knitting a necklace

I have found the perfect knitted Christmas present : a stunning necklace.

It is easy peasy to make, in about 2 hours it is completely finished.
the how-to tutorial you can find here : olgajazzzy.blogspot.be


This is what I made : 

finished with a vintage button

lurex thread gives it a sparkle

finished in 2 hours !

crochet necklace

Some time ago, I visited a craft shop run by a young woman.  She turned the shed of her house into a small store, with an abundance of choice - the place was stacked with beads, buttons, all kind of examples, quite close to  what I would call heaven. 

In black 'n white, quite artistic don't you think ? 

I bought several items, but somehow I never got around to actually making something with it.  Too busy knitting I suppose.  But now it was time for a challenge : I was asked by a group of ladies to show them how to crochet a necklace, using mainly buttons and beads.  This is the result :

So I got out my box with manly tools ( cutters, tongs in all shapes, cutting pliers and metal threads) and the stack of pearl and buttons I acquired over the years.  And there were the small beads and fine threads I bought at the shed - I forgot all about them !

silvery sewing thread and 100 swarofski beads

the picture doens't do them right, they sparkle a lot more

Well, It was so much fun, I couldn't stop making them. 

And this is how you can make them too : 

Make a selection of small beads, some buttons if you want, and chose a fine but strong thread.  You can use fine embroidery silk, or colourful cotton, DMC will do or cordonnet, even nylon thread (like fishermen use) or fine metal threads.  Use a very fine crochet hook, like a 1 or 1.50.

You start with putting a lot of beads on the thread you are going to use.  I put on at least 100 different beads.  Then you just start crocheting in chain stiches, and randomly add the beads.  Like chain 5 stiches, add a bead, chain 10 stiches, add a bead, chain 7 stiches, add 2 beads, etc.... until no beads are left on the thread.  Same with the buttons.

To add a bead : you just push the bead as close to your crochet hook as possible and chain on, it will be automatically fastened in your work.

this thread was on a spool, and was easy to use.

You will end up with a very long piece of crochet, and to avoid it messing all up, wind it around a little piece of cardboard (I use the inside rolls of my kitchen paper towels)

Then you have to make it into a wearable necklace or bracelet.  Use a technique for adding a little metal chain, or gather the long chain and twist it around so that the beads form a 'sausage' and add a clasp if necessary.

One of the ladies used nylon thread to crochet, and the result was very flexible, she could just put it around her head a few times and it was finished.

use your imagination ! 

fimo necklace

I was leafing through a new book at the bookstore, and found the picture of a fimo doll, made into a necklace.  She's so cute, I couldn't wait to get home and make one for me.

fimo combined with beads

she's got a funny face

I used old lace to press a pattern on the dress

I kinda liked using fimo and beads, it's nice to combine and makes the whole thing more playful.
The little shoes and the handbag are super cute.  She's hanging on a leather string, that runs through her head.

This is my prototype, I'm quite pleased with it.  A second one is nearly finished, I used a bit more colour.  Pics are following soon.

felting

There is a lot more you can do with wool than knitting.  I was about to learn this at the 3-days workshop given by Mieke Recour.
We worked really hard at felting, it is quite intensive to make the wool change into felt.  You have to start very gently, but then just hit it, throw it around, slap it, get all your frustration out of your body, and the result is simply beautiful !
We could chose what to make, and as I'm not a scarf person, I made a few necklaces.
I love them, they are very light to wear, and I made them into the colours that fit my clothes.

earring made of silk cocons, handpainted

felted wool in spiral technique

plain felt ovals, but I love the colours

silk ribbons

handpainted, they were white when we started

needle felted rose

the only scarf I made : silk cut in fine strings

silk flowers on a felted base

silk is all handpainted

I'm quite proud of this one.

love those colours !

and here are some pics of the workshop itself :

Mieke explaining carefully what we can do

I love this necklace she made !

She has her own working place, an 'atelier'

silk ribbons painted in matching colours

lunch is served in the garden !

the spiral one and his secret : a plain plastic tube

Claire is making one too

Karin is making a book cover

ready to finish, or should I add more stuff ?

trial and error ?

look at that lovely stash of wool in the background....

Claire busy making her bookcover

it involved ironing, in this heat !

finishing the necklaces

I really enjoyed this 3 days.  Mieke is thinking of organising 'free ateliers' , that means you can come and join her in her atelier in De Haan, use all the material she has (and pay for it of course) - and she will help you when you have a problem or want to turn an idea into a scarf or necklace or handbag or anything.  She is a very good teacher, patient, friendly and empathic.  Check out her website for more info !

time is on my side

Hello dear followers,

It is the second week of my Easter holiday, and the weather here is bad.  It's cold, raining, and I don't want to get out of my house.  So I've been spending a lot of time in front of my laptop, and I have surfed around a lot on all your blogs.  I have found some treasures all over the world, and you will probably notice that there are many new little icons on the right side.

I have updated my blog to the new interface, and it works fine. I  just have to get used to the new layout.
And I have updated my account on ravelry, added some new projects and found inspiration for a million other stuff I want to knit....

I have also spent some time finishing a beautiful pattern by Kate Davies, the paper dolls.  A picture of the finished project is about to follow.....

And last but not least, I've finished the 2 necklaces I have crocheted according to the Veerle Maes pattern.  One for me, one for my sister - she can choose.

1 red and 1 blue

with an easy way of closing, all crochet

I used 2 sewing threads together for the mêlé effect

This evening I'll be following a new workshop by Mieke Recour. She works with silk and makes lovely jewelry - so I'm quite excited.

isn't it gorgeous ?  I would like to learn how to make this !

And next week I will go to a workshop 'making a hat in flax' with charlepeau
So, a lot of exciting things in the near future.
Folow the blog and you will learn more about it !

fimo necklace #005

 A funky necklace, to wear in the sunshine.  Next week, when all the rain has gone....

This new fimo necklace was inspired by the book from Sophie Arzalier.

I used fimo balls, in various marbled colours, and I made small cube shaped beads to, with a fimo cane.  A super technique that I want to experiment further with.
I used a lot of left over beads, that matched in shape and colours.  It is a long necklace, I can twist it around my neck about 3 times.  Or let it hang long, depending on what I'm wearing.
The basic colours are pink, light green and light blue. 

colours are too blue, due to bad camera...

I made it extra long, lots of beads went into it

I can wear it 3x around my neck

a summer feeling created by a funky colourscheme