Choices.....

Wow, there are so many projects that I want to do right now.

Unfortunately, as I have a household of poorly people needing constant nursing, I haven't been able to do any sewing but I have been able to do a bit of hookery. I made a pair of these slippers.....

Inspired by  the pattern from Zoom Mommy's blog, which can be found here


I have been checking out Ravelry again and have found a free hooky pattern for the Apiary Puff (find it here)by Valarie Lawson,inspired by Tiny Owl Knits, Beekepers quilt.  Now, as a non knitter, I was a bit envious when I found the Tiny Owl pattern, but then my envy turned to joy at finding a hooky version!!!

Now the question is, do I start ANOTHER project..or must I really finish up some of my UFOs.??????

I have made SOME progress on the UFO front.

I've managed to attach all the poms onto a new backing and I now just need to put the pretty base fabric and edging on. I don't think it will be something I can use the machine for as the edging is rather hefty and my machine is a little ancient! I have got a mattress needle ( a curved thick needle) from a thrifted sewing box that I bought in the sunnier days of car boot.  My best advice on this project is too use proper rug backing, rather than try and use hessian backing as I did...it pays to use the right stuff!

The Lady Grey.
I have bitten the bullet and cut out the main fabric for the jacket. It is a black wool cashmere mix and given the choice again, I wouldn't choose that one, but I believe in learning from my mistakes! I shall be making it again for the spring, in a red or purple lightweight fabric and I will be VERY careful with my fabric choice! I am hoping to be able to make it in a size smaller by then :)!

The Lapgan
Again another learning curve here...the lesson this time is one of patience. I have had to unravel 3 rows because I went too fast! It is progressing though and I will have it done by Christmas ( fingers crossed).


The Peony
I find it impossible to do only on sewing project at a time and so, I have cut out the fabric for my Peony.  I am popping into town today to get my 22inc concealed zip and then I just need to figure out how to put it in.  Funny enough, that is the next tutorial at my sewing class, but as I was hoping to finish it to wear at my Aunts funeral on Thursday, I am going to have to wing it myself. If I manage it, I will post some details on here.

Well, as today is my birthday, I am heading off to do a bit of cheeky shopping. Tara for now xx

Its been a funny old week....

I've had the strangest of weeks and very little time to sew. My brave Aunt lost her battle with cancer last night and it has made me reflect on my own life.

I can either let depression overwhelm me and live a life of "could haves" or I can grasp life by the horns and keep on trucking!  I am going to attempt the later and make my Aunty B proud.

Lets start with my crafty "to do " list.

Things in the UFO pile:

1) The Lady Grey...its my project for my sewing class and I WILL have it done by Christmas.

2) The Pom Pom rug. I ran out of materials, but with a lucky car boot find, I can now get it finished.

3) Mums Ripple Lapgan..My first real hooky project - I really hope that she likes it.

4) My ripple blanket..A long term project I think.

5) The bits of refashion from SSS11..they got put on the back burner when my ear went squiffy!

New stuff to do!

1) My friend has asked me to make her dress into a skirt. Hopefully it will be easy but from experience it won't!!

2) The Peony dress from Colette Patterns ( my bro bought me the pattern for my birthday)

3) A holdall for my dads table to keep the tele remote from going astray. It really annoys me that he can never find it.

4) Lots of storage bags for Little J's various toys sets. Maybe, just maybe, it might help him put his toys away???

5) Some Christmas Prezzies for the family of course..but more on that later.

6) A hooky advent garland ..just like Lucy's at Attic 24

And where to start,....well I may do some Poming this evening and go from there!

Monster Hat

As it is nearly Halloween and we were off to the Real Halloween event, I spent a great deal of last night crocheting a monser hat for Little J.  It took me around 4 hours off and on and I was really pleased with it as I had no pattern to follow.

Selling on Ebay....

Well, I have bitten the bullet and put my first me made on Ebay.

You can see it here

As a stay at home mum, I really need to do something to fund my crafty habit and this seems like a good way to earn some "pin money".  The only problem is..I need to sell something!!!

Hopefully once I get hold of some cheap stock, I may branch out and try and put some "refashions" on ebay and see how that goes....Im not brave enough to sell on Etsy yet...its unknown water to me!

Isn't Autumn Lovely?

Hello again.. Isn't autumn lovely? I'm hoping to fill this week ( being half term) with lots of leaf and conker collecting, pumpkin carving, Halloween crafting and general autumn playing! This, of course means very little sewing time.

I must say that I am struggling somewhat with my Lady Grey coat. It is the first time I have ever inserted a sleeve, which I guess I really should have practiced BEFORE embarking on a project like Lady Grey. Well, the material has been bought and I have invested a LOT of time in drafting my Toile, so I am not going to give up now.....I shall invest some time in reading Gertie's sew along and do a bit more net research to see if it makes anymore sense.

It is my birthday next month and I have requested Peony from Collette patterns for my birthday..I am SO excited. I have the fabric ready and waiting and I have a feeling I shall be making more than one.  I also have Colette patterns book on preorder at Amazon, so that gives me something to look forward too in the darker months.

Another one bites the dust...

At last "The owl dress" is finished.

This was my first attempt at bias binding on a neckline. It took a couple of attempts. I found the tutorial on Colette patterns really useful..you can find out how to make your own bias tape HERE and how to fix it on HERE.

I have some of the fabric left over, so at a later date I would like to add a patch pocket. I do LOVE pockets.












I have also made a start on Lady Grey. I have made a toile out of an old curtain. I am not sure about the fit under the arms, but I imagine it requires a lot of ease to accommodate jumpers and the like.

It does seem to be a good fit otherwise, so I may be lucky and can get away without altering the pattern.  I will be able to get a better idea once I have attached the sleeves.

And there I was.....

..thinking all was well, and then I had a relapse. Oh well, not to mind, I'm back again. So, what have I been doing?

Self Stitched September unfortunately passed me by, but I have definitely increased my sewing over the last month, so that is an achievement in itself.

I have spent the last week trying to finish up some of my UFOs.  Tonight I have partially finished my Maize Hutton inspired pom pom rug. I say partially because I need substantially more poms to make it bigger. Its kinda bath mat sized at the moment and I would like it to be a bit more!  This morning I finished Little J's arigarumi Crobot, Baby Bot:. Little J's opinion was that it is no good because I have put screws in instead of bolts.  It's nice to be appreciated !?!?

I have two main UFOs left; a liberty print sewing bag and The Owl dress.

I had hoped to get the sewing bag finished before last weeks Friday sewing class, but alas, even a horrendously late night didn't achieve that.  I just need to sew press fasteners on the inner pockets ( made from preloved strawberry napkins) and to sew more press fasteners on the closure.  I may have to add sides to it too: I will see what happens.

The linen maternity dress that is the basis of my owl dress

The Owl dress is about half way. So far I have taken out the centre panel and added the owl print fabric, added back, bust and front darts and started on the bias. I need to finish the bias and take the skirt in at the side and then it will be finished.

Then, it will be on to Lady Grey!

Twit Twoo!