Stitch and... get really confused.

I have attempted the art of tapestry. 

It actually turned out quite well. My housemate has since told me that it was a reallyyyy easy one.

This whole 'let's-make-everything-humanly-possible' thing all started when said housemate showed me some knitting.. 

I asked her to teach me to knit, and I was immediately hooked. HAHAHAHA. It's ok, I've got it out of the way now. I promise, no more.

 So I recently caught sight of a tapestry my housemate is working on. (a tapestry? some tapestry? suggestions please. tapestrying?) This is Holly's impressive difficult one...

I wanted to give it a try, my eventual goal is a nice big cushion cover, possibly for my Grandma's conservatory, I can just see it in there!

I ordered a nice little heart shaped starter kit from The Sewing Shack.

They do all sorts of kits for people who are just starting out, that are also really suitable for children.

You can browse and order here.

Here is how mine turned out..

I've got it stuck on the back of my door until I find a suitable frame or something for it.

I'm contemplating progressing to something slightly more difficult.. but I don't want to find out that this one was just a fluke!

The thing I found most difficult was keeping all the stitches the same way, especially when changing rows.

I don't think I did it exactly right, it looks awful on the back, I've probably cheated to make the front look good.

These kits make such fantastic gifts too, it came in a cute little bag with everything needed to make it packed neatly inside!

Happy stitching!

Bowtastic!

OK.

So, I'm a cheerleader on a competitive squad, Goldsmiths Felions, check it out.

As soon as I started cheerleading, I was introduced to the concept of the cheer bow, which I initially thought was faintly ridiculous.

I have since become rather obsessed cheerleading, and now LOVE cheer bows.

It is a LOT cheaper to try and make them yourself than buy them at competitions, so I thought I'd give it a go. 

These are a few that I have already made, but as soon as I get myself to the fabric shop and make some more, I'll upload a step-by-step blog. 

When I first started making them I was RUBBISH, I'm not saying I'm amazing now, but it's practice, practice, practice that makes you better!

Lily Flame...

I didn't plan to make a non-related post so soon, but I was sitting at my laptop, next to my lovely candle, and I had a sudden flash of inspiration!

Lily-Flame candles, made in Somerset, are just absolutely delicious. 

I'm on my third in only a few months, I burn it so much because it smells so good.

Some scented candles are seriously overrated, with barely a whiff of fragrance, but these are strong without being overpowering. 

 

I'm being girly at the moment with 'Blush - The first kiss of the night', but there all sorts, even 'cut grass'!

There are some nice festive, wintery ones too!

You can buy them online here.

They're also sold in lots of shops, you've probably seen them before without even realising. 

Definitely worth a try!

 

 

Kirstie's Homemade Home

You HAVE to watch this. Watching this makes me have the itchiest fingers, I want to make it as soon as I see it!

I love watching the trips to the antique fayres, everything has so much character and it makes me happy to see beautiful things being reused and loved all over again. 

Things don't even need to match, I actually think the clashier, the better, within reason obviously - it all ends up coming together with the things you make and add.

There's all kinds of things on there, from making a pewter vase (obviously rather specialist!) to simple cross stich that can be done in your own modest bedroom, with minimal equipment! My particular favourite is 'How to Knit a Tea Cosy' from Series 1!

Kirstie is trying many of these crafts for the first time, it's really refreshing to see someone making mistakes, there is hope yet.

It's on Tuesday at 8pm on Channel 4, but you can catch it on 4od if you miss it.

At this time of year, it's really worth watching the Christmas episodes, they make me feel so Christmassy!

IMAGE CREDIT: Channel 4

Serious basics.. making a pompom! :-)

I really am starting from the very beginning. I admit I did do a Textiles A level, but I have never touched any of these crafts, everything is a first. 

This is embarrassingly simple. I was deprived as a child of making pompoms at Brownies, I never knew it was so easy. This gives me hope that all is not lost! Even just making a pompom has inspired me, I technically have 30-ish% of a hat, right? It makes me want to make everything myself, the sense of achievement was ridiculously huge. If you also would like to own 30-ish% of a hat, read on.

Firstly cut two identical circles out of a cereal box, with a circle cut from the centre. Then cut through the circle into the centre, so you have a little gap. Like so..

I'm sorry I'm so very rubbish at explaining how to do things, but I promise I'll try and get better as I go along!

You can see a little v-shape cut out, which will help with the next step.

Put the end of your wool through the small inner hole and hold the tail down at the back.

Start looping the wool around the donut shape, the v-shape makes it much easier to get the wool through!

When the inner hole has disappeared, cut the wool away from the ball.

 This is the really fun bit, cut around the circle, between the two pieces of card, so you can pull them apart a little.

It should end up looking like this.

Then take a length of wool and tie a really, really tight knot between the two cardboard circles.

Then just pull the cardboard off and trim the pompom to your taste!

You can brush the wool with a wire brush so it's more of a fluff ball, which I think looks best. I just havent't acquired a wire brush at uni yet!

Sorry if this has been even remotely patronising, but I want to leave no stone unturned!

Happy pompoms!