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