My Etsy store

My Etsy shop is now open for all your knitted goods requirements - currently selling some lovely knitted Siamese cats and over the next few weeks will be adding more crafty goodness, including a llama, oriental cat knitting patterns and hopefully some hand-made knitted jewellery, too. Watch this space.

Make a velvet ribbon or braid belt

"Moneywise, fashionwise it's time to tighten our belts," says this early 1970s magazine article. As it was then, so it is now. If you have some odds and ends left over from another project, why not make a vintage-style belt?

Here's now to make the top Curved Braid Belt, made from two rows of braid machine-sewn to fabric. To fit a 61 - 71 cm waist, you will need 2m of 3cm-wide novelty open-weave braid, strips of toning fabric, lining and canvas each measuring 12cm by 91cm, a 6cm buckle, a press stud, matching thread.



Using squared pattern above, cut out a paper pattern in which each square = 5cm. 1.5 cm seams have been allowed throughout. Place pattern on fabric and cut out. Repeat with lining and canvas. Trim away seam allowance on canvas only. Cut braid into two equal lengths.

Leaving equal turnings along sides, place and pin the two lengths of braid centrally on to right side of fabric. Using matching thread, zig-zag or top-stich braid on to fabric. Tack canvas to wrong side of fabric. Wrap seam allowance of fabric over canvas along sides and ends. Tack and press in place. Oversew raw ends of thread before turning in to prevent fraying.

Pin wrong side of lining on to canvas and turn in all sides, covering raw edges of fabric to neaten. Press, hand stitch all round. At stright end of belt thread belt through bar of buckle and stitch end down on to back of belt. Sew press stud into position.

To make a Narrow Ring Belt:

By adding or substracting rings and adjusting ribbon length this belt can be made to fit any size waist. To make a 66 cm waist you will need: 1.5m of 1.5 cm wide black velvet ribbon, approx 48 brass curtain rings, fastening hook, matching thread.

To make: following above diagram, thread ribbon through rings to required length. Cut ribbon 2.5cm from the last ring at each end and turn back. Tuck in raw edge and stitch down. Sew hook on one end to fasten to ring at opposite end. With remaining ribbon make a small bow and stitch in place to cover hook.

Many thanks to Barbara for these brilliant belt patterns!

Recycled beads

Getting crafty with beads is a great way to create your own unique jewellery and accessories, but have you ever thought about going one step further and making your own? There's a brilliant step-by-step recycled bead making tutorial at cutoutandkeep.net which shows you how to make your own beads out of old plastic drinks bottles.

Plastic beads that you buy in the craft shop have probably travelled half-way round the world before finally coming to rest on your chic home-made necklace, so why not cut down on those bead miles, and make your own?

Hypodermic needle collage

A little oddity from a little 1972 Collage book (Search Press). It's a collage made from hypodermic needles.

"This charming and interesting design was made from the throw away products of the medical profession. It is included for general interest only, as few of us other than doctors, nurses, etc, would have access to such materials." (for "etc" read "junkies and smack addicts")

"It is, however, a classical illustration of the art of collage by showing how much improbable materials can create a most artistic effect. It cannot be impressed too much upon the reader that almost any waste product can be converted into interesting and exciting patterns."

Ponchos for poppets

I am coming to the opinion that Patons Promise were the kings of brightly-coloured acrylic children's knitwear in the 1970s. They were the people who brought us these 1970s playsuits - the perfect undergarment for their knitted and crocheted "Ponchos for poppets".

The palm trees drawn in the background indicate a kind of tropical paradise, although obviously a tropical paradise blighted by a stiff, cold breeze. Our little poncho wearers are tucked up safe and warm and can enjoy their fully-dressed day out at the beach without fear of chill.

Mr June

Gentlemen, this is how to dress for the English summer. We do not want to see naked, sunburnt chests, baseball caps, or socks worn with sandals. We want crisp linen shirts, a Poppleton's knitted waistcoat and some smart pleated trousers.

If you're going to hit the beach, you are permitted to remove your tie, but that is all.

Make a 1940s music belt

A really unusual belt from Stitchcraft magazine, December 1947.

"To make the belt you need a piece of felt 5 inches wide by 28 inches long in a bright colour. For the black lines you need 5 pieces of narrow black braid, each 28 inches long; 4 buttons and some black embroidery silk or cotton.

First sew on the black braid as shown in the picture, then with a pencil draw your favourite tune all around the waist, and embroider it in black, using stem-stitch for the thin lines and satin-stitch for the solid parts.

Sew on the buttons, then make loops for button-holes, using a bit of black braid for each. Trim down the edges of the felt so that the back is about half an inch narrower top and bottom than the fronts."