Thursday, March 10, 2011

Crochet Slipper Pattern

Ballet Slippers


COATS and CLARK'S O.N.T. "Speed-Cro-Sheen" MERCERIZED COTTON, Art. C.44:2 balls o£ No. 126 Spanish Red and 1 ball each of No. 1 White and No. 12 Black.
Milwards Steel Crochet Hook No. 0.
GAUGE: Sole--6 sc make I inch; 6 rows make 1 inch.
Directions are written for Small Size. Changes for Medium and Large Sizes are in parentheses.

SOLE (Make 2) . . . Starting at center with Red, ch 30 (36-42).
1st rnd: 3 sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 15 (18-21) ch, dc in next 12 (15-18) ch; make 7 dc in last ch (toe end); working along opposite side of starting chain, make dc in next 12 (15-18) ch, sc in next 15 (18-21) ch, 2 sc in same place as first 3 sc were made.

2nd rnd: Sc in each st around, increasing across heel and toe as necessary to keep work flat-- to inc 1 sc, make 2 sc in 1 sc. Repeat 2nd rnd until 8 (8-9) rnds have been completed. At end of last rnd, join and break off.

UPPER . . . Starting at back with Red, make a ch slightly longer than outer edge of sole, having an even number of chains. Join with sl st.

1st rnd: Ch 1, in same place as sl st make sc, ch 3 and sc; * skip next 3 ch, in next ch make sc, ch 3 and sc; skip next 2 ch, in next ch make sc, ch 3 and sc. Repeat from * around. Join to first sc. Break off.

2nd rnd: Attach White to first loop, in each loop around make sc, ch 3 and sc. join to first sc. Break off.

3rd rnd: Attach Black to first loop, work in pattern around. Join. Break off'.

4th rnd: Attach Red to first loop, work in pattern around. Join. Break off.

5th rnd. Repeat 2nd rnd.

6th rnd- Mark the center front (between loops) with a pin, attach Black at back, work in pattern to within 2nd loop preceding marker, dec 1 loop--to dec 1 loop, sc in the next 2 loops, working off these 2 sc as 1 sc--ch 3, sc in same loop, dec 1 loop on opposite side of marker and continue in pattern around. Join and break off.

7th rnd: Attach Red and work as for 6th rnd. Now work in short rows as follows: 1st Row: Mark center front with a pin, mark the 8th loop on each side of pin. Attach White to 8th loop preceding center marker, sc in same loop and work in pattern to within 2nd loop preceding center marker, dec 1 loop, dec another loop on other side of marker, continue in pattern to within last marker, sc in last loop. Break off.

2nd Row: Attach Black to first loop, sc in same loop, work in pattern to within 2nd loop preceding center marker, dec 1 loop, dec another loop on other side of marker, continue in pattern to within last loop, sc in last loop. Break off.

3rd Row: Attach Red to 8th loop preceding center marker on 7th rnd, sc in same place, ch 1, sc in first sc on first short Row, ch 1, sc in first loop on same Row, ch 1, sc in first sc on 2nd Row, ch 1, sc in first loop on same Row, in next loop make sc, ch 3 and sc; dec 1 loop, dec another loop, in next loop make sc, ch 3 and sc; ch 1, sc in next loop, ch 1, sc in last sc, ch 1, sc in last loop on first Row, ch 1, sc in last sc on same Row, ch 1, sc in 8th loop following center marker on 7th rnd. Break off.

Last rnd: Attach Red at back, make 2 sc in each loop to within first short Row, sc in each sc and in each ch 1 to within next loop, make 2 sc in next loop, work off next 2 loops as 1 sc, 2 sc in next loop, sc in each ch 1 and in each sc across short rows, 2 sc in each remaining loop. Join and break off.

Sew soles together. Sew upper to sole. Make another slipper the same way.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Bread Dough Roses

Design by Oak Leaf Studio

Materials Needed:


4 tbsp Aleene's Tacky Glue (Gold bottle, use silver bottle for a porcelain look.)
4 slices white bread NO CRUSTS.
4 tbsp Corn Starch.
2 tbsp Cold Cream
2 tsp Lemon juice
2 tbsp White acrylic paint. (you can use any color you like, but some have more pigment. To get the color you want you will have to experiment with the amount to add)


Procedure:


Mix all together in container until it begins to stick together.
Empty out on a board and knead until smooth.
Wrap in Saran wrap and store in fridge.
Use as clay. Cut with cookie cutters, sculpt with it, make beads - anything you like!
Air dry. Do not bake.
Finished articles can be painted and varnished.
This recipe will keep for ages. I tested a ball wrapped in Saran and kept in the fridge, after two months it was still as good as new.
Add the colour as it is more pleasing to work with and also makes a good base for painting.