Friday, February 26, 2010

Fat Bottom purse

I have crocheted the sides for the purse.


The task for today is to create a credit card pocket for inside and then to make-up the purse.  Installing the Zip may be the bigger challenge for me :)


I thought of hand sewing in the zip, but I reconsidered and machine sewed it.


Then I added in the credit card pocket. 

The best tip I can give is to remember to open the zip before sewing up the sides, I forgot and it was quite a task to get it opened again LOL


Then I decided that it would be good to add a handle, & some beads ... I'm a fiddler!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Fat bottom coin purse

I've been planning to make a coin purse for a while now.  I started one a few months back and was crocheting in the round, but decided that it wasn't coming out as I wanted.

I've started again, using Patons 100% cotton 4Ply in Grape.


I've decided that I will make the purse side at a time.  In order to make it a fat bottomed purse I am increasing at the ends of every other row.  Once I get closer to the top I plan to decrease quickly.

I'm planning a zip closure right now, maybe I'll try another with a purse frame another time.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Mohair Crochet scarf

I saw this beautiful mohair mix yarn and thought it would make beautiful scarf.


I wanted to make more of a fashion scarf than a woolie winter one.  I also wanted to make a little feature of the scarf ends.

The scarf is 10cm wide & 190cm long.  The scarf is created with a mix of stitch sizes, starting with DC's along the midline, then TR & DTR stitches.  The ends are ruffled to create the feature I wanted.


White crochet Cuff

I haven't made any jewellery for a while and thought it would be nice to make something other than a necklace, I've already got quite a few of those made.

I always like the way that its possible to create wonderful patterns with crochet, I really like the vintage feel of this particular piece.  Part lace, part solid.


I closed the back with pretty little flower cut buttons.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Crochet Scrubbie

So I am continuing to make my crochet scrubbie, I wonder where the ideas come from sometimes !!  I was working on it last night and my husband asked me why I was crocheting a brain - seriously ....

Then I looked at it, and it kinda does look like a brain .... or a cauliflower perhaps .....

Anyway, this is the first time I've made a completely round object with hyperbolic crochet, and it gets tight ... It's quite tricky to avoid catching the stitches that I've already worked, I have to use my yarn hand to keep the other worked stitches out of the way while I work along.  Its getting more and more tricky as I get closer to the end ...

Mind you its taking some time, I've been working on a 5 stitches to 1 ratio.  So having started with 30 stitches I'm now working my way through 750 stitches, & will end up with 3750 stitches in the last round .... Phew !!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Hyperbolic crochet

I am now making a bath scrubbie :) it s a great use of hyperbolic crochet . 

The idea of hyperbolic crochet is continually increasing in each stitch, it creates a twisted or ruffle look
as you continue to increase it will gradually become more and more of a ball.

If you are interested in the maths behind what is happening have a look here

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Crochet from Etsy that I love.

I see some wonderful crochet things on Etsy every day, so I thought I'd start keeping a note of them and letting you all know what I've found.

Below are a few of the crochet items that I love from Etsy, click on any of the images to go directly to the shop I found them in.

Enjoy!


 

Finished the Twist scarf

I finished the scarf, I loved the colours of this yarn but was struggling to think what to create with it.  I think the decision to make the twist scarf with it was the right one.

Its now available on my shop WalnutBaby

The colours suit this type of hyperbolic crochet


I wanted to make the scarf just long enough to be doubled over, so that in this style it would almost create a colar.


The colours in this yarn are really vibrant, they remind me of tootie frooty sweets :)


I think that the scarf looks really pretty worn with a simple knot too.


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Multicoloured crochet "twist" scarf

My next project is to create a twist scarf, its something that I've been meaning to do for a while but not got round to it.

I'm using some wonderfully colourful yarn from patons, Fairytale Colour 4 me DK - its the orange, green, yellow & purple one.

The scarf is underway, and here is progress so far.....



I love the way something as simple as increasing the stitches can create such a lovely texture.

Listed for sale

I just listed my aeroplane for sale on Etsy: Crochet toy aeroplane

Now onto the next project

Monday, February 15, 2010

Friday, February 12, 2010

Airplane progress


Its taken some time and a bit of faffing but I am slowly getting there with my airplane.  It really does take so much longer when I'm writing the pattern at the same time.



LOL I just realised that my yet to be trimmed threads look like airplane trails LOL



I made my decision, I think that the front looks bare, so I'm making propellers ... still not finished !!  

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Got a commission ... I hope it works out

I have a pair of barefoot sandals in my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28654448


A potential buyer spotted them and would like a pair made in a different colour for their wedding ... I'm really quite excited, I love getting commissions.

Just too damn lazy

I was just too tired and lazy last night to make much progress. I did remove my airplane wings :)  and unstitched the ends ..... sneezing as the stuffing floated up my nose !!

So I am now back to a situation with a body, two wings & the tail fin parts and nothing sewed together.  I'm getting to that "I wish I didn't start this project" stage.

So tonight, I really HAVE to spend some time getting this thing put back together.  Otherwise its going to be one of those things that sits in bits for months.

I haven't even thought about writing up the pattern yet, I really should - there seems to be a distinct lack of crochet patterns for toy airplanes available.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The airplane progresses

I finished my tail fin last night ... but I haven't attached it.  Is it just me or is the sewing it all together bit a real pain in the bum? 

I did sew the wings on and now I'm thinking I need to take them off and try a different way.  I sewed the ends of the wings closed first and then attached them ... now I'm thinking I need to leave them open & maybe they will sit better - but one thing I hate more then sewing together, is picking out sewing I've already done!!!  I guess that there is no point doing a job half hearted, "do it right or don't do it at all" as my dad would say :)

I think I better do the job of taking the wings off first (LOL that sounds pretty cruel!!) before putting the tail on. 

I'm still undecided on the propeller ... Hummmm, propeller or no ?????

How To: Make your own fabric tags

One of the lovely folks on Etsy created a brilliant blog post on how to create your own fabric tags, please go to her blog and check it out !!

http://www.upcycleyourlifeonaisle3.blogspot.com/

Its something I've been thinking about for a while.  I always think that some lovely tags make items look so much more professional.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Back from Ireland

We had a lovely weekend in Ireland - even if I was spreading germs over everyone ... I have the most terrible cold & have been feeling properly sorry for myself - since I caught it from my husband I felt I had permission to have "man flu" LOL.

Since I was too ill to go into work yesterday I took the opportunity to curl up with a blanket and do some more work on my airplane.  I have now completed the wings and stared on the tail.

I think I will have to add a windscreen (windshield) as the front is looking a bit bare right now.  Perhaps a propeller?  Who knows :)

Friday, February 5, 2010

Time off for good behaviour

Well I'm off to Ireland for the weekend to see my family.  If you've never been I recommend taking a trip over. (Ireland.)

With working late & packing to do, last night was a non-starter with creating my wings ... & since the airport security guys don't like spikey, hooky things I'll be leaving my crochet at home and taking a break for a few days.

Next week I shall start all refreshed on wing creation ;)

Happy weekend everyone

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Crochet Airplane

..... Progress continues.  I have finished the body of the plane & so far I'm reasonably happy with it.  I'll take photos and post them shortly.

Progress is slow, writing the pattern at the same time as crocheting makes things move at a little slower pace than normal.

I plan to move on to trying to create the wings tonight, I am still not sure of the best approach ... I think I'll start by trying to make the wing from the tip and see how that goes.  I can always try a different angle if things go wrong.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Crochet Airplane

My next project is to create a crochet airplane.  So far I've just started on the body of the plane, I think its going OK so far, I have a nose and the "bump" for the cockpit.  I just need to continue with the shaping and see how it turns out.

My current dilemma is how to create the wings, I am thinking through the different options - end on, or side on :) 

I think I'll have to google some photographs of airplanes and see what design would be best and see if I can work out how to create it.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Shamrock brooch

I finished my Shamrock brooch


I started out making the simple shamrocks and then decided to make the larger more detailed one. 

Since shamrocks are three leaves I made three shamrocks to make the brooch.  Its quite difficult to see in the photo, but the twists on the smaller shamrocks worked out quite well.