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.

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.

Completing Works in Progress

I  can't believe it's been a whole week since I last posted on this blog. I  feel like so much has happened and that I should have been blogging about it. Obviously I  have not.

This morning I  took the completed patchwork cushions to the Emporia Market Pop Up shop at 1 Bank St, Ashford. Over the we I had attached buttons. In order to do this easily I had bought home the Brother  Innov-is 10a sewing machine home from work. It has a 1 step button hole and a foot for sewing on buttons. It's much easier to use than the simple Singer sewing machine we have at home. The patchwork cushions are £20 each.

Over the weekend I searched through the built in cupboard in my bedroom. I turned it into a storage cupboard for all my cross stitch stuff when we first moved into the house. Cross stitch was my first real love in the world of crafting. I've been doing it for the past 25 years or so. In the cupboard was a completed cross stitch. It was a Margaret Sherry cat design from a  calendar. I remember stitching it about 5 years ago. I hadn't done anything with it afterwards.

As I'm on a cushion making fever at the moment and it's a square design, I want to turn it into a cushion. I didn't have any money to buy fabric to go with the design. But today was payday, and as I  was at the pop up shop, I went and rummaged around the fabric and fat quarters at Emporia Fabric and Crafts and I found exactly what I was looking for. The cat is black, white and grey on an orange background. The selection of fat quarters are grey and orange and work with the colours in the image. I'm looking forward to making a cushion out of all of this.

Pin Cushion & Cushions

This weekend saw me complete a couple of sewing projects.  I completed two more simply crazy patchwork cushions in different colours using  two different packs of fat quarters.  I took some photos this evening but the photos didn't come out very well and I've deleted everyone of them.

I have also made a pin cushion this evening.  I was on pinterest and looking for inspiration for patchwork cushions when I stumbled upon an image for a pin cushion that came with instructions for making.  It looked pretty simple and would use up the scraps of fabric I have left from making the cushions.  I found the instructions on the Messy Jesse Crafts blog site.  You can find the instructions here.

This was my first photo attempt using my Hudl, but being evening and artificial light the picture isn't very good at all.  Plus it has my quilting pins in it so you can't see the design.

This picture is better, but still doesn't show the pin cushion in the best way.  I had lots of 2 inch strips of fabric left from when I made my cushions (I had cut lots of strips to make my cushion).  I sewed  4 strips together and using my rotary cutter cut across the stips to make new 2 inch strips which when all sewed together would make 1.5 inch sqaures of all the different fabrics.  I made the front out of 16 squares each (4 x 4 sqaures) and then followed the instructions from Messy Jesse Crafts blog.  I stitched a pink button in the middle to finish it off. 

 I've got more fabric ready to make more of these tomorrow.  I thought they may sell in the pop up shop.  What do you think?  Let me know your thoughts.  Hopefully I will take some better photos tomorrow.

Setting up at the pop up shop

This morning I went and set up at the Pop Up Shop.  I was going to take and set up my cushions and cross stitch pictures.  I initially took in my cushions and put them on display.  They went on top of a unit and they really brightened up that part of the room.  I still need to make some changes, as I need to make a sign for my stall.  I felt quite unprepared when I saw all the lovely ways the other sellers had set up their stalls.  I did take lots of photos of what had been set up.  To start with these are my cushions.

They are lined up on top of a cabinet adding a nice touch of colour, pattern and fun to that part of the store.  You see my cushions on the opposite side of the store when you walk in the door.

Another seller is Poppykins.  You can learn about Poppykins here on her Facebook Page.  These are photos of what she is selling at the Pop Up Shop.

There are great bowls made from vinyl records made by Handmade Vintage.  You can find out more about this business here,

Another stall is Aye Aye.  This stall has some amazing sewn items in fabulous fabrics.  You can learn more about Aye Aye here

There are some great unique glass christmas decorations from Puddle Studio Glass Art.  You can learn more about them here 

There is a stall by Bertie Bloome.  I love the way that the stall is set out.  I believe they must do many craft fairs and pop up shops as they have a great amount of equipment for showing their products on. If you show them well they will gain a lot of interest.  I feel there is a lot to learn over the next 6 weeks about the best way in presenting my products. Find out more about Bertie Bloome here.

And finally the other stall that was set up was Sew Brilliant.  She was setting up as I was, I kept asking lots and lots of questions, there is so much I want to learn and I am so excited to speak to people who have been doing this a long while.  Sew Brilliant has experience of doing Pop Up shops in other parts of Kent and so I was keen to ask lots of questions.  Her kits are great.  You can learn more about Sew Brilliant here

I had to set up between a morning appointment and going into work.  I did manage to squeeze in an hour, but not all of the stalls were set up, so if you want to know more about the Pop Up shop then please follow its facebook page which is here.  This page will fill you in on what is coming up, who is selling and links to all of their blogs, facebook pages, twitter accounts, etc.