Christmas is approaching! I hope all your Christmas shopping has been done

A few weeks ago, some of my friends had a bit of a crafternoon session and with Christmas coming up, I thought I would put together these cute felt baubles which I found at Zakka Life. Check it out for the full tutorial and have a wonderful Christmas!

http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/11/craft-project-felt-christmas-ornament.html

BBBBbbrrrrrrrrr!!!

Well ok, it’s really not that cold here down under, but I’ve been watching the news lately and have seen images of the giant cold snap happening all of Europe and the US at the moment. For all you northerners out there, I thought I would post a scarf I put together for my man a few months ago during our winter. And even for you Aussie gals… it’s never too early to start knitting for next winter!

I found this pattern on the Lionbrand iPone app which I have blogged about a few posts down. It has tonnes of great free knitting patterns to try out. This particular scarf uses a classic cable knit. You will need 5mm knitting needles, 5.5mm knitting needles, a cable needle and 4 balls of wool.

SCARF
With smaller needles, cast on 56 stitches.
Work in K2, p2 rib until piece measures about 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) from beginning, decrease 1 stitch at end of last row. 55 stitches.
Change to larger needles.
Row 1 (RS): K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, *p2, k6, p2, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, repeat from * 3 more times.
Rows 2, 4, and 6: P1tbl, k1, p1tbl, *k2, p6, k2, p1tbl, k1, p1tbl, repeat from * 3 more times.
Row 3: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, *p2, 3/3 LC, p2, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl, repeat from * 3 more times.
Rows 5 and 7: Repeat Row 1.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 until piece measures about 69 inches or 175 cm from beginning, end with a Row 8 and increase 1 stitch at end of last row.
Change to smaller needles.
Work in K2, p2 rib for 2.5 inches or 6.4 cm. Bind off.

FINISHING
Weave in ends.

Ok ok, I know this is a little bit twisted, but I just think this is super cute. It kind of reminds me of the bunny suicides cartoons. Anyway here is my newly knitted pincushion. Bunny had a boo-boo.

LEGS:

Step 1: Using 3.00mm needles, cast on 3 stitches.

Step 2: Knit 4 rows.

Step 3: Break off yarn leaving tail 10cms long, push piece to end of needle.

Step 4: Repeat for second leg casting stitches onto needle holding first leg. You will now have two legs on one needle!

BODY:

Step 5: Next row, knit 3 stitches of 2nd leg, swap left and right hand needles, cast on 6 stitches to left needle, swap left and right hand needles, then knit 3 stitches of the first leg. 12 stitches.

Step 6: Knit 20 rows.

Step 7: Next row, knit 2 together, knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 together. 10 stitches.

Step 8: Knit 1 row.

Step 9: Repeat step 7 twice. 6 stitches.

Step 10: Cast off remaining stitches.

Step 11: Repeat steps 1-10 for second body piece, leaving a tail about 40 cms long (used to stitch the body pieces together).

Step 12: Place body pieces back to back (with good sides facing outward).

Step 13: Using overcasting stitch, join the edges of the two body pieces together, leaving a small opening at the end for stuffing.

Step 14: Stuff the body with polyester wadding and stitch closed. Do not stuff the legs.

Step 15: Massage the stuffing to make it even.

ARMS

Step 16: Using 3.00mm needles, cast on 3 stitches.

Step 17: Knit 12 rows.

Step 18: Cast off, leaving a tail 20cm long for stitching.

Step 19: Sew cast on edge to side of body, two thirds of the way down.

Step 20: Fold arm in half underneath and sew edges together.

Step 21: Repeat steps 16-20 for second arm.

EARS

Step 22: Using 3.00mm needles, cast on 4 stitches, leaving a tail 20cms long for stitching.

Step 23: Knit 12 rows.

Step 24: Next row, knit together twice. 2 stitches.

Step 25: Cast off.

Step 26: Repeat steps 22-25 for second ear.

Step 27: Stitch the bottom of each ear closed and attach to the top of the body.

There you go! It’s fairly easy to make and you could probably throw together about 3 of these in an afternoon. The original knitted bunny pattern comes from a book by Jake Henzler called ‘Little & Friends’. Enjoy!

I was lucky enough to witness how the Indonesians use Batik printing techniques to colourfully decorate their sarongs which are worn for religious ceremonies. It’s a time consuming process, yes, but I wanted to share with you a piece of their tradition and eye for quality… and maybe one day you might want to try out this method on your own work.

1. Choose the cloth you wish to use. Try silk, muslin or cotton for the best results and ensure it is clean.

2. Trace your design onto the fabric with a pencil. For traditional Batik design inspiration visit www.batikdesigns.org

3. Decide on what colour dye you wish to use for the first colour and then trace wax over all the parts that you do not want to be that colour. Repeat on the other side of the material for the best results and then leave the wax to dry completely.

4. Mix up your dye by following the instructions on the pot and place the fabric in the dye bath for approximately 30 minutes or however much is recommended by the dye manufacturers. Remove from the bath and leave to dry.

5. Next we need to remove all of the wax by placing the fabric into some boiling water. This will allow you to start a new colour.

6. Make sure the material is dry and then trace wax over the parts of the fabric where you don’t want the second colour to take hold. This will likely include the area that you have already dyed unless you wanted two colours on the same spot!

7. Mix up and dye with the second colour, leave to dry, remove the wax again and repeat the colouring process as needed to finish off your design.

Note: The Balinese use the traditional colours of blue, brown, and light yellow.

	Easy Stitch We all have to start somewhere when it comes to our crating skills. This particular app is great for crafting beginners in knitting, crocheting and embroidery. Step by step instructions are provided for all the main stitches and abbreviations you’ll come across in any pattern book, and there are even a few free patterns to get you started. Price – $3.99 AUD Website – www.technicalmadeeasy.com/ Download it
	Lion Brand Yarn I was really surprised by this app because it’s just such great value. If you’re into knitting, crocheting, or sewing, this app is a must. There are thousands of patterns you can search, download, favourite and keep notes about. You can even search the pattern by level of difficulty. Price – Free! Website – www.lionbrand.com/ Download it
	Ruler Plus This is just a nifty little app, useful for when you find yourself stuck without a real ruler. Great for knitting, sewing, pattern making and especially useful when having to run out and buy supplies for your latest project. Measurements are in cm and inches. Price – Free! Website – bananasdesign.com/rulerplus/ Download it
	Etsy Addict We all love the crafty online store Etsy, so why not take it everywhere with you and view all the new fabulous creations crafters from around the world are producing. This app allows you to search the store easily, without having to deal with any annoying mobile web browsers. Price – $1.19 AUD Website – etsyaddict.com/ Download it
	Adobe Ideas If your creating your own patterns and unique creations then you’ll need a sketching app to jot down all these ideas. There are a number of free sketching tools out there but what makes this app stand out above the rest, in my books is the ability to create your own colour schemes for your sketches. Price – Free! Website – blogs.adobe.com/designandweb/2010/04/adobe_ideas.html Download it

What are your favourite iPhone Apps for crafting?

All you need to do is knit the 2 square sides of the tofu character, then knit the front and back sections as one piece. Embroider any details, stitch together leaving an opening, stuff with a block of foam, then stitch up the remaining hole. For the full tutorial and knitting pattern please visit Bittersweet.

Use the finished product as a pin cushion, a cat toy, an ultra light paper weight, or just an amusing decoration.

One area where imaginations can and should run riot is with the creation of softies which is why I love this tutorial from Handmade Romance, based in Melbourne. Her blog documents the process of creating softies from original hand sketches, including creating the patterns, embroidering the features and sewing it all together. I also saw this tutorial on Craftershock for the first time, and glad I did. I hope it inspires you to create something unique! The full documented process is available here.

PART 1: Sketch out characters – the more unique the better! Pick the best and draw these characters to finished size. Trace over each pattern piece using tracing paper.

PART 2: Choose fabric for each pattern piece. Pin tracing paper pattern on to the material chosen. If you have not allowed extra room for seams at the pattern drawing stage, then remember to do so here where necessary! Then snip snip snip!

PART 3: If your softie needs any hand embroidery, then do it now. Place tracing paper of the features on top of the fabric and embroider through both. Tear away the tracing paper. Stitch on other extra details such as patches, mustache, hair, etc.

PART 4: All piece should now be ready for the sewing machine. Lay out all the pieces and figure out the best sequence to stitch everything together, depending on your design. Generally try to start with the smaller pieces or limbs (remember to sew pieces together inside-out!), sew these into the body piece inside-out, stuffing as you go as necessary. Leave a hole in the main body area, stuff and then hand-sew the hole. Hey presto!

The winter is fast approaching – well atleast it is here. The mornings especially are particularily chilly so like many people, I’m knitting my hands sore trying to finish a cable knit scarf for my partner in time. But what we forget to remember sometimes is that there are people out there who are much more needy than us during these colder months.

Guardian Pharmacies have teamed up with the Salvation Army have a fabulous knitting program that we should all participate in. To help someone in need, start knitting some woollen clothing or blankets (sample patterns can be found here), then take the finished product to your local Guardian Pharmacy by 31^st July. Go on, get knitting!

At any rate, Moonstitches has lovingly taken the pattern and re-created these charming owl softies with their own linen and felt twist. This is how you make them…

STEP 1: Cut out Fabric

Cut pattern pieces (as per the image) including cardboard for the base of the owl, add seam allowances when cutting the fabric. Height of pattern pieces for this tutorial: 7cm and 10 cm

STEP 2: Sew the Belly to Back
Place belly piece on the body piece (side “a” of belly on edge “a” of body). Start at bottom and sew together, stopping before the tip of the belly part, leaving 0.5cm seam allowance for side “b”. Repeat with seam “b”.

STEP 3: Close Middle Seam
Sew middle seam, starting where seam “a” and “b” meet.

STEP 4: Trimming
Trim the seams where curved. Clip tip close to stitching. Turn inside out.

STEP 5: Prep for Sewing Up
Hand stitch along the bottom edge of the owl’s body in order to prepare for sewing it up later.
If you’re combining a rather thick fabric like wool with a thinner one like cotton or linen make sure to turn the seam allowances in direction of the thinner fabric.

STEP 6: The Beak
Begin sewing the beak from inside the owl’s body, secure the thread with a knot. Fold the tip down a bit, insert the needle and stitch what will become the owl’s face into place. Secure thread inside of the body.

STEP 7: Stuffing
Fill your owl to desired firmness, use small amounts of filling at a time. Sew up the body.

STEP 8: The Bases
Place the round cardboard base on top of the round fabric from step 1. Press fabric seam allowance around the edges of the cardboard to the center of the circle. Attach the base to body and secure the end of the thread under the bottom.

STEP 9: The Eyes
Sewing on a pair of buttons will make your owl see.

STEP 10: Finished!
You’re all done! Now all you need to do is make your new Kawaii Owl some friends.

Thanks to Moonstitches for the tutorial!