Giving Handmade

There's a lot of different views out there in the world about giving handmade! Some people who do make things don't like giving someone something they've made because they think it feels a bit cheap.

 

Well I'm from completely the other camp! I love giving handmade! Last Christmas I made my niece and nephew super hero capes. They weren't perfect but I personalised each one and they were both really into superheroes at the time so it fit pretty well!

 

The first ever owl I made was a gift for my Momma, she has her grand children a lot, so keeping doors open means that little feet can find her quickly and easily should they need juice/wee/cuddle/food/morefood/notthatfood/theotherfood.

 

 

Although I do think its funny how he looks completely different from the owls I make now! It also meant I could put in cute personal details for her, a few strands of the wool she once crocheted me a hat out of, recycled buttons from one of Lil Knitwits baby clothes, so she could always have a little piece of the baby side of him, and the base is my first ever attempt at crocheting, its not a great piece of crochet but it makes a cracking base!

 

 

Immediately after I made my first owl I made this super squishy one for my niece (she wanted to lay claim to granny's but no matter how good the puppy dog eyes were it just wasn't happening)

 

 

I made this for Mr Knitwit as a silly little gift. I'm not gonna lie, if there was a fire I'm not sure he'd be dashing to get this out of the house , but I think he liked that I thought about him and made him something personal just for the sake of it.

 

 

This was also for Mr Knitwit just because! And well if you cant say it with Pac Man what can you say it with?

 

 

This was my biggest handmade gift ever, I made it for Mr Knitwit's 21st, and he does like it (even if he does keep reminding me it needs extending) I'ts made from all of Little Knitwit's baby grows so its a very personal item.

 

 

And then I made this for my brother in laws birthday! Its the only one I've ever made and has his bands name on it Hybrid.9.

 

So here's what I think! Yes give handmade, its sweet and its personal and its nice to know that someone cares enough to make something just for you! Don't think it makes you look cheap! We all know how expensive crafting stuff is!

 

I personally love receiving handmade stuff which I plan on covering in another post! So if a baby's on the way, dust off your knitting needles and make up some booties! Oh that reminds me I've got two babies to knit for (not mine don't panic!) So I best crack on!

 

Much Love

 

And Give Handmade!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Patchwork Magic

I was first introduced to patchwork when I visited my grandparents in Ireland. I remember sleeping in a huge brass bed that was absolutely laden with blankets and sheets but on top of all of these layers (and there was about seven)  was a patchwork quilt. In fact, on top was this patchwork quilt in particular .

 

I believe the pattern is called "flying geese" and it was made using the English paper piecing technique, I think its hand quilted and you can even see where she's signed it at the bottom with her name and the year she finished it . This quilt actually belongs to my big sister, in fact we all have one! (coincidence I think not! my grandma was one clever lady) the only problem is mine isn't finished :( So me and my mum are going to finish it together and put all of names on it.

 



This is my grandma by the way , and my brother and sister , I'm the little blonde one!



  I blame this quilt for starting me off with a love of handmade quilts! I mean I knew my grandma sewed because she sent me a quilted pillow when I was about five or six.

 

  

 The edging fabric has also been used in the quilt above, thrifty as well! A woman after my own heart!

She did the worlds neatest stitches.

But it was going over the Ireland that opened my eyes , she didn't just sew, she SEWED! she knew her stuff! she had books and templates and more fabric than you can shake a stick at! fabric which I was lucky enough to receive when she died, which I promptly started to turn into my own quilts. quilts like this one.



Not quite flying geese



 

Its got my fabrics and her fabrics, bits of old work shirts and baby clothes.

 

 

But its not finished and it was started about three years ago , all it needs is two more triangles and then I can back it quilt it and bind it.

 

 

 But no I have to procrastinate! But I procrastinate in the strangest ways. I start another quilt.

 

 

Hand pieced again but this time using my sons baby clothes and just his baby clothes , this quilt made me shed a few tears. There's lots of little pieces of my baby in here, and its a nice way of remembering what he used to wear without keeping EVERYTHING. I actually got the idea from an episode of the Gilmore girls! 

 

This quilt was well received although a little smaller than I had hoped (all those squares were driving me crazy) but in the end there was enough scraps , leftovers, material for a second quilt.

 

 

This one went to Daddy as part of his birthday present , I even embroidered a message onto it , a soppy message so I wont share that! But more importantly it was the first quilt I made entirely by machine. It was so quick and easy it was unreal but I didn't seem to feel the same connection to the other hand made quilts.

 

Maybe its just me ? Or do you feel differently about machine quilts and entirely handmade quilts?

 

Although this picture makes me love them both equally or is that just the boys?

 

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx