August Free Projects

Grand entrance

By Jenny Garlick

Spice up your foyer or hallway with a chic hanging rack. Made from wood and decorative door knobs, this stunning project is easy to create.

You will need…
Pine wood: 45cm x 2cm x 16cm
White paper: A4
Mixed gold and copper leaf
4 decorative door knobs
Jo Sonja's Artists Colors: Rich Gold
Matisse Background Colours: Folk Black
Helmar: Crystal Coat Gloss
Gesso
Paintbrush
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Drill
Awl
Fine sandpaper
Craft glue

Method
1. Apply one coat of gesso to the top and sides of the wood. Allow it to dry, then apply three coats of black paint, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly between applications.

2. Use the ruler to evenly divide the top of the wood into five sections. Find the centre of each dividing line and mark with the pencil. Drill one hole at each marking.

3. Using a drinking glass as a template, draw four, 9cm-diameter circles on the white paper. Pierce a hole in the centre using the awl, then cut the circles out.

4. Apply one coat of gold paint to each circle. Allow the paint to dry, then apply a thin coat of craft glue and sprinkle on the mixed gold and copper leaf. Gently rub over the leaf with your fingers to create a flat surface and to remove any excess. Allow it to dry.

5. Use the craft glue to adhere the circles to the wood, aligning the centres over the drilled holes. Allow the glue to dry.

6. Apply four coats of varnish to the wood, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly between applications.

7. Using the fine sandpaper, sand the surface of the wood to create a high-gloss finish on the wood and a white rim around the paper circles. Apply another three coats of varnish, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly between applications.

8. Attach the knobs through the holes.

Modern must-have

This project was made by the Patons Design team.

The scarf is a wardrobe staple for almost every season. Spice up the traditional knitted scarf with this project that incorporates delicate crochet edging.

Click here to learn more about knitting.
Click here to learn more about crochet.

You will need:
Moonlight yarn: 3 x 50g balls
Ostrich yarn: 50g ball
10mm knitting needles
5mm (no 6) crochet hook
Wool needle

Tip
Use only the yarns specified for this scarf as other yarns may give unsatisfactory results. Quantities are approximate as they can vary between knitters.

Dimensions:
Width (approx): 20cm
Length (excluding edging): 1.3m

Tip
Test the tension. Work 12 sts and 15 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using the 10mm needles and the Moonlight yarn. To work a tension square, use the 10mm needles and the Moonlight yarn to cast on 18 sts. Work 22 rows stocking st. Cast off loosely. If the piece is larger or the stitches appear very loose, use smaller needles. If the piece is smaller or the stitches are tight, use larger needles.

Method
1. To make the scarf use the 10mm needles and one strand each of the Moonlight and Ostrich tog, cast on 25 sts. Work 10 rows stocking st.

2. Using one strand of Moonlight only, cont in stocking st until the work measures 122cm from the beg, ending with a purl row.

3. Using one strand each of the Moonlight and Ostrich tog, work 10 rows stocking st. Cast off loosely.
Use the wool needle to sew in all ends.

4. To make the edging, use the 5mm crochet hook and one strand of the Moonlight yarn. Beg at a cast on edge, pull the loop through the first st and make 20 ch.

5. ** Insert the hook into the next st, pull the loop through and make 20 ch. Rep from ** until all sts have been worked to the end of the cast on edge.

6. Rep edging along the cast off edge.

Click here for more information on Patons yarns.