Grow your own...

I had planned to spend all weekend sewing, however like all plans it hasn't worked that way. I have got a little sewing done which I will finish this evening but as the weather was nice this afternoon I mustered the enthusiasm to do some pottering in the garden.

My new house has, what seems to me, a huge garden which hasn't been loved by the previous owner and has been neglected by me in the months I've lived here. I have been doing bits and pieces, clearing a couple of borders, figuring out how a lawnmower works, and as of today waging war on the major weeds which seem to love my soil!

As well as the boring stuff I have given growing fruit and veg a go on a small scale this year.

The tomatoes are doing well (as a novice gardener I count anything that is growing as doing well!)

The strawberries and blackcurrant bush seem to be happy, and I'm almost winning vs the weeds in this patch.

Unfortunately their neighbours the butternut squash/courgettes (I planted squash and courgette seeds in the same seed tray but forgot to label which was which!) have totally disappeared.

Luckily I didn't plant out all the seedlings, so I'm now trying to grow them in some enormous pots.  Fingers crossed this plan works.

Loopy sock knitting

It seems that many crafters have a small portable project for when they're out and about.  I've found that sock knitting is often my portable project, especially now I've got a climbing chalk bag to carry it round in.

My current project is a plain pair of socks but for the first time I'm using the magic loop technique.

It took a while to get used to it and I'm still finding managing the loops tricky but I think it may be something I will use again.  Although all I've managed to find so far on the internet are basic sock patterns using the magic loop technique, I know it's probably possible to adapt any pattern to this technique eventually but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.  If there are any other sock knitters out there can you recommend any sources of magic loop sock patterns?  I always enjoy practising my new tricks a few times.

How I Make A Kindle Cover...

Looking back through my posts I, apparently, learnt how to make a Kindle cover from a tutorial I found on Junie Moon's blog.  I say apparently as there is no sign of the tutorial on the blog anymore.  In the last few years I have made several Kindle covers using the same design and making it up as I go from memory.  When I made my last cover I decided to record the steps so I could post them here and then next time I make a cover I won't have to spend half a day figuring out the maths and details.  

(Please note this is still a bit of a work in progress and will probably be tweaked in coming months for my own sanity and to ensure every step works, but I need the basics recorded somewhere!)

So here goes....

A kindle cover needs outer fabric, lining fabric, thin wadding, velcro and a button

Cut the following pieces for a Kindle measuring 7 x 5 inches: 

    1 lining 7.75 x 5.75 (3/4 inch longer and wider than kindle)

    1 lining 9.75 x 5.75

    1 outer and 1 wadding 8 x 6 (1 inch longer and wider than kindle)

    1 outer and 1 wadding 10 x 6

Layer the longer piece of wadding, longer outer fabric face up and the longer lining face down (if it has a face).  Top edges should all be lined up.  Place a pin 2 inches down from the top on either side this will create the flap for your kindle.

Sew round the top, between the two pins, using a 1/4 inch allowance.

Clip corners and turn right side out.  This is the back.

Layer the three remaining pieces of fabric - wadding, outer face up, lining face down - with top edges lined up.  With a 1/4 inch seam sew along the top.  This is the front.

Tricky bit to explain...open up the front and back so that the lining is on its own at the top and the wadding and outer are at the bottom.  Place the front on top of the back so that the right sides of the outers and the linings meet, the wadding is on the outside and the flap is sandwiched in the middle.  Make sure the bottom of the outers and waddings meet up (yet to figure out why the linings don't).  Sew almost all the way around using a 1/4 inch seam.  Leave a gap in the lining for turning.

Turn right way round and try and remember to sew up hole in the lining!

Finally, sew velcro under the flap and a decorative button on the outside.

May's FNSI

Unfortunately due to not getting back home from work till late I haven't done as much as I wanted this FNSI.  However, I have achieved another finish...

This Kindle cover is for one of my closest friends, I just really hope it fits!

Off to find out about everyone else's Friday nights...

Another Start

I am putting together another (hopefully quick seeing as it's for a July baby) baby quilt.  The fabric is Moda's ABC Menagerie and the design is the Double Slice Quilt.  After the disappearing nine patch quilt I've decided to try another scrappy quilt.  I'm just a little concerned it'll be a little too lively for a newborn...but we'll see haven't made a quilt I don't like yet.

FNSI Prizes

I was lucky enough to be selected as the winner of April's FNSI...

I adore both of these. If anyone needs me I'm browsing charm pack patterns!

Like buses...

...you wait around ages for a finish and then two turn up at once.

A finished Christmas table runner based on Rebecca Silbaugh's Santa's Cookie Mat pattern made with a Moda Joy charm pack and a Moda solids charm pack. It's bound in a Makower fabric.

I quilted it using a large stipple and took the risk of using a different coloured top and bottom thread to blend the quilting in on the backing.  It's not worked absolutely perfectly as the top thread is visible on the back in places but it's better than using white on the back.

I adore this backing fabric, holly leaves with a gold outline, which I picked up in a fabric mill.

All in all I'm really pleased with this finish and will definitely be making more things using this design.

First Finish of 2014

And it's only taken until the end of April to achieve it!

A baby quilt made from a layer cake of "Mind Your Ps and Qs".  The front is the disappearing nine patch pattern, the back the remaining squares. Quilted in the ditch on the front, making a randomish grid on the back. Pleasingly my accuracy is improving and all but one of the quilting lines appear to run parallel to the seams on the back - a very happy accident. When I actually got around to working on it this quilt went together very quickly (barring significant indecision regarding the layout of the front), unfortunately not quick enough as the recipient is rapidly heading towards a year old!

Shopping Spree

Luckily with my recent house moved I've left behind one good local quilt shop and now live between two good quilt shops which stock different fabric lines.

This afternoon I paid a visit to Midsomer Quilting. As they seem to stock a wide range of coloured fabrics, mostly sort of patterned coloured fabrics, I knew they'd have the fabrics I had in mind for a quilt I'm making for my brother and his fiancée.

This is usually the point I'd add a link to the intended pattern, however, that isn't going to happen this time as they've asked me to make them a bespoke quilt to commemorate their wedding. I have the bare bones of an idea sketched out on graph paper, the basic plan is appliquéd words and a fancy border. I'm quite nervous about this not ending up as what the had in mind but as they've haven't given me much direction this shouldn't be the case. I have a feeling I'm going to need quite a bit more coloured fabric before the end...I'm having difficulty figuring out how much the border will need. This is not helped by my not being sure which border to use!

FNSI - the results show

I had a pleasingly productive FNSI.  I decided to work on my Christmas table runner and I'm really pleased how it's working out.

It's surprising how neatly it's working out considering each strip is wonky to a greater or lesser degree.

I haven't straightened up any edges or squared any pieces up and am just doing the best I can when it comes to matching seams but that isn't bothering me at all.  I'm not sure I'll bother neatening things up when I do my next one (there is going to be at least one more).

Hopefully everyone else had as successful an evening.  Why not head over to Wendy's to see everyone else's results.

Friday night sew in - April

It's that time of the month again ... FNSI!!!  Well at least it is tomorrow.

If you want to spend your Friday night sewing with people aground the world then there's still time to sign up HERE

I have plenty of things to be getting on with this Friday.  I'm making a big effort to finish off all my almost done projects this month and then I have a major project for my brother's wedding to work on for the rest of the spring and summer (so no pressure there then!).

Ready for Rio 2016...

...or in actual truth lagging behind from London 2012!

I started this sport themed blanket in 2012 as part of Debbie Abrahams mystery blanket that year and it's still going!  I'm now on the seventh (out of ten) set of instructions so I have broken the back of the work although the blanket's bunting-sequence border and the Swiss darning required are niggling at me.

I'd love to get this blanket finished this year as I have the yarn for another mega knitting project all ready to go.

Xmas work in progress

Much as I'd wanted to start work on the garden this weekend I was really pleased to see the gloomy weather as it gave me all the reason I needed to get my sewing machine out for about the first time in four months.

And the results were a happy afternoon spent chain piecing and pressing

A work in progress shot, on my new dining table which I probably shouldn't be using as a sewing table hence the mats and tea towels under my machine! 

I'm working towards a Christmas table runner based on Rebecca Silbaugh's Santa's Cookie Mat.  I'm enjoying making this so much that I've already started find fabric for another, all year round, one!