Blank Canvas Arts and Crafts

Chenille Yarn

I really love holidays (and all the seasons and, well, every day). There’s so many holiday themed projects to make. It’s a marvelous time to craft.

Here’s a project just in time to celebrate the red, white and blue.

The awesome part is that with a bit of imagination it can be transformed into an “ANYTIME” craft.

Spirited Angel Centerpiece

You’ll need:

* empty 2-liter plastic bottle

* 2 1/2″ Styrofoam ball

* nylon stocking or men’s white athletic sock

* 13 x 25″ fabric piece for dress( I used a red and white striped pattern)

* 8 1/2 x18″fabric piece for sleeves( I used a star pattern)

* 24″ length of starry wire/tinsel for halo

* 8-9″ length of 1-2″ wide yellow ribbon for tie

* doll hair

* raffia

* 2 -18″ chenille stems( you may have to twist 2 together to get the right length)

* 2- 20mm wooden beads with 1/8″ holes for hands

* star shaped button

* mini flag( or any other embellishment you wish for her to hold)

* 2- 1/4″ black beads or buttons for eyes

* florist wire

* wire cutters

* gravel for weight (aquarium gravel works great)—about 2 cups

* white craft glue

* yarn or string—optional

* glue gun and glue

Remove bottle lid and discard.Fill with gravel(however full you wish—this will keep from tipping her over in a wind).

Center Styrofoam ball on top of bottle( for her head) and glue into place with craft glue.(Tip:glue guns tend to melt and misshape Styrofoam so always use white craft glue) Let dry.

Pull nylon stocking or sock over ball.Stretching slightly, secure into place by wrapping florist wire around neck of bottle and then trim excess from nylon stocking or sock.Glue on doll hair. Let dry.

Squeeze a narrow strip of glue along 1 short edge of right side of fabric piece for dress. Overlap other short edge, forming a tube. Let dry. Place tube over bottle. Gather tightly at neck. Tie with yarn or string. Knot securely, adjusting gathers. Trim ends of yarn or string.

For sleeves, squeeze a narrow strip of glue along long edge of fabric piece. As before, overlap with other long edge, forming a tube. Let dry.

Insert one chenille stem into tube for arm. Repeat on other side.

Attach 1 bead to end of chenille stem for hands, gluing with glue gun into place. Repeat other arm.

Gather sleeve tube at center and wrap tightly with florist’s wire. Glue center of arms to center back of dress at back at the neck edge. Bend arms to front.

Cut 6-10 pieces of raffia tie into bow, having tails as this forms the wings. Glue with glue gun to angel over gathered area of sleeves.

Create a halo with the star wire tinsel by twisting and weaving into a circle approximately 3 1/2″ in diameter.

Glue one edge of halo to center back of head,not gluing any hair to it.

Glue buttons or beads to head front for eyes. Apply blush to face for cheeks, if desired.

Tie ribbon over yarn or string at neck for tie. Knot into place. Add star button at knot and glue into place.

Glue “hands” together at front, placing mini flag between.

Use as centerpiece for the family picnic table or display on your own table.

Tip: after the picnic was over I used it as a doorstop.

Use different fabrics and embellishments for a different look.

Let me know some of your ideas how you think it can be made.

See you next time.

I have been active in the arts and crafts world. I have been doing this for over 30 years. I have taught classes for several youth groups and also adults. I have also owned and operated a craft, Robin’s Nest, business from my home for over 30 years. I design and make crafts of all mediums for custom orders. I especially enjoy working with children.

Need a pattern for an afghan to crochet as a throw?

I want an easy and fun stitch to do. I have eight skeins of 100g, 253 yd Chenille yarn. I do not want to do blocks or strips. It is going to be for a five year old.
Also, has anyone ever tried to do something to personalize an afhgan like this before? I was thinking something like a quilt block with her name on it in the center and then crocheting around the square until I reached the desired size. I am not really sure how I would do this, though. Any ideas for this, or maybe a different one??

Here’s a crocheted afghan that my mother does. It’s easy and it’s one big piece rather than blocks or strips. I don’t know about putting her name on it – just do it in her favorite colors. I wouldn’t try to do a quilt block combined with the afghan, because you’d have to quilt the block, and then finish the edges, and then figure out a way to attach the yarn. After all is said and done, the first time you wash it you’ll have a misshapen mess because the different components will shrink differently.

Great Granny Rectangular Afghan
Materials: Worsted weight yarn, 16 ounces each Color 1, Color 2, Color 3; 20 ounces Color 4 (Note: because yarn yardages of different brands vary considerably, on a large project such as an afghan it is advisable to buy an extra skein of each color to be sure you have enough of the same dye lot to complete the project); size H crochet hook or size needed for gauge.
Gauge: With H hook, rectangle should measure approximately 5” X 15 ½” after 4th round is worked (the second Color 1 round).
Note: Color sequence is Color 1, Color 2, Color 3, Color 4.
Instructions: This afghan is made differently than the usual granny because it is rectangular rather than square. You will start the rectangle with a foundation row, then begin working in rounds in the same manner that a regular square is worked.
Foundation Row: With Color 1, chain 48. Double crochet in 4th chain from hook, chain 1, skip 1, double crochet in next 3 chains, * chain 1, skip 1, double crochet in next 3 chains. Repeat from * across, ending skip 1, chain 1, half double crochet in last chain. Finish off Color 1.
Round 1: With right side facing, join Color 2 with a slip stitch in chain 1 space at end of previous row, chain 3, work 2 double crochets in same space (chain 1, 3 double crochets) 3 times in same space, 3 double crochets in each space between groups to chain space at opposite end of Foundation Row, work (3 double crochets, chain 1) 4 times in end space, continue around working 3 double crochets in each space between groups. Join with a slip stitch, finish off Color 2.
Round 2: Hold rectangle with right side facing and narrow end at top. Join Color 3 with a slip stitch in chain 1 corner space at right hand side of top. Chain 3, (2 double crochet, chain 1, 3 double crochets) all in same space (corner made); 3 double crochets between next 2 groups of double crochets (for end); (3 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets) all in next chain 1 space (corner made); 3 double crochets between each group along side; (3 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets) in next corner chain 1 space; 3 double crochets between next 2 groups; (3 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets) all in next chain 1 space; 3 double crochets between each group along remaining side, join with a slip stitch to starting chain; finish off Color 3.
Round 3: Again holding rectangle with right side facing and narrow end at top, join Color 4 with a slip stitch in chain 1 space of upper right corner; chain 3, 2 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets in space; * 3 double crochets between each group along side, (3 double crochets, chain 1, 3 double crochets) in chain 1 space of next corner; repeat from * 3 times, 3 double crochets between each group along last side, join with a slip stitch to starting chain. Finish off Color 4.
From now on: Continue to repeat Round 3, working 2 rounds in each color, then 3 rounds in each color; then 4 rounds in each color, etc. Work 2 more rounds in Color 4 to finish.
Fringe: We put 1 tassel in each corner space and in each space between groups along the 2 narrow ends, a total of 58 tassels on each side. For each tassel you need 8 strands of Color 4, cut to 14” lengths. Hold all 8 strands together, fold in half. With crochet hook and wrong side of afghan facing you, pull folded end through corner or space, pull loose ends through folded end, and pull knot up tightly. Repeat in each space and each corner.

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