Patchwork part 2
I have definately got the fabric bug again and the colour bug! Also patchwork is sooo much quicker than crochet, well, simple 6cm squares are!
So, I have sewn them together into 4 36cm squares and they are now waiting for me to a) find some thin sponge to pad the seat cushions and b) to figure out how to actually construct them. Aren’t they gorgeous!
Such beautiful fabrics too, some from old clothes, offcuts from bigger projects and some really lovely bits from the fabulous fabric swap with Linnhe organised by Ali of Very Berry Handmade.
I do like them all together and think they would make a great patchwork throw/blanket, but I really don’t need another one (not that that is EVER a deciding factor though) or have anywhere to put it.
So 4 seat pads they will eventually become.
Tomorrow, more colourful pictures this time of the crochet patchwork blanket I’ve been working on at nights, I tell you, I’m on a roll to use everything up and try to get through some of the ideas stored in my head… Also some frightening pictures of one of the most scary, in fact THE most scary thing I have ever done. A mothers love knows no bounds. Now thats got you scared, hasn’t it!
Patchwork
I have been ironing and cutting all morning and this is the result…
well, hopefully it will look more like this when I get sewing!
Vintage Jewellery
Our broadband has been down for 5 days and I felt like my left arm had been cut off, frightening how much we rely on computers isn’t it… When the engineer did come out, it was working. I think I might have protested too much, but it definitely wasn’t working before and the lady on the phone can back me up on it, honestly. After starting to get annoyed at the pitying looks the very young engineer was giving me, he then started laughing and asking if I liked Shrek. I had forgotton that my eldest had been playing with a new photo program he had found on the internet last month and and transposed an unflattering (is there any other sort) photo of me onto shreks wifes face – and had made it our home page. Bless him.
I did use that ‘free’ time wisely though. While I am still working my way through my wool stash (summer blanket on the way, pictures soon) I thought I should use up some of my jewellery bits too. Not only do I have a few beads, I also have a largeish collection of broken necklaces, odd earrings and general shiney bits from, well, all over really.
So I got playing, sorry, I mean working
And a matching pair of earrings too
I’ve even listed them in my folksy shop too, so if you fancy some vintage glamour pop over and have a look!
However
Crocheted Vessels – part 2
After the first experiment I was trying for a more organic form this time. Essential to that I wanted the vessels to be self supporting. But how? I’ve used pva before as a stiffener but it does alter the yarn and the feel of the fabric created, makes it feel harsher. I’ve also used starch in the past and that can soften over time, so I tried fabric stiffener this time.
To see if it would work and what form’s I could create with it, I crocheted to the dimensions of a glass and used that as a base. I also used a firm stitch, a rib to help the form.
So this is the first attempt. I had to stiffen it twice in the end as the fabric was quite thick, but it worked!
So next idea was to see if a lacy one would work
It worked better than a thicker fabric and I do love the shadows it creates and how delicate it looks. The next idea came from my love of the details on clothes, I particularly have a thing for buttonholes and buttons.
This too is firm, but it’s not quite how I imagined, the button loops should be finer. The final one was just to try a different shape.
Think I like it, not sure. As before I need to look at them for a while and think. The lacey one is definitely my favourite and I think this is the direction I’ll try again, but try to combine some more ‘details’ maybe.
Beads and Beyond
It’s fatal reading Ali’s blog very berry handmade, especially when she lists a new fabric shop! Especially one that has such a good range of trimmings…
So while browsing seamstar I remembered this scarf I’d bought from the market ages ago with the aim of crocheting a trim to jazz it up. A couple of clicks later and this
became this!
I love it and it goes with so much (though what that says about my wardrobe I don’t know…)
Also the latest issue of Beads and Beyond is out and has one of my tutorials in, for making beaded triangles crocheted out of wire and a couple of examples of what you could do with the same pattern, just by altering the number of stitches. If you have a go let me know what you think!
Baby Kimono Wrap
This has to be the cutest thing I have ever crocheted, I really enjoyed making it (when I’d sussed out the pattern!) and I love it now I’ve finished it!
A friend has just had a baby girl and I wanted to crochet something fairly modern, simple not too complicated and stylish, by stylish I mean not fussy, simple but lovely, that sort of thing. After going through my books and searching the interent I eventually found the perfect pattern on ravelry, click the link here.
This pattern is very clever, I couldn’t quite understand how it worked till I started, but thats nothing new for me… The problem I had was I didn’t want to do it in an aran weight, she is only a tiny baby and I thought it would be too chunky. After a couple of attempts I worked out the best way was to follow the instructions for the largest size but worked in a double knit and a 4mm hook it came out the perfect measurements for the 0 – 6months!
It only took 2 balls of Freedom Gorgeous double knit (75% bamboo 25% nylon so washable and wonderfully soft) so I had 1 left over and did this seriously cute had to match! Unfortunatly the pattern is a photocopy my mum had so I can’t tell you where it’s from.
Hope Sofia likes them!
Crochet Vessels – part 1
I’ve started experimenting with my vessels idea. I thought I’d begin working with a sort of frame, to see how the crochet fabric would work, how I would shape it, what stitches worked also what type of yarn as anything too heavy might just collapse.
I found 3 small glass jars (it must be a sign of age, being bought jams for Christmas, I don’t remember receiving them before…) that are 8 cm high and I like that there are 3 so I can try a few different ideas.
I like them, primarily because they are 3. They are red as that is what I had most of. I like that they have a rigid structure. I like the different shapes.
I want something more organic though. I was going for a glass effect, but its not me, I don’t really do ‘bright. Also not so rigid, more curvy, more natural. I think. And bigger. The only problem is that if I want it bigger and freeform will it hold the structure, I won’t be able to stiffen it if it isn’t a standard shape to sort of mold onto something. I think I maybe have to create a rigid base to work on initially.
Right, off to the drawing board again!
