Scented box

Scented fabric lined box

Materials:

Craft box or recycled box of choice.

Fabric.

Potpourri of choice.

Thin cardboard. Use recycled board from cereal boxes.

Thin fabric batting. Old tea towel or dishcloth will work for batting. I used an old flannel blanket.

Craft glue suitable for material.

Optional: Memento Ink color of choice.

Method:

To begin trace the box shape inside onto paper for your template.

From the template cut one from thin cardboard. 

Using the template trace around on batting and fabric leaving enough to turn in the fabric around the cardboard.

Glue your batting to the cardboard. Snip in around the edges to smooth out the turning if your box is shaped. If it is square or rectangle simple turn in the edges paying attention to miter the corners without bulk. (Cut across the corner and turn in the edges to give a mired look).

Take your fabric and with wrong side facing the batting, glue into place, first add a a thin line of glue to the batting and then glue the fabric to the back by turning the edges of the fabric towards the back of the thin cardboard. Be sure to leave a gap to fill with potpourri.

To fill the shape, a bowl and spoon will be helpful. A funnel will also help but I didn't end up using mine. Spoon in the potpourri to fill the shape. Don’t over stuff. Keep the filling thin but padded. Fold over the opening towards the back of the cardboard and glue into place.

If preferred you can ink the edges of the fabric. I used Memento Ink in Lady Bug.

Cover the back of the thin cardboard with glue and glue into place. Press down around the edges and in the center to make sure the cardboard adheres well to the bottom of the box.

Your scented box is now ready to hold any items you like. 

Useful Links: 

Introduction to Potpourri. 

Cottage Potpourri.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

out and about

We've been having some really lovely weather of late with the turn of Autumn here at home. The nights are cooler and so are the days. There's been some rain too. It's the type of weather to be pulling out the slow cooker for stews. 

I've been out and about of late. I recently joined up as a member of the Toowoomba Art Society and I go with my niece. We do two days a week attending life drawing and 'come and paint day'.

I attended their 45 x 45 exhibition with an Aunt and my niece. It was nice to get back into the art scene so to speak.

I've also been over at mum and dad's, seeing to them as well. They recently got a upright piano...it's a good thing they are empty nesters and we don't have to listen to learners practicing.

At home we've had lots of people coming and going. A few of the mob, On the couch: My youngest sister, her daughter, my niece, my aunt and Simba. In the single chairs, my aunt who I live with. My second oldest sister standing, she's now living with us too. Mum covering her face sitting, my nephew at the end.

There's also been puttering around in the kitchen, using up what we have. These zucchini's went far into baked zucchini slice. It's always nice cold the next day. The baked sliced is a little different to the Zucchini slice I posted here . It's a good frugal meal because you only use Zucchinis and tomatoes and cheese on top. I'll post up the recipe at a later date.

I've also been embroidering. I have another baby quilt commission and I hope to show that soon. This crazy quilt is going slowly now with the cooler days I hope to do more.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about being out and about is I passed my driving test. I've never driven before and had to learn from scratch. It's a big achievement for me. Soon I'll be doing 'Sunday Drive' posts. I'm still a little nervous about driving, but excited I CAN drive too. If you had told me I would have got my licence at 47 years old even 12 months ago I would have laughed and not believed you. 

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.

Grandma's apple

Apple crochet dishcloth

This crochet dishcloth is very easy to make, but you do have to pay attention to the rounds to make the stitches consistent to the pattern. It's more an 'apple slice' if you use white and green or red color for the edges. Another nice idea is to just crochet the apple all in green or all in red so the apple doesn't look like it is sliced. The loop would look nice in a wood color and the leaf a different green to the apple. But if you only have one green color yarn that will do.

Please let me know if there is a mistake in the pattern and I will try to fix it.

Crochet stitches are American stitches.

For Australian crochet stitches are here.

Note: Ch 3 at beg of rounds or rows count as a DC

Crochet hook I used was 4 mm or G Hook. I used Lincraft brand 100% cotton yarn with is an 8 ply. 

Round 1: Ch 3 11 double crochet in ring. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. =12 dc.

Round 2: Ch 3. 1 double crochet in same space as last sl st. 2 Double Crochet in each double crochet around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3. = 23 Double Crochet.

Round 3: Ch3 2 double crochet in next double crochet. * 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 2 double crochet in next double crochet. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3.

Round 4: Ch 3. 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 2 double crochet in next double crochet. * 1 dc in each of next 2 double crochet. 2 double crochet in next double crochet. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to top of ch3. = 48 double crochet.

Round 5:  Ch 3. 1 dc in same sp as last sl st. 1 double crochet in each of next 3 dc. * 2 double crochet in next double crochet. 1 double crochet in each of next 3 double crochet Repeat from * around. Join in with sl st to top of ch 3. = 60 double crochet.

Round 6: Ch1. 1 sc in each of next 3 double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 double crochet in next double crochet. ( 2 double crochet in next double crochet. 1 double crochet in next double crochet) 4 times. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 single crochet in each of next 6 double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 double crochet in each of next 2 double crochet. 2 double crochet in each of next 3 double crochet. 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 single crochet in next double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 2 double crochet in each of next 3 double crochet. 1 double crochet in each next 2 double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 single crochet in each of next 6 double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. ( 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 2 double crochet in next double crochet) 4 times. 1 double crochet in next double crochet. 1 half double crochet in next double crochet. 1 single crochet in each of  next 3 double crochet. Join outer second color with sl st to first single crochet. 74 sts. Break main color.

Round 7: With Outer Second color, ch 1, 1 single crochet in same space as last sl st. 1 half double crochet in next single crochet. 1 double crochet in each of the next 4 sts. ( 2 double crochet in next st. 1 double crochet in next 5 sts) 4 times. 2 double crochet in next st. 1 double crochet in each of next 4 sts. 1 half double crochet in next st.1 single crochet in each of the next 2 sts. 1 half double crochet in next st. 1 double crochet in each of next 4 sts. ( 2 double crochet in next st. 1 double crochet in each of next 5 sts) 4 times. 2 double crochet in next st. 1 double crochet in each of next 4 sts. 1 half double crochet in next st. 1 single crochet in next st. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

  

Hanging Loop

With 2 strands of loop color held together, join with sl st to top of Apple. Ch 12. Join with sl st in same sp as first sl st. Fasten off.

Leaf

With Leaf color, ch 12

1^st row: 1 single crochet in 2^nd ch from hook. 1 half double crochet in next ch. 1 double crochet in next ch. 1 treble crochet in each of next 5 ch. 1 double crochet in next ch. 1 half double crochet in next ch. 3 single crochet in last ch. Working across opposite side of ch, 1 half double crochet in next ch. 1 double crochet in next ch. 1 treble crochet in each of next 5 ch. 1 double crochet in next ch. 1 half double crochet in next ch. 2 single crochet in last ch. Join with sl st to firs single crochet.

Fasten off.

Sew leaf to Apple near hanging loop.

If desired add seeds in the center by embroidering seeds either in bullion stitch or lazy 

daisy stitch.

I hope everyone is having a good day or evening where ever you are.