Unisex Baby Jacket

I used a pattern from my stash for this little baby jacket, but I made many changes along the way.

I changed the hook size, the yarn thickness, the measurements, the sleeve joins, the collar, the edgings, the tie and the joining method . I may as well have written a new pattern and just used the stitch effect I was after. It's a new born to 3 month old size. Not such a big item, but it did take a few days to make because of all the changes. Was it worth it? Well you can be the judge of that.

Rag Crochet with Flat Sheets Back On the Menu!

Some time's when you are feeling very low and upset it helps to get your mind off the bad things by re-visiting your favourite things.

Rag Crochet of late is one of those favourite things. I was flipping through some old crochet pattern books and happened to open one that was "crochet with fleece" when I found it! A no join method for flat sheets! What? I thought you could only do that with doona covers or when you had taken the time to sew up the sheet like a doona cover. In fact I have already tried it and it is twice as fast as using the doona covers, there is no prep work with sheets, they are flat and the majority do not have the thick edging that some times is a cause for a loss of valuable re-useable product.

The sheets are cheaper to buy second hand than the doona covers too!

Below is an image of the long and slow process of joining rag strips.

Below here, is an image of how to no join a flat piece af material.

The super speedy method.

Link to other no joining method.

Special thanks to Purple who put me on my road to the discovery of rag crochet.

Gold Toned Rag Bag

Mix these to gether and what do you get?

This Gold Toned Rag Bag.
The beads were threaded onto some welding wire and sewn into place on the rag bag handle to arch over the shoulder when carrying.
I just have to line the bag now.

Oh It's A Blue Loo

Who would have thought that I would write a post about a WC.

Well here I am doing it.

Hubby bought this out ragious loo seat for the guest loo, it completely ruined the colour scheme in there and I did not have a loo mat to match, so I made one, from rags of course.

The grand kids are going to love the Mr Sharky loo seat when they see it.

Above. The cutting of the rags process.

Below. The finished loo mat.

And below a view with lid open, you sit on the sharks razor sharp lower jaw.

Number 3 Daughter, Terrie Love's to Dance

I don't write much personal stuff in here, but I would like to share an achievement by my 3rd daughter( I have 5 daughters) Terrie.

She loves Street Latin Dancing, and just recently she achieved first place in street latin dancing, this was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Building about 3 weeks ago. She just received her pictures from the day and I am posting them here. I'm very proud of Terrie no matter what she does!

Rag Crochet and Stiffener

Ever tried to use a stiffener? Well I had never tried the process up until the past few weeks. The baskets I have made of late were in need of a stiffener, not only to shape them but to keep them in that particular form, I was aiming for ever.

Firstly I did dome research on line.

I read this article.

The only thing I had lots of on hand of at the time was sugar, so I used that method, 5 days later and not so sticky, they were dried.

Mmm, not as hard as I would have liked, I forgot to bring them in from out side and the night air gave them a slight limp, not the for ever I was aiming for.

Back to the drawing board, I rinsed the sugar solution from them (definately would not have lasted for ever) and dipped them into a new solution of PVA wood glue and water that was slightly heated on the stove. I had already found the perfect shaping tools (kitchen bowls) and once I had squeezed the excess mixture from the baskets, I put the shaping tools in place, made the finer adjustments then put them on big plastic trays (won't stick to them) and then out into the sunshine for a couple of days.

Hard as a rock and the drying time was halved.

The glue dries clear and the remaining glue from the squeezing process has been kept as I will try to re-use this for another project.

Once the baskets are fully completed I will post their pictures. I'm hoping for some lovely country decor'

Here is a very stiff hanging heart basket, it was dried whilst hanging from a nail.