Make it: Weaving in the Round

Ever since I spent a week driving to and from Austria a couple of years ago I have loved weaving. I took a small loom and some yarn in the car and learnt a few basic techniques whilst my Husband drove down the autobahn.  I have loved learning a new crafty skill and really enjoy being able to do something with wool and fibres that I wouldn't knit or crochet with.

Anyway, I recently saw a pin that made me very excited. It showed an embroidery hoop being used as a round loom! My little mind was blown (it doesn't take much these days) after some research I had a go and now I am hooked on weaving all over again.

Now that I have practised a little, I thought it would be something that you guys might like to try too. Once you have the basics down I bet you will be as addicted as me!

You will need: An embroidery hoop (the one I have used here is a 10") strong string or thread, a selection of yarns, a wool needle or bodkin and some small scissors.

Step 1. Take the outer ring off the hoop and put it to one side, take the thread and tie it around the edge of the inner hoop leaving a inch or so of thread to tie later.
Step 2. Pull the thread straight down over the bottom of the opposite edge of the hoop, take it over the edge and to the back.
Step 3. Bring the thread up and over the downward thread.
Step 4. Then bring the thread over the front of the hoop about 1 inch away from where you started.

Step 5. Continue taking the thread over the edge and over the other side in a figure of 8.
Step 6. Make sure to keep the centre crossing over, until you reach all the way around the hoop.
Step 7. Before threading the last strand take the thread around the centre a couple of times to keep it all together.
Step 8. Take the last strand up to meet the first thread and tie it to the end you left at the beginning.

Step 9. It should look something like this, you can choose to put your threads closer together but I would start with them at this width as it doesn't take too long to finish.
Step 10. Starting at the centre, take a length of yarn on a wool needle and start threading in and out through the strands.
Step 11. Keep threading in and out back and forth.
Step 12. Use your needle to keep the yarn tight to the centre and keep moving around the hoop.

Step 13. To finish off each colour simply thread the yarn back down in through the previous layers and snip away the excess.
Step 14. Keep going, changing colour when you want to. Mix it up with different colours and textures to keep it interesting.

These are some ideas for simple versions using regular and chunky yarns but they would also look great with some more textured yarns, ribbons or fabric scraps. You can of course take them out of the hoops and use them as place mats and coasters, but I love the look of them as art on my walls in the hoops. They would bring a quick splash of colour to any space for very little cost, always a winner in my book!

For more instructions on weaving and different kinds of techniques check out this cool blog The Weaving Room, Kate has lots of really great tutorials and videos on lots of different kinds of weaving.

As always, if you have a go at this tutorial please #livelovemake on Instagram or Twitter, as we would love to see them.

Sammy xxx


Bloglovin / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Guest Pinning for Simple Stylish Knitting

H and I are always up for learning new crafts and brushing up our skills. We are heading off to learn a few new techniques ourselves in November. One of the crafts we both want to work on now that the colder weather and darker evenings have kicked in, is Knitting.

H and I know how to knit and crochet but we are by no means confident with either. We wanted to go back to basics so when Simple Stylish Knitting asked us to guest pin for them we were so excited! We are pinning all month on their 'Knits to Give' board.

We will let you know more about what else we have coming up with them later in November, but in the meantime head over and check out what we want to make as gifts to help us sharpen up our skills with some fancy yarns.

 Live, Love, Make, Like, Share, Follow, Tweet, Pin, Add, Enjoy. 

Bloglovin / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Crafting in the Car, Loom Weaving

At some point this summer if you are off on holiday, there will no doubt be some time spent in the car/ train/ aeroplane where you may have some down time to do some crafting. I have just come back from a 3000 mile road trip so I had plenty of time 'Crafting in the Car' ( is it super sad that I sing that phrase to the tune of  Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen?? Probably)

My craft of choice was one that I had been dying to try out for a while, Yarn Weaving. I have been seeing a LOT of gorgeous wall hangings around lately and I bought a loom about a year ago with the intention of doing something-or-other, so I thought as we were heading for a lot of time in the car it would be a perfect time to give it a go. *Spoiler alert* freaking LOVE weaving!!

It is the most awesome way to use up scraps of wool (that you have been meaning to knit/crochet with) and they are super trendy so everyone can have one as a Christmas gift this year.

Would you guys like a tutorial for this?

Have you got a long trip to take? what will you be 'crafting in the car? or on a plane? let us know what summer crafts you have planned.

Sammy xxx

 Live, Love, Make, Like, Share, Follow, Tweet, Pin, Add, Enjoy. 

Bloglovin / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Google+ 

Make it: Pompom's 3 Ways

It is celebration central round here this month, one reason is our blogs 3rd Birthday! (check out tomorrows bonus post to find out what else we are celebrating). We are thinking ahead and trying to decide how to celebrate... probably a little party! My favourite thing about a party (after cake of course) are decorations. We thought we would show you how to DIY some of our fave party decorations, Pom poms! We have an epic three different options to show you today using paper, wool and net.

Paper Pom poms

Paper pompoms are just everywhere these days, I have been making them for a long time, you probably saw them here when we did decorations for my friend Kelly's Barbie party a couple of years ago. You can buy them in lots of places now but they are super easy to make, then you can have any colour you like.

To make these small ones you will need: Two sheets of tissue paper, some wire, Scissors and thread.

Cut each of your tissue paper sheets into four strips, so you will have eight strips all together and pile them up on top of each-other. Start to make small folds back and forth until you reach the end. It should look like a fan. Find the centre point and cut two small slits in either side of your fan being careful not to cut all the way through.

Take your wire and wrap it around the centre of your fan shape, making sure the wire sits in the cuts you have made. Twist it around to make a loop, which you can hang it by later. Next is the fun part, start to separate the layers out one by one. Work you way around until you get to four layers down, then flip it over and peel away from the other side until you reach the centre, you may need to fluff it a little to even it out once you are done. Then attach your string to the loop you made and hang it up somewhere to look pretty.

Wool Pompoms

There is a long story behind my love of the Clover Pompom maker, it is a serious game changer if you like making wool pompoms, it means you can make a garland at lightning speed. If you are off to The Handmade Fair in September you might want to get involved in #worldpomination A record attempt to make the world longest PomPom garland! Head over to the site to find out more.

For style number two, wool pompoms you will need: Clover Pompom maker (or go old-school and use cardboard) Wool and Scissors.

Open out one side of your pompom maker and start wrapping your yarn around the double arm until it is full. Don't be tempted to over-full the tool, it works better if you just fill it to the edges. Then wrap the other side to match. Cut yourself a length of yarn to wrap around the centre, then start to snip the wrapped yarn in the groove of the tool.

Wrap the length of yarn around the centre and tie it firmly into a knot around the pompom. You can then remove the tool and you have a perfect pompom. To make it into a garland just use the yarn and tie it to a long length of wool to create a garland. 

Net Pompoms

The third and my personal favourite type of pompom are nylon netting pompoms. They are made in a similar way to paper pompoms but you can be a little more haphazard, oh and they are waterproof so you can hang them outside!

You will need: 75cm x 140cm of dress net, Scissors and wire.

Cut yourself a length of wire and eight strips of netting and layer all of them up. Start to scrunch the layers up in the centre, like we did for the tissue ones, but you don't have to be too neat about it. Grab a hold of it nice and tight in the centre and wrap your wire around the middle.

Once you have secured the netting, make a loop so you can hang up your pompom later. Then, as with the tissue paper style, pull the layers apart until your pompom is full and fluffed. Attach a length of string to the loop you made and hang it up wherever you need a pop of colour. 

 There you have it, three different but equally fun pompom techniques for you to try this weekend.

What are you celebrating at the moment? big or small, let us know in the comments below. There is no occasion too small for a pompom party! Right?! Don't forget to pop back for an extra special post tomorrow and don't forget to make a few extra wool pompoms to be a part of #worldpomination !

Sammy xxx

We would love to see if you have a go at this. Like with all our DIY's if you do, take a picture and share it with us on Twitter or instagram with the hashtag #livelovemake