Wipocalypse June

WIPocalypse check in again! 

First up, a recap of what I achieved January - May:

1. The Mackintoshesque window
2. giant granny square blanket
3. Cotton granny squares - originally intended to be a blanket, now a cushion
4. crochet rug
10. Small vintage embroidery
11. Necklace kit from Spellbound
12. Necklace kit mum bought me
13. Tea wallets
15. Bathroom curtain
16. Picnic napkins
17. Wiggly bags 
24. punch needle
26. mosaic house number kit 
33. Silhouttes cross stitch
34. Scraperboard rabbit
37. Clay + Pebeo paint

42. Extruding clay

46. Friendly plastic

48. Lavender sachets from hankies
49. Lunch bag
53. Red scarf with beaded fringe
57. Mega chunky cowl
59. Decopatch
61. Crochet hat for me in Hug
62. UTEE
63. Hat for Samantha

So what have I finished this month?

My Wips

19. Sewing machine mat with thread catcher

20. Ungar #2 

21. Fleece baby hat 

crafts I have kits for

32. Lynette Anderson needle case 

crafts /projects I have supplies for

erm... nope!

So that's a measly, pathetic 4 WIPs from a total of 41 (projects left) done -  10%. And 4 out of the total of 67 is 6%.  Overall I've done 30 from a total of 67 - 45%.  Arghhh, I should be halfway! 

I didn't even make progress on but not finish anything else!

That leaves me with rather a long list though:
My WIPs
5. crochet Yoda
6. crewel Jacobean pattern
7. Crewel fire guard
8. Beaded embroidery dress
9. Dancers cross stitch
14. Alphabet chart
18. Chair covers
22. Applique tea cups

crafts I have kits for
23. Enamelling
25. Lace making
27. Mosaic tray kit
28. Beaded santa ornament
29. Silk painting
30. Origami
31. Hessian reindeer
35. Latch hook kit
36. Beaded lillies

crafts /projectsI have supplies for
38. Cathedral Windows
39. Tatting Course
40. Beaded Boxes
41. Sharp crochet hook
43. Hammering wire
44. Bead loom
45. Lino cutting
47. French knitting
50. Mum's chair covers

51. Jacob's quilt

52. Beaded bird panel
54. Crochet cardi
55. Crochet bag
56. Wedding memories box
58. Crochet fat friends (the other 7)
60. Lucet
64. Embroidered tablecloth
65. Kitchen curtains
66. Bunny jewellery - charm and ceramic beads
67. Paper beads

29th December 2012 = 67 projects.
26th January 2013 = 6 completed. 6 projects total. 61 to go
26th February 2013 = 5 completed, 11 completed total, 56 to go.
27th March 2013 = 6 completed, 17 completed total, 50 to go

25th April 2013 = 7 completed, 24 completed total, 43 to go
31st May 2013 = 2 completed, 26 completed total, 41 to go
30th June 2013 = 4 completed, 30 completed total, 37 to go


And the projects added since Christmas?

a1 - Skill Builder sampler BOM
a2 - And Sew On... BOM
a3 - Daisy crewel alphabet sampler
a4 - Kumihimo braiding
a5 - Soft book animals
a6 - Hardanger SAL
a7 - CK Button kit (Christmas present from Mr CA)
a8 - fabric medium
a9 - Weekender bag

Next check in, end of July

Previous Wipocalypse posts:

May
April
March
February
January

nightmare hat

I have just realised all my recent posts are sewing-related... my apologies for my non-sewing readers, I will try to do something else in the near future!  

This, my ladies, is #21 fleece baby hat from the infamous list.  Perhaps not so infamous...  It is taken from Scandinavian Needlecraft, so also counts towards my craft book challenge.  Links to two of my ridiculously long lists in one paragraph, doing well.

I started this hat ages ago and abandoned it as the fleece was impossible to sew.  Then I bought some Stitch n' Tear and thought it would work for the fleece.  Then I lost the Stitch n' Tear.  I strongly suspect that Sandra stole it, but she's returned it now so the hat could go on.

I had completed all the embroidery and thought I'd sewn the motifs in place, but found the snowflake only attached by a pin.  I didn't think to measure, or make sure it was straight or anything sensible like that, I just sewed it in place.  Hmmm, bit wonky then.  Just like the bird!

Every seam that was sewn was ripped out and resewn.  It took me ages to fold up the hem and then stitch it and I was finally left with a little circle to stitch to the top.  I didn't even attempt it, it was clearly NEVER going to happen so I didn't try.  I hand stitched the opening closed in a "funky" pattern (i.e. the only thing I could think of) instead.

The hat was given to my friend who had a baby boy a few weeks ago, but clearly he won't be wearing it for a few years, it's enormous!  I'm not sure if the pattern was off or it just stretched a LOT whilst sewing.

The seams should have been topstitched with a zigzag in a contrasting colour.  I tried twice.  Even I have my limits and clearly they come from sewing this fleece.  Oh, it came from a blanket I bought in IKEA for a couple of quid.  I thought it was a real bargain.  My sewing machine disagreed and won the ensuing fight.

So pleased it's done, even if it is a little odd.

Skill Builder Bom - Hex n Chev and Geo Swirl

It's over!  I've finally finished sewing those damn hexies. You know what?  NEVER AGAIN!

I didn't think to press the block before taking this picture, but it looked a bit of a mess afterwards.  I clearly didn't sew them together closely enough as they're a big bagged.  I didn't use the usual slip stitch method, I tried it, holding the two hexies right sides together, but you could see the stitches, so I held them on my knee, right sides down, butted up, and ladder stitched.

I added a couple of borders and you know what?  I love this block! Did I really say that?  Someone shoot me in case I'm tempted to do it again...

Oh, haven't told you what this is about, in case you're not paying attention and making notes on every post I write (remember, there will be a test!).  This post is part of the Skill builder BOM, hosted by Pile O Fabric.  

Thought you might like to see the back:

No?  Oh, OK, well I'll show you Geo Swirl instead.  This is one of the blocks for May.  I know, I know, there are two English paper pieced blocks for April and I've only done one, but I can't face another yet!  And anyway, one of you might shoot me.

As I'm not new to paper piecing/foundation piecing, call it what you will, this was easy.  Only one problem where the fabric wasn't big enough to fit the shape, but that was easily dealt with.  The pattern was over several pages and the instructions said I had to watch the video to see how to put them together.  One problem, I can't watch videos.  My PC doesn't have sound and my lap top is ancient and far too slow to stream, I'd need my work lap top for that and I hadn't brought it home.  It was OK though, I figured it out.

I like the block, but don't like the appliqued circles.  Wonder if it's my colour choices?  I might end up unpicking them and putting something else in their place.  Not sure what though...  suggestions on a post card please.  (Or you could just leave a comment, that would save on postage).

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Woven Chevrons

ungar #2

This is #20 Ungar from my massive list.  When my lovely nephew was born, I made him loads of stuff, including a little stuffed bunnied called Ungar. He loved that bunny as his tiny hand fit round his neck and he could stuff the ears in his mouth.  He spent many happy hours slobbering on that bunny.  You can see original Ungar, also the beginnings of Ungar #2, so I started this bunny just over a year ago!

My friend recently had a baby boy.  She went through a lot to get him and so I wanted to show him how much everyone loves him and is happy he's here.  It was time to finish Ungar #2.

A splash of patterned fabric in his ears and an embroidered face.  Ungar #2 was accompanied by an applique baby grow.

His name does start with an "R", it wasn't a random letter choice.

I used a fancy stitch and variegated thread, but wasn't entirely happy so went round a second time.  It think it looks better now.

One more gift accompanied these two items... I'll tell you about that later.  Hold on to your hats, it's a tale of disaster!

machine mat

Another one bites the dust!  As in another WiP off my giant list, this time #19 Sewing machine mat with thread catcher.

I gave you a sneak peak at this one a few weeks ago, but I didn't tell you what it was.  You probably couldn't have cared less, but you will now, oh yes you will.  

A LONG time ago, I made a sewing machine cover.  It was from an issue of Homespun and I still love it after all this time.  After I'd finished it, I vowed to make the matching machine mat and thread catcher from the following issue, Homespun Vol 12 no. 1.  Vowing was as far as I got, until now.

It was really hard to take a picture of.  My machine is in front of the window so anything hanging below the desk is just dark and out of focus, but you get the gist?  I can show you better when it's not in situ:

It has lots of little pockets for various things, things I need to keep at hand.  Like my seam ripper.  And I should probably have a swear jar in there.

See that magnetic clasp?  Wondering what it's for?  No, not the swear jar...

Though this could be a swear jar!  It's not.  It's a thread catcher.  See how I sewed it upside down?  The tape measure ribbon is supposed to be at the top, then it wouldn't look so weird.  It's also supposed to have some running stitch and buttons to match the machine cover, but in all honesty, I just couldn't be arsed.

Thought I'd better get a photo of the magnetic catch in case you didn't believe me. Not quite sure why you'd think I was lying though, strange thing to lie about, magnetic clasps...

Ta dah!  All magnetic clasped up.

I tried to get a hanging shot.  I hung it from my g-string bunting but it didn't hold, so I did some artful draping. 

One last crappy in-situ shot?

So, I know what you're all thinking.  The thread catcher sewn upside down can't be the only cock up.  You're correct.  There are binding issues:

And corner binding issues:

And just plain puckering:

That puckering bothered me at first as I thought this could be a matt to sit on my desk, I could move the machine out of the way and take photos on it.  Two problems with that:  It's far too short, my photos on white backgrounds are absolutely shite.  So puckering is a good thing in this case!  Big cheer for puckering!  And crappy binding whilst we're at it!

needle case

It's finally done.  Remember I've been going on about a needle case I was making?  #32 Lynette Anderson needle case on the humungous list?  It's done.  All finished.  

I abandoned the rubbish making up instructions that came with the pattern and winged it.  Or wung it.  

My first mistake (yep, it's going to be one of those posts...) was embroidering the two panels next to each other the wrong way round.  The tree was supposed to be the page cover but ended up being the front inside cover.  

Mistake number two was that spine, I really messed that up.  Actually, the spine is mistake 3, cutting the stitching too close to the edge was mistake 2!

Mistake 4 would be cutting the pages from felt before pressing them, meaning they are a bit misshapen and all different sizes.  Oh no, hang on, that bit was a design decision!

Lots and lots of pages for different kinds of needles.  My general embroidery needles will stay in the case that Katherine made for me and that I treasure.

The inside back cover is a piece of Ruby (I think) from my precious Bonnie and Camilla stash.

See how rubbish that spine is?  That should count as two mistakes, mistake 1 for being rubbish and mistake 2 for being even rubbisher.

It's the wrong size!  See?

BUT, it is done.  Finished.  Loaded with needles and sitting by my chair.



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feeling blue

I have a lot of brooches.  I love them, so I make a lot a buy a few.  They're all piled up on my dressing table.  It's not actually a dressing table, it's a mantle piece as we have a fireplace in our bedroom.  Well, not really, we have a chimney breast and a board covering the empty hole where a fireplace used to be, but it has a mantle and that's where I keep my stuff.  Some kind of storage was needed so I bought two little wooden divided boxes and got out the paint I got in the Crafty Creatives Club box last month.

The paint was blue and blue is my favourite colour, so I selected 2 shades and painted.

I did the insides of the holes in one shade and the outside and rims in another, then swapped them over for the other box.

I cut some pieces of decorative handmade paper to size and mod-podged them in place.  It was tricky getting them the right size, then getting them out so I could glue them!

Some of my brooches are a little big, but it works OK.  I just need to decide if I want to hang them from the wall or stack them up - I have no idea how I'd hang them so I'll probably go for the stacking option!

Light up

Morning ladies.  I thought you might like to see what I'm working on in glass class now that my window is finished.

This little tea-light holder is not yet finished, but you wouldn't believe how long it's taken me to get to this stage!  I spent several lessons just playing around with bits of glass, unable to make anything I liked or felt enthusiastic for.  It's nothing to do with the actual class, I think it's just me.  Depression has a way of flattening my creativity, even though I know that being creative can help heal me.

It's about 8cm cubed and the bottom is mirror.  The edges of the pieces of stained glass are all wrapped in copper foil and then soldered together.  I struggled with the soldering.  That arrow, by the way, just points to the top as it took me ages to get the bottom the same size as the frame!

My soldering isn't great, but then I'm not finished with this yet.  I'm going to add some beads and wire.  I don't have a solid plan yet... maybe I never will.

I do apologise if my blog is getting a bit maudlin, I can't seem to find my usual blogging "voice".

Still hexing

When will it be over?  Please let it be over soon...

Non-matroyshka, non-babushka doll

I'm quite a grumpy person.  I often shout at my computer.  It's often about the incorrect use of apostrophes.  I can't understand why people don't know how to use an apostrophe, it's not hard!  Another thing that gets me is when people call matroyshkas "Babushkas".  Babushka is Russian for grandmother, Matroyshka is Russian for stacking dolls.  They aren't actually interchangeable.  The reason for this diatribe?  I thought I'd stitched a matroyshka.  I haven't, it's a Kokoshi! 

Mini rant over.  You will  have to forgive my grumpiness, I'm still undergoing treatment for my eye which means I'm walking around with white crust round my eye and in my eyelashes.  Also, my glasses slip down my nose constantly.  It's extremely annoying.

Enough!  I've not got that much to show you, I haven't been very productive as I just don't feel like it.  But I did finish that little cross stitch cover kit (and no Kerry, I AM not making a list of cover kits!).

Jojo expressed amazement that I'd sewn this without a hoop, but the whole thing is only about 4" high and it's sewn on aida which is quite stiff.  I find it easier to work in my hand for things like this.  Look:

See, no bigger than my diddy scissors.

Right, I'm off to try to motivate myself to do something other than play Candy Crush and watch back-to-back episodes of friends.  

Hexies and how my life gets harder by the day

When will it be over?  Please let it be over soon...

Skill Builder BOM - Woven Chevrons

In order to prevent me being kicked out of the EMMQG, I thought I'd better actually do some quilting, well patchwork at least.  I haven't forgotten the Skill builder BOM, hosted by Pile O Fabric that I signed up to, though you could be forgiven for thinking I have considering I have done nothing since March (except basting 13 hexies!).  I'd been putting off March's block 6 - woven chevrons - as it looked hard.  It actually wasn't.

Oh, Ange, this is that boring quilt in just shades of blue, you know the boring one I was telling you about that you said sounded boring? ;0)

I cut 40 million QSTs and 20 million HSTs* and sewed the QSTs together.  

So far so good.  Then I had to sew these pieced HSTs to the HSTs.

I was pretty sure I'd end up with loads of different sized squares, so I thought I'd better trim them up.  Alyssa said they should be 3.5".  They were all a fraction over and a quick trim sorted that out.  I was stunned.

The squares were sewn into rows... all these rows are the same length.  Hmmm, something odd going on here.

Done.  Most of the points match.  MOST OF THE POINTS MATCH!  So you're thinking "so what", well that's never happened to me before!  I know why it's happened, some lovely lady, I think it was Kerry, explained to me what a scant 1/4" seam is.  It has changed my entire world.  OK, so it hasn't.  The house is still falling down, I still don't have a kitchen, I still have to go to work tomorrow, but MOST OF THE POINTS MATCH!  

It also measured 12.5", just as it should.  None of the others did!  I added some borders and called it down.

MOST OF THE POINTS MATCH!  I'll accept your admiration now ladies.


*slight exaggeration

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