News!

Hi everyone,

I have two bits of news, and then some pretty pictures of my half scale kimono!

Firstly- I AM NOW ON ETSY!

Yes, I have finally set up my new shop with some new bits (Including one of my lace bridal headbands). I spoke to people and the general consensus was mainly that people seemed to know their way around Etsy a bit easier so after all my Folksy item listings expired I started setting up my Etsy shop.

Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchedbyJordan

Please do drop if you get time as I still have some more new items to add over the next few days and would really like peoples feedback :-)

Secondly- Today I had a mini interview type thing with Queenie and Ted (see their website they do some really cool up-cycling of clothing!!!: here!) and..... I get to go back on Wednesday next week and work with them and learn all about what they do :D I am sooo excited, it will be a great bit of experience! I will make sure to show you all what I get up to next Wednesday using lots of juicy pictures :P

Hehe, now I am done with all my news I will show you the pictures of my kimono, my first project I did at uni, which I got back in the last week of term and have now completely finished up:

I made it so that it was pretty much reversible using my colour scheme, here is the 2nd option:

I am really proud of it. It is nice to have it all done to show people (like all of you lovely people).

I hope you are all having a lovely week- and if you have any news please do leave a comment below, I would love to hear :D

Speak to you all again soon,

Bye XxXxXx

Symposium! (and stuff :)

Hi,

 

Last week was a really good week for me as it was 'Symposium week' at my college. What this means is basically a week off of timetabled lectures with loads of fun and interesting workshops, talks and performances going on instead :D

 

I booked myself onto loads of the workshops including zumba (which was really enjoyable), dream catcher making, sword fighting (super fun!!!!!) and I did quite a few costume related ones, including 3 morning workshops about Kimonos :0)

The lady was really nice and knowledgeable and bought in tons of the kimonos from her collection from martial arts related ones to bridal.

 

Here are a couple of her most extravagant kimono over-robes:

 

 

And here is me (from behind so you can see my freestyle- tied

 obi which hangs down) dressed as a Geisha :) It was cool being dressed up- I learnt a lot about how it actually feels to wear the kimono as well as how to put it on properly:

 

The obi is done up so much more tightly than I imagined it was and there is a lot more padding than I thought there was underneath too :P Brian who is next to me was dressed up like a shogun (military warrior). The lady who ran the workshops also rents out her kimonos etc... and has a website- where there are more pictures of all the kimonos we all tried on at symposium: here!

 

Another workshop I did was trauma makeup. Hahaha, a lot of fake blood was used! and some cornflakes mixed with coffee, golden syrup and red food colouring to make stuff that resembled blood clots.

 

I warn all those who are faint hearted to LOOK AWAY NOW!

 

As the following picture of my work I did in the workshop although FAKE (of course! :) is very gory:

 

 

I think I actually did get it quite realistic looking thanks to the techniques of the tutor :-)

 

Another thing that made my week really good apart from symposium was finding out that I was the special winner of a free Royal School of Needlework day course from the draw I entered at the creative stitches and Hobbycrafts show at the excel :D I am soo excited and have chosen to do a course on 17th century design inspired metal/gold work button brooches- It sounds so interesting- that is in November so kind of like a great early Christmas present!

 

And if all that wasn't enough for one week me and my mum went to the John Paul Gaultier fashion exhibition at the Barbican Arts centre/Theatre in London which was fabulous.

 

It was really different to other exhibitions I have been to as they gave some of the mannequins faces using digital projection- they even talked! I thought this really brought the whole exhibition and the clothes to life a bit more.

 

Look at the amazingness of these dresses!:

 

 

Another thing that was cool and different was that they actually had a moving catwalk! All these mannequins were dressed and on stands that moved around the catwalk, again this brought so much more life and excitement to the clothes making them look even more spectacular than they already are:

 

Well, that's just about it for the catch up of my week...

 

.....No.... Wait! I have one more fabulous thing to tell you about :P The Chocolate festival I went to on Sunday with a friend from college at the London Business and Design centre  (I really did have a crazy fun week :oD)

 

There were quite a few different samples of yummy chocolate to try and lots of baked goods on sale. As a treat I went for this brownie:

 

 

It was sooooo delicious, it was called a 'buckeye' brownie. It was a normal chocolate brownie topped with Oreo cookie frosting and a layer of milk chocolate ganache mmmm... I want another one!

 

My brownie was from Batch bakery: http://batchbakery.co.uk/

 

My friend had a peanut butter brownie which she said was amazing from the Brownie Bar: http://www.browniebar.co.uk/

 

They do a really good price online delivery of brownies so I think I may have to get some of those sent to me in the near future as they looked good too but I couldn't fit a second brownies in after my Oreo- sugar overload one :P

 

I hope you are all well, and now I promise my post is officially finished :)

 

Don't forget to enter my Spring/Easter giveaway if you haven't already as as I found out last week you never know your luck!

 

Speak to you all again very soon,

 

Bye XxXxXxX

Takochu! (+ free knitted Takochu pattern)

Hi,

Aren't these just amazingly cute! *o*

Image from: http://weheartit.com/tag/takochus

They are mini octopus toys called Takochu (made by Pine), they even stack on top of each other! I first found out about these on Berrysprite, she has posted about them on her blog a few times and since I saw them I have been kind of hooked :)

They are quite difficult to get hold of though as they are veeeerrrrrrryyyyyy expensive usually and the only place you can really get them for a good price is Kawaii Shop Japan, problem is they sell out very quickly! And then you have to wait for them to restock. I think they have some in stock now though so get down there quickly if you want to get your hands on some like I do! Im ordering some in a couple of weeks :)

Berrysprite put up a free crochet pattern so that people can crochet their own Takochu: http://berrysprite.blogspot.com/2010/07/amigurumi-small-takochu-tutorial.html

I thought the pattern was great when I found out about it but then I got thinking,what about those who can't get hold of the real thing or crochet? 

So I sat down a wrote a pattern for a knitted Takochu style octopus!!! :0) And I'm putting it up for free so there is no one who now can't have a Takochu if they so want one!

Here is the Knit style Takochu octopus:

(hhehehhe, in the background is my fish Razor :) He loves his new friend!!!)

And here is how to make one!:

You will need:

• Small amounts of DK yarn In any two colours you wish (1 colour for body and tentacles and 1 for the Takochu's mouth)
• A pair of 3.25mm needles
• A small amount of stuffing
• A darning needle
• A small length of black yarn for embroidering eyes or beads/toy safety eyes
• And a pair or scissors

Head/Body (make 1):

Cast on 6sts in main colour (6sts)

Row 1: Kfb into each st (12sts)

Row 2: P across row

Row 3: *K1, Kfb* repeat from * to * across (18sts)

Row 4: P across row

Row 5: *K2, Kfb* repeat from * to * across (24sts)

Row 6: P across row

Row 7: *K3, Kfb* repeat form * to * across (30sts)

Row 8: P across row

Row 9: *K4, Kfb* repeat from * to * across (36sts)

Row 10: P across row

Row 11: *K4, k2tog* repeat from * to * across (30sts)

Row 12: P across row

Row 13: *K3, K2tog* repeat from * to * across (24sts)
Row 14: P across row
Row 15: *K2, K2tog* repeat from * to * across (18sts)
Row 16: P across row
Row 17: *K1, K2tog* repeat form * to * across (12sts)
Row 18: P across row
Row 19: K2tog 6 times (6sts)

Thread yarn through remaining stitches, draw up and fasten off.

Tentacles:

To make the tentacles you have to knit four separate tentacle parts (leaving each piece when finished on the same needle) then knit across all four tentacles to join them together:

Tentacle pieces (make 4) (cast on to same needle each time so all four pieces end up on same needle when done):

Cast on 5sts using main colour
Row 1: K across row
Row 2: P across row
Row 3: Kfb, k3, Kfb (7sts)
Row 4: P across row
Row 5: K across row
Row 6: P across row
Leave sts on needle and make next one

Once you have completed all four tentacle pieces work the following rows across all of them:

Row 7: K2tog across (14sts)
Row 8: P2tog across (7sts)

Thread yarn through remaining sts, draw up and fasten off. (You should have something resembling a flower)

Mouth (Make 1):

Cast on 14sts using 2nd colour
Cast off in K


Making up:

Take the head/body piece, carefully sew down the seam (with right side facing inwards) stopping before reaching the bottom. Turn the piece, Stuff then continue seaming. When you reach the cast one edge/bottom (which will actually be the top of the head) thread yarn through 6 cast on sts and draw up to seal in stuffing and create a sphere shape.

Darn in any loose ends on the tentacles and sew the centre of the flower shape (tentacle piece) to the centre of the bottom of the sphere. making sure the right side of the tentacles in facing upwards.

Then take the mouth piece and oversew one end to another to create a small circle. Sew this to the front of the Takochu. Embroider on some eyes using black yarn etc... (use picture as a guide). Finally you can curl up your Takochu's tentacles a bit and shape your Takochu as you want and add any other decorations then you are finished! (you can also spray your Takochu with hairspray if you wish then leave to dry to hold all the tentacles in place or you can just leave it)

Woo hoo!

Once you've made one I guarantee you won't be able to stop :0)

I couldn't!

I hope you like the pattern :) See you soon,

Byeeeee xxx

Abbreviations:

st(s) = Stitch(es)

Kfb = Knit into the front and back of the stitch (a type of increase)

K = Knit

P = Purl

K2tog = Knit two stitches together

P2tog = Purl two stitches together

(P.s Please don't sell items from this pattern without letting me know or linking to my blog first, thanks :)

Japan flag brooch: Free Pattern

Hey Guys!

I know its been a while since the Japan earthquake but Japan still need help as they rebuild. A couple of weeks ago I donated to the Japanese Red Cross who are doing a really good job and have saved many people. After donating I wanted to help more and I thought, why not create a pattern that people could sell to raise money! and I came up with this:

The Japan Flag brooch :)

Just follow the chart below using 3.25mm needles and Dk red and white yarn. I have tried to make the chart as clear as possible but if you have any problems just post your questions below and I will answer them :0)

If your brooch doesn't come out the size you want just switch to larger or smaller needles.

Once finished darn in all loose ends and sew a safety/brooch pin to back.

They are really quick to make!

Feel free to sell the brooches made from this pattern (Just don't claim the pattern as your own :)

Good luck if you do make and sell them!

I hope you all like the pattern and I hope it helps Japan in some way :)

See you all soon, byeeeeeeeeeeeeee xxx

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Hi everyone,

I was really sad on Friday when I found out about the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. It is such a brilliant country and I had great fun on my holiday there.

I would like to send out my thoughts and wishes to anyone who has been affected and I hope that the country gets the help and support it needs to rebuild the areas that have been destroyed.

xxxx

Super chicks!

Look up in the sky, is it a bird?..... well yes it is actually, Its a super chick! :)

These are the latest chicks I have created for the chick knit appeal I am supporting, I think I have now made over 50 once I have sent these ones today :)

Awww they are just soo cute and it makes me really happy to be able to support the cancer charity doing something I enjoy as it is such a great cause.

Ive had another idea for a new design of chicks already and I can't wait to start knitting the next batch! You kind of get hooked..............

I hoping Beverly ( lady who organises the appeal, and is verrryy nice :) will be able to send me pictures of the stalls with all the chicks on at Easter (if that's how they are sold...) As I would love to see all the different types of chicks people have made.

On a different note, I know this blog is about knitting and crochet but recently I have been trying to make bento lunches (It is slightly related as I actually found out about all of this Japanese stuff through amigurumi, and my trip to Japan :)

They are lunches made up of all different small parts in a special bento box, for children cute bento is made which although I'm not really a small child is the kind of bento I went for :3

I made a teddy bear bento, which does actually remind me of amigurumi and a gingerbread man bento :)

I had to share them with someone as I was just so pleased with how they came out and they tasted nice too. I really want to make one that looks like balls of of yarn but at the moment I have no clue how to do that! :/

I'm off to post the chicks now,

I will see you all very soon :0)

BYE!

Japan Pictures :)

Hola once again!

Here are some of the photo highlights of my trip to Japan :oD

Enjoy!!!!

Shinjuku city centre

The view from the cable car near Lake Ashi, it was really  beautiful <3

The coolest bread I have EVER seen!!!!!!!

Halloween at Japan Disneysea park. it ws reallly fun there I went on loads of rides :)

 A blurry (sorry :/ ) picture from the top of the tallest building in Tokyo. The view of all the lights was amazing.....

A whole load of wool I found in the local 100 Yen store !!!!!! Knitting truly is a worldwide craft :)

And I will leave you with the funniest thing I saw on the whole of my trip. A sign telling you how to use "Western style" toilets

ahhaahhaahah Im laughing just thinking about it! :D

Thanks for reading, blog again soon, bye :)

P.S.DONT FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Back from Tokyo.......

Phew, that was a long plane flight but im back now! Sorry I didn't blog so much whilst there but I was rushed off my feet, so much to see and do and so little time :D I had a very good trip and am going to post pictures hopefully tommorow!

I didnt forget about all you readers while there though :) I picked up some little items to put together a giveaway parcel ( IITKI's FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!!!!) so I will also be posting details on how to enter soon as well!

I hope you're as excited as I am, will get back to you all as soon as possible :oD

Bye bye from your (extremley tired) blogging freind!

Tokyo.....

Hi!
Got alot around tokyo,went up Mt Fuji, went to Harajuku and two toy stores in the last few days! It is very fun here and everyone is soo nice and helpful. Im very sad to be coming home tommorrow :(  But will post lots of pics when I get home (ooooh cant wait!) Bought lots of good stuff with my 6000 yen :) see you soon byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee or Sayonara as the japanese say ;)