WOYWW 315 - Stash organisation / Sophie's Universe

This week I have been very overwhelmed by my lack of organisation of my stash of yarn.  So I went through it all, bought a couple of storage boxes from The Works and tidied it up (I realise that this is a small stash compared to some but I do have limited space in my half of our loft where me and my partner both work on our crafts).

 
I have spent some time finishing projects like adding flowers to my little crochet cardigans and booties (which I failed to take a picture of).

I then finished mod podging a bird house that I had started...

 
I used purple paisley tissue paper that I obtained from The Card Factory a while back.  I pasted it on with mod podge and cut it whilst it was still drying.





It should look pretty in our garden.  I will finish it with a coat of translucent gloss spray acrylic paint which will hopefully make it last longer outside.

Think I have a bit of an obsession with birdhouses!






I then thought after tying up a few loose ends that it was a good time to try something different.  I then started Sophie's Universe as mentioned in my last post which I obtained some brightly coloured yarn for.

Here are a few pics below of my progress so far...

 

 

 

 

 

I'm on to round 17 which is in part 3 of the instructions (located Sophies Universe Cal Part 3).  I've enjoyed doing this and have learned so much so far - I would definately recommend having a go. It looks so pretty too!

Will show you in my next post how I get on with the next few steps!

Mand x

Teeny Tiny Dresses (WOYWW 314)

Its that time of the week again to post about what’s on my desk and what I’ve been working on this week. 

I have made another couple of additions to my baby clothes are the two dresses below – apologies for the blurred pictures.  The reddy pink one is for my basket with a matching cardigan, hat and booties.  Hope to create a hairband too to match! 

When I went to Craft Club at Bramley a couple of weeks ago, we (Leanne Hinchcliffe – www.redroofcrafter.blogspot.co.uk) and I, were inspired by a piece that a lady called Amanda had done.  It was crochet and when we asked her about it, she said it was Sophie’s Universe! See www.lookatwhatimade.net to see what it looks like.  Leanne and I have looked into it, bought some yarn (see my colour choices below!), printed the instructions and we are both going to create a Sophie’s Universe! (see pic below at some finished pieces which are here - www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/yarn/crochet/sophies-universe-cal-2015/)

I have gone for rainbow colours for my version of Sophie's Universe. Here's my yarn so far! I may need quite a bit more! Up to 20 balls I've been told!!! Think I may be addicted to buying yarn. 

At the next craft club at Bramley, there will be a table dedicated to it so we can ask questions if we get stuck.  We’ve been assured by Amanda that it is easy to follow! Having looked at the instructions, I am very excited to start and this is a project I intend to start later this week – I hope mine looks as good as the ones I’ve seen on the website and Amanda's. 

Thanks for the inspiration Amanda!

WOYWW 312: Fairyworld

Hi all, participating again in WOYWW and I have got a few things going on on my desk.  Haven't been up to much physically at my desk but I thought I'd share what I'm intending to do in the next week or so.

So here it is!

 

Pretty tidy - but that's because I've not been up to much this week. 

 

 

In the far top left is a bundle of chiffon fabric which I am intending to make a maxi dress and a top out of (pattern for top on top of fabric).  I've never sewn with chiffon before so hopefully it will go ok.  Someone told me once that you need a ball pointed needle on the sewing machine to sew successfully with chiffon - better do some reading before I start!

 

 

I have been working on my first set of baby crochet clothing.  I'm very proud of the hat and the cardigan (first time I have made both).  I also made the basket for them all to be presented in but not too sure about this...

I have also started a fair house.  Ok, its a bird house.  But the intention's there.  I have got a glass stone for the "window" and my OH has given me a "door" for the little house.  I have mod podged it with various papers and when I come to pop it in the garden, I will also give it a fairy path (brightly coloured stones from the beach kindly painted by my 3 year old daughter) and we'll hopefully have a fairy garden and house! Hopefully, it will look good.

 

 

 

 

So there you have it, my desk this week with not a lot going on but with enough to make me feel guilty for not doing enough with my crafting.  Looking forward to reading all yours...

How I made my spring floral bracelet...

Hi again,

I decided not too long ago that I do not have enough jewellery and so I was on a mission then to produce some spring jewellery that I could wear with the new clothes I was making (hopefully soon when I get them time).

 First of all, I started with a looped pin

Here I threaded a bead onto the pin and bent the pin over the bead

 then I cut the pin so that it was about 1 cm above the bead

 I then used round nosed plyers to twist the pin into a loop

 

which gave me a bead with two wire loops on each side (apologies for the blurred photo)

 

 I then used a larger bead and some finishing beads to place next to where the loops will be to stop them going through the bead

 

 

 Then I formed another loop as per the smaller bead above

 
 

 I then used split rings to connect the beads

 and then connect a fastener...

 

 In total, I used six small beads, one large bead and two oval beads to produce the bracelet above.

 I then went on to add the two heart beads as shown above

 

 

I used similar techniques for the earrings using ready made earring loops and now I have a lovely matching set of spring jewellery!

I'm at a loose end...

I have been crocheting this blanket (below), and I am at a loose end as to how to finish it - any suggestions? Otherwise, this won't be a lap blanket, but will be a full blown bed spread! Not sure what to do....

My first dress

Hi again, in my last post, I said that I would share how I made my first dress.  Firstly I have to say that I really thought that dressmaking was sooooo difficult and something that other more talented people do.  So, after a spontaneous moment in Leeds market, I bought everything I needed to make my first dress:

3 mtrs cotton material

Bias Tape, navy thread, hook and eyes, 22 inch zip... and a bottle of wine for dutch courage!

That weekend, I went straight to work when I could and started it - I was originally going to make a small pillowcase dress for my daughter but hey, I like to start in the deep end...

Firstly, I went to work by ironing the fabric (me and irons do not get on so I'm glad this step went as smoothly as it did).  I then cut out the parts of the dress I was going to make from the pattern which I got free from Sew Magazine.

I then pinned the pieces like the pattern said to the material like so (see the dutch courage in the background?)

I then cut the pieces out with my fabric scissors as carefully as I could (although when I came to sew the dress, there were some wonky lines!)
After some more wine and an afternoon of playing with the kids, I went on to make the bodice of the dress by creating the pleats as instructed, sewing the shoulders and the sides together.  I was surprised at how simple the whole process was.  I then hemmed and sewed on the interfaces (which I forgot to take a pic of - sorry). 
The next day, I sewed the skirt which was really simple...

I was getting more and more exited that it was looking like a dress and also that I had made it.  Now was the proof in the pudding to match the top to the bottom ..  and it worked! Shocked was the word...

It took me a day to get over the fact that the top fitted with the bottom and that I had actually followed a dress pattern and made a dress! I left the zip until the next day.  I was soooo happy. 

I really recommend anyone to make that first step to get your machines out (or bought) and get sewing.  I am truly addicted and can totally see why people make anything and everything.  My next sewing project will be my daughter's dress which I was originally going to make.

How time flies...

Hi, I've been crazy busy over the last few months so I apologise for the lack of posts - I know there wasn't many anyway!!!

Anyway, to follow will be my step by step progress on the very first dress that I have made (I'm still in shock that I actually made it myself!! - its something other people do!)

I have also been working on a crochet baby blanket...

and have made a crochet owl basket...

I also made a cthulhu dice bag for my other half...

Oh yeah, and there was the letter holder for my now beautiful hallway...

All of which I totally forgot to take step by steps of how I did each item. I promise that on my future projects, I will take plenty more pics and share!