Katniss Inspired Huntress Cowl Crochet Vest

My daughter watched Catching Fire ( Second film of the Hunger Games) I just love the cowl Katniss wears in this film. This inspired me to have a hunt on the internet for a pattern for something similar. I found this http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/huntress-cowl-vest. The yarn I used was cheap and a bit too 'floppy'. I also followed the larger size. So next time better quality yarn and follow the smaller pattern. The pattern is really well written and easy to follow. It only took me a couple of hours to make. I think it needs to be worn over a coat.

Crochet Festival Shawl

Loving this shawl, the pattern can be found HERE It was a great patten to follow. I used

James C Brett Monsoon Aran Yarn S7 using a 5mm hook. I don't think I will wear it in a traditional shawl fashion, I will wear it more like scarf.

Elise Shawl

This post is for a young lady whom I found out checks my blog every night, sorry it has been well over a month since I last posted. So this is for you! … You know who you are!

I made this Elise Shawl in super quick time for me. I used three balls of 100g Monsoon yarn by James C. Brett, shade S1 with a 6mm hook. Tomorrow I will show you a few ways to wear the shawl. The pattern can be found HERE

Tilly Walnes - Love At First Stitch - Delphine Skirt

On Saturday I bought Tilly's new book Love At First Stitch, such a wonderful book with so many tips and fantastic patterns. I had a go at the Delphine skirt. The instructions were easy to follow and I was able to adjust the patten to fit my shape.

Moda Jelly Roll Printemps

I can't claim the glory for this one. My sister came round for the day and made this. It is super simple to make. The tutorial above is how she made it.

Sew Me Something Patterns

I am away for the night in Stratford-Upon Avon. We went for a lovely stroll in the town a came across a great little fabric shop. I then realised it was selling some fantastic patterns I had seen online, here is the link to the site http://www.sewmesomething.co.uk

I could not go away emptied handed!!

Moda Layer Cake and Charm Pack - Chantilly

I have now got the quilting bug. I made this quilt in a couple of days. It is the Moda Layer Cake and Charm Pack - Chantilly. I opted of straight line quilting which I did close together. I have to say it was really hard work doing this but I am really pleased with the overall look it gave. I bought my layer cake and charm pack at the Make it show in Farnborough  this is the shop that I bought it from http://www.therunningchicken.co.uk/. They were so helpful, as I really had no idea what I was going to do with them. The suggestions they made were helpful and as a result I made my first large quilt I was proud of.

Adjustoform Tailor's Dummy - Lady Valet - Small

It has been a while. I have been too busy crafting!
I thought I would share a photo of a new member to our family. I am expecting her to be well behaved and help me to create something...
This is the link if you too would like a new member to your household.
FIND HER HERE
I bought her via Amazon but this is a direct link to the shop she came from. It is a shop called Pandoras Upholstery
The direct link is http://www.pandorasupholstery.co.uk/

Charlotte's Web Machine Embroidery Applique

I am reading Charlotte's Web by E. B. White with one of my guided reading groups at school and it inspired me to make this.

A Free Motion Embroidery Teapot and cup

Today it is a teapot and cup. I did have a link for this but just checked it and the link now goes to something else. If you google tea pot colouring in it comes up.

Free motion Embroidery Butterfly

So after my owl yesterday which can be seen HERE I thought I would have another go. I am no good at drawing, so designing anything filled me with fear. I decided to have a look for an easy pattern to follow on the internet. I found this children's colouring page HERE. It was easy to cut out and a good design for me to continuing practicing.

My First go at Free Motion Machine Embroidery

This is my first ever go at free motion machine embroidery. This is a very new concept for me, I have only just realised that this is even possible. I bought a free motion foot for my machine and did a bit of research in to it. I made my first ever free motion machine quilt the other day. It can be seen HERE
I really enjoyed doing this and fancied having another go with the foot so I came up with this. I have a way to go, the only way I can describe it is like drawing but moving the paper instead of the pencil.

My first attempt at free motion quilting

So I have been rather busy! Over the half term I wanted to have a go at something I had never tried before so I opted for quilting. I have to say I have found it throughly enjoyable. I have only made two small cot sized quilts at the moment. The thought of anything larger seems a little to daunting at this point. I opted for a jelly roll, and I have managed to make two small quilts out of one roll. The one I am sharing today was the simpler of the two to make. The quilting was the harder of the two.

Valentines hearts for my family

I decided to make valentines presents for my husband and children this year. I have only taken pictures of two of them because my daughter has put hers somewhere and I can't find it. I think the children would have preferred chocolate! They were not the easiest thing to make because I had to sew all the embellishments on with clear thread. Threading a needle is bad enough when you can see the thread!

Fabric Valentines Hearts

These hearts were so easy to make. Sew a heart shape and put in a bit of stuffing. I liked the look of the raw edges so they were so quick to make. The only thing that took a bit of time was the decoration in the centre. 

Reupholstered chairs

The finished chairs, please read on for the full story!!!

Coming to our house is a hazardous affair. We have had the same table and chairs for a number of years. The table is still in working order, all be it rather dirty. However, sitting on a chair is like playing Russian Roulette. On one particular day a rather unfortunate guest picked the wrong chair!

It was in a state of complete disrepair and ended up on the fire. The guest was fine apart from a rather sore bottom.

I have now decided to make it my mission to replace all the chairs, I have gone down the road of having mixed chairs, I am not sure if it is the right choice yet. We were in Midhurst the other day and I saw two old chairs for only five pounds each in a charity shop, the mission began!!

I also have a chair coming from my Mum and Dad, so that makes three, only another three to go!!

I chose this Cath Kidston fabric for these two, I think the others (when I have got them) are going to be covered in different plain colours to complement this fabric.

All I needed was a staple gun and some fabric protector

These were the chairs before covering

I roughly drew around the chair pad and cut out the fabric and then ironed

I love how this photo shows all the small holes from previous owners, I think these chairs have been covered many times during their life time.

I am pleased with the way they have turned out. I am in two minds to paint them white. What do you think?