Thursday, May 26, 2011

Crochet Rafia Pattern


PDF Pattern #1 Rayon Raffia Brimmed Hat. I decided this is the easiest hat to start with. It uses sc, dc, hdc and reverse sc. The hat is crocheted in the round.

I give instructions on finishing, joining yarn and making it in small, medium and large. The photos show the hat from the top to the end of the brim. Click here to purchase for $6.50

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

What? You thought this was a hat site? It is....

Template used


Photos show rose with/without varnish


click photo to zoom

Doesn't this look like chocolate?

Until my wrist heals, I can't crochet any hats, so for now, it is accessories. I love leather, but so far, the best I can do are flowers.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Click to see larger
While my wrist heals (after making the blue basket -- I should have waited!)
I cut out some leather roses and have started working with them.

The caramel colored one is thin leather with a hard glossy finish. It wouldn't take moulding. The brown one is softer and thicker, so it moulded perfectly.

I found the instructions on how to make these online at http://abigailscraftshowto.com/2010/04/how-to-make-moulded-leather-flowers/
They are fun to make if you like flowers. I used the same pattern to make two felt flowers.

Leather accessories are now sold on
http://bettyatkins.etsy.com

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Songbird's Branch

Great Article on the best time to list on Etsy
Songbird's Branch: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Thursday, May 19, 2011

A jewel of a basket





  I'm starting to really get this. When using sc, the patterns I have using hdc or dc just don't work. Patterns meaning hat patterns. it is a whole new world and new techniques. Even the way I hold the hook is different.

These little baskets end up being very stiff, so they are perfect for holding trinkets or just putting on a shelf to admire.

 I am really having fun... can you tell?

I can barely wait to make another one, but must use restraint as it is really hard on my wrist.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

My second Love -- Baskets


I have always been drawn to baskets. I have wanted to make them but have never had the opportunity nor the resources. Since I started crocheting with raffia ribbon, the idea that I could crochet one has kept turning up. So, I tried it out. Here is a photo of my efforts... photos? maybe.

What really matters

My mother and I lived together for over 50 years. When her mother died, Mama kept the things that meant a great deal to her. One of these was Grandma's sewing table. Inside the table were all of the notions she had used or kept over the years. When it was my mom's turn to leave I invited my children to come get what they wanted, but I kept the sewing table.

Now the table holds a mishmash of notions from all three of us. If I need something, I can usually find it in there. Today while rummaging through it I found 6 thimbles. I know which are mine as I never worked in fields, so my fingers are smaller than theirs. There was even a tiny thimble I used as a child. It could have been saved by either one of them. Grandma's quilting thimble is the largest and the oldest.






Above is a photo of Mama taken in 1949.

I am showing only 4 of the thimbles because I am using the others to make a moulded leather flower. The tiny one is mine.

Monday, May 16, 2011

What would you like?

This blog is new, only 3 months old. What would you like to read about? I will try my best to accommodate your interests, but I do need some input if this blog is going to help you.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Why?

I can sell tons of patterns on my sister site on Etsy (http://stubbornwoman.etsy.com), I sell lots of custom hats on my oldhooker etsy site (http://theoldhooker.etsy.com)but I can't 'give' away the finished hats I have listed? I don't understand this. The custom hats cost just the same, so it can't be that my prices are too high. It has to be a marketing matter. I market all the time... so what gives?

Look at me, I'm pretty nice. At least it looks like I am. Help this old grannie! Buy a hat! PLEASE! Use the code TOH2011 and get 30% off.

I have returned

After a few months trying out WordPress, I found that I had more spammers than real visitors, so I am moving back to this blog.

For old posts that were once here (until I work out how to swtich them) visit:  
http://atkins-history.com/blog-me

For posts about my finished hats, go here:





Sunday, May 1, 2011