It's Here!!

Argh!!! The Christmas Fair is today! Here's a photograph of some of the knitted baubles and bunting we've made to sell at the fair (in total we knitted 32 Baubles and 12 lines of bunting). Just in case we need some last minute inspiration we've brought Arne and Carlos along too!

Christmas Fair - Here We Come !!!

Hi,

As is usual at this time of year, we are starting to prepare for our school's Christmas fair at the end of November. This year I am making some bunting again and I am already under way with it all, as November gets even closer. I have already sewn together lots of the triangles and today I have been cutting off the tops off the bunting, so they will be ready to pin into the bias binding and then all I have to do is sew it all together.
I will keep you posted on my progress.

Have a great rest of your week!
From Maisie x

My Triangles 

Half term knitathon!

Hi!
Hooray it is half term and even though I have lots of work to do, it has not spoilt my plans to knit all of the two weeks, no matter what! At the moment I have two projects on the go. A hot water bottle from a new book I got called A knitters year, written by Debbie bliss, which is looking really nice but isn't really something that I can do without thinking but it is still nice to have something new on the go. My main project at the moment is starting to knit for our stall at the Christmas fair. We decided to do it again this year because not only was it a great experience, but I love knitting something which I now don't even have to concentrate on while doing it. Saying that though I have had to undo one this morning -  ooops!
My aim for this half term is to get one done a day. I finished one yesterday/this morning so it is still possible to get one done today as we are going to be in the car quite a lot today. I might even get two done, although that might be a bit too ambitious but we'll see! I have only knitted three so far, so it is really important that I get a lot done this half term if I have any chance of making enough. No pressure then!
I hope you have a lovely weekend

Olivia
xxx

                                                  My idea of a perfect Sunday Morning!

Winter is on its way

As the seasons start to change and nights get longer so do hours I knit. I started a new project which I haven't done for ages I felt almost excited at all the days of knitting ahead. My project is Christmas baubles, which although I know the pattern by heart, it still is quite exciting. I have started one called the Greek cross and the different wool is really great it isn't as course and nicer to knit with. I just hope it will hold it's shape as well as the last wool did. 

There are also quite a few wintery projects which I have started but never finished so apart from doing christmas baubles and am going to aim to try and finish all my projects before I start a new one although I can't promise anything! Got loads of lovely wool to get through as well as finding a really nice pattern for leg warmers online for free. As I said I cannot promise anything!!

Have a nice week,

Olivia

xx

 

Bunting for School

Hi,

I hope you had a good summer. During the summer holidays I made a piece of bunting for my friend for her classroom!  The hardest thing to do was picking out the fabric, I spent forty five minutes in our local sewing shop trying to choose the fabric!! In the end I choose red and white apple fabric even though I was in love with this beautiful pink flower fabric, but it had to be for boys too !!!! 

This year Olivia and I are having a table again at our school fair, so we will be busy again making christmas baubles and bunting, both Olivia and myself have started to gather our fabrics and wool!!!

Watch this space to find out when we start our christmas crafting!

Have a great week

Love Maisie x

Christmas Fabric

Cardi-done!

Hi everyone!!
I haven't posted for ages as I have really busy with school work but now every things calmed down, I'm back! I finished the baby cardigan that I posted about last time and given it to it's new owners. It's really sweet and it will definitely keep her warm in the winters to come. That is my favourite part of making things for other people. By giving it away to someone who you know is going to use it, you feel like you have used your time wisely.
It is coming into knitting season and our little knitting elf has been and delivered us my lovely swedish wool. I have a different wool from last time as Arne and Carlos have started recommended a new wool which they prefer to the Heilo variety. It doesn't feel as coarse but is still tough enough to hold the shape. It is like a mix between Millamia and Heilo. I am really excited to use it!
Have a nice weekend!
Olivia
xxx

Finished baby cardigan (well almost!)

Hi!

I have been trying to get this baby cardigan finished and it is almost done now. Finally! It took barely any time, but I have not been very good at just sitting down and getting done. It looks really adorable and I have only got the buttons to sew on now. I am really excited to see how it looks at the end as it always looks different when all the finishing touches are put on. I haven't really got any projects to do after this :( but I am sure I'll think of something! Have a nice weekend! Olivia

xxx

Vest is Best!

Hi,
This half term, between shopping and relaxing, I have been very busy crafting for my local sewing shop, Owl and Sewing cat, who have been taking entries for their competition!!! For the competition you have to make something based on a summer picnic or something with a nautical theme all under 4 fat quarters !!!!!! For my entree I made a summer vest dress for a picnic! I thought it was going to be quick and easy, but it turned out it wasn't. It wasn't that it was hard, it was just that it took forever to pin it and then sew it, which you had to repeat 5 times! I was still sewing it this morning desperately trying to finish it for the dead line at five o'clock today ! Thankfully I finished it in time and it looked adorable with its pretty fabric and a cute little trim to finish it off!! If you win you get £100 to spend at the shop on whatever you want,  so please vote via Facebook (search 'owl and sewing cat' on facebook) or if you live close pop into the shop to vote!!
Have a great weekend

Love Maisie xxx

Owl and the sewing cat competition!- beach hut doorstop

Hi!
Through this half term week, apart from relaxing, I have been very busy crafting. My main project this week has been an entry into a competition at my local sewing shop, Owl and the Sewing cat. The themes were summer picnic and nautical and everything has to be made from under four fat quarters. It sounds easy enough right?  It was so much harder than I thought! I thought that I would just spend ten minutes looking on pinterest and a free pattern would pop up but it took me forever to find something that was under four fat quarters. I settled for a nautical door stop and it looks adorable. I found the free pattern on pinterest ( the link will be at the bottom) and it was super easy to follow. If I win, I get a gift voucher to spend there on whatever I want! To vote, please hop over to facebook by clicking on the link and like the photo ( hopefully mine!) which you think deserves to win. The competition ends today so be quick!
Have a lovely weekend!
Olivia
xxx

http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/pattern-finder/sewing-projects/sewing-for-the-home/sew-a-beach-hut-doorstop-54922
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=ms.687163894662621.687163911329286.687188397993504.687209417991402.687213447990999.bps.a.679435745435436&type=1

Bear in need of repair!

Hi!
Last week I got a request from my friend's mum asking if I could fix her old teddy bear. He was falling to pieces and needed a jumper or something to keep him together for years to come. I have sewn him up and stuffed him where he needed to and he is looking so much better already. I have got a pattern in mind for his jumper but haven't quite decided yet. I am going to try and start the jumper today so I can give him back as soon as possible! He might need some darning in places but that can easily be done. I sewed his nose on properly, fixed his arm and fixed his tummy so all he needs now is a jumper. It has been a really quick and easy project so far and he will look brand new once I have finished with him.
Have a nice week,
Olivia
xxx

An Almost Finished Cardigan!- 100th post!!!

Hi!
I can't believe I have done 100 posts. It has gone way too quickly! Not only has this blog helped me improve my crafting skills but looking through my posts right from the very start the blog has got so much better. As it is the 100th post I thought that I would give you some exciting news. Last week I e-mailed Arne and Carlos and asked them wether they would like to do an interview. And guess what? They said yes! I am so excited. Watch this space!
  This week I have been busy trying to finish the baby cardigan. I am at the trickiest bit so far, so am having to concentrate occasionally! With all the pieces done I have started to join it all together. There are just under 150 stitches on the needles so I have to be very careful putting it back in the knitting bag and have already had a couple of accidents. Oops! I have got through the hardest part of it, which was the starting few rows but I am now on a roll.
I have been trying to do as much knitting as possible but I have to confess not much has been done as I have some important exams this week so have had to do a lot of revision. Obviously, I would much rather be knitting though! I can't until these exams are over so I can get going on the knitting again!
Have a nice weekend!
Olivia
xxx

A baby cardigan

Hi!

Over the last few days I have been knitting a baby's cardigan. We don't know what it is going to be so I have just gone for a light green in left over Debbie bliss baby cash merino. I had two balls of it in the cupboard and I might need one more but I'll use up what I have got first before buying another ball. I have started on the back and it looks really cute so far. I've gone for an easier pattern as then at least I know I'll finish it! I am about half way through. The back section which is just stocking stitch and a bit of ribbing at the bottom. It is a really addictive pattern and cannot wait to hear what you think!

Olivia

Textile mill; school project

Hi, Olivia here!

I have been busy doing my school project on the industrial revolution, which has taken a lot of time but it wouldn't be complete without a little extra something crafted. I have knitted a textile mill based on Saltaire, which I visited on a school trip to Bradford. I had to make my own pattern which was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be as I obviously couldn't find a knitting patter for a mill or a coal mine. I didn't have much time so I thought that a mill would be easier to design than a coal mine. I started it on Sunday, as was on holiday for the whole of the week before so I only got five rows done and Monday morning I finished one side. One day to finish the other side and sew it up and stuff it. It really was tight! It looks quite cute apart from one of the bottom windows as it has come away from the other color but the rest of it is great. I am just using spare bits of yarn that I have left over from other projects. I have got through quite a lot of white so far and the grey that I am using for the main color of the mill looks like it mite just make it through the project but it feels good not to be buying new wool and using up stuff that I already have in the cupboard. It is a really simple pattern and is just in stocking stitch so I can just pick it up when ever and not have to worry about what part of the pattern I am on. I am glad to see the back of it though as I don't think it was one of my best projects!

Moving off that subject, the Easter eggs are looking really nice hanging off some twigs with yellow flowers on. It looks really summery and colorful. I still have one of the Easter eggs on the needles so I might try and get that finished after handing in my project and textile mill and resist starting a new project before finishing it otherwise it won't be done until next Easter! I think my next project will be my neck-warmer/hat which I will probably start today.
Have a nice weekend!
Olivia
xxx

My Easter Egg-citements!

Hi, hope you had a great Easter.
last week I got a letter in the post from innocent smoothies and it said "Dear Maisie, we loved your incredible mini hats. You are a natural with a knitting needle. Your support is amazing - you are the tops. Love innocent x" I can't believe they wrote to me personally! I will definitely do it again this year!

My letter from Innocent Smoothies (the inside)

My letter from Innocent Smoothies

I have also been sewing a mill for my Industrial Revolution project!!! I put a plain browny grey fabric at the back,  I cut up some ribbon that I got from a present, for the windows and for the clock tower I used a spotty fabric and the browny fabric that I used for the back !!! It went very well for something that I made in a weekend! I hope my teacher will like it!!!

Have a great weekend

love Maisie x 

My textile mill  

My finished textile mill in my folder

Easter eggs!

Hi!
Yesterday I made some really lovely easter eggs, as you can probably guess from the title! They were so easy and once I got the hang of it the pattern was simple. It follows the same main pattern on each one and then you change it to the design you want. They are knitted on four double pointed needles and the three I have made all look really nice and will look great on some twigs on easter sunday as well as being great gifts. My favourite is the bunny (pictures are at the end of this post) but I have started another one which could take over first place! In the book there is a really cute knitted chicken( so adorable) which I am REALLY tempted to make, especially as I have chickens. There is quite a lot of wool involved though and the wings are all crocheted so think I might just have to resist!
Olivia
xxx

The Sewing Bee's Back

Hi,

Haven't been sewing for ages, we took a break after the Christmas fair!!! Olivia's back on to the Easter bauls bauls and I hope to make something soon!!!!!! I've got the sewing bug again though from the amazing the great British sewing bee that's started !!!!! They're making amazing things that I'd like to try out from stunning prom dresses to children's fancy costumes!!!!! My favourite is Lynda, a deaf but very talented and lovely lady, who I really want to win!!!!!! Last week Cerina left the great British sewing bee, she was so nice and my favourite as well as Lynda !! She always did amazingly in the alteration challenge where she made a plain oversized blue top into a cute children's leotard and a pillow case, a long-sleeve pullover top and some comfy trousers into and pirates costume!!! The sewing Bee will never be the same!!!!! I can't wait till next Tuesday when it's on again !!!!!!!!!!

Have a lovely weekend 

Love Maisie xxxxx

( We'd love to see things that you've made so send us a comment !!!!! )

                                                                                                            

    Below ( right ) Cerinas pirate costume !!!!!

 

     Patrick and May the judges

Easy Peasy key rings

Hi!

We had loads of scraps in the cupboard so we decided to make a little key ring out of left over fabric and felt. They were really simple and we made them with our friend. They were a really nice 15 minute project and for something so simple they looked great! I haven't quite finished mine yet as haven't finished sewing up yet but I'll finish it tonight. I forgot how to do a blanket stitch around the side and I have now created a new stitch which was definitely not planned!! You wouldn't know though!

Olivia

xxx 

My super-duper Interview with Debbie Bliss!

Last weekend I thought that I might as well tweet Debbie Bliss to see if she would do an interview with me. It was worth a try! As you might well know she is one of the U.K's biggest supplier's of wool and she is by far my favourite knitting designer, especially for baby knits. Guess what! She said that she would love to. I was so excited!(still am!) And I am so excited to share it all with you. To make things even better, she's now a follower on our twitter page! How cool is that! So, here is the interview...

Q:When did you start to knit?
Debbie Bliss's A:I think I was about five years old.

Q:Who inspired you to start knitting?
A:My mother taught me to knit?

Q:Out of all your patterns which one is your favourite?
A: That's a hard one! Perhaps my bunny booties because they were in my first book Baby Knits.

Q:Do you still get a chance to knit?
A:The design process always begins with a sketch and then a knitted swatch.I also tend to have something small on the go for when I am travelling.

Q:What has been your worst knitting disaster?
A:There has been to many just to pick one!

Q:What is the knitting project that you are most proud of?
A:I can't think of a particular design but I am proud to have been associated with Save The Children the last two years with their Christmas Jumper campaign.

Q:How long does it take yo make a pattern?
A:After working on the design and swatches I send a spec sheet with all the measurements and details to a pattern compiler. It could take some hours, a day or longer depending on the complexity of the design.

Q:Which knitting designer has been your favourite to work with?
A:Melody Griffiths was the first Knitting Editor to commission work for me and we worked together for many years. She combined a love for traditional stitches with a fashion look and I found her work inspirational. Sadly she passed away a few years ago.

Q: Do you have any unfinished knitting projects?
A:At the moment, two bobble hats that need Pom Poms.

Q:Can you remember your first knitting project?
A:I think it was a red cardigan for my doll Betty.

How To Knit A Stocking Stitch - Twins and Needles Video How To's

Hi,

Check out our video on how do a stocking stitch. We've made some more videos, but this is the first one. Enjoy and look out for the others soon.
Olivia x

Rowan Lima Neckwarmer

Hi!
Last week I bought some new wool for a new project from Love Knitting ( I f you haven't seen it before have a look. There is a link at the bottom of the post. It is my favourite online knitting shop and they do lovely free knitting patterns on their facebook page!). I am making a neckwarmer/hat from my favourite rowan knitting book, winter warmers. I haven't started yet because I have so many projects on the go but will have a go soon!
Have a nice new year!
Olivia

www.loveknitting.com/uk/