It's beginning to look a lot like...................

I think any chance of any canvas work being done before Christmas has been swept away. I downloaded Making magazine the other day, and it's full of lovely ideas. It was the Lino printing that caught my eye something that I've always wanted to do, so the materials were purchased and after a lot of practice ( and a lot is needed) I've made all my Christmas cards.

So all this card making starts you thinking about other christmas thing that could be made.

The book 60 crocheted snowflakes popped up in my recommended books on Amazon the other day, and I was very tempted, so tempted if fact that I bought it!! While waiting for that to arrive I tried out Attic 24 snowflake its a good starting point. I've tried one snowflake from the book, that looks great ( once I had worked out the instructions were American crochet not English)

There has also been Pom Pom making too, as I want to make a Pom Pom garland, it's also a great way of using up left over yarn!!!!

I've made this tea cosy too, the pattern comes from JustJen-knits my teapot is a nine cup (they must be very small cups) but its tall rather then fat, so I used the 4 cup pattern, and made it a little taller.
Must be off as I've got snowflakes to starch, and I've found a crocheted holly leaf pattern I might try!!! Bye

Covering wooden beads

Last week I covered a wooden bead with more beads, the thought being that I would make some earrings with the result. But I was undecided whether to use this method or a needle lace covering.

The only way to decide is to try one, so here's how.
I have used three strands of stranded cotton. Pull yourself out a long length and put a knot in the end. Thread the needle though the bead and then though the knot in the thread, pull tight around the bead hiding the knot in the hole in the bead. I then wrapped the thread round the bead 8 more times.

Thread your thread around the top of the beads under the 8 wrapping threads.

Then start the needle lace. It's like a buttonhole stitch, make a loop take the needle under the ring of thread at the top, and pull up though your loop.great diagram here

Carry on round, taking your needles though the loops of the last round, try and catch the first wraps as you go round, this helps hold the lace tight to the bead. You will need to add in stitches by stitching twice into some loops to increase, and miss out some loops to decrease.

Don't Worry if you run out of thread, just thread the working thread under one of your first wraps and down though the hole. Then knot a new length, hide the knot in the hole in the bead, thread back down your foundation wraps up though the last loop you worked and off you go.

All done!

But which one will have a partner made? ( I can see myself having to go and buy another pair of earring loops)

Busy with other things again!

It was half term for us last week, and we where lucky enough to get away for a long weekend. We went to Norfolk again, but this time stayed in Wells-Next-the-Sea.

We had famous people day in the first week back at school, and Fred went as Douglas Bader.
Douglas Bader
This was a great idea as we had the fight suit already, but it was covered in Vulcan patches, so we had to make two new ones, one has Bader's signature on, worked in stem stitch, and one has his initials worked in satin stitch.

My holiday project this time was this wonderful leather satchel, I had notice a advert for them in Mollie Makes magazine and when I found out they where going to the Knitting and Stitching show I could not wait to have a look. The special thing about this bag is that you make it your self! Yes that right it's a kit. The leather is all cut out for you, with the holes pre- punched as well, all you have to do it sew it together.
Simple way, follow link to sew your own

I'm also having some fun with some wooden beads, the thought is that I could make some earrings with them. At the moment I'm trying covering with beads, but would also like to try covering with a needle lace stitch, the same way that you make apples in stump work.
We will see!