New Additions to the store

Listed Here

Listed HERE

It's stinking hot here. I'm sitting in front of the air conditioner, crocheting and watching the cricket. The BOM is predicting another week of this horrible heat. It is 43 degrees C on the veranda. These are made with the yarn mum gave me last week. I'm trying to be good and start using up some of the stash. I'll just add it all to the store and when there is enough, I'll have a market stall at the local producers market and hopefully sell something!

And the winner is ....

Krissy

Congratulations Krissy.
Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my 500th post.

Pigs do fly

This little piggy came all the way from WA
He's the creation of Gill.
Gill sent him to me as a swap on Craftymama's
I'm assuming he came by airmail not by road.
He did get here quickly

I love the rosette made from ricrac.

Frilled Brim Hat

My mum gave me some yarns she had in her cupboard. While Pete drove us home I crocheted this little hat up. It took around 2 hours, including the flower. I made another one that night while watching the TV. It's such a cute hat but I don't have a baby girl so I'll list these for sale in my store.

Frilled Brim Hat

Size - 12 to 18 months. ( It fit's Michael but he won't wear it long enough for me to get a photo)

Yarn – 4ply Baby Lustre by Panda 85% Acrylic 15% Viscose - 1 ball 50g White and a small amount of pink for contrast
3.5mm crochet Hook

Abbreviations - Australian terms -
ch - chain
tr - treble
dc - double crochet
ss - slip stitch

Start at the top of the crown

Crown
Rnd 1 Ch 4, work 11 tr in 4th chain from hook. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch.

Rnd2 Ch 3, tr in same stitch, 2 tr in the top of each stitch to end. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (24 st)

Rnd3 Ch 3, tr in same st, * 1 tr in next stitch, 2 tr in next st, repeat from * to end. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (36 st)

Rdd4 Ch 3, tr in same stitch * 1 tr in the next 2 stitches, 2 tr in next stitch repeat from * to end. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (48 st)

Rd5 Ch3, tr in same stitch * 1 tr in the next 3 stitches, 2tr in next stitch repeat from * to end. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (60st)

Rd6 Ch3 tr in same stitch * 1 tr in the next 4 stitches, 2tr in next stitch repeat from * to end Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (72st)

Sides
Rd7 - 14 Ch 3, Tr in each st to end Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (72)

Brim
Rd15 - Ch3, tr in same stitch, work 2 tr into each stitch. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (148)
Rnd16 – Ch3, tr in same stitch *1 tr in next stitch, 2 tr in next st, repeat from * to end. Join to top of third chain with a slip stitch. (222)
Rnd 7 Change to contrast yarn (pink) and slip stitch around. Join to first ss with a ss.

Fasten off.

Crochet flower

Rnd1 Chain 4, work 11 tr in 4th chain from hook
Rnd2 *1dc, 2tr in next stitch, 2tr, 1dc in next stitch repeat from * ( makes 6 petals)
Rnd 3 * chain 4 join with a slip stitch between next 2dc (the dip between the petals) repeat from * to end ( 6 chain loops)
Rnd4 * 1dc 4tr 1dc in chain loop. Repeat to End. Join with a ss to 1st dc.

Finishing
Make a chain of 85 stitches in contrast yarn. Weave it through the tr in Rnd 14
Attach a crochet flower to the place where the chain joins.
Weave in Ends

Granny Square Headbands

A really quick project.
I made these four last night while watching a DVD
Pattern HERE

Lilly's backpack

Lilly starts full day preschool on Tuesday. Lilly had been using Rose's old backpack for pre-entry Pre-school. Rose wasn't happy with this arrangement and threw one of her infamous tantrums over Lilly using her back pack. So I decided to make Lilly a special backpack.
Lilly is thrilled with her new backpack. Rose threw another tantrum because I didn't make her one too.

The fabrics came from the local quilt shop, Charlene's.
Lilly has a top out of the cupcake fabric, it's a favourite.
I love the extra large ricrac, I bought that at Charlene's Christmas sale.
I'm so lucky to have such a great little shop in town.
You really appreciate shops and services after living in Tennant Creek.

The top of the bag features a drawstring closure, flap and magnetic clasp.
The bag is lined in the purple.

The bag is nice and roomy.
Big enough for Lilly's change of clothes, paintings, art works and lunch.

Click on the photos for a larger photo to see the detail.

I finished the base with a pleated bottom.
The straps are sewn into the side seams and threaded through a loop at the top of the back.
The pocket is divided into 4 smaller pockets.
I used the iron on pellon I bought for the water bottle totes.
I'm really happy with hoe this turned out.
If I make another I'll take some photos as I go and write a tutorial.
I designed this to be quick and basic to sew.
I'm thinking about spelling out Lilly's name in buttons onto the pocket. What do you think?

P.S.....


I added the buttons!

Humbug Pencil Case Tutorial

Humbug Pencil Case Tutorial

Fern requested this pencil case. Her design brief was to make it big enough to put her ruler in.

My mum made a bag similar to this and gave me one bigger than this one and I use it to keep knitting projects in.

This type of bag is great, you can easily see what's in there.

Requirements

• Cotton fabric for lining and outer
• A zip, a nice long one I used a 50cm
• 6 inches of webbing
• sewing machine, threads, scissors etc
  

Cutting

• lining - 12 inches by 15 inches
• outer - 12 inches by 15 inches

Lining, outer, webbing and zip all ready to go.

Using a zipper foot sew the zipper to the long side of the outer fabric.
Place the zip up side down on the right side of the fabric as in the photo.

Place the lining under the zipper and using the previous stitching line as a guide.
Sew the lining to the zip and outer fabric.
You are creating a sandwich - fabric, zipper, fabric
Doing this encloses the raw edges of the fabric.

This is the zip sewn between the outer and lining.
Using a really long zip allows you to get the zip pull out of the way while sewing and makes it easier to apply the zip to both sides of the pencil case.

Now sew the zipper to the other long side.
Becareful to make sure you are sewing it in the right way and it's not twisted.

As on the other side sew the outer fabric to the zip first,
then the lining using the stitching line as a guide.

Top stitch the zipper.
This keeps the fabric away from the zipper teeth.

Turn the case so the lining is on the outside.
The end where the Zipper pull is when closed is the first one we sew.

With the zipper at the top sew the side seam with a straight stitch
Finish the seam with a zigzag stitch.

Make sure the zipper is open half way before you sew the seam on the end or you won't be able to turn the case to the right side.
Flatten the end, place the zipper in the center.

Place the folded webbing into the seam (you can baste it, I didn't)
Place the webbing loop so that it is under the zip and between the fabric.

Stitch with a straight stitch across the end.
Finish the seam with a zigzag stitch
Trim the remains of the zipper away. Use old scissors to do this not your good fabric ones.
Then turn the case to the right side.
And you are finished.

And it does fit the ruler!

And zipped up.

Four of the five done.

Please let me know of any mistakes I have made so I can make changes to this tutorial.

Variations:

• Add a layer of heavy interfacing or wadding to give the pencil case a little more structure.
• Patchwork the outer fabric.
• Change the dimensions.
• Embellish with Ric rac
• Embroider with the new owners name
  

You are welcome to make and sell these.

The square base water bottle carrier tote - A tutorial

Water Bottle Tote Tutorial

I'm still getting the kids ready for school.
We bought new water bottles yesterday.
They need new water bottle totes.
I designed this tote to be very easy and fast to sew.
I'm not keen on sewing in circles, too fiddly when you have 5 to sew.
This design is pretty basic and you can vary it in lots of ways.

Measurements

This carrier is designed for an 800ml water bottle. With maximum circumference of 10 inches.
If your water bottle is a different size you will need to adjust the cutting measurements.
Measure around your water container adding an inch for seam allowance and a little ease.
Measure the height and add 2.5 inches to allow for the base pleat and seams.
so you would cut your fabric by those measurements and adjust your wadding similarly.

Requirements

• woven fabric - I used quilters cotton. 1/4 meter or a fat quarter will do
• iron on pellon - not necessary but adds a bit of insulation.
• thread, machine, scissors, rotary cutter, rulers - the sewing equipment

Cutting

• 2 x 11 inch squares of fabrics - one the outer and one the lining
• 1 piece of pellon 10 inches by 8 inches
• 1 webbing strap 90cm long

All the pieces -
two 11 inch squares of fabric,
iron on pellon 10 inches by 8 inches
and 90cm of webbing.

Iron the pellon onto your wrong side of the outer fabric.
Position the wadding a half inch away from the sides and top.
Leaving the bottom with no wadding. This is so the bottle will stand up.
I found if I put the wadding all the way to the base the bottle would fall over.

Pin mark the top of the outer.
start with the center pin. Then pin a 1/4 in from the sides.
Next pin half way between the center pin and the outer pins.
This marks the position to put the handle.

Pin the handles into place.
As in the photo above.

Baste the handles in.
This will help them to stay in place when you do the next step.

Place the lining on top of the outer and stitch across the top,
catching the handles in the seam.

The handles should now be sewn in the seam.

Fold your tote, matching the long sides
stitch along the raw edge.

Make a pleat into the base of the outer fabric tube.
You do this by matching the centers and pushing in the sides,
as in the photo above
Pin it well.

Straight stitch with a 1/4 inch seam.
Finish the seam with a zig-zag stitch.

Push the bag out through the base of the lining.
Turn in the raw edges of the lining base and topstitch them together.
(I know this isn't very neat ..but who's going to turn your water bottle tote inside out to look ;))
Now push your lining into the outer bag and put in your water bottle!
(You can top stitch around the top if you want ..I didn't bother..I'm making five)

This is what your pleated base looks like.
Pretty neat!

Variations

• Patchwork the outer.
• Topstitch around the top
• Add embellishments such a ric rac and lace.
• Applique a child's name onto them
• Leave the pellon out
• make the handle out of matching fabric
  

If you notice any errors please let me know so I can edit!

You are welcome to make these for selling.

1951 Apron Pattern

While up to late again last night I stumbled across THIS pattern for a 1951 Apron.

Drafting it was easy. It's designed to be very economical with the fabric.
The instructions are a little vague. Bias skirt facing took me a while to work out.
I think it is just 3 inch wide bias strips. I didn't use it.
I used a lace for the hem, turned the side seams and added ric-rac as the embellishment.

The instructions don't tell you to add interfacing to the waistband but you really do need to. It helps the waistband keep it's shape and sit better when worn

The first is without the pocket. I'm not sure if i added the pocket right.
I think I may of needed to position the pocket so it wasn't flat to the fabric.
I should of traced off the position markings for the pocket.
You cut two pockets from the pattern I only added one.
I did think of using the other to line the one pocket, but didn't do it.
I don't think I'll make this again.
I prefer an apron with a bib.

Rasta Hat

Rasta Hat

Peter reluctantly modeled this one. No, it's not for him, he's not cool enough for this hat ;) It's a swap with Lisa from Crafty Mamas. Great, easy pattern. I used reclaimed yarns and worked some of them double. I think I need to grow my hair long so I can make myself one too.

Remember my 500 post giveaway!! Will it be woollen soakers... a quilt....a bag ....ummm thinking thinking :)

Toilet Roll Hanger Tutorial

Toilet Roll Hanger Tutorial

I didn't plan to write this tutorial. I was trying to design an organiser for my grocery bags. And the toilet roll hanger came to mind. Mary, a dear friend from Tennant Creek, showed me one of these toilet roll hangers years ago. She never did show me how to make one, I worked that out for myself.

I'm thinking of how to use the same sort of design to make an organizer to keep all my groceries bags in when not in use.

Requirements

• Calico or any firmly woven fabric
• Interlining or batting scraps.
• A rotary cutter and ruler makes it easy to cut a straight line
• Sewing machine threads

Cutting

• 1 strip of fabric 9 inches by 44 inches (the length of the fabric)
• 1 strip of wadding or medium to heavy weight interfacing 4 inches by 44 inches. ( you can make them without the wadding but I think they are better with)

I started by measuring a toilet roll. This one is 4 inches wide.
I think they are all that wide so you probably don't need to do this.
I doubled the measurement and added 2 x .5 inches = an inch for seam allowances.

I folded over the long edges .5 of an inch, these are the seam allowances.
I pressed them well with the iron.
I butted the wadding up against the fold of the seam allowance.
My wadding has a lot of cling so I didn't need to baste it.
You could use an iron on pellon or medium to heavy weight iron on interfacing.

I folded the two long edges together, sandwiching the batting between the fabric.

I top stitches both long edges

Next I did a little trial and error pinning in my toilet rolls
You need to leave at least 3 inches at the top to make the hanging sleeve.
Use the photo above as a guide.

Next I pinned in the second toilet roll. This one is at the bottom.
Use the photo above as the guide.

Take the toilet rolls out and use the pins as a guide to the sewing lines.

Sew with a straight stitch across the first pin marked line.
i eyeballed it straight, you could mark it with chalk if you aren't as confident.
Being a quilter I often forget to backstitch but you need to do it here.

At the next pin I turned under the raw edge.

I then did a double row of stitching.
The first close to the edge then next a quarter of an inch away.
This encases the seam I turned under.
I probably didn't need to turn under the seam as it was a selvedge but it looked neater.

Put your toilet rolls back in to hanger to check the fit.

Turn down the top edge 1.5 inches to the back.
And stitch it down, creating a loop for the hanger.
You can use a simple piece of dowel or a fancy bag handle like mine.

Tie some ric rac, ribbon or cord to the wooden hanger and you're done.

Variations..

• Make it longer so you can hang more rolls.
• Sew some ric rac down the center before you sew up the pockets.
• Make the hanger wider and use it to hang magazines or other items.

You are welcome to make and sell.