pea coats

I made these pea coats last week (using this pattern) and then spent days looking at them too scared to attempt the button holes. I have a long held fear of the button hole, my old sewing machine (or was it me?) always made a bit of a mess of them and I had never attempted one with my new machine.

I wish I had tried it sooner. I never realised just how amazing automatic button holes are.

I will never avoid a pattern just because it has buttons again.

 Both coats are made of really nice warm felted wool for the outside. For Alfies (the black one) I used an old wool coat that belonged to my mother in law that she didnt want anymore and lined it with some striped cotton. For Lukas' I used some  wool fabric I have had lying around for years that I never really knew what to do with and lined it with some lovely soft brushed cotton.

The pattern was one of the best I have ever used, it was very simple, well thought out with very clear instructions.  the only thing I would change next time is that I would make Alfies a little bit longer.  Seriously though, I can't recommend the pattern enough.

Fortunately for me the boys love them. 

Have to make the most of it, on day they might start to hate wearing made by mum stuff.

Until that time though.......

weeks end

 I got to finish work a little early today. Such a treat, getting home while the sun still shines.

 This is what greeted me

I

chaos on a trampoline

Their new favourite game is "tramp rugby" which basically involves the small one trying (unsuccessfully) to tackle his big brother

Hours of fun

Alfie is a dinosaur.

He is obsessed.

The only time he is not wearing this top is when its in the wash. Its just a plain T-shirt that I added a hood and spines to. He also has a tail but as he pointed out in a very exasperated tone today "you can't wear tails when you are jumping mum"

How does a four year old make me feel like an idiot?

He sounds like a teenager already

I also had the time to cut out 3 lots of fabric for some urban hoodies by Heidi and Finn

I have been wanting to make some for the boys for forever

And I finished the Milo.

I am a little disappointed though. Not with the pattern or anything like that, it was super easy to knit up, even though it felt really wrong to be starting at the top and working downwards.

I am disappointed because I intended for this to be for Lukas but it turned out way to big. I only knit the size 3 thinking that would be perfect for an almost three year old. Turns out either the pattern runs on the larger side, or more likely I stuffed it up and consequently its huge, big enough to easily fit my size 6 four year old.

Strange.

 Now to start a new one for the smaller child,

winter knitting

Its cold today.

What better to do on a cold day than sit in front of a fire and knit.

Its the beginning of a Milo vest.

I can see myself knitting many of these, I already have the next two planned.



time for tea

Today was my first day off work today in a while and I got to spend the afternoon having tea (and coffee and cake and biscuits) with some dear friends. 

I got to use this fabulous tea set. Its quite new still and I havent had many chances to use it.

 It was made just for me by a very talented local potter Jacqueline Westall and I LOVE it!

It has lovely little details like this wee heart



and the red on the saucer



And check out this wee bundle



How lucky am I?  A gift from a good friend, thank you Melissa

Im back

After a rather long absence I am back and I have absolutely no idea where the past .. ahem.. seven months has gone. It has been seven months of study and work and well... life.  Crafting hasnt factored in to that life but that is all changing again.  I feel inspired and determined to make the time to craft and to share.

And cos I hate not having a picture and just cos I love these 2 wee faces to pieces here are a couple of pics. 

Expect to see them around here a lot

christmas crazy

Here is a quick look at some of what has come out of this years craziness that is the build up to Christmas.

4 lazy days for the nieces.

1 pair short reversable overalls for the small child.

I had planned on making a couple of these just cos he looks so damn cute but alas, time is short



I still have a bit of work to do perfecting the pattern



but these ones have come out a whole lot better than the last ones.

I think the next ones will be exactly as I want them



2 pencil cases for the boys filled with colouring pencils



and this here is my favourite creation so far



a wee messenger bag for Master A made from the embroidery I did back here

Its fully lined in the same orange colour as the embroided dino.

I really enjoyed making this and now that I have made one I think I could quite easily make more. Callum has put in a request for a "mans version". I think it might have to wait until after christmas.

I still have a few things I need to get done before the big day. Eek, nothing like cutting it fine

selfish sewing

Despite having a whole stack of christmas presents to make I decided to take some time out and do some sewing all for me. My summer wardrobe was dire, I was down to only one skirt and even that had a few rips and holes. So I made myself three new ones.

Its ok to do selfish sewing every now and then right?

Even if you have a thousand other things to make?

And a sneak peak at a gift for a niece

I can't show too much just incase there are prying eyes around.