Quilt Evolution

If you'd told me on Monday that by the end of the week I would have made my first quilt, I wouldn't have believed you, but that's precisely what's happened.

I hadn't intended to make a quilt.  

All I did was sit down on a cold, wet,windy day, with a mug of coffee and look through my stash of fabrics. 

 It was all very innocent.  

You know how it is, you start to put them in piles, and think about all the lovely things you could make with them, if only your sewing skills were better.

Suddenly, a light bulb switched on in my head, and I decided that today was the day that I would make a quilt for my cousins baby-to-be.

Before I knew it, my cutting mat and rotary cutter were out, and off I went.

Before I knew it, I'd cut out enough for a little quilt.

Sadly, time wasn't my friend, and I had to stop to go and collect Violet from school.  Plus, I needed to pop into town to buy some wadding and backing fabric, which would have to wait until the next day.

My cousin loves Elephants, so I chose this adorable fabric called Funky Elephants by Belleboo.

Here's the finished quilt from the front.

And, the back.

I think I've fallen in love with this Elephant fabric.

Here are some close up photos, so you can see some of the detail (beware, there are quite a few).

Phew!!!! I told you there were quite a few!

This is without a doubt the loveliest thing I've ever made.

As soon as Violet saw it, she wanted it. So I've had to promise that I'll make one for her too.

A lot of the fabrics used in this quilt were off cuts from previous projects, like the Liberty Hello Kitty fabric I used for Violet's blouse, and the Amy Butler Love fabric I used to make a tote bag.  However, quite a few of the little itty bitty scraps of fabric, like the London & San Francisco, the clothing, balloons, paper hats, etc were purchased as a scrap bundle off the Internet.  I'll definitely be purchasing some more of these.  

Details:

Quilted front consists of odds and sods of stashed, and scrap bundle fabrics.
Backing fabric: Funky Elephants in Pink/Green by Belleboo (£13 per metre). 100% cotton.
Binding/Edging fabric: Kitschenette Spot (£16 per metre). 100% cotton.
Wadding: 100% polyester (washable & flame retardant) (£4 per metre).

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

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Baby Knitting - Puerperium Cardigan

I've finished knitting a beautiful little cardigan for my cousin's baby to be.

The pattern is called Puerperium Cardigan, designed by Kelly Brooker.

I wanted a cardigan design that was a little different, and a bit more modern looking.  This pattern fit my brief perfectly.

It's knit from the top down, with no seaming.  You don't even have to pick up any stitches to knit the button band, which made for an extremely easy knit, which came together very quickly.

I think you'll agree that this cardigan has a lovely shape to it.

I decided on different coloured buttons for this project, and I think they work really well.  Though I couldn't quite believe the price of them.  95p each, and I needed 8 of them.  Nearly £8 on buttons!!!!!!!!

The cardigan itself took just over one ball of yarn, which I purchased from John Lewis. It was their own brand of baby double knit, and cost just over £3 a ball (50g).  The yarn is 55% Nylon, 45% Fine Acrylic, which makes it easy to care for, and won't irritate the little ones delicate skin.

All in all, a great pattern, which I'd definitely use again.  Though I may not buy such expensive buttons next time.

Details

Pattern: Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker (Free Ravelry Download).

Yarn: John Lewis Baby Double Knit

Buttons: purchased from John Lewis (95p each).

I'm contemplating this pattern for my next baby knit, but I'm not sure if my knitting skills will be up to it.  I'm off to order some yarn now - wish me luck.

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Excess

Today, I bring you a slightly happier daughter, modelling another FO.

 

This pattern is called Excess, designed by Anat Rodan. (and is available as a free download on Ravelry).

I was left with nearly a full skein of the Sweetgeorgia Tough Love Sock yarn after completing the Rivington Cowl.  The colourway is Magpie, and it's beautiful, I think I found the perfect hat pattern for it. 

The only modification I did, was on the brim cuff.  I used a provisional cast on (100 stitches),  Knit 18 rows, Purl for 1 row, Knit another 18 rows, before knitting my live stitches together with my Provisional Cast On stitches.  Thus creating a double brim.  This gives a very neat finish, and makes the brim extra cosy.

As I'm sure it is with all knitters, I seem to have numerous half, or part, skeins of yarn in my stash, which I'm currently working my way through, trying to use them up.  Hats seem to be the perfect way to do this. 

 I can see quite a bit of hat knitting in my future!!

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I may even give some of these hats away as prizes.

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Lovejoy Slouchy the Second

Good morning.  

I managed to photograph one of my latest knits late yesterday afternoon.  The light still wasn't the best, but it's got to be posted off the recipient, so this was the last chance I had to take a half decent photo.

It's another Lovejoy Slouchy hat.   This one is for my Aunt's birthday.

I used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK,  in Antique Lace.

Sadly, after a long day at school, my model was too tired to smile :0(

This time round I remembered to keep adding a 'life line', just in case any of those pesky stitches decided to fall off my needle.  

I've fallen in love with this pattern. It's such a pretty design.  I can definitely see me making more of these.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

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Yarn bowl

A very good morning to you all.

Today, I want to show you a new purchase of mine.  It's a yarn bowl made by the very talented Sarah Horvath of Inspired to Make.

I've been after a yarn bowl for a while, and even asked my husband to buy me one for Christmas.  Unfortunately, he thought a yarn bowl was on the boring side.  So, I thought I'd treat myself to one instead.  And, I'm so happy that I did.  Not only is it beautiful to look at, but it has a practical use too.

Mine is made from Tulip Wood, but Sarah uses other natural materials too, like Ash, Cherry and Beech.  

I've got my eye on a few of Sarah's other creations. Like this Spalted Beech bowl, which looks amazing, and I know would look right at home in my living room.

(Image taken from Inspired to Make Folksy page).

And, this dinky Tooth Fairy keepsake box.

(image taken from Inspired to Make, Folksy page).

My knitting needles have been a click-clacking away, and I have got two finished knits to show you. I'm just waiting for some natural light to take some decent photos.  It's been so dull around these parts of late.

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Lovejoy

You may remember this beautiful skein of loveliness...

It was a skein of Madelinetosh Tosh DK Merino in a gorgeous colourway called Celadon.

It was destined to become a hat for my Sister In Law as a Christmas present.

I didn't get time to blog about it before Christmas, so thought you'd like to see it today.

The pattern is called Lovejoy Slouchy, designed by Thao Nguyen and you can find it on Ravelry here.

It's a beautiful pattern.  The only thing I would say about knitting this is, that I learned the hard way about putting a life line in my knitting. I'd nearly finished making it, then I lost a stitch, and because it was a lace pattern, I couldn't for the life of me pick it up.  It was a disaster and I felt like crying.  There was nothing left to do but rip it all back and start from scratch, which is what I did.  

Lesson learned.

This is one of the nicest things I think I've ever knit. Sister In Law seemed to like it too, which is good.

I showed it to my aunt, and now she wants one for her birthday.

And, the yarn - utter bliss to knit with.  Don't tell anyone, but it's become my favourite yarn.

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New beginnings

Firstly, let me wish you all a very happy new year.  May it be full of new hopes, new friendships, new opportunites, and new beginnings.

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I've been going through all the photographs I'd taken in 2013, trying to select the ones that would tell the story of our family's year.  The reason being, I always have a photo book printed of each year - A year in pictures.  Whilst looking through them all I thought it would be a nice idea to post a picture collage of everything I'd made throughout the year. I didn't think there'd actually be that many things, because if you'd asked me to make a list from memory, I bet I wouldn't have been able to name 15 things.  Needless to say, I was quite impressed with myself. 

  14 knitting projects - not too shabby!

I seem to have knit more accessories last year than actual garments.  Perhaps I can improve on this in 2014.

18 sewing projects - Wow!  

Who'd have thought it.  I've really enjoyed my new friendship with my sewing machine.  I wonder what I'll be making in 2014.  More clothing perhaps????

  I won't deny that I was a little disappointed with how much cross stitching, and other craft projects, I managed to achieve in 2013.

2014 has already seen me casting on a couple of small projects, and there'll be a new baby in the family come March time, so that should keep my needles busy. (My cousin is expecting her first baby, it's all very exciting).  Though after March, I'm not sure how much time I'll have to make things, or even blog for that matter.  I'm due back to work at the beginning of March, so we'll just have to wait and see. I'm not relishing the thought of starting back to work, after a 6 year break.  It has started to play on my mind a little.  No doubt March will come round soon enough, but I've still got January and February to look forward to haven't I? 

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Every day is a fresh beginning.

Listen my soul to the glad refrain.

And, spite of old sorrows

And older sinning,

Troubles forecasted

And possible pain,

Take heart with the day and begin again.

By Susan Coolidge

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