green upcycling

Marvelous! look at this! A successful upcycling project.

Take 1 wool sweater and put in washing machine on 60 degree wash.
Cut off neck line, sleeves and rib band.

How to make mitts:

Make a hem at the elbow end.
Cut a hole for the thumb and blanket stitch as before.
Yummy cosy mitts!

And the rest of the jumper?
Blanket stitch edges for non fray and decorative detail.

Finished item is a skimpy t-shirt!

Very satisfying. Have a go yourself!

Zuzu's cardigan

A lightning knit!

Hand knitted in new Rowan Classic Cash cotton 4ply, pale yellow

Eyelet detailing, raglan sleeves, picot edging, vintage buttons.

Mum Abi and Zuzu herself both seemed very pleased. Zuzu admiring herself in the mirror.

The first thing I've made for her is a success. Want to do more now.

Something very pleasing about knitting for little ones. They are so quick to do and parents are usually impressed. It's just a shame they grow out of them so quickly!

Spring Fling!

Mostly thinking about selling work today.
As opposed to making it which I seem to do most of the time.


This is the next opportunity...

Please do bring along friends and family.

As well as my work there will be lovely things by talented designer/maker/crafters from sheffield and the surrounding area.

Hopefully this will be the first of many organised by Craft Candy. Look forward to seeing you all there

obsessive colour categorisation

After looking at Hen house organisation I felt inspired to do the same.
A hint of sunshine made me feel like looking at more spring and summer colours.


so... pinks!
...yellows!

...blues!

these three main colours are the ones I will be working with for a more summery range of things.

Now i've organised my fabric, I notice a few gaps, so must pay my mum a visit, her stash is even larger than mine.

I think I must go over my yarns too.....

Does this feel familiar? mmm, just a bit!

second use projects

i used to be a t-shirt!

this was a fabulous idea! very much a prototype but its great and works!
i cut around the body of the t shirt continuously all the way over any seams.

• 
  balled up it weighed 100gms
  
  
  
  lets start knitting!
  i used 9mm and 12mm needles.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  hey presto! a hat!
  
  
  
  analysis:
• a very exciting second use project, very satisfying on the eco feel good factor.
• quite time consuming to cut the t shirt up, 2 hours approx.
• very quick to knit up as using large needles.
• i thought it would feel very soft, like a t shirt. not as much as you would think.

projection

• must do more! in different fabrics.

needle cases

inside the needle case

so these are what i've made today.
six needle cases. i love them.

all are made from the same piece of upcycled fabric of a floral print in 100% cotton.
hand crocheted fastener and vintage button detail.

very cute AND stylish and a bit retro too.

i have put a few images here. to see the full range look on flickr.
soon to be available for sale!

button detail

i made six!


if you like these please comment. has anyone else made any recently?

upcycled projects

brown/teal small shoulder bag

green/pink jewellery wrap

buff/cream jewellery wrap (detail)

upcycled projects

All these projects and more are available to view on flickr. some similar things available on Etsy.
All individually hand made from upcycled curtain fabrics, hand crocheted/ knitted details and sometimes vintage buttons. I'm really pleased with them. What do you think? Please comment.

blogging set up

I have spent most of today trying to organise my 'favourites' section on the lap top. some of the things i connected to are from ages ago and are no longer interesting. Some things I have found are like long lost old friends, that I was wondering where they had got to.

So there are now several links on this blog with other blogs and websites. The one I have just finished looking at/linking with is UKHandmade. No doubt some of you will already be linked up with it, might even meet some of you there!


Need to start putting some photos of things I have been recently making on here....
just checked the camera, the batteries exhausted, deep joy! will have to do it later, gives me time to knit while i wait. yipee! nothing like stolen time!

blog virgin

oh wow! i am blogging! the first one i've done.
Thought it was about time, lots of things i need to share with you all.
1. my stuff i've been making.
2. stuff i've been making and you can look to buy ( if you look on Etsy).
3. other people making fab things.
4. probably musings on life, love and stuff too.
Lots of ideas. watch this space.