Handmade Challenge - August Update

Ahhhhhhhh! It's August, it's August?! Oh, my, goodness. I don't know What happened to July. Did anyone else miss July completely?

I didn't achieve anything off my Handmade Challenge List in July and I'm panicking. There are only 20 more weeks until Christmas, and I can pretty much write off December anyway. So in reality, I have 16 more weeks to make; A Card Table Tent, A Bolero, An Apron, A Fabric Dollhouse and a Christmas Tree Skirt. It all started out so promisingly...

The good news is, it's just over a week into August, and I have finally managed to finish Sophie's cardigan, hooray! Thankfully it's a little large on her, so it's going to be the perfect spring cardigan.

Not perfect, but very sweet!

The pattern wasn't terribly well written, although lack of sleep doesn't help. It wasn't a complex pattern per se, it was just a little difficult to figure out where I was up to. I used Patons Dreamtime Merino 4 ply and it is so ridiculously soft and machine washable!

Sophie in her cardigan.. oooh so squishy!

My apologies for the state of this post and the photos. Since my last post, our house was broken into and (among other items) our computer and camera were stolen. So this post has been written on an ancient laptop my husband brought home from work (that keeps crashing on me) and the photos I hastily snapped on my Mum's camera during a quick visit.

How is your list going? Did you make anything in July?

Twit Twoo, Halfway Through! - Mini Challenge Week 3

'What am I doing?' I asked my husband last night. He doesn't know, I don't know. Why did I sign myself up for a crazy challenge entirely of my own making when there is so much I need to and want to be doing?

One very surprised looking owl!

I managed to make Wise Mr Owl (just) in time, for my Fluff and Fuzz Mini Challange. So many bits to sew up and sew on... By very bad light, I was madly trying to sew the black hat together last night, not entirely ideal. Looking at the original photos, I've ended up with quite a tall and slim looking owl!

In other news, Sophie is doing amazingly. She has finally shaken this virus and to look at her, you would not believe she had open heart surgery 2 weeks ago. This is a huge relief for us. We will see her cardiologist this week, find out where she is at, and start getting on with our lives.

I have also thrown myself into overdrive with making things, and I am about to do something I swore I would never do again, open an online store. It is a very difficult thing to put yourself out there and try and sell things that you make. They are a little piece of you, and if no one buys them, it can be heart breaking. Glutton for punishment?? I'll give it a go.

Instead of announcing tomorrow, (to save time) I will let you know now that this week, as well as everything else, I am going to attempt to make Miles the Crocodile.

Never smile at a crocodile, except this one

Have you ever attempted, or do you sell your own things? Have an tips or hints?

Easter Bunny Egg Cosies

It's Easter this week! Well one Easter. Being a half Greek family, we celebrate Easter twice if Greek Easter happens to be on a different date. I managed to be organised enough this year to have made a few Easter Bunny Egg Cosies for 1st Easter, and even knocked off Item #4 on my Handmade Challenge list!

These little critters were quite easy once I got the knack, it's always a bit tricky picking up double pointed needles if you haven't used them for a little while. If you've never used DPN's and are a little afraid of them, don't be. Take a look at this little video that helped me get on the right track.

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn. As I live in Australia, I don't have ready access to that particular size. So I delved into my 8ply stash and used 3.25mm needles. This made for a smaller cosy (not fit for a Cadbury Creme Egg I'm afraid), but thankfully Lindt make an egg that is eggsactly the right size!

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on it's way!

That's now 5 items off my challenge list! Almost halfway there. I really really should sew something next... not likely. I have a feeling we'll get to December, and there will be my sewing projects, glaring at me, unfinished, in the corner.

If you fancy a crack at an egg cosy yourself, there's plenty of time to get a couple made before the Easter Bunny comes a calling. Have you got any handmade gifts ready or in the works for Easter?

Jemima Puddle Duck Baby Blanket

As well as ticking things off my Handmade Challenge List, I have been working on my first ever knitting pattern, the Jemima Puddle Duck Baby Blanket. (Stay tuned, Peter Rabbit is also currently in the works.)

 

I don't think I have done so much maths since I was at school, however it was all worth it in the end. I was so pleased with how she turned out and from all reports, her new owner is enjoying plenty of snuggles under her little blanket.

By now you're probably thinking I am kicking back and relaxing. 4 Items ticked off My Handmade Challenge list and March isn't even over yet.

Egg Cosy Image from Ravelry

I'm far from relaxed, at the moment I'm coughing and hacking and getting over some awful flu thing, but still thinking about item #4 Easter Bunny Eggs Cosy, Easter is just around the corner.

Have you ever made your own pattern or design for something crafty?

Knit One, Purl One, Breathe

There is no denying it and no getting around it, I am stressed o. u. t . We still don't have a date for Sophie's heart surgery and we are now waiting on blood test results. We are always waiting on something. Breathe.

I keep putting it all in perspective, at this moment, she is fine. Yes the little band around her pulmonary artery is getting tighter, but the doctors say that this is fine, and I have to believe them. She's at home, not in hospital like so many little bubbas and children and their families. Breathe.

Sophie's cardigan WIP and a good yarn

I am so stressed out, I even suggested to my husband that perhaps I need more projects to do. I have only done 2 on my Handmade Challenge List, there are still 10 to do and did I mention I am hopeless with a sewing machine?! Breathe.

To try and focus, I have launched myself into project number 8 on the list, a little cardigan for Sophie. As a result, instead of cleaning the house or cooking food for the children, all I want to do is knit, or read about knitting. Perhaps I can knit a cocoon, one big enough for the whole family and we can all crawl in there until it's all over. Breathe.

One thing that I am excited about is the new addition to our family. This lovely chair has become my new favourite place in the house. Despite the view of the unkempt kitchen, I can also see outside (into the unkempt yard) and watch my unkempt children play. Breathe.

My new favourite sitting place

I have used it for sitting, knitting, reading and feeding. 'Feeding?' I hear you say, 'don't you mean eating?' No, as creepy as it sounds, I'm still breastfeeding my 13 month old. She would never take a bottle, and I figured it would be unfair to stop before she had surgery again. That was when I thought her surgery was going to be 6 months ago. I am painfully aware that this could soon escalate into a Game of Thrones situation. As long as they don't keep my little girl waiting much longer. Breathe.

Carolyn in Canada, when you've sent supportive words to my mum so many times, they have reached me too, thank you. Breathe.

Like looking for a needle in a haystack

A drawer full O' needles

Why is it, whenever I go to start a new project, I never seem to have the all the tools I require? I have a drawer full of knitting needles, and last night, when I wanted to get going on a bit of knitting, (which of course isn't on my list) I didn't have the needles I needed.

I have 4mm, 4mm double pointed, 4mm x 40cm circular, 4.5mm x 100cm circular, but not 4mm x 100cm circular, why oh Why?! Does anyone else have this problem? Or is it just me?! Looking at that drawer, I should've put something to organise my needles on the challenge list.

So due to my need for 4mm x 100cm circular needles, Sophie and I made a trip to our favourite crafty place Craftee Cottage this morning. Before we left, I checked out what I needed for something actually on My Handmade Challenge list. #9 a crochet fruit buddy.

Item #9 Crochet Fruit

As I'm only new to crochet, I don't have a lot of hooks. There are 3 hooks required for this pattern, I own 6... Not one of the hooks I own is the right size. Seriously?!

The lovely ladies at Craftee Cottage sorted me out though, and I'm technically ready to go. It'll be February tomorrow, I really do need to get making. If I could just get the children to play nicely with each other, perhaps I could get started... Or from the sounds of things, perhaps I should just wait until they're in bed...

Yes I can knit a toy stethoscope!

In answer to the question I asked in my last post, it turns out I can, and did knit a stethoscope. Well technically I crocheted the end piece by using my basic crochet skills learned from making my first item in the handmade challenge, the crochet cake.

The finished product complete with 'Doctor Bag'

The rest was simply knitted icord around chenille sticks. I taped the joins and the ends so no pointy bits of metal can stick out from the wool.

WIP late at night, knitting icord around chenille sticks

I then found a cardboard box, knitted an icord handle, attached it, put a cross on the front of it and a few brand new syringes inside (from one of Sophie's many hospital stays). There you have it. Hopefully it's just what Felix was after and we can all look forward to some good old fashioned doctoring from now on.

I should probably throw a few bandages in for good measure

So that's one distraction taken care of, although I feel like I could add more. What would you put in a toy doctor kit?