Monday 27 January 2014

Lots to share today...


 
 
Firstly a Sprocket pillow that I made as a Christmas present but didn't get to photo.
 Luckily my friend took some lovely pictures and sent them to me.
The pattern is one of my favourites, and is from an excellent tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew and is found here.
I made this one from scraps of recycled cord trousers.
 

 
The reverse has a pocket detail which is a back pocket from one of the pairs of trousers!



 
 Next up, and again a favourite, this time a skirt.
New Look pattern 6053 view E.
Made from blue cord and involved my first attempt at a concealed zip. 
 

 
I haven't tried a concealed zip before but having liked the way they look on shop made skirts I thought it was worth a try.
 

 
I'm not even going to attempt to begin to explain how I did it (because I can't!!) but having read various tutorials and watched videos, I found the You Tube video here most helpful for me.
It was fiddly but I really like the result and will definitely use them again.
 

 
Then there was the Jolly Molly situation..
 

 
 
How sad is that!!
I have made a fair few as presents for others and had failed to look at the state of my own.
 
So I set to work with some strips from my stash.
 


I found the most amazing shirt to back it with, and felt grateful for the fact that my brother has such brilliant shirts to recycle my way.
 


 
If you fancy having a go at one yourself you can find my tutorial here.
 
Just had to make a couple of lavender hearts with the scraps and some purple linen/cotton scraps that are left over from the next thing on my 'to make' list- more soon.



  
And finally, my first bunch of narcissi from a local stall..
 

 
Have a good week.
 

Sunday 19 January 2014

Green shoots and blue sky


 
Wild Flower pin cushion number 2!
As before this is made from pattern by Anna Maria Horner mentioned in my last post.
 

 
Fabrics were from my stash.
I think this little flower is destined to be a present. 
 
Also this week, I finished a hot water bottle cover.
It's for me this time!
 




My old one was looking decidedly tatty and I have made a few of these for other people.

The button was a present and is handmade by a  local artist Tania Clarke. 
 
 


The patterned fabric is by Phillip Jacobs for Rowan, I think it's Brassica Blue.
The plain fabrics are a selection from what I had on the shelf.
 



I used a piece of recycled blanket and attached strips of the fabric using stitch and flip to make one long piece, before folding it over and binding the edges.
 
The popper keeps it closed and the beautiful button is for decoration and so that I can admire it. 
 
 

 
I love it when the sun comes out and the shoots start to appear through the soil.
Have a good week.
 

Saturday 11 January 2014

Bitesized crafting!

My daughter was on BBC Bitesize looking something up this week and I thought that it was a good description of my sewing and crochet at the moment.
Not much time, so small projects that can be finished quickly - bitesized crafting.

I received a lovely present of 6 balls of Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino this Christmas
 (thanks Mum!).





The possibilities are endless.
So far I have made a pair of fingerless gloves..
 


I have made some of these before and they are based on the idea by Lucy at Attic 24.
(Blowed if I can actually find the gloves over there, sorry!)
 
Basically just two rectangles sewn  up the sides leaving a gap for the thumbs.
Thumb hole edged with double crochet.
This time I put some scalloped edging around the wrist end that has the added benefit of making it a bit more stretchy around your arm.
 
And now I've started a granny square that I think will be a cushion..
 


And my final bit of bitesized crafting is a lavender bag that I have made for my stinky car.
 


I think it's a combination of wet dog and a back window that was left open,
 but anyway it needs a bit of lavender!

Hope you have a good weekend.

Monday 6 January 2014

A Wild Flower Pincushion




I have been wanting to make one of these for a while.
It's a pattern by Anna Maria Horner and there are a few photos on flickr.
The pattern is free but you have to register with Better Homes and Gardens in order to get access.
 I asked for just a monthly craft update and haven't had loads of rubbish sent through so far.
 
The pattern is simple to cut out, a bit fiddly to sew together around the top, but definitely worth it I think.
 


It is such a satisfying shape, a bit like a mini pumpkin but with petals.



I meant to take a picture on my hand to show you how big it is but forgot.
It is bigger than I thought it was going to be, about 7 inches across.
It just about sits on my open hand.




The fabric is from a selection of Rowan fabrics that I found in the sale.
I have 8 fat quarters so you will be seeing them again!