Infant Shoes

I seem to have misplaced the pattern for these little shoes (I am not very organized, I'm creative) but I believe it was a Retro Simplicity pattern. Supposedly it was originally printed in the 50"s. They are made from craft felt. The pattern has a floral design layout on it, but I didn't use it. I just did free hand embroidery on the floral design, blanket stitch around the top and the tie is a piece of coordinating ribbon.

The socks are infant size 0-3 months that I purchased in a bag of 10. I single crocheted directly onto the top of the socks, then a row of half double crochet, then chain 2, attach bead by chaining through the bead, chain 2, skip 3 half double crochets and single crochet in the next half double crochet.

For this pair of socks, I didn't add the beads, and then I put 7 single crochets in each chain 5 loop. Any edging can be used though. Also, this pair of shoes I used silk ribbon instead of embroidery floss for the embroidery. They make a nice baby shower gift.

Re-Cycled Jeans Hand Bags

What can you do with your favorite pair of jeans once they are too worn to wear, or just out grown? I hate throwing things away. I am like those hoarders that they are making TV shows about that have piles and piles of stuff that they just can't get rid of. My husband and I live in a three bedroom house and two of those bedrooms that are supposed to be for guest rooms are in fact rooms to hold all the things that I keep, thinking someday I will find a use for that and I will be glad I kept it.

A few years ago I decided to try to use up all the things that I have kept over the years to cut down on the clutter, and maybe make money in the process. I started making these handbags out of the old jeans that I will never get small enough to wear anymore. I sell them for $15.oo each, or give them as Christmas or birthday presents (which saves money too because I am not out any cash for the present).

I use scraps of fabric left over from other projects to make the lining. Pockets can be put on the inside if you like, but I usually don't because there are plenty of pockets already on the jeans. On the two bags shown in these pictures, I decorated them by felting flowers, scrolls, and hearts using loose wool (that I carded and dyed myself) and a felting needle. The belts and shoulder straps can be done in a variety of ways. Sometimes I use old belts of mine and sometimes I make them using the pant legs that were cut off. Macrame shoulder straps (not shown) also look nice and sell pretty well.

Use pants size 12 or smaller, anything bigger just looks like you are carrying around a duffel bag. Children's and baby jeans work great. The larger ones can even be used for diaper bags. Bottles slide down in the front pockets for easy access.

Carosel Horse

I drew the pattern for this horse myself by looking at horses on TV. It was a lengthy process of trial and error. All four legs are different, I was trying to make it look like the horse was in a high gallop, and still be level enough to hold a rider if I ever get one made to put on him.
The body is made of suede upholstery fabric. The mane and the tail are loose wool that I carded myself. The eyes, nostrils, and the tufts of hair above each hoof are wool that I felted on using a felting needle. The bridle and saddle are made of craft felt and decorated with studs and wool that I felted to shape the seat on the saddle. The reigns is macrame.
The saddle blanket is a piece of velveteen with fringe sewn on.

I covered the dowel rod with suede and wrapped ribbon around it to give it a swirl effect. The base is covered with strips of suede woven with ribbon.
These make great decorations at Christmas time, for a childs nursery, or for anytime for someone who likes carosel horses.

Work-in-Progress

My daughter got this package in a large box of craft projects that she bid on at an auction. The package is stamped Vogart Crafts. I tried to look this up on the Internet, but the only thing I found was EBay listings for vintage crafts. I have no idea how old it is, but apparently they are not made anymore.

It is a set of four napkins that are supposed to be cross-stitched on large gingham check. Well, no offence to people who like that, I think that large of cross-stitch is ugly, so I decided to applique the floral design instead.

So far, I have one done. When I finish all four I will probably put them together with sashing and make either a baby quilt, or maybe a table runner.

Simple edging

This is another Guest washcloth.It is simple, but elegant. It adds a touch of color to compliment the guest bathroom decor, without being too frilly, or time consuming.

First, crochet onto a washcloth (as shown in the previous entry called Crocheted Edging). Slip stitch in the first stitch made, and chain 2.

Second, Half double crochet in each stitch, with 3 half double crochets in each corner stitch. Slip stitch in the second chain of the beginning chain 2. Change colors, chain 1.

Third, Single crochet in the first three half double crochets, chain three, single crochet in the same space, * single crochet in each of the next 10 half double crochets, chain 3, single crochet in the same space. Repeat from * until you get all the way around. Adjustments in the single crochets need to be made at the corners to ensure that the chain 3 loop is directly over the corner stitch and when you come to the end to ensure that the chain 3 loops appear to be evenly spaced. Slip stitch in the first chain 1, and finish off.

Adding a crocheted edge to washcloths not only looks nice, it keeps the edge of the wash cloth from fraying out and looking ragged. Lets face it, most washcloths that you buy are just serged around the edge and that serging thread begins to come out in just a few washings. After that the washcloth finds its way to the rag bag. Crocheting around them will extend the life of the washcloth considerably.

Crocheted edging

This is a simple crocheted edging that I use a lot. It looks similar to some my grandma used to put on things, but not exactly. Since I have never seen it listed in any magazine or crafting book, I don't know if it has a name or not, but I call them wagon wheels. My Grandma taught me to crochet when I was very young, but I didn't learn to read crochet patterns until I was in my late 30's, but I will try to explain how I do this.

I Crochet directly onto the item to be decorated, in this case it is a wash cloth. Make a slip knot and put it on your crochet hook. Start on any side and crochet by punching the crochet needle through the wash cloth and pulling the thread thru from the back to the front. Now you have two loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw thru the two loops on the hook. Go all the way around the wash cloth spacing evenly. In each corner point put three stitches in one space to make the turns. At the end, slip stitch in the first stitch made, chain one. Next row: * Skip one stitch, and double crochet in the next stitch. Chain one, double crochet in the same space as the first double crochet four times (in that stitch you should have 5 double crochets with a chain in between each one). Skip one stitch and single crochet in the next stitch. Single crochet in each of the next three stitches. Repeat from * all the way around the wash cloth with one exception being the corners. The single crochets might have to be adjusted on each side of the wagon wheel to center it directly on the corner, instead of 5 double crochet with a chain in between, put 7 double crochet with a chain in between. An adjustments with the single crochets might have to be made at the end of the row to make the wagon wheels look evenly spaced. Slip stitch in the first chain, change colors by making a slip not in the new color, chain one by pulling the new color thru the loop and dropping the first color. Cut the first color thread leaving a tail about 4 inches long. Next row: Single crochet in each stitch and each chain space. Slip stitch in the first chain. finish off.

I make these to be used as Guest Wash cloths in my front bathroom. The same edge could be used on napkins for special occasions, or around the bottom of a little girls dress.

Making a bow

The basket in the picture was made for a previous blog entitled Egg Basket.

Now to make a bow you will need about 4 yards of 3 inch wide wire edged ribbon, a twist tie, Utility scissors, fabric scissors, and a crochet hook (about a size H)




Measure off about 2 3/4 yards of ribbon. Then fold one end down about 7 inches. I just use my hand with my fingers spread out to get this 7 inch measurement but you can cut out a piece of cardboard that size if you have small hands. Wrap the ribbon loosely around and around until you come to the end (remove cardboard if you are using it) and it should look like the picture to the right.

With utility scissors, cut a V in both sides at the center point (the ribbon has wire in the edges and this will destroy fabric scissors). These V notches should go in 1/3 of the way, leaving 1/3 of the width uncut. If you cut it too deep, the loops will pull out when you begin shaping the bow.

Slide the twist tie under the bow in the center position and pull both ends of the tie up in the notches. Twist it securely causing the center of the bow to wrinkle up (at least two twist).

Now cut another piece of ribbon that is slightly longer than the diameter of your basket (in this case, I cut mine about a yard long). With fabric scissors, cut large v notches in both ends (make sure you are cutting only the fabric portion of the ribbon, and not the wire edge). This will be the bow tails.
Starting with one side of the bow, put your fingers in the loops with one hand and grasp the outer loop with the other hand. Put your fingers in the loop and pull and twist this loop separating it from the bunch. Then switch and pull and twist a loop to the other side. Go back and forth like that until all the loops on that end of the bow are done. Repeat on the other side.


Now manipulate the loops until you achieve the desired look.
Center tail piece on the back of ribbon and secure in place with one twist of the twist tie.

With the twist tie, attach the bow to the base of the basket handle on one side of the basket. Stick your crochet hook through the top wrap of fabric on the top of the basket edge about 1/3 of the distance between handles away from the base of the handle. Catch one of the tails with the hook and pull it through the fabric wrap. Go down another third and repeat. Then go to the other side and do the same thing. When pulling these tails through the fabric, don't pull them tight. They should have a loose, soft look to them.

On the other handle side of basket pull both tails through the same fabric wrap in opposite directions.

Finesse the bow one more time and you are done.

Egg basket

This egg basket was made using a plastic mayonnaise jar, scraps of fabric, and a wire hanger. I also used a knife, utility scissors, wire cutters, needle nose pliers, and a crochet hook with an eye on the end like they use for making rugs. The techniques used are weaving (of course) and macrame.







First, I cut the screw band off the top of the mayonnaise jar as close as possible leaving as much jar as I could. It does not matter if your cuts are perfectly straight.















Second, I used the utility scissors to cut the jar in parallel lines approximately 1/2 inch apart.


















Third, fan out the strips. The jar wants to maintain its shape, but it is too difficult to work with it like this. The best method I came up with is to push the strips down one by one while applying pressure at the base of the strip on the bottom of the jar with your other hand. Keep going around and pressing until the jar looks like the picture to the left.





Fourth, tear, or cut, fabric into strips about 2 inches wide. Working from the inside, slip a strip of fabric in between two of the plastic strips leaving a tail about 2 inches long on the out side of the jar.










Fifth, use the weaving technique going inside then outside as you move around the jar. I held the fabric strip with my right hand and with my left hand I pressed the plastic strips down, turned the base of the jar counterclockwise, and pulled the fabric in with the tips of my fingers.







1. cut slits in the end of both the one that is attached to the basket, and the one you are joining on. This slit should be about 3/4" long and no closer than 1/2" from the end.

2. Slip the end of the strip attached to the basket through the slit cut in the new piece.

3. Slip the other end of the new piece through the slip in the piece that is attached to the basket.

4. Pull the strip through the slit.


Pull tight on both strips (but not so tight that the fabric tears through). This makes a fast, easy joining that does not involve sewing, and is not nearly as bulky as a knot.

Continue weaving in and out til you reach about one inch from the top.







Sixth, secure the fabric strip in place with a pin so it won't unravel your work. Bend the plastic strips down over the last row of fabric. That means if the fabric strip is on the inside of the strip, bend plastic to the inside over the fabric strip, if the weave is to the outside, bend plastic to the outside covering fabric. Use needle nose pliers to pinch the fold of the plastic, then tuck the tail of the plastic under the fabric strip on the previous row.

Seventh, thread the tail end of the fabric strip through the eye of the rug hook needle (a bodkin or other elastic guide could also be used).Wrap the fabric strip over the top, covering the top of a plastic strip. Push needle through the basket between plastic strips under two rows of weaving and pull it tight. Work all the way around the basket in one direction, then reverse direction and wrap all the way around again in the same manor. This will insure the bent down portion to the plastic strips are secure and the basket won't come apart when weight is put in the basket.

Eighth, open up the coat hanger (mine is a red plastic covered hanger) and use wire cutters to cut it in half. Use needle nose pliers to turn down both ends. Tie two fabric strips together with a square knot leaving tails of about 6 inches. Slip knot under the bent down portion of one end of the wire. Use pliers to pinch the wire down. This will hold the knot securely. Use macrame technique to cover the wire.

Shape the handle, put the handle ends to the inside of basket and feed tails through the basket making sure that you go around one plastic strip. Tie securely with a square knot. weave tails in.

Decorate with ribbon bows if desired (I used hot glue to attach this bow). These baskets are a good projects for kids to help with. They can be made for Easter, or for other occasions. For instance, you could use red and green fabric and make Christmas baskets, use the person's favorite color and make baskets for Birthdays, or Mother's Day or just a thank you gift . If you fill the basket with cookies or some other goodies you make yourself it will make it all that much more special.