Published - Tue, 24 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 20 Sep - 24 Sep (4 days)
Bench Hook
Make a bench jig - as seen in Graham Blackburn video, which can double as a mitre box.
Aim: Make a bench jig - as seen in Graham Blackburn's video, which can double as a mitre box.
This was a simple project, really a way to practice squaring edges with planes. All I did here was glue and nail the hook sections to the main board. The main consideration is making sure its exactly square, as I'll be using this a references for future projects.
I will probably main a few more of these at some point. This one is quite long so next one might be smaller. I've also seen bench hooks where the hook sections are smaller that the full width of the board so you can cross cut more e...
Published - Mon, 23 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 08 Aug - 23 Sep (46 days)
Remaking the Green Cardigan
Made this cardigan for partner last year. Some issues with size / fit / uneveness. Decided to remake entire cardigan, mostly reduce size and make button band even.
8 Aug
For a few YEARS now, I've wanted to make a jumper or cardigan for my partner. Given that I've made quite a few jumpers for myself over the years, this should be so difficult right?
Before the green cardigan, I had made him a jumper in grey, which had some interesting patterns on it. After I finished knitting and blocking it, the jumper grew WAY too big. The sleeves were about 50% longer than they needed to be and the body was also too wide. I did try to do some knitting surgery, but the arms were still a problem. Since it was knitted flat (not in the round), it was alot more tedious to unpick the seams and in the end I gave up and f...
Published - Tue, 24 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 13 Sep - 23 Sep (10 days)
Wand Making
Having seen https://www.youtube.com/@agreatalternative make wand I want to make some of my own. Have never tried carving, and it doesn't look too complicated. This will be a nice small side project.
13 Sep
Having seen @TheGreatAlternative make wands I wanted to make some of my own. Although I've never tried wood carving, it doesn't look too complicated. I'm hoping this will be a nice small side project, while I get by woodworking started.
My first wand attempt, went well at first... then just as I was about to finish it, it snapped in half. The wood I collected was quite old already - I found it outside in the park. I honed a particular weak spot too much and it mad it too fragile. Might need to reconsider the wood I'm collecting. Long dead wood starts to decay / hollow out.<...
Published - Mon, 09 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 30 Aug - 09 Sep (10 days)
Set up home wood workshop
Adding woodworking to my list of crafts. Need a workbench and hand tools to get started. Will focus on traditional handwork. This is of a set up project.
For a while I've very lightly dabbled in some woodworking. Last year I signed up for a one day course to make a wooden toolbox. I also made a simple raised bed to sit in my garden. This was done with the most basic tools like a power drill, some planks, a garden saw and some nails.
Woodworking has been lurking in the back of my mind as another interest I would like to pursue, since it could be so useful. You could make furniture or anything home or garden related, all of which potentially high value items. However, there is a learning curve and it requires a proper set up space with the right kind of tools. Even then, so much woodworking nowadays is done predominately on pow...
Published - Sat, 07 Sep 24
Project Timeline: 01 Aug - 06 Sep (36 days)
Octagonal Wooden Plant Pot
Making an indoor plant plant, a large size. Make in wood workshop with some instructor guidance and power tools.
This has been a fun project to work on. Basically my second woodworking project, the first being seed trays i made from some spare materials. Both of these I did in a workshop studio, with the help / instruction of a professional. My goal was to learn some techniques in woodworking, how to use some power tools and see if i could build some confidence.
I would say this was quite a successful project as a first time. Though lets see if the pot lasts. I have a feeling that some joints have too much pressure and may burst apart. But there you go.
Outline of how i made it:
- Used birch plywood sheet
- Cut big pieces down to size using a tracksaw.
Published - Mon, 17 Jun 24
Project Timeline: 17 Jun - 17 Jun (0 days)
VintageKnitSummerTops
[Pre Blog Project]
This is a vintage pattern I found on Etsy. I used the leftovers from previous jumper projects and made this lovely striped top. I really like the pattern, I wear it a lot in the summer. Would definitely make again. The orange is alpaca, while the white is cotton. The orange on its own might be a bit itchy to wear against the skin, but here with the cotton I don't really don't feel it. Although alpaca is so soft anyway, maybe it would be fine if it was 100% alpaca.
2025 Craft of Living. By Charlotte Leysen.