Crafty Creatives - box 16

Way, way back in November I told you about Crafty Creatives subscription boxes.  They have now changed the format a bit so they include a complete kit rather than themed items. To be honest I haven't even opened my last 2 boxes yet. I struggled so much to make anything useful from my first box which was box 16 - Victorian Circus Theme.

I like the idea of the boxes but am not sure how I am going to like the new ones with kits.  I'll let you know. They certainly were good value for money as they were packed to the brim with goodies. Only thing is, I have struggled to use said goodies!!

Anyway, I did say that I would show you what I made with the contents of box 16. So...... There was a kit to make an animal pendant. Hmm, OK not something I really see myself wearing but I can give it to Ellie maybe.  So far I have glued the bits on the plastic elephant and he just needs Simon to make a hole so I can screw in the eyelet for the chain.  I don't feel this was much of a kit to be honest.

 

I used the 2 craft papers and one of the stripey buttons to make 2 of my February birthday cards. The stripey buttons are quite cool and I will be able to use them in other projects.

 

I have not used the circus stamp set and to be honest the stamps are so tiny that I can't really see many uses. Then there were the admission tickets and someone somewhere suggested using them with the glue to make paper beads and then make a pendant. OK, so I did that. Couldn't really think of anything else. Once again they seemed an odd addition to the box, but that is just my opinion. I did learn a cool technique for joining them together by threading the cord backwards and forwards. I was even brave enough to wear it out!!! My son did take the "Mickey" out of it!  Can't really see me wearing it again.

The other sort of kit thing was to transfer an image to a cardboard coaster. 2 sheets of black and white circus images were included but I decided to use a colour photo of my dogs. I am glad that I tried the technique as I have never done it before but to be honest I wasn't thrilled with the result. I may try the technique again at some point.

I have yet to do anything with the string of purple beads or the charms. So to conclude, I didn't really make anything at all useful.  For my money, and for future projects I have some PVA glue, 2 big red and white buttons, a string of purple beads and some small charms which I may or may be not able to use.  I could have actually purchased those items for way less than the £12.95 the box cost.

This definitely was not a good box for me. I am just starting on box 17 now which is a Medieval theme which I think maybe even less up my street but I'll see.  If you are interested in the new format boxes you can check them out HERE.They are a great company.  All opinions are purely my own.

Fingerless Mittens.

Remember that I told you I was testing out a friends pattern for knitting fingerless mittens?  Well I have finally managed to complete them.  I am pleased to say that Spinning's pattern is just fine and that now I have learnt a little more I could knit another pair probably quicker and more easily.  This is a grand pattern for beginners as it is fairly quick to do once you get the hang of the stitches.

My knitted squares stood me in good sted for casting on.  No probs there. The pattern begins with the rib stitch which is done by alternating knit stitches with purl stitches.  Hmm, OK.  I had to Google the purl stitch and watched a couple of You Tube vids to get the hang of it.

It seems to be like a backwards knit stitch.... I think!  The needle goes in the back instead of the front and the wool stays at the front instead of the back!  I think!  At least that is what I have been doing. It's a bit of a pain this rib lark because alternating the knit and purl means the wool goes from front to back all the time.

Anyway, I made a start.  I got to 5 rows and it looked OK, but it didn't look ribby to me.  I feared I had done it wrong.  I checked the pattern.  Nope I had done as instructed.  Still didn't look ribby though!  It was at this point that I confused myself further by Googling the rib stitch.  Seems to be a lot of conflicting advice. One website said you had to have an odd number of stitches which was odd because my pattern has an even number. Another website said that you start each new row with the same stitch that you finished on...... so you end with a purl stitch the new row will start with a purl stitch.  My pattern seemed  to my novices mind to be saying do every row the same!

Oh dear, my knickers were twisting further and further with every passing minute.  I did ask advice from my wonderful teamie friends at Craft Britannia as I couldn't get hold of Spinning. They told me I had it right as far as they could tell so I thought I would try a few more rows.  I did and it began to look sort of ribby.  Got to 8 rows and there was a hole on row 7.  WTH?   How did that happen? It was at that point that I opened the red stuff!  After a glass or 2 I concluded it was probably best to go to bed and leave it.

The following day after speaking to Spinning and confirming that I was doing it right I unpicked it and started over.  Long story short, I unpicked it 4 more times before I had that little piece of rib correct with no holes.

Then it was time to start the flat bit.  That was a bit easier as it is alternating rows of knit and purl which form stocking stitch.  Got half way through that though and must have lost track as I had knitted where I should have purled.  Unpicking time again!!

Finally after many hours I completed it.  I was so chuffed.  The second one I am pleased to say was much easier.  I was very careful and counted everything and I did it in one go without any unpicking!  Go Me!  All that was left to do was to sew them up.  Rights sides together and away we go.

This is the finished article. The ones that Spinning sells in her shop are decorated with crochet flowers but as I have yet to learn that skill I had to choose something different for mine.  (These photos look a different colour because I had to use flash).

If you would like to see Spinning's work you can check out her shop where the pattern that I tested will be available shortly.  CLICK HERE.

Knitting challenge

I'm still persevering with the knitting.  Yesterday I finished my 2nd square.  I had the correct number of stitches and I think it is slightly better than the first one although something is not quite right on one side near the beginning,  Hey ho!  I'll do another one.

Now this is much more exciting than knitted squares, this is real knitting.  Something functional that I can actually use.  Well hopefully!  A friend on the Etsy, Craft Britannia team who spins her own wool, dyes it herself and then writes her own patterns before knitting gorgeous garments has allowed me to test a pattern for her.

It is a beginners pattern for fingerless mittens and she has very kindly sent me some of her own beautiful wool to make them with.  It arrived today.

Isn't it just gorgeous?  The colour is actually about halfway between what you see in the 2 photos.  Still trying to get to grips with the camera!

If you would like to see more of Spinnings work then you can visit her shop here :Spinning Streak

I will do a blog post all about her in the next week or so and don't forget to check back and see how my mittens are doing.

New craft challenge

I am not sure if I have mentioned this previously but one of my goals for this year is to try out a new craft each month.  There are so many things that I would like to do and never seem to have the time.  I figure if I just try out one thing at a time it will be easier.  A month seems a decent amount of time to give something a go.  Also short enough that if I really hate something it will soon be over and done with!

Who knows I may be totally hopeless at some things but may just find a hidden talent.

So, January is knitting.  I am a novice.  I knitted a square to earn my Brownie knitting badge that was about 45 years ago.  I have tried several times since then but just can't really get the hang of it. My Mum was a good knitter and was never without her knitting when I was a child. I can still remember the sound of those needles clicking away at great speed.  She passed her skills on to my sister who is a beautiful knitter although she no longer does it very often.

When I knitted that square for brownies I remember that I couldn't get the hang of holding the needles.  I still can't.  My technique is to have the right needle sort of propped vertically in my lap and then I knit round it with the left needle.  The right needle does not move!

Anyway, I decided to start with the basics.  A knitted square of plain stitches.  I found a website that said 40 stitches knitted on 4.5mm needles would give me an 8 inch square.  That seemed a good size.  I had the needles and some scrap wool in blue that someone gave me ages ago.  I had to find a tutorial to remind me how to cast on. It took me forever!

Once the stitches were cast on, I got knitting and I did remember how to do that basic knit stitch. I have since learnt this is called garter stitch.

I knitted around 80 rows to get it to 8 inches.  I'm not exactly sure as I lost count.  It took me about 4 hours.

 

I ended up with 41 stitches and one small hole so not sure what happened there! Do you see it?

This is the finished square.  I am quite pleased with this first attempt. All I need to do now is to knit about another 50 and I'll have a doggie blanket!  LOL.

This evening I am going to do another one.  I want to see if I can do one without a hole and keep the correct number of stitches.

A fellow Etsian who is on the Craft Britannia team is sending me some of her wool and a pattern that she has designed for simple fingerless mittens.  She needs a tester to see how easy her instructions are to follow. She will be on hand if I get stuck.  I am really looking forward to giving it a go.

I shall be doing updates throughout the month to let you know how I am progressing.

One of my favourite Christmas presents.

I had lots of Christmas presents. Those of you that follow my personal blog "Don't worry be happy" will have already heard all about my lovely new Nikon camera.  It's red!

Our family did a secret Santa this year and my daughter Verity was the person who got me in the draw.  She gave me a gift bag full of lovely things but the best thing in that bag was possibly the thing that cost her the least in money but most in effort.

I LOVE buttons.  All kinds of buttons.  I had mentioned how nice it would be to have some vintage buttons. I have a few but not many.  Verity not only found me some vintage buttons but she also found a wonderful vintage tin for them.  I am so thrilled.

This is the tin.  Don't you just love it?  There is something about that little girl and boy.

These are the buttons.

These are my absolute favourites.

Just have to decide what projects to use them in now!  I do have quite a lot of buttons so I shall take some more photos and show you.  If anyone has any they would like to sell (or donate ;) ) Please get in touch.

Getting ahead

Well Christmas is over for another year.  Only 358 days to go until next time!  One of the things I have learnt since having my little shop on Etsy is that you must always be thinking ahead to the next occasion or season.   

So, February 14^th – Valentine’s Day.  I shan’t be making anything special for this but fortunately I do have a lot of heart shaped, felt brooches so I have been busy today retagging them all and changing the titles to read Valentines Brooch.

I thought you might like to see a few.

 

 

 

 

 

I also have a few key rings.

 

Plus some heart shaped hanging decorations.

 

Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day or do you feel it is an overly hyped up occasion designed to make money for the big corporations?  I usually make OH a card.  He will buy me a card and I usually get flowers too. We don’t usually go out but he will cook a special meal at home. 

You can find my Valentines brooches and other bits and pieces in the shop here: FABRILUSHUS.