Christmas Cotton

Just a quick update as I'm working away in Oxford this weekend. Yawn.

Is this the best Christmas sewing thread ever? I think so.

Fabric Fantastic

I've been shopping again today. I went to Grace and Jacob in my lunch break to find some fabrics to finish off Emma's Cot Quilt. I really love their collection of fabrics - they don't have loads and loads in store, but everything they do have is absoloutely beautiful.

For the backing of the quilt I have chosen a lovely blue floral print, it really ties in with the fabrics on the front, but the pattern is slightly larger-scale.

The fabric from the Delilah Collection by Tanya Whelan Grand Revival for Free Spirit TW42 Bijou.

I then went a little mad and bought this really bright red spotty fabric for the binding. I think (hope!) it will really set off the other prints.

 

It's actually from the same range. Delilah Collection by Tanya Whelan Grand Revival for Free Spirit TW43 Dots.

 

That's the shopping done for now!

Stained Glass Window Progress

I just got back from my stained glass class and am pleased to say the leading is nearly complete! I probably should wait to share this until its totally leaded but I'm too excited. I've been working on it at home like mad and could probably have finished it before tonight's class but I'd ran out of one width of lead. Typical.

 

Anyway, there's no particular rush now as I've signed up for a second term of classes. Yay!

 

Emma's Cot Quilt

I have finished sewing together the top of Emma's Cot Quilt. I am so happy to finally be making some progress with this quilt, it seems like I've been working on everything else but this recently. I love the chevrons, I will defo be making this pattern again. Spot the deliberate mistake in the top left corner. I spent FOREVER sewing and resewing all the pieces so no two fabric patterns were together (or so I thought!). I didn't notice the error until after I'd sewn the whole quilt top. It actually made me laugh out loud because I've been so particular about it. I've decided to live with it (and Emma won't notice!).

 

Here's a close up. Look at the points of those triangles, what a relief!

 

 

This last one boggles the eye.

I'll be hitting the fabric shops of York tomorrow for the backing and binding! Yippee!

The Knitting and Stitching Show

I set my alarm for 7am this morning (I know, on a Saturday!) so that I could be in Harrogate in time for the start of the Stiching and Knitting Show. Tim was less than impressed. I was expecting massive queues but as we'd arrived so early we were pretty much the first people there. Oops. Here I am (feeling a bit of a prat) outside the Harrogate International Centre waiting for the show to start.

 

It was actually really lovely to get there so early as it meant we could mooch around the stalls easily and really look at the fab products on show. I had it in mind that I'd try and find some fabric to go with the Winter Wonderland fabric I bought yesterday for mine and Tim's Christmas stockings.

 

I ended up buying a fat quarter of these two fabrics at pretty much the first stall. Yay me! Tim chose the grey one as it features mushrooms (his Dad is a fungi specialist!) I got the red one with the birds.

 

 

Both of the fabrics are by Annela Hoey for Moda. The red fabric is Cherry Christmas -  Cherry Robin and the grey is A Walk in the Woods - Birds on Apples. So cute.

 

My only other purchase was a meter of a red large spot fabric. Not sure who its by, but I thought it would tie in with the other fabrics.

 

 

I had hoped to buy some fabric for the backing to Emma's Quilt but I just didn't see anything that was perfect! I'm happy though we had a lovely day out. We managed to escape just as it was getting busy, so Tim was happy. I also bought him a bun from Betty's teashop on the walk back to the car. What a lovely wife I am.

Best Christmas Fabric Ever

I have bought the most fabulous Christmas fabric. It's a gorgeous winter scene. I really am not sure what I'll be making with it, perhaps a Christmas stocking for myself, but I just couldn't resist! The animals are hilarious.

 

See? Hahaha! Hohoho!

The print is called Winter Wonderland by Ingrid for Moda.

 

In other news I've decided (last minute!) to go to The Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate tomorrow. I've not bought a ticket in advance and Saturday's show is the busiest so I'll have to get there early. Quite exciting though. Fab.

 

 

 

 

 

No More Glass Please

I only have 3 more stained glass classes so I'm on a bit of a deadline to try and get moving with my stained glass window at home. Due to the bijoux nature of my house, this process has been taking place on my lounge floor. Not ideal. I've put loads of plastic down, but glass splinters still fly everywhere. The lovely Tim is thrilled I can tell you. I have been cutting out glass for hours, and hours and hours - actually probably forever now I think about it. If I've not been at work I've been cutting. My fingers are so sore, I have broken countless pieces of glass, but finally I have finished the 124 coloured pieced of glass required for my window. I cannot describe my happiness.

Anyway enough whinging, I think it's been worth the effort (almost). Ta Dah!

 

I have also just started the leading process. I have chosen to vary the size of the lead depending on its position in the window. The straight lines are the widest, the outer circles are medium sized lead and finally the smallest circles have he smallest width lead. I hope it will add a nice effect.

 

 

Ooh, it's getting far more exciting now!

 

 

Feeding The Christmas Cakes

I've just fed the traditional fruit Christmas Cakes with brandy and thought I'd share the process with you. The brandy keeps the cakes really moist and helps develops a delicious flavour (I promise it's not too boozy. Ahem!). When storing, I keep my cooked cakes wrapped in the greaseproof paper they were baked in, then wrapped in tinfoil, and finally stored upside down in an airtight container. To add the brandy, I simply turn the cakes the right way up, unwrap the tin foil and pour on the alcohol. For a large cake I tend to add about 4tbsp, for a smaller one 2-3tbsp. Some people recommend skewering the cake first to allow the alcohol to penetrate, but I have never bother with this step and it works just fine. I repeat the process every 2-4 weeks depending on when I remember!

 

Look at it glistening! Next, simply re-wrap, tip upside down, store and let the magic happen!

Half Square Triangle Layouts

I've finally finished trimming my half square triangles (hst), so I'm ready to start sewing them together. Yay! I've spent most of this afternoon trying a few different layouts in my design space (aka the lounge floor). Each hst is made up of one 'dark' and one 'light' fabric, unfortunately I think my fabric choices were a bit too similar so it lacks a bit of contrast! When I started these blocks I had in mind that I'd do chevrons. First I tried keeping the chevrons the same fabric right across the quilt. It looks quite nice in this photo, but just didn't really work in real life. Too bold.

Then I tried pairing the 'dark' fabrics, so the blues together, the pinks together, the greens together. This didn't work as I didn't have a pair for all the fabrics. Hmm.

I then gave up on the hst idea and tried pinwheels. I wasn't happy with this either. It looks too confused, again because the contrast between the 'dark' and 'light' fabrics isn't bold enough.

 

I then had one more go with the chevrons, using a random layout of all the 'darks' and all the 'lights' for each chevron. I think I'm happiest with this pattern, what do you think?

 

 

I think I've learnt a lesson here from this quilt - contrast, contrast, contrast! I'm not giving up though, I will carefully choose a binding fabric and hopefully that will make the colours in the final quilt really pop.

 

 

Cute Cardie

You might have caught a sneak peak of this cardigan in the Christmas Stocking post. It's another knit for my niece Emma. Here is my favourite model posing in the most amazing pair of bright pink tights - tee hee!

My younger sister Anna (Minnie Loves...) originally found the pattern online and informed me that I must make it for Emma (she can't knit!). It really is the most gorgeous pattern, I love the stripey design on the yoke. The pattern is the Petra Cardigan from Pickles, every time they release a pattern one size is free, so I was lucky this time. The pattern requires an aran weight yarn, I used Abuelita Merino Worsted in Grey Kitten and Multi. The wool is hand wash only but it is so soft and lovely to work with. I also couldn't resist these fab large plastic buttons. So cute.

Stars and Scraps Quilt Going To Japan!

I have finished my Stars and Scraps Quilt! It is now winging it's way to Japan, I hope my friend Matsuo san likes it. Actually, in other exciting news, do you remember me saying that I would love to meet her again (after 8 years)? Well, I have only persuaded the lovely Tim to go with me next year! Yippee! We have timed our holiday to coincide with cherry blossom season. Too exciting.

Anyhow, back to the quilt, I love the overall effect. The star block is very simple but effective. Here it is looking lovely in Mum and Dad's garden. My legs on this photo make me chuckle.

Yes it is me holding the quilt!

Here it is momentarily in my home. It was quite tempting to keep the quilt I can tell you!

 

Just before I go, here's a quick look at the lovely spotty backing fabric and pink floral binding...

 

 

Love it! I can't wait to crack on with the next one now.

Emma's Christmas Stocking

I've had a lovely day with my sister and niece. I've literally just walked in the door but I have to share with you the Christmas stocking. It's turned out really fab and even gained Emma's seal of approval!

 

The entire project took about 2 or 3 hours. Here is Vicky cutting out the fabric (we drew round Vicky's shop bought Christmas stocking to get the right shape). Vicky had a lovely red gingham from a previous craft project which we used for the lining.

 

 

We had a very captive audience in the form of Emma, who found the whole process fascinating but especially the sewing machine. We hardly heard a peep from her. Here she is checking that the batting is up to scratch. Sorry about the drool, she'd cut her first tooth today - so exciting!

 

 

Here's me at the machine adding a few finishing touches. We inadvertently deviated from the pattern, so had to add a binding on. Oops.

 

 

Here is the final stocking, we added a big letter E (for Emma) using the same green fabric as the backing. Vicky still wants to blanket stitch round the letter for a bit of extra decoration and add a jingle bell, but otherwise it's done!

 

Now we just have to hope that Emma has been a good girl this year...!

UPDATE!

Here is the totally finished stocking, blanket stitched and jingling!

Christmas Stocking

I've been persuaded by my sister Vicky to take a day off work tomorrow (I admit it was easily done!), we are going to make a Christmas stocking for my niece Emma. I have been roped in to helping so that we can share Emma watching between us. We have been looking at patterns for a while, but have found this perfect Scrappy Christmas Stocking tutorial by Diary of a Quilter (it was only blogged yesterday so perfect timing). Vicky has bought the fabric in preparation, it's very festive! It was bought from a specialist quilting fabric shop in Sheffield Patchwork Garden.

Wish us luck!

Walking To Work

The lovely Tim and I walk into work every day, it's about 3 miles and takes FOREVER. Ooh I hate it, especially in winter when the cold hurts my ears. Tim's had the same complaint so I've been knitting him a Monmouth Cap. Today was it's grand inauguration - he loves it so I suppose that's all that matters. I'm not quite sure it's the most stylish thing I've ever produced! Anyhow, here it is.

Enough of the hat, here is the real highlight of todays walk in! Christmas elves! My favourite coffee shop, The Perky Peacock 2, Gillygate, seller of the best coffee in York is bedecked with 4 of these Christmas elves. How can a girl resist? Best Christmas decorations ever.

 

Ho Ho Ho!

Binding Fabric

I've had a lovely weekend in Sheffield visiting my family. I also got to have a razzle with my lovely niece Emma, she is wonderful. Crafting wise this has meant things have been bit slow this weekend but I have bought some fabric to bind my Stars and Scraps Quilt. I had hoped to find a nice yellow, but I just couldn't get the right shade with a small enough pattern. I ended up going pink!

The fabric is Enchanted Garden by Sentimental Studios for Moda. It should be perfect.

Stars and Scraps Quilt Quilted

I've made good progress with my Stars and Scraps Quilt, the basting and quilting is finished. I was originally going to simply 'stitch in the ditch' along the horizontal and vertical seams, but it just didn't seem finished. I then decided to quilt along the diagonals as well, using the diagonals of the star as a guide. I think it's perfect now - I'm really happy with it.

 

All I need to do now is buy some gorgeous fabric for the binding and I'll be all finished. Yippee!

Stained Glass Window Progress

After a weeks holiday due to the half-term last week, it was back to my stained glass course this evening. It was good to make some progress with the glass cutting. I hope that my cut running pliers will turn up this week as I really want to progress to the leading up stage. Here is my progress so far - still plenty to do.

The colours really are beautiful, here's a close-up.

 

Ooh I just cannot wait for it to be finished!

Monmouth Cap For Oddball Husband

Tim has been waffling on about me making him a Monmouth Cap for so long, that I have finally given in and cast on. What is a Monmouth Cap I hear you ask?

'The Monmouth Cap was an item of woollen headgear fashionable between the 15th and 18th centuries, and associated with the town of Monmouth in south east Wales. The knitted round caps were used by both soldiers and sailors, and they were widely exported.' (Wikipedia)

Cripes, what have I done? He's going to look like some oddball reenactor type.

Anyway this is the wool he has chosen, it's Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran in colourway 360025 . It's a nice rich colour, but if I'm honest the wool is a bit too itchy for my liking.

The pattern I'm using is another freebie from Ravelry -  The Historical Knitted Cap by Nina Bates.

It's not my favourite craft project at the moment. Tim owes me big time!

A Busy Day

I booked a days annual leave from work today so that I could crack on with my stained glass window. The lovely Tim ordered me some cut running pliers online, which are used to break the glass along a scored line. Typically they haven't been delivered (they should have arrived on Saturday) so my plans were scuppered. Most annoying.

I didn't want to waste the day so I decided to get cracking on cutting the lovely fabric I've bought for Emma's quilt. I've sewn half square triangles. Why did nobody warn me how labour intensive the cutting, sewing, then re-cutting these blocks are? Harrumph! It has taken FOREVER! Anyway, here are the results of today's hard work - lovely, square, 4 inch blocks (and a huge pile of trimmings).

 

 

Naughty Sally

I've been spending! Both my sisters and my little niece came visiting me in York. We went shopping. I have been persuaded that my cutie niece, Emma, is in need of a quilt. Here she is in her snow suit, how could an Auntie resist?

We all visited Grace and Jacob, a fab craft shop, and Vicky (Emma's Mummy, my Sis) helped pick these lovely fabrics. How is that for a lovely shopping bag?!

I've got a bit of an idea forming  for Emma's quilt so I'll keep you updated.

Bauble

I've finished a quick knitting project this evening - a knitted bauble for my Christmas tree! It probably took an hour from start to finish. I'm not sure whether I'll felt it, what do you think?

 

I hope to make a few more in time for decorating my tree at the start of December. I know it's a little early for all this talk of Christmas but it comes early in our house, the lovely Tim and I get very excited. I've had my advent calendar since September.

 

I got the pattern as a freebie from Ravely, if you are a member it's the Knitted and Felted Ornaments and Garland Pattern by Leigh Radford. The pattern calls for aran (worsted) wool and luckily I had some fab stripey Abuelita Merino Worsted Multi leftover from a cardigan I knitted for my lovely niece. The wool is available from Pickles, a Norwegian shop but they ship worldwide. They have some really lovely knitting patterns and wool.