a spot of christmas craftiness

A simple little bit of bunting for your tree or mantel?
You’ll need some felt and some bias binding.  I chose red and white, and a red gingham binding.  The amount of felt will obviously depend on how long you want to make the bunting, and how large you want the triangles to be.

I cut out a cardboard template (about 6cm across the top, about 6.5cm down each side to a point).  I made sure I could get the most from my fabric by using a strip of cardboard to measure out my triangle top to tail.  For example:

Then I just cut out strips of felt of the right width, and (using the template) cut diagonals through the strips to get my triangles.  You’ll need at least 6 or 7 metres of bias binding if you want it to reach around your tree.  Space out evenly and sew together.  All done.

Happy Birthday Nadine!

Another year wiser!  Another lovely afternoon tea, spending time with friends at Jerry & Nadine’s house.  Lots of ridiculously yummy food, delicious coffee, and face painting for the kids.  One of the first days that really felt like summer.

crocheted baby blanket

I’ve been working on a gift for a friend {and I’m prettysure she doesn’t read my blog!} so I’m going to whisper about the blanket I just finished for her.  Her baby shower is on this weekend, so I’m glad it’s done in time for that.  The granny squares are {joined as you go} crocheted with 5.5mm hook, and approximately 5 each of Sean Sheep’s little grins yarn {green, brown, white}.  I used more white, maybe about 8 balls of it.  With this one, I did a diagonal pattern, with a white border of squares around the outside, and finishing with a simple, green edge.  The green in this is one of my favourite greens.

in which i am STILL involved in a work in progress

I suppose that is why it’s called a work in progress!

I’ve started to sew the pieces together – and so it’s probably about a third of the way to completion.  I’ll work on finishing it off this week, as Marj’s birthday is only a week away now. I’ve found it a little difficult to line everything up, and I’m a bit concerned that the next lot of circles won’t fit evenly around. I’ve laid it all out on the floor, and it looks ok, but only time will tell! Then I’ve got the last lot of circles to attach {the smallest ones – motif D} then all I need to attach are the tassles. I must remember to photograph them next time.

in which i am involved in a work in progress

I saw this Temair Throw on the Lion Brand website and thought it would make the perfect gift for my mother-in-law. It’s her birthday in November {and no fear, she doesn’t read my blog!} – also notice how I’ve put the original picture here from the Lion Brand website so all and sundry can see how mine will look nothing like it harhar. So I bought the pattern and the yarn and this is what happened…

There are four circles that need to be made {5 of the largest and 10 each of the rest} and then tassles for each end. Then they have to be joined together, of course. I’ve used a thick yarn to give it a chunky feel – Moda Vera ‘shiver’ in cream. I’ve completed the circles which look like this, and I haven’t woven the ends in yet so these are pretty raw:

The plan: I will be making the tassles this weekend, and then joining it all together next week. Of course the most important part of The Plan is to have it done in plenty of time for her birthday in case it doesn’t work out and I have to race out and buy her something {harhar}. That was nervous laughter. Nervous because I rarely follow a pattern, so it’s always interesting when I do.

Wish me luck!?