Ring-pull chandelier

Wacky project alert!

OK so it might not be to everyone's taste but it kept me busy for a bit and, let's face it, what else could I make with hundreds of ring-pulls?  If it's any credit to my sanity, I rejected the idea of chainmail clothing.

Here's a few snaps of the process, in case any of ye are cracked enough to try this yourselves.  Twist wire into a large circle.  Bend a ring pull and fold over the circle.

Use a wire snips to slice through a bunch of ring-pulls, top and bottom,  and daisy chain them together.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

I made four tiers, each wire circle a smaller size than the previous.  I hung each tier off the previous, so ensure your first / largest tier is sturdy enough that it won't sag under the weight.  You'd be surprised how heavy the finished piece is. 

Long skirt to baggy pants in 5 minutes!

This sewing project is so easy and super quick if you have a sewing machine and the pants will probably be some of the most comfortable you have ever worn.  I found this hippie skirt in a second hand shop for the huge cost of 1 Euro.  There's a zip in the side but this tutorial will also work with elastic and drawstring waists. 

 Turn the skirt inside out and lay it out flat.  I turned the zip to the front.  Be careful to spread out the skirt evenly.  This can be a little tricky if your skirt  has a tight lining like mine.  Just take your time and when you're happy pin a straight line through all layers from about a third of the way down from the waist.  

 Sew a straight line on both sides of the pins, meeting at the top / crotch.  Cut between  the lines and voila!  New pants! 

Water Bottle Easy Carry! AKA Buckfast Buddy: Festival time!

 

     Here's a quick but useful project I threw together out of necessity: A water bottle with a cross-chest strap.  I made a few of these to bring to a festival recently: who wants to be carrying a bag around all day?

What you need: 

Wool / string.

Any size crochet hook.  Can also be done without a hook if you have nimble fingers.

A water bottle.  Preferably one with a sports cap for maximum efficiency! 

 To allow for variations in the size and shape of water bottles I can only give general instructions.
You will be using the bottle as a guide and starting at the base of the bottle.
(Number of chain stitches is approximate: Increase and decrease when necessary)

To Begin Make 8 chain, join with sl-st to make a ring.
Round 1 dc (X) in first chain of ring, *ch 6, dc in ring, 3 times*, ch 6, sl-st in dc.

Round 2 sl st 3, *ch 6, dc in loop of previous round, 3 times*, ch 6, sl-st in dc.
Round 3 Same as Round 2.
Continue working rounds in this way until you have decreased towards the neck of the bottle.
Finish by chaining the loops together, tight around the bottle eg:
Finish *ch 2, dc in loop* 4 times.

To crochet the strap simply make a chain from where your thread is to the base of the bottle: Gauge it so that the bottle will hang comfortably at waist height.  Measuring this is best done with a full bottle as the chain will stretch with the weight.

Ch 200 approx.
sl-st to the ring at bottom of bottle.
dc along the chain to strengthen and fasten off.
Add tassles and liquid at your own discretion.