A month in craft…

Where does the time go? No, rilly, someone in physics please tell me because I need to claw some of this year back and update this blog properly.

In the mean time…

I made this for our sister iPad mag. Kinda love it. Made with left-over fabric from the Tweed bow necklace I did for them a while back (but still available on the Apple Newsstand, peeps). Hubs helped with the cutting (I'm not massively handy with a pair of scissor, which I blame entirely on my being left-handed (and not just crap at cutting), and then it's just a case of a bit of appliqué. Nice huh? Be sure to select some soft fabric or you'll be in for a restless night…

I've also **fanfare please** taught myself to crochet. I know, I know – despaired in an earlier post about those who can attesting to its ease ("Oh but it's eeeeaaassssy!" they'd scoff, which would usually be met with a thunderous look from me).

See that there? That's 40+ crochet hexagons.

It's… not easy. No, rilly. But it Does. Just. Click. All of a sudden. From out of nowhere. One minute all I can do is a chain, and then next, I'm trebling and cackling and getting ever-so-slightly tangled p in my yarn.

I swear, I have no other explanation other than I just kept trying. I also used a slightly weightier yarn than all the other times (Aran), and I also watched a lot of YouTube videos to get it non-squiffy in my head. I think YouTube definitely helped – those stupid diagrams of pencil-drawn hands just weren't cutting it. Crochet is my new love, and (although I am scared of doing anything much other than a granny square – for now) I can't see myself going back to knitting any time soon. I know – I never thought I say it. And me from last year would totally be seething at me from a few seconds ago for typing it. Sorry, Past Me (also, you should really check out YouTube for some tutes, m'kay?).

Anyway, thanks mainly to Pip, Ros Badger and Indie Lovely for their inspiring throws, cushions etc. And thanks to countless crocheting YouTubers. I apologise I didn't make note of your vids…

Yarn-wrapped letter

When we featured Cranny + B's yarn-wrapped letter M in issue 20's Trends, I knew just had to have a go.

But before I got started, I had to purchase the Best Craft Gadget Ever So Far™ - a hot glue gun. I hadn't used one since year 6 design and tech but, screw that, I have yarn to wrap dagnammit!

Quite proud of how my first one turned out - Cranny's instructions are really clear and she made me feel rather confident (dare I say gung ho?) about tackling something that did seem a teeny bit daunting initially.

Yes, I think there might be a few of these personalised pressies given this year - look out our F&F! The fact that the Monty household is now a cobweb of strange stringy glue stuff, and the TV remote is attached to the cushion, is mere coincidence. Ahem.

Mollie Makes, Cath Kidston mash-up

One look at the Cath Kidston personalised jumper tute we ran on our blog a while back, and I *had* to have a go. Here's my version. I found cutting the letters quite tricky (novice) and had yet to be introduced to the wonders of interfacing, so I think I did an OK job considering. Annoyingly the V of the jumper is a little wide, so if I choose to wear this jumper, I currently either sport my initials on my boob or arm pit. So… not wearing it til I can sort that.

Mollie Makes, Cath Kidston mash-up

One look at the Cath Kidston personalised jumper tute we ran on our blog a while back, and I *had* to have a go. Here's my version. I found cutting the letters quite tricky (novice) and had yet to be introduced to the wonders of interfacing, so I think I did an OK job considering. Annoyingly the V of the jumper is a little wide, so if I choose to wear this jumper, I currently either sport my initials on my boob or arm pit. So… not wearing it til I can sort that.