An oldie

Quilt Sandwich

Time to dig into the UFO pile!!

I started making these placemats for Christmas 4 years ago!!!! They were all pieced I was just stuck on how I wanted them finished!! So on Monday I had a sudden urge to just finish them. I dug out the walking foot and batting and got stuck into quilting. I decided to make 2 into a table run instead of having 6 placemats. 

I'm not sure what it's called but I've just backed them using the leftovers and turned inside. No binding then!!

I noticed too late that my tension is screwed, so now I'm stuck again and they may sit in the UFO pile again for another 4 years!

Construction time

Mice bits

It's mice construction time. I think it will be cool enough this evening for a bit of hand sewing. I would like for them to be finished by the end of the week but I always under estimate the time it takes to sew amigurumi together!!

Time for some sewing

All cut out

It was too hot on Monday to do any crocheting so I thought I'd make a start on AJ's Christmas present. He's getting it early as he needs it for his dance concerts this weekend. Couldn't stand him carrying around a supermarket green bag with his dance stuff in it anymore!! So we both dug deep in the pattern pile and he chose I Think Sew's Katie Boston bag. I love how he can see a pattern and be able to project his own take on it, doesn't just look at it and see a girls bag because of the fabric used in the pattern. Yay!

Nearly finished

Just need to add the bias binding to the inside and I'm done! Think I might also add a base. I used thick fabric and interfaced but it needs more structure. Perfect size for him this year, I'm just grateful he's doing hip hop and doesn't need a tu tu!! Some of the bags the girls were dragging into dress rehearsal were enormous!

Days 7-15. Taking form

Handmade Christmas Progress

Check out those shoes!! Well you can't really tell they are shoes yet, but they are cute. Yes I am making Ballerina Mice for my nieces. Both dancing obsessed at the moment. I have visions of them taking their Ballerina dolls to concerts for years to come, fingers crossed that will be a reality. 

They are really taking form now. I'm getting some very inquisitive looks on the train but more and more people are starting to ask what I'm making. I used to just stick with easy projects for the train, but I'm now getting very adventurous. Haven't pulled out the stuffing yet though ;-). If you are ever on a Hurstbridge train in Melbourne and see me crocheting away, stop and say hi :-).

The pattern I am using for this project is by lilleliis and can be found on etsy. I want to try so many of her other projects too. I'm checking out her free bunny pattern so I can use up all that pink i'll have left over!!

Have you found a great pattern lately? Please share.

Days 4-6 Progress

Progress days 4-6

Check out that pink!!!! Not a colour I am used crocheting with, so bright. I'm not a pink girl, but my niece is. Both of my boys have gone through a pink phase, but not bright pink.

I'm going to have heaps of it left over, now I need to work out what I can make with it! Pink dinosaurs maybe?

Day 3 progress

Day 3 Progress

I'm not used to such a large project!! These 100g balls are causing a bit of a storage problem. Hopefully they will minimise considerably. I've got more colours to add though ;-).

Christmas gift progress

Day 2 working on Christmas Gifts

I'm really enjoying making on the train again, and these girls are coming along really quickly. I'm a bit behind in writing about them, but that's ok. If you want to skip ahead check out my Instagram (look for dittocrafts) or flickr (click on the picture above).

Handmade Christmas 2014

work in progress

Hello totally neglected blog! It appears having two blogs doesn't increase blog writing, it just makes you ignore both ;-). Well I'm hoping that will change! This blog is after all meant for my personal craft making, not making for Ditto Crafts. So here is what I'm making at the moment. Gifts for my neices for Christmas. Can you guess what it will be?

Mini grocery bags

I'm a sucker for a pre cut. No idea why. Maybe it's not wanting to stand in a cutting cue. So I have heaps of fat quarters sitting in my stash with no real intended purpose. I'm trying to do a bit of stash busting. So it got me thinking. What could I make with an entire fat quarter. They are mainly little girl prints. I have 2 boys!! I'm going to be making grocery bags for my next market so I thought I'd see if I could make one of the smallest size. Not quite. But I could make a mini bag instead, for the mini shopper. So I downsized the pattern (I'll give measurements when they are finished). Looks like I'll get the outside bag and handles plus I could make a little zip purse too. Done! So I spent a lovely Sunday with the rotery cutter, cut up 10 fat quarters and nearly used all my calico which I'll use for lining. Not a bad way to spend a quiet Sunday.

If you want to make a grocery bag too click on the Michelle Patterns button in my side bar. If you do I'd love to see them.

How do you use up your stash?

All cut up

Addicted to making bags

I admit it I love to make bags and purses. I'm always on the lookout for patterns and tutorials. Here are some I've made lately.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Keychain Clutch

This is the second Keychain Clutch I've made, this time at the normal size (last one was at 150%). It's very cute and just fits my mobile, but it is the wrong shape for that so its now a coin purse. I've sewn a press stud to close instead of velcro, needs a button on the front.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Lots of Pockets Tote

This is a very cute bag, just big enough for all the essentials. Great bag to go shopping, or take to the craft show as I did. Can't buy more stuff to put in it!! All the fabric is from ikea, great for bags I've decided. Instead of using quilt batting I used some polar fleece with the lining, which gives it a nice padding but made it too think so sew over around the top so I wont be doing that again. I would interface the outside pockets but not the lining. The pockets on the front of the bag are very handy. I attached a magnetic snap to close but I think it needs to be bigger, next time.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Pocket Clutch

This clutch is very cute. Would be great for a night out, just need to have one! Would fit my mobile and small wallet with cards and notes.

Pattern by Keyka Lou - Keychain Clutch (small is 100% and large is 150%)

Same as the one at the top just increased the pattern size for the larger one. I've made this before. The point for turning the right way round is at the base, when I make this again I will try to have the turning point at the top, it's tricky to make a nice even closing stitch at the base, especially with this type of material. I used a hammer in snap closure this time, which I had no problem with, I expected to as others have said they are tricky.

Pattern by ithinksew - Zipper Pouch

Another pattern maker I discovered is ithinksew. Very cute baby shoes, which I will save for another post. This Zipper Pouch came as a free pattern when you buy other patterns. This little pouch has the zip behind the broken needle incident. It's easy (if you can sew zips) and quick to put together. I made it for Little A's friend who turned 7 on the weekend. I will definitely be making more of these.

Box Pouch

This box pouch came about after I was looking on the net for a small square bag for little girls. There are heaps of tutorials for a box pouch (still looking for a small bag). I started with this tutorial but ended up changing the construction slightly, and put a plastic base in the bottom. I would interface it next time (thought the type of material would be strong enough) though it does stand on it's own very well. I also made this for Little A's friend.

Well that's it for the bags at the moment. I do think I'll be making these for the school fete.

More Keyka Lou pouches waiting to be sewn up

These are some more Keyka Lou pouches waiting to be sewn up. Pleated pouches in 3 sizes and more keychain clutches.

TTFN

Skill Builder Sampler - block 2

Skill Builder Sampler - block 2, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

Ended up about a 1/4" short again. But at least I'm being consistent!!

Can't wait till friday for the next one. If you want to join in too just pop over to Sewn.

Skill Builder Sampler - block 1

Skill Builder Sampler - block 1, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I'm joining in on the "We can do it! Skill Builder Sampler" over at Sewn.

I cheated and used a jelly role. Don't worry I regret it, the cutting wasn't good so the patterns ended up looking wonky. I ended up just under 12 1/2" square.

I did it

I cut the fabric.

Then I sewed it back together again.

Now how to quilt it. Hand or machine? Straight or something else? Please I need help with this.

I got the pattern from here.

TTFN

On the needles

On the needles, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

I came across a honey cowl on ravelry that I just had to try. It's going to be nice and warm. I've been working on it for a few weeks now when I'm waiting for pick ups etc. Hopefully I'll get it finished by the end of winter!! If you want more details on the knitting you can check out my page on ravelry.

TTFN

A belt in the making

A belt in the making, originally uploaded by MandyMade.

My first project from Nikki's new book will be the kids belt. After very careful consideration of what fabric to use (on Aidan's behalf) we started measuring and cutting. We had to sew two bits together as they weren't long enough!! See how that goes. I tried to use the bias binding maker but I'm having a few problems, it's not very even and keeps slipping a bit. Not sure if its because I have the kind of bias binder maker that you also put fusible tape through, can't see how that would make a difference, any ideas? Oh well, will try again.

TTFN

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day for yesterday.

This brekky was made for me by my lovely husband, my fave.  We had a nice day mostly at home, I could have stayed in the new slippers and dressing gown I was given all day. We did the extended family gatherings on saturday, which didn't go to plan as we'd been looking forward to. No thanks to a drunk driver early saturday morning, for wiping out the car my sister was driving on the way to a market. She was very lucky and walked away from the accident, not sure what happened to the other driver, or the puddings she was driving to the market. So she and her family unfortunately couldn't be with us. I would like to say a lot more about the drunk driver but wont at the mo, my language might get a bit worse than grr, and I just don't want to lower myself.

This time last year I went to the stitches and craft show with my mum. I bought Nikki's make-up purse pattern and some fabric from amitie with the intension of making a purse for mum last mothers day. Well a year later and I finally did it!! I had two problems stopping me from making the purse, what design to put on it and the zip. I've always been a bit scared of sewing zips, don't know why just have.

When Aidan came home from school the other day, we'd been discussing making something for Grandma for mothers day, he sat down and drew a monster. He's not one for sitting down and doing anything with pencil and paper so you can imagine my surprise when he came up with the above design, complete with dashed lines where the sewing was to go, a name for the monster, Straud, and a whole back story. The back story I wasn't so surprised about, his imagination is enormous. So that was one side of the purse designed, the other I traced around both boys hands, Oliver was a bit harder to do, he still wants to clench his fist. I don't think his hand will fit inside Aidan's for much longer though, he's growing at a rate of knots, 11 weeks now, it's gone so fast.

I used iron on applique paper to transfer the design onto the material, then hand sewed around it. I need to learn free motion on the sewing machine. It came together pretty quickly, Aidan was happy with it. He wanted me to make a softie out of the design too but I explained that he drew a more 2D monster and he'd have to draw it again for me to make a 3D object, he just looked at me as if to say, you got this much out of me, now you want more? Oh what to do with a 6 year old.

I needn't have been scared of sewing the zip in. I did have one unpicking incident but apparently even the professionals do that!! I'm happy with how it's turned out. I could have the applique a bit higher up, I'll know for next time.

Oh, and I finally got the crazy nine patch lattice quilt top finished. Now I just have to decide how to back it, quilt it and bind it. May take another year. Hopefully not. Any ideas?

TTFN

My Creative Space

I've decided to get on the band wagon and post my creative space for this week. I've been a bit absent from my blog of late, life stuff, so I thought this might get me back in.

I'm only working on 2 things at the moment, shock horror, with a million and 1 things in my head wanting to be made. I have started the stitchery from Melly and Me's Kaleidoscope book. It's the first bit of stitchery I've done in a while, after almost 15 years of intense cross stitch (which I haven't done for about 5 years now) it's nice to get back into some hand sewing in the evenings. But I have to say, what has happened to dmc thread? I needed to buy more black and it's not nearly as nice and smooth to stitch with as it used to be. I thought maybe it was because I wasn't stitching on aida cloth, but then I switched to another colour from my old stash, nope, it's so scratchy and the old stuff so smooth. Oh well.

I've finished all of the crazy nine patch squares, yay, and I've even trimmed them. Now I'm just a bit undecided as to how to put it together. There are a lot of patterns in the fabric and put together it's a bit too intense so I think I might border each with white. I'll post some mock ups soon.

And just to finish off, Little A's create space.

For more creative space go visit kootoyoo.

TTFN

First Friendship star

First Friendship star
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

This is my first attempt at this kind of patchwork. I am now following Block Party Quilt Along. It looks like a really good way for me to pace myself and learn some patchwork.
I think I am safe in telling you this (I am pretty sure my MIL doesn't read this) that I am making a table runner for my MIL for christmas using 3 of these stars. I made an apron for her with the same fabric.
It's the biggest quilting project I have undertaken, the patchwork bit didn't take as long as I thought so lets hope of the quilting will be the same.

TTFN

WIP's and secret stuff

WIP's and secret stuff
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

Enough said!!

Sunday WIP #2

Sunday WIP #2
Originally uploaded by MandyMade

This weeks WIP's. (works in progress for those not down with the lingo!!)

This is Little A's Library bag, been on the go for a while but finally got the chance this weekend to finally start sewing it together.

Ok, I still have a few WIP's, and the hubby still says I can't buy anymore fabric until I have finished all my WIPs before they turn into UFO's (un finished objects!!) It's now 28 days since I bought any material!!

So in no particular starting (or finishing) order:

• Sgt Peppter turtles: More softies
• Scream: More softies
• Mr Rooster: More softies
• Library bag for Little A: Homespun Mag
• Crotchet Beanie: Lincraft
• Felt Bag: Bags that rock
• Kimono foundation piece project.

And on the to-do list

• Taxi Tote: Anna Maria Horner, for Mum (fabric bought)
• Pencil roles: Homespun Mag, for ...... (surprise) (fabric bought)
• Summer quilt for little A (fabric not bought yet!!)
• Pin cushion from sew mama sew for me (fabric stash)
• Nicole Mallalieu Bag(s) for me
• Summer quilt for us

Think that's it. Want to add to my list? Just add a comment!!