Sewing a coin purse / card holder / bus pass holder

 

I needed to sew/make/come up with a solution to hold a bus pass, coins & money (for buying the bus pass) that is easy to use, easy to hold and of course, looks good so it in fact gets used.

I came up with this one, I think it worked out well and more importantly, my son loves it. 

Come & watch me come up with the idea, from sketch to sewing to finished piece: check it all out here on my YouTube channel.

I still can't believe that my baby is just about to start high school!

I'd love it if you popped over to my YouTube channel & subscribed to it & even liked some of my videos. Every like, every follower, every comment is like a great big hug! 

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

The Easy Skirt, No Pattern Needed

 

After I finished making Joe's top (this one), I had some fabric left over, so rather than putting it into the cupboard and never using, I decided to quickly make Delaney a skirt.  No pattern is needed, all you need is the waist measurement for the elastic.

I show you how I made it in this YouTube video, go check it out & I'd love it if you gave it a thumbs up!

This skirt would make the perfect 'quick make' gift for your loved ones. 

The fabric is French Terry from Melco Fabrics.

Glitter elastic available here,  here, or here.  

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to YouTube to like my video & possibly subscribe to my channel.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

How to add WATERMARKS to your photos

The question on every blogger or social media user is "how do I add a watermark to my photo?"
Well, here is the easy 1, 2, 3 step guide to doing so!

Step 1) take your photo & upload it to a photo editing program, for this example, I am using iPiccy, a free software program.

Step 2) add your watermark to your photo (see details below)

Step 3) save your photo & upload it to your blog or other social media sites for everyone to enjoy.


Ahh, I can still hear you asking  "but how do I get a watermark?" and "how do I add it to my photo?" 

Easy.

A watermark can be as simple as your name or nickname like in this image:

or it can be your website, as in this image:

or it can be an actual watermark logo/design like this one:

If you just want to use your name/nickname or website as your watermark then you don't need to create an image of that, you just add the details straight onto your photo.
To do so:
~ open your photo in an editing program (I'm using iPiccy),
~ ((1)) click the layers tab (left hand side in iPiccy),
~ ((2)) select T for text (in the area that the photo is in, top left hand area)
~ type in your text, changing font, colour etc if desired
~ you can relocate or resize the text by clicking on the actual text box on the photo
~ save any changes that you make.

Now if you want to add an actual watermark design/logo then you'll need to have that design first before adding it to your image.
To make life easier for you, I'm going to let you in a little secret, I grabbed my watermark logo from here. It's easy to find a designer and super cheap!!  I've been using them for years and have always been happy with the designs that they created. Seriously, though ...did you see where I said they were cheap because geesh, they really are!!  
Now that you have your watermark logo, to add it to your photo, follow the steps above (for adding text) BUT instead of adding text, add an image and then you can resize if necessary, change the font, location etc.  -- see ((3)) image below

it's easy to add a watermark to your photo

See, told you it was easy!
Now, off you go & add watermarks to your online images!  

If you are still unsure about using the above link to get a watermark, here are some of the ones that they created for me - the girl holding the sign on my craft supplies directory, the Australia logo on my fabric directory are just a couple of examples of my purchased, customised designs.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Marie

Shruggy show off and some tips to make it.

I've just sewn in the ends for this shrug, my last finish for 2016.   A shrug for my Laney ...but she refuses to model it, not that I blame her as it is summer here!
I'm also adding a couple of tips on how to make this shrug as I found the pattern to be slightly confusing and wanted to help out others with these two handy tips.

Storage for Penpal Correspondence

How do you store your penpal letters?  If you don't have a penpal, then maybe I'm asking you how do you store things like birthday cards or any other correspondence? I was storing my stuff in a box, then it moved to a plastic band then basically it just moved to the floor and yep, it was a mess so I decided to do something about it.

Hearts of string & glue

Do you like my row of hearts?  They are super quick & easy to make, you'll wonder why you haven't made some yourself.

Make yourself a PomPom border

To crochet this pretty multi-coloured pompom border, you first need to add a chain row that is the 'loopy chain' that we then add the pompoms too (I've done my loopy chain in white).
Use your favourite crochet hook, I like these ones and then your yarn and follow the instructions below:

To help support CraftyRie, please click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

Foundation step..

~ every third stitch you need to do a sc, 7 ch then a sc into the next 3rd stitch. Continue around round the blanket or row slip stitching to the sc to join and cut yarn and weave in the end.

To start your pompom, choose your colour, in this tutorial I have chosen to crochet a green pompom next to the pink pompom.

Step 1..

~ in the middle of the 7 chain (the 4th chain stitch), insert your crochet hook 



Step 2..

~ chain 3 (weave in the end as you go)

Step 3..

~ yarn over, insert hook into that same stitch as the first chain & loop the yarn (like you would for a double crochet/treble)

Step 4..

~ yarn over & draw the yarn through the first two stitches, leaving two stitches on your hook

Step 5..

~ yarn over, insert hook into that same stitch as the first chain & loop the yarn. Yarn over again & draw the yarn through the first two stitches, leaving three stitches on your hook. Repeat this again until your have four stitches on your hook.

Step 5..

~ yarn over & draw through all four stitches

Step 6..

~ yarn over & draw through the stitch. You have now made one side of the pompom (which is kind of like a cluster).

Step 7..

~ repeat steps 3 - 6

Step 8..

~ to close this second cluster & form it into the pompom cluster,

join with a slip stitch into the same stitch you used in step 1 (on the white chain)

You can then do a single crochet & cut yarn, weaving in the ends back into the pompom is what gives the double cluster the pom pom shape.

..see not as hard as it seemed!

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Make these super cool Cake Decorations!

You should make these super cute, super fun chocolate letters. I promise that they are really easy, really quick to make & taste yum too!
I used them recently on my mother's 70th Birthday cake & they were a hit with the Grandparents right down to the toddler!

How I wash Handknits

In our household we wear a lot of hand knit & hand crocheted outfits. As you can imagine, kids gets them really dirty, they always end up covered in food & dirt then they get tossed into a bucket until there is enough to wash!

An easter treat for you!

Hello!
With Easter almost hopping onto our doorstep, I thought I'd show you a super-quick Easter project!
Bubba Joe, who is 3 years old, made this fun wonky string basket & filled it with choccie eggs and took it with him to daycare this morning for Neen, his daycare worker. So, please ignore the slightly yellow photos as the sun had just risen this morning as I took this photos (I hadn't even had my first morning cuppa!)

Trying something new is always scary!

Picture this:  I squee with delight over a new pattern, I buy the yarn, get others enthused to join in & knitalong with me ... and I sit down & read the pattern and (almost) want to give up  ... at.the.very.first.row.

How to::: easily knit sleeves & armholes

There comes a time in a vest or jumper, that you can't put off any more and that is the armholes/sleeves.
Yep, I hate them.  That is until my mum told me how to easily count the stitches whilst casting on/picking the stitches for the sleeve as that is the bit that I always found the hardest!  So I've listed the steps below to help you... and to help me when I have to do it again!
Firstly, lay the garment (good side up) as flat as you can on the table - this is trickier than it sounds as it always curls up!

Stick your finger in the approximate middle, fold over from the armhole bottom to the seam (shoulder) and mark it with safety pin (or a stitch markerstitch marker but I can never find mine!).     Basically, what you have done is made it easier to cast on stitches - lets say the length of the armhole (to the seam) is 32 stitches, by marking the middle you know only have to cast on 16 stitches in each of those gaps (a lot easier than trying to cast on 32 evenly).

But lets make it easier, if you fold it in half again & mark it, you now only have to cast 8 stitches evenly - way better than trying to cast 32 or even 16 evenly.   Now do this for the rest (the back to the seam on the same side & of course the other side of the garment too).

 Now let's talk about how we are going to create those stitches to actually knit the sleeve with!

By pressing the garment flat along your fingers between the markersmarkers, you can quickly see where you will put your 8 stitches. If you see below, I'm going to put a stitch on the before the first green stitch (from the left).

Now, I find this bit easier to do with a crochet hook, but you can just use the knitting needle if you have more patience than me!  Gently 'poke' your crochet hookcrochet hook through the two strands that make up the stitch.

 Wind the yarn around the hook and put onto the knitting needle.

Once you have worked your way to the edge of the armhole it should look a little like the below picture. Now, wasn't that easier working out where to put 8 stitches at a time rather than ... eek 32!

Then you can take out all the markers and knit the sleeve according to the pattern on two needles - rather than try using a circular needle or dpns - you then sew the sleeve up at the end.

 AND.... I did this all with a toddler playing 'pony' on my leg! 

Did this make sense? Did this help you at all?
Or do you just not care because you like sewing & have never picked up a knitting needle except to scratch your back with?!!

Oh & by the way, this technique of marking also works wonders on necklines too!

I'd love it if you popped over to my YouTube channel & subscribed to it & even liked some of my videos. Every like, every follower, every comment is like a great big hug! 

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Free Pattern:: Crochet an Easy Peasy Washcloth

This washcloth is easy to make, 

it's simple to master and you'll soon be making 1 to 2 each night!

this blog post contains affiliate links

They make great gifts paired with a nice fancy soap (I gift wrap mine with a local goats milk soap).

Yarn: Worsted weight Cotton yarn - I used this lovely cotton yarn.

I also use two colours - one for the main body of the washcloth & a contrasting colour for the trim.

Click here or click here for other yarn suggestions to use.

Hook: 5mm crochet hook or whatever hook you feel comfortable using with the yarn.

You will also need some scissors for cutting the yarn ends & a darning needle to weave in the ends.

Ok, let's start!

Chain 25, using the main colour yarn.

Row 1:::   Skip first stitch then *1 sc & 1 dc in the next stitch, skip next stitch.   Repeat from * to end of row.

               Turn.

Repeat row 1 for 18-20 rows either until square or it's at the size you like!  (I crochet 18 rows). 

Fasten off and weave in ends.

        

To finish with the trim:

Using secondary (trim) colour, sc around the edge adding an extra chain stitch into the corners to keep the trim flat.

Fasten off & weave in the ends.

Voila, a finished washcloth - see how 'easy peasy' it was!!!

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

Now, go ahead and book mark this page too, so when you make some you can come back and post a link in the comments section below for Show & Tell!

            

Edited on 27th Oct 2014.....  
please note that several comments (below) state that I should be chaining one at the start (or end) of each row. I don't, it's not needed. In fact, to show you that it is not needed, please click here, it will take you to another blog post that shows step by step how it is not needed.

  
I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie