Too Much Cuteness.
Posted on October 5, 2021 | 8 Comments
I just had to finish off that koala I was knitting. But it didn’t stop with one. A bit like eating potato chips. So I ended up with three.
They are lovely to make – a little bit fiddly, but worth it. The hardest part was the faces and I am sure that they will get better the more I make.
It is a pattern by Little Cotton Rabbits and is available as a PDF. I am experimenting with yarns ( 8 and 10 ply) and needle sizes. It looks like both wool thicknesses work well as long as I use a small needle. There will definitely be more of these to go along as baby gifts.
And the cute little baskets they are sitting in are called Podlets. I saw them on Cheryll’s blog (Gone Stitchin‘) and had to try them.
These are also very addictive and I have plans for more. They are a Spencer Ogg Sewing pattern and this is the YouTube link. There is a FB page as well with lots of extras. They whip up in a very short time and are super easy. So pleased I saw them on Cheryll’s blog.
Lots of lovely things are happening in garden but I also enjoy seeing the potted plants come in to bloom. These Granny Bonnets have to be a favourite (aquilegias or columbines).
It has turned into quite a wet week here, but that is part of what to expect in Spring. Better than being dry.
Cheers, Karen
A Bit Of A Yarn.
Posted on October 1, 2021 | 7 Comments
Plenty of yarn being used in these projects. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. I have been making a few bits and pieces for gifts and have accumulated a little collection. Most will be baby gifts.
I am sure most of you have seen the octopus toy with the curly tentacles that bubs love hanging on to. I decided it was time to make a few.
These are great for using up yarn scraps and make up quickly.
It is a pattern from
crochet365knittoo.com/crochet-octopus-preemies
Then I had a go at making this fairy doll.
The original pattern is made as a flat body, but I changed it to be a stuffed body, so a few alterations were needed.
The hair is made as a wig and sewn onto the head. Then the flowers and vines are entwined in the hair.
Thankfully the facial features are kept to a minimum and are embroidered.
I made mine with 8 ply cotton.
The pattern is from mandmcrochet designs and is called a Melly Teddy Ragdoll Blossom Fairy or Snowfall Fairy.
And I am sure you can work out what this one will be.
I will add pattern details when it is finished.
Time to move away from yarn and on to my next block of my Over The Hill quilt. We are now under the sea.
I need to add a lighthouse and a whale but will have to wait until I join the next block as the pieces overlap the seam.
October has arrived in a rush. Lots happening in the garden with the lovely Spring weather. Thankfully plenty to do as we are still under lock down restrictions for a few more weeks. We even had an earthquake here as a distraction from Covid for a while – a decent one for our area – 5.9.
I hope your distractions are pleasant ones.
Cheers, Karen
Triangles Abound.
Posted on September 19, 2021 | 13 Comments
It is time for me to get a few quilts finished. Quite a few tops are done but of course they need sandwiching and quilting. I decided to start with the biggest one first.
This one ended up at 65 X 86 (inches). It is made from half square triangles made from a range of fabric packs including some batiks.
Then I had the crazy idea to quilt it myself. I usually get ones this size done by someone with a long arm machine, but lock down has limited that. So, no other choice but do it myself.
I started with straight lines each side of every seam.
And then I jumped in with lots of pebble quilting in the paler blue rounds, as well as the centre.
The backing was a fabric from a collection by Rosalie Quinlan.
The binding was a batik.
The quilt is a gift but I tried it out on one of our beds for a few photos.
I was pleased with the fabric mix in the packs and how well they worked together. Sad to say that I think these were sitting on my shelves for over ten years. Glad they have now turned into a special quilt.
Now I have to wait to see how long it will be until I can deliver it in person.
Looking forward to a good week ahead. I hope you are, too.
Cheers, Karen
A Little Crochet Project.
Posted on August 28, 2021 | 8 Comments
Sometimes it is good to have a yarn project on the go as well as stitching ones. This is a lap size crochet project that I have been working on when watch TV. I can’t seem to watch TV without having something like this on the go.
This has used the African flowers design in all the blocks and has been made using 8 ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills.
I like the little star pattern that occurs when the blocks are joined.
I kept the edging simple. A couple of straight rows and then a small frill.
So that’s it! I think it will live in my sewing studio on the back of an old rocker.
It is a cold day outside but there is some beautiful sunshine and we are seeing the first signs of Spring with some blossom on our apricot tree. Plenty to keep us busy. Have a lovely weekend,
Cheers, Karen
Just Keep Going.
Posted on August 20, 2021 | 11 Comments
We are in lock down still. Apparently we hit 200 days of cumulative lock down since the start of the pandemic last year. So it really is a case of just keep going. So I did.
I finished putting together a quilt top that I had started last year. I had done two of the four panels, so completed to second set.
The fabrics are by Me and My Sister. I had several charm packs from different ranges, but because they always use similar colours, they all worked together. I think I only had to hunt for three pieces to complete the top.
I will sort out a backing and hopefully get it sandwiched soon.
I then started to cut out the pieces for my next quilt top. It is called The Avenue. I think there are 14 pieces in each block so i needed to do a bit of planning and preparation.
I thought it a good idea to do a test block to make sure I was on track.
The block is larger than you think – about 9 by 14 inches. I have completed the cutting for the tree top and now have to get all the background done. This is the pattern. I thin I have to make 25 blocks.
Well, that is what is going to keep me going for a while. The numbers in several states are rising so I can’t see an easy or early end to our lock down. All I can say is take care to everyone.
Cheers, Karen
Moving Along To August.
Posted on August 2, 2021 | 9 Comments
It has been cold, wet and miserable here – but it is Winter! But out of the blue we have had two lovely, sunny days. Not warm, but appreciated. And I think it turns back to Winter normal tomorrow. So obviously lots of inside time. Sewing has been done but with the Olympics in the background. We are in a very similar time zone to Tokyo which means we get to see a lot of the events live. Much better that having to get up in the middle of the night.
I have been going back to some of my Marg Low patterns to make some decorations. This one is Home For Christmas. I had made one of the three in the pattern previously, but for a gift. It is made flat at the start.
Then the side is stitched up and slipped over a foam cone.
In the original pattern the cones sit on a base, but I don’t have anything appropriate so I simply traced out a circle of felt to stitch to the base. It sits quite well like that. My plan is to make a few more as there are different sizes and designs.
Over The Hill by Wendy Williams has been stitched together and is now waiting for me to finish the third row.
I am very happy with how this is looking.
I also found a small pattern to try.
This is on a 10 inch block. I may turn it into a small pillow. The design is by Rusty Crow from 2015.
I have been putting blocks together for a quilt. At the moment I am playing with the layout.
This is range by Leanne Beasley called Spring Mischief. Very pretty and delicate.
Plenty to keep me going over the next few days when rain returns. I think I am ready for Spring.
We finally had our second vaccination last week. Good to be up to date with that one.
Hope the week goes well for everyone.
Cheers, Karen
A Finish For Round The Garden Path.
Posted on July 18, 2021 | 11 Comments
Finally after many months, maybe years, I have finished the embroideries and quilting for Round The Garden Path, a design by Fig,N,Berry.
Once the embroideries were complete and the blocks put together, I had a good play with the quilting.
Each of the eight outer blocks were quilted in a similar way.
I was able to pebble quilt inside the embroidery circle and inside the hexagon border.
This held the block securely and didn’t interfere with the embroidery.
I also didn’t want to take away from the embroidery outside the circle.
The centre block was a different matter.
Pebbles in the pathway. Clouds in the sky. Squiggles in the garden. I did a little bit of outlining in the houses hold the larger pieces firm and some cross hatching to let the roof sit flat.
In each of the house corners I overlapped loops to cover three of the four quarters.
Once that was done I added a mini hexagon where the blocks met.
I also repeated the loops around the border between each block. And finished each corner with squiggles.
I used a Liberty fabric for the binding. It was the same as one that was used in the hexagons.
The backing fabric was a bit of fun, too.
So there we go. Another quilt completed.
We are back into another (hopefully short) lock down here. No complaints from me as it looks like this delta variant spreads like wildfire. I get my second vaccine jab in two weeks so am not ready to be out in the middle of crowds just yet. It is cold and wet outside so I am happy to stay in.
It gives me plenty of time to decide what to do next.
Have a good week.
Cheers, Karen
Keeping Warm.
Posted on July 11, 2021 | 10 Comments
Lots of chilly mornings here but we are getting lovely sunshine during the day. All the heating systems are working overtime at night keeping us snug and warm.
Perfect weather for these little frosties which are stitched from designs made by Michelle from Michelle Ridgway Designs.
These are stitched from Cottage Garden Threads.
I plan to add these to two others made previously to make a long wall hanging.
I have kept the knitting theme going through my last few posts. I made a pink jumper for our granddaughter. (Shown in a previous post.) She loves the pink but also asked for jumper with rainbow on the front. We agreed to use what was already there rather than knit a new jumper. So now the pink jumper has a rainbow.
I had also completed another jumper.
This was a gorgeous pattern with a lovely diamond design.
Then of course it needed a hat as well.
This used a different design. It was knitted from corner to corner and created a raised spiral effect.
Both jumpers and the hat have been made using yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills. It is so soft and a delight to use.
Time to head outside to make the most of the sunshine, even if it is just to rake the leaves.
Cheers, Karen
The Halfway Mark For 2021.
Posted on July 3, 2021 | 11 Comments
Surprising to think that we are already half way through 2021. Maybe I have been busier than I thought. Although not sure my stitching shows that. We are having some lovely sunny Winter days. Still very cold but great to see the sun shining. After having little opportunity to sew for a month or more, I am getting back to some stitching. I am choosing to get small projects done as these are easy to work on when I am the taxi service or am sitting in waiting rooms for doctor and hospital appointments.
These little Llama ornaments will turn into Christmas decorations with a little bit of tweaking.
They are made using wool felt from a design by HeartFelt Crafting Co.
I have also worked on some Christmas stockings which are about 10 inches tall.
These are designed by Michelle L Palmer. She has been doing these for the past few years as a free pattern for Christmas.
These are again made with wool felt. I decided to add ribbon and a tag to the top of each stocking.
When I was scrolling through FB one day I spotted a sweet little pentagon bag and decided on a whim to buy the pattern.
This is a design by Andrea Taylor from Bittern By The Bug. Another hand stitching project that was easy to prepare and carry around.
It also gave me a chance to play with some sashiko stitching.
And last, but not least, I have completed the last section in the second row of Over The Hill by Fig n Berry.
I hope to sew them together soon and getting the prep work done for the third and final row.
The weekend is looking good so time to make the most of it.
Cheers, Karen
Welcome To Winter.
Posted on June 15, 2021 | 11 Comments
Brrrr…. . Winter has arrived here. Cold, wet and windy. Good time to stay inside where it is warm and dry.
I have been working on my blocks for the Wendy Williams quilt, Over the Hill. Two more blocks have been added.
These two blocks are part of the centre row.
There are lots of details in each part to keep me busy.
Lots of sheep as well as chickens. And a very colourful garden. I am well on to the third block for this row so will be able to stitch two rows together very soon.
One big bonus of the cold weather is that the citrus fruits are ripening and are ready to pick. The mandarin tree has been very productive this year.
I have also kept my hands busy with some knitting for our youngest granddaughter. She still enjoys wearing woollen garments so I will happily keep making them. These have all been made with Bendigo Woollen Mill yarns.
A friend gave me a ball of decorative yarn and I used it in the band and cuffs, as well as in the beanie.
Of course I had to sneak in a pink one. I ran very tight with this one. I only had a few metres of yarn left at the end. Very lucky.
Okay, time to get back to stitching. Enjoy your week.
Cheers, Karen
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