On saddles and getting back in them

It's not like I don't think about coming back to this space. And it's not like I'm not doing any crafty stuff. It's just that I've been away from this space for so long that I get intimidated by getting started back on posting. 

So I'll keep it simple while I'm climbing back into the saddle. Simple, like this Asymmetrical Wrap top I made a few weeks ago. Genius pattern. Cut in 1 piece in 5 mins. Another 5 for adjusting and a maximum of 10 minutes zig-zag stitching around the edges  because I couldn't be arsed to change the thread on the overlocker. 

Made in a cheap wool acrylic blend to test the pattern. So good that I'm now busy assessing the nice stuff to make some more of these.

Fix it closed with a brooch and it's my new fav top for wearing in autumn. 

Nice to see you again! I think I'll come back soon to tell you about How to Love Canberra and my beautiful "vintage" house.

For Heavy Duty Lifting

I've been making pot holders. Quick, easy pot holders. They're quite fun really*


Nice and simple, stash fabric (fabric nerds do you care to enlighten me as to what this is?) lined with wool batting and backed with corduroy to give extra protection against hot pot handles.


I'm a bit of a slap dash sewer who likes the foot-to-the-floor top speed of the machine. I also like short cuts - does anyone else do away with cutting out softie legs and arms and just sew around the pattern piece straight onto two sandwiched uncut pieces of fabric? You don't? Oh.

What's that, you pin and take your time with binding? Not me, I'm a fan of folding pre-prepared binding over and sewing once only. Things came a little undone this time round, hence the first round of holders were gifted at the Craftroom with the caveat of "don't look too close".

Lucky Marina listened and you can't see any evidence of my hastiness laziness in her photo.

(Auntie Cookie fabric backed with, um I can't remember)

But, surprisingly, I actually learned my lesson. While finishing off round 2 I made friends with my pins, look.


And now I'm working hard to to more mid-speed sewing and more pinning. I'm enjoying the slower sewing speed but my hands are a little hole-y.

CA, that's Crocheters Anonymous for the uninitiated

Hi, my name's Sadieandlance and I'm a crochet-aholic.

My addiction started only about 2 and a half weeks ago when I got my first* taste. Here I am in the midst of my very first chains.

photo via Tutti Fruiti

I just can't get enough of the hook and yarn combo. I'm neglecting my other projects


Those other inferior projects have been relegated to the car where I can't crochet because I have to watch what I'm doing and if I do that I risk getting car sick. And if I get car sick well then maybe there'll be less time for crochet.

All I can think about is my next loop.

While visiting Sadie last weekend she taught me to increase and decrease and now I've got competing loves - granny or zig zag.

And these aren't mine, but one simple word to Sadie and now my house is full of her beautiful crochet.


The bottom blanket is made from 'scraps' of Sadie's hand spun - as in spun by Sadie - and crocheted by my Great Aunt. Special.



Thanks for listening, it helps to share. I'll see you at the next CA meeting.

*ok so technically it was the fourth time I've attempted to learn to crochet. Each teacher equally talented with a hook. I feared I had a crochet disability and forewarned the talented teacher. "I always end up holding my hook like I'm knitting", "I can't understand which hole to go into" I get confused about how yarn over seems to be backwards to me" blah blah blah. She bravely persevered regardless. Lucky me.

Ludicrous Cake Installations

I made a ludicrous cake installation today. Ludicrous! 4 layers! Custard, dense coconut cake, raspberries, passionfruit. Mmm-mmmm.

I made it for some craft ladies who came to play. Great day, there was even trash dip (oh there always is!) and homemade sausage rolls. As happens at these occasions all world issues were addressed - inappropriate whacky mother in law antics and deconstruction of Yo Gabba Gabba included (Suzy YGG is touring!!). Fun for all. We missed a couple of nice ladies and if I could combine my Sydney and Melbourne lives well I might have liked to invite some other sweet craft ladies. And you, of course, I'd invite you too -don't worry my imaginary craft house is huge and can fit you all.

Now, it's time to knit. Despite the fact it was a craft day I knitted only 4 rows on a baby cardy which I then ripped out because I didn't like the colours. What do you mean Attention Deficient Crafter? Shame on you for thinking such things about me, I can build ludicrous cake installations. ahem.

The yellow quilt is off the stash!

Yes, yipee, finally the yellow quilt is properly finished and gifted to a little Popstar. At the last minute I remembered to take photos, sorry the lighting was crap so lets pretend it's art blurr, okay?






I did decide as I bundled and wrapped the little quilt up that I would like to stitch in a blue border around the edge of it like I did with Jake's. But too late, not enough minutes before gifting time so it was gifted as-is.

Oh and PS I totally forgot to mention I met this rockin' lady while in the nation's capital. I experienced that weird "I only just met you in person but feel like we're life long friends" thing again. Well we have been blog friends for a long time. Oh and I got to squeeze her cute little paddy cake (scroll down) too! Wee hee.

PPS I can assure you the Smurf's legs are not hairy...yet.

Slowly slowly slowly said the sloth

I had every intention of finishing this cardy by the time my nephew was born.

I didn't finish by the time I originally hoped but I am pleased to tell you that I finished almost exactly 9 months before his first birthday. Yay me.

Details

Pattern: from an old Women's Weekly baby knitting book given to me last year by Ingrid. I can't show you it or tell you the name because I copied the pattern into my notebook and then packed the book away into storage. It's a great book full of nice knits made with bad eighties colours and yarns.

Yarn: Naturally Haven. 4 ply 100% NZ Merino. 2 and a tiny bit balls. I had to dial into Clegs to get me another ball to finish the hood. I contemplated many avoidance tactics (hello AADC!) in lieu of buying another ball of wool...smaller hood, no hood, give up etc...but in the end I bit the bullet and bought the extra ball.

Sticks: My favouritest of favourite sticks. Sadie's Mum's tortoiseshell sticks. I deliberately seek out patterns that require these sticks just so I can knit with them.

Time: Umm I already told you that, don't embarrass me by making me say it again!

What I learnt:
- Some people are excellent assistant button selectors.
- I should just suck it and get on with knitting when I'm working on these projects.
- I can finish a knitted garment AND give it as a gift. (This is the very first knitted garment I have finished and actually been happy enough with to give it away. I have, despite my ADC tendencies, finished other garments but have always felt they were too inferior to gift. I also usually then find them in amongst the stash months later and wonder what the hell I was thinking)

Out Yourself

So armed with my newly rediscovered mojo I cut out some fabric last night ready for a quilt. While I was digging around my depleted stash I discovered this in progress hand sewn felt counting book



Whoops I started this 3 and a half years ago for my first nephew. I then reallocated it as a gift for my second nephew the year before last. I then deferred it to my own son last year. I now find myself contemplating deferring the still yet to be finished project to my newest nephew born last week. So it got me thinking about my Attention Deficient Crafting ways. I haven't talked much about the AADC (Association of Attention Deficient Crafters) for quite some time (although Kristen called me on it a while back). Here's a prime example:

I cut the pieces for page 8 (there's 10 pages in total) complete with an alternative shape (the random fish in the middle) and I even layed it out. Then I quietly closed it up inside a book where it stayed for about oh 2 and a half years give or take. I recall putting it in there cause I didn't like the pencils and thought they'd be a pain in my arse to hand sew.

You do it too though don't you? Pretend things aren't there when they get a bit tricky/you lose interest/pick up some thing newer and more exciting etc? I've heard a few mumours around blog land about it so I know I'm no lone queen of procrastination.

Well, feel free to unburden yourself by joining the Association of Attention Deficient Crafters over at Flickr. Just post a photo of your best attention deficient crafting efforts/longest going project/most half arsed craft attempt. Oh and while you're at it if your attention span lasts long enough lets see you out yourself on your blog. Let me know in the comments that you're outing yourself so I can see how I compare!

Spread the word it's cool to be an attention deficient crafter.

Now anyone want to stand as a committee member for the Association? You'll never have to do a thing cause we'll just procrastinate about organising stuff ok.