First grading

Well done boys, they had their first grading and got their Orange belts.

So while they were graded I was busy knitting 2 orange belts....

Fun fur haircut

The fun fur arrived in the post so I sat down to try and work out how to make the hair. It's really not the easiest wool to work with as you can't really see what you are doing but after looking at the forums on Ravelry I gave it a go

 The result was wild! So a haircut was definately in order

A bit better but I ended up giving him one more trim then I sewed on his eyes and mouth with embroidery thread and gave him a nose with the wool

He looks a bit wild still, might have to trim him again.

With the 2nd doll I decided to do the face first this time

I just need to do his hair now as I have already knitted the 2nd suit. I am currently 'blocking' this so the edges don't curl up then I will sew it together and have 2 finished karate figurines just in time for their 1st grading on friday

Other News

Meanwhile the decoupage has run aground as after the Marvel comics arrived (sourced from ebay, 5 mags for £2) my lovely kids fell on them and made me promise not to cut them up until after they had all read them.

The paper roll bowl is progressing but at a very slow rate. I am finding it a bit tedious so am doing it in small bursts. I try to make at least 5 a day so it could take a while but it is growing...

Also the card for the wedding name cards have arrived so I can make a start on them now.

I do have more time at the moment as my contract has ended but I still need to train the puppy and empty the loft. Whilst emptying yesterday I rediscovered all my old patchwork templates and some fabrics including fabric I bought in Australia over a decade ago to make Chris a great beer label shirt so I think my next project may already be found. I just need to get the sewing machine serviced first but for now back to making hair.

Happy Crafting!

Back to papercrafting

So I know papercrafting was in March but I didn't get to show you anything or really do much as the table settings are very beautiful but simple. I bought a new magazine yesterday called 'Making' 

 (http://www.makingmagazine.com/page.asp) 

which had a really lovely idea for making a bowl from old magazines so I thought I would have a go. This is the sort of thing that I really like as it is recycling and making something original. Here is how I have got on so far

I rummaged through the recycling bin and found a catalogue and magazine which I cut into 5cm wide strips

I used 2 different sized magazines so the rolls would vary in size

Using a small knitting needle I then rolled the paper around the needle at an angle

to make a tube which I then flattened

Then made into spirals.
I then lined a bowl of desired size with cling film and started to glue the spirals to each other.

The bowl will be made up of these spirals and should look really fantastic, however I have to make about 200 spirals so could be a while.

I will keep you posted

Stuffing

Time to stuff the dolls.

So I followed the instructions and started to stuff.

 First the feet..

Doesn't look much like a foot. My husband reckons it was the heart especially when compared to the photo in the book...

Remember I have 4 feet to do as I am making two dolls at the same time (I have twins who don't wait)

Next was the body which proved interesting especially as the first doll had one leg longer than the other...opps!

Then you add the head

which you can't over stuff or the clothes won't fit

Next was the arms which you attached from the neck and sewed a line across for the wrist definition

Finally the other arm as well and you have * drum roll*

With a very pleased Noah in the back ground. He still has a leg that is slightly too long but they are very pleased. But what does he look like clothed

Ta Dah!!

However he still needs hair and a face so still a work in progress. The kids are delighted with them and are desperate to get their hands on them so back to work.

April

Its the 10th April and I am still knitting. I have stuffed the knitted doll and will post pictures later but wanted to tell you all that April is Decoupage month and I will be covering Jacobs bed side table in Marvel comics. Hope it works as I haven't told him yet and I'm planning to do it over the next couple of days whilst he's away at his Grandparents. Fingers crossed it works

Karate kids

Well you can see why the boys wanted me to make this from Knitting for Gold! I have promised to make them one each and to knit new belts in the right colour for everytime they get graded

 I started this ages ago but as I have to make 2 at the same time it has been slow going. First I made 4 feet

 They will look more like feet when they are folded and stuffed

Then I had to make 4 arms...

 and of course 2 heads...

But then I ran out of steam.

However a week in Dorset which included a few rainy days restored by knitting passion so I started to make the bodies, complete with intergrated pants!!

joining the 2 legs

 It looks a bit odd but I had no stuffing with me but its supposed to look like this

So instead I started on the karate suit

Attaching the sleeves

So that's one suit, just one more to go...

But we are home now and I have stuffing so I will attempt to assemble the doll although sewing is not my strong point.

I will post up more pictures when they are finished.

I have also been crochetting and using cotton. I have abandoned the knitted/crochetted jumper but I have found a different pattern to try which seems simpler.

But I will save these for another day but for now back to the karate suits....