Winter wool coat

The majority of the sewing I seem to do these days is kind of rushed and simple - a quick pair of pants for the kids or a shirt for one of them made out of an old shirt of mine. So it was quite nice for a change to slow down a bit and do something 'properly' following a pattern and all that jazz. Basting and pressing and clipping and topstitching, and all that jazz.



This coat was made for someone else, little Campbel from Lil Knight Lights. Stacey was after a nice warm winter coat for Cam and couldn't find one that she liked so asked if I would sew one up for her.

I was pleased with how it all came together, and that curved yoke wasn't as tricky as I thought it might have been, I will definately be making one for Isla for next year. The pattern goes up to size 6, so I may just be making a few.





I used this pattern purchased from Etsy. I changed it a bit by adding a hood, changing how the buttons fastened, and adding extra length to the arms as Stacey wanted rolled up cuffs.



I also added a little pocket to the inside for holding treasures.



The apple picking fabric is a vintage cotton that I have had for ages, I love it so much, it has been used for many projects, there's only a few scraps left now.



As you can see it fitted Isla perfectly! Kind of tempting to keep it :)
But no, it has been sent on it's merry way, and Stacey, you must send me a picture of Cam wearing it :)

Lovely parcels in the mail

We recieved a very fun parcel in the mail today, all the way from Japan!
Diane from Monkey Magic sent us some wonderful goodies. We decided to do a little swapsie, just for fun. We're still collecting up a few more bits and pieces and then we'll be sending off our parcel, on a little trip to Japan. Such fun, I do love sending and receiving mail. Not including bills of course :)




The kids enjoyed the sweet treats, thankyou Keita :)





And look at the rest of the goodies! Eeeee, love the fabrics!



Nursery rhyme/fairy tale calendar - so CUTE. And sweet little wooden gift tags.



And Japanese craft books! I'd love to visit Japan one day, but I'd have to take a whole extra suitcase with me for the all craft books I'd want to take home.



Ahhh, I just want to start sewing, right now!






Thankyou so much Diane for your sweetness and kindness xx

Stitch by stitch

Thankyou for all your kind words regarding my Auntie Jill. Her funeral last week was a moving and beautiful tribute to a very beautiful lady. Over 400 people came to say their goodbyes, a testimony to how many people's lives she touched with her generous and giving spirit. She opened her heart and her life and her home to so many people over the years. Her son Duncan said of her "She never said no, if she could say yes". I would like to be more like her.



I would also love to be more like her in her skill of knitting, she was very skilled at whatever she put her mind and her hands to actually, her paintings are amazing, and she used to make beautiful quilts. Her mother, my grandmother taught me to knit, many yeas ago now, but just in the last few years I have started knitting again. I'm not sure if I'll ever be creating the beautiful lace stitches and intricate designs that Aunty Jill was skilled at. I'm very slow, but I'm getting there, and it is so satisfying to have a finished garment at the end of it, knowing that you have created it all, stitch by stitch.



I started knitting this vest well before winter arrived, so that I could guarantee that Isla would get to wear it this winter. Well I only just made it, finishing it just a few weeks before spring arrived. And she is now wearing it every opportunity we get, as I don't think it will fit her next year!



The wool I used was this beautiful wool here, gifted to me by this sweet lady, from her very own sheep. It is so lovely and soft, and was lovely to work with. I only had about a metre and a half of yarn left when I'd finished.




And the pattern is this one, the Rainbow Dress, which I just shortened to a vest instead. The pattern goes from newborn size to 10 years, I'll definately be making more. Perhaps I should start knitting one now in the next size up in time for next winter! :)