Sea-Weathered Treasure (and a mini-flower garland tutorial)

Tom came back to me today with a new piece of sea-weathered pottery for my collection. I have 2 handfuls now...aren't they beautiful?

And those bright threads I blogged about recently haven't done much - I'm making a teeny tiny flower chain to wear as a necklace. Some look more like flowers than others - they need a bit of moulding!

They're each roughly the size of my pinky finger nail. 

Chain 12

Sl st into 6th chain to make circle

2 double crochet

Slip stitch into centre

Flip tail over and repeat 5 times on the other side of the tail

Chain 12...repeat...

I have about 15 flowers now...unfortunately I think I need about 40!!

Tutorial: Crochet Necklace

This is a little tutorial for the crochet necklace that I made in my last post here.

I made the decision to keep the single strand instead of with the scallop edging...but I had a pattern ready so here it is. I'll be trying making dozens of these once I get hold of some more materials! 

Stop at step 3 if you simple version or carry on to add fancy edging (like teddy's displaying).

 1. Pick your materials...

I have a limited craft supply with me at University but I managed non-the-less. Pick a thread (be it wool or crochet thread) and then find a set of beads which you can thread on. Obviously they need to be able to pass over the eye of the needle which will hold your chosen thread.

I used 62 beads and size 3.00 crochet hook.

I wanted a very long necklace which I could wind around my neck 3 or 4 times - you can use your artistic licence with this!

2. Make your button-hole...

Use that artistic license again with this. I used the following, but I was using wool not crochet thread and quite a large crochet hook. You may need more chain and more single crochets with smaller thread/hooks.

8 chain, slip stitch to form a ring

15 single crochet into ring

Pick up the tail and chain 3

Drop the tail and chain 4

3. Crochet in your first bead...

This is easier than I expected. Snuggle the bead up close to the last chain, yarn over and do a chain as if the bead wasn't there at all!

Chain 7, add 2nd bead

Chain 7, add 3rd bead

Repeat

You will need to keep pushing the beads away from your crocheting - don't worry, it's not a hardship.

4. Add your edging...

You can choose any edging you want at all! I found hundreds on blogs and on pinterest but settled with a simple scalloped edge to get me started. So after you have crocheted in your last bead...

Crochet 7

Turn, skip one chain and single crochet

Skip one chain and do 5 double crochet into this chain

Skip one chain, single crochet

2 chain to get you over the bead (with smaller beads, this may only need to be one chain)

single crochet into second chain after bead

5. Finish off...

When you get back to your button hole, weave in your tail from the beginning and the end.

Sew on a button or large bead to secure.

Some edging patterns want you go up one side and down the other so you may need to travel the length of your necklace a third time...good luck!

As I said in my previous post, I still need to block my necklace - soak in warm warm and then pin to the ironing board, slightly stretched until dry. This makes it keep its shape better!

And there you have it! A simple, classy necklace. I can't wait to try this in lots of bright colours and with snazzy beads.

New Year Organiser

I actually made this for the man to use - hoping that he'd get organised this year! But its very cool and I thought I'd like to share it with you. Click to download the PDF :)

And while we're on the spring cleaning subject...I found a set of hat boxes at a charity shop recently...problem is, I still have a penchant for all things fancy dress. At least they're stored we'll now!

And I'm back at uni in Glasgow now (and have been since Jan 6th). I wanted a heap of crafty things with me here though and have outgrown my previous, yet gorgeous, wooden sewing box.

Here's the new craft stash...cool huh!

One day (soon please) MummySew and I will have the craft room of our dreams!

Tutorial: Easy Gift Tags

Remember these? I came up with a use for them - a student Christmas budget means little things like this help out a lot!

Gift tags are as easy as...

1. Fimo cut outs using biscuit cutters or mini icing cutters - thin slices baked in the oven

2. Fabric shapes from the scrap bucket and the ever faithful Uhu

3. ...et voila! Handy free gift tags!!

Plotting Against Monsters...

MummySew and I put our heads together a while ago to figure out a way to keep my little felt pencil toppers on their pencils! The answer from MummySew was quick and simple:

I cut a rectangle of matching felt and wrapped it around an average pencil as tightly as possible, stitching the edges together....(note the ever so awesome personalised 'Tara' pencil)

And then simply stitched it in at the bottom, when i sewed the monsters up in blanket stitch.

Even with a good shake, these little monsters are going nowhere!

Watch out for scary additions to The Shop sooon!

Tutorial: Felt Bows

These are of course, horrendously easy!

1. Cut yourself a little rectangle and a smaller strip out of felt. I used: rectangle - 5.5 cm by 3.5 cm and strip 3.5 cm by 1 cm

2. Use a running stitch up the centre of the rectangle to ruche it up by pulling the thread tight once stitched. I used a double row of stitches to add strength.

3. Take the little strip of felt and wrap it around the ruched rectangle, stitching it to itself at the back of the bow. Make sure this is relatively tight also.
4. Sew or glue your kirby grips on - i sewed at three points so that my stitches wouldn't come off the hair slides.
5. Wear with pride!

How to...

I've had a few questions about how to make little people such as Samantha and Maggie...
MummySew bought the pattern from Marie and Linda who also sell online here.
The cd has a pdf on it with about 40 pages of handwritten instructions, idea and pictures - the cutest tutorial ever!
All the pictures are annotated by hand and little diagrams are drawn to illustrate steps. It is a little pricey, but when you can make dozens of different types and styles its kind of worth it. Sew good for pressies too and fantastic fun trying to create characters.

EDIT: the pattern is called Angels is Abundance and is also available here.

Sew some new earrings...

I recieved the top right pair a few years ago at Christmas and only just got around to having a go myself. Surprisingly easy!! First step as below with dissolvable fabric and a pale shear for strength (something my gift pair didn't have much of!), then zigzag your outline and hand bead. Really effective - I've had loads of passing comments already! :) I just wish i had a decent camera to do these things justice...