Making mania

A happy New Year to everyone, but a quick post with pictures because I'm supposed to be working...

Father-in-law's scarf:




Pin Cushion, just because I got a sewing book for Christmas:





And finally, mini Mary Jane booties for my brand new neice :) (from here)



I'm about half-way through making a lovely wraparound cardigan for her in the same yarn, with picot edging ;)

Christmas cards

Finished the Christmas cards a few nights ago, I'm quite happy with them. I think the snowman design is my favourite :)

Christmas crafty fun!

Well it's now less than two weeks until Christmas, and it's a good job that most of my presents are finished. Sort of. After looking up zips on you tube (god bless the internet), I quickly whipped up a few cushions. Firstly, for my mother:




Considering I'd never put in a zip before, I'm quite proud of this neat shit:



Anyway, moving swiftly on, I then sewed three smaller cushions for my mother-in-law, this time getting a bit adventurous and having two different colours (phew, steady there...), and I think they came out pretty well, even if I do say so myself:



So all is looking good. Except I still have about 8 inches of a striped scarf to finish, I have to figure out how to make DK tassels look good (minor felting?), I've got 8 handmade Christmas cards to do, I've got to imagine and make a) a peg bag, and b) a compact mirror case. I feel like I could be in training for Blue Peter... (and that's not even starting on wrapping).

This Christmas has turned into a bit of a mad fucking rush, full of highs and lows. In three days I need to hand in my latest section of my report to work, and drive to Sussex at 9pm with husband to have four days of family frolicks (hence the mad rush to make their presents....). We had some sad news on Thursday, as husband's nan had passed away in the night, but simultaneously good news, as sister-in-law's waters had broken and she was hours away from giving birth to our new neice. I am struggling with not imagining happy news for us in the near future. Emotional times. So the funeral is on the 22nd in the East End, and then I am going to frantically try and get back to Norwich for Christmas (on my own, up the M25...eeeeek - stay away snow!). Still husband managed to get Boxing day off, so all is not lost ;)

At least Willis is taking it easy (in her crack den!):




Ta ta xx

New neice's cardigan

UPDATE: Niece has arrived - Isobel Florence, 8 pounds 6 ounces. Now I'm getting urges to make another little cardigan, in a burgundy DK I found at the market. So many Christmas projects to finish though, just don't have the time....Welcome to the world, not-so-little one :)

Well I finished it! Actually, it was a very fast knit (only 9in long), but I had a disaster with yarn (running out of it), so had to do some quiet improvisation. But I think it worked out well. Its a very simple pattern and knits up quick, without the stripes and the sewing in of tails, it could probably be done in under 10 hours. Or less, as some of the techniques were new to me (making the I-cords for the ties took about as long as the fronts!).



It should fit from birth-six months, but its got lots of growing space as the front can expand quite a bit. I'm quite happy with it - the finishing ended up being very neat which was satisfying as I'm still new to stitching the pieces together. But I'm rather proud of the outcome, so all is well. Now a mad dash to get all the Christmas knits done - I fear I've overstretched myself, especially with a work deadline looming in a menacing fashion over Christmas. Maaaaa. So much to knit and so little time!

And finally, Willis adding her own special input:

One more...

I forgot to include my fuzzy bat. Shame on me!

Knitting!

Knitting is amazing and everyone should do it. That's all I have to say on the matter :) Here are a few finished bits:

Obviously, a scarf is about as simple as it gets (except maybe a blanket!), and this is only in garter stitch, but I feel fondly towards it as my first ever project. And it keeps me warm and only cost £1 to make :) The booties are free to a goth newborn....

Some of my creations

As of the last few months, I've been afflicted with a problem I've had since childhood - the ability to get ridiculously excited about things (think x-files here, people!). Thankfully, its being channelled at the moment into more creative pursuits - sewing and knitting!



This is my platypus, and his younger sibling. One now resides with a toddler, the little one with Spoon. They are made from fleece and felt, and took about one-two hours to make (in my standard contorted golem posture).

With halloween coming up I wanted to find some projects to test out my new-found sewing skills, so I decided to make a halloween bib for the nephew:



This took very little time to make, from materials I had lying about - husband's old coat, thread, toggle - and a child's skirt from Oxfam for 49p. [Side note: I find it really tempting to make loads of children/baby-related things, because they're so quick and sweet....hmmmm - get procreating friends!].

Stay tuned for my knitting expose...