Tuesday 31 January 2012

How to: Using Hemming Foot for Sewing Machine.

Have you got one of these sitting around?
Hemming Foot for Sewing Machine.

I've been having adventures with the hemming foot on my vintage Bernina. After long being intrigued by this little device I sat down to play with it. I had tried it out some years ago, but the finer points of its use escaped me. 

Then I did a bit of research. I found a very good explanation of how to use the hemming foot at Jan Andrea's blog. She uses nice clear pictures to explain things, so happily there is no need in my trying to write a tutorial here, please go and have a look at her work, especially to learn how to do neat corners.
This is what I learnt:



1. Start sewing with a flat roll (before feeding into the twist).

1. Roll the first bit of fabric and put the foot down on top of it, sewing the first inch or so flat before feeding the fabric through the twisty bit.

2. Don't feed too much through the twisty bit.
2. Don't try to feed too much fabric through the twisty bit or it goes all lumpy. 'Too much fabric' depends on the fabric you're using so always do a test swatch. I found this video very helpful, she's hemming a wedding dress :)

3. Here are corner pictures pre and post research:

My clumsy corner invention
Now I know how to get a lovely corner!


4. I also discovered that this foot is only suitable for very light fabrics, much to my chagrin as I had banked on using it to do the hem on an apron (which I've just finished).

Here you can see the hemming apron disaster (on a light-weight denim cotton):


Starts off ok.

Fabric too think, doesn't get caught by the stitches.


Have you learnt to do anything new recently?

PS. If you are an Etsy Seller you can promote your items on this blog right now for free in the Etsy Stock Take. Please come and join in :)

Sunday 29 January 2012

Etsy Stock Take - Week Four

Lavender Sachet
 Etsy Stock Take - Week Four

UPDATE! Don't post your links here anymore, please click on the link to go over to the latest Etsy Stock Take! I plan to do this at the end of every calender week, so please look out for the newest post!

TWITTER: Follow the fun on Twitter use: #etsystocktake  

So... I didn't make anything for my Etsy shop this week. Uh oh! My excuse is that 4 family members came to stay this weekend and I've been shopping and cleaning etc...
As I am committed to improving my shop I took a few minutes to try and improve the presentation of an item already listed. The item I worked on is a lavender sachet of my own design. I am preparing a tutorial for beginner crocheters so that they can make their own, I hope to get that done soon! 
I recently learnt that tweaking the brightness and contrast of my photos makes them look so much better and more professional. 
Here is a before photo (you can see the after above!):




Do you think there is an improvement? Do you have any Etsy photo tips to share?

Kat x


Join me:

I hope that you fellow Etsian's will join me in showcasing your new items each Sunday (or anytime after that really!).  Let's blog hop!

You have 3 options:

1. Post your link to your new items in the MrLinky Blog Hop widget thingy at the bottom of this post.

2. Write a new post on your blog, title it Etsy Stock Take and link back here, in the comments section.

3. Not a blogger? No problem, simply leave me a comment with links that go to your new items in your Etsy shop.

I will list the links to each week's stock take on my Jewels page. Please go and have a browse!

It'd be lovely if you took a moment to go and check out some stuff that others post below. Let's show our support for each other craftwise!

I'm hoping that my goal of listing one item a week will be a powerful motivator and a source of promotion for us all...

 
What do you think?

Friday 27 January 2012

Snow again in Hamburg.

Snow in Hamburg this morning!


There we go - more snow in Hamburg! A proper snow this time. The kind that is waiting for you like a mysterious wonderland, that surprises you when you peek out from behind your curtains in the morning. We had sun and partial clouds forecast for this weekend, so this was a lovely unexpected event.




I just hope they clear the roads as I've got to do a long drive tomorrow. I don't want ice!

How's the weather where you are? Do you have the same season as me?

Wednesday 25 January 2012

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: VW Beetle

Vintage Cars in Hamburg: VW Beetle
Look at this baby! 

I saw this last week in the Eppendorf area. In fact, I saw it a month or so ago and regretted not taking a photo of it then, so I was really happy when I passed by again and it was in practically the same spot!

I really like the moss green colour against the winter trees.

This is part of my new photography project: Vintage Cars in Hamburg. I now carry my camera wherever I go and I will collect pictures of old cars that I see while out and about. They just make me happy.

For more in the vintage car photo collection:
  1. Mini Cooper
  2. V.W. Beetle 
  3. V.W. Beetle with vintage skis

Any nice cars around your way?

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Feathering my nest.

Quilt Hearts: Feathering my nest

Just a quick little post to join in with Making Winter.

I'm trying to ignore the January darkness without by making things super cosy within! I've been playing about getting to know my sewing machine again and looking for ways of up-cycling my old beloved quilt. As a result I now have 3 little magnet stuffed hearts and one that will hang on its own ribbon. 

Sweet! 

Sunday 22 January 2012

Etsy Stock Take - Week Three



Etsy Stock Take - Week Three

UPDATE! Don't post your links here anymore, please click on the link to go over to the latest Etsy Stock Take! I plan to do this at the end of every calender week, so please look out for the newest post!

So I just finished listing my new item of the week. A sweet spring time daffodil skinny bangle. I am just aching for the winter to finish, can you tell?!

I hoped to make two, but only one was in a fit state to be featured, so here it is.

I love the texture of the macrame knots, and how on the inside the bangle is really smooth, it feels really nice against the skin.

If you check out the other pictures in my Etsy shop you'll see that there is a sneaky piece of green against the yellow. I'll give you a bit of inside info: I thought this project was perfect for finishing off a ball of cotton yarn, but I ran out of yarn a couple of cm short of filling the entire bracelet! Oh no!

In the end I think it was a happy accident as the little bit of green gets me thinking of the little shoots that bulbs will soon be pushing up through the frozen ground... :)

NB. I think I will post the next Etsy Stock Take on Friday 27th as we have house guests next weekend. 

Kat x


Join me:

I hope that you fellow Etsian's will join me in showcasing your new items each Sunday (or anytime after that really!).  Let's blog hop!

You have 3 options:

1. Post your link to your new items in the MrLinky Blog Hop widget thingy at the bottom of this post.

2. Write a new post on your blog, title it Etsy Stock Take and link back here, in the comments section.

3. Not a blogger? No problem, simply leave me a comment with links that go to your new items in your Etsy shop.

After the overwhelming response to last week's stock take (thanks you all!) I have come to the conclusion that I will never be able to keep up with compiling a list of participants. As an alternative I will list the links to each week's stock take on my Jewels page. Please go and have a browse!

It'd be lovely if you took a moment to go and check out some stuff that others post below. Let's show our support for each other craftwise!

I'm hoping that my goal of listing one item a week will be a powerful motivator and a source of promotion for us all...

UPDATE: Follow the fun on Twitter use: #etsystocktake 
 
What do you think?

Friday 20 January 2012

Nearly a pair of socks!


I've made some progress on Mr C's socks

The second of the pair is about half way through. In fact, in the last day or so (since taking this picture) I have turned the heel - the best bit! It really looks like a sock now and not just a tube! Can't wait to see them in use.

Oh by the way, knitting socks is doable and not as scary as you would think!

Updates:
  1. One sock finished.
  2. One down, one to go.
  3. One and a half...
  4. Then they were a pair!

What are you working on?


Wednesday 18 January 2012

Design Submission


I want to remember this day: It's the first time I have ever tried to submit a design (of my own devising) in response to a craft magazine's call for entries.

Haha! 

I am so inexperienced at this that I really have no idea how my design will be received or whether I prepared the submission in the right way. Still I hope I am in with some kind of a chance...

The submission is an item (well 2 actually!) for the 2012 Jane Austen Knits by Knitting Daily. I blogged about my plan back in October and more recently. The 2011 version was quite lovely and I am looking forward to seeing the new one. Yes, even if my design's not in it... :)

Have you ever tried your hand at design professionally? Any tips for me?

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Organising notions.


Today I would like to record how I organise all my making-stuff stuff. 

Well, I'm going to try, as I do have rather a lot of stuff. *Oh dear* I think first I will note the organisation of my knitting and crochet notions as this is by far the best bit of organisation I have got round to doing!

Now I must give credit where it's due and explain the key to this whole endeavour. I found it after a lot of trawling through Etsy looking for a 'knitting bag'.



The eureka moment was finding Sarah Kinchelo!

I am now the proud owner of one of her lovely organisers. It's great as it rolls up snug and keeps everything safe and in order. I love unrolling it and putting my hand on exactly the right crochet hook during a knitting disaster (ever dropped a stitch with doing seed stitch? Ahhhh!).

In the 2 years since I've started knitting I have bought new knitting needles and crochet hooks, bundles of second hand ones, circulars and dpns, stitch holders and markers, row counters...loads of them and they all fit in this organiser. As well as a pen and pencil. And there is still a bit of space...



Good points:
  • Nice fabric outside and neutral inside
  • 3 tiers of pockets, long and short (so you don't lose the littler things)
  • Multi-craft tools friendly
Not so good points:
  • The top flap that holds everything in (although being rather clever) could do with being a lot longer as I do find that the little dpns in the bottom row sometimes wriggle their way out of the roll (they are quite slinky though!)
BTW: I am overwhelmed by the interest in the Etsy Stock Take. It's amazing and will take me ages to compile a list of participants... will try to keep up! Wow! If you haven't already done so this week, please come and link up :)

How do you organise stuff?


Sunday 15 January 2012

Etsy Stock Take - Week Two


 Etsy Stock Take - Week Two

UPDATE! Looking for the latest link up? Go through to the Etsy Stock Take to find the latest party!

 Ok, I admit it. I didn't make anything new this week...Wah! But I've been ill with a nasty head cold and so I feel I have an excuse. Poor me...

Still, this morning I found a few minutes to work on my Etsy shop and I do in fact have a new listing.
Hurrah!

I decided it might be nice for people to have the option to buy my lavender sachets as a pair. And it leads to a bit of a discount too, buying in bulk and all that. I would like to see these puffs moving out into the world and this will lead to a bit of space at home for more making madness.

See you again next week! Kat x


Join me:

I hope that you fellow Etsian's will join me in showcasing your new items each Sunday (or anytime after that really!).  Let's blog hop!

You have 3 options:

1. Post your link to your new items in the Linky widget thingy at the bottom of this post.

2. Write a new post on your blog, title it Etsy Stock Take and link back here.

3. Not a blogger? No problem, simply link up to your new items in your Etsy shop.

Meanwhile I will compile a list of participants. It'd be lovely if you took a moment to go and check out some stuff that others post below. Let's show our support for each other craftwise!

I'm hoping that my goal of listing one item a week will be a powerful motivator and a source of promotion for us all...

UPDATE: Follow the fun on Twitter use: #etsystocktake 
 
What do you think?

Play along with us:

Friday 13 January 2012

Lace.


I'm learning to knit lace!

Following the lead of the Artsy Ants, I'm joining in with Soulemama: This moment.

Tuesday 10 January 2012

Early Morning Hamburg Blue Sky

Early Morning Hamburg Blue Sky

One day last week (I think it was Friday), my husband and I were sitting having breakfast early in the morning. Must've been about 7ish. 

Suddenly it dawned on us (pun intended!) that there was a beautiful sky outside, the sun was not quite up yet and the buildings and trees opposite our home formed a stark silhouette against the blue ombre heavens.

This might not seem like a lot to many, but here clear mornings are far and few between. We have been battling low ominous clostrophobic skies for weeks on end and for a moment last week we felt free! 

Only lasted one day though. We enjoyed it while it lasted. I even got to wear my sunglasses!

What's your weather like?

Sunday 8 January 2012

Etsy Stock Take - Week One




 Etsy Stock Take - Week One

UPDATE: This week's link up is closed, come and find the current Etsy Stock Take!

 Today I finished off a couple of little red crochet heart hair clips. Cute huh? I dunno why, but I love the back more than the front so here you are treated to my favourite view!

I have a whole bunch of little cotton crochet hearts lying around and after wondering what to do for my Etsy Stock Take this week I put them together with the little hair clips that I found in Pandoro not so long ago.

I think they worked out quite nicely and am even tempted to keep them for me... :)


Join me:

I hope that you fellow Etsian's will join me, somewhat in the manner of a blog hop.

On Sunday, when I post my new shop stock, please write a new post on your blog, showcasing your new items. Title it Etsy Stock Take and link back here.

Then leave a comment with a link to your post so that we all know how you're doing! I might even feature my favourite items in future posts! And I will compile a list of participants.

Not a blogger? No problem, simply leave me a comment with links that go to your new items in your Etsy shop. 

I'm hoping that my goal of one item a week will be a powerful motivator and a source of promotion for us all...
 
What do you think?

Tuesday 3 January 2012

How to: Homemade Deodorant.

Homemade Deodorant

Recently I have been exploring the idea of producing my own cosmetics. I have some skin issues and a desire to solve them has prompted research into ingredients which help and ingredients that harm.

Type homemade deodorant into google and you will find a million links explaining the dangers of using commercial deodorants as well as how to make your own. I found it a bit overwhelming. In the end I chose the positive over the negative, glossing over the scare-mongering articles and focusing on the recipes. 

The most useful reference I found during the research phase was Passionate Homemaking. I appreciated the experiment that led up to their deodorant recipe, I like the way it organically grew over some time resulting in the final result. I would love to be able to come up with my own products in a similar way (I'll certainly be more thoughtful about my 'making stuff' process in future).


Homemade Deodorant Ingredients

Ingredients (German in brackets):

1 part arrowroot powder (Pfeilwurzelstärke)
1 part bicarbonate of soda (Natron)
3 parts coconut oil (Kokosöl)

What I did:

1. I measured 2tbsp (tablespoons) of arrowroot and 2tbsp of bicarb of soda and plopped them into a bowl.

2. I then added 6tbsp of coconut oil and started working it all together with the back of a spoon.

3. I kept on going for a few minutes until the mixture was homogeneous.

4. Finally I put the whole lot in an upcycled sterilised jam jar

Making homemade deodorant, part way mixed

What I learnt:
  •  I suppose you could add a bit more oil if it's too dry, or a bit more of the dry ingredients (in equal amounts) if it's too wet. 
  • Working the mixture together doesn't work so well with a fork (she says from experience!).
  • Putting the mixture in the jam jar works better with the back of a spoon too. 

The verdict a few days later: 

I've been using my new deodorant exclusively for nearly a week now. 

I like it! 
  • It goes on easily (scrape a bit out of the jar with the back of a fingernail as it melts to the touch of skin).
  • It's a little grainy when you put it on which was initially disappointing, but not a deal breaker.
  • I used to wait for my commercial liquid deodorant to dry, so I do the same with my homemade version, letting it soak in.
  • Doesn't smell strong and holds out all day (even the stressful first day back at work yesterday!).
NB: This is not an antiperspirant deodorant. That doesn't bother me though as antiperspirants didn't seem to work on me anyway!

Update in September:
  • I used this deodorant exclusively for 6 months (January to June) and was very happy with it, having no skin issues the whole time. 
  • Then the weather started to get warmer. And I went back to full time work. And I wimped out a bit! I started to use commercial deodorant for my work days (teaching) and using my coconut deodorant for my off days. This worked a treat.
  • After about 7 months the deodorant started to smell a bit funny and I didn't enjoy using it so much. I threw it out thinking the coconut oil had reached its use by date. Which is a shame, because I still had LOADS left. I've just checked the original coconut oil container and the oil is still good for another 6 months. And the arrowroot powder is good for another year. Maybe I acted prematurely with the throwing out act... Ooops...
  • I will definitely make more of this, but in a smaller quantity so I can use it up before it turns.

Are you gonna give it a try? Got any tips to share?


PS. Are you into buying handmade? Yes? Then you should check out the amazing stuff in the Etsy Stock Take. If you sell your craft on Etsy, please come and join in :)


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