Simple Scarf Change

Who doesn't love a scarf or a snood? I have so many of the things. But lately I have been preferring a snood. They just go on, hardly move and there is no annoying trying not to get them stuck in your coat zip moments. So I looked at my stack of scarves and wondered which I could improve after finding the most simple tutorial on how to make a snood. I thought, why have I not done this? This amounted in me making 3 snoods in just over an hour. Crazy. But also dangerous!!

So, how do you turn a scarf into a snood you ask? It is so simple...

1. Take your scarf...

2. Trim off the tasseled ends...

3. Then work out which will be your right side, then right side together pin the two raw ends together and sew and zig zag the edges. (Or overlock if you have a fancy machine.)

4. You could then leave it at that but to make mine a little neater I then folded that seam down and pressed it and sewed  it parallel to the fold seam to make it a flat seam. Like so...

5. That's you done. Grab and go for a fast paced lady!

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Bracelets

I like a small make, I think you may have realised that, mostly due to the fact that I love the end result and if its a big make it takes a lot longer to get to that end result. This morning, in half an hour, I put together 3 bracelets. I used some seed beads and some small silver plated beads that I purchased at my local haberdashery (that place should give me some shares soon) and some linen thread which I have used previously.

It is simple really, just put the beads onto the thread with various knots, little charms and patterns along the way. Easy, and you can make them exactly how you want them to be.

Check mine out. I love the greens and the natural colours. :)

Patches

I recently purchased some denim dungarees and I have made them my comfy crafting clothes. They are really comfy but not a lot to look at, so I decided they needed an update. I went for some crochet patches. Just teeny tiny versions of granny squares and flowers that I stitched to the front.

To find out how you crochet a granny square, have a little looksie here. But crochet flowers are even more simple!

Here is how you put them together...

Tools you will need:
* Yarn
* Suitable crochet hook for your Yarn

Recipe (UK terms):
1. ch 6 then sl st to the first ch in row

2. dc 16 times into circle, sl st into first dc on row

3. *ch 2, 1tr into next 2 sts, ch 2 sl st into next st. Repeat from * 4 more times. Fasten off and you are done!

I am planning on adding more as time goes on, maybe some fabric patches too. The yarn I used was this really beautiful cream with a little added sparkle. Cute!

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Simple Day Out

This morning I woke up after a week off and thought to myself 'I have not stopped'. So my man took me out for the day to give me a rest. We went to a local National Trust property and had a wonder around the house and gardens. Even though this place is only 15 minutes drive from me, I have not been since I was a lot younger and he had never been! It is a lovely place, a huge 15th century house and the gardens are gorgeous! I love history and finding out all about it, this house is a really good example of that; stories of priests being murdered and hiding all over the house, a painter and the gunpowder plot, exciting! Here are some pictures from our visit :)

Thank you Baddesley Clinton, you treated us well! :)

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The Simple Things

These days life gets too busy and now, more than ever, we need to focus on the simple things, take time for ourselves and do what we want to do! One of the things I love each month is getting my copy of The Simple Things magazine. It means I can sit down and take a good hour or so to myself, reading it cover to cover. It gives me such inspiration and ideas of things that I would love to do! Living the simple life sounds pretty good, and so I am promising myself that I will do something every week that is simple and gives me some 'Me' time!

This week I decided to have a go at some sewing. I love sewing by hand, having thrown things together before but never a proper garment. I found this beautiful free pattern and went on a fabric shopping spree! I don't have many fabric stores near me, and many fabrics are just replicated from store to store. But I did come across these beautiful gingham cottons and I got so excited. I couldn't just buy the one I had to have both and they are beautiful!

Now my brain is flowing with so many ideas and I am searching the net for more patterns. The small check I think would look lovely in this top with a white trim. The bigger check would look great as a skirt maybe, or a prom style summer dress. How exciting :) Happy Zoe!

What simple things make you happy? 

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