It's been a while...

I haven't blogged for ages, but don't worry, I'm still here and still crafting, but, due to GCSE's and seemingly endless exams and Controlled Assessments, maybe not as much as I would like!

I used to mainly sew, but now my passion has to be knitting (although I have finally finished my green quilt which I started 3 years ago!).

 

 

 Since last time I have made a couple of hats,

 some lovely cushions (in which I learnt how to cable which I love to do)

 

 

 

 scarves for most of my family

 

and some fingerless gloves.

But my most exiting project has to be my current one, something time-consuming, expensive and completely irrational, but something I love doing, making a knitted blanket! I'm using a fantastic book, 200 Knitted Blocks by Jan Eaton, which gives you patterns for 6 inch knitted squares.

 

I have made 20 sqaures so far in blues, greens and creams in a range of different techniques.

 

I'm loving it and will keep you posted on my progress.

 

Love

Dottie

My Cushion

For my options last year I decided to take textiles and I am half the way through the first year of my two year course. I know that many people find that at their or their children's school the textile classes are not very good, however, since this is a GCSE class and everybody is interested in the subject the lessons are fantastic!

Before Christmas we were working on a Decorative Components project, learning about different methods of decorating products and making a small 15 by 15 cm square of each type of decoration based on any theme that we wanted. This was then sewn together to make a cushion, with two back pieces joined with either a zip or buttons and button holes.

 I decided to base mine on nature and the decorations that we learnt were; applique, hand and machine stitching, fabric painting - both printing and stencilling - padding, truponto quilting, quilting, reverse applique and tye-dye.

 I saved my tye-dye for the back and made a big piece rather than a small one.

Overall, I am very pleased with the result and I am loving the course! We are now re-inventing a product - I have a canvas bag and I have been hand sewing and appliqueing a bird on a cherry tree onto it. We start our real controlled assessment after Easter.

Presents and What I've Been up to

Those of you who read my Book Blog, will know how much I love books and when I celebrated my birthday the other week I was given many novels.

But also another book...

But not just any old book...

My own Cath Kidston sewing box disguised as a book!

The box came with it's own threads as well as another addition...

This beautiful owl stitchery! I love sewing and owls so this has to be the perfect present for me!

So I haven't blogged in AGES (once again) but I have been busy making something.

I had a very pain and boring small chest of drawers which I often used but didn't like the look of, I also had thousands of stamps from all over the world sitting in a box not being looked at.

I think you can see where this is going!
 

After many hours of glueing and sticking and glueing and sticking I finally ended up with this....

Dottie xx

Fabric

For Christmas I got some gorgeous fabric. The first one is my favourite as it is so cute with lovely pictures!

I also bought this lovely Amy Butler material half price in the John Lewis sale, this is my favourite of all of her fabrics.

I am not sure what I am going to do with this fabric yet but I may use some of it to do this lovely quilt that I started last year.

I adore the fabrics featured in this quilt and I cannot wait to get doing some more of it!

Happy New Year!

Dottie

Sewing books

 For Christmas along with other things I got two fantastic sewing books. 

They were Stitch! by Cath Kidston

and  Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.

 

Stitch! is a book about tapestry and cross stitch, it is full of funky Cath Kidston designs from badges to cushions to bags. It is a brilliant book and I have already started the "Stanley" badge, a badge of the little Lakeland terrier that is featured all over Cath Kidston's wonderful designs. 

(I cannot find the camera right now but I will update with a picture of the badge before long)

I have also bought the materials needed for the "Electric Flower Cushion" so I cannot wait to get started on that.

Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts is a fantastic book with a variety of gorgeous gifts in it from coaster to quilt. This book has easy to read patterns and it is split up into sections on how long the project will take to make. I am really excited to get started.

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Dottie

Teddy Bear

Recently I have been knitting this cute little teddy bear...

(this isn't my one, though hopefully mine will like just as good)
It is from Debbie Bliss' book, Simply Baby. It is an incredibly easy pattern and I have already made 1 and half body pieces!

Project Number One

Sorry that it took so long (couldn't find the camera for ages) but here's the finished project. 

A lovely, stripey, bright tea cosy...

And on the other side...

 

I did get a bit of help from my mum as I am still not totally confident, hopefully for my next project I can do it by myself.

I am currently making some bunting for my room, so that will be my next post.

 

Dot x