2017 Challenge

In an attempt to overcome the whole 'fear of failure' thing, I've set myself the challenge of making one garment a month this year. January didn't quite work out, as my health has been especially bad, but I did make this pair of mittens (from the Dragonfly Fabrics Mitten Kit) to try and ease myself back into sewing again and I decided to give myself a break and count them as January's garment!

February's garment has already happened - ahead of the game this month!! I've written a separate blog about that.

Dusting off the Cobwebs

It's been a while since I wrote anything here hasn't it, so I thought I'd pop in and dust away the cobwebs. 

I've been sewing on and off, continually grinding to a halt when my lack of confidence gets the better of me, but I did make myself a few things last year.

In May I made myself a Colette 'Mabel' Skirt. It turned out a little on the short side (oops!!),  so I need to add some length before I make it again, but other than that I was really pleased with it and found the pattern fairly easy to follow.

Then in June I made this Colette 'Sorbetto' Top (free pattern PDF download). It took me a while, as my health wasn't great and I was only able to do a little sewing here and there. I'd also originally intended to put sleeves on it, so figuring those out slowed me down and in the end I didn't use them, as it turned out to be way too short for me - oops!!! I can wear it over another top though and it's all good experience!

I felt a little discouraged after that and there was also a lot going on at home to keep me busy, with my stepdaughter having surgery on her knee, so I drifted from sewing for a couple of months. I got back to it in September though and made myself a Tilly and the Buttons 'CoCo' Dress.

It's not perfect - I don't exactly love the neckline on me, but I am really pleased with how it turned out. I had to take it in too, which (quite ridiculously) freaked me out, but was actually really easy. I'm just so scared of doing something wrong and totally ruining things, but it's never as difficult as I think it will be and this is an especially easy pattern!

The photos are before hemming/finishing sleeves; a fairly awful one of me wearing it when I'd just finished haha; and two of me wearing it at New Year - I love the pretty flowery pattern.

A Couple more Sewing Photos...

While gathering photos of my crocheting, I found these photos that I'd forgotten about...a cushion and hanging heart that I made for someone's birthday and a wash bag I made for my stepdaughter to take to camp :) both made around April 2013

Crochet & Knitting

I've just realised that I've not posted any photos of the knitting and crocheting I've done over the last couple of years, so thought I'd cross-post a few of my photos from Instagram :)

January 2013

My first crocheting project was making these Granny-stripe Arm Warmers for my wonderful stepdaughter :)

I also had a go at crocheting some flowers out of variegated wool...

February 2013

I crocheted this cute butterfly...

...and two cushions :)

March 2013

I started making this blanket for my stepdaughter, to match her cushion :)

May 2013

I guess I was feeling unseasonably chilly in May last year, as I crocheted myself this neck warmer!

I also crocheted this little lavender cushion for my Nan's Birthday :)

June 2013

This month I made many things, including this cute hanging owlie, and two different types of heart bunting :)

December 2013

I crocheted snowflakes!!

After this I started learning to knit, but don't seem to have any decent photos noooo...I was particularly pleased with the cowl I made on my circular knitting needles though, so will have to take a photo when I start wearing it again this winter :)

Been a while...

It's been a while since I've posted anything here, so I thought I'd have a little catchup...

I had a little break from sewing, but have loved getting back into it over the second half of this year and I recently treated myself to a new sewing machine, which has made a world of difference :)

I started off making a few things like cushions, lavender bags, etc and at some point I finally got round to finishing this Moon and Star cushion that I started making ages ago...although now that I think about it, I'm not actually sure when that was haha, it might have been longer ago than I think ;) I was really pleased with how it turned out though :)

Then my lovely sister and her husband gave me Tilly Walnes wonderful book 'Love at First Stitch' for my Birthday in June and I've been learning to make clothes - very exciting!! I made myself a head scarf and some pyjamma bottoms for my stepdaughter, which I don't seem to have taken photos of...but then I made myself the 'Delphine' skirt!! I'm SO pleased with how it turned out...

When I first looked at the pattern/instructions I thought I would never be able to get my head round it all, but Tilly's instructions are wonderfully written and the photos really help too :) I still can't get over the fact that I actually made a skirt!! I was so lucky with the fabric too - a lovely velvety feel black cotton-type fabric with tiny white arrows, that I found heavily reduced on the remnants table in C&H Fabrics :)

I'm supposed to be making the 'Megan' dress from the book next...but have ground to a halt due to the fear taking over again haha ;) but I'm determined to get back to it soon!

I also made a funky cover for my new sewing machine when I got it a couple of months ago...I LOVE this fabric :)

I'm planning to make lots of lovely handmade Christmas presents this year, so will hopefully be back soon with updates ;)

Drawstring Bag Photos :)

Just a couple of photos to follow my last blog entry :) Here is the drawstring bag nearly finished last night (just needing its drawstrings) and totally finished and filled this afternoon :)

Sewing Again!!

It feels like ages since I did any sewing, but I've finally got back to it this week...and it feels FANTASTIC!!! I've been more into crochet through the cold nasty weather, much more comforting to curl up in a snug corner with some wool :) and then recently I've been totally blocked creatively, which was doing my head in, but finally the block seems to be lifting :)

I haven't got any photos yet, but I've been making a drawstring bag for my step-daughter to take on Guide Camp in May - she needs one to store her cup/plate/cutlery/etc in.  I had a look around and found this lovely tutorial on a blog called Pink Penguin - http://ayumills.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/tutorial-reversible-patchwork-bag.html :)

I'm really pleased with how it's coming along and so excited to be getting back to my sewing :)