Shrink plastic playtime

Do you remember the urban legend at school that you could put a crisp packet in the oven and it would shrink? I remember some girls wearing these miniature Skips and Space Raiders packets as badges, never sure whether to believe the production method, and always a little afraid it'd set something alight, I never had a go. Do you remember these? Were you one of those girls with a trendy mini crisps badge?

As those of you who follow me on Facebook will know, I've been playing with shrink plastic recently, I wanted to share my initial samples and what I've learnt so far with you.

The instructions on the packet stated that the plastic would shrink to 1/7 of its original size, just make the desired shape, colour if required and put on tin foil lined baking tray into 175degree oven for a couple of minutes. Well it really couldn't appear to be easier.. Why didn't I try that crisp packet trick all those years ago?

I started to play with my shape cutters, colouring pencils and hole punches to see what really does happen.

Here are my first experiments - this first block is really just a sampler. This started 2"x2" and I hoped it would shrink to 2cmx2cm. I coloured with pen (corner stripes) and pencil (tree and tent)

Secondly I used my butterfly punch to create 2 shapes. I coloured one with pencil and left the other plain.

Note how pale the colours are at this stage.

Off into the oven, this was a little scary as the shapes twist and curl they shrink

Here are the cooked and cooled items.

This is what I learnt -

1. The square did shrink to 2cmx2cm

2. The colours are so much more vivid - look at the butterfly and tent colours

I even tried the crisp packet but it didn't go too well!!!

Oh well, I'm looking forward to playing with this material more, think there are some really cool things which could be created...watch this space

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#imapiece - Installation live in Manchester

In January you may remember I mentioned the #imapiece work started by the Craftivist Collective in aid of Save the Children. The craft community, schools, group and any who heard the message were asked to create a jigsaw piece using a set template to with a poinient message. This is the jigsaw piece I created and submitted, the words are something I think about regularly in relation to my own little man. 

Over 600 jigsaw pieces were submitted (truely amazing) and on Friday 1st March they were carefully pinned together in Manchester's People's History Museum and shared with the world.

Doesn't it look amazing... (I can't spot my piece on the wall....am sure it is hiding somewhere)

(photo from Craftivist-Collective website)

The aim of the installation is to raise awareness of the global food crisis, with a special focus on child malnutrition. A great cause. I hope it makes a a step to making a change.

Read more from the Craftivist Collective and see more of there photos here

Its amazing what can be created when a talented bunch rally the craft world together and ask for support, I'm really pleased I was able to support this cause.

Crochet Ripple Blanket Tutorial

I'm not afraid to admit that Ripple Blankets used to scare me. They looked so complicated. How did you get the neat colourful lines to wave up and down so beautifully? I stuck to granny squares, those I had mastered and could practically whip up a square in my sleep.

 

I month or so ago I decided to rip off that bandaid and face my fear. It was time to take on the crochet ripple blanket.....I can't belief this use to scare me, it's so easy when you know how! So here I'm going to share the Ripple Blanket secret.

The Ripple Blanket uses 2 basic stitches - chain and treble, that's it!

The pattern is also simple once you are into a rhythm, my pattern uses 4 of the same stitches before moving on, let me explain.

Start with a chain, you will need a multiple of 14, as 14 stitches forms one "V"

I found it helpful to place a stitch marker on every 14th chain. It means when you are completing your first row of trebles you can make sure you are on the right track at every completion of a "V" rather than reaching the end of the row and realising you have gone wrong (I learnt this the hard way on a 200+ chain, uh,)

Now we are ready to start the trebles and form the "V" shape

The pattern starts at the top of the "V"

Chain 3 and then crochet a treble into the last stitch with a marker - this is the equivalent of 2 trebles

Now create the downwards slant by 1 treble into each of the next 4 stitches

We are now at the bottom of the "V" and need to decrease the stitches by crocheting 2 trebles together.

Do this twice

The upwards slant is a repeat of the downwards, 1 treble into the next 4 stitches - you can see the "V" starting to form

 

Back at the top of the "V" and at the end of the pattern. 2 trebles into the next chain.

The next stitch should be marked and is the start of the next 14 chains, start the pattern again with 2 trebles into the stitch

Continue to the end of your chain in the following rhythm

2 trebles into one stitch

1 treble into next 4 stitches

2 trebles together

2 trebles together

1 treble into next 4 stitches

2 trebles into one stitch

 

Don't be too concerned if you don't have a perfect wave at this stage, this will form over the next few rows, you can see in the picture below itch just one more row the "V" is more defined

Eventually your ripples will look like this.

 

I hope you can master the crochet ripple blanket pattern too, what craft do you have an unexplained fear about?

 

 

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Indoor gardens - terrarium

I've become a little obsessed with terrariums recently. These are mini gardens which can be grown in various vases, bottles or bubbles, the plants used are generally succulents (plants which retain water) or air plants which require very little care which is great for someone like me who has a rather disastrous track record with house plants.

 

This is my latest creation

This hanging terrarium has a large double flower Echeveria, really easy to put together.

Plant your succulent plant in some soil and spritz with water, then plant up your arrangement. Spritz with water 1-2 times a week depending on your home climate, sit back and enjoy, see easy

 

I have my eye on another bubble vase which I think will make a wonderful table centre terrarium so watch this space

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Why do we always want what we can't have?

So I've been without a sewing machine for a week. I've got crochet and embroidery projects on the go but every project I think of involves a sewing machine.

 

Grrrrr

 

Well I have a plan....

- evidently my mum has secret skills as a magic sewing machine fixer, she has only just revealed these skills to me, I wonder what else she can do??? So when I next see her in early March I will be providing coffee whilst she as a little tinker

- Plan B is to buy a new machine at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show, just booked my tickets. I'm off with a great friend for workshops, shopping and a good natter. Can't wait

 

Until then I'm going to have to stick to non-machine projects, quite frustrating

 

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Little Patchwork Scottie Dog

I remember seeing a cute patchwork Scottie Dog online ages ago when search for something I fail to recollect now. The simple idea has stayed in my mind ever since. This afternoon I decided to have a go at creating one. Armed with the off cuts of a patchwork play mat, a doodle of the end goal and a few hours free, set off.

 

I started really well cutting the pieces to size and laying them out as below.

 

I then went ahead and stitched these together. Now dearest reader you are smarter than me, I'm sure you have already picked up my error, yes I stitched the fabric just as in these 2 photos, yes I stitched 2 left sides! Doh...

After a little swearing and a few chocolate biscuits I started on the right side.

 

I was almost finished....just a few more lines and crash my sewing machine jammed. My machine is nothing too special, a Janome which can do most basic stitches well but nothing overly special. After much tinkering, a bit of poking with a screw driver and many more failed sewing attempts I have admitted defeat. My machine is broken.

So, I'm faced with a dilemma....to fix or to replace?

I can't imagine a fix would be cheaper than £50 and that's if I can even find somewhere that does machine repairs. But then how much are sewing machines these days? I'd want to get a decent machine, probably one with lots of functions I will never use.

Oh what to do??

And with Christmas and birthdays so far away it looks like this is coming out of my pocket :(

My little Patchwork Scottie Dog will have to wait until I have a working machine, he will live on the corner of my desk till then

 

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Ripple success

Just a quick check in, the whole house has been out if action for the last week or so. A horrid cold/flu thing, we've basically spent the week drinking lemsip and snuggling under duvets feeling sorry for ourselves.

 

Not much crafting has been going on. Although I'm pleased to tell you it looks like I may have mastered the pesky crochet ripple.... 18 rows in now :)

 

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