Looms

I have been playing with wire and glass beads, testing out some looms. I am trying (I'll see when I finish) to make a candle cage, this is what it looks like so far.

My friend the Bread Maker

I got time to make some bread today, something I really like doing. Fresh bread smells and tastes so good. When I say I made the bread I had help from my friend the bread maker (I made Soy & linseed bread). My friend does all the hard work kneading the dough for me and does not complain.

I used to make a lot of bread before by hand, but I have arthritis so kneading the dough, while relaxing couses a lot of pain. The bread maker is excellent (and kneads the dough better than me anyway) bread with no hand pain :)

I don't let the dough cook in the bread maker I prefer to put the dough on a baking tray. Make a nice shape, add my pattern, let rise than bake in the oven. I find it makes a much lighter loaf. Plus I can pretend I make it all my self :)

Free crochet patterns available from www.nezumiworld.com

Dolly Bobbins

I have been playing with dolly bobbins or french knitting (it has lots of names) You can use a crochet hook or knitting needle. I used wire and glass beads and am very happy with the results, so will play a bit more. I hope to get a larger frame soon (psss....I am trying out a lightweight frame for a company soon, I have been told it comes in two sizes and has metal spikes or nails which would be perfect for wire) and will try the techniques out on that maybe make a wire and bead bag :)

Crochet Lites

My latest purchase via eBay (I love eBay)- crochet hooks that light up :) called Clover crochet lite crochet hooks. They are battery operated with an on/off stitch, have a nice ergonomic handle and are very lightweight.
OK they do seem gimmicky and yes even though I bought them I was a bit skeptical , but after having a play with them I can see how useful they will be for crocheting with dark colours. They really do show up the stitches.

Crocheted beads and wire

Saturday was the Knitting and Crochet Guilds London group crocheted and knitted wire & beads day. A very nice group of ladies attended.
We made beaded chain stitch bracelets, played with crochet beaded tubes and wire & pearl bead buttons. Everyone was enthusiastic, took notes, asked questions and shared ideas.



A big THANK YOU to Helda (of heldsland above) who kindly helped assist me and to Eleanor and Winifred for organising the day plus room and much needed refreshments.

Making beaded tubes
and buttons

Photos from the day and no I am behind the camera hidden :)

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I am doing a one day course for the Knitting and Crochet Guilds London group (Crocheted and knitted wire & beads 14th April near Highbury & Islington Station contact Eleanor 02089508014 for details) and decided to get all my samples ready. Arrrrrr can't find them, I think I put them in the recycling bins when I was going through a clearing mood a few months ago.

Instead of getting upset I have been making new samples :) So below is the results of the last two days of playing with beads.

I am playing with wire for the rest of the week.

Crocheted beaded tubular bracelets

Crocheted multi-beaded bracelet. This took 3 hours to string the beads onto the thread and only 25 minutes to crochet and finish. 5 metres of beads were needed.

Knitted bracelet