All done #15 Scrappy Jumper

Today's post is running under the theme of 'All done', my posts on using up all of a particular material or resource until it has all gone. This is my 15th such story!

The picture below shows all the bits, plus two full grey balls, left over from my Aftur Fair Isle sweater, which I have barely taken off since it was finished. I really don't want to shove them straight into the craft cupboard to get lost for a year or so therefore I am knitting a childs jumper. I am not sure which child yet until I see how big it is at the end!

I made the front in stripes of five rows of each colour then one green row. I used mostly green in my sweater so I had less of that to spread around. I did not use a pattern as such, I made it up by measuring against a girls jumper while loosely using some bits from a boys jumper pattern. It was thoroughly creative fun.

It did look a bit like a boys jumper (whatever I mean by that??) so I started to jazz it up a bit with a crochet design. Delving into the stash cupboard, I found large holed buttons and some crochet thread. This first round is 4 trebles, 3 chains repeated to make 8 petal holes.

Round two is made with 1dc, 2htr, 2tr, 2htr, 1dc in each hole to make little petals. They were attached on the top of a back stitch stem.

Revealing the overall sweater...

And its new owner...

The yarn is Drops Nepal aran which comprises wool and alpaca so it is super soft. Isn't it funny how two sweaters can look so different with the same colours of wool?

Our Saturday-hair selfie!

And the last few bits were used to work in crochet rounds for a simple beanie hat for my new boy model...

 

and in situ on Sunday at a Vintage ploughing match watching Grandad but being allowed to have a sit too.

 Drops Nepal All done #15. Thanks for popping in. You like?

Love Jo xxx

I am linking up with Julie over at Sum of their stories for her  Handmade Monday link up. I always find inspirational crafty stuff over there.

Can you guess what it is?

I made this, can you guess what it is for?

It is for a man.

It rolls up.

It covers the tops.

There are twelve of them.

Here they all are, now in a nice safe place.

I bought the book and whittling tools for my Bloke this Christmas because he likes woodcraft but once the tool packet was open they kept falling out of the plastic moulding. They are too sharp to have lying around with small crafting children who might be tempted to have a go on a bar of soap or an apple or something!

He has started an envelope opener which now needs to be sanded.

This weekend we will mostly be whittling, knitting, doing homework and painting the girl's bedroom.

Have a good weekend. What are you up to?

 Jo XX

The fabric is from www.craftyourselfsilly.com. They print bespoke designs digitally straight onto cotton. You can even choose your own design!

Knitting for boys

The stash busting is going well so far but there was a huge donation at the Education Centre where I work last month and it was way too much for our manager to even store so staff were encouraged to take some if we were knitters or crocheters - are you kidding? 

I am both. 

I used up one ball of Aran I had left over from this cardigan and mixed it with some grey I thrifted from work in early February to start a little bit of boy knitting. I have a friend of a friend who loves a bit of hand-knitwear for her little boy.

In fact I had quite a haul. Oh dear! this cupboard emptying is so difficult but I have to remember I have not bought anything - promise - so my 2017 pledge still stands. This isn't even all of it!

It turned out jolly nice and I enjoyed the colour change and the cables. The pattern is from Sirdar. I am looking at yarn books in a whole new light. I usually skim over the boys stuff and go straight to the girls patterns so I am discovering many new designs to try.

This was a really enjoyable knit.

These little boy knits are perfect at the moment as my shoulder injury is easing up and I do not want to overdo it on the knit or crochet front so small projects are the way to go. They take about one whole week of evening knitting each.

The little boy needs a larger head gap so I have made this three button shoulder modification for him to get it on and off  comfortably.

Thanks for modelling little fella! 

 

In conclusion, 4 balls gone but 24 back in the cupboard!!! 

(Witch-like cackling noise ensues) 
Jo x

I am linking up with Thistlebear this week to show my winter knitting projects.

#Bettine Number Three

My third Bettine dress has flown into the wardrobe this week.

I have made both a cotton one of theses with all the trimmings - pockets, sleeve tabs and facings - and a simpler jersey one. I much prefer wearing the jersey one. I hardly wore the cotton one, it felt a bit restricting so I decided to recycle the cotton dress and make another jersey one.

The fabric is from Sherwood fabrics which I bought last year. A great quality viscose jersey but thick enough for a dress with a good drape. I used the neck binding technique (as outlined on my left side bar)to finish the neck edge - a winner every time.

Bloke bought me the propelling chalk pencil for Christmas which is totally brilliant and comes with a range of different coloured chalks. It is the best dressmaking chalk I have used because it does not drag the fabric;it marks it. He bought it from Amazon but I don't have a link because I don't want to know how much they cost!

This is the perfect dress for all season work wear. In the Winter with tights, shoes and a cardigan and then on its own in the Spring. Black is not a colour I wear in the Summer but my other one will be out in force by then.

Thank you for your supportive comments and for 

spending some time here. 

Jo x

Crochet Cowl

Stash busting today. I started this cowl on Thursday night and finished it after school yesterday while waiting for dinner to cook. I have no idea what the yarn is, it has been in my cupboard for years now originally from a donated bag. There were two balls of this wool one plain blue and one in grades of blue and grey but they went together well.

I made it up as I went along and Big Sis loved the final result. She chose this huge button to go on it which was given to me by my friend from London whose pal used to upcycle buttons into funkier ones. The large button is sprinkled with sequins and lacquered in place for a smooth finish. Pretty huh?

Have a good weekend and happy crafting whatever you are making. 
I am entering my third month of not buying any craft materials. Whoop!
Jo x

Candle in a Cup

Continuing on my mission to use up craft materials hiding all around my house, we made some candles in the holidays last week. I found a packet of wicks in the cupboard under the sink, there were old cups and saucers in the play house outside and a bag of candle ends in the cupboard under the stairs.

Little M glued the cups to the saucers along with the wicks to the bottom of the cups. 

She enjoyed bashing up the candle ends in a bag with a rolling pin... obviously. She stirred the bits gently in a metal pan on the gas hob.

We poured the melted wax into the cups with a jug and waited for them to set. She did it so carefully, no drips or dribbles - she is such a perfectionist that child.

Have you ever made candles?
We kept the one to have on the table when we have our dinner.

Bought nothing new, gained three presents and had a lovely afternoon with my little girl. 

Jo xx

Monday Moments

I have enjoyed a week off work alongside being at home with the girls for a half term holiday so there has been a mix of crafty action and getting out of the house. I made a whole host of things in between being very much needed and very much told to go away by my girlies.

Needed for threading a loom, but told to go away once it was up and running.

Needed to find out how oil paints work, but told to go away once painting had started.

We enjoyed some lovely mild weather at the beginning of the week but then had to change our horse riding plans on the day of storm Doris.

  

There was playing with friends outside ,

with sorting and organising inside.

I made this notions case to sort out my knotted up knitting bag.

I also cracked on with a bit of stripy knitting with my latest stash busting project.

I hope you all have a fruitful week. 

What is seasonally happening by you?

Jo xx