Extra cuffs

It’s been a while, I know, but I’ve had a dissertation to write. Anyway, dissertation has now been handed in and I’ve been crocheting. I’ve got a couple of cardigans that I enjoy wearing but they have sleeves that are too short. So, I got some wool from Marriner Yarns – double knit at £1 a 100g ball, a ball of black, one of scarlet, one cream and one blue. It’s nice to work with and the colours are lovely. I’ve added six rows to each cuff on one bolero-type cardigan, and twenty to a long, thick cardigan I think of as a blanket I can wear.

It’s fairly simple to add extra length to a jumper or cardigan, once you get the first row made. The hook needs to fit through the pre-existing fabric to form a first row of stitches, instead of  making a chain. I use a double half crochet for all the rows. It’s a dense stitch that’s fairly quick. Once the first row is complete, [use a slip stitch to join the first and last stitch. Chain three and double half crochet into the first stitch, continue around] x 15. Row sixteen – [chain three, slip stitch into 2nd stitch from hook]. Row 17 – 20 [Chain three, slip stitch into second chain of previous row]. These last five rows form an almost lace structure.

The sleeves come down to my thumb and knuckles now. Just the right length. The new yarn is darker and fresher than the original yarn, so there’s a bit of contrast, I quite like it.

I’m also working on a pair of fingerless gloves to keep my hands warm this winter. The yarn is a lovely scarlet red.

Project Pompom Rug

I’m taking a break from my current sewing project, a hexy patchwork quilt, and my MA Creative Writing dissertation to work on a pompom rug. You’ve probably seen the video doing the rounds of social media, these rugs are fairly easy to make.

I’m using a bit of tapestry canves from a roll I was given some years ago, and bits of yarn left over from crochet and loom knitting projects.

The tablet makes an unusually good pompom maker. The next colour I’m going to add is a taupe-brown.

I’ve got some white and purple/pink yarn that I’m going to use in another crochet project but any leftovers will be added to the rug. I think I’ll put it in my bedroom, by my bed.

New hobby: loom knitting

Fi, my longest standing, consistently present friend has been using knitting looms for a few years. She’s made me a hat in the past and a scarf is on the loom at the minute. She also makes fantastic socks and blankets, and I’m trying to get the to start selling her stuff because it’s so good.

Simple tree decorations

And by “simple” I mean really simple.

You need Christmas fabric and matching felt, embroidery thread or ribbon, and sewing cotton. A sewing machine makes the job easier.

And a cup.

• Using the cup, draw a circle, two of the fabric, and two of the felt. Cut out;
• Using the matching embroidery thread (all six strands) or ribbon, cut an appropriate length for a hanging;
• Sandwich the thread/ribbon between the two felt pieces, then layer the material on either side, right-sides out;
• Using a zig-zag stitch, sew round the edge of the circle. If you haven’t got a machine, blanket stitch around the edge.

Poppies and reindeer

It’s that time of year again when minds turn to Remembrance Day and Christmas, once we’ve survived Hallwawaoween and Bonfire Night. I’ve got one barky little bitch who doesn’t like fireworks and a drooly girl who is very upset by them too, so to distract us I’ve got a true crime podcast on. After tea I’ll be working on a blanket, if I can persuade Ezzie off my knee.

I’ve been crafting. For those who don’t like to wear the red poppy there is the white poppy of peace.

First the petals, crocheted according to a pattern an acquaintance gave me. This pattern came from a magazine, but they can be found online on Pinterest apparently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then sew the petals together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then finally sew on a big black button and a safety pin

It’s not difficult, except I kept forgetting the different crochet stitches.

For December, I’ve started a little project – a herd of reindeer.

This is the first one. For a while I referred to it as the duck-reindeer because the body looked like a bath ducky. I’ve used little gold bells for the eyes and tried to shape the ears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In progress:

Oh wow! It’s been so long!

Sorry, I’ve been busy with moving house and publishing novels.

However, I’m back, and hopefully I’ll be able to post once a month or so.

I’ve run out of stuffing!

I have a craft fair coming up in April and lots of new stock for it, but I’ve run out of stuffing. I have a pile of deflated dogs and bunnies, an child’s cushion and a mini dragon that need stuffing but no funds to buy the stuff, or for the three cushion inserts for the cushions I’ve made. I’m going for a spring theme at the moment, bunnies and flowers, since the fair will be during April.

I need to go through my old stock to see what is suitable and what can be taken apart. Some things just don’t sell, I’ve found. People won’t pay a decent price for hand made scarves etc. so I’m going to stick with stuffies and cushions from now on.

Snails and turtles

I went to visit friends in Sheffield on Saturday; it was fun. The journey back yesterday, due to engineering works, was hell. Train times online were wrong so I only just caught my train from Meadowhall.

Anxiety isn’t fun but sewing helps calm me down, eventually. It took about four hours. This tortoise is the result. Instead of using my machine, it is hand sewn.

The pattern comes from the Sew Style & Home website. It’s for a tortoise pattern weight, but I haven’t used anything to weight it. It’s a nice soft toy without them.

Pattern here

 

On Thursday I sat and made a snail too, using this pattern. I got the dimensions for the snail shell wrong the first time, so I had to remake that bit. I didn’t add any weight to the body either.  It was generally considered cute by by the rest of Immingham Sewing and Craft Club.

On Friday I made use of the hexxie set mother gave me a few weeks ago, and cut out some 2.5 inch paper patterns and material, the same as the material used on the tortoise. It’s been a while since I did some patchwork. I finished it on Saturday evening, while I was visiting my friends. I’ll get some pale blue material and make an envelope cushion case. I think it’ll look lovely in a child’s bedroom.

I have a potential first fair of the year coming up in April, I just need to arrange transport. It’s not very far and I could probably walk but I’d have to carry all my stuff with me. If I can get a lift I’d be able to take a few of the 200 books I need to sell too.

Back from a break

Hello readers,

I’m currently studying for my MA Creative Writing so I haven’t had a huge amount of time to update my crafting blog, but I have been working on a few things.