Threadcatcher and pin cushion

I don't want a sports car or a mansion, my wants and needs are very modest. However, I have really wanted a threadcatcher since I saw some variations on Pinterest!

This one features a chicken. The pincushion is weighted and the bucket is for threads. The bucket lining pulls outwards so that you can empty it easily. I really enjoyed making it.

Here he is sitting on my Singer sewing machine being put to good use. A great item to make for yourself or as a gift for a sewing pal. 

   Thanks for stopping by. Jo x

Sewing for Children

People often say to me why do you bother making clothes for your girls when you can buy them so cheaply? but to me sewing is easier than negotiating at the shops with two small children and ethically, I am not contributing to so much consumer waste.

In the Easter holiday week there was an ideal example. Bis Sis had grown out of her leggings - again. We bought three pairs at a cheap shop in a hurry because everyone was hungry and tired of shopping (we had already done sandals) but when we got home they were wrong, all wrong: legs just the right length, waist huge and bum too small. How can that be? How can a girls waist need to be bigger than her bottom!

I pulled out my trusty Ottobre magazine and traced off a pair of leggings. I made this top (same as the strawberry one) and leggings in ninety minutes. Perfectly fabulous with her dungaree skirt. As for the cost, they did not cost me a penny. It is leftover fabric from my last Bettine dress.

She loved me for it too which is always a bonus!

Jo xxxxx

Seriously Good Family Days

We have seriously had our best few family days for a long time last May day weekend, we have finally kicked the monotony of being inside a lot over Winter. In no particular order...

Bluebell walking in the woods

Laughing together - the sign says 'please close the gate' !!!

Great views

Teaching the girls the photography rule of three

The tooth fairy came - Little M has been waiting for so long for her first one at the age of seven and a half;she was the last one in her class.

Walking and training our dog, Bruce, who is now allowed out with other dogs and people.

Catching lambs and castrating rams with my Dad, it's not all fun!

Big Sis can catch them, sex them and put them in the right holding pen with me. Little M preferred to stay watching from the gallery.

Everyone has been eating well, without people complaining, I consider this a personal achievement. This is chocolate cake with melted easter eggs inside but stuffed pork, wild garlic pesto, asparagus, green beans, coconut milk rice pudding and more spicy food have all been eaten with gusto lately. Fennel was still met with a flat refusal!

It is made using our 'Cake in a Mug' One Mug gives us all a tablespoon each. It takes three minutes in the microwave and the girls can do them on their own (now). We have one each which we were given as gifts by our next door neighbour, they are all different recipes.

The girls went horse riding with some friends.

Other weekend highlights, I know there is more! Bloke and I went out for a meal followed by watching our friends band AND the childrne slept at my dads so we had a lie in, I made a few more squares for a crochet blanket and a fingerless glove with a grafted thumb. Phew! 

Happy Days. 

You have to write all about them so you remember them 

in the not so good times, which someone reminded me poignantly this week. Thanks Sarah. Jo xxx

Happy Colours Blanket

Just checking in with my latest new project - yes, I know so many on the go at present but I like the variety at the moment and it is not frustrating me...yet!

My friend is having a baby which is a surprise to all of us, including her and her husband! so I chose a baby blanket project to enjoy through the year. I like a crochet-on-the-go project and little circles are perfect for that. 

I was keen because I had a few balls of stylecraft leftovers hiding in a drawer to use up as part of my stash diet 2017. The mustard is from my last baby blanket, the red is an unusual red which I like, this was in a donated bag and the rest are bits of stylecraft which I use when I am teaching crochet which I am happy to use up. 

I used my trusty block as you go method of getting a crisp square in preparation for joining them.

I don't know the sex of the baby so a palette of happy colours will be just fine. I have made one purchase - another ball of white to join it all together. It is May and this is my first purchase of the year but that is fine with me because it has a specific purpose. Whoop!

Made 12, maybe 12 more to go. You know me, not following the pattern, just making it up as I go along...

Are you crocheting at the moment?

Jo x

Lined Cleo Dungaree Skirt

Having a dog is taking me to new photo shoot places. This is only three minutes from our house but it makes a great backdrop for my new Cleo Dungaree skirt with a filter on.

The story... I made my first Cleo in a cord that was too lightweight probably about 16 wale: it stuck to my tights, it rode up at the back, the clips were too heavy for the straps etc. etc. So I embarked on another one. This cord was in a donated box I received in January from a work colleague. It is more of an 8 wale weight. Luckily in the box, there was also some lining. I decided upon a lined Cleo to solve some of the wearing problems.

I had a few fit issues with the last one too. Although it is a relaxed style is was way too big around the waist, add to that a swayback and I could get a loaf of bread through the back straps. I took some off the waist but now I have to wiggle to get it over my hips but it is not a problem, it feels much better.

Here is the front...It hangs so much better now. This time, I am wearing the pinafore not 'it' is wearing me which is what it felt like in the olive green one. 

And the back...The sway back is obvious but not an issue when I am wearing it.(so is my frozen shoulder injury with a dipping shoulder like that!) 

Anyway the cord and lining were perfect which was all free so it feels like a win win project all around. Here is a photo of the true colour without barn door filters.

I am going to revisit my original one next, take off the facings (liberty fabric which is top stitched Gulp!) and line it with the rest of the gifted lining fabric - at least I can enjoy wearing it then.

Thanks for stopping by. Jo xxxx

Edit: Corduroy is found in the construction of trousers, jackets and shirts. The width of the cord is commonly referred to as the size of the "wale" (i.e. the number of ridges per inch). The lower the "wale" number, the thicker the width of the wale (e.g., 4-wale is much thicker than 11-wale).

Crochet with String

I had a few packets of nice string in my stash. I liked it because it was made in the UK but I wondered what I could do with it, I had been 'saving' it. 

I could have wrapped a present but then the person receiving the gift might not have admired UK manufacturing the way I do and simply thrown it in the bin!

Therefore I made a blossom cluster for my jacket. We have had enough Spring days now for me to put my winter wool coat under its dust cover and give my denim jacket a seasonal shake.

Ever tried crocheting with string? I made a shopping basket once and it was so heavy I could hardly lift it and my fingers were so sore from making it but a little project like this was a joy with this soft, light string. Mr Henry Winning, I love your 'exceptional twine' it was soft enough to crochet with.

Quick fix Wednesday post. See ya, Jo xxx

Quilt Sampler Block 3 and 4 - Crazy HST

Crazy quilt blocks are by nature of their title, a bit crazy. I was given an acrylic template by my Auntie but had never used it. I looked up a few tutorials and dug out my longest, thinnest scraps from the patchwork box.

You start by cutting the centre shape. Then apply strips to each side ironing them down as you go. You work clockwise and keep adding more and more strips. It is really hard to explain; if you want to have a go watch this brilliant video.

Eventually you will get a piece that you can cut a 12x12" square out of.

The third block in Meg's Sampler quilt uses up some left over Half Square Triangles (HST) These ones did not make the cut from my first double bed quilt for various reasons too small, wrong colour etc. but I have trimmed them down to make a 12X12" square.

There is still a happy pile of scraps to keep me going for quite a few more blocks yet and this is the 'small scraps' box. I have a 'large scraps' box - I am a bit like that when it comes to fabric organising!

I had to stand back and assess the damage! It was time to clear away before I picked up the little ladies from school.

Block number 3 and 4 - A crazy quilt block and a HST block for Meg's sampler quilt.

Thanks for dropping in. Jo xx