The Henny Pinny – FO 25/2011

Phew…all handmade Christmas gifts are done and ready for wrapping. I can’t share them yet but I’m really rather pleased with them.  One especially which is my own design!  Get me!!!!!

It’s too early even for me to be wrapping Christmas gifts just yet.  It spoils the fun of the season, I think.

But I’m now itching to get back to some dressmaking and have a couple of projects in mind just as soon as I can get some time in the sewing loft.  The Husband is away tomorrow night so I feel a bout of cutting out coming on!

In the meantime, as well as the gifts, I’ve managed to make myself a new apron in time for the Christmas cook fest:The Henny Pinny

Fabric:  Hen fabric is a linen mix bought at Festival of Quilts

            Black is a linen mix bought from Dunelm

Pattern: Copied from the apron I made recently for Black Purl.

Notions: Steam-a-seam for applique

Cost:  £15.

And that’s about it.  I think it’s cute and a new apron was definitely overdue. Whilst it’s not the most exciting project I’ve done recently, it’s certainly one of the most useful.

PS.Apologies for the grainy photo

It’s so very overcast and dark here at the moment.  I’ve had the lights on in the house all day.

Astonishing…what with it being November and all!

😉

 

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The 400th Post Giveaway (and FO – 24/2011)

When I started this blog in 2008 it was really just a way to connect with my family who at the time were living nearly 300 miles away.

I wanted to share with them our progress as we knocked our home into shape, and photos of the children following the adoptions.

I had no idea that I’d still be doing this 400 posts later, even though my family all now live within 2 miles of me!

I hadn’t anticipated that anyone else would read my ramblings, or that I’d connect with so many talented women all over the world.  Women who inspire me to be a better and more creative person.

So to say thank you for being there for me I’m excited to hold this, my first ever, giveaway:

This is the Lazy Daisy Shawlette by Orange Flower Patterns knitting in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in hot pink.

It’s so soft and cosy.

And it’s could be keeping your neck toasty warm this winter.

How to enter

1)   Leave a comment on this post.

2)   For a second entry subscribe to this post by email…little box at the top left of the page…or by subscribing through Google Reader.

3)   For a third entry, link back to this post on your blog.

This giveaway closes at midnight GMT on Sunday9th October.

I’ll announce the winner next week.

International entries more than welcome.  I’ll post this little beauty anywhere.

Café crème Sorbetto – FO 23/2011

I know that pretty much everyone else in Blogland has made one of the lovely Sorbetto tops from Colette, but in truth I wasn’t completely convinced it was a shape I could carry off.  And everyone else’s was so amazing I didn’t want to let the side down.

However, I took the plunge and made this one from that lovely café crème fabric of unidentified fibre composition purchased from Abakan.  I knew I had enough spare from the dress I’m planning to make and as the fabric was really quite inexpensive I could afford for this not to be a huge success.

I needn’t have worried – it seems it does work for me after all.

And I’m much happier with it than my face would suggest in that picture!

In my defence I was trying to squeeze a quick photo shoot in before breakfast, which I could smell cooking and was more than a little distracting.

“Cooked breakfast” I hear you ponder.

Why yes.  The Husband and I have been away for a couple of days.  More on that later.

But back to the Sorbetto.  I like it so much I’ve got a second one on the table now.  Hopefully it will be finished fairly soon.

 

More cosy – FO 21 & 22/2011

Obviously I couldn’t leave it alone with the woolly raspberries to Winter.

And I did have some of the green Artesano aran left.

So I made these:

Woolly Wormhead Propello

Sherwood Mitts by Ashley Knowlton

These are gifts…sharing the woolly love…and you can find the patterns on Ravelry.  Of course.

Oh!  And that’s the last of the green.  Thankfully!

PS. I’ve now made more things this year than I did last year.

And the year ain’t over yet.

And I’ve got two more things to share.

Sweet!

Lancashire Skies – FO 19 & 20/2011

Hey, Winter, you can’t fool me.

I’ve lived in Lancashire most of my life.

I know these balmy days heralding the onset of Autumn won’t last.  That unceasing rain and high winds will follow and that will just be the start of it.

I know that come January then you’ll jump out from behind a tree with a resounding “Boo” of snow and negative temperatures.

Well, I’ve got to tell you, Winter, this year I’m ready for you!

You may scoff at me wearing the biggest woolly hat in the world in September. Or at me wilting slightly under the all encompassing warmth of that scarf.

But I tell you now, Winter; I’ll have the last laugh.  My ears shall not freeze this winter.  Oh no!

And I’m going to tell anyone who’ll listen that they too can keep cosy warm. They just need to knit Urchin by Ysolda and Breathless by Linda Lunn from Knit and Wrap.

I’ll also tell them that they can get both of these out of 2 balls of Rowan Big Wool Fusion in colourway 06 Soot.  And they can easily knit the two of them in a day.  Or a couple of evenings.  Even if they are painfully slow knitters like me.

So, Winter, we’ve got you licked this year.

PS.  I call this set Lancashire Skies because more often than not that’s the colour of them.  

Although today they are clear blue.  

Just to prove me wrong.

Black Purl’s Apron – FO 18/2011

In case you’re wondering…this is the last post for today! Promise!

As the kids are asleep and The Husband is in Wimbledon on business, I’ve taken advantage of the quiet time to finish work on an apron I’ve been making up for Black Purl, and to catch up on my posts!

She printed this beautiful fabric herself.I really hope she likes the finished article.

 

Whitfield – FO 17/2011

Finally!  Pictures of the elusive Whitfield jacket.

The Husband absolutely loves this jacket.  And it’s been worn quite a bit since I finished it.  Just never when I’ve had a minute to take a half decent photo.

To recap, the pattern is Whitfield Jacket by Knitspot.

The yarn is Freedom Spirit Chunky by Twilleys of Stamford. The colour is 808 Dignity.

And whilst I made a mini-me version using a different pattern:

you can now get a junior version of the Whitfield from Knitspot!

image courtesy of http://www.knitspot.com

Just. Too. Cute!

 

 

 

 

Something Lacy Shrug – FO 16/2011

Whilst I had planned to use the last of the green Artesano aran to knit Fairhope, it quickly became apparent that I hadn’t nearly enough yarn left for it.

A hastily organised Plan B yielded this little lovely:

Something Lacy Shrug is designed by Vera Sanon (of SunFunLivingKnits) and is published by Cascade Yarns.  You can download it for free from their website.

Despite needing to cast this on about 20 times, that was definitely user error as this is a nice simple pattern that is very easy to follow.You just knit a rectangle, sew up the sides a little to create tiny sleeves, then pick up and knit the ribs.

A quick and satisfying project that is great for using leftover yarn.

Although I still have enough of this left for a hat and mittens (it feels like the neverending stash of green yarn).

Guess what’s on the needles at the moment?

Burda 8/2009 121 – FO 21/2011

This skirt reminds me why I love Burda patterns and why I’m glad I’ve lost enough weight to use them again.

Top is Phase Eight RTW – on sale at the moment

I had to make minimal alterations to this skirt…just added a little to the waist and a couple of inches to the length, and away I went.

The fabric is from my stash.  I bought it from The Cloth House about 4 years ago.  Hazarding a guess I’d say it’s an 11oz denim. I wish I’d bought more of it as it’s just lovely.  Both to sew and to wear.  After all the tricky fabrics I’ve been sewing of late, this was an absolute treat.

I love the details of this skirt:

The first waistband I’ve ever made that actually matches up – result!

Fabulous shaped seams and fly zip

Back pockets shaped along the yoke

Arrowhead top-stitching at the top of the rear vent

A flash of Tilda cotton print at the fly and also lining the pockets

Whilst this looks like a fairly complex pattern, it’s actually really quite straightforward to make.  If you take your time.  But I’ve already covered that topic this week!

I referred to this book for the fly zip instructions:and it’s the most professional zip I’ve ever inserted.  These are just fabulous directions. I heartily recommend them.

I know both the skirt and the new top are a little snug…but I’m back on a healthy eating kick and the weight is slowly coming off again, so this was a deliberate decision to ensure that I can wear these for quite some time to come, even as I get slimmer.

So, all that’s left to say is that I’m thrilled with this outfit and really enjoyed wearing it today.  It seems all that slow sewing really paid off.

Mini-me. Simple hooded cardigan – FO 15/2011

Despite the current complete lack of enthusiasm for picking up a needle in any shape or form I managed to sew up The Boy’s latest jacket, made from leftovers of Mr S’s Whitfield Jacket.

The pattern is 70038 Simple Hooded Cardigan from Lion Brand Yarns.  I sized it up one size from the largest on the pattern as I didn’t want quite such a shrunken look.  I also added a collar rather than a hood so its more like his daddy’s jacket.

I love this.  He looks so like his daddy in this cardigan.  Beyond adorable.

He’s very pleased with it and runs around saying “jumper, jumper”.  Although its forecast 25 degrees today, as I type its still cool enough to wear your new jacket to play on the deck.

Perfect.