Snood DIY

Part two of my snood season is making a snood from scratch! This is such an easy sew make and because of that it is rather dangerous. I first learnt to make snoods out of my scarves, but that wasn't enough. It just made me want to make my own, and I did.

What you need is some fabric, a sewing machine (or a strong will and a needle and thread) and some corresponding thread.

When you look for your fabric, remember it is going to be around your neck so you don't want rough or too heavy pieces. The best and easiest way to get the size right is by going to the store, most fabric rolls come in around the same width, all you need to decide is the length. your snood is going to be doubled over so depending on the thickness of your snood double that length and add your seam allowance and that is what you buy. Done, and cut out for you by a lovely person :)

I hope that makes sense, the next steps involve the actual putting together of the snood.

1. Fold the two right sides together with the long sides together. Sew along this seam leaving 4 inches either end un-sewn.

2. Put your arm all the way through the long tube and pull inside out so that your snood is facing the correct way. Here comes the hard to explain bit, Now I read so many tutorials on this part that I just could not understand it, it may just be me not being clever so I youtubed a video instead. If you want the video that I used to see how to sew the two ends together then you can find it here.
 

 

3. Then you just need to stitch the hole in the middle where the two end gaps come together and you are done!

Good luck in the making of your snoods! :) X

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!

X

Fabric Baskets

One of my most favourite rooms in our house is my craft room. It was just our spare room, but it is now a great place for me to have as a space to do all my various bits and pieces. Sewing, knitting, whatever!

As anyone who does these kinds of things knows, there are lots of little bits and pieces that you accumulate over time, which you need to do various things, and these things need storage. So, for my haberdashery section I purchased three of Ikea's lovely CD racks and then I have made some of my own little fabric baskets to keep all my little bits in them.

So what do you need?
*Some Fabric of your choice, I just used Calico as its plain and quite thick
*Corresponding Threads
*Sewing Machine, or if you don't have one a strong will to sew by hand so many baskets
*Scissors or cutting device!

Recipe:
1. These are so easy to make, you just need to measure the space that you want to fill. Make a pattern for the base by measuring the width and depth of your space and adding a seam allowance all the way around the outside. This is your base. Then the outside of the basket, I just had one large rectangle of fabric which started at one corner and goes all the way around the base and back around to that corner. Add your seam allowance for the two adjoining sides and the base adjourning side, and then at the top I folded mine over by an inch and a half to make a kind of handle to pull the basket out easily, plus a small seam to stop it fraying. When you have made your pattern cut out your fabric.

2. Take your big long rectangle, and with the wrong side facing down fold over and seam the one long edge towards the right side. If you have picked a fabric that is only one sided then be aware that the fold will show the back of the pattern which is why I picked such a basic fabric. You could however back the fabric to have a snazzy fold.

3. Next you will need to put the two short sides together with the original fold seam for the top edge facing the opposite way. Then sew all down that seam.

4. Then take a corner of your bottom piece and pin it inside the corner of the bottom of your rectangle (which now looks more like a hoop of fabric) The seam on the bottom should be on the same side as the side seam. Then pin your bottom to your rectangle all the way around the bottom. The corners wont be perfect, but they will look about right on the other side. Then sew all together.

5. When you have done, tie off your ends and turn your basket inside out. Fold over your top flap and you are done! So simple really when you think about it.

Then you can put whatever you want into your basket and store, store, store!!

I would love to see anything that you guys have made, if you would be so lovely as to share with me. Please comment with a link!

Thank you
X

Christmas Cards

Every year I try to make my Christmas cards and this year is no different. I have gone for something simple this year as I have a lot to make.

What you need:
* Black cards and envelopes
* Ink pad (I went for gold)
* Black skinny felt pen
* Red felt pen
* Fingers

What to do:
1. Decide on the placement of the reindeer's and how many you want to do. I chose two in the centre.

2. Then, making sure your card is upside down, ink up your fingers. I used two different fingers to make my reindeer in different sizes.

3. Stamp away! Making sure you press firmly. Then leave for a few minutes to dry.

4. When it is dry start drawing on your antlers, eyes and noses! I went for one red and one black nose. You have got to get Rudolph in there somehow! Then that is it, so straightforward, you could get kids to do them and they would love it! X

Garland

Okay, this doesn't necessarily have to be a Christmas garland, it could be adapted for any need, but mine is for Christmas so it is going in my Christmas week of ideas.

What you need:
* Polymer clay such as Fimo or Primo!
* Cutting devices and/or cookie cutters
* Beads
* Threads or yarns
* Sharpie

What you need to do:
1. Follow the instructions on the polymer clay, with both Fimo or Primo I just warmed up the clay in small pieces, rolled them out and then cut out stars with a small cookie cutter.

2. Lay the pieces out on a piece of foil an using a cocktail stick/knitting needle or something similar poke through some holes big enough for the yarn you are using. Bake your pieces when you are satisfied with them following the instructions on the packet.

3. Then take your thread and your beads and weave your design.

4. Then take your Sharpie and write your message across your shapes (if you want to add a message, they also look really cute without writing). Give it a coat of clear nail varnish or special varnish and dry.

Then you are done! Add it to your tree or some where that needs a little sparkle and shine. You could also make little individual ones for the tree as little decorations.

X

Autumn Notebooks

Autumn is my most favourite time of the year. We can pull all those chunky knits, thick socks, boots and snugly coats out of the wardrobe and start preparing to hibernate over the chilly months. Today I went for a walk with my big scarf on (Yes I know it's warmer today than it has been, but I don't care!) and collected some leaves and acorns and things associated with Autumn.

I have decided that I want to document this coming autumn, keeping my leaves and essentially making an art journal of things that I find. I have many note books in my flat and most are very plain, but I love notebooks that are close-able so I have decided (as I have been banned from buying anymore) that I will adapt some ones that I already have.

You will need:
* Notebooks with firm but not too firm covers (you need to get a needle through there, but not flimsy enough for it to rip easily)
* Needle and Thread
* A button
* String or leather or whatever binding materials you would like.

How to do it:
1. Sew the button onto the notebook, not too close to the edge but wherever you want really.

2. Tie the string around the button into a knot and then wrap it around the notebook and back around the button to fasten.

You are done, simple!

X

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!

X

A Day Out and a Quick Make

This weekend was so glorious and sunshiney! It was beautiful. So I had to take advantage so me and my man went for a walk along the canals in Birmingham and for lunch at a lovely Italian restaurant. It was lovely, and I only burnt a little...

I love taking a walk along the canals in Birmingham, there is so much character and history around there and the atmosphere is great.

I even treated myself to a scrummy raspberry meringue which didn't last very long.

I also made myself a little bracelet using lots of natural fibres. I love all the friendship bracelets that you can get around in the summer. But why spend £8 when you can make many for a lot less!

So I raided my stash and found five different colours of linen threads, red, orange, cream, brown and black.

To be honest you can use whatever threads to make your bracelets. My bracelet is only thin because I used these thin linen threads. I would also recommend embroidery threads. That is what most friendship bracelets are made with. I measured out 50cm of each thread twice. So in total I had 10 strands. But you could have as many colours as you fancy just make sure you do two strands of each!

Tie a knot at the top leaving enough threads at the end to be able to tie your bracelet. Then using a safety pin I pinned the threads to a cushion and spread them out, the two blacks in the centre, brown either side then cream, orange and reds on the outside.

To make the bracelet take the left red strand and move into the centre between the two blacks. Do the same with the red strand on the right side and move it over the top of the red strand in the centre, repeat with the orange strands and carry on going until you reach the desired length.

When you get to your desired length tie a knot and tie your two ends together around your or a friends wrist or ankle. I love the chevron effect and so easy with no knots or fussiness. Easy!

X

Loom

Furthering my interest of all things woven I decided to make a loom. They are pretty expensive but you can knock one up pretty cheaply! I had an old frame lying around the flat and some nails and went to work.

What you need:
* Wooden frame
* Nails, not too short but not too long or too big
* Hammer
* Ruler
* Pencil

What to do:
1. Measure out where you want your nails to go using the ruler and pencil on two opposite sides of the frame.

2. Hammer the nails into where the markings are.

Done!

Pin-ups

Lately I have had a real crush on all things woven, Navajo, western, Aztec whatever you want to call it. I love the natural fibres used and I really want to know all about Peruvian weaving and the natural dies that they use.
Here are some crafts, makes and ideas of different degrees of skill for you all to peruse. Some beautiful things...

Arrows

 Clutch Bag

Wall Hanging

Dip Dyed Baskets

Dream Catchers

Hope you like them too! 

X

Butterfly

I have been super busy in my outside blog life lately, so much so I have not had time to spend time with a needle or a hook! So tonight I decided to sit down for ten minutes and design a pattern to brighten someones day.

Photo Courtesy of Google

One of the people closest to me loves butterflies, and when you know how to crochet something, you can make hundreds of them! So I can now fill their life with butterflies.

What you need:
* Some beautiful yarn
* Crochet hook to match the yarn size
* Scissors

How to make a butterfly:
1. Make your slip knot, chain 4 and slip stitch together. (a magic circle works well with this piece too, depends on how you like to start off your crochet rounds)

2. Ch 5, triple treble, double treble, treble, half treble, sl st then ... ch 2, treble, double treble, half treble, sl st then... ch 2, double treble, treble, half treble, sl st then... ch 2, treble, double treble, triple treble, ch 5 , sl st. Then tie off and tie the two lose ends together (these form the antennae).

You are done! 

I think these would look great dip dyed with an ombre effect! Beautiful :)

Photo Courtesy of Google