Month: October 2008

Stash scarf

unikatissima Stash Scarf
Once I found a great blog entry where somebody showed how she’s working her stash and scrap yarns into a scarf. Unfortunately I don’t find the entry back ;-(

In principle she sorted her stash according to colours (her example was made in blues) and from each yarn she crocheted a long row, every row even in another crochet stitch.
I hope that the photos are a help.

 

unikatissima Stash Scarf I found the result so stunning that I made a birthday gift for a good friend from it ;-)

By the way, this can surely be done in knitting, too!?

 

Pattern Paper

unikatissima Pattern Paper

Links of entry

I found a tutorial on how to make cute, fast, self-made packages. They are self painted, respectively self stamped boxes like the recycled card pillow box I presented some time ago.
Concerning the stamping I even found an instruction on how to mass produce greeting cards (it is no real mass production, but she’s making a good many beautiful greeting cards ;-))

I had no reason yet to make this, but it is not soo long until Christmas ;-))
On the photo I already arranged my (for a good deal self carved) stamps ;-)


Links:
Decorating Boxes for Special Occasions
Pattern Paper & Mass Produced Cards

At unikatissima:
Recycled Card Pillow Box
Eraser Stamps

Paper pen decoration

unikatissima Pen Decoration

Links of entry

I found a blog entry with a very cute idea: a really nice paper decoration for pens.
She offers an image that you can download and print, then you cut the decorations out and glue them onto your pens.

The blog is in French and these are the relevant points:
Click onto the image to download the PDF file with the right mouse button.
Print the pictures onto fine paper.
Cut out the images and glue onto ypur pens.
Hint: Cut the white picture with the cherry blossoms inside of the green frame.
When sharpening the pen cut first a piece of the paper away with a sharp knife and then sharpen the pen carefully.


Links:
Paper pen decoration (French)

Ply-split

unikatissima Ply-split

Links of entry

Ply-split is a kind of weaving, but the multi-plied threads are woven through in place of over and under each other (ok, I understand, that this description isn’t very good, best take a look at the links below ;-))
In my entry Freeform Embroidery you can see at the bottom of the photo, too, how ply-split can look.

 

unikatissima Ply-split
The photos show my attempts at ply-splitting, you can get a muuuch better idea by browsing the Google image search.

 

unikatissima Ply-split
I once even tried to make a pendant with this technique, but it didn’t really work.
Anyhow I still like the combination of ply-split and beads.

 


Links:
Linda Hendrickson Tablet Weaving and Ply-Split Braiding: scroll down to ‘Ply-split braiding’
On the same site you can find articles about ply-splitting: click in the left navigational bar on ‘Links’, then click on ‘Ply-splitting’, then click on ‘Articles’, then you find 3 articles from Weaver’s

Ply-Splitting at weavershand: links to galleries, instructions and websites of ply-split artists

Gallery of star ornaments

Instruction: Ply-split darning Bookmark: click in the left navigational bar on ‘Ply split braiding’, then click on ‘Begin Braiding 2d Ply Split’

Instruction for a ply-split scarf as PDF (ca. 156 KB) – it looks to me that one have to have some experience with ply-splitting

Instruction for a beautiful snake – it looks to me that one have to have some experience with ply-splitting

Google image search result for ‘ply-split’

Needle felting with cookie cutters

unikatissima Cookie Cutter Needle Felting

Links of entry

Via craftzine I found a tutorial on how to felt a needle brooch using a cookie cutter.
She used flower cookie cutters, but now, where Christmas isn’t really far away any more, we can dig out the Christmas cookie cutters: stars, moons, Christmas trees, but also hearts etc.

I couldn’t try it yet, but I intend to. And if it works (what I’m assuming ;-)), I want to try to make my own ‘moulds’ from cardboard stripes.
I’m agog ;-)


Links:
How To Needle Felt a Flower Brooch
via craftzine – How to make a felted flower:

Freeform RAW

unikatissima Freeform RAW

Links of entry

I really love freeform (I know that I’m recurring, but I have to ;-))
Because of this and because I often find it difficult to know how to begin freeform items, I was glad to find the tutorial on how to make freeform RAW (Right Angle Weave) tutorial on how to make freeform RAW (Right Angle Weave).
I don’t work much with RAW, I don’t have any idea, why. On the photo you see one of the very few pieces I made with this technique.
Perhaps I should go about it once more ;-))


Links:
Freeform RAW
The original site doesn’t exist any more and is now available through webarchive: Freeform RAW

Google search result for ‘Right Angle Weave’: many tutorials
Google image search result for ‘Right Angle Weave’: lot of inspiration :)

Galathite (milk stone)

unikatissima Galathite Milk Stone Button

Links of entry

Once I heard that you can make your own plastic – I’ve been interested immediately ;-))
Further research showed the word ‘Galathite’ and a website with wonderful galathite jewelry.
Needless to say that I wanted to know how to make this myself and I found several tutorials (see links below).
The bottom line is to extract the casein from low fat(!), warm milk by dint of vinegar, to shape it and then let dry.
On the photo you see a button (my first try). I wouldn’t use it, because it can break a little too easily. If I had made it thicker, I think that it could be used.
I sanded and polished it which was very easy. It has a beautiful soft shine (which I couldn’t show unfortunately on the photo).
I didn’t really care about quantities while trying it but even so I’m satisfied with the result. It was also very fast: after about 15 Min. the button moulding blank was ready and could begin to dry.
Best to try it yourself ;-)


Links:
Galalithe: a French tutorial, that I show here, because I like the photos of the work steps best

At instructables:
Homemade Plastic
Make plastic out of milk

Jewelry from galathite

Antique Pattern Library

Irish Crochet Doily

Links of entry

Via allfreecrafts – Crochet Doilies in Imitation of Point Lace Work I found the Antique Pattern Library.
They looked for books where the copyright has expired (public domain) and scanned the instructions. Those scans are offered for free (under certain circumstances) as PDFs angeboten (Look out, some of them are quite large, but unfortunately they haven’t noted the size).

Have fun with crochet, knitting, tatting, netting, embroidery, needle lace, beading and other needlework patterns ;-)


Links:
Antique Pattern Library

allfreecrafts – Crochet Doilies in Imitation of Point Lace Work

Wikipedia entry: Public domain

Beaded Daisy Chains

unikatissima Beaded Daisy Chains

Links of entry

I found once a website with lots of beading instructions, amongst others several tutorials on how to make Daisy chains.
Take a look by yourself, there is so much to be learned and the results look so beautiful!

I haven’t beaded no Daisy chains yet, the only daisies I made where on a mezuza I once made.
But the Daisy chains look so delicate that I really want to try them one day.


Links:
At Eagle Spirit Designs UK: Beading instructions, e.g.
Daisy Band with 6 Petals
Daisy Band Arrow Head Weave
Daisy Band – 2 Coloured Stripe
But be sure to check out the other tutorials, too, they are great!

Wikipedia: Mezuza (english)