Changing Blankets to make a better design

Back in May I posted about a baby blanket I had made.  Its been up for sale in my etsy shop since May and I haven't been able to sell it.  So I decided it needed to be changed to make it more appealing.  So I frogged all of the double crochet joining the granny squares.  I decided I would try the join as you go method from Attic 24.  This blanket is made from traditional granny squares and is made from Stylecraft Special DK wool in Grass Green, Spring Green, Citron, Shrimp and Parchment.  I had initially joined the squares together using Grass Green but for joining together I used Parchment.  It has made the blanket look really pretty.

As well as using the join as you go method and changing the joining colour to parchment I've also added some more squares to the blanket making it toddler/pushchair size of 30 x 40 inches.  So altogether the blanket is made up of 48 squares.  I've attempted to photograph it today as I've finished it and today was sunny.  My house was as grey and and dark as its been for many days now so I went to the park just 2 minutes around the corner from my house to take photos in the sunlight.  Whilst it was bright and sunny it was a tad blowy and so it was hard to get the blanket to keep still. 

I've still got some way to go to improve the photographs I take, I may have to sign up for one of the online photography courses run by Makelight to ensure I take much better photos.  I hope that with these changes my blanket is more appealing to the Etsy shopper.

Crochet blanket for my Grandma

Last year I started on making a blanket for my Grandma.  I had been to visit my Grandma for a few days between Christmas and New Year and she talked about being cold and so needed the heating on.  My sister and I commented on the fact that she doesn't have blanket to wrap around her if she was cold.  So I started on a blanket for my Grandma.

My Grandmas favourite colour is burnt orange and the colour of her lounge was green.  I therefor set out to create a blanket in orange and green colour way.  I looked through pinterest to find inspiration for colours for the blanket so I explored pinterest and decided I liked the colour interests on this picture of poppies.  I ordered some Stylecraft Special DK in Meadow, Lime, Khaki, Spice, Jaffa and Black from Wool Warehouse.  I already knew I was going to make a ripple blanket using the ripple from Attic 24.  You can find the tutorial for how to do this here.  I decided I didn't like the black and so changed black to cream instead.

I started this blanket in the hope I would be able to give it my Grandma for her 90th Birthday, but I didn't get it finished in time for her birthday.  I then hoped to finish it in time for last Christmas but didn't quite manage to get it finished in time.  I did get it finished over the Christmas holidays.  Since I had bought the wool and finished the blanket my Grandma's health had deteriorated and she was living in a care home.  I gave my parents the blanket to give to her but they didn't give it to her as they were worried it would go missing in the home.  Unfortunately my Grandma never got to see the blanket whilst she was alive.  I couldn't cope with the though of someone else having this blanket other than my Grandma so it went into her coffin with her keeping her warm (it was February and a tad cold).  So whilst my Grandma never saw the finished blanket it did help to keep her warm.

I purchased 2 balls of each colour of stylecraft yarn for the blanket and only needed to use one ball of each colour and so had some spare yarn.  I then decided I would make another blanket in these colours.  It wasn't going to be a ripple, I was going to make my first corner to corner blanket.  So I looked up online how to make a C2C blanket and with help from a number of different sources including The Patchwork Heart and the Crochet Crowd I completed my first C2C blanket.  It was quick to make.

This is my corner to corner blanket, which is my first attempt.  It is Lapghan sized  and so is 36 inches by 48 inches.  Although it is the same colour way as my Grandma's blanket it looks quite different.  What do you think?  Is this a good colour scheme? Do you think it works as a C2C blanket?  I can't help but think it looks better as a neat ripple also the Jaffa colour is shinning out very brightly in the photos which it doesn't do in reality.

Crochet Granny Squares Pram Blanket

At the start of this year I made a promise to myself that I would blog more.  Well I've certainly not kept this resolution this year.  I've not posted much at all.  This hasn't mean I've not been crafting or making anything to blog about, because I have.

For quite a while on my pinterest board I've been collecting and posting pins with lots of different colour combinations.  I've been posting and saving these pins to inspire me on colour choices for making crochet blankets, cushions and all the different items I like to make.  So in February I picked a pin and order wool from the Wool Warehouse (my favourite website to order from).  The yarn was Stylecraft special DK acrylic (my favourite yarn to use) in the shades of Grass Green, Spring Green, Shrimp, Parchment and Citron.  This is the link to the pin which was my inspiration.  The inspiration was ice lolly's and who doesn't like Ice Lollies.

I made this blanket in February and it was the second blanket I completed this year.  I wasn't making this blanket for anyone else in particular.  I wanted to attempt to make a pram blanket and to put it up for sale on my etsy blog.  I used the different colour combinations pinned on my pinterest account and chose this colour combination.  I liked the fact that it was unisex and that it didn't contain any blue or pink.

I do enjoy making standard granny squares and I like the traditional look of them, even though the colour combination isn't traditional.  I usually make each square separately first and then join together.  This time I made all the first rounds for all the squares I wanted, then I completed the second rows, etc.  I have to admit I didn't enjoy making the squares this way, I think I like the satisfaction of completing each square when I've finished them, rather than having lots of part made squares. But in the process of making a blanket quickly, this is the quickest way of making one.

This blanket is for sale in my Etsy Shop along with many other items which I have made.  What do you think of this pram blanket?  I've joined the squares together using double crochet as I've not mastered a joining technique which holds the squares together as well as double crochet.  I follow Little Dove Crochet on Facebook and Instagram and I do like her method of joining.  I am sure on my next squares blanket I will have to master this technique.

I've also tried to take different photos today of the blanket.  I initially took photos using my phone when I finished the blanket in February, but I didn't feel they showed the colour so well.  Today I went outside in the sunshine to take the photos in an attempt to get better representations of the colours in the blanket.

Patchwork Table Runner

After making the goody, goody binding bag last week, I started on making a patchwork table runner for the dinning table.  I've have bought fabric to do this at the start of the year, but I hadn't made any attempts to make the runner.  I had a number of conversations with Kirsty about the table runner and I wasn't sure about the fabric I had initially bought and so, with any excuse to purchase more fabric, I did.

I purchased a bundle from Elephant in my handbag  of Lewis & Irene fox and friends fabric as it had the greens, browns and oranges which we have in the curtains in the dinning room.  

This is the completed table runner on the dinning table.  I cut 6 of the 7 fat quarters from the bundle into 2.5 inch strips.  For the first time I used the pinking blade on my olfa rotary cutter.  I stitched the strips into groups of 3 strips together.  I then cut these into 6.5 inch squares.  I alternated and turned the squares around to create this design.  The runner was then 3 squares wide and 12 squares long, a total of 36 squares.

This is a close up of the detail of the strips made into squares.  Once the runner top was pieced together I then added cotton wadding and green fabric to the back.  These came from Emporia Fabric and Craft in Ashford, Kent.  I then quilted lines 1 inch apart across the width of the runner to secure the sandwich together.  I used the stitching guide in the foot of my sewing maching to help with the accuracy of the lines.  I then edged the runner in orance fabric also from Emporia Fabric and Craft.  I've never been very good at binding and before I completed the binding on the runner I looked up some tutorials on YouTube about binding.  I found this video from Heirloom Crafts the easiest to understand and follow whilst making my runner.  The mitred corners are the best I've managed, but I still have to master the art of making them perfect.

My patchwork and quilting skills are improving and I would say that so far this is the best patchwork and quilting piece I've made.  Although my top stitching and lines are not completely straight I fell they are better than the first few quilts I made.  I only made my first quilt 10 months ago and attended my first patchwork class 9 months ago.  Whilst I still have some way to go to make my projects perfect they are improving with each one I make.

How long have you been sewing and crafting?  I started sewing when I was young and my Mum bought me my first proper sewing machine when I was 10 (I turn 39 on Sunday) and I still have it. I got a toy sewing machine (although it did actually work) when I was about 7) so I've been sewing a long time.  I mainly though made dolls, dolls clothes or clothes for myself.  I did some patchwork at primary school.  I started cross stitching when I was 12 and for a long time this was my main craft.  I do a whole variety of needlecraft and papercraft and this will be reflected in my blog posts.  What I make depends on my mood and most recently my mood has been sewing, hence a number of posts about sewing.  

What are you making?  Is it something big?  Is it for you or is it a commission?  I'd love to hear all about your crafty makes so leave a comment and tell us about yourself.

Goody Goody Binding Kit

Its been many, many months since I have made anything, which is why I've not blogged for a long while.  I'm sure all crafters know what it is like to lose your crafting mojo, I do go through phases of not making anything, this comes down to a whole host of issues, most recently being very busy at work with a new role and a huge restructure taking place leaving very little energy for crafting, or even thinking about making anything.

I've just had 2 weeks annual leave from work and I was hoping to make some lovely stuff.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to make, I've bought more fat quarters to expand the quilt I made for my bedroom back in February so it is a better size for covering my bed. I had fabric to make a runner for the dinning room table, fabric to make a bag and a crochet blanket to finish.

Yesterday I finally got round to making something.  I follow the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber Blog and on Tuesday they posted a blog about a Goody Goody Binding Bag.  The bag is designed by Vanessa Goertzen from Lella Boutique.  This inspired me to make one to give to my Mum.  I liked the idea that it was a quick project (I could finish it that day) it would be useful to my Mum who makes all sorts of things including quilts. 

This is my completed binding bag, made for my mum.

I used Just Sew Fat Quarters designed by Victoria Louise and made by the Craft Cotton Co.  I purchased this fat quarter bundle from Hobbycraft for £8.  I thought this was a fantastic price for 6 fat quarters.  I knew I would use these to make something for my Mum who has always loved to sew.  As she has always told us "my only O-level is in Needlework".  Therefore she and my Nan are responsible for my love of making things.

So you can see the folded up version of the binding kit.  This is it opened out.

I'm not very good at zips and this is the first zip I've attempted for about 15 years. I managed to get the zip in quite easily but when I finished the design it ended up with a wonk to it.  This is quite usual for me, I claim to have a natural wonk and most things I make are nearly always slightly off centre.  I got the zip for this binding bag from Emporia Fabric and Craft, it was the great price of £1 and matches the green on the rose fabric perfectly.  I used a scrap of cotton wadding leftover from a quilt I made.  The wadding also came from Emporia Fabric and Craft. The button was one I had in my sewing box, I always collect the spare buttons you get with new clothes and put them in sewing box.  I've got many buttons this way, but I no longer own the clothes. I made one change to the pattern, I made a small 9 patch pocket instead of making a strawberry pocket to hold the scissors.

I'm just waiting for more binding clips to arrive to fill up the zipped pocket, to get my Mum some thread for the thread holder and then it will be ready to give her.  

Have you tried making this?  Did you enjoy it? I know if I make this again it would be better, so no fabric cut the wrong way round for the pattern, no wonky zip, but then it's always a learning curve making things.

New Sewing Machine.

I've not posted on here for a little while, my goals for this year was to blog more and just when I had ideas of things to make and blog posts to write, work (as always) got busy and I decided to decorate my bedroom.  All of which overflowed my stress bucket (for anyone whose completed their Mental Health First Aid Training will know what that is about) and my response for being too stressed is to go quiet and stop communicating.

So what has been going in the crafty world of Sarahdipity?  Well for started I made a rash decision to buy a new sewing machine.  I am now the proud owner of Pfaff Smarter 260c.  It arrived on the 14th January and looked lovely.

Here is a photo of my lovely new sewing machine sat on our dining room table.  It arrived on a Wednesday and I knew I had no time to try it out until the weekend.  So I looked at it, stroked and pushed buttons.

The weekend came, but I needed to move into action with the thoughts of decorating my bedroom.  I had no furniture was living in the spare room and a new bed had arrived.  I didn't want to put the new bed up until I had decorated the room.  So instead of playing on my new toy, my wonderful Pfaff computerized sewing machine with a top loading bobbing, one step button hole and many other features I was looking for, I was painting woodwork, wall and putting up wallpaper for the first time ever in my life.

I got round to trying out my sewing machine for the first time on Tuesday 20th January (almost a whole week later!!!!)  So in my hour of play I used some scrap fabrics and tried out the different stitches.  It didn't look good as I couldn't get the tension right, but after many, many attempts I finally got the tension right and the stitches started to look neat.  I tried out the one step button hole, tried out the button sewing foot I had purchased plus used the quarter inch foot to use some scraps of fabric to start making a simply crazy patchwork.

The sewing machine was silent, easy to use and so much nicer than our old, basic Singer sewing machine,  I'm sure this machine will work lovely after a service as we've owned it for 8 years and we've not had it serviced.  All in all everything with the machine was really lovely, apart from being able to set the tension correctly.

I didn't get a chance to do anymore sewing for another week as I was again busy with work and continuing with my bedroom makeover.  A week later I got back onto the sewing machine.  This time around I finished the simply crazy patchwork and turned it into a square and edged it ready to turn it into a cushion cover.  I also played around with the blind hem foot.  I've got two sets of curtains which need shortening, including lining.  I need to master blind hemming (I've never managed to do it before) so I can turn these curtains up and prevent all the heat from the radiators going up the curtains and not into the rooms.  Quick rant here - I moved into a new build house 8 years ago, now being new build you'd think it would have standard sized windows?!  Oh no, not one window in the house fits standard sized curtains.  Standard curtains are either not long enough or way too long.  Plus all the radiators were fixed under the non-standard sized windows meaning you have to shorten all the curtains to ensure you get all the heat coming from the radiator.  Why not fit standard size windows?!!!!!.

Anyhow the bedroom makeover involves having to shorten the new black out curtains for my bedroom and the curtains.  I also need to shorten the curtains I bought for the dinning room last Christmas too.  I have now mastered the art of blind hemming and so now feel ready to tackle the curtains.  I now need to spend a considerable chunk of time measuring, cutting, pinning and sewing to get them to the right height for the windows and radiators.

I did though by the end of last week finish my cushion cover I had started and here it is.

I made a similar cushion before Christmas which I had for sale in the pop up shop.  This one though has a white centre and white edges unlike the other one I made.  It also has a more distinct swirl pattern to the colours going around the edge.  Another bonus is that it matches the colour scheme in my newly painted bedroom (you can see a sneak peak of the wall paper in the background, my new bed frame and my bedding). This cushion won't be staying in my bedroom, it will go up for sale on Etsy.   I've bought a load of fat quarters to make cushions and other stuff for my bedroom.

What do you think of the cushion?  It took much longer to finish that I expected, but making over a bedroom at the same time doesn't help. Sewing this on my new Pfaff Smarter 260c Sewing Machine was lovely, the fabric moved well, the quarter inch guide foot was a dream to use and help me keep to 1/4 inch seams.  Have you got a new sewing machine?  What do you make?  Let me know.

Patchwork Knitting Bag

Hello Everyone, I hope that you have all enjoyed your second day of 2015 and are still sticking to your resolutions for this year.

Today I am posting about my making which I did on New Years Eve whilst watching television.  I finished making this in time to watch When Harry Met Sally and the fireworks in London which welcomed in the New Year.

In November I went to a beginners Patchwork course held by Mandy Munroe (You can find her blog here at  Emporia Fabrics in Craft (you can find their blog here)  I made 3 x 9 patch squares and 1 x friendship star squares.  I bought back my spare fabric home to continue making something with my squares (I was thinking a table runner or mini quilt).  On New Years Eve I decided to finish cutting out the fabric and see how many different blocks I could make.  I cut out enough to make 2 more friendship stars but didn't have enough fabric for anything else.

I changed my mind as to what to make.  For Christmas my Mum had given me some bag handles to make my own bag.  I decided to make a knitting bag.I found instructions online for making a knitting bag.  You can see these instructions here.  Inspired by these instructions I eventually made 4 x 9 patch blocks and 4 x friendship star blocks (I didn't really have enough fabric for any more blocks)  I also had two further fat quarters, 1 was turquoise, the other was purple.  These were used to create the lining for the knitting bag.

After making the 8 blocks I joined 4 together to create a front and the other 4 blocks to create a back.  I then joined them together as per the instructions and attached the handles.

This is my finished knitting bag.

I am really pleased with how this turned out.  As you can see I alternated the blocks to create variety in the pattern.  I also like making square things and the bag is square shaped and fits in my love of all things square.  On top of this I can fit all the wool for the afghan blanket I am making for my bed in it.

I've got lots of fat quarters and am looking at making all sorts of different things from them.  I've ordered new furniture for my bedroom and will redecorating.  I will be making more things to help decorate my bedroom.  My resolution this year is to keep you all posted with my making and all things Sarahdipity Crafts throughout 2015.  Have a good weekend everyone.