What I'm working on...

I don't seem to be getting through as many finishes recently, but then I realised that doesn't mean I can't blog as I can show you what I'm working on.  It might be interesting to look back on how a project progressed. 

I thought that the FNSI was last Friday night, so decided to do some piecing.  This is for a sewing machine cover, the pattern was in a copy of Australia Homespun, but the pattern is also available to buy from the lovely Bloom.  My machine came with a hard cover, but it doesn't fit properly and is just downright annoying, ugly and has a hole in the top which renders it useless as a dust cover!  When I bought my layer cake of Bliss, I knew the project I used it for had to be something I'd look at often... enter the sewing machine cover.

Piecing began on the Friday night.  Then my machine threw a fit.  I thought it might be lint in the bobbin case, so took of the needle plate and cleaned it out, but then the bobbin case wouldn't fit back in properly and the top thread kept getting jammed.  Cue 2 hours of swearing and shouting (me, not the machine).

I got them done in the end.  Crafter's Apprentice 1, sewing machine 0.  I have been thinking that I should name my machine, the most relevant name at the minute would be b***h, but I don't think that will lead to a productive and loving relationship!

A little handsewing for the front of the machine cover.  The pattern called for a beigy colour thread, but then Bloom had used natural linen for her cover and I chose white, so I looked in my thread boxes for an embroidery thread to match the Bliss.  The best match was this aqua.  It's DMC light effects thread and sparkles beautifully.  It was a pain to sew with though.  This cover is turning into a labour of love!

No, I haven't ironed the fabric.

Another work is progress is an alteration for my best friend.  She has lost some weight recently and is looking fabulous, but none of her clothes fit.  I tentatively offered to take some in for her.  We decided I'd start with a simple shift dress she'd picked up at a charity shop as she wasn't really bothered if I messed it up. 

I realised I didn't have a clue how to alter clothes, so I got her to put it on inside out and I safety pinned it where I thought the new seam should be.  I then replaced the safety pins with a lot of pins and a tailor's chalk mark.  Then I left it to sit on a table as I'm too scared to sew it!

The next project isn't actually started yet, but I will be starting very soon.  We're in the process of decorating our dining room and I wanted some table mats / chair covers / table runner etc for our first ever dining room table.  I discovered this fabric - Lily and Will.  The blue and brown colours match the wallpaper in the room exactly (it's a feature wall paper, just on the chimney breast), and it's accompanied by cream which will fit in with our white walls.  AND, it's got bunnies on it!!

These are not my only works in progress, if you count the things I've been working on slowly and those that I want to do, I'm trying not to get anxious over the amount of projects floating around in my head.  I haven't decided whether I'll be doing a Craft Book Challenge this month.  I want to, but I also don't want to get even more stressed over it so I'll see how it goes.  Considering I did 3 in January and 4 in February, I think I'm covered anyway!

Productive Saturday

It has just taken me half an hour to upload these photos to Blogger.  I'm hating having to go out of the post each time, to another screen, then back to the post just to upload a single photo!  More frustrating is the fact I uploaded all these yesterday and Blogger stole them!

Something very exciting happened today.  I was sneakily checking my emails and saw that I've won a giveaway!!  My first!  I won a gorgeous bag over on Cathy's Blog.  Click here to visit Cathy and join in her Christmas challenge.  Come on girls, last push before December is on us and there are millions of things to do.

So, without further ado.  On Thursday night I "mastered" the crocheted flowers - well they kind of look like flowers so that will do for me!  I used Rowan HandKnit Cotton in the end and they seemed to hold their shape better.  What do you think?

 I went to the Craft Show on Friday, and on Saturday I spent the day sewing and making.  Luxury weekend!  I finished mum's birthday presents.  First up is a little pouch to hold her sewing machine accessories.  It matches the sewing machine cover I made. 

Did you spot the deliberate mistake?  Yep, I just can't seem to keep my animals the right way up!

The lining fabric matches the lining on the sewing machine cover.

I'm pretty pleased with how it came out as I didn't have a pattern.   I then made a little pin cushion to match.

It had to feature a pig as they are her favourite.  The back is in the lining fabric again.

And yes, I did even manage to mess a pin cushion up!  I hate slip stitching by hand, it's so messy, so I decided to stitch it on the machine.  It would have been a neat little line, except that the first two times I sewed it, I missed the fabric on the back!

Despite the problems, it only took 10 minutes to knock up so I made myself one too with this lovely Matroyshka fabric.  It has a red backside.  I do want to make a fancy pin cushion at some point, but this will do until then.

Next up was a needle book.  I took the pattern from Cath Kidston's Sew! but changed it a little to suit.

The inside has felt pages.  I made a mistake at first and cut the first one too small, but it worked out in the end...

Except for the fact the ribbon is upside down!  A mistake every single project.

Finally, I made a set of little notecards, they measure 9.5cm x 6.5cm.

And then I made a birthday card.  This is the first time I've machine sewn on paper and I loved it!  My cards will be featuring a lot of sewing from now on.

I also had to make mum a card from dad, so I put those crocheted flowers to good use!

And last, but not least, is an engagement card for my friend featuring an iron-on embroidery and a charm from the craft fair.

It's mum's birthday today so I'll get to find out tonight if she likes them.  Then I have to get on with dad's presents!

Cathy's Christmas Countdown - October results

Good Monday everyone,

This weekend wasn't as productive as I would have liked it to have been, however I have completed a new project - more at the bottom of the post.  Today is the day to post my month's results for Cathy's Christmas Countdown.  I had been aiming for 15 presents this month, but I've not quite made it - I've made 12.  Some are birthday presents but with my family having birthdays in November/December, I lump them all into the same bucket!

I've posted about all but one of these gifts before so if you want to know more, see previous posts, but here they are in all their "glory":

1-5. 5 sets of 2 appliquéd lavender hearts

There are 6 sets shown on the picture (wow, check out those maths skills!) but 2 of them were my one measly gift completed in September.

6-7. Two embroidered bookmarks:

(the one on the left is actually green and that carpet is blue - I didn't change any of the settings after taking the picture above...?  I don't think I'll ever be a photographer!)

8. Patchwork pig:

(This is the first item from my Craft Book Challenge)

9. Shoulder bag:

(This is the second item from my Craft Book Challenge)

10: Set of 4 coasters:

11: Sewing machine cover

12: Drawstring bag:

I made this yesterday - I'd been working on the Peter Rabbit Cross Stitch (Item 3 of my Craft Book Challenge) and decided to mount it on a little bag (it's about 30cm x 30cm / 12inch x 12inch).  It's the first time I've attempted anything like this and I am really happy with it.  I cut an aperture in the pink gingham fabric and used a fancy top stitch (the choice is limited on my mum's machine, but I do like this one).  It's also lined in pink cotton:

Which kind of shows through the white cotton and makes a very pale pink effect.

So there we have it!  Go over to Cathy's blog and see what everyone else has been up to.

Tonight is my first Sew Something class at the Husqvarna shop, I'm really excited.  We work on our own projects, but there is a teacher to help us out - I want to attempt a zip!