The packers have been today and our belongings will join us in a couple of months in our new home. Our flights are booked, party organised and new suitcases purchased!

So if you thought the last 2 months were quiet, it’s probably going to stay that way for a while. Bear with me and hopefully I’ll be crafting again soon!

In the meantime, I have a new blog where I’ll be writing about our adventures. Follow me there if you’d like to keep in touch!

13 week bump

He or she is due in April and we’re really excited! I’ve started crocheting a little blanket using the Granny Stripe method from Attic24 and I’m sure there’ll be a quilt on the go soon too.

So this all means that I won’t be able to keep up with a new project a week here. However I want to keep the blog going, and the monthly themes. So the plan is that we still share projects and ideas each month and I’ll try to make at least one item per theme. What do you think?

There’s no obligation to replicate this particular project though!

I love the colours aqua and hot pink together, don’t you?

I used this really easy tutorial to make this little project. I think I’ll turn it into a cushion cover.

Have you ever tried smocking? What embroidery techniques have you been trying this month?

You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload your projects to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.

Flashback: week 9 in year 1 was all about porcelain beads!

This is my schedule for month 3. Feel free to follow along or try your own projects.

Week 1: smocking
Week 2: blackwork
Week 3: crewel
Week 4: machine embroidery

Do you have a favourite style of embroidery?

Casey weaved up some magic with colourful yarn…

And René used a red colour scheme for her weaving project:

Panya & Wendy both shared loads of crochet links in the comments.

The House that Can showed us her cute crocheted beanie.

If I’ve missed your project – let me know in the comments or add it to the link tool below:

As an introduction to wet felting, making balls is ideal. You only need wool roving, liquid soap/washing-up-liquid, water and your hands.

I followed the instructions on Mossy and soon had a pleasing pile of round, blue, felted balls.

Now I just need to decide what to do with them, any ideas?

Show me your fibre projects for month 2 – I’ll do a roundup this week of them all.

You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.

Flashback: week 8 in year 1 was all about origami!

Well so far I’m doing better than last time’s crochet attempt (when I was also on holiday, I spy a trend). I have rows and everything.

I’m following this series of lessons. Pip at Meet me at Mikes also has a beginner crochet series.

I know I have some fabulous crocheting followers – show me your favourite patterns, links and projects. And any other Fibre crafts you’re trying this month.

You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.

Flashback: week 7 in year 1 was all about book-binding!

I haven’t finished yet, I’m knitting just one skein (50 stitches a row) then I think I’m going to mix it with fabric to make a cushion. Or I might change my mind, I’ll let you know when it’s done.

Are you knitting this week? Tried anything else? You know what to do…

You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.

Flashback: week 6 in year 1 was all about toy-making!

But as you know, fibre isn’t really my thing and I can’t knit or crochet despite trying both last year. So I had to pop out and buy lots of yummy yarn today in the local craft store ready for this week’s craft: weaving.

I also raided my ribbon boxes and pulled out a few lengths of ribbon and some hessian string.

To weave, without a fancy loom, all you need is a piece of cardboard, a ruler and some scissors. Cut slots every 1/4 inch at both ends. Choose one of the yarns to be the ‘warp’ threads and wrap it around the cardboard from one end to the other in the slots, securing the ends on the back with some masking tape to keep them out of the way.

Then it’s weaving time.

This may well be easier with a tapestry needle as suggested in this weaving tutorial but I used just my fingers to weave the ‘weft’ yarn alternating over and under the warp threads. Take the thread around the back and then repeat but alternate the over and under – in other words if you started with the thread going over in your last row now start with it going under. Push the threads up to the top as you go.

Leave a few inches of tail yarn when you finish with each. Keep going, mix up your yarns and ribbons however the whim takes you, and enjoy the soothing rhythm of weaving.

When you’re finished, follow the instructions here to tie off the ends and cut the threads off the loom.

I haven’t decided what to do with the finished piece yet, what do you think? My husband suggested framing it.

So, have you done any weaving this week or any other fibre crafts? You can comment here, on Twitter (using the hashtag #52crafts52weeks), or upload it to Facebook or Flickr. Or you can add it via the link tool below.

Flashback: week 5 in year 1 was all about felt.