amore's mansion

Completed Projects!!

2007-02-24T12:18:00.000Z

Hi there again,

My camera is recharged and bursting with pics...

First up is a pair of crochet socks with a folded cuff and button detail.

I used town and country sock yarn, but as the pattern required 150g I did the inside of the cuff in plain burgundy 4ply. Unfortunately my photography skills are very limited, I am only able to point and click and download, so the colours are not brilliant.

The buttons are tiny cats, from a pack designed for card making!

Next up is something I am very excited about. I even stood up at the knitting group I go to and made sure everyone was aware of it!!

The main colour yarn is 1kg of Rowan big wool, which was crocheted and felted. Then the embelishments are made of wool collected from charity shops, again crocheted and felted then cut out and appliqued on the base. The backing is black cotton "recycled" from a dress I knew I'd never wear again, which I secured with bondaweb. I bound the edge with cotton braid from "Che Boyes". I was planning to use it as a bedside rug, ie in the "Cat free zone!". However, it might be too precious and be displayed on the wall for all to see. hehehe

Next up are some toys I've made for some children in Nigeria. Two crocheted dogs and a knitted monkey.

Finally I've taken some pics of purchases from the harrogate show a few months ago. I want to make a needle felted wall hanging with a sea theme with them.

Ive bought 2 pieces of merino needle punch felt,

Spaced Dyed Merino Wool Roving - Herb Garden,

Space Dyed Tussah Silk, Stormy Skies

Space Dyed Roving, Seascape

Nylon Sparkle

Space Dyed Tussah Silk- Sea Green

Phew, what a marathon. I hope you've not got too bored of my show and tell.

Hopefully It wont take me so long to post next time.

amore

2007-02-23T11:34:00.000Z

I confess, I am a tardy blogger! Sorry :O(

I am doing to dust down my camera and get some pics of my recent projects....

Just as an appetiser I'll let you know some of the things to be shown, a felted crochet bedside rug, crochet socks with button detail cuffs, a knitted toy monkey.....

Just watch this space!

crochet socks

2006-10-24T23:49:00.000Z

Hi there

I cant believe how long it has been since I last posted.

I have completed my first pair of crochet socks, on my third attempt. I am so happy, and am proudly flaunting them to anyone who might be vaguely interested.

The true colour of them is on the top photo, as you can see my photo taking/editing skills are poor but I'm sure you can get an idea of how they look.

I have also booked to go to Skip North, in Haworth, next march. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with other creative people, and spending lots of money on yummy yarns. hehehe

But before that I will be going to the knit&stitch in Harrogate, I will most probably be very giddy that day - I wont know where to start.

2006-09-25T21:53:00.000Z

I've decided I quite like doing crochet.

I have finished the stole, without the tassles. I thought they would look too cowboy-like.

Having completed my first crochet project I was spurred on to try another. I looked through my patterns and chose a small shoulder bag in cotton.

I altered the pattern slightly and embelished the strap with ribbons and beads, and made a closure also with ribbon and beads.

It's lined with a pink,blue + lilac squared cotton fabric.

2006-09-13T10:04:00.000Z

Hi there

It's been ages since I posted as I've been gadding about.

Here's some pictures of a bag I made out of charity shop finds.

On one side its textured with purl stitches, the other side is the same colours but in stocking stitch. The yarns used are all 100% wool, collected from my trawls of charity shops. Some of them were very fine so I used three strands when needed. The lining material was from a 3m piece of the most gorgeously patterned fabric which was extortionately priced at 50p!!

2006-08-30T18:23:00.000Z

I've finished the plastic handbag.

I made it with one handle and a crocheted toggle 'n loop as a closure.

I am pleased with it, but I'm not sure if I will use it.

It doesn't feel as strong as I would like it to when I put a couple of things in it.

I need to see if there is any way of strenthening it.

Usually when I knit a bag I always line it and strengthen the strap/handle with fabric as knitting can be stretchy.

I thought I'd also show you another couple of pics of my gorgeous cat. :O)

2006-08-28T12:57:00.000Z

I decided I needed a short break from the stole, so I have started a project I've been thinking about for quite a while.

Its knitting with carrier bags!

I usually dont reuse carrier bags because I forget to take them with me when I go shopping. Although I sometimes use them for lining waste paper bins, many end up being thrown away.

One day I read in a book a suggestion of cutting a carrier bag into one long strip, and then knotting several strips together to make a ball of "yarn", for knitting. I thought this would be something I'd like to try sometime, and the idea was filed away in the recesses of my memory for several months.

I am using 8mm needles and about 1" thick strips. Initially I tried 1 row knit 1 row purl, but it seemed a bit gappy. So I tried all knit, which gives a nice even texture.

Can you guess which supermarkets bags I've used?

Im really please with the way it's knitting up. I am going to make a bag, with small handles.

Yesterday I went to Bridlington...

The weather was gorgeous, and I had a great time. I got the train and then walked to Sewerby Hall to see the Roman re-enactment and a classic car rally. Apparently there was going to be a jazz band aswell, but I never saw them.

I love going to Brid, I find it relaxing. Maybe because I've been there so many times it feels familiar and comforting.

2006-08-23T17:19:00.000Z

Hey there, I am shattered today. I went to the GYM!!! for the first time in years today.

I have decided that as I have a love affair with food The only solution to my vast belly is to attempt to exercise off more than I eat :O/

Does anyone know where there is a 24hr gym? hehehe

I know I will always be big, and I am ok with that. But it would be nice to be able to access a wider range of clothes, and not have to rely on "Fat lass" shops. I think also I would feel better in my self if I was a couple of sizes smaller.

2006-08-20T20:24:00.000Z

I was working at my friends cafe again today.

Unfortunately, despite our chat on wednesday, I have decided we are not suitable for working together. The cafe has proved to be far more work than either of us expected, and is very frantic and stressful. We initially thought our hours would be 10 til 2ish, however its ending up being 9 til 4 or 5.

My friend used to run a cafe with her daughter a few years ago and their brains are syncronised to work together as a well oiled machine. However, I dont have a crystal ball, and I'm unable to telepathically know what my friend wants me to do. With it being so busy she doesn't have enough time to explain what she wants and we both end up snapping at each other. :O(

Im glad I have decided what to do now, it has been quite stressful this week because I didn't want to let my friend down, especially with it being so hectic. But our friendship means alot, and I think it would be jeopardized if we continued to work together in those circumstances.

2006-08-17T19:36:00.000Z

I was wanting to post yesterday but I was absolutely shattered.

I've just started to help out at a cafe run by a friend, on a Wednesday and Sunday. What a day! I love my friend very much but working with her has proved to be quite difficult for both of us. I was quite weepy by the end of the day.

We had a frank chat though and we have agreed that I will have defined tasks and shortened hours. I think I have a very low opinion of myself, based on the things I struggle with. I seem to ignore/forget the things I am really good at, and base my feelings about myself on my failures/difficulties.

Anyway, enough of my navel gazing.

I want to show a picture of a bag I made a couple of moths ago. Its knitted in Irish Moss stitch with an aran weight yarn. I then used needle felting to make a decorative panel for the front of the bag, and also several smaller motifs for the strap. I lined the bag with a shiny purple/blue fabric and attached a chunky see-through plastic zip. I love using it as it holds lots for going on a day out, my favourite pass time.

I was thinking of going out for the day tomorrow, on the MoorsBus. But I think the weather is going to be a bit inclement :O( .

I went on holiday to Kirbymoorside a few weeks ago and had a great time. I loved visiting Thornton Le Dale, I spent a happy few hours there paddling in the trout stream by the thatched cottage, it's so idyllic. I am going to that area again though in September, I've booked to stay in a little village called Sinnington, between Kirbymoorside and Pickering.

I'll most probably end up doing jobs in the house.......boring! I blame my creative nature on my lack of house cleaning desire, there are always far more interesting things to do, and it always gets dirty again anyway.

Current Project

2006-08-15T20:20:00.000Z

My current project is a crocheted stole.
The yarn is Patons Fairytale baby soft. I got it half price in Hammonds sale. I love the colours, combined with the pattern, it has a really watery look.
It is my first project in crochet, and I'm just under half way through.

I usually knit, designing my own bags. I love colours and textures. Hello Mango goes to the same knitting group as me and she introduced me to needle felting. I have fell in love with the technique. Its a very eye catching way of adding colour and interest to a single colour knitted bag. I always like to line the bags I make, preferably using a vibrant lush fabric that links with the needle felting or main colour of the bag. I like to line because it makes the bag look more professional and it also stops the bag from stretching when in use. From experience I have also found that lining/backing the strap stops it from getting longer and longer! I'll upload some photos of bags I have made next time.

2006-08-15T19:53:00.000Z

I've just spend over an hour trying to figure out how to download some pics from my camera, I am such a techno phobe.

I only wanted to show a funny picture of my cat sitting on the toilet, not using it I hasten to meantion. She has bizarrely taken to sleeping on the toilet, despite having a perfectly comfortable bed!!

2006-08-13T10:08:00.000Z

Hi there, this is my first ever post, and I'm not really sure how things work yet.

I thought I would start by introducing you to the love in my life, my gorgeous cat who dribbles down her chin when she's being cuddled.