Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 3

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 3

Minnie the Minx wears a Hat. It is a Black Beret with a Red Pompom on. I already had a Black Beret so all I needed to do was add a Red Pompom

Materials for Pompom

First I gathered the materials I needed. I got Card, Scissors, Pen and two circular items to draw around.

Pompom Outer Circle

For the Outer Circle I drew around the Bottom of a Glass. If I had drawn around the Top the Pompom would be far too large.

Pompom Inner Circle

For the Inner Circle I placed a Salt Cellar in the Middle of the Outer Circle. Before drawing around this I made sure that I had the same amount of edge all the way around.

Pompom Cut-Out

I cut out the Circle and then cut out Middle Section. I then repeated the process.

Start of Pompom

I wound a Ball of Yarn then tied it to the Pompom Templates.

Beginning to Wind

I then began to wind the Yarn through the Templates. I placed the Strands as close to each other as I could.

First Time Around

I made one complete Circuit. I then began the second. I had to make more Balls of Yarn and attach them as I went along.

Fully Wound Pompom

I kept winding until there was only a small hole left. The last part of the winding I threaded a Needle to make it easier to go through. When finished I tucked the end into the Yarn.

Snip Between Cards

I very carefully began to cut away some of the thread to expose the Card Templates.

Tie Pompom

 

I continued cutting the Yarn all the way around. I then parted the Templates slightly and using Yarn about the same length of my arm I tied it in between the Card. I pulled it tight to secure it.

Remove Card

It was then safe to remove the Card Templates. I fluffed up the Pompom and trimmed off any straggly threads.

Sew on Pompom

Now I had my Pompom I could use the ends of the thread to sew it onto my Beret. It was a little larger than anticipated. However that doesn’t matter as it is a Comic Character.

I did add a couple of hairgrips to secure it a little more to the Beret so it didn’t flop about whilst walking.

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 2

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 2

This blog carries on with the Bottom half of the Minnie the Minx Costume.

Minx Shoes

The Shoes were the simplest part of the outfit. The Minx wears different shoes in different Comics. Sometimes it is Boots and sometimes a kind of Plimsoll.

I had some old trainers that were about ready for the bin. So therefore I got some old nail varnish and I added a touch of Red.

Minx Socks Materials

I needed a Pair of Black Socks, Scissors, Needle, Thread and Red Edging.

Black Socks

First of all I bought some socks. It was quite a bargain as I got three pairs for 99p. The only drawback was they weren’t hundred percent cotton. So that along with the polyester Skirt I was going to be pretty warm.

Adding Red Border

With the Top of the Sock turned over I started to add the Red Border. I used the crease at the Back of the Socks as a marker. Ideally I needed Red Elastic however I had to make do with Red Bias Binding.

I used a simple Tacking Stitch at the Top and Bottom of the Binding. I had to make the Stitches extremely Loose. This was so when I had my hand in and Stretched the Sock that it wouldn’t snap.

Finishing the Binding

I Sewed the Edging all the way around the Top of the Sock. As you can see in the photograph above the effect wiggly looking. I tried it on and found it was a little tight.

On the Second Sock I made the Stitches even Looser. I also did not sew the Two Ends of the Binding so close together. Everybody has one leg that is bigger than the other. Therefore I used the Tighter Binding on my smaller Leg and the Looser Binding on the bigger Leg

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 1

Watch Out There’s A Minx About 2019 Part 1

I am known for have Idea’s that are completely impractical due to the lack of time. This project is no exception to the rule. Each year we have a Carnival. I have long wanted to be a part of it but never have.

Nowadays with my poor mobility I will never be able to walk the Parade especially at this time of the year when it is hot. Therefore I in my wisdom decided to this year just dress up in costume just for the hell of it.

The theme for 2019 was Cartoon and Comic characters. My other half said that everybody would be going as DC or Marvel Characters. Since we in the UK have a rich heritage ourselves I should go as one. The Character he suggested was Minnie the Minx.

Making of a Minx

Minnie the Minx has a very distinctive look. For those that haven’t heard of her I will post a link at the Bottom of the page. Since I had less than a week to get it done I have to admit that I bought the Top off Ebay.

For the Skirt I trawled the local Charity Shops. I found one in Treetops that was right colour and roughly the right length.

Found a Skirt

One slight problem was the fact that it was about two sizes too small. As we know women’s clothing labelling is pretty much a pick and mix. However I slipped it on (over my other Skirt as no changing room). I decided that it was worth a risk. I thought that I might be able to add a panel or something to make it bigger.

Removing Underskirt

 

I removed the Underskirt. Normally I would have unpicked this but due to time restraints I just cut it out. I then trimmed any excess.

Now the Underskirt was removed I tried it back on. Since the Skirt was more or less the same shape all the way around I decided to move the Zip to the Side.

I was delighted to find that I was able to do up the Zip and with a bit of wiggling I was able to wear it and still be able to breathe. So no further alterations would be necessary. I would just have to remember to breathe in!

Minnie the Minx

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_the_Minx


Please support your local carnival
https://longeatoncarnival.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/LongEatonCarnival/

From Summer to Santa Memories 2019 Part 2

From Summer to Santa Memories 2019 Part 2

This blog is about a Yule Project I did many moons ago. Once again there is a lack of photographs.

I decided to make a couple of Santa Stockings. One for my Goddaughter and one for her Brother. These would be named so no squabbling over whose Stocking was whose unlike with the store bought Stockings.

Shannon Santa Stocking

Firstly the material. The colour scheme was easy as I went with the traditional Red and White. I had some Red Silky material which I used as the base.

I cut out a cardboard template. I drew around this then flipped it over so it was doubled. I really wish I had a photograph of how it was place on the material. I had angled it so as much of the material was already joined together so there was less to sew up.

Bradley Santa Stocking

I was unsure of how the Letters would be placed when the material was Sewn so I only part sewed the Stocking. That way I had room to get my hand in to add the Lettering.

This was Embroidered with Gold Metallic Thread. I also added a few stars to the Stockings. I then finished sewing up the Stocking with my usual Blanket Stitch

I then added a Loop to the Back of the Stocking and a Fluffy White Edging around the Top. There we have it two named Stockings already to be filled with presents.

From Summer to Santa Memories 2019 Part 1

From Summer to Santa Memories 2019 Part 1

It is amazing what you find when you have a sort out. I came upon a couple of projects that I had completely forgotten about. These are projects that I did before I had even heard of the word Blog. Therefore I apologise for lack of Photographs

The first project is a Fire Starter Kit I made for a friend’s Birthday. She was in to back to nature, woodlands and pre-modern inventions.

Fire Starting Kit

As you can see this in the above picture this is the finished item. The material was sourced locally. I needed one thick Branch, two long Twigs, some String, Drill and Sandpaper.

First of all I stripped the Twigs of their Bark. This gave them a chance to dry out a little. The Twigs were Willow but I am not sure what the Branch was made of.

I then marked three section where I was going to bore (for different sized Twigs). I selected a Drill Bit slightly larger than the Rubbing Twig. I Drilled down so far which was not easy as Branches tend to roll. I then changed Drill Bits and laying the Horizontally I began to remove the Wood at the Side to make a Notch.

I then smoothed out the Notches with the Sandpaper. I then strung the Horizontal Twig so it could be used as a Bow. I had to leave a little slack so it could be wound around the Vertical Twig in a Loop.

It was then ready to use. I got some dry material put it in the Bore Hole and started to use the Bow. The material started smouldering so I pulled it out on to other dried material and gently blew on the Embers until the Fire took hold.

Thus one ready to use Fire Starter Kit. I was quite impressed until I asked my then boyfriend if this was what he had used in the Army? He replied ‘No we used matches’. I walked right into that one.

The link below shows a similar Kit.

I dedicate this Blog to Karl who sadly passed away ten years ago.

http://www.jonsbushcraft.com/bowdrill%20tutorial.htm

Headscarves Expansion 2019 Part 3

I have now reached the final furlong of the sewing part of this project.

Snip the Edging

I Snipped off some of the excess material at an angle so it didn’t get caught in the thread when I sewed.

Fold Back Edging

I Folded the Edging back on itself. I then began to sew it in place using a Tacking Stitch. This is to strengthen the thread holding the Edging in place.

To make the Tacking look neat I interwove the thread between the other Stitches. This method gives the appearance that a Back Stitch was used.

Fleur de Lys Back Complete

Once finished I trimmed off the excess material above the Stitches.

Fleur de Lys Front Complete

All that was left to do was give it a final press.

Rose Back Complete

Naturally since I was Edging one Headscarf I decided that I might as well do the other one at the same time.

Rose Front Complete

I now have two newly Edged Headscarves ready for the Summer Season.

Headscarves Expansion 2019 Part 2

Headscarves Expansion 2019 Part 2

I am continuing my blog on adding Edging to my Fleur de Lys Headscarf

First Corner Edging

I continue with my Tacking Stitch until I reach the First Corner

Pinching Corner

I have two options. One I could cut the Edging at an angle and sew or the secondly I could Fold the Excess material. I opted for the latter.

This option is a little fiddly. The best way to describe the Folding process is that the material is being Pinched.

First Corner Edging Front

The Pinching method means that the Edging does not lie completely Flat. Normally this would be problematic. However since the Headscarf is Folded when worn it simply falls into place.

Final Corner

I have now reached the Final Corner. I cut the Edging leaving at least an inch and a half to finish off.

Fold Back and Secure

In order not to have the excess material flapping around I Fold it back and Secure it with a couple of Stitches.

Hem Edge of Edging

This Fold creates an Edge. I then simply put the two Edges together and Hem the last Corner.