Wine/Whiskey - Rattlesnake Brew - Carrot Soap - Crochet - Knit a Bunny
Sew a Carrot Bag - Make a Green Dye - Jewellery - Make Paper
The ever versatile Carrot can used to make several other items, or be used as a theme for them; here are some of the most unusual.
The kids craft/experiment page contains other craft items which kids can try - here. Carrot Kazoo!
Origami Carrot - Watch a very simple instructional video here.
Excellent tutorial to sew a Carrot Treat Bag here Lovely Pin Cushion here
Carrot Soap is easy to make. The Beta
Carotene in carrots makes it very good for your skin, the lather is lovely
and creamy, and the orange colour of the soap itself is
beautiful.
All you need is 4 ounces of carrot juice,
10 ounces Palm Oil, 4 ounces Coconut Oil, 2 ounces Olive Oil, 2 ounces lye,
4 ounces water. (Lye is water alkanised for use in washing – available
at chemists)
Mix the lye and water and set aside
to cool. Melt the oils together, set aside to cool. Once cooled gently pour
lye into oils. Add juice to mixture, stirring constantly. Mix until soap
traces, pour into prepared moulds, allow to stand covered for 48 hours. Remove
from moulds, cut as needed, and allow to age open to the air for 3
weeks.
Carrot Friend Ann Beck from Arizona
has produced some super variations of the standard recipe, making delightful
Castile Soap and Twenty Two Carrot Soap.
Click here to see photos and full recipe
details.
"Carrottree"
Soaps and Essentials - To buy commercial carrot soap click here.
(U.S. site)
Carrot Wine
Recipe
1
Carrots make a lovely drop of wine. Follow
the simple instructions.
The hardest part is the
wait!
Ingredients:
4 ½ lbs carrots; 2 ½ lbs
sugar; 1 gallon water; 1lb raisins (chopped)
2 oranges; 2 lemons; 1 sachet yeast
nutrient; 1 tsp yeast; 1 tsp tannin;
1 campden tablet.
Method:
Scrub the carrots and place in a pan
of boiling water and simmer until the carrots are soft. Strain the liquid
onto the sugar, raisins and the grated rinds of the oranges and lemons. Leave
to cool.
Add the tannin, yeast and nutrient.
Leave to ferment for six days in the tub. Strain into the demi-john insert
air lock and leave in a warm place for six days until the SG is 1.000. Rack
into a clean demi-john add the campden tablet and leave for a
year.
Carrot Wine Recipe 2
Carrot Wine - a delicious 'orange' wine (somehow, the colour paradigm used
for the one dimensional grape only wines doesn't seem to lend itself to more
sophisticated and versatile wines).
Ingredients:
· 4 lb Carrots
· 2 ounces Fresh Root Ginger
· 4 lb Demerara Sugar
· Juice of 2 Lemons
· Juice of 2 Oranges
· Yeast (use bread yeast - chromatographic testing shows that it gives
cleaner results)
· 1 gallon Water
Method:
Grate the carrots and the ginger and put into a very large saucepan (see
next if you haven't got such a thing). Pour the water over the shredded carrot
and ginger and then boil for around 20 minutes. Finally, strain into a clean
bucket.
If you haven't got a large saucepan, divide the carrot and ginger up
proportionately between two saucepans and add boiling water. Boil for 20
minutes and strain into a bucket and then repeat the process with more water
until you have around a gallon of liquid that has been boiled with the carrot
and ginger.
Add the demerara sugar and the lemon and orange juice while still hot and
stir until dissolved. Allow to cool to blood temperature and then add the
yeast.
Allow to ferment for a day and then transfer to demijohns and continue to
ferment until the reaction comes to a halt (2 - 3 weeks). Add two campden
tablets and allow the yeast to settle. When clear, filter into bottles and
allow 3 months to mature.
Variations:
Try different citrus varieties or types of sugar.
Storage: Keep in bottles on their side for at
least three months.
Carrot Wine - Recipe 3
1.8kg carrots, washed and sliced
900g sugar
340g sultanas
5-6 litres of water
Juice of 2 lemons
Wine yeast
Scrub carrots and cut into pieces. Put into a large saucepan with water
and boil until carrots are tender.
Strain off liquid into a large plastic bucket. Remove carrots, transfer
liquid back into pan.
Stir in the sultanas and lemon juice.
When the liquid is lukewarm, add the yeast. Cover and leave for seven
days, stirring twice daily. Using a fine sieve, strain the liquid into a
large container, or demijohn, using an airlock to seal the jar.
Store in warm place and allow the fermentation to work. When fermentation
has ceased, rack the wine into a clean jar and place in a cooler
environment and leave for a few months.
When the wine is clear and stable (six months) siphon into bottles
Carrot Pin Cushion (with credit to My Bird House craft website)
1. Make yourself a carrot template. You want a pie shaped piece. The angle of this triangle is about 45 deg. The sides are 9 inches long and the top is 7 inches across. . You want to make sure that the top side is curved like a pie piece though.
2. Lay your template over the cloth and cut around the edge.
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3. Fold the carrot cloth in half and stitch along the long side. 1/4" seam allowance.
4. Turn the carrot right side out. To get the point you are really going to have to dig it out with a knitting pin or something similar. Be careful and don't push too hard and rip your carrot tip.
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5. Stuff the carrot. Start by putting tiny pieces in there and packing them in tight. You can then add bigger pieces but pack them in tight and keep squeezing and re-shaping the carrot as you go. You really want it tight.
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6. Take strong thread and make a gathering stitch across the top of the carrot. Pull it tight and stitch it in place and tie it off.
7. Make a strip of green fabric about 1" by about 12". Fold it in half and knot it near the ends.
8. Stitch the carrot stem in place securely.
You're done!
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Carrot Paper - Yes you can make paper out of wild carrot roots.
Paper can be made from almost any vegetable product. Youtube video here.
Full instructions on making paper from recycled paper or plant fibres here (pdf)
Briefly -
Rinse the plant fibres thoroughly. Then fill a blender or food processor with water. Add the fibres and blend the mixture until the plant fibres are evenly distributed in the water. Pour the pulp into a large basin or stopped sink.
Check any good paper making website
1. Buy hand made carrot beads here and make excellent bracelets and other
jewellery. Great fun and inexpensive! Please contact the museum for
further information.
2.
Nordstroms love this vegetable fashion statement - Wash some carrots and cut them into 1/4-inch round slices. Thread
a heavy duty needle with dental floss and slip the carrot slices onto the
floss by pushing the needle into the centre of each slice.
Once you've strung enough carrots, tie
the ends together to form a necklace. Lay it on paper in a dark place with
ventilation, making sure the slices don't touch each other. As they dry,
they turn into wrinkled beads. Drying takes about a week.
3.
Real Fruit Jewelry - made from slices of REAL FRUIT! They
expertly preserve the fresh beauty of nature. Real Fruit Jewelry is sealed
with a hard, water-resistant coating before being joyfully handcrafted
into your fruity accessories. The finished pieces are durable and
absolutely unique – you won’t find anyone in the world with the exact
piece of jewelry!
See and buy the jewellery hand made from Real Fruit (and Vegetables), including these carrots here:
Real Fruit Jewelry - Carrot Ring and Necklace | |
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4. Examples of fruit and veg jewellery by another jeweller (H B Soler) here. (note currently not trading)
(IMPORTANT NOTE - I am afraid Beautifruit seems to have gone off the radar and Helen does not answer mail any more. You could try these people who do make very similar items - http://realfruitjewelry.com/ Zoe Joy is the creator.)
Carrot
Whiskey
This recipe was first published in a
column by Noel Whitcomb in the London Daily Mirror in the 1940's. He called
it "whiskey" not because of a whiskey taste, although wheat wines can taste
like whiskey, but because of the richness in taste and colour. It is important
to stress that the "whiskey" must age for a year before
uncorking.
Ingredients
6 lbs carrots;4 lbs finely granulated
sugar; 1 lb wheat; 1 tblsp chopped raisins; 2 oranges 2 lemons; 7 pts water; wine
yeast.
Method
Scrub but do not peel the carrots. place
them in 7 pints of water and bring to boil, simmering gently until tender
(about 25-30 minutes). Meanwhile, put half the sugar in primary. Slice the
oranges and lemons into thin slices and arrange on top of the sugar. When
the carrots are done, strain them, pouring the water over the sugar and citrus.
Stir to dissolve sugar and allow to cool to lukewarm. Add chopped raisins
and wheat and sprinkle wine yeast over top. Cover with sterile cloth and
set aside, stirring daily. After 6 days add remainder of sugar and stir well
to dissolve. Ferment for an additional 8 days, stirring daily. Strain liquid
into secondary container and fit airlock. Rack after 30 days and again 30
days later. Bottle and taste after 1 year.
Rattlesnake
Weed Brew
You can make rattlesnake weed brew from
the roots of the wild carrot. This is prepared by drying, grinding, and then
roasting a few Daucus (wild carrot) roots. Add hot water to a palm full of the roasted
roots and let it steep for about 15 minutes before drinking. Delicious!
1. Youtube tutorial
here.(photo
right)
2. Carrot Crochet Bookmark
By Priscilla
Hewitt copyright©2001
Difficulty level: * Very easy…a great beginner's project!
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread OR 4 strands of embroidery floss
held together (colors orange and green), steel crochet hook size 4 (or a
size 5 if you crochet loosely)
Finished size: About 11" from root to leaves
Pattern note: The "ch 2" at the end of the rows does NOT count as
a dc.
To work a dc dec (dc decrease): yo, insert hook in the first indicated st
and pull up a loop, yo and pull through two loops on hook, yo, insert hook
in next indicated st and pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook,
yo and pull through all 3 remaining loops on hook.
With orange, leaving a 2" yarn tail, ch 10.
Row 1: Work 3 dc in the 3rd ch from hook (leave the remaining chains
unworked to form the tap root); ch 2 turn. (3 dc)
Rows 2-4: Dc in each dc across; ch 2, turn. (3 dc)
Row 5: Work 2 dc in the first dc, dc in the next dc, 2 dc in the last
dc; ch 2, turn. (5 dc)
Rows 6-8: Dc in each dc across; ch 2, turn. (5 dc)
Row 9: Work 2 dc in the first dc, dc in each of the next 3 dc, 2 dc
in the last dc; ch 2, turn. (7 dc)
Rows 10-12: Dc in each dc across; ch 2, turn. (7 dc)
Row 13: Work 2 dc in the first dc, dc in each of the next 5 dc, 2
dc in the last dc; ch 2, turn. (9 dc)
Rows 14-16: Dc in each dc across; ch 2, turn. (9 dc)
Row 17: Work 2 dc in the first dc, dc in each of the next 7 dc, 2
dc in the last dc; ch 2, turn. (11 dc)
Rows 18-26: Dc in each dc across; ch 2, turn. (11 dc)
Row 27: Dc dec over first 2 dc, dc dec over next 2 dc, sc in each
of the next 3 dc, dc dec over the next 2 dc, dc dec over the last 2 dc; ch
2, turn.
Row 28: Dc dec over first 2 sts, sc in each of the next 3 sc, dc dec
over the last 2 sts. Fasten off orange. Turn.
Stem: Attach green with a sc in the first sc of row 28,sc in each
of the next 2 sc; do not fasten off.
Leaves: Turn. Ch 11, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each of the
next 9 ch's, sc in the first sc on the stem, ch 11, sc in the 2nd ch from
hook and in each of the next 9 ch's, sc in the same sc on the stem, (ch 11,
sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each of the next 9 ch's, sc in the next
sc on the stem, ch 11, sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each of the next
9 ch's, sc in the same sc on the stem) 2 times. Fasten off.
Finishing: Separate strands of the beginning thread tail and cut each
strand to a different length to simulate feeder roots. Weave in ends at the
top of the carrot. Spray lightly with spray starch and iron to block.
Posted with permission of Priscilla
Hewitt of Priscilla's Crochet (http://www.priscillascrochet.com) and
The Crochet Cottage (http://www.crochetcottage.com)
Here is another variation compliments of Julie, the hooked on Yarngirl, extraordinaire. See lots of other beautiful crochet click here. |
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Make this craft bunny (right), easy, with a little adult help! |
2. A Fat Carrot
size H
crochet hook
orange yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky yarn
green yarn: worsted weight
* to * means repeat
-ch 2
-4 sc in first ch
(from
now on, work sc in back loop only)
working in a
spiral, not turning work:
-1
sc in first sc, 2 sc in each of next 5 sc, turn inside out
-work *1 sc in next, 2 sc in next* 5 times, work 20 sc around,
2 sc in next
-work *10 sc around, 2 sc in next* 3 times, work 50 sc around,
2 sc in next
-work *12 sc around, 2 sc in next* 3 times, work 120 sc around
-work *skip 1, 1 sc in each of next 2* 8 times
-join green yarn
-1 sc in next, skip 1, 1 sc in each of next 2, skip 1, 1 sc in each of next 3,
skip 1, 1 sc in each of next 3, skip 1, 1 sc in each of next 3
-close top
by sl st crochet in every other st until closed,
do not
cut yarn
-make greens by chaining 20 sts then working 5 dc, 3 hdc, then all sc along ch
back to beginning, join to top of carrot, repeat until you have the desired
amount of greens
3. Queen Annes Lace Crochet
How to crochet a Queen Annes Lace patter scarf - This Queen Anne's Lace Scarf is the perfect crochet pattern to make for the fall and winter months. Stay warm and stylish with this crocheted fashion accessory! Watch this free video tutorial and make one today. Youtube video
Other QAL Patterns:-
Materials: Clark's 3 cord crochet cotton; size 20, white or ecru.
Tablecloth: 60 x 80 inches, make 13 x 17 motifs. (27 balls)
Bedspread: 72 x 90 inches, make 16 x 19 motifs
(36 balls)
Table Runner: 14 1/2 x 38 inches, 3 x 8 motifs
(3 balls)
Luncheon set: 9 1/2 x 14 1/4 inches, 2 x 3 motifs
(1 ball per mat)
Doily: 14 1/4 x 14 1/4 inches, 3 x 3 motifs
(2 balls)
Pattern:
First Strip: (1st motif)
Ch 6, join with sl st to form ring.
1st rnd: Ch 6, * tr in ring, ch 2. Repeat from * 6 times more. Join to 4th
ch of ch-6 (8 spaces).
2nd rnd: Ch 4, 4 tr in first sp, * ch 2, 5 tr in next sp. repeat from * around.
Join last ch-2 to 4th ch of ch-4.
3rd rnd: Ch 4, tr in same place as sl st, tr in next 4 tr, * tr in first
ch of ch-2, ch 3, tr in next ch of same ch-2, tr in next 5 tr. Repeat from
* around. Join last ch-3 to 4th ch of ch-4; sl st in first tr of group.
4th rnd: Ch 4, holding back on hook the last loop of each tr, make tr in
next 4 tr, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (cluster made);
* ch 4, 5 tr in next ch-3 sp, ch 4, skip first tr of next group, make a 5-tr
cluster over next 5 tr. Repeat from * around. Join last ch-4 to top of first
cluster.
5th rnd: Ch 8, * skip first 3 ch of ch-4, tr in next ch, tr in net 5 tr,
tr in first ch of next ch-4, ch 4, tr in tip of cluster, ch 4. Repeat from
* around. Join to 4th ch of ch-8.
6th rnd: * Ch 12, skip first tr of next group, make a 5-tr cluster over next
5 tr, ch 12, sc in the single tr between groups. Repeat from * around. Join
last ch-12 to base of first ch-12 (16 loops). Break off.
Second Motif:
Work 1st 5 rounds as for first motif.
6th rnd:
Ch 12, skip first tr of next group; make a 5-tr cluster over next 5 tr; ch
6, sl st in first ch-12 loop on First Motif (always keep right side of work
on top), ch 6, sc in next single tr on Second Motif, ch 6, sl st in next
ch-12 loop on First Motif, ch 6, make a cluster back on Second Motif. Complete
rnd as for First Motif (no more joinings).
Make necessary number of motifs, joining in same manner (six ch-12 loops
free on each side of joinings on each motif).
SECOND STRIP (First Motif)
Work as for Second Motif of First Strip and join as before to First Motif
of First Strip, leaving two ch-12 loops free on First Motif (counting from
joining of first two motifs).
SECOND MOTIF: Work to 5th rnd incl.
6th rnd: Work as for 6th rnd of previous motif, but join to the third and
fourth ch-12 loops (counting from joining) of Second Motif on First Strip;
then work two ch-12 loops back on motif in work, join to third and fourth
ch-12 loops of First Motif of Second Strip. Complete rnd with no more joinings
(two ch-12 loops are left free on each motif, to be joined later to Fill-in
Motif). Work remainder of motifs of this strip in this manner, joining each
motif to 2 adjacent motifs. Work necessary number of strips.
FILL-IN MOTIF:
1st rnd: Ch 8, tr in 8th ch from hook, ch 4, tr in same place, ch 4, tr in
same place, ch 4, join to 4th ch of ch-8 (4 sps) .
2nd rnd: Ch 4, 6 tr in first sp, * ch 5, 7 tr in next sp. Repeat from * around,
ch 5, join to 4th st of ch-4, sl st in first tr.
3rd rnd: Ch 4, make a 4-tr cluster over next 4 tr, ch 5, join to first ch-12
loop of a large motif (as large motifs were joined), * ch 5, sc in next ch-4
loop back on Fill-in Motif, ch 5, join to second ch-12 loop of same large
motif, ch 5, work a 5-tr cluster back on Fill-in Motif, ch 5, join to first
ch-12 loop of next large motif. Repeat from * around. Break off.
Edging: Attach thread to joining point between any 2 large motifs, * 7 sc
in first loop of next motif, in each remaining loop of same motif make sc,
half dc, 5 dc, 4 tr, 5 dc, half dc, sc; 7 sc in last loop. Repeat from *
all around tablecloth. Starch lightly and press.
Produced by carrot friend Debbie.
The pattern is available as a zip file, please e-mail the Museum. If you require a paper version there will be a postage/copying charge.
5. Make a Carrot Kazoo (with adult help!)
Ingredients - 1 Medium to large carrot; 1 Kitchen Knife; 1 Drill; 1 Longish drill bit, say 15mm, long enough to drill a hole lengthways through the carrot.
A small piece of greaseproof paper.
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Method: Make a cut across the carrot to create a flat end to drill into. Carefully drill a hole through the carrot lengthways. Check you can sing or talk down the carrot. If you can’t, the hole is probably blocked or not big enough. Drill another large hole from the side of the carrot into the centre of the bore. Cover the side hole with greaseproof paper and lightly hold in place with your fingers around the edges.
Start singing ... The key to this instrument is to find the frequency the paper wants to rattle at, so experiment with singing at different pitches. You might need to fiddle with the paper to get it to work. It should be covering the hole so it gets moved by the air, but not so tightly held that it can’t rattle. You can hold the paper in place with your fingers or elastic bands, but this must not be on top of the hole, otherwise you stop the paper moving.
Watch the full constructional video here.
Collect
carrot tops (the leaves). Place one cupful in a small pan with just enough
water to cover. Bring to a boil and simmer for fifteen minutes. Remove
from heat, strain and discard materials, cool liquid and then cover it
tightly. Use within 48 hours.
Carrots Cross Stitch - lots of free
patterns here -
https://www.dmc.com/uk/carrots-pattern-9009325.html
and here
https://www.dmc.com/uk/recherche.html?motclef=carrot
Carrots Cross Stitch Patterns |
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