Friday 30 December 2011

CNA Mama stocking swap

This post is for the lovely ladies at Cloth Nappy Addicts. I took part in a Mama Stocking Swap, but I left the forum before I could post about my lovely gifts. 

I didn't want to leave my swappee hanging, so I'm making this post for her. 

Here is what was in my lovely little parcel
Christmas Day

1. A bag of beautiful buttons
2. 2 FQ's of fabric (at least I think they're FQ's) 
3. Some lace ribbon
4. Designer beaver..very funny...lol  
5. A bag of cinnamon sticks and dried fruit
6. Baileys chocolate (Yum!)
7. and a very thoughtful bag of rainbow drops :D 

Christmas morning I went upstairs for something and when I came back down, Rheya was designing herself a fashionable beaver. I almost wet myself laughing. Since then Anara has had a go too. When asked what they are doing, they reply "drawing a bum" 

Thank you so much Santa. I'm very sorry I can't be there to thank you directly on the forum, I hope this will suffice. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess it was Devonem. It would be really lovely if my Santa could come along and let me know who they are so I can thank them. 

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and an even better New Year
xxxxx




Socks off to ya!


My next major project is going to be a pair of socks, so I'm taking part in the knit-a-long on 'Visions of Sugar Plums' blog. I've wanted a handmade pair of socks every since my friend came flashing her beautiful, cozy handmade socks in my face. I loved them instantly and I wants some!

Last year, at the Knitting and Stitch show, I bought myself a sock making kit. It came with everything I needed; the pattern, the yarn and the needles. Well I really don't like the yarn (it's acrylic and not very nice to the touch), the pattern isn't very easy to follow and the needles are metal, so they keep slipping out of the stitches. It would've put me off making socks if it wasn't for the fact that I REALLY want some and I'm fully aware that yarn and needle quality are paramount. 

So at this years knitting and stitch show, I bought myself (technically I was buying my Christmas presents from my Mum) some KnitPro Symfonie DPNs and some nice sock yarn, all I need now is a simple pattern. Feel free to make recommendations. I'm not a novice knitter so I guess it doesn't really have to be too easy, just not super complicated. 

Other projects I want to have a go at in 2012 are
* A poncho
* A knitted doll (I already have the pattern I want to use)
* the knitted bauble I never got around to making

Any other projects, I would like to work around my existing stash and try to destash a little. 

A year in the making & FO Friday



I thought it would be fun to review all my makes for 2011. Today's finished items are at the bottom, in December for anyone who wants to skip past to see my FO's


JANUARY

P1000969
P1000848
1. A collaboration gift, for my a pregnant friend. I only made the longies, the top was made by my friend Steph. 
2. Hat for a friends little boy

FEBRUARY

2. A pair of longies for a friend who helped me out in a big way

MARCH

P1010325P1010343
A couple of Easter baskets I made for my children

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I had a go at making my own Easter eggs. It didn't work out so I bought some

P1010440
A kimono for my youngest daughter

P1010648
In threes cardigan for my eldest daughter

Mum's Mother's Day presentRheya's summer dress
1. Lantern bag for my Mum (Mothers Day)
2. Pillow case dress for my eldest daughter

APRIL

P1010719Doll basket
I made the dolls in 2010, but the baskets were made in April.
1. Was for my youngest
2. Was for my neice

P1010730P1010963
1. Another Easter basket (I ended up with 3, 2 for my daughters and one for my niece)
2. I bought some handmade buttons from Smiggles and added them to the in threes cardigan I made in March.

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I helped my eldest make an Easter bonnet for her Easter parade at school

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2. a 3rd basket, this one was for my eldest daughter.

MAY

Jacob's romper
A premature romper for my nephew

photo.JPG
In threes cardigan for my youngest


Chloe's girls
A couple of dresses I made for a friends daughters



JUNE

seamless kimono
Seamless kimono for my eldest, unfortunately it's far too big atm.

JULY

Peg apronCake!
1. Peg apron for my friends Birthday
2. Cake (made jointly with my friend Mel) for a friends Birthday

Craft apron
Craft apron, made for my eldest daughters little friend

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Appliquéd onto a top for my cousin

AUGUST

P1040595P1040895
1. Shorts for a swap I took part in
2. Shorts for my youngest

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2. 2nd pair of shorts for the same swap as above

P1040598Top for Rheya
1. Some more handmade buttons from smiggles that I put on the other cardigan I made
2. A top I made my eldest

Bean bagsBean bags
Beanbags I made for a friends daughter

SEPTEMBER

Rainbow WIPEloise cardigan
1. I started a rainbow ripple blanket
2. Eloise cardigan for my youngest, unfortunately too small :(

Dino...raaaawww
Dino for a friends little boy

OCTOBER

P1060135
1. Eloise cardigan for my eldest

P1060151P1060174
Jiji the catP1060209

1. Knitting bag ornament for my Christmas tree
2. Gingerbread man costume for my eldest
3. Jiji the cat for my daughters teacher
4. Skeleton bride (missing a veil) for halloween

Apple cozyP1060391
1. Apple cozy for a teacher
2. Homemade crackers for halloween

Project bag
project bag for meeeeee

NOVEMBER

P1060422P1060478
P1060531Pleated Skirt
1. Cake for my husband
2. Irish hiking scarf
3. Rainbow crayons
4. Pleated skirt for my eldest

Totoro hatP1060574
Project bagSuperhero kit
1. Totoro hat for my eldest
2. Sailor outfit for my friends daughter
3. Project bag for my Nanna
4. Cape and mask for my friends son

Rainbow bunting
Bunting for my daughters rainbow party

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12 days of Christmas for my daughters teachers

Narasaurus
Dino for my youngest

Rainbow partyChristmas Stocking
1. Rainbow cake for my daughters Birthday
2. Mini stocking for my Christmas tree

DECEMBER

Rainbow Party
The ultimate Rainbow Party

Apple coastersP1070818
1. Apple coasters for a teacher
2. Mug Cozy for a teacher


Christmas cake
My very first attempt at Christmas cake

Christmas placemats
Christmas placemats


and what you've all been waiting for....

my finished items for today. A rainbow shawl/scarf.
Boxing Day

The pattern is called The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief 
Boxing Day

Boxing Day

and I finished the Cwtchy Cable Armwarmers just in time for my trip out tomorrow :D

Cwtchy Cable Armwarmers

Cwtchy Cable Armwarmers

Cwtchy Cable Armwarmers

Cwtchy Cable Armwarmers

I hope you've enjoyed my journey down memory lane. I
For 2012 I'm going to try to use up all my stashes instead of filling my house with even more fabric/yarn/notions

For more finished items, head to Tami's Amis

Also taking part in Fiber Friday