filled so it's soft to lie on?  I googled 'craft play mats' and some things had some good adaptable ideas.  Pinterest also has a page of best farm playmats to make.  How about a double sided mat for a change when they've played out the first?
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 04, 2018, 05:50:27 pm
That sounds like a good idea, FW. They do come to the UK but I think they have enough bedding a Sophie’s parent’s house. I’ll still make a shawl though. I’m off to google play mata patterns.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Louise Gaunt on February 05, 2018, 08:45:02 am
Deramores have a pattern for a variety of knitted vehicles (including a tractor) plus a knitted play mat / roadway to go with the vehicles. My daughter knitted them for her friend's little boy and he loves playing with them. And they wash easily and don't damage things if dropped!
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 06, 2018, 12:01:52 am
I must have a look on Deramore.
Title: Re: Ideas
Post by: cloddopper on February 06, 2018, 07:51:31 pm
Just before Munchkin was born a friend made her  some gender neutral tactile toys  using velvet crinkly material  & geometric patterns by way of a 3 inch multi-panel ball , a 3 inch cube & a four inch tall pyramid nothing was repeated on any of the panels .

 Munchkin played with them till she was five or six then we put them aside in her treasure chest for her kids in 2030 or so .
 The beauty of the objects is that they are supposed to enhance brain patterns , coordination of hand & eye , rational spatial thinking .

 It certainly appears to have been successful for Holly is now recognised as a gifted child at her senior School .
 I used to sit for hours  watching her try and roll the items to display  her favourite surfaces then roll them about & then put them back in a different order  but with the same faces showing .
  The Early Learning Center has similar toys .