Also made some coloured handmade paper making use of used paper destined for landfill - photos in later blogs.
Happy fibre crafting folks.
Monday, 3 December 2018
Weekend fibre time
Gday folks, it's been mighty fine weather and perfect for doing plenty of creative work. Knitting with cotton, some makeup pads and flannel to match.
Also made some coloured handmade paper making use of used paper destined for landfill - photos in later blogs.
Happy fibre crafting folks.
Also made some coloured handmade paper making use of used paper destined for landfill - photos in later blogs.
Happy fibre crafting folks.
Sunday, 14 October 2018
Spring - knitting up market bags
Hey there, I've been working on some market bag designs over the past week - and I have drafted up the patterns - I will share once I've finalised.
For now here are some progress pics and a couple of pics of finished bags. They hold quite a bit and are very strong...
Basic design is with rectangle in open lace pattern on large needles. Once that is completed, then 2 handles are knitted. Sew together and sew ends in and bag is ready for use!
The blue one is the first I completed. A little bit too big - very stretchy construction.
For now here are some progress pics and a couple of pics of finished bags. They hold quite a bit and are very strong...
Basic design is with rectangle in open lace pattern on large needles. Once that is completed, then 2 handles are knitted. Sew together and sew ends in and bag is ready for use!
The blue one is the first I completed. A little bit too big - very stretchy construction.
Step one - knit the rectangular shape
Sewing the side seams
Again sewing side seams
finished product. Again will be quite stretchy due to the pattern used - open lacework on large needles.
I will pop back and share a link to the pattern once complete.
Thank you for stopping by. :)
Saturday, 7 July 2018
Snickella - fibre inspired crafts - bees wax wraps
I've been as busy as a bee - so I have. Recently, I've been making bees wax wraps - we had the opportunity to learn at a community workshop in early June.
After testing the wraps over a good month, I decided I'd make more. Today I bought a big lump of bees wax from a lovely little family business based in our central market in the city to make some for Snickella.
The method we used to make them in the workshop and photos I took follow:
It's a matter of melting the bees wax and spreading it onto 100% cotton fabric (with a non synthetic brush - so natural bristles - so the bristles don't melt) then ironing it in so the bees wax penetrates into and through the fabric.
At the workshop we did - there was a saucepan full of bees wax on a gas burner, which once melted could be brushed onto the fabric. The surface which is used to iron the bees wax in, needs lots of layers of cardboard topped with old linen. Use an old iron; if you use your everyday iron, you might not be able to use it for anything other than ironing in bees wax in the future.
Another alternative to melting the wax in a pot; it is possible to grate the bees wax and then spread it onto the fabric, and then pop the fabric with the grated bees wax on an oven tray into the oven - you are limited to the size of the tray doing this though - so just something to keep in mind.
With Plastic Free July commencing on 1st July, I've been getting good use out of my bees wax wraps, and absolutely love them.
After testing the wraps over a good month, I decided I'd make more. Today I bought a big lump of bees wax from a lovely little family business based in our central market in the city to make some for Snickella.
It's a matter of melting the bees wax and spreading it onto 100% cotton fabric (with a non synthetic brush - so natural bristles - so the bristles don't melt) then ironing it in so the bees wax penetrates into and through the fabric.
At the workshop we did - there was a saucepan full of bees wax on a gas burner, which once melted could be brushed onto the fabric. The surface which is used to iron the bees wax in, needs lots of layers of cardboard topped with old linen. Use an old iron; if you use your everyday iron, you might not be able to use it for anything other than ironing in bees wax in the future.
Another alternative to melting the wax in a pot; it is possible to grate the bees wax and then spread it onto the fabric, and then pop the fabric with the grated bees wax on an oven tray into the oven - you are limited to the size of the tray doing this though - so just something to keep in mind.
With Plastic Free July commencing on 1st July, I've been getting good use out of my bees wax wraps, and absolutely love them.
 |
It looks so pretty, but I can assure it
keeps the bread nice and fresh.
|
 |
To wrap, place food item on wrap and fold
over to completely cover the food.
|
Sunday, 11 March 2018
Twiddle muffs - who knits them and why?
Well, it's been some time since I blogged and I figured I ought to share a little of what I've been up to. A relative has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and it really is quite sad, but we are trying to be positive and ensure the best of experiences with the limited quality of life remaining.
So, I set about to read up about twiddle muffs - to get ideas and see if there are any preferences for users. I haven't made one up yet, but I'm forming a good idea of what will work and what won't.
I hear you ask what the hell is a twiddle muff? Good question!! It is a muff - like a cuff which is roomy enough to fit a persons two hands and wrists in there. There is allsorts of textures on the inside - soft things so tender skin is not torn. On the outside other things such as buttons, zippers, pom poms and what have you can be sewn on. It needs to be sewn very firmly though so as not to create a choking hazard. The relative with this affliction isn't quite at the twiddle muff stage, but doing research now will save for second guessing later. One other thing I've been advised is to ensure that easy to wash fibre (eg. acrylic) is used for ease of laundering.
No images this time, but I will be sharing again soon, so please watch this space.
Happy crafting :)
So, I set about to read up about twiddle muffs - to get ideas and see if there are any preferences for users. I haven't made one up yet, but I'm forming a good idea of what will work and what won't.
I hear you ask what the hell is a twiddle muff? Good question!! It is a muff - like a cuff which is roomy enough to fit a persons two hands and wrists in there. There is allsorts of textures on the inside - soft things so tender skin is not torn. On the outside other things such as buttons, zippers, pom poms and what have you can be sewn on. It needs to be sewn very firmly though so as not to create a choking hazard. The relative with this affliction isn't quite at the twiddle muff stage, but doing research now will save for second guessing later. One other thing I've been advised is to ensure that easy to wash fibre (eg. acrylic) is used for ease of laundering.
No images this time, but I will be sharing again soon, so please watch this space.
Happy crafting :)
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