Spool Knitting

Project Gutenberg Spool Knitting

I’m browsing from time to time Project Gutenberg and found last time a book about spool knitting from 1909. They have mittens, bed shoes, a baby ball and much more, all made from I-cords.
It feels to me like a book from the 70th’s ;-))

Perhaps I do a little rummage to play with my knitting spool once more ;-)


Links:
Spool Knitting, by Mary A. McCormack

 

Bottlecap Pincushions

Bottlecap Pincushions

I really love those tiny pincushions, just like the Recycled Pincushion Ring.
Now I found a tutorial on how to make bottlecap pincushions – great!
A little Google research (websites and images) showed me that many people make such cute bottlecap pincushions.
Perhaps I will make one, too – one day? ;-)


Links:
Bottlecap Pincushions

Google search results for ‘bottlecap pincushion’
Google image search results for ‘bottlecap pincushion’

Here at unikatissima:
Recycled Pincushion Ring

Clothes From Crocheted Medaillons

Clothes From Crocheted Medaillons

Once I found the website of Jessica Tromp.
Hours later I regained consciousness ;-))

It is difficult to say, what I love best, but in the end I decided, that it must be the crochet patterns for/from square medaillons. But make sure to check all the other crochet patterns also (look for ‘crochet PATTERNS’ in the left navigation bar of her website).

Best of all, she designed a gazillion of clothes and each and every one for different women sizes!
In addition she offers basic woman measurement charts for clothing patterns.

I simply don’t find the right words for this site ;-))


Links:
Jessica Tromp:
Crochet patterns for/from square medaillons
Basic woman measurement charts for clothing patterns

YoYo Pin

YoYo Pin

I like yoyo’s, but only recently I tried to make one. And I find it cute.
It is made from shiny polyester fabric and embellished with a little crocheted flower and some embroidered beads (I hate to have polyester on my skin, but I like it for pins and the like, because it is so shiny).


Links:
Yoyo Projects (with explaining pictures)
How to make a Yoyo (with explaining pictures)

The links don’t work anymore, you can find the information here now:
Yoyo Projects (with explaining pictures)
How to make a Yoyo (with explaining pictures)

Stamped Appliqués

Stamped Appliques

Many of us have lots of beautiful stamps (some are self-carved, even from photos). Many have stamped not only on paper but also on fabric.
Nevertheless the idea of making stamped appliqués stroke me.

 

The tutorial is in German, but that is what she does in short:

  1. Stamp on fabric, best on smooth fabric on a rigid board.
  2. Heat set the colour by ironing the stamped fabric.
  3. To stabilize use iron-on backing or sew a zig-zag around.
  4. Cut the stamp close to it’s rim with good scissors (it’s called ‘narrow edged’ I think).

Great, isn’t it?


Links:
Making Appliqués with Stamps (German)

Here at unikatissima:
Eraser Stamps
Photo Stamps

Freeform Embroidery

Freeform Embroidery - Freeform Sticken

On the photo you see my idea of Freeform Embroidery which was highly inspired by ‘Rock Pool’ and ‘Laying It On The Line’.

I used a piece of old (but clean! ;-)) bedsheet as base. First I laid some worsted and funky yarns on it which I fixed with couching stitches (at the top of the photo). Then I stitched some french knots (light yellow on the photo). Below is my first attempt at ply-split braiding which I fixed with some couching stitches too.

It is one of my many UFOs (‘unfinished objects’), but one day I will come back to it ;-)


Links:
Inspirations: ‘Rock Pool’ / ‘Laying It On The Line’

English Embroidery Stitch Diagrams
Deutsche Stickstichbeschreibungen

Couching stitches (English)
Couching stitches (German)

French knots (English)
French knots (German)

Ply-split Braiding: a (very) short description and resources
PDF Ply-split tutorials by Peter Collingwood (scroll down)