Sewing Fleece

It is getting harder to knit things for Big Sis these days, she is getting taller and it is taking me nearly as long to knit her a garment as it is for myself. So I turned to some fleece fabric to make a pullover for her in speedy time. The more astute of you will notice it is actually on the littler one! I made it too small. Grrr! 

Never mind, she loved it but she has so many clothes already. I did learn though that it is super fast to make a sweatshirt from fleece and that all kinds of customising could be done to satisfy my creative girl's brain - pockets, neck bindings, hood, applique rabbit, her suggestion, not mine!

I am calling it a success even though it is for the wrong person. She looks so innocent doesn't she? She whipped that one from right under her big sister's nose... 'who me? little 'ol me! I think it fits, please mummy can I have it?!'

Jo xxxx

Have you ever...

...thought your children were going back to school two days before they were supposed to? I did this week. I had so much to do on Monday, I was really looking forward to it before I went back to work myself on Tuesday. I was going to have a big clear up, plan my lessons, mark some GCSE papers, be on my own, not supply endless rounds of snacks or go to a little pop up play shop but there you are - I got it wrong!

Anyway they went under strict instructions to amuse themselves for an hour while I did some work on Monday: no craft kits, arguing or mithering were the three main instructions. I tried to plan my teaching lessons for this coming week. I could hear the microwave going from upstairs in the office but thought I was going to be in for a strange cup of luke warm tea.

But a sheepish Big Sis came up and said their 'cake in a mug' had gone a bit wrong. We all got one of these mugs from my neighbour for Christmas. Handily it has the recipe on the outside and it claims 'cake is only 3 minutes away' 

After laughing and talking the recipe through it turns out they did not know some key baking knowledge namely:

1. The abbreviations for spoon measurements 
2. What cinnamon looked like so they used cinnamon sugar
3. How much oil to put in (spoon error)
4. Forgot the banana so put it in at the end in chunks!

To impress me they 'fessed up to eating some chocolate chips straight from the packet before putting the rest in.

I know what you are thinking. Did I eat it? Of course I did!!!

Winter Project Link Party Patching

Hi there! Welcome if you have hopped over from Jennifer at Thistlebear. I have been working on several big makes over the winter, this quilt being one of them.

I have been beavering away on my eight pointed star quilt over the last six months. I like to do it when my shoulder and arm can no longer knit and crochet. The stars are hand stitched together so I could make one in an evening. Variety keeps me crafting.

I have made fifteen squares, had a little measure up and five rows of three looked good to me. I think it is time to sew them together and see what size it makes. I may need an outer border to make up a single bed size as well as the binding but I love the feel of not really knowing...weird I know, but I really feel like I am making something not just following along with a pattern.

I re cut the borders on each square to even them up before I sewed it together. A happy hour cutting where I treated myself to a new blade on the rotary cutter which made the job so easy. The children went to the local football match with their dad so I did it in utter peace and quiet.

I am relishing this project that takes a little more time which is a surprise to me, I normally like the thrill of the chase. 
Maybe I am growing up a bit?

Jo xx

Crafting Roller Coaster 2015

My crafting resolutions for 2015 were a guiding compass for me. I had four resolutions and I completed them all without stress or pressure, just utter happiness. They were:

To crochet a skirt - Awesome and I wear it a lot too.

To knit something for my bloke that was not a hat - A bit big but cosy nonetheless.

To master double pointed needles - I made my first pair of socks.

To make a double bed scrappy quilt - Which I love every time I look at it.

My 2016 pledges are:

1. To learn how to Sew a bra
2. To Crochet something beautiful to wear
3. To complete another quilt
4. To learn to knit stranded Nordic style

Of course I will always get side tracked; make my own clothes, make things out of nothing to recycle and sample up little projects for my classes. I will also continue the challenge of making things from Minerva and White Tree products as well as continuing my third year of successful vintage pattern pledges with Maria over at stitching odyssey. 

I hope that you will continue to join me this year on the crafting roller coaster we all love to ride. Your support, comments, blogs and friendship have been a constant inspiration. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Happy New Year and what are your crafting resolutions for 2016?

Jo xxxxxx

Jeans Refashion

I bought these jeans on a walk past a sale rail in M&S back in Spring, I thought they were OK but as the summer went on they just got too big in the thigh and did nothing for my bottom. I am not saying a £10 pair of jeans owes me a penny for my backside but they went into the rag bag as a poor impulse buy which I felt bad about.

Then I raked them back out because I loved that starry denim, I couldn't buy that anywhere.

I had a little measure

and a snippety snip.

inspired by this...

Some top stitching and Ta dah!

A new denim mini skirt saving those cute little stars for another year. The thighs were so big I didn't even need to put in the little triangle insert. My eco-equilibrium has been reset. Phew, that was close!

Jo x

PS: An oversight on my part - The book is fabulous, it is called Dressmaking the complete step by step guide by Alison Smith (DK Publishers) If you are new to making clothes it has all the technique you will ever need and the next advanced level and a complete pattern wardrobe to download. 

Bah Humbug!

Well, It has been the house of sickness here over Christmas and I am the only one out of the four of us who has escaped which has meant endless hours of crochet with someone, on rotation, lolling around on the sofa next to me since the 23rd December. Today is the first day we have all eaten together at the same time!

Most crochet I come across on blogs is for home decor or accessories: blankets, decorations, face clothes, pot holders, brooches, hats and scarves etc. but I like to make clothes with crochet. Why? because it is just so darn quick.

I have made this cardigan over the last two months between knitting to give the muscles in my arm a rest, I like to alternate to stop myself getting RSI but I have motored on with it over the festive period through boredom.

The pattern is free from Ravelry. It is brilliant for beginners as you can make adjustments to the overlapping front edge. You don't need button holes, just the holes in the crochet and it is worked in one piece from the top down. I did cheat a little in that my friend made one and I tried hers on so I knew it was going to be a good fit and style on me. I was attracted to the asymmetrical button front.

The yarn is Rico cotton in nougat which makes it a sort of Spring garment really but that is fine. Sometimes I need a lighter knit to wear to the office part of my job. The stitch definition is really good with this compact yarn with a slight sheen. The arm length was determined by my yarn stash but they are actually quite useful like that.

So do you like?

I really love it and it is a winner in my wardrobe because it goes with plenty of things. It looks nice on its own too without anything underneath.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Do you crochet garments to wear?

Jo x

Minerva Pj's

Well hello there! Happy Christmas! My Minerva post this month has landed on Christmas day and isn't that clever because I made a Christmas present for my Bloke with my fabric this month.

In fact I made two pairs of Pyjama bottoms - his and hers. Mine were from some Minerva cotton leftovers from my tartan summer dress this Summer and his were from a beautiful brushed cotton from my choice this month.

I have had the pattern for Yeeeaaarrs. I picked it up in a bargain bin at a haberdashery in Shrewsbury in the 90's! I have never used it but the shorts and trousers looked just the right.

I stamped a little label for the bottom for my bloke.

If you are looking to make PJ bottoms then this blue fabric is the cotton for you - soft, brushed and cosy. 

 These short ones are so comfy and light, a great way to use up some leftovers. I added a bit of cotton crochet lace to make them look more like ladies PJ shorts. 

Do you get dressed straight away on Christmas day or do you lounge around in your pyjamas for a bit first?

Happy Christmas! Jo xxxxxx