Cat-proofing the Knitting and a Bit of Sewing

I thought you might like to see my new wool bowl. Gorgeous or what? It came from this shop on Folksy.

The idea is to stop a certain feline from chasing my wool all around the floor. Yes, Loki, I'm talking about you. Look at him, looking as if butter wouldn't melt...

And the bit of sewing? Something for me for a change. The pattern is Simplicity 1463, and the fabric came from EvilBay. The lace panel goes across the back as well as the sleeves

A picture of me. Something you don't see too often on this blog. Probably didn't really want to see this one either!
If you are thinking of sewing this pattern, it comes up a bit on the large size, I ended up cutting a size smaller than I'd normally use.

Another Challenge Piece

Yesterday was reveal day for the Needlecraft Haven Monthly Ornament Challenge. This month we all stitched this design from The Little Stitcher. I stitched mine on the same raw linen as last month's piece, using Crescent Colours - Bing Cherry, which could be my new favourite red, and Anchor 275 for the snow, because white was just too harsh. Finished as a simple ornament with a little cream pom pom trim to look like snowballs.

The other finishes are in the album here, and well worth a look

Button Time

Not much to show lately (pop over to our wedding photography blog - link in side bar - if you want to see why I've been so busy recently), but I did make up these button bracelet watches last week. Watch faces from eBay, buttons from stash.

And here is the first of the rhubarb from the garden, all waiting to be made up into a pie (we won't talk about the sticks I ate raw before they made it that far...)

I Need To Work On My Timing

Here is the scarf I just finished knitting. It's a simple ripple lace pattern in knitted up in Sirdar Montana.

Why yes, I have finished it just in time for the weather to warm up. Thank you for noticing ;D
I have now started knitting a nice little lacy cotton bolero. I shall probably finish it round about the end of October!
This year my camellias have gone berserk, so I thought I'd share a snap of a few that I picked and brought indoors. They were already in the garden when we bought the house so I don't know what varieties they are but I have two kinds, a very big, blousey, frilly ballerina pink one, and a slightly smaller more elegant cerise one.

A Challenge Finish That Could Be More Christmassy

It's reveal day for the Monthly Ornament Challenge at Needlecraft Haven. This month we stitched this design from Mausimom.
I love how mine has come out, with the vintage mother of pearl and crystal buttons from my collection, though I don't really think it's all that "Christmassy"

I used an orphan piece of overdyed raw looking linen for mine. It is stitched with GAST Shaker White thread, and finished with hand dyed Cluny lace trim from The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.
The other finishes (which are a lot more Christmassy) are in the album here

A Couple of Skirts and Playing With Lego

This has got to be the quickest skirt pattern I've ever come across. Here are Eloise and Naomi modelling two versions of New Look 6873.

Both are View C worked without the pockets. Naomi's is a duck egg blue and neutral polka dot linen, cut 3 or 4 inches shorter than the pattern. Eloise's is made from a metre of Avengers print cotton I found on EvilBay, which, unusually, features Black Widow and Hawkeye as well as the usual Cap, Hulk, Thor and Ironman. I had to be a bit creative with the cutting to get it out of a metre but it worked out in the end.
Note: If you are thinking of making this pattern it seems to come up a little big.

When are you too old to play with Lego? I can't answer that but I haven't got there yet. Anyway with some colourful lego bricks, jewellery findings and my handy-dandy Dremel you can make some funky earrings. This pair, and several similar ones in different colours, are now available in Eloise's Folksy shop

A Spring Exchange

Last weekend was opening day for the Needlecraft Haven Spring Exchange.
Here is the gorgeous sewing pocket I received from Mary. If it's looking a little plump it's because I've already got my current project safely tucked inside it! Thank you Mary. I love it.

And here is the daffodil biscornu I made and sent to Alison. I'd forgotten how much fun biscornus were to make.
I also included a little felt corsage in spring colours and a stitched tag but I forgot to get photos of them.