What will today bring?

Good Morrow Jellybeans

You find me, on this dreary afternoon about to clean somebody elses vomit off the floor...if thats not love what is?!

Anyhoo, Im sick of hexagons for now. Im actually a little bit sick of wool in general,  which is dreadful really considering this is a blog dedicated to knitting and the like.

So today Im going to talk at you rather than too you - because I have a feeling your going to be bored out of your collective minds - about books! My other passion.

The project I am under going at the moment, for uni of course, is an 8000 word creative study on how authors engage their readers. And I just have to tell you about one of my favourite writers B.S Johnson, who wrote the book in a box. Only the first and last chapter are in place,  the rest you must navigate through yourself, you the reader are in the driving seat and I think that is just wonderful. Its also heartbreakingly beautiful and called The Unfortunates.

Also, if your like me, a little bit afriad to walk naked, bar a staff and a pointy hat into the world of fantasy but is mesmerized at a distance (preferably behind a big rock) then I have just the book. Its called the Dictionary of the Khazar. I wont even shame it with my explination, please just have a look.

Oh all right then, in keeping with this blogs theme I do have a little bit of advice for you. You can start sentances with and and but. Take it from someone who paid nine grand to learn that.

Bye bye munchkins x

sharing fun stuffs

Hey Jellybeans

Since going back to uni I havent had much time to create tutorials, but in the few spare moments I have Ive been researching and doing some mini projects to keep us all amused. So while I'm sitting here covered in hair dye, with 30 minutes to kill I thought we should have a bit of a catch up. So pop the kettle on, mines milk not sugar  ;)

After surfing Pinterest for a while (Emma Jenkins, look me up) I came across this lovely little fella.

How cute is he?! As soon as I saw him I was determined to make my own. Here's my version, I've named him Wally. 

as you can see I did not make a mouth for mine and I replaced the soft knot eyes for buttons. I think the origional looked great but I just fancied making it my own. Of course if you wanted to make your own Migi or Wally for a young child please do not use hard or easily removable eyes (such as buttons or beads) as they are a chocking hazard. This pattern is really fun and easy and great for anyone who is a beginner to amigurumi, as it basically one piece.

How clear are those pictures by the way? As well as updating to Insagram, I have finally got a new phone! The camera is brill, and I think I've worked out how to use it properly haha.

After making Wally the Whale the crochet bug has firmly taken root. So, I'll now be undertaking the slightly ambitious Lollo Bear. If you have not seen this bear follow this link to the creatures blog. 

http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/lollo-african-flower-bear-pattern-is.html

The creatures blog also has some really nice and interesting tips for crocheting in general, I'd definitely advise you check it out if your interested. 

Isn't it beautiful? This is the first pattern I have ever brought, as there are lots of lovely free ones out there, but I would say this pattern is definitely worth buying. The detail she includes she so helpful and succinct, it has really been a pleasure reading it. I'm very excited about this project, as I predict it will take me a while but making the individual hexagons will be something I can do when I get a spare moment, so I think a good project for when you want beautiful results but have not got much time.

This is my first patch. Although Im not sure if i should invert the the interior colours... what do you guys think? If you have an opinion I would be appreciate a comment or a message to let me know what you think. 

Last but not least I'm going to chuck in a shameless plug! If any of you out there are interested in gorgeous handmade jewelry, have a gander at  Owens Beadery . This is the Etsy page of a friend of mine, who hand crafts beaded jewelry at very reasonable prices! 

I mean, how lovely are those little trees?? She also has lovely necklaces and bracelets, and some nice Valentines day bits for anyone out there who has not found a present yet ;)

Hairs done now! 

Not bad right? So, with that I am off to finish the projects I have promised and try and get some uni work done! (I think I have my priories in the right order? hehe) 

Bye, bye Jellybeans, happy crafting! xxx

Evening Jellybeans.

After spending most of my evening feeling unwell and trying to concentrate on uni work I decided I would make myself feel a little bit better by doing some blogging. And better I am! After finding out that my views have gone up from 18 to 23!! Not a big achievement to some but I am chuffed. Regardless of whether you are 23 different people or just one big fan, this post is dedicated to you!

Anyhoo, this post marks the beginning of glove palooza! Where I am the cold does not seem to be going anywhere, so to keep warm you can stay inside and make gloves :D

First we'll start with a nice and easy knitted wrist warmer, perfect for beginner knitters. I knocked these up in a about a day, so a fun and easy way to spend a few free hours.

This is what you'll need. Yarn, thickness and colour of your choice, I'm using a soft lavender acrylic, easy to wash and durable which is great for gloves. I got this yarn for a present last Christmas, and I couldn't think of a project for it, so I'm really excited to be able to use it because its such a nice colour and really soft!  Anyways! (Don't get me started on wools and yarns). You'll need a pair of needles, I suggest using larger ones, I'm using 4 1/2 mm, because they give the gloves a chunky look, which I really like. You will also need something to stitch the work together and weave in the loose ends, I like to use a crochet hook, but you can also using a darning needle if you find that simpler. Oh and a diddy pair of scissors. Ok, lets rock and roll!

Cast on 34 sts 

Row 1: k 4, p 2 all the way to the end.

Row two: p 4, k 2 to end. 

Continue in this fashion until the work reaches the desired length. This envolves a lot of stopping and holding it against your hand. But the actual knitting part of it is pretty much as simple as that! 

This is what it will look like once it is at the length you want. The pattern creates a rib like paneled effect. Weave in all of the lose ends. 

Turn the work the wrong way, (it actually looks pretty nice on this side too!) fold it in half and position your hand on it, then along the edge mark with pins where your thumb is

Like so. 

Then, either crochet or darn the edges together either side of your thumb markers. Turn it inside out once again so its the right way. 

This is what it should look like.

And this is what it looks like on. Cute right? 

So cute in fact that I could not resist embellishing them a little bit. 

I originally planned to make just one of these for the purpose of demonstration, but I have fallen in love a little so the next one is on the needles as we speak. 

 I hope you found this helpful, my beautiful 23! The next glove post will be the next step up from these simple wrist warmers, so stay tuned. 

Casting on

Learn through doing

So once you get the hang of it knitting is quite easy, and at the moment it is all the rage! So there are lots of great video tutorials and patterns out there for free. As I previously mentioned in my first post, my nan taught me but if you have not got a nan handy and would like to take up the craft here are a few tips :)

First off, I am unable to upload a basic how to vid, this is partly because I do not have a good webcam and partly because I have a cold at the moment and my voice sounds like a Dalek... a snotty one. So if you arent sure on the basic steps look to this video. I did when I forgot how to make a certain stitch and nan was not about.

Although, I can give an alternative cast on method, that I find oodles easier. This is a family heirloom as it was invented by my great nan... apparently. I like to believe so.

I am using number 8 needles, 4mm. These are perfect for beginners as they are not small and fiddly but are not so chunky that you have trouble holding on to them.

Make a slip knot with a tail long enough to allow for the desired number of stitches. This usually involves a bit a guess work! But I'm sure there is a tried and tested method out there somewhere, when I find it I'll let you know. But at any rate, leave more then you think you should, just to make sure.

Thread your needle through the knot, and gently pull to tighten.

 Now, before I start this next step, do not laugh at the thumbs! They are very small and chubby, I know. In fact one is smaller than the other. Now that's out of the way... wrap the wool anti-clockwise around your thumb.





Insert the needle under the loop of wool around your thumb.Nice and easy. Don't get used to that! It starts to get a little bit tricky after this point.

 Make sure the long end of the wool is at the back (behind your thumb) and bring it forward, so it is in between your thumb and the needle.

 Using the needle, push the wool underneath the loop that is wrapped around your thumb. It will start to look as if you have a loop on your needle. This is not as complicated as it sounds. With a little bit of practices it'll be easy peasy.

 Now slip your thumb out, and you will be left with a lose looking knot underneath your loop and needle.

Simply pull both strands of wool, to tighten. And bing, bang, bosh! You have made your first stitch!







It does sound tricky, and there are lots of casting on methods out there that you can try. But, out of all of them I found this the easiest.

Happy stitching Jelly Beans!

First post!

First post!

Good Morning Jelly Beans! It is the first day of the new year, what better time to start a blog? As you have probably already seen my name is Emma and this blog will be dedicated to crafts. Over Christmas I had been staying with my nan, last year she taught me how to knit and this year she handed over to me her mothers knitting bag. Full of needles and other bits and bobs, most of which older than my nan herself but still in amazing condition! Although to many it would be considered a bag of old lady stuff, usually carted off to the charity shop, to me receiving them was not only helpful (as knitting equipment can be quite expensive) but was also a great honor, to be given something that has been handed down from generation to generation keeping a family tradition alive.

 By the time my great nan turned 19 (my age) she was pregnant with her third child, my nan. Throughout the war, rationing and being bombed out she had 7 children and made clothes for all. Make do and mend was not the gimmick it is today but a necessity. Which got me thinking, if she could do it, with all of the difficulties she faced, why cant we? We live in a throw away culture that we can not longer afford to maintain. As a student I have felt the pinch, as has everybody, so with that in mind I set up this blog, to try and sincerely bring back the make do and mend vibe!

Now I'm not saying we should abandon the high street and weave our own fabric (although if you do want to do that I say go for it!) but with a few handy hints, tips and tutorials I hope to save you all a bit of money, and hopefully you'll have a good time doing it.

If knitting sounds a little outdated for you, or you simply are not interested all things wooly, fear not, I'll also be sharing tips on sewing (such as hemming a skirt, fixing holes and sewing on buttons), crocheting (like making your own bed socks) and customizing old clothes. Also if anybody out there, if there is anybody, would like to share their own hints and tips or if you are passionate about another craft such as scrapbooking for example, then send me a message and I'd love to give you a forum.

Come one, come all to the DIY revolution!

lots of love, Em xxx