Plastic fusing and my first yarn bomb!

Ooh dear I've gone and found another hobby!! I love it now I'm going to save all my bread and crisp bags to fuse into bags to sell at bens summer fete to make great reusable shopping bags! And a pic of my first yarn-bombed tree..card says love your world

Plarn wreath all recycled goods!

l............76The plan is basically yarn made from plastic carrier bags there are many websites with tutorials on making plans I prefer the method where you fold and cut the top diagonally across quick and even! Other skills required included minimum of sewing, crochet and plastic fusing..plastic fusing is melting of plastic bags together..again lots of websites show methods of this you don't need to get too fussy with this project though when plarning do not use biodegradable bags as they will fall apart after a while as they are meant to disintegrate materials required 8 dark green bags or another colour for the base..maybe black or white? 2 red bags one for the Berry's and one for the ribbon and bow flower 1 lighter green bag to be fused for the holly spruces one metal coat hanger some red and green cotton a bead or shiny button or bear/milk bottle top 4mm crochet hook first of all make sure you have made  all of your plastic bags into plarn , except for the 2 red and the 1 light green bag, fuse your light green bag allow to cool and cut out 10 holly shapes from the fused plastic material shape your coat hanger into a circular shape and bend the hanging portion down and over to form a look this will be your hanging hook taking your 4mm hook tie one end of the plarn to the hanger near the bottom and slip crochet the yarn around to start.

Now chain ten and slip crochet the plarn around this will form a loop, chain ten and slip crochet the plarn around again forming a loop continue in this method until the hanger is completely covered in chain 10 loops this will create a fir effect.

Now to decorate plarn bow flower and ribbon take one red bag and make a ball of plarn 

1. using 4mm hook chain 4 and slip crochet shut to form a ring, 

 2.8sc into ring 

 3. chain 5 and slip crochet into the next space, then into the same space you have just slip crocheted chain 5..continue around to end, slip crochet into the first chain 5 space at the bottom.

4.into each chain 5 space around sc 6 times around to end slip crochet into first space to close ring 6..ribbon bows , continuing from last slip crochet chain 20, turn and sc into 2nd chain from hook and into rest of the chain till you return back to the base of the flower, again chain 20 , single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and into the rest of the chains until you return to the base of the flower now fasten off.. 7..sew a bottle top or bead into the centre of the flower ribbon bow i used a beer bottle top and found it easy to Peirce a hole either side using a corn on the cob holder piercing through the top rather than through the base as the base had a plastic covering and was a little slippery holly balls taking your other red bag cut 12 2x2 inch squares scrunch into balls and sew into clusters of 3 balls ..sew each 3 ball cluster evenly onto wreath and place and sew a holly leaf either side and lastly sew your flower ribbon bow onto the bottom of the wreath and sew a holly leaf either side.. all done ..id love to see other colour variations of this any questions please ask!

Patchwork square number 2

Ok, I really like this one. I know I'm not great but that's the whole point its a journey..I also finally backed my Christmas wall hanging and I have a Disney car one to do for the boy's joint Christmas present

Flat knit socks boot or bed-socks..something more Robust

Now these socks have a seam underneath which some people can cope with and some can not. I needed a pair of robust socks to wear under my boots. There was no way I was using the delicious hand-painted Merino stuff in my stash lol so I used some pretty cheap acyclic yarn..if you have sock yarn such as Opel you will need 2 balls alas hence why I just used cheap acyclic after all these are designed as bed socks a pair 4mm needles, any large ball of acrylic dk yarn I used Rainbow multi by creative yarns in shade 352..looks a wee bit like a rose garden don't you think? the tension is 22 stitches by 30 rows in a 10 x 10 cm square measure from the base (back end of your heel to the top of your small toe ..this is the measurement you will need later on)

cast on 42 stitches

1st row *k2,p2* repeat to end

2nd row *p2,k2* repeat to end repeat rows 1 and 2, 2 more times (6 rows of ribbing) now ss ending on ws for 30 rows decreases for ankle and heel .. 1st row k2 together, k14, k2tog, k6, k2tog,k14, k2tog 2nd-row purl 

3rd row k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches k2tog

4th-row purl 

5th row k2tog,k10,k2tog,k8,k2tog,k10,k2tog 

6th-row purl

7th row k2tog,k10,inc1 into next stitch,inc1 into next stitch,k4,inc1 into next stitch,inc1 into next stitch,k10,k2 tog 

8th row purl,

9th row k8,inc1 into next stitch, inc1 into next stitch,k14, inc1 into next stitch, inc1 into next stitch, k8

10th-row purl 

11th row k11, inc 1 into next stitch twice, k13 inc1 into next stitch, k13 inc1 into last stitch twice ..42 stitches starting with purl row continue in ss for (insert your foot measurement as described above - measuring from the  first row of heel decreases)

decrease rows for toes 

1st row *k7, k2 tog* repeat to end

2nd-row purl 

3rd row *k6, k2 tog* repeat to end 

4th-row purl 

5th row *k5, k2 tog* repeat to end 

6th-row purl 

7th row *k4,k2 tog* repeat to end 

8th-row purl 

9th row *k3, k2 tog* repeat to end 

10th-row purl

11th row *k2, k2 tog* repeat to end 

12th-row purl

13th row *k1,k2 tog* repeat to end 

14th row purl break off yarn and thread through remaining stitches on needle and seam sock shut

Happy Halloween mitts

Please note I am not a professional pattern writer, and I offer these for free. I'm afraid there is no graph for these. Enjoy

Materials Patons fab black 02311,
   Wendy Peter pan orange 285 and a scrap of green I used grass by Patron Fab
4mm straight needles and 4 4mm DPNs

Cast on 36 in black and rib in k2, p2 for 4 rows change to orange and ss 2 rows

Diagonal stripe pattern pattern
Row 1 *k3 orange,k3 black* repeat to end pattern
Row 2 p1 orange *p3 black, p3 orange * repeat from *to last* to 2 stitches p2 orange pattern
Row 3 k1 orange* k3 black, k3 orange* repeat from * to* to last 2 stitches k2 orange pattern
Row 4 *p3 orange, p3 black* repeat to end pattern
Row 5 k2 black,*k3 orange, k3 black* repeat from * to* to last st k1 black pattern
Row 6 p2 black, * p3 orange, p3 black* repeat from *to* to last st p1 black repeat diagonal stripe pattern once more.
Change to Orange only and ss 2 rows change to black only and ss t2rows ***
LEFT mitten PUMPKIN Pattern FOR LEFT MITT pattern
Row 1 k6 black, k7 orange, k23 black pattern
Row 2 p22 black, purl 9 orange,p5 black pattern
Row 3 k4 black, k3 orange, k5 black, k3 orange, k21 black pattern
Row 4 p20 black, p3 orange, p1 black,p5 orange,p1 black, purl 3 orange, p3 black pattern
Row 5 k3 black,k2 orange, k2 black, k5 orange, k2 black, k2 orange, k20 black pattern
Row 6 p20 black, p6 orange, p1 black, purl 6 orange, p3 black pattern
Row 7 k3 black, k4 orange, k1 black, k3 orange, k1 black, k4 orange, k20 black pattern
Row 8 p21 black, p3 orange, p1 black, purl 3 orange, p1 black, p3 orange,p4 black pattern
Row 9 k5 black, k9 orange, k22 black pattern
Row 10 p23 black, p7 orange,p6 black pattern
Row 11 k9 black, k1 green, k26 black pattern
Row 12 p23 black, p1 green, p1 black, p1 green, p1 black,pl green,p1 black,p1 green, p6 black, pattern
Row 13 k7 black, k1 green, k3 black, k1 green, k 24 black
 purl 1 row black
change to orange and start with knit row ss 2 rows
change to black and ss for 3 rows
cast off knitwise fold the mitt in half wrong side out sew from the top side seam down 5cm and leave 4cm unsewn, as an opening in the side seam for the thumb portion now sew the remaining 8 cm of side seam closed, turn the mitt right way out now complete thumb portion thumb using 4mm dpns in black pick up and knit 16 stitches around thumb opening k6 rounds, change to orange to k2 rounds cast off knitwise.

RIGHT HAND MITT works exactly as left hand mitt up to *** except substitute the pumpkin pattern part for this one for this one
pattern row 1 k23 black, k7 orange, k6 black pattern
Row 2 p5 black, purl 9 orange,p22 black pattern
Row 3 k21 black, k3 orange, k5 black, k3 orange, k4 black pattern
Row 4 p3 black, p3 orange, p1 black,p5 orange,p1 black, purl 3 orange, p20 black pattern
Row 5 k20 black,k2 orange, k2 black, k5 orange, k2 black, k2 orange, k3 black pattern
Row 6 p3 black, p6 orange, p1 black, purl 6 orange, p20 black pattern
Row 7 k20 black, k4 orange, k1 black, k3 orange, k1 black, k4 orange, k3 black pattern
Row 8 p4 black, p3 orange, p1 black, purl 3 orange, p1 black, p3 orange,p21 black pattern
Row 9 k22 black, k9 orange, k5black pattern
Row 10 p6 black, p7 orange,p23 black pattern
Row 11 k26 black, k1 green, k9 black pattern
Row 12 p6 black, p1 green, p1 black, p1 green, p1 black,pl green,p1 black,p1 green, p23 black, pattern Row 13 k24 black, k1 green, k3 black, k1 green, k7 black
Continue with the right-hand mitt from here exactly as set out for the left-hand mitt happy holidays!

Christmas candy-stripe wristwarmers

You need 4mm needles (4) 4mm dpns and the small 25g balls one of each white, Christmas red and Christmas green. I used patons fab dk and a small ball of some white fluffy yarn I had this in my stash and I'm afraid it's of unknown origin! Make 2 of obviously unless you like one cold hand!

Cast on 36 stitches using a fluffy white garter for 4 rows change to red and stocking stitch for 10 rows pattern rows make sure you use loose tension otherwise it will end up too tight for your hands! 

Pattern row 1..*knit 2 red, k2 white, k2 green, k2 white* repeat to end.

Pattern row 2 purl 1 green, *p2 white, p2 red, p2 white, p2 green * repeat to last stitch p1 red.

Pattern row 3 *k2 white, k2 green, k2 white, k2 red* repeat to end.

Pattern row 4 purl 1 white *p2 green, p2 white, p2 red, p2 white* continue to last stitch p1 white. 

Pattern row 5 *k2 green, k2 white, k2 red, k2 white* repeat to end.

Pattern row 6 purl 1 red * p2 white, p2 green, p2 white, p2 red * continue to last stitch p1 green.

Pattern row 7 *k2 white, k2 red, k2 white, k2 green* continue to end.

Pattern row 8 purl 1 white *p2 red, p2 white, p2 green, p2 white* continue to last stitch p1 white.

Repeat rows 1-8 once more tie off white and green.

Stocking stitch 6 rows in red, change to fluffy white,

Garter stitch 2 rows cast off knitwise.

 Fold in half and sew side seam from top down 5cm miss 4cm and leave this portion unseamed for thumb opening, sew rest of side seam shut turn right side out Thumb using 4mm dpns pick up and knit 16 stitches distribute onto dpns evenly around knit 6 rounds change to fluffy white knit 2 rounds cast off knitwise

the old ball and chain

ok not sure why i wanted one but there was Halloween coming up so could be useful also good for stag and hen nights cheeky wedding pressies lol! so i made this wee pattern up very simple ! one 25g ball of Filz-It Felting Wool - Black 4mm needle i suggest you make the ball and neck/ankle/wrist bit first so you know how much you have left to make chain links remember if you are wearing an ankle chain make sure your careful not to trip over it!! Ball. chain 4, slip stitch into first chain to form a ring round 1 sc 6 times into ring..no need to slip stitch closed just continue to work in a spiral round 2 2sc into each sc round 3 *2sc in 1st sc, 1sc in next sc* repeat round round 4 *2sc in next sc, 1 sc in next 2 sc* repeat round round 5 *2sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc* repeat round rounds 6 and 7 sc in each sc round round 8 *sc in next sc sc 2 sc together* repeat around round 9 *sc 2 sc together * repeat around stuff lightly at this point round 10 till end ..continue in this manor until the ball is closed ..slip crochet ball shut and fasten off neck strap chain 43 (but please measure around neck once chained before second row should be about 2 inches longer than the length around your neck/ankle wrist these are my measurements) 1st row hdc in second chain from hook hdc across to end chain 2 turn 2nd row hdc in second chain from hook hdc across to end fasten off wrist strap alternative as above but chain 32 ankle strap as neck strap but chain 35 links first link chain 18 1st row in 2nd chain from hook hdc, then hdc to end fasten off now sew/slip crochet link shut to form a circle 2nd and subsequent links as above yet before closing shut to form ring thread through the first/lower link the sew/slip crochet shut this method will form your chain links to make up simple sew chain to ball, sew other end of chain to the middle of your neck , wrist, ankle strap ..all done now bung in the washing machine at 40 degree wash ..allow to dry now just sew a small length of black acrylic either side of your strap so you can tie it on and there you go all done!

Jewellery for a friend

I wanted to make my friend a personalised piece of jewellery so I found a cute pic of her twin boys and printed it off onto shrink plastic..(I love this stuff why have I not discovered it before. I now am going to make bens artwork into a charm bracelet for me I think) shrink plastic is easy to use its like paper and you just need an inkjet printer ..the pic needs to be 50% bigger than you want it to end up as it shrinks obviously and be careful not to touch the pic as it will smudge..then I just added a chain on either side fastings and green and silver glass beads. I'm happy with it cost less than £5 to make and about 1.5 hrs

and I made a button bracelet as a sort of trial run ..that turned out quite well too think

Busy week

Ben helping to sort the fruit out

My wall hanging needs backing and a section for the 25 days of chrsitmas for an advent calendar

Elderberrys, Sloes and Cobnuts

my first lot of jam sloes and damsons using the pound-for-pound recipe

jam making, made a Christmas wall hanging, picked some more fruit elderberries and sloes and some cobnuts, 3/4 made my own dress out of a pair of daves surplus work combats just need to put a zip in.

This week i shall be..

I'm mostly de-cluttering, cleaning out the veg plot potting the pumpkins and

some more spuds. Thrown away a rotted beyond-repair bench and a huge broken JCB toy ..so now I have a clean garden and I have 5 black sacks of weeds/dead veg waiting for the compost van .Made Ben a mini washing line as I was getting pestered for him to help me so just cut up one of the planks that were left off the bench..nothing spectacular but he was very pleased and thanked me for it very much one happy little sandboy!

Starting my christmas list.

Ok so my Christmas list.. mum's 2009 cal crochet blanket..11 squares done 13 to-do freebie samples in a pretty fabric gift box I've collected about 30 odd now tea at the Ritz recipe book photo necklace slippers bird birdseed/feeders Paul..? superman scarf to make spider man throw to make dave..? fruit port ben.. jigsaw Darlek face cloth for stocking checkmate jumper knitted patchwork Christmas blanket..5 squares done fiery dragon scarf pirate patch for stocking knitted dark knitted fireman hat ladybird gloves train from Wilkinsons that lights up and blows smoke socks cars dvd Poundland Christmas plate Poundland Christmas cup for stocking twizzle straw for stocking keon ducky face cloth for stocking 2 board books hooded sweater knitted steg knitted trice knitted jeans snow baby bib macca pakka socks into dvd twizzle straw for stocking Christmas plate from Poundland Christmas cup for stocking jo photo jewellery necklace/bracelet for them both..cars wall hanging..giant sit on turtle

This weeks activities include.

Some pics of the boys and my marrow

17 inches long just over 4.5lb now what fork do I do with it?

Include..finish Brandon's jumper and do at least 3 of the Cal 2009 squares or I shall be miles behind start one of the boy's Christmas pressies do 2 blanket squares post out book leaflets

Extras completed my first Qal square at last!

Well this week I plan too..

Picked up my first Twilight book from the library ..yay and hopefully read it all finished bens jumper and keys knitted vest made cushions for the sofa finished my cal squares up to date found a recipe for stuffed marrow and mince andalso made a nappy wrap.

My first real harvest!

Well I had my first real harvest of carrots a tiny cabbage ..the bugggerrry slugs got the rest a small cauliflower and 2 more rather large courgettes..ones 12 inches long..so the plan of action for this week ...do all the cal 2009 squares up to date ..finish off another sock..sort veg plot ready for next lot of planting..oh and our first tomato has popped up!

courgettes,cakes, clothes, and erm quilting!

Yesterday was a productive day!

Picked my first 2 impressive 8 inches of courgettes ooh er missus very tasty there was too, made aubergine-less moussaka which Ben always manages to eat all of so at least he is getting quite a bit of veg down him, mushrooms, tomatoes, courgettes,  onions and potatoes and surprisingly he always loves it, ben had a pair of jeans that where really tatty at the base and I thought id convert them into a pair of dungers for Keon by just cutting about 3 inches off the bottom of the jeans, cutting one part of the cut off in half width ways and sewing that to the top of the jeans for the bib then just adding blue cotton to the bottom of the legs, some strips for the straps and a star..took about 1hr hand sewing quite pleased with them, made a load of cakes and biscuits for Ben's fete and spent an hour there having fun and winning a bottle of booze! then to round the day off nicely id finished my 1st quilter square for my monthly quilting square again quite pleased with how it turned out just need to finish it off

now busy weekend Harry Potter tonight with my mum whilst Dave babysits, and then tomorrow's craft fair with Katy eek scary stuff..the fair that is not Katy

Simple Garter stitch cardigan for prem baby , If you can knit squares you can knit this!

Simple garter stitch cardi for prem baby, if you can knit squares you can make this 16-inch chest all worked in garter, stitch no increases or decreases on 4mm needles using double knit yarn acrylic is best as it washes well and is soft x BACK cast on 39stitchess knit tailpiece measures 20cm cast off fronts knit 2 cast on 20 stitches knit till piece measures 20 cm cast off sleeves knit 2 cast on 29 stitches all sizes knit timepieces measure 16cm cast off to make up sew front shoulder seams onto back ..but leave about 1/3 unsewn so it forms a collar sew sleeves onto the back and fronts sew front/back seem together and sleeve seem to turn inside out so all sewing is hidden inside cardigan now to make a tie..get 2 pieces of yarn in same or coordinating colour about 50cm long twist until it goes back on itself and secure and sews into place about 1/3 of the way down all done!

rosey posy and spinning

Had a go at spinning for the first time all I can say is omg. I need help!

Off to a shop today that just opened up near me to buy new soft furnishing for the front room..but they also do wool and other crafts bits..so two for the price of one! Picked a little posy for Fil, he always had flowers in his house until Mil passed,  thought it would be nice for him to have flowers once more

spuds!

Not many I might add and not huge but they are there ..now I need to leave the rest in to grow much bigger..these are to go into tonight's casserole. I'm currently working on a very simple quick two-needle sock pattern using Socka sock wool seems to be working ok at the mo..i

hate dpns!

Tasks for this week

Make rag doll for group done. I just need to take pics. I think my stitching is quite neat but alas I didn't have any white cotton ..can't believe that!

Make Johnny cakes but find out if cornmeal and cornflour are the same or can I just use plain flour? Make a crochet hook...DONE yay! I finished rag rug but it didn't work..so back in storage for now

Make rainbow mobile for the market not done make candles x 3 for the market not done start on a pink baby blanket for market started to write out thank you cards/letters done! Finish tma 2 and send form e11 done visit Hannah and have a picnic yay! Looking forward to that one! Delayed till Wednesday next week to sort out passports ..fill in forms and pics take

extras done.. the oven cleaned..beds changed..cupboard under the stairs out so I can get in it again! Half a pair of socks made

Hello!

Hi, I'm Laura, mother of three strapping lads, after years of infertility!  I come from a long line of crafters and the crafts have been passed down to me with love and laughter. I learned to knit at 3 and later cross stitch and crochet, I've also been known to do a bit of bobbin lace but it's very very basic Apart from work, studying and family, keeping me very busy I also like gardening, hand sewing, and reading, and I'm also currently writing a book, I've had 4 bits of poetry published before so I'm hoping this will be accepted too! Buddhist, HlTA, MHFA, Nurture and mindfulness practitioner, currently in the second year of uni, studying CYS Child Youth Studies.