Celtic Fringe Crafts

The first two pictures below are the same porthole cover with a light background and a dark background. They are crocheted from mercerised cotton in rainbow colours. The next four are various incarnations of the original idea, which was to make something for the portholes that looked a bit like stained glass but without the expense! Perhaps these porthole covers ought to be called Suncatchers for Portholes? The last one is mesh with various pieces of coloured glass-like plastic beads. The one on the bottom is supposed to give you an idea of what one might look like in your porthole! 

I have updated this page to take account of information I didn't have when I first started making these. The rings are only available in a few sizes and there is usually around 2" (25.4mm or 2.54cm) between each size. Not very convenient, I know! I have listed the sizes I have at the bottom of the page.

If you click on an image, it will enlarge and you get a better idea of what it looks like with the sun shining through it. At least, that's the plan... The Purple & Blue one is now in its new home! See HOME page for a photo...

They are constructed with a crocheted mesh, usually white, always cotton, which is then stretched over either a plastic-coated metal ring or a metal ring, depending on the size. Then organza ribbon is woven through the mesh in a variety of colours.

If you are lucky and the ring and your porthole match in size, the ring will fit nicely into the porthole. If there is no ring in the correct size, as is the case on our boats, then for rings that are slightly bigger, I put two very small hooks (the net curtain ones - around 1" (25.4mm or 2.54cm) long from the top of the hook to the bottom of the screw thread), one at the top of the porthole and one at the bottom (into the wooden surround) (see diagam 3, below); or sit them in the groove at the bottom, if they are slightly smaller (see diagram 4, below). The small hooks are virtually invisble once the porthole cover is hooked on and it is easy to remove the cover for cleaning the window! The ones that are fitted as in diagram 4, below, are held in place with a length of 'invisble' elastic thread, such as is used in jewellery making.

For possibilities, see diagrams at the bottom of the page!

If you are interested, I have rings in the following sizes (at least one of each):

SIZE A: 12⅛" (or, if you prefer, 305mm or 30.5cm);

SIZE B: 13⅞" (or, if you prefer, 352mm or 35.2cm);

SIZE C: 14⅛" (or, if you prefer, 360mm or 36cm);

SIZE D: 15⅞" (or, if you prefer, 400mm or 40cm); also

SIZE E: 9⅞" (or, if you prefer, 250mm or 25cm); and

SIZE F: 11" (or, if you prefer, 279mm or 27.9cm).

* It should also be noted that once the cover is on the ring, the measurement is slightly bigger...

Postage for Porthole Covers is Royal Mail 2nd class standard postage: currently (May 2024) £5.89

For smaller versions you can just hang up anywhere, check out the Suncatchers...