Archive for July, 2011

Crochet Kitty Cat Collar Pattern now available!

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

My pattern for these adorable crochet kitty cat collars is available on Etsy here. The hardware for the collars is also available.

I do also sell the finished collars on Etsy here.

These are so fun to make, the Omega nylon comes in 90 different colors, so you can make a collar for every occasion!

Crochet Kitty Cat Collar Pattern

Crochet Kitty Cat Collar Pattern

Our new online art glass ornament shop – GlassOrnaments.US is now open!

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

We are having a super hot summer this year in Austin, TX but that has not stopped us from blowing new and beautiful art glass ornaments! We are working hard to increase the intensity and depth of the color combinations of our ornament suncatchers. All of the below ornaments and many more can be purchased on our new site devoted entirely to our art glass ornaments. Enjoy this Christmas in July treat!

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Blown Glass Ornament Suncatchers by WolfArtGlass

Check back throughout the year as we continue to add more beautiful ornaments!!

GlassOrnaments.US

How to insert a zipper and lining into a crochet purse tutorial

Friday, July 8th, 2011

I just finished this awesome slate gray crochet purse from my original pattern and now I need to add those important finishing touches of a zipper and lining. I have created this tutorial to show in detail how I did this! To see more images of purses created with this pattern see my earlier blog post.

Purchase this crochet purse pattern here!

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Inserting the zipper:
Purchase a zipper that is an inch or two longer than your opening.

Unzip the zipper and start pinning to the top of the purse. Note how the zipper teeth are just above the last crochet stitch, not below or even. This will help to make sure your crochet does not get caught in the zipper when in use.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Here is a picture looking at it from another angle:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Continue pinning the zipper to the purse all the way around:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

A look at the pinning from a some different angles:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Hand or machine sew the zipper in place. I prefer to hand sew, thus the “organic” stitches:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Note how the extra inches of the zipper just float down into the corner of the purse:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Congratulations! You now have a fully functioning zippered purse!

Next up, I will show you how to line the purse.

Lining the purse:

Lay your purse flat and take the following measurements:
1) Height of the front panel – add 1/2 inch to your measurements
2) Width of the front panel – add 1/2 inch to your measurements
3) Height of the gusset (bottom and side piece) If you have an envelope purse, this measurement is not necessary as there is no bottom per se. – add 1/2 inch to your measurements

Height of front panel of this purse = 5 1/2 inches:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Width of front panel of this purse = 6 1/2 inches:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Height of the gusset = 3 inches

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Cutting your lining fabric:

Cut 2 pieces for your front and back that are 6 x 7 inches (this is your 5 1/2 height + 1/2 seam allowance x 6 1/2 width + 1/2 in seam allowance)

Cut 1 piece for the gusset that is 3 1/2 x 19 inches (this is your 3 in height + 1/2 seam allowance x the sum of the height of the two front panels and width of the front panel including their seam allowances = 6+6+7

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Sewing your lining:

With right sides facing, place one of the front panels centered on the gusset panel as shown below. Place pins 1/2 inch from each side of the front panel to show you where to start and stop sewing.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Sew between the 2 pins.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Pull the front piece back and place the other front piece as described above and pin and sew in place.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Your lining should now look like this:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Now, match up the top of the side of the gusset with the top of the side of one of the front panels and pin. Note how this forms a box shaped corner.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Sew from 1/2 inch from the top down to the corner. Repeat on all 4 sides. Your lining should now look like this:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Test fit your lining by inserting into your purse to make sure it feels like there is more lining than the inside of the purse.

Now, since this particular purse has a gusset and the sides round out and decrease as they get towards the top where the handles attach, you will want to mimic this in the lining. Right now you have a very square lining and a rounded purse. So place some pins about 1/2 inch from the seam angling in a similar angle as the purse sides.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Sew a diagonal line towards the side of the lining. Cut off the excess fabric from both sides.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

See how much more like your purse the lining looks now! Next, press a 1/2 inch seam around the top of the lining.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Now place pins in the middle front of both sides of the lining and the purse.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Now insert the lining into the purse and line up the pins and re-pin the middle fronts of the lining to the middle fronts of the purse.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Now pin the lining all the way around the purse.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Now hand or machine sew all the way around the purse.

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Voila! A completely finished purse!!!

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Here are some other colors I have worked my pattern in:

How to insert a zipper and line a crochet purse tutorial

Purchase this crochet purse pattern here!

New Black Nylon Crochet Purse with Lime Green Lining

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

It has been almost 3 years since I made my first crochet purse out of this great nylon, first mentioned in my blog post here.

I have finally recreated this purse and created a pattern as well that I have for sale. I am thrilled with this little purse, perfect for those grab and go days. I am not one for large purses, just ones that have room enough for the essentials, wallet, phone and keys. This design has a deceptively large amount of space inside due to the gusseted sides.

Purchase this crochet purse pattern here!

New Black Nylon Crochet Purse with Lime Green Lining

New Black Nylon Crochet Purse with Lime Green Lining

New Black Nylon Crochet Purse with Lime Green Lining

New Black Nylon Crochet Purse with Lime Green Lining

Pottery and Crochet Lace Necklaces

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

I am enjoying pairing my love of crochet with pottery with these new pottery art crochet lace necklaces!

Available here in our Etsy shop:

Pottery and Crochet Lace Necklaces

Pottery and Crochet Lace Necklaces

Pottery and Crochet Lace Necklaces