Some more test knitting

I think this year is fast becoming the year of the test knit. These are my sixth and seven finished test knits for the year so far and I have another two tests on the needles. I guess I work much better with a deadline. And I love the little thrill of being one of the first few to knit a new pattern.


The sweet twirly skirt above is my test of the Tropical Fish Skirt from the very prolific and talented pattern designers Elena Nodel. It was a great stash buster knit, I used some lovely Cleckheaton country paintbox variegated purples and a plum for the trim.

The above and below pics show the test of the Sweet As ... pattern by Amber Bertram. I knit this a month or so ago in size 3, it had a unusual and new to me construction, top-down set in sleeves. This was a gift knit for a different little girl to the gorgeous model in the photos.

Summer Pants

I have been busy sewing some cute summer pants lately. With upcycled linen and cute cotton prints. The sweet smurf pants Tessa finally fit just in time for summer, I can't take credit for. I bought them from the lovely Hanna of CraftyKin from her felt shop a few months ago.

These cute Owl and Tree fern pants were made for one of Tessa's little friends at Kindermusik, they are in size 18months and were inspired by Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Pants from her gorgeous new book Handmade Beginnings.

Meet Milly

Tessa is quite excited to have a new knitted friend.

Millie is knitted from Jean Goodhowe's Twin dressing-up doll pattern


Just because I'm loving her sweet curls at the moment and I know they won't last.

Tessa loves carrying Milly around but her head is so heavy from all the hair that it just flops over, I think I will sew it down to the neck a bit to see if that helps.

So the pattern has all the info for knitting lots of clothes for the dolly. But by the time I had finished sewing on the last of the hair, I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to use Tessa's old clothes to dress Milly.

FO Milo and Ripley

Pattern: Milo by Georgie Hallam

Yarn: Cleckheaton Country Silk (discontinued) 8ply, 1 1/3 50gm balls. I got this yarn for a bargain from our local yarn shop, yay for discontinued yarn 11 balls for $3/ball.

I can't say enough good things about this pattern what a gorgeous vest so simple but very cute. The option of five easy cables is great for anyone wanting try cables for the first time. I knitted this up in the 3 month size with a little extra length to fit for a bit longer. Something I do with most of the kids knits I do. The aran cable looks great and I can't wait to try one of the other cables, maybe the owls.
This is a gift for our friends having their second wee boy due next week. Our weekly friday mummy and baby catch up group are giving her a surprise baby shower tomorrow afternoon I can't wait. Second babies don't seem to get as much fuss and adoration as the first so we thought we do a little something to make her feel pampered and special.



Pattern: Ripley by Ysolda

Yarn: Naturally Sensation 10ply yarn, about half a ball

Another knit I finished lately, a cute hat for my gorgeous sister's birthday last month, modeled by my lovely MIL. Hopefully I will get some photos of the hat modeled on Sis (hint hint). What a nice knit, simple and interesting enough for TV watching without being too complicated. My first of Ysolda's amazing patterns she is so talented. I bought her Whimsical Little Knits ebook and I can't wait to try the rest.

I have a few other WIP (works in progress) on the needles at the moment. Including Young Einstein hooded cardi for Tessa, a little ruffle scarf for myself and an Earflap hat for little bro's birthday. Hopefully I will have a few more FO (finished objects) to share by the end of the month.

A couple of handmade gifts

Here is a few gifts I have made lately and actually remembered
to take photos of before wrapping. Above is a size 3-6mth merino bomber hat in charcoal grey and dusky pink. I can't wait to see if it fits ok.

And above is a pair of merino pants I refashioned out of the sleeves of a wrap top. I used a piece of elastic and attached cotton tape to the end, this is trial to improve waist bands, I think this might be the answer. Hopefully they will last awhile with this style of waistband, babies grow so fast. Normally I wouldn't have a 'V" section in the front as well the back but I was a bit distracted at the cutting out stage. Oh well I think it still turned out ok.

A Paper Bag

The simplest things can be the best sort of baby toys. Much better than the plastic rubbish that society trys to push at parents. Tessa was throughly entertained the other day by this paper bag.

It was great for shaking.

And even better for chewing.

Also pretty good for wacking.

Blogtober Giveaway

To celebrate Blogtober and our gorgeous Tessa turning six months old we are going to have a giveaway.

So its going to be a baby themed giveaway. I haven't decided exactly what yet but are a few ideas.
- Hemp/cotton bibs
- knitted toys
- patchwork cotton rattle ball
- Pinafore dress with vintage fabrics
- Cute little merino pants
- Ellie the elephant

Leave a comment with what you might like and you get one entry but if you become a follower you get three entrys.
This give away ends on the 16th October.
Good Luck!!!!

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.

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