Something floaty for Jess

My daughter is off on her travels to somewhere warm so I thought I would make her a little something to pop over a bikini

The pattern is New Look K6575 and I chose a sheer fabric which has butterflies all over bought from my local fabric store Calico Laine

I wouldn't normally use something that frays so badly but my new overlocker makes simple work of edges and has revolutionised my choice of fabrics

The front has double facings that form the collar and a deep V opening down to a draw string waist. I decided to go with a satin ribbon drawstring and popped two hand made beads on each end.

I altered the pattern which has an integral casing for the drawstring  but with such a sheer fabric I decided to use a wide ribbon  inside to thread through. This makes the casing much stronger and smoother to draw the ribbon through

It works very well and is easy to make look very professional.

Working with stretch fabric

I am really enjoying my new sewing machines - the overlocker has taken quite a bit of getting used to but I think I have it now.

I bought some medium weight stretch jersey for a hoodie for Joel and wanted to use ribbing with it. This is the same pattern as the fox hoodie but then I didn't try ribs I just did straight hems.

this is the super material - sort of paint spots

this is the pattern which is quite simple but has lots of ways to alter and adapt it

using ribbibg for the sleeves and hems

the technique for ribbing is quite tricky but I researched the web and also used a good book from Tilly and the Buttons

 here is the finished hoodie

next step is to make a pair of matching joggers

They're done!

In February I wrote about my decision to unpick and frog my hubby's large cable jacket to make a much smaller one for his new sleeker self. Plus our grandson's mini me version which was too small for him.

So here is hubby's new version - down from a 46inch chest to a 40inch.

I used the left over wool to make a new veriosn for Joel.

His is slightly different to last time because he is now 4 and the original pattern was for for 2-3yrs.
The yarn is Stylecraft Life which is an acrylic/wool mix and washes well.

Hopefully these will last a little longer than last time

summer cardigan

A few weeks ago I was in my local Hobbycraft and came across Sirdar No1 stonewashed aran yarn. It is so soft and I fell in love with the Used Blue colour.
Totally unlike me I bought enough for a cardigan even though it was more than I would usually pay per ball - it saddens me how expensive yarn has become.
However - having bought the yarn I then had to find a pattern and to be honest none of my numerous patterns were summery enough so I  downloaded Sirdar's own summer cardigan which is actually a very quick knit - all plain with a slightly  unusual rib feature.
 The yarn knits up very quickly so within a couple of weeks I had finished and here is the result.

I love it - the cardigan is super soft and very lightweight - perfect for a British summer!

There are 7 buttons so I decided to make my own with polymer clay.
I used a mix of blue, pink and white which I marbled and am very happy with the result. The extra pop of colour makes them stand out rather than just match.

I rather like the washed denim in the range so might be tempter to make another!

Dinosaur summer shirt

After my first try out of a shirt pattern for my grandson Joel - which fits really well and he likes - he asked for a blue short with dinosaurs on. No pressure then!
Amazingly I have been  able to find exactly that material - and in my local shop Calico Laine !

This is the pattern - McCalls shirt, T shirt and two types pf ummer ahprts for youngsters.

I chose this pattern because it has the option for both cotton and stretch tops which makes it very versatile.

The only thing that causes me problems is the collar and how it works with the front facings. I still don't really understand what they want you to do so am fudging it. I am sure I will owrk it out eventually!

struggling to work out the facings

turning a narrow hem on the shirt bottom

I love my automatic buttonhole foot on my new machine so making buttonholes for the front is no problem.  I chose a sparkly orange button which picks out the colour of some of the dinosaurs.

I really like this pattern and plan to make a few more but I think next it will be some shorts for Joel using the owl material left over from the first shirt.

NEW PATTERN TRY OUT

I got a free pattern in a sewing magazine for a summer top so I thought I would give it a first try in a cheaper material to see how it sewed up.
The polycotton is a dusky green with a small polka dot and although slightly too heavy to drape well was a good price for a try out.
I don't think the front placket with a pleat is designed brilliantly and when I sew this again I will change it slightly - there is no need for interfacing with anything but the lightest material. There are too many layers to sew neatly and lie flat.
However the simple collar sews up well and the simple gathering on the shoulders looks good and the boas bending on the sleeves works well.
I like the dipped shirt hem but I think I will make the front a little longer next time.
All things considered I am happy with the top and will wear it - and considering it cost less than £10 not a bad buy.

Summer shirt

I am really enjoying using my new sewing machine and being able to make the most of my local haberdashery shop.
I have a McCalls boys pattern for T shirt, casual shirt and shorts so I bought a piece of super fun printed cotton which is perfect for this sort of project.

I like the collar which uses fusible interfacing. I have also been able to make good use of the automatic buttonhole foot which makes getting the right size buttonhole so easy and gives a very neat finish.
I like the relaxed curved hem at the back.

I can see this will be a pattern I use quite often!

Holiday Cool

As soon as I saw this super jumper I knew I wanted to knit it for my grandson Joel who is going to be four in the summer.
It is made in Stylecraft Bambino which is lovely for baby knits but with these colours perfect for anyone.
The oversize jumper has three colours in a medium stripe and a double opening feature at the neckline.
The main picture on the pattern is for a baby/toddler but there is a second version modelled by a very cool looking young man and I thought it was perfect for Joel. The dusky blue goes perfectly with jeans and the gold is so on trend for this year and very grown up for a young person.

Bambino is 100% acrylic, washes brilliantly and has a slight sheen which gives great stitch definition. The yarn is prone to splitting because of the multistrand twist but I used a very smooth round point needle and it worked very well with a good even finish.

I am very happy with it - I hope Joel will enjoy wearing it this summer.

A New Adventure

So after more than 30 years I have bought myself a new sewing machine.
My old one was perfectly adequate for my sewing needs and totally capable of tackling most projects I might try.
However I have alway wanted to try stretch fabrics and have often toyed with getting an overlocker but never invested in one mainly because it is yet another machine to store. A couple of months ago I saw on offer for a standard Butterick sewing machine that was so good I couldn't resist and it has a range of stitches designed for stretch fabrics plus embriodery stitiches and so much more to explore

At the start of February I went with my daughter to a craft fair at Event City Manchester and as usual we paid a visit to a wondeful stand DotsnStripes to look at the beautiful european fabrics.
Of course now with my new machine I could buy and sew these wonderful fabrics so I bought a half metre of sweatshirt material and a pattern to make a hoodie for my grandson Joel.
The pattern is brilliant and although in the European style ( you have to add your own seam allowance and trace the pattern off the card) it was very easy to follow.

I have totally enjoyed making this and after a busy few weeks with the day job I will be tackling my next project - jogging pants and a top for Joel.

Ah well!

You know when you spend large amounts of time making for loved ones and then....well for some reason they either don't like it or don't/can't wear it????

Well eighteen months ago I made yet another version of my hubby's favourite cable jacket. Since we have been married he has got through 3 of these and tends to live in it during winter.
So we chose the yarn together and during the summer of 2017 I set to making another version for a Christmas present. Hubby is a large man with very long arms so this sort of a knit is no lightweight project.
However it was ready in time and as I had a little yarn left over I made a matching one for his mini me - my grandson.

Just about a year ago hubby had a major heart attack and as a consequence has taken up exercise and a healthy lifestyle so has lost a huge amount of weight and the favourite jacket drowns him. Watching him trying to wear it - and it constantly falling off his shoulders I offered to unpick, frog and remake it. The joy on his face proved that although this will be a long job it will be worth it.

Then my grandson sadly told me that his jacket is too small but he loves it and wants to wear it so I intend to use some of the leftover yarn from hubby's jacket and unpick , frog and remake the little one in two sizes larger.
All the yarn is still in great condition so it should work well.

I may be some time!!!
Here are some images of both jackets originally

 

A few of my makes

And she's back!

Oh my goodness I hadn't realised that I have not been craft blogging for over a year!
So here is a photo round up of my 2018 makes.
Earlier this year I treated myself to a new knitting machine - this one is a mid gauge so will work with 4ply - aran amazingly and DK is brilliant!
I have had two machines since the 80s and really enjoy using them but  there is no denying that getting out the machine is quite an effort compared to picking up a pair of needles. So usually my knitting is by hand.
Recently my hubby had a health scare and consequently lost a lot of weight. Good for him but not so great for the wardrobe - none of his clothes fit!
So I offered to quickly knit 3 everyday jumpers in colours of his choice.
He is very tall and has long arms so hand knitting for him is a real labour of love - of course it made it very worthwhile to get out the machine.
I have a basic V neck pattern for him so I set off on a marathon knitting spree.

I wanted to hand knit some lace work but this pattern had plain sleeves and front so I did those on my new machine - a blend of both techniques!

This yarn knits up well and is very soft so I have adapted my favourite long line cardigan pattern for the machine

 I think Sirdar Baby Crofter is one of my favourite yams of all time. It knits up like Fair isle but without all the hassle and no floats!

I hand knitted the bands for this one but did the big body pieces on the machine which cut down the time for making. I also used quite a loose tension and it's is so soft and cuddly. The evenness of the machine means you use less yarn too!

I love making socks but I hate wearing them so I give all my makes away to friends and family.

This pattern is adapted from a magazine. Simple Knitting issue 176. I love the frill effect and decided to make a pair for my daughter who although a grown up actually has really small feet - size 3-4 and these suit her personality well.

I now use a mixture of sock making techniques. Winwick Mum and Lucy Neatby were my inspiration but now I have an amalgamation of a few different ones which are pretty much my go to technique and then I can add pattern or use a variegated yam.