Slowly getting more of this gift completed day by day…
I decided to focus on making the pole for the rings to stack on before making another ring. I’m not sure it’s that sturdy though so I may add interfacing to the circular base but will leave this until the end.
I’m definitely one to hoard fabrics and then deliberate endlessly on what the best project will be for every piece.
I went to my mum’s house with the intention of making a pattern from an old dress I have of hers (which is at risk of disintegrating as it’s been worn so many times!) but I ended up nabbing one of her most recent charity shop pattern purchases and cutting out the pieces to make a dress!
No completed achievements to show this month as I clink on with a couple of larger projects, but I fancied sharing some photo updates of my progress:
Crochet by Day
I’m a lunch crocheter at the moment – well, a broomstick crocheter anyway – and am currently working on a birthday present during my lunch hours. The wool is called Senses by Stylecraft, and it’s been lovely to work with.
Phill has noticed that it does look like I’m knitting a camouflage to avoid returning to work through!
Knit by Night
My “at home” project is a knit a jumper with one ball mission. Phill bought it for me from the local wool shop and it’s been partially complete for 1 or 2 years (I lose track). I went wrong on the sleeves by misreading the pattern and had to undo a huge chunk so I am back on sleeve #1!
Upcoming!
I’m quite determined to complete the above mentioned projects before I begin this one, but I got this kit from my friend for my birthday, and I’m very keen to begin it!
One of my goals is to use up my stash for smaller items and gifts before purchase more fabric. For a friend’s Christmas gift, I followed this aim and found some fabrics to use.
Following a guide from Love Sewing Magazine (issue 01), I cut 4 rectangles of cotton fabric, two in each fabric choice, and then stitched them together to create a loop scarf.
One issue with using the stash is finding two fabrics which work well together. Although the purpose of the scarf is to have the option of two different looks, I didn’t want the fabric choices to clash too badly if you could see them both.
This was a nice simple pattern to follow and I am quite surprised at how warm a scarf made from dress cotton fabric can be!
Like many others, I’ve decided to start the new year off by reflecting on my current goals.
Project #sewmystyle
This year I am taking part in Bluebird Fabric’s project #sewmystyle
I’ve signed up to a ten week dressmaking course locally, and I thought that this project may help provide a stimulus outside of the classes. A garment a month is a challenging target which I am looking forward to pursuing.
Reading Passport 2016
For a slightly shorter goal, I have jumped on the reading passport bandwagon a little late, but plan to complete the South West Reading Passport 2016 by the deadline, which is 31 March 2017, for a chance to win a suitcase full of books. I don’t need more books at home, but I like the idea of a reading goal and am halfway through book 2 of 10.
One Word
After much deliberation, the guiding word for 2017 is spark. For more information about One Little Word, I would recommend listening to Elise Gets Crafty’s podcast on it.
No clothes shopping!
Following on from project #sewmystyle and going to dressmaking classes, I plan to avoid clothes shopping altogether in 2017!
Christmas gift ready by 1st December!
Finally, I am striving to get all of the key gifts made before 1st December this year so I am not manically trying to finish something on Christmas Eve (or on the day!)
It’s nice to pause and reflect back over the year before looking forward to the new year, so here are my highlights and lessons from 2016:
Highlights
Lessons
Just a quick post to reflect on some of the makes I have made this year for Christmas! There are a few which have been good or challenging which I wanted to share.
The upcycled t shirt cushions
My dad suggested that his old Hard Rock cafe tshirts should be transformed into cushions about two years ago but I wasn’t convinced and didn’t do it until this month. They have come out much better than I expected! I was worried that they were too faded, but I simply cut out the designs and appliqued them onto calico and created envelope cushions!
The 1940s tapestry bag and purse
This is another gift which had been on my mind for years but I had never got round to creating. However, I finally created it this year, even having time to create the matching purse (from Making Vintage Bags).
Hare bag
I wasn’t intending on making a hare bag this year, but when I clapped eyes on the fabric, I had to make something with it for one of Phill’s relatives who loves hares. I followed a free pattern online but I was a bit disappointed with the depth of the bag, which I would have preferred to have been a bit deeper, but I added a magnetic clasp to it to make it more like a shoulder bag. I did find a preferred tote bag pattern but I don’t have a photo of it yet so will write about it another time.
Oscar glasses case
This personalised glasses case was fun to make as well to add to my grandad’s collection of Schnauzer based gifts over the years.
Baby Showers Mobile
My biggest challenge was making this mobile for my niece! I gave my sister the choice of patterns for a baby mobile, and halfway through making this mobile I felt a bit of regret at doing that! However, it was a great challenge and pushed me much further than the other choices (and it looks much more impressive too)! I adapted the pattern from Chloe Owens (All Sewn Up) to what I had available, using Christmas tree decorations for the raindrops instead of jewellery chain. Glittery sequins were attached to the butterflies, which make light bounce off it.
I could not follow the pattern precisely as I could not get a needle through the fabric flowers when assembling as the fabric glue made it too hard. Instead, the embroidery floss was attached securely either side of the flowers.
I greatly underestimated the many stages to this mobile! I would recommend starting far in advance to ensure you make this in time to avoid the last minute stresses of making gifts! Fortunately, my mum helped ensure the clouds were sewn securely and to help with the final construction stage.
