Nobody should have to follow those amazing animals that Vicky has designed and made for Virginia. But I have promises to keep and an exciting week to report on so I will soldier on.
Vicky and I went to Fibre East this weekend as lookers not sellers. I can thouroughly recommend Fibre East. Large enough to inspire with lots of yarn, tools for your craft and hands on demonstrations. But small enough that you don't end up with aching feet and that you can remember where you saw that beautiful yarn that you meant to go back for. Vicky has the pictures so I will leave the rest to her.
I got my first large pay for making the white bikini coverall and I bet you will never guess what I spent it on.
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A present for Graham for listening to me curse over the crochet.
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A present for Vicky because I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for her.
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And oh what a surprise a crochet magazine and some yarn for me!
By the magic of crochet this has already been turned into rabbits and a pig.
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picture 1
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flatten the purse and mark the edges with a contrasting yarn like this.
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Tie the marker yarn to the clasp as shown. Notice that one is tied above the hinge and one below.
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Sew in the first side. This is a bit tricky the first few times you try it. I just use every other hole to hold the purse in place and then I go back and stitch it properly.
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Sew in the other side and remove the marker yarns.
Note as you sew you need to angle the needle.
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Vicky and I went to Fibre East this weekend as lookers not sellers. I can thouroughly recommend Fibre East. Large enough to inspire with lots of yarn, tools for your craft and hands on demonstrations. But small enough that you don't end up with aching feet and that you can remember where you saw that beautiful yarn that you meant to go back for. Vicky has the pictures so I will leave the rest to her.
I got my first large pay for making the white bikini coverall and I bet you will never guess what I spent it on.
And oh what a surprise a crochet magazine and some yarn for me!By the magic of crochet this has already been turned into rabbits and a pig.
HOW TO MAKE A TINY PURSE (as promised)
You will need a 3.00 mm hook, a purse clasp this one is about 4.5cm from hinge to hinge, some dk yarn, I used a skein of sparkly embroidery thread because you can split it when it comes to sewing the purse clip to your crochet. A needle that will take the yarn but also pass through the holes in the purse clasp.
picture 1 |
| picture 2 |
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| picture 3 |
The pattern is worked amigurumi style so just keep going in a spiral, there is no need to join one row to the next with a ss.
Pattern
1. work 8dc. into a magic circle.
2. work 2dc in each stitch around (16 stitches )
3. (1dc in next stitch and then 2dc in next) repeat this 7 more times (24 stitches)
4. (1dc in each of next 2 stitches and then 2dc in next) repeat this 7 more times (32 stitches)
At this point you can adjust the pattern to fit bigger purse clasps by making more increase rows until the circle is about (a bit smaller is better than a bit bigger) the size of your clasp when opened out as in picture 2. To make the circle bigger just increase the number shown in pink by one in each round.
5. work 8 rounds of 1dc. in each stitch (you will need more for a bigger purse ) fasten off and weave in the ends.
Assembling the purse.
flatten the purse and mark the edges with a contrasting yarn like this.
First (using only 2 strands of the embroidery thread) join the thread to the crochet using a couple of little stitches. make sure this is on the inside near to one of the marker yarns.
Now push the edge of the crochet into the slot of the clasp you may need to squash it together or stretch it a bit. It just depends on your tension.
Sew in the first side. This is a bit tricky the first few times you try it. I just use every other hole to hold the purse in place and then I go back and stitch it properly.
Note as you sew you need to angle the needle.
Finally put your fingers inside the purse to push it into shape and at last your purse is ready to fill with wealth beyond the dreams of avarice!
Any questions about this please ask and if you make one please show us the results.
Lynn.