Threading Beads Without A Sewing Needle

I recently made some granny tote bags which I wanted to decorate with some beads or shells.  However the problem was the sewing needle would not fit through the bead especially once the needle was threaded with the yarn.

So what to do...I tried pushing the soft thread through the bead but that did not work.

I had in my sewing box a reel of nylon fishing line.  Cut a piece around  5 - 6 inches or 15cm. Folded the piece of nylon thread  in half and pushed the 2 cut ends through the bead.  Then through the loop on the other side of the bead thread the piece of yarn and pull through.  Just like using a needle threader.

So easy & happy with the outcome :)

KNITTED CHENILLE COVERED WOODEN COAT HANGER

TUTORIAL

Materials:-

Craft wooden coat hanger

Piece of Craft wadding 16 x 2½ inches (6cm x 40.5cm)

Needle & thread or a sewing machine

Pins

Ribbon – 14 inches (35.5cm)

Plastic Coat Hanger Tubing – 5 inches (12.5cm)

Knitting Needles 5.0mm & 4.5mm

 I used the 5.0mm needles for the cast on & first row & the 23^rd row & the cast off row.  This gave me better tension edges as I was inclined to be too tight.

Knitting Row Counter – easy to loose count of the rows & hard to see because of the type of yarn being used.

1 Ball Sean Sheep Baby Chenille Yarn (Of course you will not use it all lots left for more covers)

Sewing Needle with large eye

Pattern:-

Using the  5.0 mm needles cast on 68 stitches.

Row 1

Slip first stitch (this method gives you straighter edges) work in garter stitch to end. Turn.

Row 2

Change to 4.5mm needle

Slip first stitch work in garter stitch to end. Turn.

Continue in garter stitch working a total of 22 rows.

Row 23

Change to 5.0 mm needles

Slip first stitch work in garter stitch to end. Turn.

Row 24

Do not slip first stitch as this is the casting off row….cast off.  Leave approx. 39½ inches (100cm) yarn before cutting.

A word about the tension

The label from the yarn recommends the tension.  However for this project I prefer to have a tighter overall tension.  My finished product ended up measuring 15½ inches (39cm) across & 3½ inches (9cm) down.

To make up

Fold the piece of wadding in half horizontally.  Pin & roughly tack first (important step to avoid one side stretching)  then sew using normal needle & thread the bottom & one side edge of the wadding leaving one end open.  This can be done by hand or on the sewing machine.  Slide the wooden part of the coat hanger inside the piece of wadding.  Close the open end.  Trim edges if you wish but not really necessary.   Also I did not turn the wadding inside out as it is inside the final product.

Fold the knitted rectangle in half horizontally inside out.   Pin & roughly tack first (important step to avoid one side stretching) then sew (over sew by hand) using the large needle leaving one end open. Turn right side out.  Slide over the top of the coat hanger that has been already covered with the wadding.  Sew the open end.

 Finishing touches

Push on the plastic tubing on the coat hanger hook.

Ty a ribbon bow with a matching colour.

All Done.😃

This pattern & instructions have been shared for free.  If you make some & share photos  on the Internet please add my link.  Thank you 😃 

                                     Chrissie Matthews

Floret Throw Rug

Floret Throw Rug

Materials:-

4 100g  Balls Panda Circus Yarn

2 Ball of 8 ply acrylic yarn in matching or contrasting colours

1 ball or scraps of ''Feathers'' or any type of fluffy acrylic yarn in 
   matching or contrasting colours

 4.00mm crochet hook

Instructions:-

I am using Australian crochet terms here however the instructions to do the floret stitch are in US terms.

Chain 123

How to do the floret stitch is found here:-

http://theunraveledmitten.com/2017/03/24/crochet-floret-stitch-tutorial/

I did approximately 150 rows.

Border:-

Treble (Aus) DC  evenly around the edges of the rug.  Work 2 trebles 1 chain 2 trebles in each corner.

Continue working in the floret stitch pattern for as many rows as desired (I did 5 rows all together).

To finish off I did a row on SC (UK) around the edge.

Note:-  To keep to the floret stitch in the border it is important to reverse the direction each 2^nd row to keep the pattern on the correct side.

Weave in the ends to finish.

New Adventure

Well I took the plunge and started up a Facebook page with photos of my creations.  Some are for sale.  Being disappointing I have not had any sales having posted in Facebook groups, Gumtree & Ebay so hoping that this may work better.  I have had some interest in what I do & 'likes' but would prefer sales as I have stock piled too much & love doing what I am doing!!  I would be lost without a crochet hook in my hand.

https://www.facebook.com/chrissiecraftiecapers52/

Square Call The Midwife Blanket

I saw a photo of this blanket on this  Facebook group:- https://www.facebook.com/groups/CrochetGate
from a member  Daniela Peixoto.

Daniela Peixoto's Blanket

I was so inspired by it that with her permission  I made one myself using Red Heart Soft Baby Steps yarn & a 5.00 mm crochet hook. There is no pattern to follow as such. I looked at the photos & work it out.  Just started of with a basic solid granny square 4 rounds...then work in the Call the midwife pattern around allowing for extra trebles (Australian terms)  in the corners.

So happy with the result :)

Knitted Chenille Shawl /Wrap

Materials

5mm knitting needles

Yarn – Seansheep Baby Chenille

2-3 balls Baby Chenille Gelati  Main colour (depending on tension or length desired)

 1 ball of Baby Chenille – Peppermint C1

1 ball of Baby Chenille – Lemon Pie  C2

1 ball of Baby Chenille – Rosey    C3

Method:-

Cast on 70 stitches with C1

C1

Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to C2

C 2

Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to C3

C 3

Work 10 rows in garter stitch change to main colour

Main colour

Continue in garter stitch to desired length repeat the contrast work at the end.

Change to contrast 3

C2

Work 10 rows of garter stitch change to C2

 C2

Work 10 rows of garter stitch change to C1

C1

Work 10 rows of garter stitch

Finish of neaten tuck in any ends.

Note:-  rather than knit into each beginning stitch of each row for a nicer edge slip the first stitch.

Easy Crochet Scarf

Last week my grandsons asked me to make them a scarf.  So I asked what their favourite colours were & this is what I came up with. It is a very quick growing project. The first one in the photo is inspired by Pokemon because he liked  red & black....the other one just based on the colours requested.

The pattern is as follows:-

Materials

8 ply acrylic yarns in colours of choice

5mm crochet hook

Method UK (Aussie terms used)

For a child's scarf  start by chain 251 or Adult 301

Single crochet into 2nd chain from the hook single crochet to the end off the chains chain 2 & turn

Single crochet into 2nd chain from the hook 1 chain skip 1 chain single crochet into next stitch 1 chain repeat across the row.

This forms the pattern known as linen stitch tutorial can be found here:-

http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/crochet-tutorials/crochet-linen-stitch/

Continue rows to desired width for a child or adult. i did 22 rows for a child & 26 rows for an adult...however this is a matter of choice depending if you want a skinny or wide scarf.

The last row I did single crochet across the whole row...the same as the starting row.

Finish off weave in any ends.  I did a little edge by picking up a slip stitch evenly across then single crochet across to give a neater edge.  Making sure I did it on the same side each end.

I added some embellishments but not essential plently of free crochet patterns for these on the internet.

I am not very experienced at writing out patterns so I hope you can follow it any questions feel free to contact me email  chrissy.matthews@gmail.com