I-cord Necklace

Whilst on the train through to Glasgow for the craft bomb I decided to knit up this wee necklace. (Despite the odd funny look, I do love knitting on the train, It always makes the journey fly by)

 

I'm not really sure that it is my kind of thing but it looks lovely when I am not wearing it.

I originally saw the idea in a magazine unfortunately I was just browsing and I didn't buy it but at a guess I think it was the April edition of Molly Makes. I liked the design but it is so simple that I just couldn't justify buying the magazine.

• I made this necklace by knitting three strands of three stitch I-cord, I made sure that one was the length that I wanted for the main neck length .
• The other two need to be the same length and a couple of inches shorter than the neck piece.
• Then just shape and pin everything together.
• I remember the magazine stitching everything together with a matching thread but I didn't see the point of that so I just used the same wool that I used for the cord and a large eyed needle.
• I bought a jar of random buttons when I got my sewing machine in January. Therefore, I used one from this little stash to hold everything together. The button hole is just a loop of wool rather than anything too complicated.

I'm not sure is I will wear it much as it is a little chunkier than what I am used to wearing but I still think it is pretty.

Voluntary Arts Week - 11th to 19th May 2012

 My friend Alison of Little Saint Knit and I are taking part in the first ever national CraftBomb! A couple of weeks ago we found a plee for UK crafters to take part in various events happening all over the country as part of Voluntary Arts Week.After some late night bird making last night Alison and I ventured along to the VA office at lunch time today to hand over our crafts. Alison created a wonderful string of crocheted bunting and I made about a dozen pom-pom flowers and three little birds.

This is my modest little collection

Our crafts will be featuring in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens CraftBomb on Saturday 11th May. I will be heading over to Glasgow to try and find our makes and hopefully get lots of cool pics of the gardens with it new additions.  

Fab charity shop find

On Saturday I went to a Vintage Kilo Sale in Edinburgh with my friend Alison. For the £1 entry we received a kilo sale plastic bag which we could fill to our hearts content. The hall was filled with huge rummage bins and a few rails filled with "vintage" clothing from the 60's onwards for men, ladies and children. Once we had picked out our favourite pieces from the bins we had a brisk try on of the items that we were planning to wear and not chop up for fabric. After that was possibly the simplest paying system ever, simply place your shopping bag on the scales and then £15 per kilo! I bought two skirts, two dresses, a scarf and a random lace doily thing totalling 1.5 kilos so I got it all for the bargain price of £22.50. I will probably post again with the details of what I bought (with photos).

 On the way back home we decided to hit all the charity shops on Leith Walk heading back towards the city centre. I used to enjoy going round the thrift shops with my Granddad when I was younger but in recent years I haven't been in many. However, The very first shop we went in to (St Columba's Hospice) had me totally convinced that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

When I spotted this cute little sewing box in the front window I knew we were on to a winner. I snapped this up with out a second thought. I had been looking at larger versions on eBay only days ago and although this is just a little version of what I originally had in mind it is still perfect for keeping my small collection of thread, ribbons and other bits n' bobs. Plus it was only a fiver, bargain!

I replaced one of the screws on one of the side beams and then it was good to go. The top compartments are just the right size to stuff buckets of thread, buttons and randomness.

Inside the shop was a treasure trove of goodies. They had an entire corner which looked just like a second hand haberdashery. I got a little over excited and spent ages rummaging through it all before finally deciding on a pattern for a basic knit top, I figured I could try it and if it a disaster then at least I didn't pay much for the pattern; some bright red stretch knit fabric, it is in one continuous tube which I thought was a little strange but know I'm thinking it is crying out to be some sort of seamless skirt; and some matching red thread.

I also picked up a light coloured bed sheet with graded little blue flowers all over it, I was thinking it might be good for a maxi dress for my upcoming holiday. More on that later...