craftapalooza

it's called hexitis

Where you have this bizarre urge to cut bits of paper and then sew fabric around them and then attach them to each other and then again sew these to larger bits of fabric. Sound nuts, yep it is. What you're seeing below just a sampling of 1 inch hexes for a breakfast table runner for Sondra and I. Why? Because I can. Because I'm a hoarder of scraps and figured what the heck it'll only take 200 hexes.

Then, I was flicking through Rosalie Quinlan's "A Stitch In Time" and figured I'd give her Flower Garden quilt a crack. Yeah a bed size hex quilt. (I can hear you laughing!)

I use Gutermann quilting thread to sew the hexes and Thread Heaven thread conditioner to stop it from knotting. I like this method for sewing the hexes to the papers and I can't find the link for the method I use to sew them together. I don't use a whip stitch I do a brick stitch.

I have a new to me Japanese craft book on hexagons, ISBN 9784834764826 and I knew once I saw this I'd be giving it a crack in this lifetime! 

AND don't get me talking about pieced blocks that look like houses! This book is bloody awesome. Have you seen Kate's? And Maritza's? EDIT: AND Alissa's bloody cute block

  

Ok, well if you've hung around for that bunch of ramble, nicely done! Happy crafting.

crochet button cuffs

Hi! Sorry for the radio silence. I've not really had anything new to show you, until now! These are cuffs on the fly. Not finished, I need to add a button/s and loops for a closure, weave in ends etc. I'm liking them, some will be gifts and some for upcoming markets. I'll write up the pattern at some point, but those of you that know how to crochet here's the quick low down:

I'm using a 2.5mm hook and a mercerised cotton Millefili Fine, 5ply.

Row 1: Chain 45sts or enough to go just around your wrist, then insert hook into the 6th chain from hook and double crochet (DC) into each chain. At the end chain 2 and turn work.

Row 2:  Half double crochet (HDC) into the top of each of the DC row you've just done until the end. Chain 6 and turn.

Row 3: Then triple crochet (TC) into the top of each of the HDC row you've just done until the end. Chain 2 and turn.

Then repeat row 2 and then row 1. Leave a long tail and fasten off. At this point I haven't worked out the details for the loop for the closure, but again, if you crochet you can probably work this out.

My (meaning I don't know if it's UK, USA etc) double crochet: yarn over (YO) insert into chain, yarn over and pull loop through (3 loops on hook), YO and pull 2 loops off, YO and pull the last two loops through.

My half double crochet (HDC): yarn over then insert hook into DC stitch, YO again and pull through loop, 3 loops on hook. YO and pull through 3 loops.

My triple crochet (TC): yarn over, insert hook into HDC, YO again and pull through loop, 3 loops on hook. YO and pull through 1 loop, YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through final 2 loops.

Ok. Happy crafting!