I usually buy a small amount of bear fabric each year before we set off on the boat. As this is such a strange year, these were made from the pieces I had left from previous years.
The cream ones are short, sparse mohair with pale grey suede paws. The tiny one is made from faux cashmere.
My neighbour had bought some of these from the internet. So I borrowed one and copied it.
This size is for small dogs.
Take 2 pieces of cloth about 18cm square.
Approx 10 cm down the side, cut a diagonal to the middle, folding helps.
With right sides together, sew around the whole thing, leaving a whole at the top for turning.
Turn inside out, making the corners and bottom point sharp. Iron flat.
Fold down the top about 4 to 5 cm. Depending on the thickness of the dog collar.
Sew along the folded down edge. Sealing the turning whole and attaching the top edge, making a band for inserting the collar through.
I am sure they would be fine for cats too.
Needle felting is something I play with from time to time. Grace and I bought wreath rings at a garden centre.
I started by covering the wire ring in the plain wool Grace had given to me.
It took some covering, but eventually it kind of looked like a circle. I liked the idea of the bottom being slightly larger as I knew I was going to cover it with other felted items.
First I covered it half with green and half with blue. It was supposed to be a Christmas wreath but the craft and chatters said it was too light for Christmas, so it became an Easter project.
Over several months I made, Easter eggs, a blue tit, a bee, a butterfly, a mushroom, a snail, a ladybird and lots of flowers. They were needle felted apart from some of the flowers which were cut out of felt.
I sewed all the items loosely to the wreath, for easy dis-assembly.
It certainly brightened my front window.
Little children seemed to like it.
All my crafty and sewing friends noticed these on this years Great British Sewing Bee. Several of the contestants had them in various shapes and sizes.
I thought I could make them but needed the tools as my Lidl glue gun was not up to the task at only 5 watts.
Ebay delivered a new 20 watt device.
My first attempt involved a pretty red and white spotted jam jar lid. You need a strong base as otherwise you can stab yourself in the arm. Unfortunately, it rattled against my watch. Back to the drawing board.
A milk bottle top looked a likely candidate, as we use milk cartons, I went scavenging in my neighbours recycling bins. I did ask permission, mostly! My friends also came up with the goods.
So this is the process if you fancy a try.
You will need.
1 x milk bottle top, approx 4cm diameter
2 pieces of velcro, approx 2cm x 5cm. As not everyone’s wrists are the same size.
Matching Thread.
Toy stuffing or similar.
Glue Gun
Cut a piece of fabric 23cm long by 8cm. For the wristband.
Another piece approx 12cm diameter circle. For the pincushion.
Ribbon for decoration approx 15mm wide, depending in the height of the milk bottle top.
The Wristband
Fold the wristband fabric lengthways and pin. Sew the seams leaving 5mm seam allowance. You can also use two separate pieces of fabric. If you have a folded edge, sew one end, then sew along the length, leaving a space, so that it can be turned inside out, and sew to the other end. Turn inside out, making sure the corners are pointed. Iron Flat.
Top sew around the whole wristband, therefore sewing up the gap.
Attach a piece of velcro to each end of the wristband, one facing up and one facing down. On top, attach the spiky velcro and on the bottom at the opposite end attach the fluffy velcro. This is important, as when you are wearing it, you do no want the spiky velcro on you skin. Notice on the completed items below, the spiky velcro is on the top next to the pincushion.
The Pincushion
Take the circle of fabric and make a running stitch all the way around the end, about 5mm in. A little more if the fabric frays. Use strong thread or double the thread as it is about to be under considerable tension.
Pull the running thread to make the pincushion shape. Put in as much stuffing as you can. It is tricky to get the stuffing in while the thread is not knotted. Knott the thread leaving a small hole as above. Using something small, like tweezers, keep stuffing the pin cushion until it is quite hard and compact.
Attached the pincushion to the bottle top. Put glue around the inside edge of the bottle top and a little in the middle, put a small amount on the underside of the pincushion and squeeze them together, making sure the pin cushion is very securely attached to the inside of the bottle top on all sides, especially around the edges. Work quickly.
MIND YOUR FINGERS. IT IS NOT CALLED A HOT GLUE GUN FOR NOTHING!
Let this dry for a while, until cold.
Glue the pincushion to the wristband in the middle.
Wait for it to dry.
Glue the decorative ribbon onto the outside edge of the milk bottle top, to cover it up. Turn the ribbon in at the ends for neatness.
At this point check all the edges around the pincushion and around the area where the pincushion is attached to the strap, add more glue in small amounts until it is very secure.
The wristband and pincushion joints take a lot of force, as it is being attached to the wrist when used.
I went a bit mad.
I made at least twenty.
They made great lockdown gifts for my crafty and sewing friends.
Spread the love.
My first try at a baby jumper. The small pattern was something different, but really easy as it is only knit and purl to make a raised design.
Jumper front, with knitted welt, simple diamond design and buttoned shoulders.
Heart shaped buttons on the shoulders.
Diamond design.
Sirdar 4848 pattern for No. 1 wool. Double Knitting, Acrylic and Nylon, 40 degree wash.
It turned out well, bit it was quite small.
I have made these shorts before. Simplicity Pattern 3696.
I bought the material in a lovely shop in Brighton which was rammed with fabric. I liked it so much I have not used it for several years. But if this year has taught us nothing else, it is to live for now and use the nice stuff.
The pattern is for pyjamas, so I just made them shorter.
What is different this time, is that I added two pockets for a technique I learned making scrubs. More of which later.
Elastic waist, cool and comfy.
Pattern Simplicity 3696
I thought the pattern for this cardigan was so pretty and girly. Unusually for me, I forked out for the correct wool too, Sirdar Snuggly Heirloom. Which was probably a mistake as I had not noticed it said hand wash. Rookie error, especially for a child’s garment.
Cardigan stretched out for shaping.
Front
Back. Showing the detail.
The pattern is knitted from the bottom to the arm holes in one piece, from the front left to the front right, all the way around the body. It seemed like a real slog, but then the rest came together quite quickly.
Front Buttons and collar. The collar was knitted a bit like turning the heal of a sock.
Quite a few firsts on this make, but it turned out beautifully.
All I know about this one is, that it was made from chunky wool. I tried very hard to get the colours to match on the sleeves and fronts as it was variegated wool. I had to wind on the balls to the correct colour and hope the repeat was the same.
My neighbour is Sausage Dog mad, well any dogs really. It had to be done, to celebrate her new job.
My friend Greg sent me this pattern. It is the Bella Shawl by Annie Baker.
It uses 400 meters/437 yards of Double Knitting Wool.
Approx Size – 62 x 20 inches after blocking.
The knitting is started in one corner, goes up in zig zags with a hole pattern, gets to 171 stitches, then decreased with a different straighter holed pattern.
I blocked it out when it was finished.
I really like it, but I won’t be making another, it was difficult.
The baby blanket was crocheted as a gift for baby Evie. Michael’s first grandchild.
I can’t tell you a pattern because I just googled ‘Corner to Corner Blanket’ beginner.
Starting one of these is the hardest part as it turns back on itself. Everyone you ask for help says, ‘Oh I never remember, I have to google it every time’.
I think I used, Drops Puna Uni Colour, superfine Alpaca. Probably not the best choice for a baby blanket but it is soooo soft.
The finished size was only about 24 x 18 inches, as that is what google tells us, is the size of a baby cot blanket.
I was so taken with the stitch, as it makes a symmetrical design that I made another, much bigger one, for us in a type of chenille.
Close up.
Full Size, laid on a King Sized Bed.
It is lovely and Snuggly.
