In Love With Pewter Work

This weekend was for SilverWorkCourse. This time YoungLady came with us so it was lovely weekend all together. He did this VikingKnit by using 0,3 size 999 SilverWire for it. YoungLady started similar project but didn't finish it yet. I did similar on 2015 by using 0,6 size 925 SterlingSilverWire. You can see they look different despite they are made by using the same method.

If you remember we traveled to Crete on the last June. At The Monastery of Arkadi I had an idea about it what I want to learn next in silver work.

It is ThePewterWork! This one is my second practicing work. This is not finished yet. I'll get back to it on the next December when we will have more silver work lessons.

This one is finished. They both are my own design bookmarks but I got a lot of advising help from the teacher and Him. I used tombac pieces to practice at first before getting on the real project I've planned... I had not planned to do any practicing -ha ha ha- but it was smart thing to do. So I designed these in five minutes to get started.

No words

AAW Cardigan No1

 This is not Ta-dah moment of finishing my own design AAW Cardigan No1. I finished it already in April 2017. All these months we've been waiting the autumn colors to arrive to make the pics of it for you to see! So, this is Ta-dah moment for the pics we finally made! And now also you can see my beautiful, romantic and vintage style cardigan.

It is made of our own AAW yarn (50% our own ethic produced arctic angora wool, 40% ethic produced FinnSheep wool, 10% nylon) and decorated by cables and long puffed sleeves.

On those moments when I start my mornings by cleaning the rabbit waste there seems to be no sense of having them and letting them jump around and mess up the rabbit house. But on the moments when I work with our own ethic produced angora yarn it all face its meaning and is really more than worth of it.

Swans & Foxes On Bag

Do you remember my own design free chart Swans and Foxes? Now I stitched the design on 16ct Navy Blue Aida. I used DMC Blanc for the swans and feathers, DMC 972 for the yellow parts, DMC 310 for black parts. The special touch I created by using DMC metallic thread E3843 for the water drops and DMC 51 for the foxes. DMC 51 is Variegated Burnt Orange and it really gives "seems like real" effect on the foxes despite only one shade is used. I am very happy with that result.

TheBag is also my own design. It is for DearT (!HappyBirthdayToYou!). I included some beading to be easier to use the zipper.

It has pretty lining which fabric is a bit nostalgic and from the pile I inherit from my grandmother years ago.

The bottom of the fabric has special but easy to do (and familiar from shopping bags) corners which make more space inside the bag.

AAW Shawl -tutorial

Well, hello there! How about HomeMade ChristmasGift? I designed and crocheted a shawl for MyDearFriend but decided to open the idea here for you as a tutorial. It is very easy despite it would be your 1st ever crocheting project.

If you have not crochet before or much, click the link to see BlanketNo1 -tutorial. There is a video about it how to crochet this web. See it first.

If you have done a bit before you can jump in right here.

I use pale fog blue AAW yarn for this project. Of course you don't have it but you can use any other yarn. 100g of AAW means 238 meters and I used 250 g for this shawl but at the end it all is up to the yarn and hook size you use.

It all begins with the idea that the width of the shawl is as wide as your arms. Then it will be big enough for an adult. So you crochet chain stitches at first, then one row of single stitches and then start the web itself.

You need to find the correct rhythm which means if you are going to make the wed to be fastened to every 3rd single stitch (like I did here) you need to make the chain stitch start width that is able to be divided by 3. BUT at the end if you miss one or two it is not so serious, no one will notice the result so don't stress about it.

Bigger thing is to understand how the web begins to form out. If you fasten it to every 3rd single stitch you need 3 chain stitches and then fasten it by one single stitch to the 3rd one. By using one extra stitch compared to single stitch amount forms out smaller eyed web and so the shawl turns out thicker. If you use 2-3 extra chains instead of 1  the web hole will be bigger. If you use similar amount of stitches you won't get much web at all.

Then you just keep on the rhythm. Don't fasten the single stitches to an individual chain stitch but to the loop that has form out. In that way the web turns out more flexible and forgiving if the finished shawl happens to get fastened to the door way or something else. At the turn ups you always just leave the last one untouched so the shawl begins to form out triangle shape.

You just keep on crocheting all the way from up (shoulder line) to down (waist line). On the begin it feels never ending story but soon each turn up seems to come faster.

At the end you need to see a bit how to do it to form out the last loop. Leave the thread end to be at least 20 cm. You can hide it now or later with the knots. See OOW BabyScarf No1 if you need some help to stretch your shawl a bit. (You don't need to wash it, just see how the weights are loaded.)

Then you need to cut the certain amount and length of yarn for the tassels. I have discovered DVD covers are perfect for these. If you use just the part of it you can use the slot that's on the side edge for your fingers to get it open easier. The scissors to cut the yarn fit in perfectly!

I use 3 threads which makes 6 when you tie up the knots in this way for the shawl's tassels.

Again it is long way to go but easy. Even a beginner can do it. By making the tassels I always take in to fasten the thread end so it is hidden easily

Ta-dah! Here it is! Finished, easy and for sure will be loved for many years! Easy, low budget (depends on the yarn you use) and HandMade gift! You can do it too, I am sure!

ReflectiveMittens

Shhh... This is TopSecret! Here are the mittens YoungLady will get on the NextChristmas. She used to have one pair years ago but they were so worn out that I needed to throw them away long time ago. Since that She's been missing them. Thy are very special because they reflect the light! So, when She is outside on our long dark winter the drivers see Her better when She wears these!

It is my own design but simply to do. I used RedHeart Reflective yarn. (85% acrylic, 15% polyester) (100g = 80m) You need 150g for M size mittens.

SnowFlake

If you have been following MyBlog for a while you know I have few bad habits. I destroy cards. But I do have MyExcuse and very good reason. I really do love, respect and value the cards MyStitchingFriends send me. I really appreciate the time they spent for doing so. I  save each card I get. I cherish them all but feel so sorry put aside the stitched ones after the season. That's why I have discovered to create a new life for them; to keep MyFriends far and away close to me by their crafts.

I received this fabulous beaded SnowFlake stitched on a card from DearFox. I was very touched by it and knew how to remember it always.

I used some felt, satin ribbons and BiasTape to turn it all out as a small bag. (There is a practical tutorial for HomeMade BiasTape.)

I need a loop to hang it. The loop can be fastened in the easy way with the BiasTape.

For what I make these bags? I made two on April 2016. I also stitched one this April. I have 4 bags already. I need 20 more which makes 24 all together. They are going to be MyAdventCalendar like He got His. Creating MyOwnOne seems to take time but that's ok. Meanwhile I can use His and eat His chocolate by accident. Oooops....

RagRug No2

RagRug No2 is finished. It is made of recycled materials (rags and old VHS tape). It is my own design.

It is about 1,8 meters long.

RagRug No1

RagRug No1 is finished. Well, it was finished a month ago. But now it is Off the Loom, all the knots have been made and it is ready for the duty.

It is 2,7 meters long. Only the warp is new. The weft is recycled material. I used rags and old VHS tape. It is my own design and I am pretty satisfied on the result and can not wait to get the front stairs be painted before putting this on!