Embroidered Badges, work in progress Owl #2

Embroidered Badges, Ladybird.

Embroidered Badges, Biscuits

Embroidered Badges, Owl

Embroidered badges

I've been busy!!!!! In fact so busy I had no time to tell you about it. Production is at top speed at the moment, and I'm really enjoying myself.

I'm trying to get things finished, but keep getting waylaid!!

I wanted 2012 to be about finishing projects, I have lots of projects started and lots of projects todo. So I was pleased with myself when I got my uhandbag purse kit out to start.

I really can't praise this kit enough, excellent instructions and loads to picture to follow.
But then I got waylaid.
I bought myself a lovely new ereader, and of course it needed a case.

The knitted pattern comes from here but knitted using Double knit and 4mm needles. It's the first time I've tried Judy's magic cast on, and the magic loop. Both of which can be learnt by watching you tube videos!!
I then made a start on my yarn stash, I bought two balls of sock yarn while on holiday, one is now a pair of sock, the other half a scarf!!

I've had a little go at the canvas work too.

So near finishing the flower, then I will have to work out how I want the background.
I was lucky enough to get away in March, to the Hobbycraft, Embroidery in fashion and Sewing for pleasure show at the NEC.
I got myself a lovely new sewing machine, you don't know how hard it is to buy a machine at a show that's not a computer. There were 4/5 different makes of machine there and only Brother had their lovely basic range. So they got my custom and I'm very pleased.
So I used it to finished my purse.

And make a case for my phone.

Which I knitted a cover for!!!!! But I had just discovered to joy of downloadable knitting graph paper. I used this to get the right size graph.
At the show I went to the Simple Way stand and saw there new satchel bag, a smaller version of the bag I have already, and in my eyes the prefect handbag size.

As you see that's been made up too, love the colours.
So I am knocking a few things of the list of old projects, but oh how easily I'm waylaid by new projects! And why not!

I'm Back!!!!!!! And I've made some earrings.

Hello, long time no blog!! Here we are again, I don't like January and February, you get all the way to the end of the year, and you have to start all over again!!! But we have had a few bright days and the creative juices are startling to bubble up, so hopefully I can get some things done! I want to spend some of my time this year getting a few things finished. I have lots of projects ready to go and really want to work though this back log.

I have finally made my earrings and the winner was the bead covered bead, rather then the needle lace one.
Below we have stage by stage pictures of how I did it. I got a kit from The Bead Merchant a couple of years ago which had excellent instructions in it, but of course I could not find them, so I studied the beads I made then, and just made it up from there.
The Bead Merchant
Please visit the Bead Merchant for all the beads I've used and they have a wonderful range of kits.

I'm covering a 12mm wooden bead, using Japanese Embroidery beads, round 11/0.
You start with ten beads

Make them into a circle, by sewing back though them.

For the next round you pick up two beads and past the needle though two beads in first circle, continue until you are back to the beginning, and 'step up' though the first bead of this first round, so you are ready for round 2. We will call these two beads 'the stack'.

Round Two, with your thread coming up though the first stack bead, pick up two beads to go on top of the first two beads (the stack) go down the next stack bead. Pick up one bead for in between the stacks, thread needle back up next stack bead. work round as set.

Round 3. With the thread coming out of the top of a stack, Pick up two beads, take the needle back down the top stack bead, pick up two for in between this time.

This time, come up in the top of the stack, take two beads go down in stack and come out of the the first of the two beads in between, pick up two beads, back though second in between bead and up in the top most stack bead, pick up two beads, keep going until your all the way round.
Stop there, and now make another.

You can see from the picture above that I line up the beads so the stack of one side lines up with the in between beads of the other side.

Last thing to do is sew the two sides together, I do this with the help of a Double pointed needle, just to hold them all in place.
As the two sides are not quiet big enough to join you need to add in one more bead, with your thread coming out of the top of the stack pick up a bead, take the needle down two beads on the other side, back up the two beads next to them into the middle again, pick up one bead and then thread the needle thought the two beads on the other side, keep going until all the stacks and in between beads are joined together.

Tips
You will need to make the beads lie flat, by pushing them down with your needle.
Make sure you have a nice long piece of thread!
To cast off your thread run it back though several beads, until you are happy it won't come undone.
These beads also make great necklaces and bracelets.

Any questions please ask.
Jenny

It's good to finish things, but I do love a new project.

So at last all the Pom Pom making has paid off, and I have one completed garland.

I love it, and what a great why to use up yarn. I used a Pom Pom maker as well, so no cutting endless card circles.

Do you like the Russian dolls? We have, so far, the three kings, Joseph, Mary, Gabriel and two more to pop out still! Rush off to John Lewis if you want one!

If I was to have a rule that says that one project must be finished before you start a new one, then I have failed again!

I could not resist this hat in Simply Knitting, knitted with one 100g ball of sock yarn, a great little, and I will finish it, project.

No tree up here yet, but I did get the Christmas lanterns out, and this one is a favourite.
Bye

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!