Oogits (from New Zealand)

1 plastic curtain ring

26 lengths of wool 8cm

6 lengths of wool 18cm

Circle of felt for face (slightly larger than ring)

2 googly eyes 4mm (not necessary, scraps of felt will do)

Scraps of felt or other material for boots, etc

Glue

Felt pen

Take one of the 8cm lengths. Cow-hitch the wool to the curtain ring.

Cow Hitch or Lark's Head

Continue with all but two of the 8cm lengths, ensuring the cow-hitch is the same way up each time.

Take three of the 18cm lengths together. Hitch over the ring, and plait. Either tie a knot in the end or use a separate piece of wool to tie. Hitch the two extra 8cm pieces next, then repeat with the last 3 18cm lengths. These are the legs.

Stick the eyes on the face, and draw a smiley mouth. Stick the face behind the curtain ring.

Cut boot shapes out of felt and attach to bottom of legs.

Attach a safety pin to the back of the face.

You could go really fancy and make arms with hands as well.

Jive Bunny

String/Jute, etc: 1 piece 70cm
1 piece 60cm

Piece of thick card, eg from cardboard box, 30cm long, with 20cm line marked from bottom

1 bead, car seat bead would do

4 x 1cm pompoms of hand/feet colour

1 x 1cm pompom white

2 dressmaking pins

Fold the shorter length of string in half and pin (using the two pins) the folded middle about 1cm apart to the 20cm line.

Fold the longer length in half, place the folded middle at the bottom of the card, attach to card using same pins in same position.

Do five full square knots with the shorter length.

Fold up the bottom of the U to the bottom of the knotting, there will be two loops hanging down now. Do one half of a square knot. Remove from cardboard.

Pull the two loops through the bead (some wire is useful here to hook through the string and pull through bead hole). These form the ears.

Tie a knot at appropriate length in each of the four loose ends. Stick a pompom on each to make hands and feet. Stick the white pompom on appropriate place for tail. Stick pin on back.

Log Pet (or Logipede)

Sticks, preferably with bark still on, at least 2cm/ ¾inch diameter

4mm googly eyes

Hacksaw

Mitre block

Piece of stiff string.

Saw off piece of wood, one end straight 90° , the other 45° . Sand ends.

Stick googly eyes to slanted end.

To make into Logipede: tie a clove hitch on face end of pet log. Make sure loose ends are upward. Tie a thumb knot in each end, and encourage to stand up like antennae !

Miniature Knitting

Wool

Two cocktail sticks (debatable whether plastic or wood is preferable, if using wood, snip sharp points off knitting end)

Two beads to slot on ends of cocktail sticks

Safety pin

Glue

Cast on 12 stitches. Knit four or five rows depending on wool thickness, i.e. you want enough to show.

Knit halfway along next row. Cut wool from ball, leaving, say, 30cm loose. Starting from loose end of wool roll into a ball. As you near the knitting, stick the cocktail sticks through the ball crossways. This should secure everything.

Glue a bead on the end of each stick.

Attach a safety pin to back (sewing is the best method).

Juggling Balls

For 1 ball:

Approx 1½ oz birdseed

2 small round balloons

small plastic bag – cling film is cheaper but more fiddly

• Blow up balloons to stretch them. Then cut off the necks.
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• Measure out the seed – approx 1/3 of plastic cup and pour into the corner of the plastic bag. Twist it four or five times and turn it back on itself.
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• Carefully stretch a balloon over the ball pulling the neck together
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• Stretch the second balloon over the ball ensuring that the opening of the first goes into the bottom of the second. Pull neck together.
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• Cut the neck into broad strips and stretch three over the ball. Different colours are most effective.

Quilling Candle

3 x 10mm wide strips (same colour, makes candle)

3 x 6mm wide strips (makes flowers, preferably different)

2 x 3mm wide strips (green)

A base, e.g. a slice of wood

Roll 10mm strips tightly and glue. Glue together in a column to form the candle. Stick to base.

Take a green strip and roll up, then let loose. Pinch one end to a point to form a leaf shape. Stick both leaves flat on base around candle.

Take 6mm strip. Snip down along the length, the cut needs to be more than halfway.

Roll up paper, but not too tightly. When you have secured the end with glue, "fluff" out the petals. Stick the three flowers around the candle on top of the leaves.

Cut a tiny orange (or yellow) flame out of paper and stick into the hole in the top of the candle.

Union Jack beaded pins

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