Half Year Round Up of Crafting Projects

So far this year, I have made:

Two large gift bags

Five crocheted dishcloths

Two twiddle muffs and a fidget mitt

Two knitted facecloths

Two crocheted sun hats

A crocheted bag

A crocheted cardigan

A pair of knitted socks

That's 17 projects.

Large Gift Bags

 

A good few years ago, a faux silk duvet was placed in the dryer. It did not go well. The faux silk melted in a few places, and resulted in crunchy, brittle fabric. It was no longer suitable for use as a duvet cover.

However, I still loved the fabric. Instead of tossing it out, I chopped it up and made it into gift bags. These bags have been used again, and again. Birthdays, Christmases, other gift giving times, these bags have been use.

Over the years I have made more fabric gift bags. This Christmas, I was so very smug. I'd managed to make enough gift bags for all bar two Christmas gifts. And, today, I added to their number. These bags are big enough to contain a chunky sweater, a dressing gown, a large jigsaw.

Dancing in Paris

At the shop we have a new fabric distributer, and we now have access to a huge range of Moda fabrics. The one that really caught my eye was from the range, "Dancing in Paris".  This will become a summer, wrap skirt for me.

Started: 4th February 2022

Finished: 17th February 2022

Fabric: Dancing in Paris

Amount: 1.75m

Two pieces (85cm by width of fabric) were cut. The fabric was stacked right side to right ride, and a seam sewn along one of the selvedges. This was pressed open. Six darts were sewn, two in the front, two in the back, and two in the wrap section. These were my hand width long, and two thumb widths wide. The side and bottom edges were hemmed, and the skirt ironed.

A strip of 5cm by width of fabric was cut. This was cut in two, to make the ties for the skirt. A tie was folded over (rs togetheer),  sewn along the cut sides, It was turned inside out, and pressed. The second tie was worked in the same manner. 

The waist of the skirt was turned over, and the ties pinned in place. This was sewn down, taking care to ensure the ties were securely fastened.

Lemon Soap And Pattern Weights

So much for being a monogamous crafter! Two non-crochet projects have been started and completed today. 

I do like a nice little bit of lemon soap. It smells so fresh and clean.

Rose is another fragrance I rather love. Interestingly, it is not something the Beloved can smell! 

I've also made from pattern weights from some scraps of fabric I picked up last summer at the Quilters Guild.

Sugaridoo QAL - Fabrics

I was umming and ahhing over fabrics for the Sugaridoo Quilt-A-Long. The fabrics in the shop didn't make a good enough rainbow, and I was wondering whether I would need to go shopping next time I was in the UK. But, then a new delivery of fabrics arrived, and all of the colours I needed appeared.

Atelier 6

Look what's arrived!

It's time to play!

I'm just wondering if I should warn the family that there will be no dinner provided today.

Sew MuchTo Do, Sew Little Time

There's a sale of sewing machines, machines suitable for garments and also quilting. A beautiful new shiny toy is now on order for me.

I want it now! I want to make so many things!

Singer Sewing Machine Table

Work is continuing in the sitting room. The CD rack has gone, as has the two-seater sofa. The new stove and fire surround has been installed. The furniture has been moved around.

Today we were looking in a couple of antique shops for a pair of side tables. Instead I found an old bureau that was going to be binned. The plan is to remove the top and use it for the sewing machine table, and use the sides for shelves.

I had not anticipated anything so ornate, but I think it will work.

Bag for a Wedding

A friend is getting married, and I'm going to make a new dress for the wedding. It will be the one on the left, but with sleeves that come to the elbow. I've a beautiful green silk to use.

Now to decide on the handbag. (This is so unlike me, thinking about handbags!) 

Will it be Bag No. 1,

or Bag No. 2?

Possibly Bag No. 3,

or Bag No. 4?

Button Hole Elastic

This stuff is brilliant!

Losing weight means my trousers no longer fit on the waist. Well, they're a bit baggy all over, but it's the waist that really matters. If the waist is too, too big, then you no longer are wearing trousers, but ankle warmers instead.

My newest trousers, the grey ones, have become too loose around the waist, that is, until this morning. Now, with the help of two buttons, and bit of button hole elastic, the waist of the trousers sits on my waist. No longer are they merely resting on the hips.  

They are still a smidge snug on my calves though, and upping my cycling, walking and swimming this month isn't going to do a lot to help with this situation. I need to make some summer trousers, ones which will gently drape over my calves.

Fabric Gift Bags for Lilo and Stitch

At Christmas, Stitch was admiring the fabric gift bags I had made. She loved how easy they were to use, and that they were reusable, unlike wrapping paper. The question was asked, "Would you like some?" Her eyes light up and some emphatic head nodding commenced. 

Two weeks ago at Quilting Guild, I picked up a bit over a metre of red and also of green. The red fabric has enough for 4 smaller bags, and 2 larger ones. I'll make the same from the green. The red fabric isn't a Christmas one. The green one has leaping white stags on it. I'll also use up the scraps from their Christmas stockings to make some other bags for them.

As Stitch's birthday is coming up soon, I decided to make the first of the bags. This will enable Lilo to wrap her birthday gifts in the bags. 

December Craftings

Toddler Hat
Started: 15th December 2018
Finished: 17th December 2018

Scissors and Needle Cases
Started: 18th November 2018
Finished: 17th December 2018

Blue and Grey Chunky Hat
Started: 18th December 2018
Finished: 18th December 2018

Hot Water Bottle Cover
Started: 19th December 2018
Finished: 19th December 2018

Christmas Stockings
Started: 22nd December 2018
Finished: 22nd December 2018

Brioche Scarf

Started: 23rd December 2018 

Finished:  27th December 2018

Doggy Day Bed
Started: 26th December 2018
Finished: 26th December 2018

Wine Flip Top Mittens
Started: 3rd December 2018
Finished: 29th December 2018

Wine in the Mist Hat
Started: 29th December 2019

Finished: 29th December 2019

Doggy Day Bed

The cushions (throw pillows) on my sofas were decidedly old and needed to be replaced. I wasn’t sure what to do with them and tossed them into a corner of the dining room. Da Hound decided the cushions make a good ‘day bed’ for her whilst in the dining room, well, apart from them slipping and sliding with every twist and turn of her body.

A couple of nights ago, I sewed together the four cushions to make a ‘day bed’ for the dog. She was very interested in it, but was pawing at it, trying to work out what the cushions were not coming apart. She settled down, and pronounced it ‘Rather satisfactory’.

WIPs and UFOs

A list needs to be created. I fear I am going to have a very long one!

For the moment, the highest priority items are the flip top mittens and scarf for the Elder Offspring, and adding a cuff to the Christmas stockings. (I totally forgot about the cuff when I was making them!)

The WIPs and UFOS List
wine flip top mittens (done)
dove grey scarf (done)
Christmas tree wall hanging
fabric gift bags already cut out
Muppets baby quilt
Doctor Who cross stitch

There are more, but I can't think of them of the top of my head

Ongoing Projects
knitted Christmas tree
mittens and gloves

The Oooooh, I Wanna Make List
dove grey flip top mittens
lavender and lace quilt
dog snooze bed for dining room (done)
appliqued cushion covers
fabric gift bags for the Elder Offspring
quilted wreath to place under the pine cone wreath (it needs some green)
brioche sweater for me
Norwegian sweater for the beloved
embroidered tops for Christmas stockings 
Cutting Corners quilt 
TARDIS quilt

There are definitely more I want to make.

Cutting Corners Quilt

I don't know if it was a good idea putting the Elder Offspring in the same room as my fabric stash!  To add to my list of projects, I have agree to adding a cross stitch topper to the Christmas stockings, making gift bags in the same fabrics as the stockings, and also a new single bed quilt.

It will be made in the colour palette above, teals and greys, with a few more greeny tones thrown in for good measure. The pattern is Cutting Corners. My modification is I shall be making the pattern en pointe. The border will be a charcoal grey.

Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings were requested, and stockings have just been finished.

Last Trip to the Craft Shop Before Christmas

1. Buy Christmas fabrics

2. Go shopping in town

3. Start Christmas stockings

4. Make soup

5. Wash kitchen floor

How Water Bottle Cover

I'm so glad this project is finished. It was started yesterday, and when I tried it on the hot water bottle this morning, it was too small!  My spirits took a huge nose dive, and I was most unhappy. Then, the postie rang the doorbell; he had a yarn delivery. There's three balls of soft grey, and a rainbow of loveliness!  

Spirits lifted, and a new, well-fitting hot water bottle cover was created. The cover has a flap in the back where the hot water bottle is inserted, and the hot water is inserted via the top.

I'm very pleased with the binding - very neat. It's the first time in years I've used a commercial binding, and it worked beautifully. I'm also very pleased with my pattern matching.

Making Presents

1. Finish Dad's gift

2. Post gifts

3. Sweep kitchen floor

4. Tidy kitchen

5. Make soup stock

Aaaargh! The hot water bottle cover is too small! Back to the drawing board. 

Yeah! A second hot water bottle cover has been made. The gifts have been wrapped and posted.

The floor has been swept, the kitchen tidied, and the stock is bubbling away.

Cases for Needles and Scissors

Way back in November, I started a Scissors Case for my Mam. I decided to make a needle case too. Yesterday, as my 'Just do it!' challenge, I finished the cross stitch work. Today, the projects were completed.

Hope she likes them.