A Felted Bag for an Ipad

This bag is knitted from wool yarn and then felted in the washing machine at 40°C. Holes are cut after the bag has been felted. The shoulder strap and the fastener are made from 3mm thick leather cords. A handmade horn bead is sewn onto the front.

1. Cast on 50 stitches and knit plain stitches back and forth until the knitted piece measures approx. 85cm. Use yellow yarn for the last 2cm of the knitted piece. Now fold the knitted piece so that the actual bag measures 34cm and the flap measures 17cm. Now sew the bag together inside out and felt it in the washing machine at 40°C. Pull it into shape whilst it is still wet.

2.

3. Gather three pieces of 3mm leather cords in a knot and pull through the knitted piece. Plait the cords until the desired length of the shoulder strap is reached. Close at the other side using the same procedure.

4. Use a piece of mercerised cotton yarn for loosely sewing the horn bead onto the bag.

5. Make a fastener from leather cord as shown.

A Neon-Coloured Plaited Cord with sewn-on Piece of Jewellery Chain

A bracelet made from neon-coloured plaited cord with a silver jewellery chain which is sewn onto the cords with neon-coloured macramé cords. The bracelet is fastened with a two-part magnetic clasp.

1. Cut two pieces of plaited cord, each measuring approx. 21cm. Also, cut a 19cm long piece of jewellery chain and two 50cm long pieces of macramé cord. Bundle and secure all the ends together at one end with a piece of sellotape.

2. Glue the assembled ends in place inside one of part of the two-part magnetic clasp using instant glue.

3. Attach the jewellery chain onto the plaited cord by feeding a piece of macramé cord in and out through each section of the jewellery chain and around the plaited cord.

4. When finished, trim the bracelet by cutting off the excess cords. Secure the ends with a piece of sellotape and glue them in place with Super Attak instant glue inside the other part of the magnetic clasp.

Light Up Your Party With LED Balloons

Timeless and appropriate at any age, balloons are a must-have for any celebration. But as a tech geek and lover of anything with an on/off button, I couldn’t help myself when I realized that LED lights paired with balloons would result in instant glowing lanterns.




Materials:
- LED lights (DIY or repurpose a dollar store keychain)
- Balloons

Step 1: Gather your LEDs

This part can be as simple or complicated as you desire. One option is to craft your own LED lights, while the other is to purchase them powered and ready to go.

If you choose to get geeky and craft your own LEDs, you’ll need the following:

- 5-10 small LEDs (available online or at Radio Shack)

- 5-10 3-volt batteries

- Tape

To assemble the LEDs, place the “legs” of an LED on either side of a battery. It should light up right away. If it doesn’t, flip the battery around. On the day of the party, tape the LED to the battery to secure it in place. Repeat this process until all your LEDs are lit.

If you choose to purchase powered LEDs, head to your local Dollar Store or party supply store and hunt for LED accessories. I was able to find LED keychains that pulse a variety of colors when powered.

Step 2: Assemble the balloons

If you plan to blow your balloons up with helium, grab your LEDs and head to the party store. Before you fill a balloon with helium, turn on an LED light and insert it into the balloon.

Once they’re tied and attached to some string, scatter the balloons around the party and watch as your glowing balloons light up the scene.

The life of any given LED will vary, but expect your LED balloons to last at least 24-48 hours.

If your LEDs are still glowing by the time your party ends, pop the balloons, remove the LEDs, turn them off, and save them for your next celebration.