Random things from this week

• Cute things 3 year olds say - "Mum I have the bless yous" (sneezes)


• Not sute things 3 year olds say - "I've cleaned the toilet for you"


• I made Soozs Tom Ka Gai (sooooo yummy).


• Catching up on blocks for the quilting bee.

Green Scarf

I finished my first machine knitted thing. I could just leave you with the pictures and pretend it all went smoothly, but the truth is that there was tears, frogging, yarn jammed in the carriage, random loops and annoyingly they were all user errors. I am glad I used some really nice yarn (Madelinetosh sock in Jade) as it made me persist and fix the mistakes and now I am wearing a lovely new scarf.
Ravelled here.

Scarf

There was a lot of experimenting with punch cards and patterns today. Cast on and cast offs were practised. There was also a little swearing and frogging. Hopefully there might be a scarf by the end of the night.

Marie Claire Idees

I have 3 more hats to finish, 8 hippo nostrils to sew on, 3 children to bath and feed and then I am going to lie on the couch near the fire and read the latest Marie Claire Idees my sister picked up for me in France.

Upmarket

Perth Upmarket is on again this Sunday. I have been madly sewing and there will be lots of new things including bears and quilts. I will be in the same spot in the undercroft. Come and say hi!

Onion 2026

I think I have a new favourite dress pattern. Onion 2026. I bought a few Onion patterns way back in 2004 when I was in Denmark and really liked them. I have made the fishermans skirt and pants (sadly now out of print) many times. I bought this dress pattern from Shop Onion. When you buy the patterns you are sent the English instructions as a pdf.
I used a grey and black stripe I bought as a remnant from Knitwit. I only had a bit over a metre so I used some black cotton/elastane from Spotlight for the sleeves and arms.
I made my usual changes to the side seams, taking it in at the waist and hips and I also adjusted the sleeves to make them more fitted. The pieces went together perfectly. I think it is great over jeans or leggings and I can see myself making more of these soon.

This top is from yet another Knitwit remnant - I used a pattern from Ottobre 2/2010.

Knitting

If I just kept one WIP at a time I'd have something finished to show you. Instead I have 3 half finished projects.
Dotty Socks - finally turned the second heel - the end is in sight.
Wandering the Moor shawl.

Golden Wheat - it has been freezing here. I need to knit fast so I can wear it.

All the details are on ravelry.

Quilt Story

One of my favourite quilts I've made is featured on Quilt Story today! I love the colours and simplicity of the blocks as much now as when I made it. Pop over to read lots of great quilt stories.

Queen Anne's Lace - again

Another Queen Anne's Lace Scarf. The last one, well for now, I'm sure there may be another one in my future.
Made from Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino Aran - beautifully soft yarn, lovely to wear and I loved the colour. One ball was great, but the other one 'frayed' a lot and broke in a few places and was horrible to work with.

Ravelled here.

Wrap Vest

A wrap vest inspired by Soozs. I bought this remnant from Knitwit for $8. It is a knitted wool fabric and there was just enought to wrap around myself. I cut out 2 armholes and hemmed them and the edges. I really should have cut the armholes smaller as hemming them made them quite big. I thought I would wet it a bit and pop it in the dryer, but it must be superwash as it hasn't made much difference. I am hapy with it though and I have a bit more wool for another one.

Dewberry Lane and Books

I am a little bit excited to announce that all my pdf patterns are available at Dewberry Lane. A great new store that stocks all sorts of notions you need for quilting.

Another great thing about craft camp was reading time on the way there and back. I read The Fry Chronicles on the way over which I really enjoyed. I love his use of language. I read Bossypants by Tina Fey on the way back. I think I may have snorted with laughter a couple of times which always means a few odd looks when you are on a plane.
Now I am reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. I tried to go into this book with an open mind even though I had read many things about it, but early in the book she talked about finding activities for her children, but did not want them doing 'crafts' as they lead nowhere and I am now finding it hard to be objective.
Lastly there has been a lot of reading of the Slow Cooking recipe book and the slow cooker has been bubbling away on the bench.

Craft Camp Sewing Part 2

The rest of the sewing I from Craft Camp.
A red scooter top using a pattern in Ottobre 1/2011.
New Look 6775 (yes again). The top was in stretch poplin left over from the Schoolhouse Tunic and the bottom is Nani Iro fabric I have had in the stash for a while.

And another one - this time knee length.

Basic A-line skirt.

Clothkits dresses for the big girls. (Milly is wearing yet another machine knitted necklace).

Basic shift dress for Grace (love this fabric I found at Spotlight).

The Apple button came in a big pack of novelty buttons I bought at Spotlight a few years ago, not the best quality, but perfect for children's clothes.

Modern Blocks

This wonderful book is due out later in the year. I think it is going to be a very inspiring book if the cover is anything to go by - and I am so excited to have a block of mine in there.

More of the same

There is something comforting about making something from a pattern you have used before with great results. There is no stress as you know how to make it and you know it will fit.
Another smock top from Ottobre 1/2008. Worn with another machine knit necklace (the girls are fascinated by the machine and insisted on 'helping' me make them one each).
A Queen Anne's lace scarf for me. The mornings are cold now and I need something to keep me warm doing the school drop off.

Evie helped me take some photos - here is one where I am actually in the picture.

Craft Camp Sewing Part 1

It is amazing how much sewing you can get done with no small people wanting food or having to sort out arguments etc. I made a Clothkits dress for each of the girls. Here is Eva 'modelling' hers. I am glad I made a size 4, I don't think a 3 would have fit for long.
I made myself a Schoolhouse Tunic. Before I left I read every review and looked at every picture,but despite the fact that most people who have my shape needed to alter the pattern quite a bit I thought it might magically fit me. It didn't and I think if I didn't have people helping me alter it it might have been tossed aside. I cut out the largest size based on the bust measurements. It was humungous and in the end I took it in quite a bit. If I make another one I will probably cut between a 10/12 and a 14/16. I took out the back pleat and the extra fabric completely and then sewed some elastic at the back on the inside to bring it in even more. I added an inch or two to the length as I cut it. I am glad I perservered as I love it. It is a really comfortable tunic.

Thanks to a suggestion from Kirsten and inspired by her neckpieces I kept knitting yesterday until I had this.