Wee knitted things

Corrin is wearing his Beyond puerperium cardi that I knitted for him in the 0-3mth size with gorgeous and soft hand dyed Red riding-hood yarns 4ply merino.  I used an I cord bind off around the edge in Malabrigo Sock in the scrummy 'Chocolate Amargo' colour which has really finished it nicely with the matching buttons. This has been my favourite knit for him so far and it has lasted him quite a while considering he has grown like a mushroom. I'm quite sad that he is finally growing out of it at nearly 5mths.

Tessa is very happy with her cosy Paige babydoll that I knitted for her with a scrappy set in Wooltopia worsted 3ply 100purewool.  This is a super soft merino yarn which many yarn dyers use for a base, perfect for baby knits and super soft projects, perfecting for felting which tells you that it is a hand wash only yarn. 

 Our sweet Corrin has settled into the family really well and Tessa just adores him.

The latest addition to my shop

I finally added something else to my shop, not for the lack of trying though. I have to admit I'm really quite a techno-phobe especially when it's to do with my camera. I have only just figured out how to adjust my camera so I take shots that are compatible (small enough) that I can load them onto my felt shop.

Ok, enough of that. This is a sweet little chocolate wool Cardi that I upcycled from an old wool cardi. With a cute hand sewn little owl applique, it's so soft and I hope will keep someone's wee one warm soon. It's size 9-12mth approx, and the measurements are:
Middle of the back to the cuff: 37cm
Under the arm to the hem: 20cm

As this is made from a recycled woolly cardi you know it's a one off and no one else will have one the same.

My Creative Space

I found these brilliant buttons last month when I visiting my mum for her birthday, Tessa and I surprised her which really quite special. Anyway we went shopping at this really really amazing yarn shop, and these are what I came away with. My self control was quite good for once which is very unusal as normally I would have to buy some yarn any yarn to add to my stash. Anyway getting off topic, these gorgeous wooden heart buttons just had to come with me, I took all they had left. I am thinking a cute little pinafore dresses for Tessa this winter, or maybe to decorate a sweet knitted hat.

I got these gorgeous rose buttons at the same time I just love them. I think a cardy for me, when I finally get around to deciding which one to knit either Mr Greanjeans modified similar to this or the Febuary lady sweater also lengthened. I have 18 50gm balls of cleakheaton country silk yarn, in a charcoal grey with flecks of a lighter grey silk through it, quite a rustic colour.

This is something else I have sneaking away to sew, its not quite finished but I thought I would like to share. A sweet wee dress for Tessa to wear to my sister in laws wedding. Its made from lovely light muslin. The lining is from a muslin wrap of Tessa's that we didn't need, so this is kind of a refashion.

A close up of some of the detailing.

My creative space

Well I managed to sneak a bit sewing into this week here and there and finished this cute little bodysuit for Tessa. It's made from organic cotton knit fabric on sale at the local fabric shop, I was most impressed and at this price of $7.50m, I am actually a little skeptical about its authenticity. But I will hope that it is what I have been led to believe as it's just what I needed. As you can see Tessa's skin flares up with teething and the constant dribble has irritated her skin so she has had weeks of a horrible rash on her chest too, I have tried everything, so I thought some organic cotton might help. Tessa is needing the next size up bodysuit for this coming season, it's still quite roomy which is great. I also added a bit of length to make room for cloth nappies.

The sweet little owl was made from fabric scraps I had picked up from the opp shop. After I made this one, I did a whole lot of owl sketches and I will attempt an even cuter little owl next time.

:: A present for my new (old) clothesline

Yippee I have a new clothesline. I know it sounds strange to be so excited something so domestic and mundane. But if you saw how frustrating the other one was, imagine sheets trailing on the grass collecting clippings and not being able to fit everything (with all the extra washing Tessa creates, hehe) then you would understand.

So I made a simple pegs basket from this tutorial, it was quick and easy. Perfect for my small window of opportunity, baby sleep time. I used a lovely old curtain already lined from the op shop and a baby clotheshanger which is much easier than breaking the ends of a full sized one.


Now all I need to do is plant something fragrant underneath and hanging washing will be a little bit more wonderful.

:: A quick refashion

This was a very easy refashion. Which is perfect when you only have a little bit time up your sleeve. Take two faded misshapen singlets that you no longer wear and a pair of pinking shears. Cut up into what ever shapes you like and you have a stack of handy cleaning cloths. These could also be good as nappy wipes or dish cloths.

In hindsight they would have better if I had cut them it a bit larger. The different colours could be used for different uses, such as kitchen and bathroom. I had got low on dishcloths so this is what I came up with. If you don't have pinking sheers you could edge with an overlocker or zigzag stitch on your sewing machine.

Resolution Solution

Happy New Year everyone !!!!

This is also my 50th post which is brilliant, it has come around so fast even with my sporadic posting habits.
I had such a big list of New Years Resolutions that I wanted to make, but I know how unlikely it is that I will stick to them. So I decided to do a little something for the planet, the wallet and help improve my sewing skills. I thought a two month resolution would realistic, so here it is.

To celebrate both these momentous occasions I have decided to take the Wardrode Refashion Pledge!

The Pledge

I, Rebecca pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed Rebecca.

To make it a little more interesting this pledge will include Tessa too.

The Rules

• 1.
  No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
• 2.
  In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
• 3.
  You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you've been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
• 4.
  You need to be honest and admit when you've fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

a successful refashion

Well kind of anyway. This is my first refashion for the year. It began as a merino skivvy top which I picked up from the local salvation army shop for $6.

And ended up as two pairs of baby pants. The left pair turned out rather well, but the pair of the right might still need a bit more work. I think I will shorten the legs, because I really can't imagine Tessa will grow that tall before next winter hehe.
A pretty good result that used most of the top to create two warm pairs of pants for $6.

Yay yarn!

My first attempt at crochet and it wasn't as difficult as I imagined. It is the beginning of a grannie square blanket (what a funny weird name).

I used some left over merino 4ply print yarn, which is quite cosy and lovely, that I used to make Tessa a baby blanket with lace edging when I was pregnant. I think this grannie square blanket will be great for using up little bits and pieces left over from other projects floating around my yarn stash.

On tuesday it was pouring with rain and we were in town getting the car serviced, so I had to stop in at the yarn shop to feed Tessa. So of course I had to buy some yarn especially when I found these on sale. A 8ply wool silk blend at $3.00 per ball in the perfect colour I had been looking for to finally knit something for myself. I purchased it thinking I would make the beautiful Backbone vest I found in a Knit1 magazine I got last year, but I think I'm not quite experienced enough to tackle this one yet. So I think I will knit something else probably a cardi with sleeves maybe even a hood as this gorgeous yarn is just so cheap. I looked on ravelry these are couple of possibles I found this one which looks great and this one or possibly even this one. But I still like the idea of one with cables so I cast on for something totally different some mary jane slippers a quick knit to get me motivated.

I also found this lovely 100% wool yarn there was only four balls left and at the same awesome low price of $3.00 per ball I just had to snap them up too. Not sure what to knit with them I think it look good in the yarn stash for now.

Some cute photos of Tessa playing in her toy basket she loves pulling everything out and examining each toy. It has been great for keeping her happy when she starts to get a bit irritable.

BLOGTOBER Giveaway!!! be in quick!!!

Well it's the last week of Blogtober and it has been great. I've read plenty of amazing blogs and entered heaps of giveaways, there was some awesome prizes wow! I haven't quite managed the post a day but I came very close.

Anyway to celebrate this last week of blogtober and all the lovely weddings and engagements of friends and family that keep popping up lately.

We are having a wedding themed craft giveaway!!

To enter make a comment with your favourite wedding memory and you get one entry.

Become a follower and get two entries.

Post about this giveaway on your blog (and let me know) and you get three entries.

The prize will be crafty goodness in the themes of:

Something borrowed ......
Something blue ......
Something old ......
Something new ........

Good Luck!!!

The giveaway will be drawn this time next week, 2nd november 10am New Zealand time.


Here's a photo from our wedding in may last year it was a lovely autumn wedding.

What's on my needles

I have been getting a bit of knitting done lately which is quite satisfying. I have to stop half way through something else and immediately cast on for this Owl Baby Vest, the very sweeet owl cables just stole my heart. I used a 50 50 wool cotton yarn, which has come up quite nicely and will be a lot cooler for Tessa as we are coming into summer here. It is sized as 9-12m and I added some length to it, which is something I now do for most baby pattern. I like vests for babies a lot as they are very useful and practical for crawling bubbas and so they don't get too hot.

Just need to finish the two armbands and do some embroidery to define a couple of the sweet owl cables. I also decided to carry the owl cables all the way around on the back as well because when Tessa is crawling it would be nice to still see the cabling.

I also finished this Stripe Kitty Cat it has turned out rather sweet and was a good chance to practice my rather lacking embroidery skills.

spring show

Last weekend we went to the Gisborne spring agricultural and pastoral show. It was a lovely day out for the family. DH entered some lambs into four different classes and had great results he got two seconds and a third. This was really special because it was his first time entering and first year managing the farm. There was plenty to see at the show, among the usual sideshows and rides I found these.

They are very cute jungle finger puppets. The detail is amazing, what was just as amazing was the huge bin fill of the with all sorts of types including cartoon characters such as the simpsons. Ther was some great craft areas with competitions for knitting to cake decoration to decorated sand plate. It was such a shame my camera batteries went flat so I didn't get any photos to share with you.

Here is a photo Tessa just because she is so sweet and cute. She has been getting very good on her tummy and rolling a lot.

Native Tee's

A quick craft fix I did the other day. My first go at applique. I had a few too many tshirts for Tessa so thought I would smarten them up and sell them on http://www.felt.co.nz/ . I have used a New Zealand native plant quilt fabric which conveniently had separate designs with borders perfect to cut up.

This year's Blogtober has been great and I have been loving looking at a whole lot of new amazing craft blogs. Here are few of my favourites:

- http://www.littleecofootprints.typepad.com/

- http://www.thriftnestsew.blogspot.com/

- http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/

- http://www.ttwinkle.blogspot.com/

- http://www.theprincessandthemonkey.blogspot.com/

- www.spoonfullofsugargirls.blogspot.com

There are so many more creative interesting blogs still to discover. Great for looking at while having a cuppa.

Don't forget to enter our Blogtober Giveaway, only two more days Good Luck!

Half Year Birthday

Tessa sitting up all by herself for the first time, she has good timing because she did it on her half year birthday. You are a very sweet and special girl my beautiful daughter Tessa. May all your dreams come true. We had a few friends over to celebrate which was fun and Tessa loved all the different faces.

Here is the bag I made from Amy Butler's amazing craft book Little Stitches for Little Ones that I wrote about in the last post. It's called the Everything Bag I guess because of the obvious that it has so many pockets and is a great size to carry all the baby essentials.

It was made with a lovely light denim with grey, pink and white stripes. Which is very effective and one of my favourite colour combinations so cute for little girls too. The lining is a sweet little nursery themed print with rocking horses, rattles and teddy bears in a pale pink stripe. The pattern didn't call for bias binding along the top edge but I think it just finishes the bag quite nicely.

The best craft book ever

Well one of the best, I treated myself when I was pregnant. Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones is well laid out with good instructions. There are projects for every type of sewer from beginner to the more experienced. Gorgeous photography illustrates the twenty baby related projects.

As you can see I have great plans of trying most of the projects. I have made the everything bag with an amazing amount pockets just perfect for a nappy back ( photo to come later) and plan to complete many more with a few works in progress.

Here is some detail from the book. Also her fabrics are to die for and this book shows a great selection. I wish there was a better availablity of her fabric here in New Zealand.

Ellie

Just a quick post to share my latest creation, Ellie the elephant. I made her out of recycled wool blankets I have been collecting from the op-shops around town. One of the little babies from our friday catch up was moving away and I thought a handemade gift would be a perfect little memento of our weekly get togethers which I have been enjoying so much. It will be sad to see them go, we will miss you guys.
Watch this space, there will be more little friends for Ellie soon.

Velvet Sweetheart

This is the Velvet sweetheart dress made for our neighbour's cute three year old little girl's birthaday present.

It is made out of navy velvet fabric lined with a sweet blue floral cotton from my fabric stash, I think my mother gave it to me. I found the perfect sky blue mother of pearl buttons for it at the local sewing shop.

I didn't have a pattern so took a size 2 dress and traced around it sizing up by adding a about 5cm all around. Then I tapered the skirt in a bit as there wasn't quite enough fabric.

sorry about the bad photos they don't the detail as well as they should.

craftiness

Here are some examples of recent craftiness.

As mentioned in an earlier post the need for a birthday gift with meaning personalised cushion for a wee girls bedroom. This was quite simple to make, thankfully when you have the inspiration strike the night before the party.

The first step was cut out the background shape in this case a cute heart.

Next find all the appropriate letters and hope there is enough, arrange in colours that look kind of right with with cute little stars surrounding. Then spend awhile glueing felt letters down batting curious cats away who just want to 'help'. The next step is cut out a square in the chosen main fabric in contrasting colour to the background shape, this square is estimated in size by squashing down the cushion insert and guessing with the tape measure if you don't have the measurements on the insert packaging or if you recycling an old cushion use the old cover as a pattern.

For the back an envelope opening is created by cutting two pieces 3/4 sized of the front square. These are then hemmed and the top overlap can be decorated as wished. The background shape is sewn to the front piece and pinned right sides together with the back pieces make sure the top overlap of the back pieces is touching the front piece. The last step is to sew all four edges and open out cushion cover and insert the cushion and voila! cute original birthday gift.

The knitted objects above were quick and fun to make. The ball with different textures and bell inside will be great for Tessa to roll around as she gets more mobile and sits up. The sweet little ladybug is just the right size for Tessa to hold and has crinkly plastic inside for extra tactile fun.

Birthdays

Birthday season is upon us well that is exaggerating but we have gone to two little girls first birthday parties in the last couple weeks. It was lovely catching up with a lot people that i hadn't seen Tessa's arrival.
This got me inspired I wanted to give presents that are unique are not just going to be a forgotten mess of broken plastic toys. So the solution was to make something what I came up with was a personalied cushion to go in their bedroom. They are made with a fold over back (similar to a pillowcase) for easy access if they need to be washed and I sewed a big coloured heart on the front with the little girl full name glued on in felt letters. I also put their date of birth in felt letters on the back. I will photos as soon as I can (Im still in the dark ages and only have a film camera which I scan photos from).
A exciting thing happen last weekend (well it was for me and after all the hype you may be let down) I was able to get in the vege garden and weed, dig and plant. I put in red bunching onions, parsley and three type of brassicas. I managed to finish between showers of rain before it really started. Perfect they were nicely watered in without any effort