Wednesday 26 February 2014

This weeks crafting

This week I have been mostly knitting.  I have a few unfinished projects I would like to get finished and I have been concentrating on these.  The first is a purple and lilac striped hoodie that was originally for my friends granddaughter.  I have spent so long on it that it is probably too wee by now.  I have been doing it on metal needles and the difference in weight between them and bamboo is really noticeable. I found my fingers were getting sore and swollen after only an hour.  I have completed the back and two sleeves so far.

OH wants some lightweight loose bedsocks.  However, I can only do socks from a pattern and so far they have been too tight or not big enough.  I started a pair with 4ply sock yarn but after doing the cuff and heel I decided they were much too thin and if walked on the would disintegrate. So back to the drawing board.

I took a break from knitting to make some girls jewellery.

Monster High stud earrings
two sets of earrings, ring and hair clips.  The first with sparkly Mickey Mouse shapes

and the second with sparkly bows


I also made one card this week.  It is not for anyone in particular so i may list it for sale
thats it so far this week.  Happy crafting!

Thursday 20 February 2014

Been too busy to craft!

Had a hectic fortnight as work has being getting done on my house but (finally!) finished my daughter, Ami's hooded scarf that was supposed to be for Christmas.  In the end it took 8 balls at £2.99 each.  I would have been cheaper buying one.  There are pockets at the ends of the scarf.

The yarn is King Cole Splash.  Colour Embers.  It is a self patterning yarn which I used doubled on 9mm needles.  I had to scroll through each ball to get the colours to line up.  There was some yarn left over so i made a matching pair of hand warmers
Mandi, my niece, and I went to Homebase to buy paint and whilst there we spotted a lovely wine glass in the sale.  Only one left so she asked me to put her name on it
I still think i'm smudging the letters but Mandi liked it (or so she said).  Also did a Tea Money jar for the Thursday Group
Got the Debbi Moore Twilight Queen cd and made a couple of Gothic themed cards.  The one below is my favourite.  I echoed the skull and clock design with a pair of removable charms that could be put on a necklace or bracelet.  I'm going to try to sell this one on eBid Link Here


This morning I picked up a knitting and crochet magazine in the charity shop and it has some lovely baby, and a cute girls bag patterns in it so that will probably be my next craft project.

Wednesday 12 February 2014

Back to Knitting

My Silhouette Cameo is not working properly on print and cut so i phoned and was told to return it and it will take around a month to return it! However I have a few half knitted projects that I have to finish so i'll just get on with that meantime.
The first is a baby hat that i've accidentally knitted all on 3.75mm needles instead of changing to 4's after the rib.  This has made it quite dense so will be lovely and warm.  The original pattern had intarsia but my arthritis is playing up and my hands were too sore to do all the twisting so I knitted it plain.  I think it looks quite good as it is. Click here to buy
The second item i've done this week was a kit from one of my knitting magazines with a slip stitch pattern that I liked the effect of.  They call it a craft bag but with its lovely sunset colours I think it would make a great handbag. Now on sale on eBid.

Although I made and listed lots of Valentines Cards I only managed to sell 2.  I just don't see why more people don't buy their cards online when they are cheaper (and nicer I think) than shop bought cards and you can have them personalised free.  Like Moonpig I offer to put your message inside and send direct to the recipient but still they don't sell well.  I wonder what I am doing wrong.
This is the 2 that did sell
The one above went in the monthly charity auctions and raised £2.25 for the Thursday Group (a mental health charity I support)

I think I will start on Mother's Day and Easter cards next.  Have to go back to making ordinary cards without using the cameo but that might be fun for a change.

I am also knitting a hooded scarf for my daughter that was supposed to be for Christmas but I ran out of yarn.  It has taken 8 balls so far as i'm knitting it doubled on 9mm needles but hope to finish it by the weekend.


Monday 3 February 2014

All Work & No Play...


Went through to my desk at 10am with the idea of doing


a couple of invitations before breakfast.  Various disasters occurred and another 3 sheets of expensive card ruined.  Took a break and went to post some items and when i came back I wanted to make a gift tag for my daughter's birthday.
Rather than start anew I decided to rummage through my saved offcuts to see if I could find anything suitable.  5 hours later I had amassed a pile of tags, though mostly Christmas.
Think i'll list them at just 99p since they were mostly all leftover bits from kits and magazines.
Made a couple of cards too
this is from one of the Debbi Moore Designs cd.  Greece I think but could be Rome. It is now on eBid, Link Here

This is for my friend Jessie whose husband is very ill