Sophie Tunic

I was going through the girls' clothes last week and realised Evie has grown out of nearly everything. None of her shirts were covering that not so small tummy. It seems the nickname of little sluggy has stuck and that is what her sisters call her. I'm just worried with the amount she eats I'll wake up one morning and she will have metamorphosised.*
Here is a new shirt, The Sophie Tunic by SisBoom. Actually it is the second one I made, the first in size 18m-2 years would not fit over her head. So with a few alterations I made one that would. I highly recommend this pattern - really clear instructions would make it suitable for even a beginner sewer. (Just check the size of your child's head first).

*Yes I know not the best way to talk about your children, but I have been told our family is not quite normal (usually by my Mum).

Corduroy Skirt

A new skirt using New Look Pattern 6317 which I have owned forever. It has a great basic, simple skirt with only 4 pieces. It was a bit boring in plain brown corduroy so I cut across the front a few times and added some pieces of a vintage curtain. Now it is a little more interesting. The sewing was also made interesting when I managed to sew my finger. I was sewing the zip with minimal pins and was just thinking how clever I was as it looked ok and somehow my finger ended up being sewed. It is ok now. I managed to find a Wiggles band aid and we all know they fix everything.

Apparently you can never wear too many hats.

Bags

I know I have been going on about Sydney and the Stitches and Craft Show, but it is dominating all my spare time at the moment and when I am not sewing for it I am wondering if I will have enough stuff or will I have too much stuff. Will anyone want any of it.
I finished some bags today and this is one I will be happy if I don't sell as I think it could become one of my favourites. Love this fabric. I bought it in Melbourne from these lovely ladies.

Yarn and Drop Bears

The favourites from my dyeing this week. Not much has been done this week as it has rained and rained which is nbot helpful when you need to dry wool.
So there was more time to sew and these little drop bears appeared.

A Controversial Topic - Copyright

I have read a few posts about copyright lately and the problems other crafters have been having with people using their patterns to make and sell softies. I wish these were small isolated problems, but it is obvious that it is not. You only have to look through Etsy and other sites to see people doing this quite often.
It can be terribly disheartening when you have put all that work (and it is a lot of work) into designing something and writing up a pattern and then you find people selling things made from the patter. This is made worse when I am trying to earn money selling my creations and someone is using my patterns and charging a lot less (I wonder if they doing much more than breaking even). I think some people are simply unaware that you can't use other peoples patterns without their permission, but others, especially bigger corporations just appear to not care.
I certainly don't want to discourage people using my things for inspiration and I am certainly not claiming that no one should make certain animals because I do. For example there are many brilliant hippos, giraffes and elephants around. There are all going to have certain characteristics the same, but we all use our own different pattern we made ourselves and have our own style which make them unique.
Ok that is all I have to say. Three little girls are waiting to make chocolate cake.

Ready to Quilt

I have been slowly working on a diamond quilt. It originally had a different border, but after looking at it for a week I unpicked it and added a different one. This is definitely better although Chris does't like it at all. He doesn't usually have very strong opinions on my work, but he did with this. How can pink and green not look great? I think I have enough of this green left for a smock type shirt for myself. I think we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this quilt.

Yarn

There seems to be yarn everywhere in my house at the moment, some on cones, some wound waiting to be dyed, some dyeing, some drying and finally some all ready to go to Sydney. On the left are two skeins of really yummy squishy cashmere/wool/sock yarn. Not sure how much of this I can part with.

Pattern and No Shampoo

I have finally finished some new patterns and will slowly put them in the shop today!

No Shampoo Update: It has been a year since I stopped using shampoo and conditioner and I don't think I will be going back. I admit I have used it a few times. I don't care what the hairdresser uses if I get a great head massage and a few weeks ago I thought I would use it and see what happened for a week. It went straight back to being greasy and not nice. So I am very happy using a bicarb soda mix every few days and a rinse of diluted apple cider vinegar. I haven't even being doing that for the girls. Their hair just gets rinsed with water and feels and smells fine. Life is so much better without the screaming that always comes whenever we tried to shampoo their hair. So I highly recommend giving it a go.

Edited to add: I use about 1 tbsp of bicarb in 1/2 cup of water and that seems to work for my hair, but I guess everyone might need a slightly different amount. I think I might use a few tbsp of vinegar in half a cup of water (I am a great measurer).

Socks

I'm still trying to knit using the magic loop. I think I could get used to it, but it is slow going at the moment.

Desert Twirl Quilt

A couple of pictures from of my new quilt, can't write more, must get back to pattern writing so I have it ready for the Stitches and Craft Show.

Holidays

And we are back. We spent a great few days down in Albany. The girls had a great time with their cousins and rode their bikes whenever they could. it was all pretty perfect until the last night when there was some vomiting, some more in the car on the way home and then some colds and croup. So another lazy day I think for all the children, while I dye yarn and sew diamonds together in preparation for The Stitches and Craft Show. I am dyeing lace and sock yarn, mostly kettle dyed I think. I am embracing the unexpected results and surprises that you get from kettle dyeing at the moment.

Interview

I'm enjoying five minutes, a hot chocolate and the internet by myself while I am on holidays.
No pictures to show or craft to share, but Amanda has done a lovely interview with me over on The Made On The Left blog. Have a great week!