Oscar's quilt and an embarrassing UFO

So, lets get the uncomfortable project out of the way first (well uncomfortable for me).  I have two projects that I started way over a year ago...both for Thea.  I feel really guilty about this as she loves when I make her stuff but somethings get put in the too-hard basket and stay there.

Anyway, I started the Jo Pinafore way back in March/April last year.  Every two weeks I would take it to my craft group and knit a few rows then put it away again until next time.  It's not a hard pattern at all but I have come to realise that I am not into big projects - I like quick things like hats, scarves, handwarmers etc.

Anyway, my mother-n-law was down for the weekend and she finished it off for me!!!  She's a very experienced knitter, not to mention quick, so within a matter of minutes (it seemed) the straps were done and the loose bits woven in.  All ready for Thea to wear to a party that afternoon!

We deviated from the pattern slightly with the straps (I was finding the double knitting incredibly frustrating) so they are wider than the proper Jo pinafore.  But I don't care...it's finished!  And hopefuly will see her through a couple more winters.

The other project that was finished on the weekend (again thanks to my MIL who finished hand sewing the binding) is Oscar's quilt.  Remember I used the Parson Gray range of fabrics which I love.  I am really happy with it.

My craft girls helped me decide on the colour for the border and binding which I think works so well.

I just decided to quilt a straight line through the middle of each 5" block.  And I backed it with a woollen blanket that came from my mums stash.

While I just sewed the 5" blocks together, I tried to create random  shapes - a large square here, a long rectangle here.  I am so pleased with this quilt and I hope it will be something he takes with him into adulthood!

Until next time, Melissa

Holidays... its all about a bit of fun!

This is a post about our holidays... a bit of fun for everyone. Its not just about crafting but mostly :)

Fun for the kids, on the beach...

And fun for Mummy with the sewing machine!

At the beginning of the holidays, a pattern arrived from Esty for me.. This one The Schoolhouse Tunic. I have been eyeing it up for months, perhaps even a year. So, day one of the school holidays sees us tootling down to Lower Hutt in search of bargin fabric to have a go at it. I got some pretty blue/green fabric for $3 per metre... perfect for a try! Got it home, washed, pattern traced, pinned and cut out... then it sat for a week. Thank goodness for a sew club night! Tunic dress done....BUT way too big. Thankfully I had spare fabric and was able to cut out the top half again and reuse the skirt. Today it is finished. It looks nothing on the hanger but quite cool on...



I like it, but I had in mind a finer material... something more floaty and sheer. So I headed back down to Fabric Barn and found some $6 per metre sheer cotton. It was washed last night, hung to dry overnight, ironed, pieces cut out and ready for making this morning. Bless my lovely hubbie who took the kiddies to the library and out for lunch while I had 3 hours of peace and quiet to whip this one up. My fav!

Hehe, all finished as the kiddies arrived home all excited from their surprise visit to The Warehouse. Just ready for dinner out tonight!

Still had the sew bug... After 3 hours of sewing I had worked out what I sorely needed.... a second pin cushion. Its frustrating to be pinning at the ironing board, moving to sew at the machine and not remembering to bring the pin cushion with you! I got inspired by this gorgeous wee story from Tea Rose Home. I had quite a few fabric scraps left from my cot quilt so thought I would have a little go at making my own, very very simple pin cushion!

I am very tempted to stick a wee velco dot on the bottom and another on my sew table so it has a little home. Bet you have heaps of scraps crying to be made into a little spare pin cushion. Great gift for someone aye?

I'm not quite ready to put my machine away yet.. I have a skirt to hem, a cape to repair and no doubt something else will come up that I wanna have a go at. Happy holiday sewing everyone A xx





Tooth Cute

Oscar is six this month and as yet so sign of any teeth falling out...I can't wait as I think there's nothing cuter than some missing teeth! (On kids that is)

Anyway, I wanted to be ready and so came across a very clever tutorial for a totally rad Tooth Office Pillow,

It was super easy and super quick and I had most of  the materials in my stash.  It's surprisingly big and the tooth goes in the wee pocket where the front teeth are.

Of course Thea couldn't miss out either - even though she is three years away from her teeth falling out :)  So I made her a ballerina pillow complete with ballet shoes.

Until next time, Melissa

My first quilt

A while ago I told you about my love affair with Amy Butler.  Well it continues with my first quilt - a lap quilt for the couch.

And it matches my Amy Butler Gum Drop Pillow!

My sew club (that Amber's a member of too) had a couple of classes with Amber's Mum, a very experienced quilter.  I decided to do a 'disappearing nine patch' for my quilt.  While I had my Amy Butler fabric, for this method you need a 'constant' fabric, so Amber's mum kindly rushed out to get me some of the green spot you can see below.

Right so it was fun to put together, I cut many many 5" squares (and now see the benefit of charm packs!) and sewed nine together randomly...except always having the green constant in the middle

Then I sliced by nine patch down the middle horizontally and vertically

Then turned them around and sewed it back together!

From here it was simply a matter of repeating with however many nine patches I needed.

The quilt has already had some use :)

I have a few more to make and will try different methods so I shall be back!

Until next time, Melissa