UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion

How are you doing with your crochet Pat?

Just finished making a storage tote for my grandma's birthday. I used a magazine for the sizing, folding it to get the different edges and using a coutil with suedette for the outer material and a shiny lining. I even put compartments in it. Although it did rather remind me why I usually use patters. Not so much for the shape as for the instructions. I had to do a bunch of seems by hand and it takes forever!

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "How are you doing with your crochet Pat?"

Slowly Lynne, Life got in the way, hope to continue on next week. I'll let you know how I get on. I did make a start but had to leave it

Dymphna wrote: "A kimono style dressing gown sounds lovely, but a patchwork one sounds like a lot of work.

Are there any paper crafters here? I love working with paper. Making cards, evelopes, gift boxes etc."

I do some cardmaking and scrapbooking Dymphna!
Agree re the winner of the Sewing Bee. Well deserved!
I really enjoyed the series.
Almost finished the wedding ring cushion just one more round of lace to add.

Ooh, I do card making. Not so much since starting uni as its too much stuff to drag around but I still make the effort if its someone's birthday. I really need to get my reserves back up. I've nothing left suitable for a man. In fact I may be left with best of luck cards (seemed like a good idea at the time). I did some scrapbooking too but never regularly enough. Does anyone use do crafts. I get a newsletter every so often with project ideas and offers.

Today's free craft books

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Kindle cover
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Winter crafts
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Not free, but here is a book that fellow crocheters may like. It's been on my wish list for a while but has just dropped to 77p. Vintage afghan patterns.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009P7Q2KG...

Halfway up the first sleeve Lynne

Today's free craft books

Craft Interviews
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Needlepoint
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Wig making
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Leatherworking
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Halfway up the first sleeve Lynne"

Keep it up Pat, says she - cracking Gingerlily's whip. I did 2 large aran jumpers and burned out. I haven't got any craft on the go at the moment but I'm thinking about it ;o)

Back when I knitted a lot, one year I knitted 13 jumpers and cardigans, 5 of which were Aran. I never finished anything knitted since then except for a wooly hat! I have two jumpers half done but now they are too small anyway. #:-(

edit too for two

My mother was a wonderful knitter and my aunt, her sister, who lived next door knitted tests patterns for a wool company, so there was a lot of knitting going on all the time. I knitted my first big garment, a cardigan, when the fluorescent colours for socks were popular and it was shocking pink. My ma flatly refused to help as she said the colour was so bright it gave her bad eyes. When she got older she hardly did any knitting, and I couldn't understand it - I can now.

Today's free craft books

Jewelry making
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Decorations for baby showers
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Scrapbooking
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Gift baskets
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Oils
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Beaded curtain tie-backs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

wow, what a lot! thanks Karen. The scrapbooking one might be useful, and I've nabbed the gift basket one as again it might have some good ideas

Finished the wedding cushion and have posted a few photos on my profile,sorry I can't make the links.
The rings go around the silk lilies and then they can be removed as they aren't sewn in. When I look at them on the photo they look like something a topless dancer might wear! HeHe!

It is beautiful,very talented.,

http://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/5...

Here's a link for you Sarah. There's some beautiful work in that, you must be delighted with the result (and the happy couple will be too, I'm sure!)

Beautiful work Sarah

Beautiful, Sarah. And such a lovely verse.

At risk of sounding repetitive - it really is beautiful, Sarah. I'm sure that they will love it and something to treasure.

It is lovely (I see what you mean about the silk lilies)

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! I appreciate you making the link Rosemary!
The photo doesn't really show all the wee pearls, cream coloured stitching and the irradescent filament thread.
I wrapped it in tissue paper and put it in a gift bag to give my friend today but Holly found it and managed to rip the bow from the bag.Luckily I caught her before she started on the cushion!

Phew, thank goodness you caught her in time - what a frustrating tragedy that would have been!!!!

Today's free craft book (just one)

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

I have made this scarf and it's a nice pattern, looks better than the photo on the front which I don't think does it justice.

That is so pretty Karen,I have seen similar in the shops one had sequins sewn into it and another beads.
I do love a bit of bling!

You'd love Azerbaijan then, Sarah.

The clothes and shoes the women wear astound me. They define the word 'spangled'

Some interesting new ideas for crochet.... (hmmmnm)

http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/02/shell-s...

Today's free craft books

Wood puzzles
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Craft shows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

I do miss the diversity of cultural dress I enjoyed when we lived 'down south' Patti! I would love to see Azerbaijan :@(

Just one free craft book today, a crochet one that was free a few weeks ago.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

In my Spring 'Quilter' magazine, there's an article/photos of Lambani women (India) & their traditional designs. Stunning colours & embroidery. Because of their nomadic tradition, everything had to be portable so they'd embellish clothes, purses, bags etc. Wonderful patterns & applique. http://www.kushalakalasandur.com/

Beautiful! Those nose rings, although attractive, look uncomfortable!

Gorgeous Karen! The colours are so inspirational.

Talking of colourful textiles... Lady in the quilt shop mentioned there was a Kaffe Fassett exhibition on this year - just checked, and saw there's a big exhibition in the Textile museum in South London, which I won't be able to get to. But - yay - there's one on in Lampeter, mid Wales, until November. Will have to plot that on the holiday map.

I have a Kaffe Fassett tapestry book and never tire of looking at the photos of his work.

Today's free craft books

Scrapbooking
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Cross stitch
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Food gifts
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Today's free craft books

Knitting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Kindle cover
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Painting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Fleece
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Collage
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Today's free craft books (I think that both have been free before)

Quilting
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Scrapbooking
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Thanks Karen, have downloaded the collage one.

Today's free craft books (the email has come through much earlier than usual)

Macrame jewelry
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Kindle cover
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

My cardi has stalled again while I try and learn to do 3 chain flat braid on a baby blanket. Thought I had it right but it looked funny. Ripping it back I found I had done it incorrectly. Why do I do this to my self. going to run out of white wool doesn't help either. Struggled with it for to long yesterday now my thunb joint is playing up. Oh woe ...

I've finished my zig zag blankets (actually the pattern calls them ripple blankets but zig zag seems to have stuck in my mind)! Finished weaving in all the loose ends on my nephew's one this evening, have yet to weave in all the bits on my mother-in-law's one. Must take and post pics.

Now I've started a flower blanket for my neice. This is the pattern but instead of autumn colours I'm doing it in lots of different shades of pink and purple, her favourite colours.

http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/p...

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "My cardi has stalled again while I try and learn to do 3 chain flat braid on a baby blanket. Thought I had it right but it looked funny. Ripping it back I found I had done it incorrectly. Why do I ..."

Hold it, change of plan again. Popped into Chrownhill to buy some more white wool and called into Woodside charity shop with a few bit for them. Got asked if I could crochet? Yes, I say. Can you sew squares together? we have a bag of squares for rugs for the cats.
Well I couldn't say no could I. What I didn't know is every square has at least 12 'tails' to be stitched in before I can sew them together!

45 9" squares into 2 rugs. I may be awhile!

I hate stitching.

Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "Pat (Scorpio) wrote: "My cardi has stalled again while I try and learn to do 3 chain flat braid on a baby blanket. Thought I had it right but it looked funny. Ripping it back I found I had done it..."

Oh Pat, you are too kind for you own good! You deserve a medal!

Pat have you tried crocheting the squares together. I regularly 'stitch' knitwear like that. Just line the sides up and chain through the two pieces, either right sides together or from the right side downwards as a contrast - its a lovely neat join. Sympathy for the sore thumbs. X

Actually, I never sew squares together, I prefer to crochet them as well - much quicker, and you could crochet over those tails as you go...

Today's free craft books

Crochet
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Soap making
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0...

Showing some squares and tails and the three chain braid on the baby blanket

Will try crocheting around the squares, see how I go.

The baby blanket is gorgeous!

What messy crocheting they've given you to sort out! I didn't know cats bothered with blankets - our cat slept where ever he wanted, often on piles of clean laundry...

I can't believe someone handed in a bunch of squares in that condition! When you mentioned tails, I thought they'd left just the last one for sewing together - didn't realise they'd left all the ends loose! They just passed on a load of work to someone else, how lazy. Wonder what my mother-in-law will think if I give her her blanket with all the loose ends still out and tell her to weave them in herself.. It's like people giving dirty clothes to charity which they then expect the volunteers to wash and iron...