Another crochet lightsaber to add into the mix…

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I had few more lightsabers I wanted to make after my previous two lightsaber makes (blue and light green) and decided it was about time I got them made! 
Here is a slightly smaller one compared to the previous blue and green, and I’ve used a dark shade of green for the beam.  
I still have one more I have an idea for…well, you can never have too many! 


Crochet lightsaber pattern: 

Materials
100g ball dk wool in light grey

100g ball dk wool in black 

100g ball dk wool in dark green

4mm hook

Lightsaber handle 

Starting in grey
Make a magic ring, ch1, 6dc into ring 

Round 1: 2dc into same dc, repeat around 

Round 2: 2dc into same dc, dc. Repeat around

Round 3: 2dc into same stitch, 2dc. Repeat around 

Round 4: 2dc into same stitch, 3dc. Repeat around

Round 5: dc around into the back loop only 

Rounds 6-20: dc around 

Change to black

Rounds 21-30: dc around

Change to grey

Rounds 31-38: dc around 

Change to black

Round 39: dc around

Round 40: dc2tog, 3dc. Repeat around

Round 41: dc around 

Round 42: 2dc into same dc, 2dc. Repeat around 

Fasten off, leaving long thread. 
Black lightsaber band 
In black 

ch8

Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row 

Rows 2-36: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row

Fasten off, leaving long thread.
Band button

Big part:

In black

ch6

Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row

Now working in the round 

Round 1: dc around the 4 edges

Round 2: dc around 

Fasten off leaving long thread. 

Smaller part:

In black

ch4

Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row 

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row

Now working in the round 

Round 1: dc around the 4 edges



Silver clip at the top of the lightsaber

In grey 

ch5

Row 1: dc in 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Rows 2-4: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row 

Row 5: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 2dc into same dc, 2dc, 2dc into same stitch 

Row 6: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 2dc into same dc, 4dc, 2dc into same dc

Row 7: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) 2dc into same dc, 6dc, 2dc into same dc

Row 8: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row 

Row 9: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 6dc, dc2tog 

Row 10: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 4dc, dc2tog

Row 11: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc2tog, 2dc, dc2tog 

Now dc around the edge

Fasten off leaving long thread. 
Black strips – make 4 

In black 

ch11

Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row 

Rows 2-5: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row

Fasten off leaving long thread to attach.
Light beam

ch25, slip stitch into first ch to make a round

Rounds 1-20: dc around 

Round 21: dc2tog, 4dc. Four times, dc

Rounds 22-41: dc around

Round 42: dc2tog, 3dc. Four times, dc

Rounds 43-56: dc around

Round 57: dc2tog, 2dc. Four times, dc

Rounds 58-61: dc around

Round 62: dc2tog, dc. Four times, dc

Round 63: dc around 

Round 64: dc2tog four times, dc

Fasten off leaving long thread.
Black circle button 

In black

Make a magic ring, ch1, 5dc into ring

Round 1: dc around 

Round 2: working in back loops only, dc around 

Round 3: dc around 

Fasten off leaving long thread. 

Black extra piece for button 
ch4

Row 1: dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc along row

Row 2: ch1 (doesn’t count as a stitch) dc along row 

Fasten off leaving long thread.


Stuff the lightsaber handle and light beam and sew together. You could put in some plastic or card tubing into the beam to make it more sturdy if you want. Sew on the lightsaber details.  Place some stuffing into the black circle button and band button. 

New binding challenge completed with this jelly roll quilt! 

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 I’ve had some jelly roll fabric for a little while now and have been wanting to make a quilt with it, but just didn’t have time.  Finally I’ve had a chance to put it together! 
I haven’t made my own quilt binding before so I went a bit out of my comfort zone on this quilt and rather than folding the back fabric round to the front for the binding, I opted to make my own binding out of scrap fabrics.  
I’m so glad I took the plunge to try something different as it was no where near as scary to do as I thought it would be and its worked out so much better than I thought it would, I will definitely be doing it again on my next quilt.  
I followed this tutorial for making the binding: 

http://m.thesewingloftblog.com/69d9tir/articles/99483/How-to-Create-Scrap-Binding#_a5y_p=5017901

The fabric I used was a jelly roll by The Craft Cotton company in vintage floral purple, which I cut down into different length strips, making sure I had 3 strips of the same length so they could be sewn together in threes before sewing all of these sets of threes together to make the quilt. The backing fabric was from IKEA. For the binding I used scraps leftover from the jelly roll and scraps I had left from a cotton fat quarter bundle in purple by Fabric Editions. 

Super pleased with this quilt, what’s even better is this one is actually for me, I’ve been so busy making them for other people I’ve not got round to doing one for myself for a long time! 

A huge help for pattern cutting and made only with fabric scraps, these pattern weights are a must have that I wish I had made sooner!    

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I’ve been meaning to make some pattern weights for a while now and just haven’t got around to doing them. Now that I have got them made I wish I had got them made sooner – they are absolutely brilliant for holding patterns in place while cutting out without having to mess around with pins which also often leave marks in the fabric. In fact I was so pleased with how well these worked I went on a bit of a making spree and at current count have about 30 of these little gems! 
What’s even better about these weights is I made them all with just scraps of fabric out of my stash and anything that can help use up some scraps is a winner with me! 

Pattern weight pattern:
I made two different sizes of these weights, so had had some longer ones for long pattern sections. The method to make both sizes is the same, the only difference being the size of paper template used.  

Materials 

Fabric scraps

Ribbon scraps

Thread

Pins

Scissors

Paper

Pencil

Ruler

Aquarium gravel 

1- Make your paper templates, 7×7 cm for the smaller weights and 10×7 cm for the larger rectangular ones and cut out your fabrics. 

2- Cut your ribbon into 7cm pieces 
3- Fold a piece of ribbon in half and place with its raw edges just over the raw edges of a piece of fabric placed right side up. 


Place a second piece of fabric right side down on top of this and sew down the side, along the bottom and up the other side.

Cut diagonally accross at the bottom 2 corners to help with getting a nice sharp corner after turning. 
4- Turn the right way out, and fill with gravel.


5-  Fold in the top edge by 0.5m and match the two side seams together, slip stitch to close. 


Now make as many as you need, and maybe just a couple more incase you run out while cutting out a pattern…think I definately got carried away, don’t think I will be running out any time soon! 

A still bursting scrap stash calls for more scrappy monsters! 

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I’m still working my way through my fabric scraps (I think I will be for quite a while too!) and following the success of my previous scrappy monsters I have decided to make a few more. These 2 look very happy with their friends, and I think this little group of monsters will be multiplying very soon!

The tutorial below shows you how to make these two monsters, but if you like you could add a few more arms or legs or change their size.
These monsters used fabric scraps from materials by The Craft Cotton Company.


Scrappy monsters 


Materials

Fabric scraps

Pins

Scissors

Thread

Embroidery thread

Buttons

1- Draw out paper templates

If your doing the same monsters as me the monster parts and size of the templates used are on the photo below, these measurements include a seam allowance. If you are doing your own, sketch out your monster then draw out your paper pattern pieces. Cut out these paper templates.


2- Cut out your fabrics

Using whatever fabric scraps you have cut out the fabrics for each body part, the more random the better!
3- Sewing the body parts
For arms and legs: starting with the front pieces place the first two pieces right sides together and sew down the edge to attach them together, repeat for piece 3 if applicable. Repeat for the back pieces. Now place the front and back pieces together and sew down the side along the bottom and up the other side, leaving the last edge unsewn, turn the right way and stuff.


Head and body details: place the fabric pieces right sides together and sew around the edges leaving bottom edge unsewn, turn the right way and stuff.
4- Making the teeth

Fold the fabric in half with wrong sides together, and sew down the two sides leaving the top open. Turn the right way, and place on the back of the mouth and sew to hold in place.


If you are machine appliquéing the eyes and mouth details sew then onto the front piece now using a zig zag stitch. If you are hand sewing later ignore this step.
5- Sewing the body together

To sew the arms and legs and bits and body together, place the back body piece down right side facing up then place all the pieces in there correct locations with their bottom edges hanging over the edge of the back body piece, place the front piece on top right side down and sew around leaving a 10cm gap for turning. Turn and stuff then slip stitch closed.

6- Hand sewing the face details

Sew on the face details using blanket stitch.
7- Add buttons for eyes

After a bit of a false start I have completed another granny square Minecraft blanket, this time a wolf!   

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I had originally planned to make a snow golum Minecraft blanket next after the creeper, mooshroom cow and ghast, and had even got underway making a couple of grannies. However, after I had finished one ball of wool I hit a bit of a obstacle when I found I couldn’t find any wool in the right colours I was needing to finish it! I needed some different shades of orange and struggled to find any in shades different to what I had already used. Without these different shades I wouldn’t be able to get a good pixelated effect. So for now I have put the snow golum on hold whilst I find some other colours that will work.
Instead I decided to start work on a wolf blanket instead as I had the wools I need to be able to do this. Similarly to my other Minecraft blankets I’ve opted to use a different granny square and I found the pattern for this one over on:
https://perigrineseyrie.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/corner-start-granny-pattern/
I completed 8 increasing rows to get the size I wanted before starting on the decrease.

To get the half squares around be mouth I completed a seperate mouth piece consisting of 5 peach squares and 4 black squares and attached this onto the completed blanket, where I had placed browns and greys where the mouth piece would be going.

I like how different this granny square is and I think it worked out really well.

Swanning it’s way out is the last bird make for a little while and it’s….well it’s a swan! 

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I loved this bird when I saw it in Edward’s Menagerie: birds by Kerry Lord and I have been wanting to make it ever since, unfortunately during my previous bird making sprees a number of other bird makes have been sneaking their way ahead of it, but finally I have now been able to get it made. The wait was definitely worth it though, really makes me smile! 

A drawstring playmat – Perfect for reducing any standing on stray toy incidents and ideal for quick tidying up 

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I completed this drawstring Playmat tutorial for The Craft Cotton Company using their lovely balloon fabric. I have seen these about for a while and thought they were a brilliant idea, they make tidying up all those little tiny toy pieces that manage to get everywhere so much easier and anything that reduces the risk of standing on a stray piece of Lego is something that needs making! You could make this as big or as small as you wanted, so you can have one for taking toys out and about in the car and a big one for in the house. 

I knew straight away that the hot air balloon Fabric by The Craft Cotton Company would be perfect for this, along with a plain blue cotton for the backing fabric. The blue ribbon I used was some from my stash. 
Take a look over at this and other great ideas over on the Craft Cotton Company blog:  

http://craftcottonco.blogspot.co.uk/p/free-patterns.html?m=1
Small take out and about version: 


Large version:


Pretty and pink crochet flamingo – with a bonus bit of sparkle too

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After a craft disaster which I still can’t bring myself to talk about…I decided something bright and sparkly was needed, I came across a pattern for a little crochet flamingo on Pinterest (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flamingo-applique-2) and knew it would be perfect for bringing a bit of brightness – you can’t beat a bit of pink.  

I had some pink sparkly  wool which was perfect, i’m going to make a couple more as you can never have too many flamingoes! 

Tentatively stepping out from my craft bag and making sure it’s feathers are just right is a very proud peacock 

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   I’ve been a bit slow with my crafting makes this last week as I’ve managed to pick up a cold, who gets a cold in summer – I’m blaming it on all this rain! As a result I had to take a little break as I just couldn’t concentrate on a pattern without completely messing it up, at one point I re-did a peacock wing 3 times before I reluctantly admitted defeat against the cold! 

But finally I am now on the mend and my bird making mini spree can continue, and next up is this lovely peacock from Edward’s menagerie: birds, by Kerry Lord. I love the feather detail on this – he’s all set to go and display himself proudly!  

Think I’ve got one more bird to go and this little bird spree will be over – for now!