crochet kit give-away x 2

Finally, it’s on etsy – ta da da!!!  

         

Very big thanks go to Kathryn** for testing, feedback, lay-out skills, advice, and all-round encouragement.

One of these babies is already on its way to Tanisha in Tuscaloosa (such a cool name, I wish I lived in Tuscaloosa so I could say that word a lot), in chestnut. We’re giving away another TWO, via the Jam Tarts newsletter:  I’ll send this out on Sunday 1 September, so if you haven’t subscribed yet please send me your email address (either as a comment on this post, or on our facebook page, or on our website).

Winners will be able to choose whatever colour they desire, from the Vinni’s range of awesome DK cotton (tomato seems to be popular right now!)

Wow, I used a lot of bold in this post. Maybe because I’m feeling BOLD hahaha

** If you want to know more about Kathryn, this is where you’ll find her.

We’ll also be listing on www.woolhogs.co.za  and www.mystall.co.za by the end of this weekend. hoo ha

 

 

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arch mesh scarf

This took me four days longer than I’d anticipated. I hate it when life gets in the way of crochet.

The stitch is called arch mesh and I think it worked really well for this scarf, which is essentially a long, narrow  triangle (150 cm wide by 28cm at the pointiest bit). I used plum in Vinni’s Nikkim cotton, and the edging (which is 3-ch picots, and I’m very chuffed with how it turned out) is aubergine.

As for the photo above – well, even picMonkey’s special touch-up tools couldn’t help me today, so thank goodness for text boxes.  As I was busying myself with this post, Alex came home with her friend Jenna, so here are some more pics:

This project is going to be Kit #3, and I’ll be typing the pattern up and winding the cotton ready to send to Wichita tomorrow morning.

Back soon x

a new venture for Jam Tarts

I’m too excited not to tell you about this now, even though I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. I’ve been working on the idea of putting together crochet kits, and the first ones are nearly nearly ready to go!

I’m thrilled with the cover, thanks to Coral-Leigh, who took Megan’s original logo and colours and made them work so well.

A “first draft” of the pattern, instructions and cotton for the first kit (for fingerless mitts) is on its way to Canada to be tested, and the others are semi-ready. My plans are to make up kits for headbands, neck ties, hats and photo frames, and they’ll include a yarn needle and threadcutters. It’s quite a mission putting the whole thing together, what with printing and instructions and cotton and dealing with wholesalers and packaging, etc… but I’m loving it, and expecting that it’ll be easier to be organised the more practiced I get.

I’ll be happy to get your comments on this – Have you ever bought a kit? Do you think a kit would appeal to someone who has never crocheted before?

Back soon x

DIY bead tassel

I love tassels. You can make them out of pretty much anything you have lying around, and they can be as fancy or simple as you like.  I made a black and white one this morning for Jane, who is coming round later today to pick it up.

Finished!

What you need for one tassel:

1. one large bead with a big hole (this will be the tassel head)

2. a selection of beads in various sizes and shapes

3. a 16cm length of soft cord (you can use ribbon if you prefer)

4. a sharp needle with a narrow eye (I used a #7 crewel needle)

5. strong thread (I used Gutermann topstitching thread)

6. scissors

What you do:

1.  Cut a short length of thread and fold it over the cord.

2. Push the thread up through your big bead and pull it out at the top, the cord with it.

3. Pull the cord up until the loop is about as big as you want it. Leave approx 1.5 cm of cord stub sticking out of the bottom

4. Thread your needle and knot the end. Run it through the stub and wrap the cord round it a couple of times to make it really secure.

5. Trim the stub if it’s got a bit fluffy.

6. Make the first length of beads: thread them on (in the order of your choice), using a little seed bead as the last one.

7. Skipping the last bead, take your needle and thread back up through all the other beads back to where you started.

It will look something like this:

8. Make a couple of stitches through the stub to secure the thread nicely, then start a second length of beads.

9. Add as many lengths of beads as you like (depending on whether you want your tassel to be slender or chubby), and vary each length slightly.

10. When you’re happy with how it looks, secure the thread tightly in the stub and carefully trim off any messy bits.  I also like to dab on a bit of clear nail polish or fabric glue, just to make extra sure the thread won’t ever loosen. Push the head down firmly and knot the cord if you wish.

And that’s it! If anything is unclear, please let me know.

To give you some more ideas, here are some of the tassels currently in my home:

Hanging on the key hooks at the front door

Very simple tassels that Alex made when she was about 6; they’re on the key to the linen cupboard

Multi-coloured tassel with a silk flower pinned on top, on my trusty old brown leather handbag

A tassel on a long piece of black and gold cord that I sometimes wear as a necklace. Modelled by you-know-who.

And if you don’t have the materials to make your own tassel, or if you want someone else to have the fun of making one, I’ve finally got around to making up more kits for bead tassel keyrings and listing them on etsy again.

Back soon x