Here comes fimo button tutorial number three: This time it is a super simple two minute craft and perfect for kids. Using you own homemade fimo buttons or bought ones and some magnetic tape. Simply cut and stick a piece of magnetic tape to fit on the back of your buttons and that’s it! It is just that simple. Then start putting them into action on your fridge or notice-board and enjoy them.
I’m free from everything for a few days. Hooray. I’ve been spending my days hanging around the Edinburgh Fringe Festival trying to cram in as many shows and gigs as possible, flicking through cookbooks and getting on with a new knitting project (more about that one later, I promise). I hope you are enjoying yourself as much as me. Back to normal on Monday, what a shame. Happy Weekend!
Time for a free pattern. Mr. A. was nagging for a new autumn winter hat; somthing similar too but not as heavy as Something for the Weekend. I used some amazing bargain wool I bought on email and knit a scarf out of last Christmas for him. It’s a double knit yarn with an angora blend from what I can tell. I attempted to come up with a new exciting pattern but I was swiftly reminded (by Mr. A) that I was knitting it from a man. Therefore any kind of delicate pattern got thrown out in favour of something simple and basic. He was delighted
So here is Knit1 Slip1′s Boyfriend Hat, a free pattern for you to enjoy. It’s a lovely soft and slouchy hat but not too warm but perfect for keeping out the rain and cold of the coming season. I love it so much that I desperately want to knit myself one. But Mr. A. has an irrational belief that even if I knit this pattern with new wool in different colors or a new pattern with the same wool it will be exactly like his. Therefore we would be one of those sad couples who match. Men.
Something I’ve been wanting to do for ages is learn how to screen print and now finally I am (this is my first experiment above). Woop! Like most crafters and arty folk, I seen to have a sort of ADD when it comes to committing fully to one art form, instead I seem to want to try my hand at everything! Which makes for a very expensive lifestyle. In a bid to save money I am now fully decided on having a Crafty Christmas. Not a bought thing in sight, instead everything will be fashioned from bare materials with love 
bit cheesy eh?! So from now until December I’m going to be a knitting, sewing, jewel-ing crafting and screenprinting machine! Hooray. I hope no-one sees through my plan as being the ultimate gift for me rather than my present recipients. Four whole months of extreme crafting 
Time for another button craft! I told you I’d be back with more. Today, it’s this cute little button collection. You can wear it as a broach, hair clip, or even attach it to a hair band. Or all three! I’ve been noticing these button collections around lately and they are just so adorable (like the lovely pigeon‘s ones), but my purse can’t stretch to treating myself. So here is my handmade alternative!
All you need for this project is:
Next, follow these easy steps:
I know Christmas is coming, when my smooties start wearing little woolen hats to keep them warm. Strangely, over the last few years, this is one of my Christmas highlights. I spend ages looking at all the smartly dressed bottles trying to decide on my favourite when in reality I want to take them all home!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about (and are starting to think I’ve lost my marbles), I’m yabbering on about the Innocent Smootie Big Knit. Every year they call on people to knit little hats (egg cozies really) and donate them to innocent. Innocent then bedeck their bottles with them and sell them during the months leading up to Christmas. It’s not all a gimick. For every bottle they sell with a little hat, they donate 35p to Age Concern and Help the Aged. And given the atrocious winter we had last year, and the huge increase in heating costs, I really believe this is a good cause and worthy of some of my time to whip some up.
I thoroughly encourage you to download a hatometer to plan your knitting goals and a sample sheet of patterns. And if you’re not a knitter, there are even crochet directions. I’m getting started already because I know the knitted and crafted gifts for family will be stressing me out in the final run up to Christmas, and I just won’t get time otherwise. It happens to all of us.
The pattern is very simple, and you can easily whip up a plain cosy in a few minutes using left over yarn that probably would go to waste otherwise. So this is my pledge to knit 50 cozies for this country’s nanas. This isn’t a completely selfless exercise. I fell good about it, have fun experimenting with patterns, and you just know I’m going to spend all over Demember scouring the shops trying to spot my knits!
Here are the first half dozen of my knits. Plain and simple to get me started For some inspiration and a giggle, check out the imaginative cozies being knitted by others.
Monday is baking day! Well not really. Baking should really be restricted to the weekends and times when I don’t have to work. Today I REALLY should be working. But what is a girl to do when she stumbles upon a great new baking recipe? It is my duty to my Knit1Slip1 readers that I test it out. Although I may have been pushing it when I made itty-bitty flags for my blondie summit. But hey, don’t they make them look even cuter? Try some for yourself with Rachel Allen’s Blondie Recipe. She has some great recipes, and plays a solid second to Nigella in my preferred baking recipe source. Oo, also I heard whispers about Nigella having a new series starting soon. Perfect for putting on all that pre-winter weight to get me through this Scottish climate.
Remember how I was telling you I was taking part in a group knit of a baby blanket? And cursing having to knit diagonal squares because I spent more time untangling my yarn than knitting? Well, finally I’m finished and free of the whole thing! I’m delighted. As promised I found the book that the pattern is published in, and the knit is named the Kaleidoscope Throw. It is very simple. ALTHOUGH; There is something very important you should note. Do not just blindly repeat the graph shown, half way through you need to start creating mirrored versions of your diagonal squares. Half you squares should go to the right and half to the left. Mine don’t. Woops. I’m extremely impatient (big surprise), and never read things fully. I’m always far too eager to start. I’m taking on most of the blame here but I think the pattern deserves a little too. It is not made very clear that you have to do this. But otherwise what a lovely blanket. It’s bright and vibrant and perfect for a baby as he/she grows. Hopefully it’s something that will be kept long into adulthood. Fingers crossed.
Meanwhile I have been released from blanket duty and I’m finally free to embark on new knitting adventures. Happy days!
Following my Fimo Button Making Tutorial I’ve been up to my ears in buttons, so here begins a series of possible crafts and project ideas using them. First on the list: Button bookmarks. This is a child friendly project and is perfectly timed for back to school, back to uni, or simply back to being stuck indoors with a good book as Autumn comes a callin’.
All you need for this project is:
The directions are very simple and feel free to amend them to your own liking or if inspiration hits!
Happy Reading K1Sl1 readers.
De-cluttering must be one of the most satisfying feelings ever. Despite trying to avoid it like the plague, there comes a time when you just need to bite the bullet and get to it. That time was went I looked up at my book cases and magazine files at two years worth of foodie magazines. Time to go! But just to make sure I wasn’t tossing out any gold I went through them tearing out any thing appealing. It is now my mission to try and get through them testing them out. I have cocktails, and cakes, soups, salads and lots and lots of currys (I love Indian food). So my first test cook was this yummy butter chicken (similar recipe by Gordon Ramsay here). Such a simply recipe, and every bit as good (if not better) that a restaurant version. It’s definitely a keeper recipe and going into my folder. Now, what to try next?
