Crafts | Sewchet

May 25, 2018
by sewchet 10 Comments

Crocheted and beaded necklace tutorial

In my last post I showed you the necklace that I made to go with the top I had just finished, to add a bit of colour to the neckline.

It was quick and easy to do, so I decided to make a whole bunch more for the school to sell at their Summer fair – and here they are!

The lovely folk on Instagram said that a tutorial would be nice, so here goes….

For each necklace you will need one skein of embroidery floss. I bought this packet of 30 for just £3.00 from The Works which, as most of the beads were rescued from broken jewellery, works out at only 10p each – perfect for the school fair, or any fundraising event.

I chose beads ranging from natural wooden ones to lace covered pearlescent ones.

For the necklace itself you will need a 2.5mm crochet hook.

Simply crochet a chain to your desired length then fasten off.

Tie the threads together in a double knot to complete the circle.

Weave in the ends through a few chains and trim neatly.

Using all the remaining floss, wrap it continuously around three fingers, leaving a tail of about 12″.

Take a 5.50mm crochet hook….

….and pass the handle through the loops as shown.

Using the 12″ tail, wind the floss tightly, close to the crochet hook.

Secure the floss with a knot.

Cut through the bottom loops to form your tassel.

Leave the crochet hook in place for now.

Thread a needle with about 10″ of matching thread.

Take your beads and, starting at the bottom, pass the needle up through all the beads, around the crocheted chain and back down through all the beads.

Push the beads up tight to the crocheted chain. Both ends of the floss should be hanging down from the bottom bead at this point.

Pass your needle through the top loops that are still on your crochet hook.

Tie the ends together securely.

Hide the ends by passing the needle through the wrapped section and trim to the length of the tassel.

And that’s it!

These are some of the other ones I made.

I think the girls at the school fair will have no problem parting with their pocket money for one of these.

April 13, 2018
by sewchet 28 Comments

Handmade Birthday Presents

It was my sister’s birthday on Monday and she had previously dropped a heavy hint for some more fingerless gloves, as hers (also made by me) had seen better days.

You may remember the knee length socks I made her for Christmas…..

….well, I had enough left over wool to make a matching pair of fingerless gloves – so I did!

I had also been inspired by some handbag charms by Tamsyn G on Instagram.

I absolutely love these and decided to use up some bits and bobs to make one for my sister. It was a totally organic process with no plan whatsoever, and this is what I ended up with.

Where Tamsyn G makes her own buttons, I used one from my button box.

The large end bead is from a broken necklace.

This fabulous ‘safety’ pin was in my Stitching Santa parcel, as was the ‘handmade’ tab.

Some hand embroidery on the surface adds extra texture.

Here it is on my bag, to give a sense of scale.

And here they both are on my sister/bag:)

I know, it’s utterly pointless but, as pointless things go, it’s bright and cheerful and I wouldn’t mind one on my bag, so I may cave in to the urge to make another.

April 9, 2018
by sewchet 11 Comments

Sunday Sevens #158

Linking up with Natalie at Threads & Bobbins for another Sunday Sevens…..

1. Week two of the Easter holidays started with us taking The Boys out to Hauser & Wirth in Bruton. No.2 Son looks bored, but he assures me he was just concentrating on the art commentary.

2. Afterwards in the bar…..serves me right for asking them for a nice photo for the blog!

3. We spent a day clearing some 8ft high undergrowth, helped by some appropriate refreshment.

4. A good day’s work!

5. Found this little nest amongst the brambles – don’t worry, it wasn’t currently in use.

6. Just a cute pic of my boy and a spoiled Tess!

7. There’s nothing like a bone to help you get your appetite back.

8. We have been fully booked for seven out of the last nine days with three different lots of guests, each booking both rooms. Our last guests were celebrating a birthday and were over from Belgium, so we surprised them with a traditional English cream tea – homemade, of course! They were delighted:)

9. After the rooms were cleaned and the washing was on, I sat down for the first time in what felt like days and had my own private cream tea whilst The Boys were at football.

10. Then it was back to our normal healthy eating.

11. The Boys enjoyed their second knit ‘n’ natter and can’t wait until half term when they can go again.

12. No.2 Son (in his new hat) bought some new yarn and has started making himself another crocheted blanket, this time in a more pre-teen colourway of blue and grey. Meanwhile, his little brother had picked up his blanket again after a long break.

13. She doesn’t read my blog, so I can show you the fingerless gloves I made for my sister’s birthday today. They match the socks I made her for Christmas with those see-through wellies. Free pattern is here.

14. This little knitted outfit was finished for the doll I’m dressing for the school fair in June.

15. Cardigan, hat, leg warmers and fingerless gloves, a paid for pattern by Knitting Nanny-Mo on Etsy.

16. Isn’t it cute?

17. I shall leave you with one very happy clucking hen!!

March 30, 2018
by sewchet 35 Comments

Patchwork Quilt Made From Old Tea Towels And Pillowcases

Every year the school holds a Summer fair to raise funds for the PTFA and I make various things for them to sell or raffle, often at the last minute, so I’m feeling a little bit smug that I’ve already started this year – and it’s not until June!

In three mammoth jam-making sessions I managed to make 42 jars of Blackberry and Apple jam, 25 of which are being donated for the school fair.

Last year there was a ‘Horsington’s Got Talent’ stall, whereby parents and pupils make all manner of crafty things to sell, and for which I made lots of things. It was a huge success, selling out completely apparently, so the Committee have put out another request for handmade items.

As I inevitably end up spending quite a bit of money on things I make like sugar and lemons for the jam, all the ingredients for 50 scones and cakes for the cake stall, I try to make the crafty items out of things I can source for free or that I already have in my supplies.

Like this pile of (freshly laundered) pillowcases and tea towels, all surplus to requirements and acquired from several different people who know I can’t say no to gifts of leftover/unwanted fabrics.

I don’t know what you see when you look at this mix but, add in a bit of vintage lace trim and it screams “Patchwork quilt” to me. No? Well, that’s how my mind works, anyway:)

The very word ‘vintage’ conjures up images of faded florals and linens, so I picked out the remaining old Ikea pillowcases (some of which had been cut up to make hats for the jars of jam) and 3 or 4 neutral tea towels which would work nicely.

My Olfa quilting set made short work of cutting out the 48 6″ squares needed to make a quilt just large enough for a single bed.

I laid them all out on the floor and fiddled around until I was happy with the arrangement.

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All seams were stitched with 1/4″ seam allowance and pressed as each strip was completed.

This is the finished quilt top.

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For the backing, I had to piece together bits of wadding and leftover curtain lining to make up the size I needed.

With right sides facing, lay the lining on the quilt top, then the wadding on top again.

I stitched around all four sides, leaving a gap through which to turn the quilt. Then the lace trim was sewn to the edge.

Finally I added a little “Sewchet” label.

I may go back and add a bit of hand quilting if I get time, but it actually doesn’t need it.

It’s just the right size to be a comforter on a single bed, or would make a cosy lap blanket for the sofa.

It took me six hours yesterday to make, so the fact that it will probably be sold for about a fiver has to be put to the back of my mind – but at least the fabric was free!

February 16, 2018
by sewchet 50 Comments

Beaded Crochet Wine Glass Covers

Going through my photos, I realised I hadn’t shared this Christmas present that I made for my Aunt in Spain.

The outdoor lifestyle means that flies are at risk of getting into your sangria at any time and that will never do! My Aunt already makes use of this type of thing, although only offcuts of net mesh with a few large, heavy beads attached to weigh the doily down, so I thought I’d make her some proper crocheted ones, much more delicate and artisan in feel.

I bought these two online from Etsy or Folksy a few years ago but, try as I did, I couldn’t find the original source, so decided to have a go at deciphering the pattern in order to replicate them.

I already had some #8 cotton, which coincidentally was bought on a previous visit to Spain, and some blue and red 5mm beads.

I used a 2.5mm crochet hook but will try a 2.75 or 3mm hook next time, as they came up about 1cm smaller in diameter with a denser stitch making them ever so slightly less drapy than my own.

The beads are threaded onto the cotton at the very beginning and only incorporated into the crochet on the last round.

Here are the finished doilies which are a near identical match to mine.

I made His ‘n’ Hers versions; one with red beads and the other with blue beads so that they can tell their drinks apart.

I think I’m going to have to make another two with different coloured beads for when we visit – I can always leave them there as a little ‘thank you’ gift.

If anyone is interested in the pattern, let me know and I’ll write it up – it’s just a series of scruffy notes at the moment!

October 18, 2017
by sewchet 22 Comments

Simplicity 1238

Simplicity 1238
Meet Ellie, the star of this month’s blog post for the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network.

She has this rather splendid suitcase home complete with a whole wardrobe full of clothes.

Simplicity 1238
To see lots more photos of how it all came together, click on the link: – Ellie The Elephant And Her Suitcase Home

October 7, 2017
by sewchet 72 Comments

#stitchingsanta 2017!

The last three year’s #stitchingsantas were such a roaring success, that I promised to do it all again this year and the time has come to sign up!

It’s a Secret Santa with a difference aimed at all the like-minded crafty folk here on the internet – YOU!

Whether you’re one of the lucky few whose family know and understand you so well that you receive endless perfect gifts based on your love of sewing/crochet/knitting or, like me, your wish list is met with a “What do you want one of those for….what is it anyway?” – #stitchingsanta is for you.

Can you imagine unwrapping a gorgeous skein of wool, a perfect metre of fabric, some vintage buttons or some embroidery silks? Perhaps a little handmade gift has been popped in the parcel too? All lovingly thought out with your interests in mind and guaranteed to be under your tree on Christmas morning. What a treat!

There are TWO categories to choose from – you can enter both or just one but PLEASE state your preference in your email. Choose from “Sewing” or “Crochet/Knitting”.

The idea is simple: if you would like to take part, comment below by the deadline of 31st October and I’ll send you the details of your lucky recipient.

You may already know this person as a follower of their blog but, if not, have a good look around their blog and try to put together some gifts that they would really appreciate. See my experience of previous #stichingsantas for what to expect: –

Gifted to my Secret Santa recipient 2014

Gifted to my #stitchingsanta recipient 2015

Gifted to my sewing #stitchingsanta 2016

Gifted to my yarn #stitchingsanta 2016

Received from my Secret Santa 2014

Blogging about Secret Santa 2014

Blogging about #stitchingsanta 2015

Received from my #stitchingsanta 2015

Received from my yarn #stitchingsanta 2016

Recieved from my sewing #stitchingsanta 2016

I will update this page with details of the blogs that are taking part so why not follow along and make some new blogging buddies!

How To Enter: –

You can enter from anywhere in the world but I will try to match countries in order to keep postage costs down.
State which swap(s) you would like to enter and send your email address, blog site and postal address to me at info@sewchet.com by midnight on 31st October 2017.
I’ll email you the details of your recipient by 7th November.
Spend a maximum of £10 (€13, $15US, $20AUS) excluding postage.
Blog about your #stitchingsanta (linking back to this post) and share using the hash tag on social media.
Post your parcel in time for Christmas – check last posting dates well in advance!! International dates are much earlier in December.

UK Inland: –

last post

I hope lots of you join in – don’t forget to share, share, SHARE with your own followers, the more the merrier, HOW exciting!

Here’s who has signed up so far: –

sewchet (that’s me!)

The Crafty Creek

Squirrels Knitting Conquests

Mad About Bags

The Tialys

Mollie And Claire

Power Tools With Thread

The Contented Crafter

Appleby Makes

Wendy Wendal – IG: @wendywendal

The Small Sewing Room

Thimberlina

Sewing Nikki

Jo – Through The Keyhole

Let The Sewing Begin

Jana Kaiser – IG: @ja_ma_ka

Pins, Needles and Thread

Little Black Dog SA

The Material Lady

The Snail Of Happiness

Julia’s Creative Year

The Dartmoor Yarn Company

Sarah Naylor-Hagger – IG: @sierralima14

Hazelnut Thread

Christerson Adoption

Sharon Ansley – IG: @sharonfa50

Zeens And Roger

Flirty Thirty Guide To Life

Sew and Snip

Annegret Pohl – IG: @annegretpohl

Grab A Button For Your Site!

(Just copy image and add as a widget in your sidebar linking back to this post)

March 7, 2017
by sewchet 25 Comments

Portable Doll’s House

When Issue 62 of Mollie Makes dropped through the letterbox, it was a good one. See the text on the front saying “Kid’s Doll House”?

Easily missed, I know, but when I opened it onto the relevant page I did a little virtual skip – this would be the perfect present for a little three year old girl in the family.

A fold-out doll’s house, ideal for taking out and about to keep any little girl entertained (and better than handing over your smart phone, any day).

The details were a joy to put together and customise with whatever scraps of fabric I had to hand.

See, I told you that bag full of two-inch scraps would come in handy one day. I can’t throw any fabric out, no matter how minuscule the leftovers.

The teeny tiny tea set could have Velcro on the back for an older child, to make it removeable. As this was for a toddler, I sewed them to the table permanently.

Some of the bits were embroidered by hand….

….and others were stitched on by machine.

Dolly herself also has a dress and some hair bows, but those will have to follow in the post as I didn’t have time to make them before we visited.

Here’s the bed which is open for the doll to get in. She even has a little removeable pillow.

Of course, she needs a bedside rug to step out onto.

A bedside table has open-topped drawers to store those hair bows, and a little lamp.

I added a last minute dog in its basket, for added fun. Kids love things that ‘do’ something, don’t they?

The bathroom had some lovely details, like the bubbles and towel rail. I embroidered the tap using metallic gold thread to make it more realistic.

Once everything had been sewn on, it was just a case of attaching the front to the back and then turning it right side out.

Roof on, handles added.

Isn’t that just the cutest front door?

So, the house opens up and lays flat for play, like this: –

To close it, you simply fold the side in…..

….fold the bottom up to meet the top and then fasten the popper.

It transforms quickly and easily into a ‘bag’ with carry handles – simple enough for any toddler to use without help.

The iron test is, of course, if the girl in question actually likes it.

What do you think?!

December 9, 2016
by sewchet 32 Comments

Stitching Santa Sewing Idea

Having concentrated on my knitting Stitching Santa swap, I’ve only just started to get on with my sewing swap. Knitting and crochet take longer, so I wanted to finish those handmade items before moving onto the sewn ones, hoping that these will be a lot quicker.

This one took about an hour and I thought I’d share it with you in case anyone fancies having a go themselves. I think it makes a great little gift – I know I’d be happy with it in my Stitching Santa parcel!

I had an A5 hardback notebook in the office, just lying around begging to be made beautiful and, luckily, I found the perfect fabric for a dressmaker in my collection.

I started by cutting a rectangle of wadding exactly the same size as the notebook.

Any PVA adhesive will do – just spread it on lightly all over the front surface of the cover.

Press the wadding on to the tacky glue, then turn it over and do the same with the spine and back cover.

Cut a rectangle of fabric about two inches wider all around than the notebook and spread glue directly onto the wrong side of the fabric.

Lay the notebook cover onto the glued surface of the fabric and press with your fingers. Turn the excess fabric inwards and stick it to the inside cover.

Work around the notebook applying more glue as necessary, mitring the corners as you go.

Use plenty of glue to cover the tiny bit of spine that needs covering. If you choose a PVA that dries clear, any surplus will be invisible when it dries.