TAST Wallhanging

I had one block left from when I was doing the TAST (Take a Stitch on Tuesday) challenge on Stitchin'  Fingers, so I've finally made it into a wall hanging.  That's all my TAST blocks made up now, and a very little hole made in my finishing pile.

There are a lot more to come from that pile, but I am getting there slowly,

In the meantime, I did some more work on the quilt kit, and have finished making all of the block A's.  Now onto block B, but not until tomorrow, we are out most of the day today.

More Zips

Fear of zips seem to be a thing of the past, they are a lot easier than I remember when I was younger.  I've made another pouch, this time smaller and with a wider base.

 I've also made a start on the quilt kit I bought.  The colour is a bit off as it was so dull and grey all day.

I have made two of Block  A, there are four more to go.  Hopefully, I can get some more done today

Pyjama/Nightie Case

This was more fabric that was gifted to me.  It's taken a few months, but I finally came up with the idea to make a pyjama case. 

I quilted the fabric and used a large dinner plate as a template.

 I even put a zip in the back.

The end result is a circular, cushion style pyjama case.

I think I have enough fabric to make another one, but this time I think I will use my largest mixing bowl as a template and have a larger case.  Before I can make it, I'll need to get another zip and some more fabric for the lining, I used the last of my white cotton.

In the pink

I'm not a pink person, and having boys, I haven't had to be, so when I was given pink fluffy fabric, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it.  I then spoke to a friend who is a pink person, and has a little girl who loves pink.  She assured me, her daughter would think it was heaven to have pink fluffy cushions, so that's what I made.

 I bought some motifs to add to a couple of the cushions.  I couldn't get any that would have big enough for the larger cushions, so I made two sets.  Each has a plain cushion and one with a motif.

Hopefully, there will be two girls out there somewhere that will enjoy them.

A win and some finishes

A week or so ago, there was a competition on Lynette Anderson's blog to guess the number of buttons in the jar.  I was one of the lucky winners, and this is my prize.  All I need to do now, is find the perfect project to make a home for these lovely buttons.

 After shopping this week, and finally getting the supplies I needed, I have been able to finish a few of the projects that have been hanging around.

The first to be completed were these parchment bookmarks.  These ones had gold highlights, so I have backed them with black card.

 Next to be finished, was a bag for DS1.  He has a pair of ice skates that are just a bit big to go comfortably in his back pack.  This custom made bag should be big enough to get them in easily, and carry them to the rink.  It should get it's test run on Thursday, and being black, he should be happy with it.

 I  was given this blue fabric by a friend, and for some weeks, I just didn't know what to do with it.  I then remembered the hot water bottle cover I have in the cupboard, and thought this was perfect.  I had wanted to buy motifs to go on all of them, but as they were low on stock when I went shopping, only one gets the motif treatment.   The cover with a motif is perfect for a small size hot water bottle, so would make a perfect gift for a little man, especially now the nights are getting colder.

At the same time as giving me this fabric, my friend also sent some pink fluffy fabric. Tomorrow, I'll show you what that has turned into.  She has certainly has had my grey cells working overtime thinking of how to use fabric I wouldn't buy myself.

Raggedy & Friends QAL-Block Three

 Very happily, I am all up to date and the next Raggedy block is finished.  The instructions are so clear, it is a joy to put these blocks together.  They seem to take no time at all.

As all my catnip pouches had sold, it was time to make some more, much to the delight of the resident moggies.  Unfortunately, I could only make three as I ran out of catnip and bells.

I have again recycled my orts and used them for stuffing.  Once the supplies have arrived, I can make up some more.

Crewel Oak Tree

I've had some fun over the last couple of days stitching on this crewel picture.

This was the first time I've done brick stitch, but as I love satin stitch, I really enjoyed it. It's one of my favourite bits, the other being the acorn cups done using french knots.  These took a while to do, but I love the effect.  One of the things that I find really appealing about this type of work, is the different textures.  I just find myself drawn to touch and stroke it.

I've just used whatever threads I found in my stash including threads from The Gentle Art, DMC, Perle No. 5, and several that have no label.

Today, between appointments, I'm hoping to do the stitchery on the Raggedy block.  The piecing has been done, next step, the tracing and stitching.

September's Crochet Blocks-done

I finished the other two crochet blocks for this month.  As you can see, it took a while to get the pattern for the block on the right.  As this is a sort of sampler afghan, I'm not too worried, it's all part of the learning process.  At least now I know what I'm looking for in the pattern, which always helps.

As you can see, the dog just had to get in the picture.  He kept edging closer and closer.

It's been a strange week.  I have lots of things cut out and prepared but I can't finish them.   I need to go shopping for zips and other bits and pieces.  Once I've got those, the sewing machine will be back in full swing.  I'm just hoping the next Raggedy installment comes out today, or else I will be digging around for something else to do.

Sky Heart

It was another good post day yesterday, once you disregard the electric bill.  The thread arrived, so I could put the last fourteen stitches into this heart.

Then there was another signature block, this time from Gina. 

I've also made a start on this months crochet blocks.  These are the first two.  Again these are simple blocks with stitching added.

Hopefully, the next two will get done today.

Friday Night Sew In

As hoped, I managed to get another block put together.

I then went and checked how many more I needed.  It was quite a pleasant surprise, I think they must have been multiplying on their own.  I need two more blocks for the bed.  With borders added, it should make it big enough .  I'll then need  four more to make pillowcases. 

I was thinking of doing the quilt first, then doing the pillowcases, but I think, I may as well do six more blocks and get that part out of the way first.  It's nice to see the end so close. 

For Friday Night Sew In, I started another cross stitch heart.

There isn't much to see, but working with only three colours, this one shouldn't take too long to complete.  I am waiting on some more thread coming, then I have fourteen stitches to complete another heart.  I  couldn't believe that I ran out so close to finishing.

Slow but sure

You can tell the boys are home, there has been a dramatic slow down in creative productivity.  They get hungry and need to be fed, they wear clothes that need to be washed, they make a mess so cleaning has to be done. 

I have, however, managed to get another postage stamp block done.  I'm hoping to get another one done today, and then I'll have to check again how many more I need.  I've forgotten from the last time.

Tonight is Friday Night Sew In, so today, I'll look out for something to do for that.

Another Siggie Block Received

It was another lovely post day yesterday.  I received this lovely signature block from Linda.

There was also this tatted cross that she had made

They are both beautiful, and as a non tatter, I really appreciate the work that's involved.

If anyone else would like to do a siggie block swap, please let me know.

The boys are back from their travels, and so is their washing!  In between loading the machine and the dryer yesterday, I did manage to get another postage stamp block together.

Creative Tuesdays-Birthday

The theme for this Creative Tuesday challenge was Birthday.  This was perfect timing for me, as I have finally got around to finishing DS2's birth sampler.

Poor boy has had to wait for everything.  I had stitched DS1's sampler while I was still pregnant, finishing and framing the stitching before he was six months old.  DS2 was probably three or four when I did the stitching, and now at 12, it's being finished!

He has his finished as a wall hanging, complete with dowel ready to hang.  All we have to do now is find the perfect space.

Another Finish and more postage stamp blocks

I've been waiting for a delivery of polyester filling to be able to get this cushion finished, but finally this weekend he is done.  He's been stitched and stuffed, and now sits proudly aloof, watching the chaos the kittens are spreading around him.

I've used the same fabric for the backing as I used to finish the Teddy cushion.  I just loved the texture of it and thought it went with the wool work.

I've also spent a bit of time before the grand prix to get a couple more postage stamps blocks done.

There are still a few more to go, but I am going to see how many I can get put together this week.

Aran jumper finished

As the boys are getting bigger, knitting for them is taking a little longer.  This aran jumper was fairly quick to do, though it took two days to do the finishing.

I'd finished doing knitting the neckband at nine o'clock in the evening and thought the sewing up could wait until the next day.  As I was sewing up the raglans, I thought that something wasn't quite right, but it took a little while to register.  Somehow, I had forgotten to knit in one of the sleeves when I was doing the neckband!  This is something I've never done before, and can't work out how it happened.

Nevertheless, DS2 definitely has two arms, so the neckband had to be undone, the second sleeve put in, and then the neckband re knitted.  Eventually at tea time. I had a completed jumper that was the right shape, and hopefully the right size!

I finished off some bookmarks too. 

These are embossed on parchment then perforated from the main sheet to give the raggedy finish. The lines at each end that go to the leaves, are done in silver. I've used dark blue card to back them and then used bookmark covers to hold them together with a ribbon to finish.

I have some with gold lines ready to make up.  I want to get some black card for backing them, so they will have to wait to be finished.

Jelly Roll QAL-Finished!

It's taken a couple of sessions this week, but I have finally finished the Jelly Roll Quilt. 

The first day, I quilted, attached the binding and pinned ready for hand stitching,   As the quilt is quite large, and my sewing machine is quite small, and not really designed for quilting, I had to keep it simple.  I did a straight line of stitching on each side of the white sashing.

I used the lovely pins that Karen sent me.  Even the kittens thought they were fun.  They were pulling them out faster than I could sew!  Fortunately, they soon found something else to do.

Here is the finished quilt.  It's not perfect, but I'm happy with it.  It's the first bed sized quilt I've done and it's turned out a lot better than I was expecting as we went along.  Here's to the next one.

For my little artist

I bought DS2  an artists sketch pad and pencils, but it looked a little boring in the packet, and they would soon have got separated, so I made a wallet for them.

There is a flap at the bottom for the ends of the pencils and book to slide into.  This will prevent the contents from slipping out when he least expects it.  The strap across the middle  has been stitched to hold the book and pencils in place. 

The fabric on it's own, wasn't very sturdy, so I slipped some cardboard between the layers.  It only goes across the bottom half, and then top folds down to give him his own sketching wallet.

As the boys are away having fun, I've treated myself and bought a quilt kit.  I've used the company before, so knew of their good service but I loved the way this kit came.

I have my very clear instructions, and best of all, all the pieces are ready cut.  How much time is that going to save me!

I'm really looking forward to putting it altogether, but there is just a little matter of a Jelly Roll quilt to finish first.

Amy's BOM -Arrow Crown

This was the third of the blocks for this month, and took a little longer than the others to put together.  I must say, it went together better than the one I tried last month, although, I may not be in a hurry to repeat the process.

I have come to the conclusion, the blocks with less cutting and piecing are more my thing at the moment, less chance for things to go wrong.  What's more, I have lots of time before the next month's blocks are released.  It doesn't happen very often, that I'm that up to date with getting things done.

Amy's BOM

It was with some trepidation that I looked at this months blocks, but Amy had been right, they were easier.  Well, the first two looked easier.

Here's "Mother's Favourite", and as recommended, I kept the bonus triangles.  I am hoping that it mean that the third block isn't as complicated as it looks.

The second block is Squares within Squares.

I like the way both of these turned out, and it didn't take all day.  Let's hope that a third block will be following.

Thirteen years in the making

After I had finished the stitching on this a couple of months ago, I washed it and put it away safe until I decided what to do with it.  It was so safe, I couldn't find it, despite looking in all my hiding places.

I eventually found it at the bottom of my knitting bag, which I got to see clearly for the first time in ages after having a clear out.

Now it is a cushion for DS1. 

What memories this brings back, especially when I had to buy him size 11 trainers before he went away.  How could something that small, get to be so big, so quickly?

Patience is Required

DS2 did this cross stitch not long after we moved to Sheffield.  It was one of the first cross stitch pictures he did that followed a chart, not colours printed on the fabric.  It was entrusted to my safe keeping to be framed or finished in some way.

He's only had to wait about eighteen months, two years!  Not long, really.

I haven't found all my framing equipment since we've moved, so I thought I'd make it into a small wall hanging instead.  The backing fabric, has a summer sky motif, so very appropriate for the balloon theme.

Progress has also been made on clearing out my knitting corner.  I completed this little baby jumper in bamboo.  Apologies to all those now feeling broody.  Just think of them as teenagers, that usually helps to bring those feelings under control!

I also cleared a lot of the wool remnants from the corner. They will go to a neighbour who does knitting and crochet for the hospital.  That's cleared another bag, so now, there are two projects in progress, and one waiting to be started.  Hopefully, one more will get done in the next week before the boys get back.

Gardening Teddy

Gardening Teddy didn't have to wait too long in the finishing pile.  As I was wandering around the fabric shop looking for something else, I saw this fabric and thought of him straight away.  Last week, I went back and bought a metre of the fabric.

He has now become a cushion, approx 12" by 14".  He's really does look splendid sat in the sun.

Gardening Teddy, didn't need a metre of fabric, but I have another cushion to make up, and it will be purrrfect for that too.

More Crochet Squares and Jelly Roll Quilt Update

As expected, my new set of crochet magazines arrived the day after I had completed the other squares.

I've now done them, including one that I had forgotten to do from the last batch.  Now, I really am up to date!

I've also attached the border to my Jelly Roll Quilt.  This wasn't the colour I was looking for when I went out to buy fabric, but it just seemed to work, I hope.   I shall use the same fabric on the back.

I then spent forever cutting 31/2" strips from the remainder of the jelly roll and sewed them together to prepare the binding.  I think I have enough here, but if not, there are plenty of pieces to make some more. 

By the looks of things, I shall be making cushions to use up all the pieces