finished projects 2012 Archives - Page 3 of 3

Heidi and Finn cowl neck jumper dress – F/O 6/2012

February 21, 2012

I’ve got to tell you its a miracle anything is getting done here at the moment, but although I could do with more time and more sleep it’s nice knowing that this is a temporary thing as the end of my first module creeps nearer.

Last week was half-term holidays which I spent with the kids and The Husband and abandoned my study schedule. It was lovely if rather foolish as it means that this week I have one session of English and two sessions of French to catch up. As this is approximately 36 hours of study and I don’t have 36 hours to spend on it, the word that springs to mind is “eeeep”!

I have to say that without hesitation I’ll make the same choice the next nursery holiday…it’s so worth it.

Little ice-creamy faces are a joy to behold.

Then, I spent 5 hours waiting to be towed home from Manchester on Saturday when I should have been at a tutorial for my French module. Fingers crossed his car will be mended soon. But how lucky are we to have one car, let alone two?

So, to maintain some semblance of sanity, I’ve been sneaking the odd half hour here and there to do a bit of sewing and in the evenings I sit and knit. The laceweight Ella is knitted and blocked and currently being sewn up (which is tedious so only a bit is getting done every now and again when I’m feeling a bit perky).

I’ve also finished a cardigan for Button. I photographed it at the weekend but every picture was overexposed so I’ll do them again soon.

And today I’ve just finished the cowl neck jumper dress from Heidi and Finn, also for Button.

I cannot tell you how adorable this little dress is. Button has a temperature today and is currently snoozing so I’ll get modelled pictures soon, but really wanted to share it with you.

I’ve used a Heidi and Finn pattern before for the refashioned jacket I made for Button and again I found the pattern well drafted and the instructions extremely comprehensive. Even if you’re a complete beginner you could sew this dress. I sewed it on my normal machine as I didn’t have 4 spools of thread for the overlocker. Simples!

The fabric was gifted to me by the lovely, lovely Himmelbjerget during her recent destash and is a beautifully soft and cosy velour. You can see the fabric better in this close up shot:

Adorable.

This is such an amazing pattern. I want to make it again and again. In fact I think I very probably will do! In this incarnation it’s perfect for play dates or for church, but you can make it more or less dressy dependent on your choice of fabric.

So thank you to Himmelbjerget for the fabric and thank you to Heidi and Finn for another splendid pattern.

If you have small ladies who like a dress I highly recommend you make this one for them. At least once.

Vogue 8534 – FO 5-2012

February 13, 2012

If you take this dreadfully coloured fabric:

add some of this

mixed with equal parts of this

cut out using this

and try to avoid doing this

and with any luck you’ll end up with this

I lengthened the sleeves on the pattern to make them full length. Next time out I think I’ll take a smidge off, but its very nice having full length sleeves…not something I often achieve in RTW.

I really want to make this again…but next time as a dress!

Four little speckled frogs…FO 4/2012

February 6, 2012

sat on a speckled log.

Or in this case a speckled table.

These little guys are made from this free pattern over at Purl, with thanks to them for sharing.

A few scraps of fabric, some ‘past their sell-by date’ lentils, and voila, happy children.

The originals have beautiful little bead eyes,

but in this house they’d be pulled off and eaten

faster than you can say

‘Ribbet’

The one that almost got away – Simplicity 2560 – FO 3/2012

February 2, 2012

Back in November 2009 I gave up on making this cardigan:

Simplicity 2560

At the time I passed it to a friend whom we thought it might better suit. And it’s lain untouched at her house since then.

Only now she’s moving and the half made cardi found it’s way back to me.

So, as my skills have moved on a bit since 2009, only a bit, mind, I set to and I pinned it and thought about it, and within an evening I had a new cardigan

Now I do recognise this is probably the crappiest photo in the world, but you really haven’t got a hope of capturing the details of a black jersey cardigan. Unless you’re Mario Testino. Which The Husband isn’t.

And I won’t be winning anybodies ‘Next Top Model’ with the lack of attention to hair and makeup. But I’ve been at home studying and cutting out patterns all day.

But suffice to say this cardi is cozy and comfortable and perfect for schlepping round the house. Or going to knitting group, which I am this evening.

And whilst I really didn’t like it first time out, I’m now not saying that I’ll never make another one. In fact I’m using the neckband on my next cardigan project, so watch this space.

The almost perfect trousers! M5238 – FO 2/2012

January 22, 2012

Finally I’ve finished the trousers from the trouser fitting course I attended last year.

I have to tell you that when I first saw this pattern I wasn’t particularly overwhelmed, and, frankly, would never have picked it to make myself.

: M5239

That would have been a mistake. Kudos to Celia!

I. LOVE. THESE. TROUSERS!

Don’t get me wrong…I’ve tweaked the pattern a bit. And wearing them I think I need to do the waistband again. It’s not quite snug enough and there’s a wee wrinkle just below the waistband at the back. My bad!

But.

And it’s a BIG but. (Rather than a big butt before all you wags go there!)

I. LOVE. THESE. TROUSERS!

Did I just say that. It’s just that they are so flipping comfortable. My one pair of jeans are too short in the body and so uncomfortable that this is a revelation. Trousers don’t need to be uncomfortable. Who knew?

For these I redrafted the leg to make them considerably slimmer. I love the finished look. And though I thought I wouldn’t be, I’m completely converted to back zips. I had plans to change these to fly fronts, but I’m not convinced I will just yet. Although I seriously need to add pockets for the next iteration.

The fabric is an aubergine wool mix that I picked up from Badder Fabrics in Hereford when we went to Ludlow. My new favourite fabric. Joy to sew. Joy to wear.

I don’t think I’m ever going to get a perfectly smooth front because I’m so round in the tummy, but these are so lovely I’m willing to forgive. And I’ve moved slightly in this picture so my leg is causing the folds. And of course there’ll be folds when you move. Duh!

But, I’m well on my way to hitting one of my 2012 goals…the perfect skinny trouser.

I think I should make another pair very soon to refine the pattern and fit, don’t you?

And to cap it all, when I’d finished these last night I realised that I had enough fabric left over to cut out another of these skirts:

Burda 8/2009

As the pattern was hanging right next to my sewing table…that’s what a did.

Rather a good day’s work, no?

PS. Badder Fabrics don’t have a website

but they will send out samples if you give them a ring and ask them to.

The owner is a most delightful lady.

She was charming the day I shopped there and very helpful indeed.

Just my opinion.

The château quilt – FO 1/2012

January 9, 2012

And what a way to start the year. I’m really setting the bar high for myself!

You may remember that for my birthday last year Ma treated me to a Northern Quilting workshop at The Patchwork Chicks in Barrowford.

I’ve finally finished the quilt. I call it the château quilt because it reminds me of the carved stonework in the châteaux of the Loire valley.

I know that pride is a particularly unattractive trait…but I’m awfully proud of this quilt. The design is entirely mine utilising traditional quilting patterns.

Every stitch is made by hand.

Even the edges are turned and hand finished rather than a machine sewn binding.

I love this quilt and I’ve enjoyed every single stitch. I love the feeling of continuity with women across centuries who have stitched quilts in exactly the same way as I stitched this one.

I really want to make another one…this time double or king sized. But I’m working with Ma on another quilting project at the moment, I have the Gardener’s Journal to finish, and I have another secret quilt project to follow those. So I’m not adding another quilt project to the list for this year.

But… never say never!