zakka Style Sew Along week 23 - message board

It's the penultimate week for the Zakka Style Sew Along.  I can't believe I'm keeping up!  I've completed all but 7 of the projects, and I'll complete one of them this weekend.  18 / 24 is not a bad score!

You will be glad to hear, Fiona, there is no mention of unmentionables in this post, so feel free to eat your lunch!

This week we were to make a message board in an embroidery hoop.  The linky for this week's projects can be found here, and go and visit this week's host, the wonderful Maureen Cracknell.

I have quite a collection of embroidery hoops, but the largest I could find was 6", so 6" it was.  The book calls for a 10" hoop - probably more practical but never mind.  We were to cut 17 of the pennants for the bunting.  I cut more than that, but didn't need them, of course!  I also changed the shape as I didn't like the way they came out to the book's measurements.

Here it is after I'd machine stitched the bunting on.  That's a piece of grey linen, one of my last bits of that shade.  Photographing linen is REALLY hard, it always comes out wierd and liney.  Yes, I just made that word up.

There wasn't much sewing involved.  After sewing on the bunting, I had to glue it to the back of the hoop.  I usually do the gathering-stitch finish then hand stitch a felt backing to my hoops, but thought I'd try this way.  I still can't find my fabric glue, so out came the mod podge.  I had to stick pins in to keep it in place while it dried.

As I had the mod podge out, I thought I'd see if you can mend ripped ballet shoes with it.  I have a large collection of cheap ballet shoes and most of them have the sole coming away at the front.  I put some mod podge in the gap and held it shut with a bull dog clip.

I left the glue on overnight, the next night I glued the backing in place.  I don't appear to have taken a photo of that.  It's grey felt, cut in a rough circle.  And glued.  Not very exciting so you're not missing out.

I saw everyone was displaying their message boards with little notes on them.  I turned around to find a piece of paper and saw this felt fox I made yonks ago so I pegged him to my board.  Well, why not? 

I didn't add the machine embroidered bow of the tied bow as suggested in the book as, let's face it, there's not exactly enough room on there!  I wish I'd put two "washing lines" on though, then I could have pinned a panda too.

Oh, and yes, you can fix ballet shoes with mod podge.  I'd better buy some more bull dog clips as I have about 15 pairs in need of repair.

Finally finished the scarf (free pattern) - and fab giveaway win!

So, the lovely Val Laird (visit her here) finally sorted my whole photo/post thing out by telling me how to email my posts to myself, cutting out the photo problem.  I still do have a little problem as there’s a limit on the size of photos I can send (anyone know a non-technical way to make them smaller?) but it’s a lot quicker anyway!

So, first up, I need to say a massive thanks to Cathy for the fab bag I won in her giveaway. 

I’ve been joining in with Cathy’s Christmas Countdown and I was lucky enough to win this gorgeous bag last month. 

 

Look at that detail and the lovely little label!  I love it Cathy and it’s under my desk as we speak.  I'm just sorry that my photos don't do it justice, I fell in love with it as soon as I opened the parcel.  Come on ladies, join Cathy for the final month’s Countdown by posting about your November Christmas present makes, it’s that simple and you could win a prize.  All you have to do is email Cathy or comment on her blog directing her to your post.

I’ve finally finished that basket weave scarf!  Ta da…

And here’s a close up (albeit an orange close up – the scarf is russet!):

Do you want to know how to do the basket weave pattern?

It’s pretty simple, I did it in multiples of 4 stitches and 5 rows, though you could really make that any number (larger) that you wanted for bigger squares.  I had to count my stitches – it had to be a multiple of 8 + 4 so 12, 20, 28, 36, 44 all work and I chose 44 stitches. 

Rows 1-5 : knit 4, purl 4 to end of row

Rows 6 – 10: purl 4, knit 4 to end of row

Then just repeat this pattern to infinity!

I also made my dad a fabric covered notice board from a piece of black and white stripy fabric, a cork board and a couple of layers of wadding, plus hundreds of staples and a bit of PVA glue.  He’s a big Notts County fan.  Overseas readers never heard of Notts County?  Oh, hang on, I bet you British readers have never heard of them either!  They’re a football team.  Certainly not Premiership material, I don’t know what division they are in now as they keep changing the system but it used to be division 4, basically a bit up from the Sunday pub team matches!!  Anyway, they play in black and white stripes, hence the black and white theme of his presents.

That’s it for now but I should be back on Monday with lots and lots of Christmas gift finishes – if not then it’s looking more and more unlikely that my family will get any Christmas presents!!

P.S.  Look what I saw in the carpark of my local Asda:

The holidays are coming!