Giraffe Pants and Modkid Skirt

I could not resist these Clothkits giraffe pants for Eva. I do love their kits. I love how you can open them and everything you need is in there. The only modification I made was to do the drawstring like the one from the Oliver and S Sandbox Pants.

There were a couple of extra panels and the instructions suggested you make a bag with them which I did. I used the ribbon that was used to wrap the kit up in for the bag handle. I cut out the size 2 for Eva and had to take them up quite a bit. I did ot cut off the extra - just folded it up so I can let them down as she grows.

I whipped myself some skirts up the other day. I used the Madeline skirt from Modkid. I used black cotton jersey for one and black cotton jersey and some jersey from Ink and Spindle for the other. I have made some quick and easy skirts in my time, but this may be the quickest and easiest yet. I made 2 in less than an hour and that included cutting out time. There is only a back, front and band. I made the band just over half the height of the one in the pattern so you can wear it not folded over.

Knitting Machine

Ever since Soozs started talking about knitting machines last year I have kind of wanted to see what the fuss is about. I have looked on ebay a few times and thought about doing some more research on them. On Sunday while having lunch with Chris' parents his Dad was talking about the tip shop down in Denmark and mentioned 'they have everything even old knitting machines'. It did seem a little too good to be true. Lucky Chris' Dad never needs any encouragement to go to the tip shop and the next day he had bought me 3 machines and ribbers for $25.
Unfortunately Chris was not sharing our enthusiasm for this bargain find and most of the boxes would not fit in the car (apparently clothes and food are more important than knitting machines) and are at my parents. But I think I have bought home a complete Singer 321 and the ribber. I have left another ribber and parts of a 321 and I think a complete Singer 888 which needs a lot of cleaning and a few parts.

I have a seriously steep leaning curve ahead, but I can't wait to learn how to use it!

Fat Quarterly

The latest Fat Quarterly is out and it is fantastic as always. This time I am a little bit more excited than normal - a little block of mine is in there.
If you have a charm pack and have been wondering what to do with it. I made a block with a couple of squares and some background fabric.

And then turned it into this cot size quit.
For instructions on how to make the block - head over here and buy your copy of the latest Fat Quarterly.

For all those asking about a crochet tutorial on the last post I linked to the pillowcase tutorial in my last post, but not to the crochet tutorial - part 1 and 2 (which is all from the great blog You go Girl).

Pillowcase

There hasn't been any progress on the dress, but I have made a pillowcase. I have had this tutorial on the to do list for a while. The actual making of the pillowcase took no time all. Then there was a 2 week wait for the cotton to arrive (why does the mail seem to be taking longer and longer to reach us from over east?) and some quiet crochet this morning and it was done. As usual there have been requests from the little ones with colour requests for their very own pillowcase.

Cushion for Leo

As I made my nephew Leo's quilt I saved all the little triangles that were cut off and not needed for a cushion. I have slowly been sewing them up and cutting them all to 2 1/2 inch squares. Yesterday I put them together in a zigzag pattern and made a cushion. I also added some piping around the edge which I love (expect to see more more cushions with piping). I followed this tutorial to do it. I saw it followed on from this tutorial on adding a zip to the back with a flap so I did that too. Both were easy to follow and I am really happy with the result.
I don't normally press my seams open, but I hate the bulk you get at seams with half square triangles so every seam in this cushion was pressed open. It did drive me insane at the time, but the top was lovely and flat and was easy to quilt and I think it was much easier to match the corners.

Crochet

Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman had been on my wishlist for a while and when I saw there was Crochet Borders I couldn't resist any longer. They are great to flick through and lots of information. I haven't made anything from either of them yet, but I have a few blankets planned. I do recommend them.

I have started a Mina dress. I luckily had just the right amount of Debbie Bliss cashmerino sitting around waiting for the perfect project. I probably should started with something a little a little easier having only done granny squares and a few stripes before, but I think Evie will only fit into the biggest size this year so I have to make and finish this soon.

Another Meathead Hat

Only one more day until the school holidays. This term has been a long one and I am really looking forward to the break and the girls really need a rest. Poor Eva has had the vomits which has meant the washing machine going non stop. So when she had a nap today I took a little break too and made another Meathead Hat - this time for Grace. More details on ravelry. I also managed to finish up a new batch of giraffes.

Meathead Hat

There is one thing faster than crochet - knitting on 10mm needles with bulky yarn held double. A Meathead hat for Amelia. More details on ravelry.

Three

All of a sudden she is three. Happy Birthday Eva! In her gorgeous new dress I bought from my friend Ali's shop One Little Duck.

Her new doll I made using a Clothkits kit.

New Yarn

The weather has finally turned cooler and the garden is very grateful for the rain. My mind is definitely occupied by knitting and the dyepots have been busy. They will all be here soon. I've cut into my Bliss jelly roll that I have been saving for the right idea. I have only made a few blocks and the girls already all want it. You can't get a better compliment than that.

Platypus Pattern

My Pippa and Polly platypus pattern is now available in pdf form here and here and here.

Ottobre shirts #2 and #3

Two more Ottobre Shirts. I made the same modifications - lengthened the sleeves and added elastic to them. The twins were allowed to choose any fabric in the room and they chose fabric (or similar fabric) that I made shirts out of a few years ago. Luckily I had just enough left of the pink one. This is a great pattern, perfect to wear by itself or with a shirt underneath.

Wooden Letters

I bought some wooden letters from Bunnings or Spotlight a year ago (probably even longer and had been meaning to cover them and stick them on the wall. I finally got around to it on the weekend and it only took about an hour to do all 3. If you google something like 'mod podge wooden letters' you will find lots of tutorials and ideas. So finally the poor girls don't have big blank walls in their rooms.

The dyepots have been out and I am gradually new yarn adding to the shop.

Single Girl Block

I finally finished cutting out all the pieces for the Single Girl quilt by Denyse Schmidt (there is a great flickr group with lots of examples). I ended up making templates out of template plastic and then using a small rotary cutter to cut them out. I think I would rather stick forks in my eyes than trace and then cut all the pieces. Because the pieces have straight edges or slight curves using a rotary cutter worked fine.
I sewed up one block this morning. It really is a well written and drafted pattern and if you follow the instructions it goes together perfectly. The curves are very easy to sew as the circle is quite large. Only 15 more to go.

Granny Square Scarf

I think I could become addicted to crochet - much faster than knitting. This scarf was done so much faster than it would take me to knit one this length. There are 10 granny squares using this pattern. I joined them like this. Then I edged it with a picot edging. The yarn was Moda Vera 8 ply wool in 8 different colours.

In Progress

I can't find the cutting table again - I need to get sewing this weekend and finish a few things off. Shirts for the twins. All the pieces for the Single Girl quilt are cut out - now I need to start sewing.

A sleeveless cardigan for Eva.

A Clothkits doll for her birthday.