Ladder Rings

unikatissima Ladder Ring

Links of entry

I found the Ladder Rings where they added a link to the (free) instruction. But you have to register there and I don’t like this.
So I figured out how I would do it and that’s what I came up with (it may be that their instruction is completely different):

 

That’s what you do:
 

unikatissima Ladder Ring
You need two sizes of beads which are to be linked as seen in the diagram.
If you’re ready it doesn’t look very good because there are really gaps between the little beads as in the diagram.

 

unikatissima Ladder Ring
That’s why you pull the thread once more through all little beads – the ring is finished.

 

unikatissima Ladder Ring Caution: The second step tightens the ring considerably.
I made my first ring much too narrow because I didn’t know that it gets smaller in the second step.
Unfortunately I can’t say how much.

At the second try I did it differently: I repeated the first step until I thought that it should be enough, then I pulled the thread through the little beads on one side and tried if the ring fits.
It didn’t, so I pulled out the thread from the little beads, repeated the first step two more times and then it was right.


Links:
Ladder Rings

Wire Wrapped Pebble Pendant

unikatissima Wire Wrapped Pebble Pendant

Links of entry

I saw the instruction about how to make wire wrapped marble earrings and found it great.

But 1. I’d find real marbles too heavy in my ears and 2. I didn’t have any ;-)
So I took a pebble and wrapped it with the same technique with common anodised garden wire.
I think that it is suitable as jewelry only to a limited extent, because I think that the wire does not give a comfortable feeling on the skin. But on the other hand I can say that I can really recommend the instruction ;-))


Links:
Wire Wrapped Marble Earrings (Tutorial Wire wrap alla Kitica) – simply click the thumbnail

Here at unikatissima:
Entries concerning wire wrapping and/or marbles:
Wire Wrapped Ring – a wire ring
Wire Wrapped Hardware – a lot of stuff wrapped with wire
Bead Wrapping Technique – something similar to this
Fried Marbles – make marbles much more interesting
Glass Pebble Ring – a wire ring with an inserted glass pebble

Start an Embroidery

unikatissima Start an Embroidery

Links of entry

I just wanted to try ‘real’ embroidery (viz. not on paper ;-)) and had to find out how actually to begin and to end (on paper I simply glue on the threads but I thought that this must be done differently on fabric ;-)).

I found great instructions that helped a lot.

After my first experience with the v-neck of my t-shirt I think that I will embroider more often on fabric ;-)


Links:
Starting and Ending Threads

Here at unikatissima: Entries with the tags ’embroidery’ and ‘paper’

Furoshiki

unikatissima Furoshiki

Links of entry

Once when I took a look at instructables I found the instruction Paper, Plastic, or Furoshiki? which fascinated me: Japanese use since a long time a cloth to wrap all sorts of things, as well to transport as to decorate them. And the Japanese Minister for Environment created an initiative to reduce waste to propagate Furoshiki as an ecological wrapping.
When making a little research I found even more Furoshiki folding instructions.

 

unikatissima Furoshiki
On the photos I wrapped four apples in a dishcloth – I just didn’t have a bandana or an old pillow case ;-) at hand.
In principle the dish cloth can be used but the knots get too big and it’s simply not the real McCoy.
Wikipedia says that the ‘real’ Furoshiki cloth are from cottom, rayon, nylon, a fabric called ‘chirimen’ or silk, in either case they are thinner and thus better to be knotted.
Also the sizes seem to be of a great variety, sure, you’ve always something different to wrap ;-)

Anyhow, I will try this more often :)

When researching I found also a nice idea: to wrap a gift for someone into an interesting cloth and include a printout of the diagram of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment.
I like this ;-)


Links:
At instructables: Paper, Plastic, or Furoshiki?

Furoshiki Techniques

Wikipedia entry for ‘Furoshiki’ (English) (I haven’t found a German entry)

Initiative for waste reduction (‘Mottainai Furoshiki’) of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment
Furoshiki folding diagram of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment

Blog entry with the nice idea about wrapping a gift

Google search result for ‘Furoshiki’
Google image search result for ‘Furoshiki’

Patchwork Knitting Inspirations

patchworkstrickenundmehr Patchwork Knitting Inspirations

Links of entry

I find patchwork knitting somehow fascinating, now I found a photo album of sweaters and the like made in patchwork knitting photo album of sweaters and the like made in patchwork knitting, that really thrills me: they are so different and I find every piece interesting.
I think that they are very good arguments for patchwork knitting ;-)

There is even a sweater where the ‘middle’ of the patchwork square is a braid sweater where the ‘middle’ of the patchwork square is a braid, I have never seen this before.


Links:
Marion’s Picasa Web Album
The original site doesn’t exist any more, but I there are photos of Marion’s sweaters and the like made in patchwork knitting somewhere else.
via: Patchwork stricken und mehr (German)

Here at unikatissima concerning ‘patchwork knitting’:
Patchwork Knitting
Module Sock
What Can You Do With Filet Crochet/Cross Stitch Embroidery Charts?

Elastic Polymer Clay Bracelet

craftster Elastic Polymer Clay Bracelet

Links of entry

I found at craftster a fantastic instruction: how to make cute teapots from bulbs and polymer clay, how to make great candle holders from bulbs and polymer clay, how to make a genie lamp from bulbs and polymer clay (although she doesn’t say how to get a genie into the lamp ;-)) and how to make an elastic polymer clay bracelet from the left overs (ok, somewhen I had to come to the point ;-)).
Sheer lunacy! :)


Links:
Elastic Polymer Clay Bracelet (Trash to Treasure fun with lightbulbs!) – the instruction for the bracelet begins with the words ‘Ok, time for dessert.’

Kumihimo Flower Hair Pin

unikatissima Kumihimo Flower Hair Pin

Links of entry

I found a site with a cute Kumihimo flower hair pin that is made from a beautiful Japanese knot.

On the photo you can see my Kumihimo cord which I want to use to make such a Kumihimo flower but the cord isn’t finished, yet.
I think that I will embellish it later with some beads because the single-coloured cord will possibly look bland.


Links:
Kumihimo Flower Hair Pin
The instruction for it has two parts:
Knot tutorial part 1
Knot tutorial part 2

Here at unikatissima:
Entries with the tag ‘kumihimo’
The Treasure Knot

Curved Crease Origami

unikatissima Curved Crease Origami

Links of entry

Well, origami is wonderful, but I find some of the most fascinating items those with curved creases.
I tried a first, beautiful example – and as you can see on the picture I have to practice a lot.

But why not? ;-)

 


Links:
At The Institute For Figuring: Curved Crease Origami – You can find two PDF files there at the end

Here at unikatissima:
Other entries with links to The Institute For Figuring:
TED Talk: Nature, Crochet and Geometry
Beaded Hyperbolic Planes

Entries with the tag ‘origami’

DIY Photo Silhouette T-Shirt

inhabitots Customized Silhouette T-Shirt

Links of entry

I find the idea to make a photo of your children, to make a silhouette stencil from the photo and then to print it on a t-shirt great – but a too narrow approach ;-):
Why not making a t-shirt with your own name in Japanese?
Or using the silhouette of a well known building (i.e. the Eiffelturm)?
And why only on a t-shirt, why not on a linen bag, a greeting card or quite large on the wall?
And why as a stencil, why not simply as a self-cut stamp?
Or as fabric appliqué?

Well, I really must think about what else can be done this way ;-)
If you have a good idea I’d be happy if you commented about (if not, I’d be happy about a comment, too ;-)).


Links:
Make a Customized Silhouette T-Shirt Of Your Kids

via: Photo Silhouette Shirts

Here at unikatissima:
Eraser Stamps
Letter stencils
Stamped Appliqués
Your name in Japanese


Note: I wrote an entry about your name in Japanese but I rescheduled it thoughtlessly to another date because of the World Wide Knit in Public Day 2009 (WWKiP Day).
I’m sorry, it will still take some days (I don’t dare to reschedule everything again ;-().
Now I can offer you the right link to your name in Japanese ;-)
But there you can see it: all hand-made ;-))

Spaghetti Scrap Scarf

Circe Spaghetti Scrap Scarf With I-cords

Links of entry

Again something to use up your stash: the Spaghetti scrap scarf.

In fact it is nothing else than a lot of I-cords that are connected in different ways.
And I find that it looks great! ;-)
There is another Spaghetti scrap scarf, but you can best see how different they can look when checking the ravelry pattern (unfortunately with registering only).

I have already begun to knit I-cords but unfortunately I find it nothing but boring, so I doubt that I will ever make such a Spaghetti scrap scarf.
But who knows? ;-)


Links:
Spaghetti scrap scarf ‘recipe’ (Qui aime la pasta?) (French)
Another Spaghetti scrap scarf (Encore une écharpe avec des i-cords) (French)

First found at ravelry:
Spaghetti scrap scarf (with i-cords)

Here at unikatissima:
Entries with the tag ‘stash’