Monday 15 August 2011

Crafty Weekend

I managed to squeeze in a couple of crafty projects over the weekend - not quite sure how, ooops - yes I do!, there's a whole pile of laundry still behind me, hehe :) Never mind it's a self-generating pile, which replenishes itself regularly - returning daily like a massive tidal wave - comfortingly reasssuring - NOT!!!! :D

Never mind, domestic duties aside, here's what I was working on - firstly . . .

. . . a little frame coin purse. I can hear you gasp in amazement (or disbelief!!) - yes, I did make it, and it was nowhere as difficult as I thought it would be. I used a pattern/instructions from an old copy of Sew Hip magazine (April 2009) and although I found some of it a little tricky to understand - it worked out OK. I'm going to try and make another one soon and actually document it, as I was so excited trying out this one I had no time to take any pics!

I purchased the frame on E-bay and also the glue - Gutermann HT2. As you can see there are little perforations on the frame for sewing to the purse, but I paid good money for my glue and was determined to use it! True to word, the glue worked very well and seems to have done the job.

I lined the purse in one of my printed cotton/linen fabrics:

A really fun project to do, and not that time consuming - a couple of hours at the most. I promise I will try and repeat the project and show my step to step pics - must order another frame though, this one cost about £2.30 (it's tiny - only 7 cm across, but big enough for a small coin purse).

Next up, my previous pics give a clue - hooray, I managed to make a granny square!!! I feel like I've joined an elite club - finally I've made it, hehe!

Behind it, is one of the crochet books I decided to treat myself for my birthday (which fell on my holiday) - I have to say I was a little disappointed with this book and actually used these two online tutorials to master the square. For the stitches, this one, and for the granny square, this one. The second one is an excerpt from another 'how to crochet' book which is the one I should have purchased, and have now ordered (this is getting expensive, but when you have to teach yourself, there's not much option!). And all roads finally lead to this book, my ultimate goal . . .

. . . Ah, love, love, love this book - the photographs, the colours, the flowers (some lovely wild flower varieties - my favourites). Mariana had kindly e-mailed me an online version earlier this year, but when I saw the hard copy in Waterstones in Edinburgh, the seed was planted - I had to have it! I am one MILLION miles away from making any of the crochet versions, but could probably attempt some of the knitted ones - however I'm obsessed with learning crochet at the moment and loving the fact that I'm learning a totally new craft (it's really quite different from knitting) - I think I've started a long journey, but a really enjoyable one!

The boys are back to school this Thursday so I'll be busy getting them sorted out - back to some more commercial 'tweedie' work too probably, but I've had a lot of fun recently experimenting - I think it's been well worth it :) Back to the laundry now : / Byeeee!

P.S. I will tell you how I get on with the second ' how to crochet' book - fingers crossed with this one!!!

10 comments:

Janet Metzger, Artist said...

Hey Alison,

I have some of those frames and really should attempt to make a few.

Now where did I put them?????

janet xox

Debi said...

LOVE your coin purse! So lovely!!

june at noon said...

Such a cute coin purse. The colors are perfect! (For me, at least, ha!)

Congrats on the granny. Watch out, they also multiply into stacks quite quickly.

Claire said...

Hey Alison, firstly let me wish you a belated Happy Birthday..........you kept that quiet. Hope you had a lovely day and were spoilt rotten .

Loooove the coin purse, I actually have a frame and instructions to make one but just haven't gotten round to it yet!! I was wondering whether you glued or sewed your fabric to the frame. Look forward to seeing your step by step instructions for the next one.

Congrats on making your granny square it looks great. It won't be long before you are whipping up bunches of beautiful crocheted flowers. Just remember crochet is addictive and once hooked.........

Claire :}

Tweed Thoughts said...

Thankyou ladies :) The coin purse was a really fun project!

Claire, I used glue as I'd bought it specifically for making the purse but you can sew the frame on if it has holes in it, which mine had (although I didn't notice that when I bought it!).

I've ordered another frame, so will do a step by step post soon :D Ooooops, I've said it now, hehe!

Tweed Thoughts said...
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Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

That is a fantastic purse Alison! Love it.
Still gutted not to have been able to meet up with you while we were over. We will be back though. Really loved Harris and it's not too far to come up to Stornoway : )

Tweed Thoughts said...

Thanks Aileen! Will definitely meet up the next time :D

Colette said...

Love the tweed, I must admit I have a soft spot for tweed but never know what to actually make with it.

I have that flower crochet book too - I love it, all my flowers come out a little different and often wonky though, I still have much to learn! My Mum recently made hundreds of them as napkin rings for my brothers wedding, they were a huge success!!
Thanks for your comments at my place too. x

Biba said...

Congratulations on the Granny Square (and welcome to the club...:)). Love love love the purse!!!