handmade gifts for christmas and celebrations 2011

housewifeintraining

I'm thinking of having a go at crochet does anyone know of any simple patterns for beginners?

canspendnomore

stiltwalker wrote: »

Not much good a this time of year unless you've got some sloes tucked away in the freezer but I made a bottle of sloe bacardi (well Mr T white rum actually lol) when I made the sloe gin this year as my OH not keen on gin - been in just over a month now and we had a sneaky taster yesterday and put it this way next year I am so making LOTS more!:beer: I suspect you could use plums for a similar effect but would depend on when birthday is as it takes 3 months.

This won't work for her birthday, but would be fab for Christmas. Only problem is, where would I get sloes from? Don't know if they are growing locally- are they available to buy?

Might have to use plums if not, but foraged sloes seem so much more MSE!!

stiltwalker

canspendnomore wrote: »

This won't work for her birthday, but would be fab for Christmas. Only problem is, where would I get sloes from? Don't know if they are growing locally- are they available to buy?

Might have to use plums if not, but foraged sloes seem so much more MSE!!

No you have to forage your own sloes I'm afraid, they are the fruit of the blackthorn and are little almost black oval berries in hedgerows, they can be tricky to spot but once I'd been shown some by my Dad I kept seeing them all over the place. If you go on Wikipedia and look up Sloe there is a lovely picture of a blackthorn in full spring flower which is easier to spot than the berries so you could keep a look out in the spring so you know where to go in the autumn. You're supposed to pick after the first frost but if you wait this long you run the risk of everyone else having got there first! So pick earlier and replicate frost with a couple of days in the freezer. Damson is another good alternative if you know anyone with a tree or have a good greengrocer or market locally.

monkeysallsayboo

housewifeintraining wrote: »

I'm thinking of having a go at crochet does anyone know of any simple patterns for beginners?

I started crocheting last night! i have a book and managed to make a row, then wasnt sure how to start the next row. so i am going to look on youtube as i know there are good videos on there. i am also thinking of just doing a square or rectangle. then maybe using it as a dolls blanket.

once i get the hang on it i am going to try these hearts http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2008/02/sweet-heart-cro.html

and maybe a circle - for a coaster maybe? i have been putting off learning until i find something basic. but now i figure i have to start somewhere, so a plain circle, square and heart, will let me do going around, straight, turns and decreases! so then i can start mixing colours, etc.

this lady has some good videos http://www.youtube.com/user/tjw1963?blend=2&ob=4#p/c/59FA9DF4C757945B

good luck!

youngoldlady

Laura_D wrote: »

This afternoon I made a practise Lavender heart - I'm going to make some as a house warming gift for one of my friends. I also had my first ever go at blind stiching and stuck a needle in my thumb!!

That's a really lovely idea Laura Sorry to hear about your thumb. I hope it gets better soon. Sending hugs x

Laura_D_3

Yay just bought myself a art clay starter kit And one for my mums birthday, alongside a lovely book... Now just got to be patient until it arrives.

mary-op

Just come out of hospital...........bit of an emergency last Thursday when I couldnt walk.......seems 3 bones at the base of my spine are either fractured or are crumbling..........have to go for a bone scan to find out and then see what, if anything, can be done. Till then I'm very attached to a walking frame..........main mode of transport from one room to the other.............lol
Think I'll be very limited to what I ''create'' for pressies depending on how long this goes on for.

Laura -love the heart.:T..........what is blind stitching ? Is it like a sort of back stitch ?

cuddles123

mary-op wrote: »

Just come out of hospital...........bit of an emergency last Thursday when I couldnt walk.......seems 3 bones at the base of my spine are either fractured or are crumbling..........have to go for a bone scan to find out and then see what, if anything, can be done. Till then I'm very attached to a walking frame..........main mode of transport from one room to the other.............lol
Think I'll be very limited to what I ''create'' for pressies depending on how long this goes on for.

Laura -love the heart.:T..........what is blind stitching ? Is it like a sort of back stitch ?

Oh dear Mary - so sorry to read this. Hope is isn't too painful.

Sending hugs ((((( )))))

PepPop

Laura Gorgeous Lavender heart :T

Housewifeintraining I love this site for knitting and crotchet patterns and they're all free. This is all their crotchet ones

mary-op Ouch that's sounds painful Hope you're ok

Laura_D_3

mary-op wrote: »

Laura -love the heart.:T..........what is blind stitching ? Is it like a sort of back stitch ?

It's that stitch which is inside of the two pieces of material - I think - at least that's what I was trying to do :eek: