Felt Wreath Making... With Kids!

 I think I have written before about two very cool girls who come to me about three mornings a week before school. I've known them ever since they were tiny and their mum was even at Hugo's birth. Needless to say I love them to bits and we all treasure any time we get to hang out with them. Not only are they the loveliest things known to mankind, but they also wear shoes like this! What I wouldn't give for a pair of silver sequined balled flats.

At the moment we are working on a special project. All four kids have pitched in and I think they have done the most amazing job. Still a wee way to go though, thank goodness, because it is so much fun.

Lots and lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

p.s. I am so sorry, I have accidentally deleted someone's comment from the previous post and I can't remember who and I don't want them to think I thought their comment was inappropriate. I am sooooo sorry if it was you!!!!!

Rain Clouds and Crochet.

I have two of my favourite girls in the world come to my house a couple of mornings a week before school and sometimes, if I get out of bed early enough, they do crafting. This morning Lily left this scene on my kitchen table - how could I not take a photograph. 

 This is what I woke up to this morning. My very own hot water bottle and cover... still warm might I add.

I have alos been making a few of these, not the best photo in the world but there you go.
Lots of love,
Kate xxooxx.

How to Crochet a Toadstool.

 Apparently plants and hopefully fungi like music. Look how the red toadstool is leaning into the sound.

And now how they are waiting for someone to turn the music back on.

Materials Required.

-white felt

-white cotton thread

-needle

-stuffing

- 4 ply cotton yarn (colour of your choice...)

- 4 ply metallic silver yarn

- 2.5mm crochet hook

Abbreviations.

ch = chain

sc = single crochet (also referred to as double crochet in u.k. terms)

st/sts = stitch/stitches

BLO = back loops only

ss = slip stitch

Sewing the Stalk.

 Step 1. Cut two rectangles of felt of approximately 7cm x 2cm.

 Step 2. Place together and cut out a stalk shape (pictured above). Have the bottom end wider than the top.

 Step 3. Stitch up both sides longwise leaving the ends free for stuffing.

 Step 4. I use the blunt end of a crochet hook to stuff the stalk, pushing in a little bit of stuffing in at a time until it is firm.

Step 5. Cut out a little piece of felt (see above) and trace around the base of the stalk with a pen. Cut out the circle and sew to the base of the stalk. Leave a little gap to finish stuffing the bottom and then stitch shut. That's the stalk finished! I think you have done a terrific job so tell yourself a hearty "Well done".

Crocheting the Cap.

This pattern is worked in continuous rounds.

Round 1. Using the cotton yarn (or 4ply yarn of your choice), ch 2.

Round 2. 6 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, join with slst into first sc. (6)

Round 3. *2 sc in each st. *Repeat until end. (12)

Round 4. *1 sc in the next st then 2 sc in following sc. *Repeat until end. (18)

Round 5. *1 sc in following 2 sts then 2 sc in next sc. *Repeat until end. (24)

Round 6. *1sc into the following 3 sts then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until end. (30)

Round 7. *1sc into the following 4 sts then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until end. (36)

Round 8. *1sc into the following 5 sts then 2sc into the next st. *Repeat until end. (42)

Round 9. Change to silver yarn and crochet 1sc in each st until the end of the round. (42)

Round 10. In BLO, crochet 1sc into each st until the end of the round. (42)

Decreasing Rounds.
Round 11. *1sc into the first 7 sts then skip the 8th st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (36)
Round 12. *1sc into the next 6 sts then skip the 7th st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (30)
Round 13. *1sc into each of the next 5 sts then skip the 6th st. *Repeat until the end of the round. (24)
Round 14. *1sc into each of the next 4 sts then skip the 5th st. *Repeat until end of the round. (18)
Round 15. *1sc into each of the next 3 sts then skip the 4th st. *Repeat until end of the round. (12)

This is the stage where I see if the stalk fits into the cap.  Push the silver section up to form the cap's underside as shown above. If the hole is too loose, skip every 2nd stitch until the stalk fits.

Ss the silver yarn into the last st and bind off.

Stitch the stalk into place with a needle and thread and then hold up your toadstool in the air like a little parasol, admiring how clever you are. 

 N.B. The scary thing about this project is that once you begin, fungi begins to sprout up all over the house. Try varying the cap shape by doing a straight round between increasing rounds.

*I will add a pattern for the red toadstool over the next week.

Rain.

Last night saw lots of rain falling down on very thirsty New Zealand soil. It was getting to the point where I was considering stripping off for a little dance but fortunately I didn't have to. Maybe because I sewed up this little cloud a couple of nights earlier....

Lots of love, 

Kate xxooxx.

First Felted Bird Necklace

Still just experimenting.

Beginnings of a Felted Bird Necklace

Here are the tentative beginnings of the necklace. I cut the birds from felt pictured in the last post and when I turned my back they began to flutter over the table to each other. Odd.

Felt and Pencils

Yellow is my favourite colour but I usually keep this secret - there are so many wrong versions out there it is just easier to keep it under my hat and say green, although the same principle applies - it has to be fresh, grass green. Signing off.

Felt Egg Bowl

A little glimpse of things that are going on over at the kate and lucy project, has it been handcrafted or has something hatched from it. More details tomorrow.

An Australian White Christmas - a picnik collage

The Boneo Market

Christmas Day

A little bit of felting when I couldn't sit still any longer.

This is just a little entry to say we are back in New Zealand safely and are now engulfed by an avalanche of suitcases. I have decided to post about our holiday by colour. Enjoy white...

A Felt Bowl

When I hang out at the Bowler's things tend to happen.

Felt Pockets and Wraps

Whew - I have finished four Christmas presents. It feels good. I am so used to being halfway through so many projects (I do work better that way) that it is just sheer, giddy heaven to be wrapping them up. I put toggles on the teachers' presents this morning - once again, surprise if any teachers are reading.... and finished the wrap below with a flower corsage I knitted a few weeks ago. After the holidays are over I will post a tutorial on how to knit one.

Better get the paint brushes out and complete a few more presents.

Felted Writing Paper Wrap

Today I lay down in the heat of our driveway, legs against stones and shoulders meshed into the bitumen. These weeds that tower above our mail box, strutting to the sun so boldly and yet sheltering the grass with their new millennium lace are so completely human with their two distinct faces. And the way they glorify themselves in hot dusty weather, becoming so alive in the summer, well, let's just say I am not the only one whose blood changes rhythm when the sun strides its way into our life again, expecting no forgiveness for its behaviour during winter. On reflection, I am sounding dramatic, but when lying down on a driveway with sweat pouring from one's reddened brow, a little bit of drama does seem appropriate. If the postman (Elwyn) had driven up I would have declared "This is what I am willing to do for my art" - but I would have said it as though art was in capital letters. A big thank you to Christel for acting as my spotter.

I had another serious round of felting last night, I haven't had much of a chance since my first lesson with Lucy so it was quite good to flex those muscles that have been lying dormant ever since. I did notice that green wool is much better to felt with than pinky-red as it comes out looking much less like placenta.

After wondering what to do with my finished piece I thought why not a letter writing wrap as a surprise Christmas present for a very loved, loved one. Perhaps not such a surprise anymore.

Felt Brooches

Some current paintings - I had a dinner party the other night and said "Ah ha ha ha, it's also an art exhibition" and then everyone had to look politely at my pictures.... "Very nice" they muttered, edging away from my anxious and slightly hungry expression.

Some writing paper I have been sewing on my machine. Pity about the lighting.


Brooches, brooches and more brooches. Maybe I should wear them all into town, they would keep me warm and when people look at me I can say "I made them myself with real human blood" :)

So this is my first post, I am just going to get it up quickly and then I won't feel so nervous about it, a bit like something else nudge, nudge, wink, wink - by the way, probably not what you are thinking Mum if you are reading this, I mean like the first time I got up on a bike, the next time was much easier. I don't think that sentence made much sense. Oh well.