Monthly Archives: June 2014

Sewing project

Flowery circle skirts!

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Floral circle skirts

I have seen some lovely circle skirts on Pinterest, and thought hmmm….

Well, the time had come to make some. One daughter owns about 2 skirts, neither are the right size! The other, despite being a size 6, regularly wears a particular size 4 skirt (no need for the elastic, really!) and a tie dye rainbow skirt that has seen better days back when it was a dress. So I decided I would make the skirts as a surprise for them.

I picked out a floral weave fabric that I had in my fabric stash. It worked perfectly to fit both of the girls skirts. I decided to finish the bottom edge with bias binding. I thought it would be easier, but really, it took about the same amount of time as pressing and sewing a hem. It does look nicer though, and brightens the skirt up. For the elastic at the top, I made it exposed (like all the cool kids are doing with their skirts), and used black to match.

I love them, the girls love them, and bonus.. ! They think they look great as capes and decided to wear them like that all day. Well, you just never know with kids!

And although I didnt actually use a tutorial for the skirts (because goodness, I should be able to pump out some simple math after all that university math I’ve done!), I do recommend that those with fewer math skills, or sewing skills should follow one. The skirts are as simple to make as others rave. And they turn out great.

Here is a tutorial that explains really well how to make a circle skirt.

So good luck, all of you, because I know you are going to rush off and make one now! Vroooommm…

Crochet project

Stashbusting brown crocheted blanket

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Brown crochet blanket - stashbusting!

In a never ending effort to get rid of yarn that I have been given while also making lovely things, I made this crochet blanket!

I had a large amount of 5 ply yarn in 3 different browns. I also had 400g in a cream colour, and 200 g in a white. After some deliberation, I decided that I would start with the darkest brown, and work towards the lightest. In between changing the browns, I would put stripes of cream, getting larger as the blanket went on. After I had finshed all the brown, I used the cream until it was a length that worked well on the bed.

I used a 7 mm crocheting hook, and put all the yarn double, which meant it was quicker to crochet up. In truth, this is the first blanket I have ever crocheted. Im hooked!! Haha! (Seriously, I am using a lot of self control not to start another crocheted blanket, lucky my husband doesn’t read my blog!)

I made it very simple doing rows of double crochet. I am tempted in the future to try something a little more complicated. But admittedly, I dont want it to be too complicated. That blanket helped me survive through Moshi Monsters at the movies with the kids. That was an interesting movie!

This blanket is for my eldest daughter (after I knitted this blanket for my youngest daughter). It seems a little drab for her creative flair and style, so I am thinking about crocheting flowers to put on it. Originally I was just going to use a lovely purple. But now Im thinking I will use up scraps in all different colours. We will see what she says!

 

Crochet project

Crocheted crowns!

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Crocheted crown - white and pink

So here they are! The finished products from the one of the lovely hand-dyed balls of yarn.

I looked around ravelry, until I found this pattern, which can be found on the Hatting Madly Crochet website.

They were so quick to crochet up, and as far as I can tell, the pattern was brilliant. This is about the second written crocheting pattern I have followed, so Im not much of a judge! There was only one spot, where I pulled it out about 4 times before realising what it meant. This is clearly because Im a knitter and forget that you can crochet into holes, not just stitches!

They also dont take up much yarn. I was thinking that I might not be able to make 2 out of the 50g ball of yarn, so I did the first one with a cream coloured yarn as the band. Boy, was I wrong. I made it, and then 2 completely coloured ones, and I still have about enough left for another one.

The only change I made to the pattern, was for my 3 year old. I did one less pattern repeat, to make it smaller. I found that even though the pattern is for a toddler crown, it turned out to fit my 5 year old. But Im sure that it depends on tension, and the yarn. To adjust, the website says to adjust the foundation chain by 6 stitches.

The kids love them, and apparently so do the dogs (who just love to dress up, haha!).

Crocheted crown - hand-dyed yarn

So now, Im still not sure what to use the other yarn for! But Im sure something will come to mind.. 🙂

Sewing project

A warm winter coat – for the dog!

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Dog in winter coat

Winter has arrived.. only days ago. Apparently. Not for this short haired dog though. He curls up in a ball so tight, he looks the size of a chiwawa. He’s taller than my knee..

So a few weeks ago, I made him a new winter coat. The last one I bought, was lined with an old woollen blanket. Such a genius idea. Sad he decided to lose it, on what can only be presumed was a blackberry bush, when going for a run after some rabbits, last winter. 5 hours later he was found, tired and minus coat. That was an interesting day.

I wouldve loved to written a tutorial on how I made the dog coat, but really, it was a heap of fiddling that could have been avoided, and it depends on the size of your dog.

My tips are:

  •  Pick a time when the dog is chilled out. Nothing like trying to fit a dog who is excited!
  • Get an old pure woollen jacket (preferably a large one) and felt it in hot water.
  • Use a heavy duty outer fabric (I picked a good quality calico).
  • Bind it together with a large width bias binding.
  • Use elastic around the belly of the dog.

So Im just going to show you some photos of my surprisingly photogenic dog! (Yes, I realise he isnt the most attractive dog!!)

The elastic should fit snugly around the belly. His last one had thick elastic and velcro, very handy!
The elastic should fit snugly around the belly. His last one had thick elastic and velcro, very handy!
I made the neckband out of the neckband from the woollen jumper.
I made the neckband out of the neckband from the woollen jumper.
Fits snugly around the chest and shoulders
Fits snugly around the chest and shoulders

 

Nice and toasty with the woollen jumper lining his coat
Nice and toasty with the woollen jumper lining his coat
Yep, he did stick his nose on the lens shortly after.
Yep, he did stick his nose on the lens shortly after.

And my favourite photo for last..

He was trying to inconspicuously sniff the treats I had in my hand haha!
He was trying to inconspicuously sniff the treats I had in my hand haha!

So did you spot the attempted photobombing of another lovely dog? Thank goodness she has been blessed with a thick natural coat!

Now bring on winter!! (Well, maybe not too bad.. I havent made a coat for myself yet…!)

Fun musings, Knitting project

Hand-dyed yarn!

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Hand-dyed yarn

On the way back home after Mothers’ Day, I visited a fantastic handcraft shop. There is some gorgeous hand dyed, and handspun yarn there. And some delicious jam… amongst other things.

We are going away this week, and I need something to do in the car. Its decided that I will be using this gorgeous yarn. But what do I knit?? The pink yarn is an 8 ply (DK) and is 50g. The multicoloured yarn is 4 ply and also 50g.

Ive looked through some pattern books, but with the amount I have, its hard to know!

Any ideas??