a cluster of gleeful jam jars... how-to

yes indeedy!

it is a time for gleefulness

and a time for handcraftedness

now before we begin i must tell you several things,

thing #1: this cluster of gleeful jams jars how-to, is perfectly suited to any random sized jar you have lurking around your nests. i found some in the back of my fridge, saved some as they became empty, others i decanted the contents so i could continue uninterrupted in my need to clothe little glass jars in warm jackets. indeed the more different sizes you have going on, the peachier it will look.

thing #2: this cluster would be most suited to a mantelpiece or perhaps the middle of a dining table. just be aware of where you place them if you are using 'night light' candles. i also think they would look quite peachy with red flowers dotted amongst them or red knitting needles. the odd pesky gnome wouldn't go a miss either. i have yet to get my gleeful box down from the attic so you will have to use your imaginations on this one, which of course i know you have by the bucketful :)

thing #3: the only material i used in this gleeful cluster that has not been used and loved before is the cream yarn.

thing #4: i believe the pictures pretty much speak for themselves in how the jackets are made, the crocheted little number i have given more instructions to. but as we go along you will see they are quite simple in their construction and also rather addictive.

so without further ado, here are three little jacket ideas for this gleeful season...

little cosy jacket #1:

ingredients

* a glass jar

* a thrift store sweater with cream sleeves

* red embroidery thread

* needle

* piece of paper

*scrap of lace

* typewriter (or you can hand write your words)

nitty gritty

using your glass jar as a guide,

(this one you may wish to use a large size jar for)

cut the sleeve and cuff off your sweater

leaving plenty for turning the top down.

place sweater sleeve over jar,

roll down sleeve a few times,

giving a nice 'roll neck' to your jacket.

hand stitch in place with red thread.

next type a little saying

(or hand write it)

stitch your little saying onto a scrap of lace

(i used Miss Ethel here,

but easy enough to hand stitch)

attach your little label to the jacket neck.

place your little sweater jacket upon your jar

and voila!

little cosy jacket #2:

ingredients

* pieces of old lace

* a glass jar

* red yarn

* dress making pins

* large eyed needle

nitty gritty

lay your jar on the lace

and wrap it up nicely,

making sure you pay attention to the neckline,

this way you can make for a pretty shape.

pin in place.

taking a long length of red yarn,

begin sewing your jacket up

leaving a nice tail at the end

(i am now thinking it not unlike a corset)

when you have got to the top,

start stitching your way back down.

with a bit of luck

you will have some lovely random cross stitching going on.

when you are back at the beginning,

tie off your yarn leaving nice long tails

and Voila!

little cosy jacket #3:

ingredients

* cream yarn

* crochet hook to match your size yarn

* a glass jar

nitty gritty

crochet a chain the prefect length

for wrapping around your glass jar.

not too loose, better to be a little stretched.

join your chain with a slip stitch,

being sure to keep it untwisted as you join.

chain one and continue around your circle

in half double crochet (usa)

or half treble crochet (uk)

after one row it might be worth

checking the fit of your little jacket

if the fit is perfectly perfect

continue crocheting your rows,

being careful to join at the end of each one

and chain up to start a new one.

just before you reach the neck of your jar,

you will need to decrease 4 times

evenly around your final

half double (usa) half treble (uk) row.

it might be wise to place pins

as a guide here.

then finish off with one row of

single crochet (usa) double crochet (uk).

place your little woolly jacket upon your jar

and Voila!

if perchance the little crocheted garland has caught your eye, no worries. next week, i will be doing a re-run of last year's 'week of glee'.

i am thinking if the BBC can run repeats, then so may i.

she is wishing you a weekend of getting crafty with a few glass jars ~ Tif

reasons to be cheerful...

1: little olive did not run away yesterday, unlike the day before. just thinking of a little pesky daxie out in the 'wooded' world beyond our acre of moss made monday afternoon a little fretful

2: Miss Lou Dearie's parcel of retro fabrics turned up on Mossy Shed's doorstep, winging it's way from old blighty. after putting them on a stool and admiring their retro goodness, i could contain myself no longer and had to rifle through them

3: a spiffy pair of retro curtains found within Miss Lou Dearies pile now adds the prefect granny chic charm to our lounge

4: Mr Sun has his hat on for the first time in quite the while. 'tis still a bit nippy in the air, however i may go outside in a bit and stand like a sunflower in the middle of the yard. pesky little olive may come too, if she promises to behave

5: a little japanese wooden doll found me on friday night upon the shelves of despair. she was not on the usual 'forsaken souls' shelf but stuffed rather undignified amongst the 'wooden finds'. i pulled her carefully out from under a wooden platter, she smiled shyly and i was smitten. took her home and gave her a little string scarf of granny knicker pink.

6: apparently there is no school tomorrow, therefore the 6:30am alarm will be switched off. that alone is cause for cheer in the shed.

7: one week today, my folks arrive from across the pond, the excitement within the shed is building to fever pitch.

8: the outline for my book is coming together, therefore Janine has given me the nod to continue along the book path. i have four key words written above my desk, 'gathering, writing, making, doing' in an attempt to ward off any unwelcome advances from Mr Procrastinator

even with a day off school, she is cheerfully hoping for a gleeful 'how-to' on friday, ~ Tif

dottie angel do's... part two

truth be told, i like to 'snippity snip' fabrics into pieces and then spend many happy moments patching them all back together in a random fashion. however for the dottie angel tea towels, i did not allow myself a pair of scissors, other than for cutting threads. my plan being, to see if just using two oversized tea towels, one could make several gifts in a very short space of time. therefore being contenders for

'gifts to make and give this gleeful season'.

both the laundry bag and the cushions are very basic in their construction, if you can sew a straight running stitch on a sewing machine you can make these easily. having done so myself yesterday, i am thinking a length of lace on the pillow envelope closure and a few little fabric tags on the laundry bag seam would give them a little extra. i would also go as far as to suggest one real life vintage doily appliqued on, amongst the printed ones might look quite peachy...

"how exotic" i hear you cry, "i know!" says i

laundry bag ingredients

* one pair of oversized dottie angel tea towels

* around 3 to 4 yds of twill tape

(or something similar for drawstrings)

place tea towels right sides together and pin

leaving a three inch gap before you start sewing,

sew down one side, along bottom and up the other side

once again leaving a three inch gap at the top

whilst bag is still inside out,

pinch your two corners flat

and stitch down creating a nice bottom for your bag

now turn your attention to the bag opening.

still with bag inside out

fold back the top of both tea towels 1.5"

sew along edge being sure to leave a nice wide gap

for your draw strings to run through.

turn bag right sides out

and press nice bottom with Mr Iron,

next, admire your nice bottom

taking your twill tape, cut into two even lengths,

thread one piece through the top of bag

(may need to use a safety pin for threading)

and back through the other side

knotting the two ends together

repeat in the opposite direction with other draw string.

i must admit the top of the bag does look a little iffy

before you put in the drawstrings,

but when they are threaded in,

everything appears to fall into place nicely

and voila! a simple laundry bag perfectly perfect

for hanging around

cushion cover ingredients

* an over sized pair of dottie angel tea towels

* two cushion inserts

(i used sizes 14" x 14" and 12" x 16")

with design facing upwards

fold the bottom and top of tea towel inwards

to the right size for your cushion,

this example is for the 14" square cover

pin along the right and left side

again in this example it is 14"

sew your two pinned sides

turn cushion cover right sides out,

carefully making sure corners are pushed out fully

press with your Mr Iron

and fill with cushion pad

Voila!

the dottie angel do's and the doilies design fitted both these 'how-tos' rather well, plus the cotton they are printed on is very soft even before washing and like i said before, adding a few extra details would give them a more handcrafted look. i know for me it was a struggle not to 'snippity snip' the rules up and patch them together with vintage fabrics but i think for quick and easy gleeful gifts or 'anytime of the year' gifts, they are perfectly perfect just the way they are.

she is back to her 'snippity snipping' ways today, whilst keeping a beady eye on pesky little olive ~ Tif

footynote: silly, silly me! i thought something was missing, has been one of those mornings :)

i am missing a cushion! so just a little footnote to say, using the other tea towel with the doilies, i made another simple cushion cover to match the dottie angel do's one, that being the size 12" x 16" i mentioned earlier. i am pleased to report they are most happy spending quality time in a chair together