Made Marian: Oozing Crafty Goodness

This is another pattern from “The Happy Hooker” by Debbie Stoller. The picture in the book is of a lovely pink shawl but I needed something black to wear over a pink dress.  I had my doubts about it, the last thing I wanted  was to look like Peig Sayers.  But I really wanted something black and this seemed easier and was quicker to work up than some of the bolero type cardigans in the book.  I started it  two weeks ago and finished it on Friday, just in time to wear to a wedding on Saturday.   I’m still not entirely convinced that there isn’t an element of Peig about it but the way I wore it, it looked more like a bolero at the front so I think I got away with it.

I used 5 balls of Debbie Bliss Prima and a 5.5mm clover hook.  All from This is Knit.

The pattern is available for download here.

Yesterday was a day of highs and lows for me.  My phone was stolen but I got the sim cancelled and only lost about €4 credit so it could have been worse.  It was an old phone that I had intended changing anyway and I was just relieved that it wasn’t my wallet or car keys.

Anyway, after running around, phoning my mobile provider, picking up a replacement sim card and choosing a new phone I eventually got home and got to open the parcel that Deborah from tast.ie/spicendipity sent me.  It was like the Craft angel appeared and saved what was turning out to be a dreadful day.  Deborah turned her craft-room into an office and thus I was the benefactor of the crafty goodness that she no longer needs.  The parcel also contained my order from Spicendipity which I can’t wait to try….hmmm craft or food first?

I see crafty and well fed times ahead…..that is, once I figure out how to use my new phone.

Myself and my better half spent a fantastic weekend in Dublin recently with my friend from college and her boyfriend.  They wined and dined us for two whole days so any ole’ thank you card just wouldn’t do.

I still had some paper flowers left over from a sample set I got from Cara Crafts so I decided to make use of them.  I wanted something simple and elegant and since the flowers were white I decided to go with a dark pink background.

For this card, I simply cut the pink paper to size (just smaller than the front of the blank card) and glued it on with some gluestick.  For the flowers I trimmed the stems but left one a bit longer, I used this to twist around the other two to keep the flowers together.  I then added some raffia to hide the twisting stem.  I used two glue dots/squares, one in the place where I was going to stick the raffia bow and one above it.  Stick the bow onto the bottom glue dot and then use the top one to keep some of the flowers in place.

I used the “Thank You” stamp on the inside of the card to keep the front as simple as possible.

This time last year, we were packing to go to Glasgow for a wedding.  The couple in question had a gift registry and I think I clicked the “add card” button.  Oh how things have changed, I’d send a page of copier paper folded in two with a personal greeting scrawled on it before I’d use a department store gift card now!  So I said I’d repent for my sins by making an anniversary card.

For this one, I used fabric roses (I got these as a gift but I’ve seen them in fabric stores many times).  I measured the card to find the middle and then measured that line to find the best way to space out the roses.

I hand wrote (and it’s a bit obvious) “Happy Anniversary” and used a gold bead and a glue dot to dot the I.  Calligraphy lessons are on my list for September, the handwriting on this card looks a bit childish!

This crochet clutch bag is for a wedding I’m attending next month. The wedding is in Finland but we’ll be traveling for almost a week before the big day so I’m packing a wrinkle free dress, unfortunately my only one of those is black, so the pink accessories will hopefully jazz the outfit up a bit. It was a quick and easy project that got me reintroduced to some sewing as well as being my first proper crochet project. The pattern is from Debbie Stoller’s iconic Stitch ‘n’ Bitch crochet book “The Happy Hooker”. I am somewhat worried about the Google searches that might lead people to this post, but anywho, lets continue.

The yarn is Sirdar Snuggly Double Knitting purchased from The Singer Sewing shop on Fox’s Bow here in Limerick and I used a 5mm addi hook purchased online from This is Knit.

You don’t need much crochet experience for this project, as it’s mostly the half double crochet stitch, which is explained very clearly in the book. I sewed up the sides using the back stitch.

Stage two was adding the lining. The fabric came from Hickey’s on Cruise’s Street in Limerick. I cut it to size and hand sewed the sides up with a matching thread. That’s then slotted into the bag and I tacked it in place first and then hand sewed it on, I only sewed across the top (you can see the stitching in the photo).

Finally, the flower. I didn’t use the pattern that came with the bag, I used the six petal flower pin pattern from later in the book.

I stitched the flower onto the bag, but I’m not entirely convinced that I shouldn’t have attached it a bit higher.

Hello and welcome to Made Marian. You’ve probably been directed here from Style Treaty which has been my blogging home for two years. Before we get started with the craftiness, I just wanted to say a few words of thanks. I have come a long way since my pal JD set up Style Treaty for me, this time I managed to set up the new domain and install wordpress on my own, however I fell at the last hurdle and JD had to rescue the situation again, so thank you (again). I also want to say a massive thank you to Sabrina Dent who created this crafty themed wonderland which will be my new blogging home. She has put up with my luddite status for the past week. Questions like “how do I edit my widgets?” and “how do I put links on a different line” must have made her day I’m sure.

Just a note: the blogroll and craft shop sections are still under construction, it will take me a while to get those fully stocked.