Bakercourt - Knitting, Sewing, Crafting.: craft

2021

Happy New Year! Gosh, it's 2021

Sunday, January 03, 2021

Happy New Year to you and yours! I'm so glad to see the end of 2020, as I'm sure you are too. It was a year unlike any other, and I still shudder when I think about our lockdown here in Abu Dhabi. As we are in an apartment 27 floors up, we didn't have access to a garden (oh how I longed to have our garden back in England! Or a balcony, at the least) and I think it's amazing that we were all still friends by the time we were allowed out for "socially distanced exercise". We miss our family and friends, not only in England but in South Africa as well - I don't think that the world has ever felt so big before, or so far away. We are all in this together, but apart.

Happy New Year from us and all the dinosaurs!

I spent a lot of time in the doctors' waiting rooms trying to get to the bottom of some medical issues, but we're on the right track now after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, two chronic conditions that require monthly monitoring, and several points on my frequent-flyer hospital card. That's not a real thing but it really should be because I'd be winning!

But not all was bad. I always try to see the positive in any situation - and while it was incredibly difficult to find the silver linings during lockdown! - I did find a few positives. I watched quite a lot of Roots & Refuge farm on Youtube (link here) which follows the journey of a big family as they turn a foreclosure home with an unruly garden in Central Arkansas into an incredible farm that feeds their whole family. Goals! Jess, the mom, regularly reminds everyone that if you can't be exactly where you want to be RIGHT NOW, then you've got to turn your WAITING ROOM into your CLASSROOM. So that's what we did. We made a list of everything we wanted to learn, do, and explore - and then we started.

Sunset at Al Wathba Lakes, Abu Dhabi

Graeme and I have both signed up to do a diploma in botany, focussing on home gardens. We also decided during lockdown that we're going to focus on having more adventures and seeing/doing more out of our routines and comfort zones once lockdown finally lifts. And we did. We have been posting pictures on our shared instagram account here. We've been camping, dune driving, 4x4ing, exploring landmarks and lakes, and we welcomed the new year in with a sunrise breakfast in the dunes. Graeme got his sailing license, and just today, passed his exam for his powerboating license.

Fairfield Button Up. Because all shirt cuffs should be embroidered, right?

I rediscovered my love of sewing. While I've done little bits here and there before getting stuck in during lockdown, I really managed to "level up" and even got a new machine when we were finally allowed out again! I now have a beautiful Janome 9400 which I love completely and have used extensively. I've sewn five Made by Rae Trillium Dresses, two mini Made by Rae Geranium Dresses, one quilt, two christmas stockings, a red riding hood cape and a mermaid dress for halloween, a Twig & Tale dinosaur vest, several quilted zipper pouches, one Fairfield Button Up Shirt, and one small Thomas Shirt (see pic above for psychadelic traffic shirt!). Shirts! I have always wanted to make a man's shirt. It was ridiculously intimidating but was totally fine once I got stuck in. Slow and steady.

A rainbow of 1-inch English Paper Pieced hexagons

I have also been spending quite a lot of time hand stitching 1" english paper pieced hexagons. I've made 300 so far, and I'm doing a few each week and storing them for a project some time in the future. I worked out that I need around 4000 hexagons to make a bed-sized quilt so I'm fairly sure I'll end up using them for something much smaller when the inspiration finally strikes, but I really like the idea that I'm using up all of my fabric scraps from sewing projects and turning them into little hexagons of happy memories.

2021 for our family is going to be a year of doing just a little more, and putting in the effort. I've made a list of all of my "unfinished projects" that were abandoned during low moments in 2021 and I'm going to finish them. So far, I have two pairs of knitted socks that still need heels, one hat that is about half way knit, one bundle of fabric that I bought to turn into a shirt but didn't make it that far, and some lovely dark blue courdroy fabric that was destined to become a child-sized gilet. I also have a cupboard full of "shelf stable" foods for lockdown that never got used. I'm going to try pull out a random ingredient at least once a week to turn it into a meal and free up some cupboard space! I don't want to collect half-done projects or half-formed ideas anymore. With 2020 behind us, we have to make the most of every day going forward.

For 2021, I wish you love, health and happiness. I wish you happy memories, and amazing opportunities. But most of all, I wish you the freedom to enjoy the simple things and spend time with the people who matter the most.

craft

HUGE hula hoop dreamcatcher DIY

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

I posted this picture months ago on my instagram and I suddenly had loads and loads of people asking me if I'd be willing to sell dreamcatchers.

Hula Hoop Dreamcatchers In Progress

I really enjoyed making this one, so I made two more for the kids in bright rainbow colours. No, I don't sell these. Yes, I did make them - and you can too. They're so easy and fun to make, I thought I'd share the instructions so you could make your own dreamcatchers.

Here's a quick montage of the dreamcatchers I made:

To start, you'll need:

a hula hoop (ours were adult-sized but you can use whatever you have). As I was making a white dreamcatcher first, I covered up the rainbow colours on the hoop with some plain masking tape. This was a pain, I think it took longer than the crochet bit! But it did make a difference and stopped the colours from showing through. I didn't bother covering up the rainbow colours on the kids' dreamcatchers and that worked fine too.
your favourite yarn in either DK or Aran weight, with a corresponding crochet hook. My white dreamcatcher took about 80g of aran weight acrylic, while the rainbow ones took about 50g each of rainbow acrylic yarn in DK weight. This will depend on the size of your hoop and how much fringe you want to add.
t-shirt yarn to crochet around the hoop, with a huge crochet hook (somewhere between a 6mm and 10mm). You also use this to create the fringe. We used about half a ball of hoooked zphaghetti but this will depend on the size of your hoop.
bells, beads, fabric strips or yarn lengths for the fringe if you want to decorate

DIY Hula Hoop Dreamcatchers

The middle of the dreamcatcher is a crocheted mandala. There are loads of amazing patterns to choose from, but my favourite is the Attic24 Positivity Mandala. Click here for the full pattern and tutorial instructions. I stopped after round 8, Lucy's turquoise round, as this gave me the shape I wanted. Lucy's instructions are really easy to follow, and she has photos for each step. Round 8 also gives you a series of spaces that you'll use in the next step.

I added a row of crocheted loops to create my own row 9. I started by adding the yarn in the space created in the middle of the V stitch from round 8. Then, chain 9 stitches, and single crochet into the next chain space. Repeat all the way around, and then secure and cut the yarn. This creates a series of loops.

The next bit is to create a crochet chain that you will use to string through the loops to start stretching your mandala onto the hoop. The length you make will depend on the size of the hoop you have, but I start with about two metres of crochet chain and work from there. Don't fasten off - keep it on the hook and use the free end to thread through the hoops as below. * Note - you might want to use yarn or string here if you don't want the faff of crocheting-as-you-go! The same principle applies.

Add a stitch marker to the free end of the crochet chain, and then use that to thread through the loops, always going from front to back. You'll start off at the front, threading the chain through the loop, pulling it out the back, and pulling it back to the front of the next stitch to start again. Don't pull too tight - you'll want this comfortably loose so that you can lay the mandala flat and see how much more you need to add as you go. Depending on the size of your hoop, you might have to crochet a little more! This is totally fine, and you have the flexibility to adjust the size of your chain because you left the crochet hook in the working end.

Keep your mandala flat as you weave your crochet chain or yarn through the outer loops

Once you've gone all the way around, it's time to join the ends. Do this temporarily as you'll have to make loads of adjustments to get it just right. You will almost definitely be adding more. I use a stitch marker to join my ends to create a loop, but you could use a clip, a peg, or even a loose bow. You want a nice big, loose loop around the edges of your mandala that weaves in and out of round 9.

By weaving in and out, you've created a series of new loops. You're going to pull these loops up a little, starting on opposite ends. It helps to tie them temporarily to the hula hoop using long strips of yarn. Start with the top and bottom loops, tieing them loosely on to the hoop. Then do the left and right loops. Work your way around the hula hoop, securing all the loops up and in place. Chain a little more if you need it.

Keep the tension on your mandala nice and tight when attaching to the hula hoop

Now you can choose: either tie the ends of the chained loop together, firmly securing in place, and start a new chain to go around the outer edge. This chain will be used to wind around the hula hoop. OR you can tie your chain together, leaving a tail of about 15cm. You'll use this tail as the end bit of the next chain, hiding the join under the hula hoop cover and leaving it looking all a bit neater. This method takes a little more patience but it looks great!

You're going to tie the mandala on to the hula hoop now. Crochet a new length of chain (or use what you have left if you went with the second method), and start weaving the mandala around the hula hoop in an "in and out" method, weaving your chain or thread in this pattern:

- through the front of a mandala loop

- over the top of the hula hoop

- down the back of the hula hoop

Easy peasy! If you're still not sure, have a look at the first pic right up at the top of the blog post where I'm doing exactly this.

Make sure that everything is where you want it. This might require some wiggling. Then make a loop with the leftover chain (or chain a little to make a loop) at the top of your hoop to hang the dreamcatcher, tie your yarn off, and join the ends of the chain to secure the mandala in place.

Now you're going to use your t-shirt yarn and a huge crochet hook. Starting at the top, work your way around the edge of the hula hoop, crocheting a simple single crochet stitch around the hula hoop frame in between the chain that loops around the hula hoop. Once you reach the end, slip stitch to join and weave in the ends of your yarn.

It's fringe time! This is the best bit. You can add fringe however you want. I alternate bundles of yarn with t-shirt yarn to create the fringe, and add in bits of whatever I have - I used fake suede and kraft twine on mine, and glitter cotton on the kids' fringe with added bells tied on at random intervals. Find the bottom of your hoop, and cut lengths of yarn that are double the length of your preferred fringe length. Double them over, and thread the looped bit through the bottom-most of the t-shirt yarn crochet sttiches on the hoop. Pull the ends through the loop, pull to tighten, and admire your work.

Working outwards, fill in the fringe with what you have. I braid some of the fringe, and leave some of it loose. It is up to you! Trim the ends if you'd like a particular shape (like a triangular arrowhead) or leave it rough

That's it. I did each step separately, so all in all, it took about a week to make two of these but you could probably squeeze this into a day - or an afternoon if you use bigger yarn. We've hung ours up above our beds on those fancy command hooks that stick temproarily to the wall, and they hold the weight just far. The weight limit on our hooks is 1.3kg and they've been hanging quite happily for quite a while. My one has been on the wall since November, and the hook shows no signs of letting go! I'd love to see if you make one of these! If you need help, message me on instagram here.

Birthday

Happy Birthday Finnlay!

Thursday, June 01, 2017

We've had a whirlwind of activity here in the last few weeks, so much so that I've hardly had time to sit down and catch up! Most importantly, Finnlay turned one. Big boy!

A whole year! It's amazing to see how different he is to his big sister at the same age. He is stronger, bigger, more demanding. But he is also less confident, more affectionate. The sweetest little boy. He loves his sister, his family. He loves Peppa Pig. He loves saying "go". He has an amazing abundance of love to give, and approaches everything with a soft kindness that amazes me.

We made party hats, party food, a lion cake. We blew up balloons, wrapped presents, invited tiny friends to play on a bouncy castle.

I haven't spent nearly as much time in front of a computer as I normally do. It is a wonderful thing. These days I spend most of my time making soap, playing in the garden with the children, attending markets or exhibiting at shows. We paint, we play in the sandpit, we chase Finnlay around as he climbs anything taller than himself - the slide, steps, chairs. I do spend some time doing work work, but it's wonderfully liberating to be moving away from that.

We've also been doing events, including a huge market at Southend Festival, loads of soapmaking, family visiting from South Africa and visitors staying from the West Coast, we've had the summer arrive with gloriously hot days and long sunny nights, and an occasional moment for crafting.

Here's a sneak peek of what I've been working on: a house number made with cut stained glass. I hope to put our stamp on our home as we slowly transform it from an ancient mosaic of different styles and eras. There seems to be an endless supply of walls that need stripping, wallpaper that needs peeling off, and layers upon layers of old tiles that are coming out. Small projects like these rainbow-coloured house numbers are an excellent way to feel like we're making progress in amongst the never-ending big jobs.

Finnlay turning one marks a year that we've been in this house too - golly, a whole year! Next on our project to-do list is: bedroom cupboards (oh the promise of the luxury of storage!) and a new bathroom to put in a shower upstairs. How exciting. Watch this space.

bunny

Hoppy Easter! Spring time makes

Thursday, April 13, 2017

We are experiencing our first proper school holidays. School's closed for Easter Holidays (or Pesach in our house) so we have been doing lots and lots and lots of spring crafts. Bunny pom poms, bunting, daffodil flowers, colouring, baking, making, cardboard crafts, more colouring, and occasionally a little bit of me-time with crochet.

This is going to be a spring wreath, an abundance of crochet flowers and knitted vegetables. I'm making them up, pinning them in place, and going back for more brightly coloured bits and bobs to fill in the gaps. I'm aiming to fill a third of the wreath so there is still some quiet space around the top.

I had every intention of getting this finished before Easter but it hasn't happened. Instead, there are knitted lavender sprigs on my dining room table, crochet leaves draped over chairs here and there, and bunches of pink and purple yarn in clutches hidden under cushions. Such is life when you craft around a toddler and a newly-mobile baby.

We are going to have a choccy egg hunt on Saturday which the small people are thoroughly and excitedly looking forward to.

Have you got the balloons, mama? Isla asks. Yes darling.

Have you got the wrapping paper, mama? All parties mean wrapping paper, it seems. Even teeny tiny mini neighbourhood get-togethers.

In between all of this enthusiastic eastering, we have also been doing a bit of DIY and redecorating. Our dining room has had the artex removed (hurray!) and has been replastered and painted. Out with the brown, in the with the sage green ("botanical beauty") and the delicate cream ("candlelight" - oh how I LOVE paint names). We've scraped off about sixty years of wall paper in the front room and it too has been replastered. It's going to be a lovely combination of magic touch and basalt. That's pale grey and dark blue to the rest of us. The plasterer will be visiting us again for redoing the hallway and landing. It's all very exciting. Pictures soon, promise.

There is so much to show and tell! We have been making, building, gardening, fixing and generally DIYing with reckless abandon. It is wonderful. Spring has such glorious energy.