London.crafts wiki

I shall make this a not-blog with notes about what I did when.

13 February 2004

I am not quite so ill any longer, and am back at work. I de-knitted all my scarf (about 5 rows) because I kept messing up the moss stitch. I am going to re-think it, practise some swatches, and try again eventually.

I have made some more memory wire pieces, including one with gorgeous blue beads. I have offered to make lots of jewellery for people and post it to them, which might have been a bit silly of me. But I will manage! Long bugle beads on memory wire is a difficult but interesting combination. They need seed beads in between (in groups of about 6) to make the joins bendy enough. I might manage to take some pictures sometime.

1 February 2004

I am still rather ill. I have begun knitting - I have done the cast-on and first row of a 67-stitch-wide moss stitch scarf. I intend it to be about 30cm wide and as long as I can get it. I might need to buy more wool. Anyway, the plain panels will be 67st by 45 rows(c. 30cm by 15cm) and the sparkly bits will be 67st by 15 rows(c. 30cm by 5cm). Measurements are going by the sample information on the labels. It took me a long time to work out how to purl properly but I think I have it right now.

I have also made my first jewellery piece out of memory wire, now I have bought pliers to cut it with. I have made a necklace-sized circlet of black seed beads with a centrepiece of five light-green wire beads. These are 'ReadyWire' from Hobbycraft and they look really good. And they were only 24p a packet in the sale!

27 January 2004

I finished a chemise, a bodice, two skirts and an apron for me for the party on the 24th. For Robert I finished a cloak, a black surcoat and nearly-finished a red tunic - it had to be done up with safety pins. The decoration and trimmings did not get done, sadly, nor the Horn of Gondor, but we both looked good and I won the Best Costume prize. I think my wig had a lot to do with that, though. Today I am home ill. I might manage some knitting later.

19 January 2004

I went to Hobbycraft yesterday. I spent a lot of money.

I have made some cards with special paper and gold skeleton leaves - I'm going to use them to write my thankyou letters in.

I have also started netting another glass vase. I did a medium-sized one in two shades of blue for my mother for Christmas. Now I have a tiny cheap one I'm doing in black and pink, and it's going quite well. The design is more complex this time.

I haven't got much further on the Horn of Gondor, but I have made the chemise for my hobbit costume. I only have a week to make all of Rosie Cotton's and Boromir's costumes.

I have also bought new 4mm knitting needles and various gorgeous smoky-purple wools to make a scarf with. I am going to need assistance on this because I have not managed any proper knitting ever, really. It is going to be a big stripy scarf, though.

13 January 2004

I have begun making the Horn of Gondor out of cardboard and duct tape. It is jolly diffcult, but I will triumph. I have yet to get fabric for the clothes and I am worried about how long it will take - I've been ill, so I am behind.

I am also due to make more Shards costumes, but the next event we're attending isn't till April, so I have ages for that!

26 December 2003

I'm at home for Christmas so not doing any crafts - unless baking counts. I'm making gingerbread later today. I made pinwheel cookies last week but everyone else ate them before I got a chance to. I am going to a ROTK party on January 24th and have to make a Boromir costume and a Rosie Cotton hobbit costume for it. Argh. Not sure what to do about the feet. .

Was given fabric and blank craft cards for Christmas. Super family knows what I like :-)