In the creative zone

This make is a bit complicated but ultimate creative fun with little tales along the way...

Big Sis loved this hand me down dress but it had a tulip bottom with an under frill which she loathed so I cut it off and hemmed it up normally around August time.

I am revisiting this blouse which did not get an airing this summer because it was too tight across my hips and a bit too long in the body for me. I removed the gathered hem from here too. Also my right bicep is larger than my left one (apparently) so I am taking off the arm bindings and making them bigger. Then I got bored and stuffed it all back in the sewing drawer under the bed, this was in early September.

I have bits of Liberty Tana Lawn Florenece to use up so I dived into the sewing drawer remembering my summer hack jobs. I had saved the frills, I remember those, there were some other bits of fat quarters lurking around too. Too much itty-bitty stuff for my liking, cluttering my sewing space...

What happens if you switch your mind off from work, family, housework and stress and sew them all together for an hour?

You get a pretty skirt for a 7 year old that looks soooo expensive..

She wore it with her T-shirt hanging out but I made her tuck it in for a picture so that you could see. I left it out on her bed and she changed into it as soon as she got in from school yesterday.

Happy, happy, happy.

I tell you what, it is getting harder by the day to photograph things in this autumn light and the clocks haven't even changed yet.

Thanks for looking, be creative. Jo xxxxxxx

Hooray! Gertie's portrait blouse

Thank you for all your birthday wishes for Megan. I read them to her and she smiled the whole way through.

I received this book for my birthday two years ago and have just got round to reading it properly. In fact I have read it cover to cover over the last two weeks. The techniques and information are so inspiring. If only I had read it ages ago, when I received it from my next door neighbour, I could have solved a great many of my vintage pattern woes.

I cut out the portrait blouse in the summer when I cut out a peasant style blouse in the same fabric from Minerva. I did that bagging-up-a-load-of-garments thing that I do.

Image from Gertie's book - not me

My own organisation overwhelms me at times! This is what the bag contained when I opened it this week, notes included...It always feels like 'I don't remember doing this', but I must have done it because there it all was.

It was a really easy make. I made one alteration. I made flat darts on the front instead of tucks which made it look a bit strange on the front to me. I wanted a sleeker finish.

The fabric is a slinky,silky fabric from Minerva Crafts.I tried to get a pattern placement 'swirl' in the centre.

I finished the sleeve edges with hand sewn bias binding which I made myself. There is an invisible zip in the side. Definitely worth a cotton version I think.

Thanks for looking Jo x

Crafternooning

Little M was five this week. She is tiny so she doesn't look it. She has really enjoyed starting school and has turned into a different girl - she has less angst and temper and more understanding and cooperation. She has a close circle of friends unlike Big Sis who is friends with everyone.

She asked for three friends to come and play.

What do you want to do? I asked...

Cutting and sticking with my friends, she said.

Shall we have a crafternoon, I said.

She laughed because she got the pun and said, yes.

So Sunday was a crafternoon with crowns, treasure boxes and beady bracelets. 

It cost me the treasure boxes, the rest I trawled from around the house. I was sort of glad to put a dent in some of it. 
They all had such fun and attacked creative play in such different ways. It took me to my Primary school teaching days. I found it so interesting to observe children playing by standing back and not interfering.

My best friend bought her this skirt for twirling, she didn't know I had made this party cardigan, we are a bit psychic like that!!

Happy Birthday Little M. 
xxxx

Hooray! Vintage top

I rather like this. When you wear it, it feels like a comfy jacket that is not flapping around. It is made from a kind of linen suiting fabric (free from house clearance - thanks Caroline!)

It is hard to show the colour but I would say it is between the two greens. It needs a final pressing with some steam but my iron is all sticky from interfacing and needs a good scrape! It is on my to do list along with hoover, mop the floor, clean the bathroom and all that other dull stuff!

The pattern is here, it was view 3.

I'm wearing it for work tomorrow. Tres chic I think. 

What do you think?

Jo xxxxx

Gifting

I always thought life was too short to make a face cloth, I like to admire all of yours from afar and appreciate the effort, but I have always thought: not me. Last night I was getting a birthday present ready to wrap and it bothered me that there was nothing homemade about it, lovely as it was. Do you know what it needed? mmmm... yes I thought so too.

So I cast on 30 chains and did three rows of double crochet and then changed to half trebles until I reached a squarish shape then did 3 more rows of double crochet. I have been wanting to practise a reverse dc or crab stitch for a while now to show at my classes so I added one here.

Ta Dah! face cloth, wash bag and lovely things. 

Full crafting order has been restored. Phew!

Thanks for stopping by. Jo x

Party Cardigan tutorial

I looked all over ravelry for a short sleeved party cardigan for Little M in a simple shape but could not find one that I liked, one that wasn't in US terms or fit my yarn requirements. I have three balls of Rowan calmer 150g

So what is a a crafter to do but make one up as I go along. Luckily, I wrote some scant instructions down in case you want to copy.

Party cardigan
150g of DK or Rowan Calmer
4mm hook
Written in UK terms
To fit Approx aged 3-4 child

The stitch pattern is based on the V-stitch (1tr,ch2,1tr) and a double V-stitch (2tr,ch2,2tr)on alternate rows making a rather lacy but not too holey pattern.

The pattern is worked from the bottom up with no side seams. The body is worked in one piece until you split for the armpits.

You need to be able to crochet but a good beginner could tackle this.

Foundation chain: 128

Row 1: 
miss 3ch, *2tr,2ch,2tr,ch1 in the next stitch. Miss 3ch, 1dc in the next stitch, ch1* repeat until you have 16 shells ending with a treble in the in the last stitch. Turn.

Row 2:
*Ch1, 1dc in the 2ch space of the V, ch1, 2tr,ch2,2tr in the dc from previous row, ch1* repeat to end. Complete the last double V stitch and treble in the last stitch.

Check your double v-stitch are above each other and your skinnier single V-stitch are above each other as you continue.

Continue working until the body measures 6 to 7 inches or required length from hip to lower armhole. Measure up against your child's best fitting cardigan or indeed your child!

To ensure a straight edge please note the following: 

On a wrong side single V-stitch row you will need to make your last treble in the top of the last stitch from the previous row. It looks a bit less like a V but will ensure you get a straight edge. It initially makes the work look like it is going to flare out a bit but turn and follow the next picture. 

Now as you turn onto the right side to do the double V-stitch row do 1ch and 1dc into the the 2ch space (the top of the V)then ch1 and continue in double V-stitch into each dc as set out. Do you see how it nips it back into line instead of it sticking out?

Divide for armholes

Count 4 shells and place a marker in the dc, Count 8 shells and pm in dc. 

Working on the right side of the cardigan work 6 rows in pattern keeping the sides straight. End on a double V -stitch row.

7th row
Decrease row: ss in first 2tr, 1dc, 1ch v-st in next dc and continue patterning to the end of this front. 1tr in the last 2ch space.

8th row
ch1, work 3 shells, ch1, 1dc, 1tr in top of the v-st below.

Rows 9-12
work 4 rows on these 3 shells in pattern.

Rows 13-15
Decrease again using the SS twice in the first 2 trebles and work 3 rows on two shells.

Row 16
3ch, dc in next 2ch space of shell, ch1, 1tr,2ch,1tr,1ch,dc in 2ch space, ch1,1tr,2ch,1tr, 1tr in last stitch.
Row 17
ch1, 1dc, 2V-st, 1 tr in last stitch.

Row 18
ch1,2 double v-st, 1tr in lat stitch.

Straighten shoulder
ch1, 1dc in 2 ch space, ch2, 1dc in next dc, ch2, 1dc in next dc, 1dc in last stitch.

Now rejoin yarn with right side facing and repeat for the other side starting with the decrease of 2 ss first.

Rejoin yarn to back section and work in pattern until the back measures the same as the height of the the armhole. NOTE: ensure you rejoin so that your work does not get front and back mixed up.

Sleeves

Foundation row: ch 63
Using the instructions from Row 1 and row 2 work 13 rows for the sleeve.(more or less if you wish) You should be working on 8 shells and this should fit into the armhole space.make your last row a double V-stitch row to get the scalloped edge.

Sew armholes into place 

Border
Starting at the centre back of the neck, evenly dc around the entire edge for three rows. At the corners make (2dc, 1ch, 2dc)to ensure corners lie flat. On the final row make a button loop of about 6 chains (depending on button size)then continue around to the centre back to fasten off and weave in ends.

Wear with a party dress or over a long sleeved t-shirt for casual wear. Any errors please comment below. It is really more of a recipe than a stitch by stitch pattern. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by. Jo xx

Still doing this...

and always will...it is getting less this time of year but it still keeps coming and feeding us...

It is funny because if all the things I make and do, this is the one that blows me away the most. Growing our own food and processing it ourselves will never leave me as one of the most wondrous things I do with my time.

You want to see how proud I am this season?

 Parsnips next... we'll be glad of a change from courgettes! And the next generation of gardeners? We've got that covered.

Happy Harvest Jo xxx