Tag: Scrap Happy

Scrap Happy Christmas – French Knitting Christmas Cards

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Christmas, christmas knitting, Scrap Happy26 Comments

While I was rummaging through some of the girls old pencils that I’ve held onto (just in case) I happened up this…

20191114_15540700

I don’t remember them having one, but they must have.

I’ve never really liked French knitting. It’s fun, but what the heck do you do with all those knitted worms? Any sensible suggestions would still be most welcome.

20191114_15542300

I put the knitting dolly back in the bag of pencils, but my subconscious clearly didn’t forget about it, because when I thought about making some Christmas cards, I realised  worms knitted from scraps of yarn can make Christmas wreaths and candy canes.

20191114_15544300

20191114_15545500
I inserted florist wire into The candy cane to keep it bent.

Once the knitting and stitching was finished, I rummaged in my box of ribbons salvaged from Christmas crackers.

20191114_15551300

I also dug out a couple more ribbons salvaged from elsewhere, but I can’t remember where..

20191114_15560800

Tied them in bows…

20191114_15571400

And attached.

20191114_15581800

I printed Merry Christmas’s on some cream paper…

20191114_15563000

… cut them out and stuck them, along with the candy canes and wreaths, to card blanks.

Christmas Wreath Card

I even personalised some.

Candy Cane Christmas card

If you like the idea of using your scraps, click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list  below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in.  Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.

Kate,  Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

Scrap Happy Christmas – Tilda the Christmas Fairy

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Christmas, christmas knitting, Christmas knitting patterns, Knitting, Knitting patterns, Scrap Happy28 Comments

Last Christmas I use left over scraps of yarn to knit Lovely Youngest a Christmas fairy for a bit of a joke. However I was rather pleased with her and decided to write up the pattern. But having nearly finished, I got distracted and forgot about it – Yes, I know, you’ve heard that before.

Fast forward to a week ago when I was nearing the end of my current knitting project and decided to start writing up the pattern.

20191009_124557(0)

As I headed to my pattern folder, I happened upon several half written patterns. Looking through them I noticed that Tilda the Christmas Fairy only needed a few finishing touches.

So not only here is Tilda the Christmas Fairy knitted from scraps of double knitting. (The biggest scrap was about 20g of red for the body, legs and arms. The rest much smaller scraps and the dress and berries is a different red yarn.)

Tilda the Christmas Fairy - Copy

… here’s the pattern.

And while I’m here I’ll confess the kitting one Santa sack a day I mention in my last month’s Scrap Happy has got rather abandoned. Blame the sketching.

If you like the idea of using your scraps, click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list  below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in.  Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.

Kate,  Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

Scrap Happy Christmas – Santa Sacks

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Christmas, christmas knitting, Christmas knitting patterns, Knitting, Knitting patterns, Scrap Happy38 Comments

I hate to mention the C word so early, but when you’re crafting, I’m afraid it has to be done…

Those of you who’ve been reading my blog for quite a while might remember back in 2016 I challenged myself to design and knit one Santa sack a day from December 1st to the 24th and post each pattern daily.

Snowman Santa Sack

Not only did I (just about) keep up with the challenge, I tidied up my patterns after Christmas and published them as an ‘advent calendar’ pattern of 27 Santa sacks.

27 Knitted Santa Sacks

Every year since I’ve found myself knitting a few Santa sacks using scraps of yarn.

20171218_113547

These little Santa sack patterns have proved themselves extra usable, because  knitting with different plys of yarn gives different size Santa sacks with different uses.

IMG_1313

4ply

Approx 7g wool needed per sack

  • Advent calendar
  • Tree ornaments*
  • Christmas gift wrapping
  • Christmas bunting/garland*
  • Dolls house Santa sacks

Double knitting

Approx 10g wool needed per sack

  • Advent calendar
  • Hanging from mantel piece at Christmas*
  • Christmas gift wrapping
  • Christmas bunting/garland*
  • Filled with a few chocolate coins for school fund raising.

*If used decoratively, the Santa sacks will look best if they are stuffed lightly with toy stuffing. They can also be filled with herbs and spices to add a delightful Christmas scent to a room or popped inside a parcel.

Aran

Approx 20g wool needed per sack

  • Christmas gift wrapping
  • Hand warmer covers

Chunky and Super Chunky probably use more than you have in scrap amounts, but I confess I do have balls of yarn I’ve only used a small amount of, so maybe you do too. Plus most sacks use more than one colour and the amounts I’m quoting are total weight used for each sack.

Chunky

Approx 36g wool needed per sack

  • Christmas gift wrapping
  • Party favour bags

Super Chunky

Approx 65g wool needed per sack

  • Christmas gift wrapping
  • Christmas ‘stockings’
  • Small hot water bottle cover

Right now I’m setting off knitting nearly a whole set – challenging myself again to knit one a day. I’ll be posting them on Instagram. And while I’m thinking about Instagram if you don’t and you’d like to follow me on IG, you can find me @dartmooryarns.

Fair isle group

If you like the idea of using your scraps, click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list  below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in.  Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.

Kate,  Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

Belated Scrap Happy Sleeveless Top

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Scrap Happy24 Comments

Firstly a big apology for posting my August Scrap Happy a day late. I got confused and thought today was the 15th! Sorry!

It seems ages ago now – although it was really only a few weeks ago, the UK was experiencing a warm dry summer.

20190709_120715kk

Most summers I barely get out of my sweater, so I consequently don’t have an extensive collection of sleeveless tops. However with this year’s hot spell, I discovered myself in need of more sleeveless tops. Since I’ve decided to work on my rusty sewing skills, I decided to make a few.

I chose a pattern that didn’t look too taxing…

51nu+kUfZVL

I dug through my fabric stash and happened upon the remains of the double width fabric I brought for the back of my floral quilt….

20190814_144819kk

Eyeing them up, I wondered if there was enough for a sleeveless top. Then I made my first error: I washed the fabric and put it aside because I needed to finish my quilt for entry into our village produce show.

I didn’t finish the quilt until this week, when the weather had take a decided turn for the worse.

20190428_152153oo

Unperturbed I checked my fabric remains to find I was half an inch short.  But what’s half an inch in the length of a top? It’s not like I’m six foot tall and might possibly need to add length to the pattern – on hold on, yes I am.

After measuring various tops in my wardrobe, I decided I could stand the loss of half an inch.

20190814_152749kk

Having cut the fabric, I made my second error – I didn’t have any soft interfacing and, since this was a Scrap Happy project, I could hardly go buying new materials. So I used a medium I already had weight instead.

The project didn’t take long to complete.

It would have taken even less time if I hadn’t sew the back armhole faces to each other – twice!

Having put the facings on, it became quite clear I shouldn’t have used such thick interfacing – oh hold, I already knew that. I’d just chosen to ignore it.

I top stitched around the neck and the armholes in an attempt help it lie better and although it’s okay and wearable for around the house and dog walking, it’s definitely not my best work.

20190816_141400kk

Still, it’s free top made from scraps…

20190816_144215kk

And I reckon there’s still enough left over to make a second top slightly different sleeveless top – but maybe next year.

If you like the idea of using your scraps (of anything, not just fabric) click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list  below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in.  Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.

Kate,  Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

 

Scrap Happy June – Free Motion Embroidery Cards

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Scrap Happy, Sewing23 Comments

I love to send cards, but most, considering they’re just a piece of paper with a picture on, are expensive. Of course when we send a card is much more than a piece of paper with a picture – it’s a message of love, of thanks, of congratulations, a wish… and much much more.

To me cards are important and I’ve been meaning for ages to make my own freehand embroidery ones, but never quite found the time. But having recently had a ball quilting two quilts,  I was keen to do more scribbling on fabric. Fortuitously I’d also acquired a fair few fabric scraps from both quilts.

20190602_113636oo

I ironed a few scraps onto some Steam-a-seam…

20190515_161134oo
I particularly love this idea, because it finds a use for even the tiniest scraps of fabric.

…drew shapes on the fabric using templates made from a cereal packet, sugar paste cutters and a ruler…

20190602_115050(0)oo

… and cut the shapes out…

20190602_114939oo

 

I cut some squares and oblongs the right size for my cards from scraps of calico and beige fabric plus identical squares and oblongs from scarps of interfacing.20190602_115137oo

I then forgot to take a photo until after I’d

  1.  Fused the interfacing to the back of the calico/beige fabric.
  2. Written various greetings on the calico/beige fabric with the alphabet on my machine.
  3. Stuck the scrap fabric shapes in the right places on the calico/beige fabric.
  4. Scribbled over the scraps with my sewing machine – using straight stitch and with the feed dogs down.
  5. Glued them to the card.

But I’m sure you can imagine all that.

I was so pleased with them I also put some in cello covers on some to sell on my stall…

20190531_100800oo

If you like the idea of using your scraps (of anything, not just fabric) click on Kate or Gun(first two names in the list  below) and join us on the 15th of every month – or just those months you feel like joining in.  Here’s a list of both frequent and occasional Scraphappiers (?) if you want to see what everybody else is doing.

Kate,  Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn , Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

Scrap Happy – Baby Berry Hat

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Babies, Hats, Scrap Happy24 Comments

I’ve knitted a few Baby Berry hats for new arrivals and know I can easily whip one up in an evening – so when Lovely Littlest asked me to make one for one for her expectant friend I was more than happy to do so – especially since I thought I has enough scrap yarn from previous hats.

Unfortunately I didn’t. But then I remembered the left over yarn from this cardigan I made nearly three years ago for my great niece….

20160914_174627

I dug it out…

20190414_143101oo

And whisked up a scrap happy baby berry hat…

20190420_140635oo

I’m joining in this month with Kate & Gun’s monthly Scrap Happy Day where you too can use your scraps of fabric, yarn, paper, wood, anything to make something useful or lovely or both and show it off to the world.  You don’t have to join in every month, only when you have something to show.  Here’s a list of the other Scrap Happy participants should you want to visit their blogs:

Kate , Gun, Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan, Karen,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Claire, Jean, Johanna,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, and Pauline

Bekki

 

 

Scrap Happy – Golden Retriever Size Dog Bandana

On By Dartmoor YarnsIn Scrap Happy, Sewing, Uncategorized14 Comments

This month I thought I’d join in with Scrap Happy, because I’ve been using up scraps.

I’ve several scraps left over from lining project bags. I’ve also recently acquired a golden retriever. Put them together and the result is obvious…

20190315_083700xx
Okay, not quite obvious, a little hidden under his fluffy mane.

The bandanas I’ve made are reversible, measure approximately 25cm (9.5″) wide by 17cm (6.75″) long, and fit on the dog’s collar to reduce the possibility of them hanging themselves on it.

I started by making a suitable sized template from a cereal packet.

20190216_143134xx

If you fancy making one, the suitable size for a golden retriever/Labrador/setter size dog is:

  • Top straight edge: 27cm (10.5″)
  • Straight part of side at top*: 6cm (2.5″)
  • Top to point at bottom: 20cm (8″)

*The bandana fits a collar that is 4cm (1.5″) wide – increase this measurement if your dog has a wider collar.

I cut two pieces of fabric for each bandana. For each piece I pressed the straight part of both straight sides over by half an inch – wrong sides together – and sewed them down with two rows of stitching…

20190216_153152xx

I then pinned the two pieces together, right sides facing…

20190216_153338xx

I sewed half inch away from the edge across the top…

20190216_153602xx

….and half inch away from the diagonal edge of both sides, leaving the straight part at the top of the sides unsewn…

20190216_153740xx I turned the bandana out the right way and pressed it….

20190216_154424xx
One side

… and trimmed off any loose threads

20190216_154439xx
The other side

I then made several more…

20190227_160741xx
One side
20190227_160808xx
The other side

All I then needed to do was ask Harry to choose which one to wear and which side he wanted showing. I then threaded it on his collar. Et voila! A dog in a bandana…

20190315_083700xx
He’s not unhappy, just concentrating on the biscuit on top of my head.

Joining in this month with Kate & Gun’s monthly Scraphappy Day where you too can use your scraps of fabric, yarn, paper, wood, anything to make something useful or lovely or both and show it off to the world.  You don’t have to join in every month, only when you have something to show.  Details and a list of other participants’ scrappy endeavours over on Kate’s blog.

Until next time,

Bekki