Crochet Tin Covers :: Ta-dah!

Oh my. I have to admit that it's given me a silly amount of guilty pleasure keeping you guessing over this creative make. Sorry. Well no, truthfully I'm not really very sorry, it's been tremendous fun reading your comments on my last post, I've enjoyed it so much!

Ok, enough with the teasing, shall we cut straight to the story? It all started last week when I bought my first small £1 pot of spring narcissi home from the supermarket. I buy these every year, you may remember I crocheted some blue and white jar jackets for them a few years back. I'm currently using those jars to hold pens and pencils, so I simply popped the pot into a very cute little 1940's china jug (a recent ebay purchase). But they didn't look right. They wobbled and wibbled.

I thought to myself that what I really needed was a little dish with a flat bottom. Cos then I could keep the narcissi in the very lovely bright yellow plastic pot, but have some sort of un-wobbly vessel to stand them in. I began looking around on the Shelves of Doom to see if I could find some sort of a dish, but nothing appeared. And then the idea hit, it came whizzing into my Creative Mind just like that. It was the shape you see. I had this flat-bottomed dish shape in my mind. And this is what whizzed in........

A tuna tin.

Of course! It's the perfect size and shape. Per-fect. I just needed to remove the contents (tuna/mayonnaise sandwiches anyone?) and come up with some sort of pretty cover for the empty tin. Genius!

Now I decided to keep it very simple. I figured that all I needed to do was to make a kind of a cuff that would sit neatly around the tin, much as I did for these jars, remember them? No bottom needed, just the sides to be covered, with a pretty decorative edging around the top.

I could not WAIT to get started, I cannot tell you how stupidly excited I became over this idea. Like I felt I would burst if anyone tried to stop me from doing this thing.

I set to work. I got out my basket of Rowan handknit Cotton (oh how I adore this yarn!), a 3.5mm hook and off I went. Round and round creating rings of colourful, cottony stripes.

I had originally thought about finishing off the top edge with a little scallop or picot, but somewhere along the way I got fixated on the idea of using beads. Not sure where this influence came from, but I felt sure I could have a go at actually crocheting in some beads as I worked. I maybe saw it done somewhere, but can't recall. So I just had a play with it until I worked out how to do it.

And was it successful, this beady finish?

Oh YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes yes yes yes yeppity yeah-haw yes it was!!!!!!!!!

It really worked out beautifully.

Want to see?

Want to see my first tuna tin cover???

Ahhh ok................................................................................................

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big smile. I LOVE it. It's just so colourful and cute and perfectly simple.

And it goes beautifully with the yellow pot I think.

Pretty and Practical.

Do you like the effect of the beads? Isn't it great? I used plastic beads from a child's jewellery making set, as they are colourful and quite chunky and have big holes for threading. I couldn't use the pretty glass beads that I have as the holes are too small, but I've since discovered an incredible range of coloured glass "pony beads" that are designed specifically for threading onto DK weight yarn. They're available online from a well known Rowan knit designer called Debbie Abrahams....do check them out if you like this sort of thing. I've ordered myself some but they've not arrived yet, I'll show you when I get them.

I figured that these covered tins could be used for all sorts of things, not just to hold plant pots. I've got this overwhelming urge to force feed my family tuna for every meal and make dozens of these sweet little things. For holding coins and buttons and paperclips and jewellery and all manner of Small Things.

So of course once I'd made the first one, I had to make more. Had to experiment a little with the stripes and the top edge and the business of prettifying the hooky.

So out came the buttons. Nothing I love more than to stitch buttons onto crochet.

I made the stripes wider this time too (double rows of each colour) and tried out a scallop edging along the top.

This is the third one I made, finished off with vintage mother of pearl buttons.

Awwww they look so cute all together! I took them up to the bathroom shelf to photograph them as I had an idea I wanted to see them against a blue background.

The blue one with the pearly buttons was snapped up by a visiting friend. She called round for a cuppa as I was making it and declared that she was in love with it and really had to take it home. Who was I to argue? Plus it gave me reason to make another one, cos two's just never enough.

I tell you, these are sooooo addictive. And quick too. By the time I came to make this one, I knew what I was doing and it only took about an hour, I kid you not.

I made up a couple of my teeny tiny flowers, and did four "half leaves".....by that I mean I literally made half of the original leaf pattern (ch 6, begin in 2nd ch from hook and work dc, htr, tr, htr, dc, finish off)

Stitched them all into place and added a couple of buttons.....

Awwwwwwwwwwww! I think this might be my favourite one of all.

A handful of colourful, creative scrumptiousness.

Pretty, pretty.

And useful too....they work a treat with these little plant pots. Just as I imagined when the idea first formed.

♥ Love ♥

I made this rather girly one for Little Lady this morning. Little B was out with Daddy so I took the opportunity to make/photograph a tutorial for you.

I'm so excited about the crochet+bead technique. It's amazing. And it's sparking off all sorts of new creative ideas (I'm thinking round cushions with a beady edging, a beaded bag, and a long, skinny scarf with a beady bottom edge!)

I'm going to try and upload/write the tutorial this weekend for you.

Better get yourself some tins of tuna in anticipation.

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 Edit to add :: someone yesterday (who doesn't like tuna) suggested using pineapple tins instead. Marvelous idea, we are getting a bit tuna'd out here. Tomorrow I'm scouring the supermarket shelves for tins. Cat food you say?

Another Edit :: (( thank you)) for all the tin love! I've uploaded the pics for the tutorial but won't have time to write it until tomorrow. In the meantime if you want to get started, this is it in a nutshell ::

You should make a foundation chain to tightly fit your tin (mine was 46+1 for turning). Work in dc (sc for US peeps), in Back Loops Only. At the end of the first row, sl st into beginning chain so that it joins up and looks like circular bangle. Work all future rows with right side facing (no turning) and always end row with a sl st join (no sewing up). Crochet ends in as you go (no darning). Scallop edging as follows :: work one row of dc, then next round in same colour, *skip 1 stitch, work 4 htr in next st, skip 1 st, sl st in next st* and repeat. Beading tutorial will come tomorrow.

By the way I'm moving onto pineapple tins, they're slightly taller = more play with stripes and embellishment possibilities. Also I've now got a mad urge to stitch ric rac braiding onto crochet......I'm thinking ric rac braid+buttons!! My cup runneth over!!!!

xx

(((( THE TUTORIAL IS READY! ))))

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lisa]

Now I'm craving tuna salad!! 😁💞

[Linda]

Beautiful little pots Lucy - starting one right now! Small donation sent. Many thanks for your cheerful blogs :) x

[Silly Little Sheep]

Oh, this is adorable! And so jolly!! I am thinking of making covers for my ordinary plastic orchid pots!!

[Barbara]

I have been saving 400g cans, making the covers, no fancies around the top, but long enough to fold in. I am using those to store Crochet Hooks, Pens, Scissors ... they are a hit.

[Lynn]

I just absolutely ADORE all of your creations. You are such an inspiraton!

[Lisa]

Hi,

Quick question. I was wondering whether you make and sell the jam jar covers as l would be interested in buying approx. 50 of them for February?

Let me know.

Thanks,
Lisa

[Andrina]

OMG can I just say you are brilliant and I want to be you when I grow up? These colors are like you looked inside my head and heart! What a smart idea for the cheeky monkeys that are my nieces/nephews for Christmas. Thank heavens for the tutorial. I must stop typing and start hooking. Mwah!

[Jessica]

I love this idea and postet it here on my blog. I hope you like it.
Jessica
http://schoenstricken.de/2012/09/hubsche-hakel-schalchen-aus-blechdosen/

[Elaine]

I've been crocheting for 35 yrs. and thought I had pretty much seen it all,until I found your blog! You do amazing things,with all your projects and I have learned you can always find someone with new ideas- I must say yours are special!

[Kiara]

Just wanted to say that you have an amazing blog! I love the images/instructions. It's so helpful and easy to understand! I have been able to do so many projects that I thought I wouldn't be able to accomplish! Thank you!

[Lisa Webb]

Beautiful Blog and beautiful work. Not so sure about your climate xxxxxxx :-)

[Paula]

Espectacular, me encanta, Felicitaciones.
Love your site.

[moni]

WOW!!! What a wonderful idea!!! I think, I'll try it! :)
Have a nice Sunday
moni

[Jo Mills]

Thanks for the great idea. I'm going to go for a jam jar to cover instead of a tin. Make some lovely pen pots. Hugs Jox

[Jessica]

These are so adorable - I love your use of colour. Quite honestly, I come to your site sometimes just to surf around in your beautiful pictures. I think I'm going to make one of the ones with the flowers on it for my daughter as a headband.

[TracyMB]

I am going to start eating tuna JUST so I can cover the tins! They are adorable. Can I come over for a playdate? :)

[Jill]

you are TOO PRECIOUS!!!

[Margriet Zijlstra]

eat you heart out! I got meself a XXL tuna fish can :-)) got it out of the litter of our cafetaria at work hahaha but ever so happy! thanks for your inspiration! x check the picture on http://sparkelz-creatief.blogspot.com/2012/01/blik-xxl.html

[Dulce Evangelista]

I love all your works.I am a portuguese women who loves all type of hand made works. When I brook my nee, last year, my cousin show me your site and i spend lot of time visiting your works.So i have been at home for 6 months and i did 2 wool blankets with the beautiful collors that you use in yours.Now i am again at home for 1 month and i am going to do another blanket. By the way, you can recicle too the been cans to put your bolbs. Sorry for my english.Best regards. Dulce

[Carol]

Today I was wandering along the aisles in Morrisons with a pot of tete-a-tete daffs in hand and can report that the 340g tins of Jolly Green Giant Sweetcorn look an ideal size, though what other customers made of the weird woman going along showing tins of veg to a plantpot is anybody's guess!
Carol xx

[Gina ;~}]

Oh, Lucy, you're just so clever that I've gone completely mad trying to decide which of your wonderful projects to queue up next. I believe half of my pins are of your things.

Anyway, I read somewhere on your blog (from my little tablet that doesn't play nicely with comment forms) that you were bitten by a sharp edge on one of the cans and I had to share.

I have a wonderful little manual can opener that cuts the can along that seam on the outside -- it's called a "smooth edge" can opener or some such. When I googled, "can opener no sharp edge" I found lots of them. If you were thinking of doing a bunch of these, that might be a sound investment. (Or, maybe a neighbor has one in a drawer you could borrow?)

Lovely work... no good getting blood on it, right?

[Faye]

I am loving this idea. My hubby will be so happy to see all the tins I've stashed doing something. You could also use water chestnuts tins. I am also thinking of SPAM tins as well.

[pbach1]

cannot believe your daughter hasn't asked for these as bracelets instead of tin covers . . . just saying . . .

[sam]

Ooooh Lucy i love love love love loveeee these tins ... this has made me want to learn to crochet even more now... you should sell these, i would snap them all up in a flash .
Have a great day :)
Mantha xx

[BeBe]

Have you thought about raiding your neighbors' recycling bin??? Beautiful re-purposing!