Woodford Folk Festival workshops

Wayne and I are taking the Brisbane chapter of Brown Owls to Woodford Folk Festival to spread the crafty love. If you're heading to Woodford join in or if you're looking for something fun to do over the next week book tickets here. We'll be in the Craft Oasis at Artisania sharing these crafts:

Kantha stitching

 Loom weaving

 Macramé

Rubber stamp making

All of the details for the festival can be found here.

crochet jar cosy pattern

Upcycle your jars into beautiful tea light holders, vases, pencil/tool/cutlery holders with basic crochet stitches.

 

After selling these for a few years now at markets I decided it was time to share the pattern. You can make jar cosies with any yarn you like, the one pictured is made with a 4 ply crochet cotton. Just choose your yarn and corresponding hook (check the year label) and get stitching!

If you live in Brisbane and you prefer to attend a workshop to learn this please sign up to my enews here.

Note: I love images with my crochet pattern but if you prefer to read it quickly scroll down for the text all together in one spot.

Crochet Jar Cosy Pattern

Yarn: Cotton – 4ply crochet cotton works well but you can experiment with any size or type of yarn depending on the look you are going for.
Hook: to suit your yarn (check the label for recommended hook size)
Stitches:
Slip Stitch = Ss
Chain = Ch
Half Treble = Htr (US HDC) (Click here for guidance)
Treble Crochet = Tr (US DC)

Foundation Row: Ch in multiples of 4, measuring around your chosen jar as you go, until you have the right length. [If it looks like it won't fit exactly (i.e. it's a little shorter or longer than the circumference of your jar) then go shorter as they do stretch a bit as you crochet.] Join to the first ch with a slip stitch [be careful not to twist your chain].

Round 1: Ch3 (counts as 1st tr), tr into the next chain, *Ch2, skip 2 chains, tr into the next 2 chains. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial ch3.

Round 2 and subsequent rounds: Ss into the gap created by the two chains of the previous row. This will make sure your yarn is in the right position. Ch3 (counts as 1st tr), 1 tr into the gap created by the 2 ch of the previous row, *2 Ch, 2 Tr into the gap created by the 2 Ch of previous row. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial ch3. Repeat Round 2.
 

 
Check that what you have crocheted so far fits nicely around your jar.

 
It’s a good idea to check this every 3 or 4 rows.

Once you have crocheted enough rows of Round 2 for the main section of the jar you will need to decrease for a snug fit around the smaller top section of your jar (the lip or where the lid would have once screwed on).

 
Decrease round 1: Chain 2, 1 Htr into the next Tr, *1 Htr into the gap created by the two chains of the previous row, 1 Htr into the next 2 Tr. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial Ch 2. Check the fit is nice and snug on the jar at this stage.

 
Subsequent rounds: Chain 2, 1 Htr into each Htr, Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial Ch 2. Check the fit on your jar after every few rows.

 
Once the lip is fully covered finish off and sew in your end with a wool needle.

 
For a secure fit around the bottom of the jar you can also use the wool needle and extra yarn to stitch through each gap in the bottom and pull in to gather. This will secure the bottom crochet stitches to fit nicely.

I would love to see your completed jars, tag me with @edwardandlilly on social media to share :)

Crochet Jar Cosy Pattern (text only)

Yarn: Cotton – 4ply crochet cotton works well but you can experiment with any size or type of yarn depending on the look you are going for.
Hook: to suit your yarn (check the label for recommended hook size)
Stitches:
Slip Stitch = Ss
Chain = Ch
Half Treble = Htr (US HDC) (Click here for guidance)
Treble Crochet = Tr (US DC)

Foundation Row: Ch in multiples of 4, measuring around your chosen jar as you go, until you have the right length. [If it looks like it won't fit exactly (i.e. it's a little shorter or longer than the circumference of your jar) then go shorter as they do stretch a bit as you crochet.] Join to the first ch with a slip stitch [be careful not to twist your chain].

Round 1: Ch3 (counts as 1st tr), tr into the next chain, *Ch2, skip 2 chains, tr into the next 2 chains. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial ch3.

Round 2 and subsequent rounds: Ss into the gap created by the two chains of the previous row. This will make sure your yarn is in the right position. Ch3 (counts as 1st tr), 1 tr into the gap created by the 2 ch of the previous row, *2 Ch, 2 Tr into the gap created by the 2 Ch of previous row. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial ch3. Repeat Round 2. Check that what you have crocheted so far fits nicely around your jar. It’s a good idea to check this every 3 or 4 rows. Once you have crocheted enough rows of Round 2 for the main section of the jar you will need to decrease for a snug fit around the smaller top section of your jar (the lip or where the lid would have once screwed on).

Decrease round 1: Chain 2, 1 Htr into the next Tr, *1 Htr into the gap created by the two chains of the previous row, 1 Htr into the next 2 Tr. Repeat from *. Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial Ch 2. Check the fit is nice and snug on the jar at this stage.

Subsequent rounds: Chain 2, 1 Htr into each Htr, Join with a slip stitch into the top of the initial Ch 2. Check the fit on your jar after every few rows. Once the lip is fully covered finish off and sew in your end with a wool needle. For a secure fit around the bottom of the jar you can also use the wool needle and extra yarn to stitch through each gap in the bottom and pull in to gather. This will secure the bottom crochet stitches to fit nicely.

A very big thank you to Intune for a great and very patient photoshoot. 

© edward & lilly. Images courtesy Intune.

This is the first pattern I have written so if you have any suggestions please leave me a comment, happy stitching!

More patterns coming soon, sign up to my email list here for updates.

quilling workshop

It's the last Brisbane Brown Owls meet up of the year! Come along for a lovely morning learning quilling with Jan & I, an easy and relaxing paper craft technique that is highly addictive and really effective! There will be options to make cards and we'll also show you how to make sweet little boxes for you to decorate with your quilling masterpieces.

Date: Sunday 14 December, 10:30am-12:30pm
Venue: Brisbane Square Library, Brisbane CBD
Cost: $5 includes all materials, patterns and your very own quilling tool!
RSVP is essential to brisbanebrownowls@gmail.com
Be quick, there are only a couple of spots left!

Brisbane Made Design Pop Up

When the fabulous ladies behind the Brisbane Made Design Pop Up told me they were creating an event that would have a huge emphasis on locally made, original design, 100% hand-crafted wares I couldn't resist accepting their invite to be part of it.

If you're looking for unique Christmas gifts (or treasures for yourself) and you love supporting original design come along and check out beautiful wares from Robyn Harding, Sharka Marvilla, Nancy Brown, Clare Poppi, Radmila Subotic, Paul Owen, Chantal Labbé and Corey Biever, Erin Hassall and more.

My new brooches, crochet pebble necklaces and a selection of my little critter range will be available to purchase at the Pop Up.

Brisbane Made Design Pop Up
Friday 12 December, 5-9pm (let's catch up for an after work drink!) 
Saturday 13 December, 9am-3pm
29A Smith Street (cnr of Raff Ave), Holland Park

See you there!

It's time to celebrate craft in Brisbane!

This year I have had the most rewarding and amazing journey partnering with Roz Fenson to work on The Nest project and to take it to the next level. We have been working hard behind the scenes (and having lots of fun) developing The Nest into a community space to share, create, nurture and develop.

The Nest is a project that builds confidence and empowers participants from all walks of life and across all generations. We want to make creative development opportunities financially accessible for everyone so we'll be seeking lots of support along the way to make this possible. It's much the same as what I've been doing with Brisbane Brown Owls and the synergy between The Nest and Brown Owls is uncanny. It's great to connect with someone that shares the same values as me when it comes to the difference creativity can make in people's lives, in the Brisbane craft community and beyond.

There are some very big and very exciting things in the pipeline for The Nest that will really bring huge opportunities to the Brisbane community. These will be announced in the new year but in the meantime we would love to invite you along to celebrate The Nest being set up as a not-for-profit organisation and the journey and achievements up until this point for The Nest, Brisbane Brown Owls and edward & lilly.

Come along for a full day of pre-Christmas crafty fun on Saturday 13 December on the front entrance lawn near the train at Boundary Street Markets in West End including:

Recycled Paper Making 3 sessions to choose from during the day. $20 includes workshop to make 10 sheets of paper.

Jar painting from 3-5pm. $15, bring your own jar and chair or picnic rug to chill out on.

Followed by The Nest Launch from 5-7pm. BYO plate to share and wine.

RSVP is absolutely essential. Click here to book you spot!

I hope to see you there to celebrate our journey so far and to toast to an exciting future for the craft community in Brisbane!

learn to crochet

On Sunday I'll be teaching crochet at The Craft Nest and also running the Knitters and Knatters group which is for both knitting and crochet. So whether you're an absolute beginner or an old hat at crochet come along for a cuppa, a chat and a laugh.


Bookings essential, details here.

 

See you there!

Merry Threads Christmas Fair

This Saturday 6 December I will have a selection of work including my new brooches available for sale at the Australian Textile Arts and Surface Design Association's first Christmas Fair, Merry Threads.

Please come along to support the incredibly talented textile artists who will have their work available for sale at affordable prices. Plus there will be a kids craft table for the little ones to have some crafty fun, gift wrapping and home baked treats for morning tea.

Merry Threads Christmas Fair
Saturday 6 December, 10am-2pm
BVAC Hub, 140 Weller Road, Tarragindi

See you there!

cocktails & weaving

 

 

It's time for our last Cocktails & Weaving event of the year! Come along and celebrate with a drink and learn to weave a small necklace or coaster. It's loads of fun and it's free with any cocktail (or mocktail) purchase!

When: Thursday 4 December, 6pm sharp!
Where: Jungle Bar, 76 Vulture Street, West End
Cost: Free with purchase of a cocktail or mocktail, materials provided!

See you there!