ChimiChurri Beef Steak Recipe #MeatMatters

Recipes / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

The Mr made Chimichurri beef steaks* last week for dinner and it was absolutely lovely! We are taking part in the #MeatMatters campaign, sponsored by Simply Beef & Lamb. Beef and lamb are full of protein, iron, essential vitamins and minerals helping to combat fatigue and support good health and well being.

ChimiChurri Beef Steak

ChimiChurri Beef Steak Recipe

We decided to try our own Chimichurri beef steak recipe. Beef is naturally rich in protein and a source of iron, I often struggle with anaemia and need help to fight the fatigue so I love beef dishes. Beef also contains 8 essential vitamins and minerals supporting health and wellbeing.

ChimiChurri is an Argentinian, uncooked sauce typically used on grilled meat. A quick and easy recipe, which only take 5-10 minutes preparation and 5-10 minutes cooking time depending on how well you like your steaks.

Ingredients:

Soaking Beeg Steaks in Olive Oil and Black Pepper
  • Beef Steaks
  • Parsley
  • Oregano
  • Chillies
  • Onion
  • Lemon Juice
  • Garlic
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Olive Oil
  • Black Pepper

Method

  1. Starting with the chimichurri sauce, use a hand blender/food processor or chop the Parsley, oregano, garlic, onion and chillies together. Add a tablespoon or two or two of olive oil, lemon juice and red wine vinegar and mix until it’s a saucy consistency.
  2. Soak the beef steaks in a little olive oil and black pepper then grill or fry for 2-3 minutes each side or until cooked to your preference.

Serve your beef steaks whole or sliced with ChimiChurri sauce in a pot on the side to spread on top. Along with some chunky chips you have a healthy, quick, delicious meal.

Chimichurri Beef Steak

Do you enjoy Beef or Lamb dishes? Which is your favourite recipe?

*This post is an entry for the #MeatMatters Challenge, sponsored by Simply Beef and Lamb. Learn more about the benefits of cooking and eating beef and lamb along with recipe ideas and inspiration here!

Growing Fruit And Vegetables Indoors

Gardening / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Growing Fruit And Vegetables Indoors

We love growing fruit and vegetables indoors and it’s surprising just how much can be grown inside. When we had a garden we grew all sorts from Potatoes, Strawberries, Purple Broccoli, Purple Carrots and more.

Growing Fruit And Vegetables Indoors

Losing that was quite sad as we all really enjoyed harvesting our hard work. We decided that regardless of being in a flat, we would continue to grow what we could indoors with the girls. Providing you have a windowsill that gets plenty of sunlight, a compost bag and deep pots you can grow fruit and vegetables indoors easily. If you are looking at growing fruit and vegetables indoors then we have a handy list you can use!

Peppers

Izzy went through a phase of loving Peppers, so we decided to grow peppers on their windowsill. When we shared our post and success on twitter I was pleased to find our harvest turned out better than some outdoor plants! Peppers grow really well on a windowsill facing the sun, the girl‘s windowsill really heats up during the day providing a fantastic greenhouse effect.

Growing Fruit and Vegetbles indoors

Strawberries

A strawberry plant will happily grow on a windowsill with plenty of sunshine. We tried growing Strawberries in a can but unfortunately, Izzy knocked it over several times. It is something we will try again, possibly this year though as I have seen some great indoor harvests.

Growing Strawberries indoors

Cucumbers

Anyone who follows me on Instagram will no doubt have spotted Izzy repotting some cucumber plants for her windowsill. She dropped a few off to Martyn too as he also loves growing fruit and vegetables in his garden.

Lettuce

There are several varieties that grow really well indoors such as Romain, Iceberg and Leaf lettuce. You don’t need a large pot either as Lettuce doesn’t tend to have a large root system. Again, a good windowsill with sunlight is the perfect place to grow Lettuce.

Lettuce

Spinach

Similarly to Lettuce, Spinach is windowsill friendly, takes up little space and takes little maintenance. I love spinach and want to give this a go so we can attempt making our own spinach and ricotta cannelloni.

Fruit Trees

Dwarf fruit trees such as Lemons, Limes, Figs, Peaches & Apricots can be grown indoors. Admittedly these take up a little more space and need a room with enough sunlight coming in. These can produce really well indoors surprisingly! Unfortunately we don’t have the space otherwise I’d have a Lemon tree growing, I love Lemons but rarely think to buy them.

Lemon Tree

Tomatoes

Tomatoes grow quite well on a windowsill too. We grew a tomato plant a few years ago but we don’t eat them. The girls did try them though and we gave them to a friend who really enjoyed them.

Carrots

Carrots will need a slightly deeper pot to grow in, however, they do grow quite well indoors. We’ve grown these both indoors and outdoors and the taste difference to shop bought is amazing.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms like dark places so growing them indoors is ideal! You can buy some fantastic kits which I’m planning to do myself at some point. I’m the only one that likes mushrooms though.

There are plenty of other fruits and vegetables that grow well indoors and we intend to discover a few more while we are in a flat.

Have you grown fruit and vegetables indoors before?

Crocheted Jesus, Donkey And Grumpy Care Bear

Crochet / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

I’ve Crocheted Jesus, his faithful Donkey (as Eva calls him) and a Grumpy Care Bear over the last month. I’m now so close to completing my 10 Crochet Projects for 2019! With just Dobby (who I’ve started), a blanket and an aeroplane left to make.

Crocheted Jesus, Donkey And Grumpy Care Bear

Crocheted Jesus

I really enjoyed making a crocheted Jesus for Martyn, I learnt several things whilst crocheting him. This is one of the first patterns I’ve followed where I’ve had to try out the popcorn stitch. It turns out this stitch is really simple and great for making toes! You can find the pattern here if you’d like to try it too.

Using Popcorn stitch for toes

I also learnt the weft method for creating Jesus’ hair. This is a fairly simple process but takes a little time. Once all strands are split, you can then use an iron or straighteners to smooth out the kinks.

Weft Method

I was impressed with how quickly Jesus came together to be honest. He looked fairly tricky but it didn’t take long. I added some craft wire inside his arms, legs and body so Martyn has a poseable Jesus haha!

Crocheted Jesus

Donkey

Next up was a Donkey, again for Martyn, after all, Jesus needs his faithful donkey (according to Eva!). This pattern was really simple and I didn’t stress at all over this make.

Donkey Head

Crocheting the donkey gave me a little confidence boost. It wasn’t that long ago I could barely hold a hook correctly and now I can make a perfect little donkey head!

Crocheted Donkey

I think Donkey turned out pretty well for a first attempt. I can see one or two small tweaks I could make but overall, I am really happy with him! His tail is pretty cool too.

Crocheted Donkey Side on

Grumpy Care Bear

It’s safe to say Grumpy Care Bear has been one of my biggest challenges yet. The pattern didn’t quite seem to match up, I’m not sure if I was reading it wrong and unfortunately the pattern seller hasn’t replied. I decided to try a few changes and managed to work it out in the end.

Crocheted Grumpy Care Bear

I don’t get on too well when it comes to cutting and sticking felt or sewing details on. What looked like lovely hearts and raindrops ended up looking a little blob-like. Sewing is definitely not my forte but I am determined to improve with time.

Crocheted Grumpy care Bear

Poor Grumpy Care Bear looks a little traumatised, he’s obviously seen things no Care Bear should ever see! Whilst the detail was a bit of a fail, I’m pleased he at least looks like a bear. I guess we all have to start somewhere.

Whilst Grumpy was a little tricky, I’m still really enjoying all these crochet projects! I currently have Dobby’s head and body made and a few other projects I’ll share soon as my list has extended quite a bit. My yarn stash has grown quite rapidly so I should be able to keep myself busy.

Have you crocheted anything lately? What do you think of my latest makes?

Glasses Repair Kit – SnapIt Review And Giveaway

Giveaways / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

I received a Glasses repair kit to review called SnapIt and I have a giveaway for you to win one too! As someone who wears prescription glasses all the time or contact lenses with sunglasses, a repair kit always comes in handy.

Glasses Repair Kit - Snap It

Glasses Repair Kit

Anyone who wears glasses will know that from time to time screws can come loose. Anyone who weares prescription or sunglasses will find a repair kit is always a useful tool to have on standby. I have lost count of how many times I’ve had to repair my glasses over the years. Most kits include tiny fiddly screws so I was interested to see how SnapIt is different.

Repairing Glasses with Snap It

Snap It

Unlike most repair kits, the SnapIt kit uses their unique, patented Snap-Off feeder tip screws. These allow easy handling and makes insertion into all types of frames from sunglasses to prescription frames less fiddly.

The stainless steel screws cut new threads to fix the stripped hinges. This can be a life saver in itself! The screws can easily be inserted from the top or bottom.

Repairing glasses with SnapIt

The kit comes in a handy little tube with a screwdriver and 5 different screw sizes allowing you to repair 99% of all glasses instantly! I’ve struggled in the past to find the correct size screw for my glasses so I love that there are 5 different sizes.

Considering the cost of new frames, this fab little glasses repair kit is a great buy and worth having in your bag. With the small tube you can easily store this kit anywhere.

Giveaway

As promised, I have a giveaway to win a SnapIt eyeglass repair kit, simply enter below.

Win A Snapit Glasses Repair Kit #3

Have you heard of SnapIt before? What do you think of their unique design?

Baking Fresh Bread – White Crusty Loaf Recipe

Food / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

We love baking fresh bread, nothing beats the smell of a baking loaf! I love weekends and school holidays when we can get busy in the kitchen baking different types of bread.

Baking Fresh Bread

I would love to invest in a breadmaker like the ones reviewed on Village Bakery. For now though, we are happily baking fresh bread by hand and have a few favourite recipes! Anyone who follows my social media accounts will no doubt have spotted our favourite loafs at some point.

Italian Chocolate Chip Bread

Our Favourites

Our absolute favourite bread to make (and eat!) is the italian chocolate chip bread. It goes lovely with some chocolate spread.

Our second favourite is a crusty white loaf, fresh bread is simply gorgeous! You can’t beat an original recipe. We regularly use the same recipe to make this as it comes out lovely.

White Crusty Loaf Recipe

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The flat smells amazing right now 😍 Can't wait for lunch 😋

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Ingredients:

  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Egg yolk
  • 150-300 ml lukewarm water
  • 500g Strong white flour plus a little extra for dusting
  • 1 1/2tsp Salt
  • 2tsp Sugar
  • 7g of dried yeast (We use Allinsons)
  • 25g of butter or sunflower oil for brushing (I love Willow butter for this!)

Method

Beat the egg and milk lightly in a jug and add lukewarm water to make 300ml stirring well.

Next, sift the flour into a bowl adding the salt, sugar and yeast. Stir until well mixed then mix in the butter using your finger tips until the mixture feels like breadcrumbs. Making a well, add the egg mixture and work into a smooth dough.

Knead well on a lightly floured surface for 10minutes or until the dough is smooth. Brush a bowl with oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a damp tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for an hour or until it is double the size. I tend to use the airing cupboard for this as the boiler creates just enough heat to help the dough rise.

Baking Fresh Bread

Brush a 900g load time with oil. Gently knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for one minute or until smooth. Shape the dough the length of the time and 3 times the width. Fold the dough in 3 length ways and place in the tin ensuring the join is underneath. Cover with a tea towel again and leave to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until it rises above the tin.

While your dough rises again, preheat the oven to 220°c. Once the dough has risen, place it in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool down, smother in butter and enjoy!

Do you have any favourite bread recipes you always use when baking fresh bread?

Making Happy Work – Book Review

Book Reviews / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

I was kindly sent Making Happy Work to review written by Mick Timpson. This book is a beginners guide to navigating the modern world with meditation. As someone who suffers anxiety and depression, meditation can be really helpful. Modern meditation is the art and science of being more aware of yourself, others and the wider world.

Making Happy Work

Making Happy Work

Mick Timpson has created a self-help book to take you on a meditation journey. This journey is broken down into eight parts. Step-by-step, Making Happy Work teaches you to meditate. Teaching you that the key to making happy work is not what you do in life that matters, but how you live through your life.

I know I often stress over the things I do or don’t do in live but reading Making Happy Work makes it easier to look at things from a different perspective.

We have all become a little disconnected from who and what we are. Living in an increasingly chaotic world, struggling to survive, let alone thrive! Unfortunately, we are doing so at the expense of being. If we make time to stop, notice, and learn to be, we can reconnect and link our being with our doing. We can learn to be and do differently. Making Happy Work gently guides you through how meditation works, practising meditation and different techniques.

Focus

Meditation helps you find direction and purpose in a chaotic world. Learning to slow down and Be instead of just Doing makes a world of difference. This practice of purposely focusing on the present moment at any time and place, observing and accepting without judgment, expectation or attachment reduces stress and anxiety. In turn, this allows you to focus on what really matters and that is being happy, having purpose, resilience, creativity and wellbeing.

Have you tried meditation before?

Peripheral Neuropathy – What Is It?

Physical and Mental Health / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Peripheral Neuropathy is one of my diagnosis’ and the one that affects me the most. I noticed recently that people I talk to have no idea what it is or how it affects me day to day. To be perfectly honest, I only really started researching it properly myself recently.

Peripheral Neuropathy - What Is It?

When I was diagnosed I took it very much as an ‘it’s all in your head’ diagnosis. I’ve since realised just how serious Peripheral Neuropathy and decided it was time I talked about it properly on the blog. I haven’t written about my chronic pain in a while although I have a huge range of symptoms that affect me, suffer from ‘flare ups’ and it can leave me feeling really low. I wanted to look at exactly what Peripheral Neuropathy is and for my own benefit, noted some of my issues to look back on.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the peripheral nerves, the network of nerves outside of the central nervous system. This develops when the peripheral nerves in the hands, legs and feet are damaged. These nerves include sensory nerves which transmit sensations such as pain and touch, motor nerves which control muscles and autonomic nerves which control things such as blood pressure, heat intolerance, altered sweating and bladder function. It can also affect other areas of your body.

Peripheral neuropathy may affect just one nerve (mononeuropathy), two or more nerves in different areas (multiple mononeuropathy) or many nerves (polyneuropathy). Most people with peripheral neuropathy have polyneuropathy as I do, which affects so much of the body!

Symptoms

There are many symptoms of Peripheral neuropathy. I suffer from most of them but some I only recently realised are related to my PN!

Sensory neuropathy symptoms include:

  • Prickling and tingling sensations/ pins and needles in the affected part of the body. (This is almost constant for me)
  • Numbness and less of an ability to feel pain or changes in temperature, particularly in your feet. (This explains why my feet are always too cold and numb! Yes, I can step on a lego and feel nothing now)
  • A burning or sharp pain, typically in your feet. (Sometimes this reaches up to my calf)
  • Feeling pain from very light touches that should not be painful. (Allodynia – Explains my unexplained pain)
  • Loss of balance or coordination caused by less ability to tell the position of feet or hands. ( Sensory ataxia – which explains by episodes of falling and genral clumsiness!)

Motor neuropathy symptoms include:

  • Twitching and muscle cramps (I often joke about the ‘aliens’ jumping in my legs!)
  • Muscle weakness or paralysis affecting one or more muscles (Some days my arms and legs just don’t want to work!)
  • Thinning (wasting) of muscles.
  • Foot drop – difficulty lifting up the front part of your foot and toes, particularly noticeable when walking. (This explains my tripping over my feet a lot!)

Autonomic neuropathy symptoms include:

  • Constipation or diarrhoea, particularly at night. (I thought this was due to IBS although I failed to continue investigating with the GP when I hit a low patch)
  • Feeling sick, bloating and belching. (I guess that explains my huge manly burps and ability to burp talk)
  • Low blood pressure, which can make you feel faint or dizzy when standing up. ( I have this on and off)
  • Rapid heartbeat. (Tachycardia – this is made worse by my anxiety) 
  • Excessive sweating or a lack of sweating. (I seem to alternate between the two)
  • Problems with sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction in men. (Does too tired and sore count for women?)
  • Difficulty fully emptying your bladder of urine  (I used to think it was great I could go all day without needing a wee but it has gradually become more painful and harder to fully empty my bladder!)
  • Bowel incontinence (loss of bowel control – Luckily something I’ve only experienced a few times so far)

Damage to the autonomic nerves can result in a wide range of symptoms depending on where in the body the damage occurs.

Mononeuropathy symptoms includes:

  • Altered sensation or weakness in the fingers. (Something I have noticed an increase of lately)
  • Double vision or other problems focusing your eyes, sometimes with eye pain. (I have always had issues with my vision and focus and regularly get bolts of pain in my eyes)
  • Weakness on one side of your face (Bell’s palsy – I have issues with the left side occasionally but I put this down to dislocating my jaw and stupidly punching it back into place)
  • Foot or shin pain, weakness or altered sensation (A daily occurrence)

These symptoms can also disrupt sleep, make moving arms or legs difficult, affect pupil size, make skin blotchy and red and affect mental health.

Causes

Peripheral Neuropathy can be caused by a number of things. These can include:

  • Diabetes
  • Traumatic injuries
  • Inflammatory infections
  • Auto-immune diseases
  • Exposure to toxins
  • Tumors
  • Poor nutrition
  • Hereditary disorders
  • Kidney failure
  • Alcoholism 
  • Certain medications

As with me, even with investigations, the causes of peripheral neuropathy often remain unknown and are called Idiopathic neuropathy. I think mine may be due to a combination of injuries such as cracking my head open on a metal door frame and being run over (my entire leg was run over) as a child. Throughout my teens I cracked my rib, dislocated my jaw along with countless other ‘minor’ injuries. As I never attended hospital for most of these, apart from the Jaw as my college tutor mate another student take me to a&e, I can’t be sure.

Treatment

With Peripheral Neuropathy treatment focuses on managing the condition and relieving symptoms but there is no cure. Medications can help manage symptoms such as pain killers.

If your symptoms are severe you may be prescribed medications containing opioids such as tramadol and oxycodone. I currently take Tramadol to relieve the pain but these are addictive so I use them sparingly.

Anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin and pregabalin may help relieve nerve pain. These can leave you drowsy and dizzy though, I often have to sit or lay down for a little while. I take gabapentin 3 times a day and whilst it does leave me sleepy, it is the one medication that I can’t cope without.

Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin and nortriptyline can help relieve pain. These work by interfering with chemical processes in your brain and spinal cord that cause you to feel pain. The serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine and the extended-release antidepressant venlafaxine can also help ease pain caused by peripheral neuropathy. I am currently taking amitriptyline and duloxetine to help manage my symptoms.

Therapies

Therapies include the use of a TENS machine which sends a gentle electric current to the area which it is applied. I do find this is useful sometimes and use mine when I’m really struggling. Physical therapy can help with muscle weakness. However, if like me you have other issues such as scoliosis this may not be appropriate. Finally, there are surgeries and steroid injections available to help ease the pain. I did go for this procedure however, it was unsuccessful for me. I have heard many positive stories about them though and still believe it was worth a try!

Peripheral Neuropathy is hard to live with and manage. I remember when I first started blogging about it, constantly being curled up in agony with no clue why. Luckily my medication makes it more bearable to cope with now. Some days are just too much though as there are so many symptoms. You can never be sure if you are ill or if it’s the Peripheral Neuropathy which can be a pain. Most frustratingly you never know how your day will go. This can cause anxiety and depression which I also suffer from. A Pain clinic can offer you support and provide therapy to help you learn to manage better though.

If you feel you have any of these symptoms please do discuss them with your GP as the sooner it is discovered, the quicker you can get it under control.

Have you heard of Peripheral Neuropathy before?

The Baby Detective Blog Tour

Book Reviews / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Baby Detective Blog Tour

I received The Baby Detective by Sarah Norris to review, a parenting book unlike many others I’ve read. This book doesn’t dictate what is the right or wrong way to care for your baby. Neither does it tell you which parenting style to go with, instead, it gently guides you through caring for your newborn.

The Baby Detective

The Baby Detective

Sarah Norris gently guides you through investigating what the problem is and why it is happening. With 25 years experience as a maternity nurse caring for hundreds of new mothers and families Sarah developed a new method. The unique AIM (Assess, Investigate, Modify) method to help parents solve the challenges any new parent may face.

Sarah Norris

A Unique Parenting Book

New parents can often feel confused and overwhelmed with unasked for advice, tips and tricks to care for their newborn. This book encourages parents to use their own tuition rather than telling them what to do. This book will give you the confidence to care for your new baby with confidence. Solving each challenge you face from sleeping, feeding, routines and winding.

Different Case Studies

Each case study is unique and as a parent of 2 daughters myself, I’ve faced most of these problems. Looking back at my own experience these problems sometimes took month to solve due to conflicting advice, especially with Eva. Sarah’s explanations of looking for clues as to what affects your baby is fantastic for new parents. I honestly wish I had a book like this to hand as a new parent. Everything a new parent will face with their newborn is covered. From environmental factors, biological states,temperamant and emotional response.

Record Keeping

Sarah explains how record keeping can help new parents keep track and solve problems. From feeds taken, winding times and issues, sleep patterns and issues, nappy changes, Sarah makes record keeping seem a breeze . She also goes on to explain whilethis can be reassuring it can also increase anxiety at times. If this happens she explains what to do in that situation. This kind of book would have been helpful when I had Eva. I became obsessed with weighing Eva weekly until she was over a year old. Because she was born at 4lb 14oz, then dropped to 4lb 4oz due to jaundice, I was constantly worrying. Record keeping can be useful, but it needs to be kept simple and not become obsessive as Sarah explains.

How To Be Your Own Baby Detective

Rather than tell you which problems may arise with a newborn Sarah explains situations she has faced with new families. With each challenge the parents face The Baby Detective explains how to assess the situation, investigate the problem and make modifications. This method can be applied to big and small problems even those minor day-to-day issues.

Planning

The Baby Detective covers planning ahead using AIM. This can be applied to family gatherings at home, medical appointments or treatments. It can also be applied to Social events away from home, foreign holidays and as baby develops. This in depth look at planning helps you plan aheadwith ease to suit you and your babies needs.

Winding Your Baby

An in depth look at winding, why your baby gets wind, anatomy of babies stomach will help you understand what is going on with your little one. This will fill a new parent with confidence instead of leaving them feeling clueless. With an extensive look at winding techniques that will help your baby you will quickly become a winding expert!

Useful Tools And Equipment

As a new parent all the baby products everywhere can be really overwhelming. You can feel really unsure what will actually be useful day to day and how to use them. Sarah looks at each tool and why you may need it, reasons it can be useful. She also explains how not to overuse items like pacifiers and tips for sensible use. Each item is fully broken down again, filling a new parent with confidence that they are doing the right thing to comfort and care for their newborn.

What Is Normal

As a new parent knowing what is normal for your baby can be very confusing and scary. Again Sarah gives an in-depth look at every part of a newborn. From skin colour, umbilical cord, eyes, arms, feet, noises and crying. The Baby Detective also looks at head shape, appetite, wind, hiccups, breathing and temperature, febrile convulsions and sleep. A look at birthmarks, urine, feaces and constipation, menstrual blood in baby girls and skin rashes will leave you confident in caring for your newborn.

Where and How To Get Help

As you face new challenges you may require support and have no idea where or how to get help. Sarah makes this easier for new parents by point5ing out exactly where to get the help you need and how. From other peoples opinions, hospital, community midwives, health visitors, GP’s, consultants, maternity nurses and support groups. Whatever help you need, Sarah Norris has compiled an extensive list to make finding help easy.

Emergency Action

We have all faced a newborn screaming, having a total meltdown whilst feeling overwhelmed and exhausted ourselves. Sarah offers some fantastically useful advice and suggestions for this situation. Sarah provides comforting ideas for your baby, an emergency routine to reset and calm a baby. These aren’t long term solutions but will help you get back on track and continue with the AIM method in desperate times.

Genuinely Helpful Parenting Book

Having read The baby Detective, I love Sarah Norris’ way of looking at caring for a newborn. I remember too well how stressful those first few months with Eva were. I never felt confident that what I was doing was right and everyone felt I should try their way. It’s very overwhelming and stressful but The Baby Detective would make that time much easier for any new parent. I genuinely couldn’t recommend this book more, it’s unlike any other parenting book I have read.

Crochet Learn It. Love It. Book Review

Book Reviews / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

I received Crochet Learn It. Love It. By Tracey Todhunter to review. As most of my readers already know I love crochet, so I couldn’t wait to review this book. I have to say before I explain any further, if you are looking for a comprehensive beginners guide to crochet then this is definitely it!

Crochet Learn It. Love It

Crochet Learn It. Love It.

The book contains a mix of essential crochet skills, patterns, tricks and tips to ease you into a life of learning and loving crochet!

Chapter 1 – Essential Skills

Essential Skills covers everything you need to know starting with different yarn types and weight. I was pleased to see a Ball Band explanation, something I haven’t seen anywhere else before. With different types of hooks available, basic accessories and even luxury accessories explained, any beginner is sure to feel knowledgeable.

Essential Crochet Skills

This handy book shows you all the essentials from holding and tensioning the yarn via various methods. It also shows you how to hold the hook, make a slip knot, foundation chain, count chains, work into chains and fasten off. All explained in great detail, accompanied by photos making it easy for any beginner to learn Crochet.

Basic Stitches

There is a great guide to basic stitches which will help you get started on most projects. To make this easier there is a full explanation on how to understand crochet stitches to help you make sense of your work and pick up on any mistakes, a huge help for any beginner. I remember looking at my first crochet attempts and having no idea what I was looking at or if it was correct. This book puts your mind at ease as you learn making it much more enjoyable.

Basic Stitches

Confidence Building

Crochet Learn It. Love It makes reading patterns and charts a breeze and explains measuring AND adjusting your tension! From joining yarn to working neat stripes, stripes with a difference and shaping your work, you’ll feel like a pro in no time.

You’ll find yourself knowing how to finish your work, different blocking methods, tapestry needle stitches, crocheted, slip stitch and conceal crocheted seams enhancing your work. I’ve been crocheting at least 2 years now and I had already learned so much from this book, without even passing this first section!

Quick Start Projects

There are several quick start projects throughout the book. These consist of quick and easy patterns which require little yarn. Each project states the finished size and tension along with the items you’ll need. These are items such as yarns, crochet hook sizes, yarn needles, buttons etc.

There is also a list of abbreviations and techniques used in the pattern along with the page no within the book to help you with stitches. Following pattern notes you can find the pattern itself with photo’s to guide you. Compared to other crochet books I’ve read I genuinely felt that I could try each project. This would have been perfect when I first started out. With such great explanations and notes you are filled with confidence to complete each project. I’ll definitely be making a few of these once I’m done with my current Crochet Projects!

Chapter 2 – Working In The Round

Working In The Round

Moving on to the second section you quickly learn how to work in the round. Learn the foundation ring, magic ring and finger wrap methods to start. This section will quickly show you how to crochet circles and spirals along with a gorgeous ‘sun in the center’ pattern to show off your new crochet skills!

Sun In Circle

Blocks and motifs are great for making various pieces and are also worked in the round. This books explains how to make a plain granny square block, granny motif, granny triangles and granny hexagons. These are useful from cushion covers, blankets, cardigans and more. You will also learn to crochet a circle or flower in a square. There’s a lovely pattern at the end of this section for a granny square cushion similar to the one I recently made too.

Granny Triangle

I love granny squares as they are nice and easy but I decided to try a granny triangle for the first time. I found the pattern easy to follow and can now tick it off my list of things to learn!

Granny Triangle

Learning tubular crochet can make things quite fun. Luckily this book makes it simple to learn with some fab patterns to go with it! This handy guide makes crocheting a beanie or Amigurumi fox a piece of cake

Chapter 3 -Stitch Patterns

Stitch variations really can change crochet, from working into just a front or back loop, extended stitches and alternate loops, this book covers it all. This is something I hadn’t found in my other books either and Tracey Todhunter explains it all so well.

Stitch Patterns

I was surprised to find so many beautiful stitches and patterns to go with each stitch enabling you to create impressive crocheted pieces instantly! It really is quite an extensive list for a beginners guide and will no doubt make falling in love much easier.

Chapter 4 – Finishing Touches

Finishing touches such as buttons, holes, edging stitches and more are explained in great details with some fantastic techniques shared. Whether finishing crochet work or adding a touch of crochet to a pillowcase or similar, you can use these finishing touches to pretty up just about anything!

Finishing Touches

Each section is bursting with enough crochet knowledge that you feel confident taking on new projects. I may not be a complete beginner but I still learned a good few tips and stitches. The patterns throughout are simple to follow and will have you falling in love with crochet in no time!

Chapter 5 – Taking Your Skills Further

The Final chapter shows you a few more advanced skills such as tunisian, broomstick and hairpin crochet. I will be attempting the Tunisian at some point as this guide looks much easier than other’s I’ve looked at. Detailed step by step photos with explanations make each technique seem doable.

Taking Your Skills Further

A Fantastic Guide To Crochet

Honestly, Crochet Learn It. Love It. is a fantastic guide to crochet and makes it so easy to learn, you really will love it! You can learn so much from this fab little book and I know I’ll be using it for reference in future. There are a good few stitches in the book I’ve yet to try. I can’t wait to speed through my current projects and try them.

Freshen Up Your Bedroom Easily With Bedspreads

Interior Decor / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

You can freshen up your bedroom easily with one small change, bedspreads! Bedrooms can look a little dull and be awkward to change around regularly but bedspreads can make a big difference. Our bedrooms are a place to switch off and we spend more time in there than we may think! Freshing up your bedroom easily with bedspreads is a cheap and efficient way to change the whole look.

Freshen Up Your Bedroom

Freshen Up Your Bedroom Easily With Bedspreads

Beds are the main focus in a bedroom as they take up the most space, by adding a touch of colour, sparkle or a pattern you can completely change how it looks. You can buy bedspreads at sale prices from Yorkshire Linen Online to freshen up your bedroom. There are so many styles and at great prices allowing you to regularly freshen up your bedroom and create a new look.

Add Some Sparkle!

To really change the look of your bedroom you could add a runner with a bit of bling. This gorgeous Crystal Amethyst Bed Runner is sure to change the whole look of your bedroom. This adds colour and shine to your room brightening up even the smallest of spaces!

https://www.yorkshirelinen.com/crystal-amethyst-bed-runner.html

Pretty Patterns

Adding pretty patterns like this Coppice – Mulberry Bedspreads can really change the look and feel of a room too. Patterns are a great way to brighten up the room and often you can team them up with matching wall prints, cushions and other bedroom decor.

Freshen up your bedroom easily with bedspreads

Purple & Cosy

https://www.yorkshirelinen.com/mink-faux-fur-throw-purple-150x200.html

A great choice for new bedspreads is to go with your favourite colour. We have several bedspreads for our room from full sets to cosy throws. Adding something purple like this gorgeous Mink Faux Fur Throw makes a real difference. Adding a lovely throw like this can make your bedroom feel really cosy.

Do you regularly freshen up your bedroom with new bedspreads like these?