Crochet boots

I’ve never done much knitting or crochet, but after coming across this tutorial for adding crochet to an existing pair of shoes, I’ve been a intrigued enough to try it again. I’ve been experimenting with a pair of ballet flats, made the holes around the top edge and have been trying out different stitches while looking up basic crochet stitch instructions on the net.

The great thing about crochet and knitting is that you can unravel and start again -and that’s mostly what I’ve been doing so far. Adding just a few rows around the top would look quite nice, and would be really easy (I will do that next I think) but I really want to see if I can somehow turn them into kind of slouchy, short boots.

Yesterday I bought this pattern from fellow Etsy pattern seller Mon Petit Violon

My plan is to make them as the pattern, to learn the stitches and get an idea of the fit etc, then see if I can adapt them to add the top part onto my shoes.

So far I’ve made half of one & it’s going ok. I’ll add photos of my further attempts.

Little Pouches pattern

I’ve recently designed a new pattern. It’s a little zipped pouch with a few different options included: flat & simple or with little vertical pleats, with or without an easy-to-make wrist strap. The lining is padded for practicality. I prefer padding the lining rather than the exterior as I think it’s easier & adds shape & structure to the pouch without it looking padded.

For more information on this or any of my other patterns, go to my “Patterns for Sale” page.

This PDF pattern is available for sale  here or here.

New Clutch Pattern

“Mini Twist Clutch”  pattern & instructions now for sale here.

It may look difficult but the pattern does most of the work for you – stitch at just the right place  in the centre, twist, join the dots and voila!

Perfect for adding an interesting zip puller to, such as a Leather Tassel, no?

How to make a Leather Tassel

With just a small piece of leather and basic tools you can make this leather tassel to add to something you make, or to pep up something  you’ve bought. Adjust the length as you desire – long strands can be glamorous on a bag, on coat pockets little short tassels might be better.

You’ll need:

*a small metal ring about 10mm internal diameter (find in jewellery/ beading or craft stores)

*Approx. 15 x 15 cm piece of leather

*Double sided tape

*Masking Tape

*heavy (preferably linen) thread

*leather hole punch

*Scissors or scalpel knife (depending on thickness of leather)

*Square Ruler

Step 1: Cover your leather, on the right side, with rows of masking tape. Slightly overlap each row to make it easier to peel off later. Don’t press tape down too much.

Step 2: Measure & draw directly onto the masking tape, following the diagram above, using a square ruler to ensure all the lines are at right angles.

Step 3: Cut around outer edge with scissors or scalpel. Use hole punch to make the 2 small holes (using a piece of heavy leather behind makes punching easier) . With scissors cut all of the 5mm wide strands only up as far as the horizontal line.

Step 4: Pull off all masking tape.

Step 5: Cut double-sided tape into narrow strips & apply 3 rows to back of leather, all the way along top. Remove protective layer on tape.

Step 6: Pass tab of leather at top through the metal ring and fold down tab to stick to tape.

Step 7: Fold over end of tassel once (as photo above). Use hole punch through existing holes to make holes in exactly the same place below.

Step 8: Continue rolling/ folding one turn at a time and each time make the 2 new holes directly below the last holes.

Step 9: When you get to the end of the leather, if there is excess trim as close as possible to the holes. Cut along  the closest strand, as shown above.

Step 10: Stitch thread through holes a few times, pulling thread firmly each time you pass it through. You shouldn’t need a needle if the thread is heavy enough.

When both ends of thread are at the back of the tassel (ie the side that has the end of leather showing), knot twice & pull tightly. Trim ends of thread.

To attach to an ordinary zip puller, see my previous post “Making a chunky leather zip pull”. On some bags, such as the purple clutch at the top of this post, it’s best to add a few rings to make a small chain before you get to the tassel so that it hangs in a good position on the bag.

New Pleated Clutch Pattern

I’ve just put up for sale the pattern and instructions for this clutch bag. The front has a sunray pleated detail and there are little pleats at the bottom corners to give volume. The sunken/ hidden zip makes it look sophisticated and finished -I just don’t think an exposed zip cuts it as an evening bag.

I’ve made it in a Duchess (i.e. heavy/ matt) satin, but brocades and shantung type silks or even  a heavy polished cotton would work. Lighter fabrics would need to be backed first with some fusible interfacing. I’m looking forward to trying it in a stripe as I love the wonky effect of this kind of pleating when made in striped fabric.

I’m going to be keeping my eye out in charity shops for horrible clothes made in great fabrics to cut up and make into this clutch.

The pattern is available here and here

New “Jetsetter Wallets” PDF Pattern now on my Etsy shop

I have just added my first PDF pattern for sale on my Etsy shop. It’s a fully lined fabric purse with a stylish “hidden-zip” construction, sized to hold banknotes, coins, credit card & even passport.

There are 4 applique patterns included to stitch on the front:  dollar, pound, euro & yen symbols. You can organise your leftover foreign currency ready for the next trip, or adorn with your home currency symbol for an everyday accessory.

It comes with 4 pages of instructions that explain step-by-step my secrets for making this construction look great using a domestic sewing machine.

My previous post shows how to make an interesting zip puller for this wallet. As soon as I get time I plan to add here on constructivblog a few extra tips for making this pattern in leather and plasticated/ coated canvas materials.

The pattern is available for sale here
& here

Making a chunky knotted leather zip puller

The little metal zip pulls that come on home-sewing zips are  fine for dresses & skirts but not particularly attractive, or practical, for accessories.  But you can easily jazz up your purses & bags by adding your own. Once you know how to remove the metal puller and attach a ring there’s no end to what you can add….beads, tassels, curtain rings? Here I’ll show you how to knot a simple chunky leather puller.

You’ll need some wire cutters or  pair of pliers with a cutting edge. Use these to cut straight across the metal puller. Then use the ends of the pliers to pull out the remaining bits of metal, so only the “cursor” that runs up and down the teeth remains.

Next you need to attach a ring into the cursor. You can use either a “jump ring” which has a gap in the metal that you prise open with pliers then close up again once attached, or a “split ring”  (as photo) which has 2 rows of metal wire so that you can open it up slightly & slide around the cursor until it is attached. Both types of ring are available from jewellery & beading suppliers. Whatever you choose ensure that the metal wire is thin enough to fit into the hole in the cursor with enough room to move around freely.

Either use a length of  ready cut leather thonging (available from beading & craft shops, or even sold as shoelaces) or cut a 2 -4mm wide piece from a skin of leather with scissors. The length you need depends on how long you want the finished puller to be. It’s best to start with about 30cm to be safe.

Insert an end of the leather into the ring and pull so that the ends are even & the exterior of the leather is on the outside. Start making knots, tightening as each knot  is made. Follow the diagrams below to tie the knots. Continue until you have the length you need & trim the ends with scissors, leaving a little length at the ends so that the knots don’t unravel.