My Crochet Progress in 2014

After my small success with the crochet flower on my colleagues ceramic travel cup I decided to have another go.  So after a bit of a search i found issue 22 of Mollie Makes which came with the above kit.

All that is needed was inside the packet and the actual instructions are in the magazine.  So on a rare evening to myself I made a start.

I had to unpick what I was doing SEVEN times and after a while I eventually ended up with what you can see above and I was sooooooo chuffed with myself and I had no one to tell at the time and then Christmas arrived.

The picture does not do the yarn colour justice and I really like the shape that the pattern created.  More to the point  my effort actually look likes the picture!!

This is by far the most complicated pattern.crochet idea I have ever attempted and I feel (well hope) that maybe 2014 might be the year I start to unravel the crochet mystery where decoding the pattern instructions has been my main problem.

My next challenge is to use up the rest of the yarn to make the second coaster and get it to look similar to the first!

Before I go shall we have just one more look at it..........................?

Take care all!

Mollie Makes - Felty Fortune - OPAM August

I have been asked by a lot of students to go back to a weekly Textiles Club after school.  Last year I tried just having workshops that students could sign up to, these were popular but the desire to have something more became apparent.  So I have been spending time finding a range of little projects for them.

I looked through all of my Mollie Makes and found a cute little project, it is in issue 22.

Felt fortune cookies.

Sophie caught sight of what I was up to so we both sat down and set to work.

Very little felt is needed and the templates can be found on the Mollie Makes website.  They suggested that you use fabric to write your fortune cookie message.  I found that actually using paper might be easier for the students to write on and you can still stitch through it.

The hardest bit proved to be the stage when you shape it into a cookie and stitch to keep it in place.  Managed it in the end and with a bit of manipulation of the stuffing you do get what you want.  We used a range of ribbon, I used some that came with an earlier issue of Mollie Makes, but got it upside down, Doh!  So I shall use plain or pattern ribbon with the students.  I also tried one with an Indigo Blue label as well.

I am going to keep this idea and use it when it is the Chinese New Year and look up which animal the students are for the year they were born and other facts.  We did have fun making these, they do not take long and do not use much in the way of materials.

I have a few more projects lined up so I may add a new page at the top of this blog and post some pictures of any of the students work there as well.

Have fun and take care all.

xx

Mollie Makes Issue 4

Felt, beads and stitch.

I started the kit from the 4th issue of Mollie Makes when it first came out.  Due to other things happening I forgot to go back to it. 

 With new eyes I decided to change some of it.  I like using felt and the type that they use in the kits is really fun.  Due to it being a bit thicker it does maintain its shape better and is easier to cut.

I was not really sure if I would wear the one shown above but I do like the colour of the felt.  I do not wear dangling jewellery to work in case it gets caught on anything.

I also wanted to add some embellishment to it as well. I have all these beads so I really should use them.

I used all of the templates that came in the kit but I just layered up them up.I made the leaves double thickness and added chain stitch plus some bugle beads.  There are two buttons in the middle, some seed beads and running stitch.

I made each section separately.

I used the coloured paper feel string and stitched them on so that they did not slide down.  Once all of the stitching was done I had enough felt to cut a circle to stitch on the back and hide everything to give a neat finish.

I then added a fastening which I recycled from a broken necklace and adding this proved to be the most difficult bit!

I asked Sophie to model it for me and I am pleased with the way it turned out as it was not planned very much.
I would love to try and find some felt like this to try out some more ideas.
I shall wear this with a dark or black top to show up the colours and possibly stitch something on the back of the flowers to weigh them down a bit more.
So I have been busy making but this did take a bit longer than expected and stitching these colours in the evening is not easy to see despite my new specs.
It is a glorious day here today so I am off to take Sophie out on her scooter for a bit.
xx

Mollie Makes issue 11

Well what happened?

I went away for a week then came back and I could not get into my blog.  Panicked and thought great four and half years gone.  Then worked out that Google Chrome seemed to have kicked in whilst away my blog decided that I had to swap.  Mind you it was a dodgy moment there.

So that is part of the reason why I have been absent for over a week and things have been happening at work which are directly affecting the future of my career.  I shall leave it at that for now but I may come back to that topic, lets just get through tomorrow.

So, I bought this months Mollie Makes and instantly fell in love with the little Babushka Doll keyring.

I like the pages that describe what the kits will make.  Each issue has that retro look about it.

I like that the kits have little packets as I keep any pattern pieces and spare fabric in for future reference.

I did make a couple of changes. I could not cut the felt circles for the eyes!  They are simply too small so I used two brown brads that I had.  I also used chain stitch for the cherry stalks.  I nearly made my eyes pop out trying to use the red thread on the red felt, I really struggled to see it.  I also used smaller more stitches on the leaves just to make sure that they do not come off in my handbag.  I really enjoyed making her and she is really cute.  Put her together in just over and hour, but I was not exactly rushing.

Next time I think that I would use polka dot felt rather than cotton, but is only my preference.

This was a really fun little kit to make and there was more than enough fabric.  

There was plenty to look at in this issue and lots of sites to take a look at too.

So what else caught my eye in this issue?  Well too much but here is a selection:

I really like these crochet flower coasters.  I am still trying to follow patterns and so I shall take a look at this.  Do not hold your breath as crochet patterns make no sense to me.

Chunky knits, which look hand knitted even when they are sold in supermarkets, are very in at the moment and I have not knitted a cowl yet so this one might bit the bill.  I like the idea of a mobius cowl as well.

Finally this quilt really appeals to me and could be a great way to reduce your fabric collection as well.  I have a quilt to finish first before I start anything else, bit this one does have a summery country feel to it too.

I am thinking of subscribing to Mollie Makes so that i do not have the disappointment of missing an issue.  There is so much more to look at and web sites to visit.

I have another Mollie Makes kit on the go but not yet finished.  Hopefully I shall be back with that at the weekend.

Friday tomorrow, thank goodness, and hopefully a good end to the week this has really been quite stressful and at time downright upsetting.

However as they say................

Keep Calms and Carry on

Stitching!!

Take care all.

xx

Mollie Makes issue 5 - Gadget Case for OPAM

Due to other things I got a bit behind with my Mollie Makes kits.  This is issue 5 and the kit is for a Gadget Case..

There are templates in the magazine and full sized versions can be printed directly from the website.

The fabric which came with the kit is very nice, linen with a red cotton fabric.

There were two designs to choose from and I decided on this bird, but there also a nice flower design which I might do with different fabric.

I attached the red strip using applique and after adding bondaweb to the bird I appliqued that too.  The branches were added by using a built in stitch on my sewing machine which gave a slightly wider stitch.

Finally a button was included for decoration.  The loop was meant to go at the bottom on the side seam but I decided to pop it at the top and then maybe add a split ring or carabiner clip.

Due to the thinness of the fabric I thought that I would add a lining to strengthen it.  The eye is a small black metal brad as I felt that he needed one.

The case did turn out quite thin  in the end despite using a 1/4 inch seam but I really like this and I will use  it, most likely to keep my thread clippers in which never come with a case when you buy them.

 The magazine also featured this lovely flower crochet table runner which would look lovely in many colour ranges.

I also liked these cushions and I am delighted to see that hexagon patchwork is everywhere in blogland but also in magazines.  There were the very first patchwork design that I ever did as a youngster.

I have another Mollie Makes kit to make up  for another time, but did anyone else have a go at this one?  How did it turn out?  Perhaps I should set up a Flickr group so that we could see how all of the kits turn out?

xx



Mollie Makes Issue 6 - Coin Purse Kit

With the festive break nearly upon us I would like to catch up with some of my sewing projects,  I have quite a list!

First up is a kit from issue 6 of Mollie Makes.  I have not seen any of these featured on other blogs so if you have had a go at this kit let me know how you did.

The kit comes with fabric and a silver look snap clasp.  The pattern and instructions are in the back of the magazine. 

I decided to use some fabric that I have had stored away for some time.  I have been wanting to use this LOVE U by Deb Strain for MODA for some time but did not know for sure what I wanted to make.

It has a real fun almost summery feel about, just right for cheering up.

Once all of the bits were assembled I cut out the fabric using the dinky little pattern supplied.

The kit and instructions does not mention lining so I decided to cut extra pieces including some interfacing so that I could  line the purse.

Gluing the fabric into the metal clasp along with some thick string was rather tricky and I did get covered in PVA, but got there in the end.

I am glad that I used the same fabric for the lining, a nice splash of colour when the purse is opened.

This was quick to make and creates a cute little coin purse to keep change for parking in the car.  The material that came with the kit has been bagged by Sophie to use in her card making!

So, did anyone else have a go at this kit?  Leave a comment, did you change anything as you made it.  has anyone bought purse snap clasps to make their own purses?  I am still thinking about making another purse, I think that I will need some kind if pattern and instructions to guide me through the first one, but this kit was a good start.

xx

Mollie Makes Issue 2- Felt flower kit

 I am still catching up with my Mollie Makes Kits and my week away has been a good opportunity to do this.  The kit above is from issue 2 and this happens to be in my favourite colours.

I did add a bit to this as there was plenty of felt in the kit, which I like, and having the extra time to work on it was even better!

I used the templates in the back of the magazine and pinned them onto the felt pieces and then cut them out very carefully.  I wanted the petals to stick up a bit so I added a little tuck in the back of each section and secured with a couple of very small stitches.  Then by stacking them on top of each other they did seem to stick out more.

The centre of the flower was harder and after dropping the sections several times I decided to put gather stitches through each of the colour sections, roll them round and then secure again with more stitches.

The centre was then stitched going through all of the layers and knotted on the back.

I used the left over felt to cut some leaves and added these to the back of the flower.

To neaten up the back and hide any of my stitches I added a piece of baby blue felt from my collection which I brought with me for another project. 

After all of the cutting, pinning, stitching (and dropping it on the floor a couple of times) and admiring the 3D look is still there.

I have a couple of cardigans at home which will look great with this and I can attach it to my bag as well. 

Has anyone else made up their kit?  If you have leave a comment and a link and we can all pop over and admire.

xx

A rainy day in Seaford

Today we woke up to a very wet Seaford so we have decided to postpone our trip to London until Monday.  I did go on the British Museum website and spent ages looking at it.  If your child has a project to do over the summer go to their website it is brilliant.  One of the reasons to for going is that Sophie is going to be studying the Egyptians at school in September.  I remember doing this at primary school and started an interest in History which sadly did not last as this and many other areas are not studied at GCSE.  I did History O'level and I have to say (ashamed really seeing as I am a teacher too) that it was very boring.  Government laws etc.  I wanted to study Kings and Queens, the Vikings and Romans etc.  But it was not to be.

Due to the rainy day we have had a quiet day.  I did brave the weather for abut an hour as I nipped out to buy the new issue of Mollie Makes, more on that another time, and to look at the charity shops which are very good here.  I got completely soaked but the allotment did need the rain.

Sophie was very good about the weather and read a book and looked at the Internet for the BBC children's programmes.  So to lighten the day we headed off to Eastbourne and watched Cars 2.  I have never sat in such uncomfortable seat in my life and everyone was fidgeting but Sophie enjoyed the film and we have just had a lovely Chinese takeaway.  It is still raining but should be bettter tomorrow.  We are off to Ashford to meet up with a friend that I have known since I was about 4.  We keep in touch but have not met in person since our wedding in 1998!! 

Due to our lazy day I have been able to read some more of my current read and the next one is sitting in my suitcase just in case I get time to start it as well.  I also managed some sewing but Ray, one of the cats, had other ideas and kept making a grab for the thread so in the end I read my book with Ray asleep with me.  Very relaxing.  Both cats have been brilliant considering they have not seen us for a year.  I will try and get some pictures for you.  They are truly splendid cats.

Once I have posted this I am off to do some crochet and sewing in front of Disney's Nemo.

More on my visit to Ashford tomorrow.

xx