Monday 30 May 2011

Oooh, new stuff

Yuck, I hate the rain! It does mean however that we can have crafty days at the table, colouring, drawing and playing while I get little bits and bobs done around the generally boy induced chaos!

I went to Hobbycraft yesterday, I think I need to make some placemats for our dining/conservatory, the fabric there is so expensive (it's probably the same everywhere right?) so I didn't bother. I'll probably use my Laura Ashley remnants that came from my mum's.

While I was there I did pick up a new magazine, Mollie Makes which had a cute little phone holder kit on the front. While it was absolutely tipping it down this morning and the boys were occupied elsewhere I thought I'd whip it up.


Isn't it sweet??

The other thing I've been getting on with this week is my niece Hannah's Charlie Bear. It's knitted with Sirdar Snowflake Chunky and I have one word to say about it...YUCKY! It's awful to knit with. I'm hating every minute of it but in fairness, it does look quite a bit like Charlie Bear, and I am in the running for most helpful and wonderful Aunty Jo by knitting it!

As for those boys....look tricky don't they!

Wednesday 25 May 2011

More T Shirts

I've been on a mission recently, The T shirts that I got from H&M were just staring at me itching to be 'done'. Now, they both have matching shirts.

 The VW T shirt was worn the other day too, a success!

I also had a look through some of the fabrics my mum gave me when she moved. I chucked some through the washer and then ironed them and made them look all yummy. Here's some of what I've got!



















Not very boyish are they??

:facepalm:

Sunday 22 May 2011

Cheap Thread

I could quite happily have thrown my sewing machine throught he window yesterday. I was adding some 'old busses' to a Tshirt for George and my zigzag stitch just wasn't cutting it.  I was using cheap thread that I'd got from the village, and it wasn't picking up the bobbin thread. As soon as I changed to some thread my mum gave me it started  working again.  Hmm, perhaps I need decent thread??

I think I'll probably order some from here, I have it on good authority (my mum) that the prices are good! She's trying to work out if her account from Derby Braid is still active, I think probably not, it would have been well before computers were around (well, aside from the Commodore 64!)

But, I finished George's T-shirt, and am pretty happy with the results. There's some more pictures of Sam's too.


I also finished the knitting bit of Sam's 2nd pair of Packer Pants, if I do start to do things for more than just fun I think this is the longies pattern I would get, it's so cute, I totally LOVE the saggy knee detail!


Saturday 21 May 2011

*sigh*

Never leave knitting with a 3yr old near. Luckily it was only 1/2 a row that somehow 'came off the needles' but I could have screamed!!

Anyway. I'm just about to start the tuck knee of the second leg of Sam's longies, these are looking LUSH!

Friday 20 May 2011

T-shirt refurb

I love the H&M plain T-shirts, they're dirt cheap (I'm not sure where they are made though...note to self, do some research) and hold together really well.

I bought some of this fabric from IKEA because I loved the quirky animals. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it but thought it would make a well cute t-shirt for babySam

What do you think?



Wednesday 18 May 2011

WIP Wednesday!

I'm in the middle of a couple of projects at the moment. The first is another pair of Packer Pants for baby Sam, I totally love the first pair I did as a test for Michelle, so am doing another pair. You've already seen what yarn I'm making them with, the background of this blog is the bum of the longies!



The other thing I have going on is another shawl. I'm knitting a Charentaise out of some gorgeous Flamboyance Yarns Gallant  I got from UK Classifieds on Ravelry. As soon as it arrived I started knitting!

I chose the shawl because of the name. My mum and dad are just moving to France (they go tomorrow) and they happen to be moving to the Charente region, it just seemed perfect.  I might give it my mum, or I might keep it for me!!

Let's get started

First things first, I'm Jo, and I'm mum to 2 rambunctious boys. George, who's 3 and currently helping himself to peanut butter out of the jar (it's OK, he's using a spoon); and Sam, who's chilling out next to me on the sofa.

I got made redundant from my first ever 'permanent' job just before I returned to work following my maternity leave, so looked for things to fill my time (because you get loads of that spare with children around of course).  I'd already been knitting a fair amount and then my mum and dad bought me a sewing machine for Christmas. My mum is/was a dressmaker and teacher of Textiles so I'm hoping some of her creativeness has rubbed off on me!