Making a pot out of scrap

The rain is non stop here today, relentless bucketing it down. The lawn is like a bog with puddles all over it. Thankfully the drains are able to cope and I haven't heard about any local flooding. They have it bad in other parts of North Lincolnshire though, my house is safe thank goodness.

Anyway, here is a little indoor project that you might like to have a go at, if you can crochet. It won't cost anything, all you need is an empty jar, and a ball of wool. Start by making a circle the same size as the bottom of the jar. There is no pattern, I just make it up. Then bring the crochet up the sides. If your jar is narrower at the top like mine is, you will need to decrease a few stitches as you go along. Round and round the jar untill you get to the top. Then stitch in the loose end just below the top on the inside so it doesn't show.

Next I cut some shapes out of a scrap of fabric. Then I used a spot of varnish on a brush to seal the edges to stop the fabric fraying. If you haven't got a tin of varnish you can use clear nail varnish, or use fabric which doesn't fray. Or you can crochet your own decorations out of different coloured wool.

I decided not to use the yellow flowers, I didn't think they were needed, it looks kinda nice with just the leaves stitched around the bottom.

And there you have it, a container for your paint brushes......

or your knitting needles......

or a few sprigs of green from the garden.

If you want to make a pen holder you need to use a smaller jar, this one is too tall, the pens disappear inside. Because the top is narrower than the bottom the cover can't easily be removed. If you use a jar which is the same circumference all the way down, you will be able to take the cover off to wash the jar, if you put water and flowers in it. Have fun designing your own, or a gift for someone else. Toodle pip.