Hooked Yarn » upcycle competition

Crocheted and (very) upcycled coat hangers

Jane — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:25:50 +0000

I have been looking for old fashioned coat hangers to cover for ages but in Barry at least, its nigh on impossible. I love the look of them, it is something akin to granny squares I think, the colours, texture, associations with the past, let alone the practicality of them.

As is often the case it was the last place you would think to look that you find it. The local pound shop. A pack of 4 covered in an awful lilac nylon/polyester/god knows what for £1.99 – wah-hey!

I was going to rip off the covering, in fact I did, but then put it on again as it served as a great padding. So using up yet more remenants I crocheted a chain the length of the hanger and worked two in double crochet and 2 in my favourite up and down stitch, alternating trebles and doubles. I crocheted till it was wide enough to wrap round the hanger then I cut the end leaving a longtail to sew it together along the underside. Before I did that I found the middle of the crochet and just hooked the hanger through. I then embellished them with some flowers, ribbons and buttons.

2 in cream

and I thought, why not do 2 to match my clothes – thats not taking coathanger love too far is it ?!

Aren’t they fabulous, my favourite is one with the teal flower, it matches my favourite cardie and best of all, the ribbons are of my cardie from those annoying long hanging things you get in garments and the beads came off an old necklace!

Finally I thought I’d show you what I bought in the sales. Its things like this that make me want to get good at dressmaking, I think I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

A giveaway to celebrate my win!

Jane — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:49:44 +0000

I’m going to apologise now for the following excessive use of exclamation marks.

I won the makers-online competition with my upcycled morrisons plastic carrier bag crocheted necklace!!!!!

Really, honestly, still can’t believe it but its true!!

Rachelle Strauss of myzerowaste choose the winner and said:

“Firstly, Jane used up carrier bags and these are one of my personal bug bears; so turning them into something more palatable and keeping them from becoming litter gets my vote!

Secondly; all the other materials that made her beautiful creation were old charity shop finds and she even used parts of an old chandelier; which is *so* innovative.

Third; her final creation is stunning. Definitely something I would wear myself and who would ever guess what it was made from? It proves that upcycled items can be stylish and chic and it isn’t all about kids junk modelling projects.”

Some of the entries were really stunning so I am unbelievably flattered to have won!

So, I thought in honour of this great occasion I would host my first giveaway! If you would like to win this necklace all you have to do is leave a comment with an email address so I can let you know if your the winner, and pop by occasionally to read my ramblings, see what I’m working on and leave the odd comment as they are so, so important. As much as I love my boys and OH, how can I put it, your comments are more, informative and welcome!

I’ll leave it open till Monday 6th September, the last day before the boys go back to school and they can pick the winner! Well, thats all I think, I’m off to do a bit more screaming…

Jane x

Doileys, but not as you know it!

Jane — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:01:14 +0000

28th November 09

I’ve finished it!

I love it!

And the skin is slowly starting to regrow on my thumb (from all the cutting).

Initially it was going to be a basket, but I couldn’t get the image of doileys out of my head. Originally it was a duvet cover from ty hafan my local charity shop (where I probably spend more money than if I shopped at Howells). But now, my entry into Folksy Upcycle competition is…

And in action

There you go – doileys – but not as you know it!