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I love making things. I enjoy beautiful things. I hope to make beautiful things with my hands, which are practical and fit into the country decor of my home. My Mum taught me how to knit when I was young (many times!) I never took the time to really practise. Now I enjoy it, but I found it took SO LONG to make things. So I taught myself to crochet, things are made a lot quicker! Cross stitch is rewarding but painstaking for me. Sewing is just a nightmare! BUT practise makes perfect! Contact me if you have patterns or news to share.
Sewing
When I was a teenager, in the 80's, stretch jeans were fashionable. Taking them in and up was how I learnt how to sew. I took in the seams of my jeans by putting them on inside out pulling them as tight as I could and then pinning them, the trick was to get them off without putting too many holes in yourself! This was where I started. Things could only get better, or so I thought...
Next project, I took apart a pair of pyjama bottoms which were outgrown to use as a pattern for some more. I figured to add a "little" bit to each seam would give it the right amount for a size up - who knew a "little" is A LOT! They fitted 18 months later!!! I learned to stretch the elastic as you sew! I learnt a lot through trial and error! I started to try and make some quilted cushions, but found that quilting is a whole new ball game and I don't think I have the precision for it - yet. (they were finished in about 2006)
Sept/Oct '05
Nov '05
Oct '07
Some Sewing Articles & Projects 8 Steps to Optimize Your Sewing Time Learn to Sew with Debbie Cosgrove
Crochet A lot of people learn how to crochet at a young age from a family member or a kind friend. My Mum taught me how to crochet after I tried to fumble my way through it in 2004 at the ripe old age of 31. Since then I have read a lot about it, and still do my own thing! I have to say that I like it much more than knitting as it's easier on the hands and the work comes out so much quicker. I've made several beanies, some ponchos, a dressing gown and am currently working on another dressing gown, a couch cover and a crocheted top for spring/summer. This top is my first attempt at using cotton. I have also made a baby's bassinette blanket. I've also made several blankets, both large and small. Also some more ponchos and beanies and I've done a couple of casual light jumpers. I've followed a few simple patterns, but mainly I just work it out as I go along. I have an idea of what I want in my head and adjust accordingly. My pet project is my blanket that will be Queen or King size by the time I've finished. It's multicoloured and unique. I work on it every so often when I get bored with other projects as its mindless and relaxing.
Some Crochet Articles & Projects Knot Just Knitting - Freeform Art by Prudence All Crafts free patterns for crochet and knitting
Knitting My Knitting Adventure - The story so far. Larissa Quinn My first knitting projects were scarves, just in garter stitch. I finished my first scarf in 2003. It is a bright yellow with LOTS of tassels for Olivia to wear at school. (We didn't plan on homeschooling back then.) I made several scarves trying out the different basic stitches. All these are used by my girls either for dress ups or "real". It seems that large needle knitting was all the go this season gone. I did a little myself last year. Using 7mm needles I knitted a HUGE poncho/blanket out of an acrylic mix with alpaca, mohair, and wool (Panda brand "Rockery" colour brown). I use it when it's COLD to wear whilst in my chair or over the end of my bed to keep my feet warm at night. After that I started on my "Triangle Blanket". I'll try to explain it. It is triangles set out in pinwheels as you would have in quilting. I crocheted them together to form squares and then edged it with the contrasting colours. The colours I used were dark brown, coffee brown, cream, dusty pink and maroon. This is to tie in with the decor of my bedroom. After this I knitted a few Barbie dresses using 3.25mm needles. Then I went on to some teddy clothes (2 jumpers and a dress). I followed patterns for these three. I find patterns really hard to read because my attention is always in demand from the children. Just natural for a homeschooler I guess! I did try a "real" jumper for Olivia, it didn't work, it fits one of her large teddy-bears nicely! I picked up crochet about this time and haven't really knitted anything since! But I will again...no really!!!
And I did! I picked up the knitting needles in September 2007. Ann from the ladies craft group at Merredin Church of Christ gave me a pattern for little jumpers to be donated to AIDS babies in Africa. A simple jumper and it only took me about a week to do one while watching TV at night. I've made a blue one and a purple one. I'll type out the pattern and put it below. You can contact me for information on where to send your jumpers if you want them to go to Africa. CAN YOU HELP? New born AIDS affected babies born on the African continent, many of whom are sent home from Hospital wrapped in newspaper for warmth, need your help. In order to help these tiny babies, a group of concerned women have formed a Knitting Circle. We are asking for your help in this effort to knit small jumpers for these babies. You can help by knitting or donating 8ply wool or both. AIDS Baby Jumpers Knitting Pattern
Cross Stitch My first cross stitch project was again for Olivia. It was a sunflower to go on her library bag I made her, for school, in 2002. We still have the bag and it's used for many things, sometimes even library books! I then made a wall hanger (small) with Natasha's initials and surrounded by flowers in a heart shape. Finished in 2003. The next project was for me. A cute house, which is yet to be framed. Done in 2003. 2004 was a bad year for cross stitch. I started a fruit cushion, which is still waiting to be finished. I kept going back to it and working a little more on it. I was losing interest fast, but the end was when I spilt a full cup of coffee over it. Right, that's it. Done. I'll cut out the part I've done and mount it on another piece of material for something. I haven't done that yet and I haven't started another project yet. I have found that my hands get too cold to work on cross stitch through out the winter, so I have given this over to summer work. The light is also better in summer. I have now got a craft light which my wonderful parents bought for me Christmas 2005, which helps at night. So maybe this summer I'll get more done in the evenings. I would also like one of those stand alone frames to work on. Enough of me wishing! I tried to cross stich in Summer 2006 but the thread kept knotting and I was constantly interrupted while trying to count stitches so I gave it away. I can't see myself doing it again anytime soon. (Oct 2007) I intent to do it in the future, but not yet. January 2008 saw me making a library bag for Natasha with butterflies and her name. I got the pattern from Graphic Garden. Which is where some of the graphics for the website come from as well. I love her work, it's so CUTE! So I did do some more cross stitch a little sooner that I expected!
Misc Craft
If you have any patterns or ideas you'd like to share, please send them in. Photos welcome.
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This page last updated: 10/02/2008 09:34 PM |
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Craft
