Felt

I have been dyeing some new felt for elephants. I love the mottled colours. Especially the green. I might have to dye some yarn that green and knit myself a cardigan.

Milo for Edward

The girls have a new cousin called Edward. I have only seen pictures so far, but he his gorgeous. I had to cast on a Milo for him straight away. I love this pattern, it is so perfect for boys or girls and the pattern is so easy to follow and quick to knit.

Golden Wheat

Just as the sun has come out and Spring looks like it will be here soon I have finished my Golden Wheat Cardigan. I am pretty sure winter hasn't completely gone so I should be able to wear it a little this year. I used Bendigo 12 ply Rustic in Russet which is lovely colour and the yarn really softens up after you wash it.

Another Onion 2026 and a Review

Another dress/smock made using Onion pattern 2026. The black was jersey from Spotlight and the patterned fabric was on sale at Knitwit a few months ago.

A have almost finished To Die for: Is fashion wearing out the world by Lucy Siegle. I think this is a must read. It is a book about the toll that fashion has on the environment and on the people that work in the industry. If you have ever wondered how some chain stores can make clothes so cheaply the answers are here and they are not pretty. As I sewed the dress above I wondered where the cotton came from and crossed my fingers it wasn't picked by forced child labour in Uzbekhistan and wondered how it was dyed and printed and the impact on the environment.

This book has definitely made me think about what I will buy in the future and what questions I want to ask about where and how fabrics and clothes are made. I hope with more and more people doing the same that we will be able to find the answers to these questions.

Strawberry Skirt

Eva has taken to wearing skirts with everything. Over jeans, over leggings, under smocks, over her pyjamas. She discovered this very cute strawberry fabric in my stash (I think I found it ages ago on the bargain rack in Spotlight) so this morning we whipped up a new skirt.

Knitting and Crochet

I seem to have lost my crafting mojo the last few weeks. I am hoping it returns soon, I have lots of ideas, but no enthusiasm for actually doing them.
Eva and I have been cooking, reading and playing and there has been a little crocheting and knitting.
I have been slowly working on this blanket for the girls. Not really my colours, but this is exactly what they requested.
I am up to the arms on my Golden Wheat Cardigan. I really should get a move on and finish it so I can wear it while it is still winter.

Sewing and Reading

Slowly, slowly more blocks are being made.
The pile of books currently on the bedside table.

• To Die For - Is fashion wearing out the world? by Lucy Siegle. I have read the first chapter - I think it will be a very interesting book.


• Here on Earth by Tim Flannery


• Stolen Harvest by Vandana Shiva


• Music & Silence by Rose Tremain
  

Sandbox Pants

I have finished Eva's pants. Love this pattern for girls as well as boys.

It has finally stpped raining and I could take a picture of the new shelves on the verandah. Really cheap shelves and some spray paint from Bunnings and now I am not tripping over shoes every time I step out of the door.

Mermaid Doll

Clever Susie has been designing great craft activities for kids. I was lucky enough to win a mermaid doll and I knew Amelia would love it. They are available in Spotlight so Grace and I are going to go and choose a different one for her and then we are having a doll making afternoon.

I think I cut out these Sandbox pants to take to craft camp in May and just rediscovered them on my cutting table. Perfect as Evie has had a little growth spurt and is in need of more pants.

Sewing and Sickness

I had so many plans for last week, the first week back at school, but unfortunately sickness took over the house and not much was done at all. Luckily before it did I finished some platypii and they are on there way to Antipodean Love in Melbourne.
Crossing fingers everything can get back to some kind of normal this week.

Pencil Cases

It is the last day of school holidays. As usual they seem to have flown by and we could all do with another week.
The girls needed new pencil cases, the zips had both gone on the ones we bought at the start of the year. Hoping these last a lot longer.

Gardening and Sewing

It has been a really busy few days here. My parents and in-laws have all been here helping in the garden, which was starting to resemble a jungle. All the roses have been pruned and the garden beds weeded and it looks amazing.
In craft news I have cut into the stack of Denyse Schmidt fabric and started a quilt for my other sister. Simple blocks, but they look great in this fabric.

A couple more pillowcases finished so now the girls have one each.

Dotty Socks

The never ending Dotty Socks are finally finished. I am not sure why they took so long. It is a straight forward pattern and the Madelinetosh Sock is beautiful to knit with (and wear).
All the details on ravelry.

Around The Block

My last 2 blocks for Around The Block are finished. I have really enjoyed being part of a quilting bee. I have tried new techniques and worked with fabrics and colours I wouldn't normally work with and it is really interesting to see what other people do with the same set of instructions.

Single Girl Quilt Top

The Single Girl quilt top is finished. Well worth the effort and pain of cutting out all the templates. The sewing was not difficult. The curves are so huge that with a few pins it is easy to sew the pieces together. Now it just needs basting and quilting which I think will need to wait until after the craft room clean up. This quilt is huge and I think I will need all the space on the sewing table I can get.

The Farm

Bike riding, mud, puddles, lambs, bush walking, rock puddles, toasting marshmallows, cousins. Life doesn't get much better when you are 3 or 6.

Single Girl Progress 2

The Single Girl quilt is still a work in progress. I have finished all the block quarters and I can see the end in sight. The weather has been freezing though for weeks and I would rather be knitting at the moment than sewing. I am going to make myself sew a little of it each day and try and get it finished.

Kitchen Aid

There has been less crafting this week and more baking due to the arrival of this! No pictures of the cupcakes and the blue velvet cake based on this recipe. Cake presentation is not my strong point, but they were all eaten fast so they must have been delicious.
And with it came the perfect size box for Evie to be happy in all day.

Red Coat

I bought this pattern in 2004 in Denmark and I have been going to make it every winter since, but for one reason or another it never happened. The completely freezing weather this week, the lack of coats in my cupboard and the realisation that the cardi I am knitting won't be magically finished today meant I needed to sew.
It was a very easy pattern, no lining and only 4 pieces. I also 'cheated' on the buttons by using press studs and sewing buttons on the outside. I thought the coat needed big buttons and new if I tried big button holes they would look a little untidy. These are the last of some hand made buttons my Mum bought back from Sydney a few years ago.

In Bloom - pattern

I seem to be in the pattern writing zone at the moment (it is a rare thing so I am trying to take advantage of it) so I finished off In Bloom. Now available here and here.
This quilt is a great one if you have a spare jelly roll lying aroung. It uses pretty much the whole jelly roll and a few metres of background fabric for the top.