English paper pieced needle books!

You may remember me saying yesterday that the issue of love patchwork and quilting magazine my sister gave me came with a free project! 

And how excited I was that the kit included everything I needed baring scissors? 

Well here it is completed! 

Isn't it adorable! I can't believe it all came out of a tiny packet! 

Or how quick it was to do!!! In fact it was so quick to do that this happened today! 

Yerp I raided my stash and made ANOTHER one! And it was purely a coincidence that I picked the same colour felts! 

I love them! And two needle books in two days isn't bad at all! 

I'm going to keep the original one, and I was going to give the second on to my sister but durr she has the kit herself! So I think I'm going to give it to my mummy, she's been doing some patchwork of her own recently and It will be nice for her to have somewhere to keep pins and needles! 

I do have a major problem though! Whilst sewing those tiny hexies I couldn't help but think about how quick and adorable they are..... And how nice a whole quilt might look! 

Someone save me! 

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx

Pretty In Pink

Its refashion time again! I was reading a lovely little blog called eat sleep breathe fashion which happens to be written by my lovely and talented cousin Miss Sadie K, and she was talking about the amount of co-ordinating trends this summer.

 

Photo Credit eat sleep breathe fashion

 This is a style I love! But I've always been terrified of looking like something out of an eighties movie. You know what I mean , flowered skirt, flowered skirt, big hair, bubble gum, Molly Ringwald. I digress.

 

But anyway I decided to have a quick look in my wardrobe to see if their was anything I could tweak.

And I found this.

 

 

I'm not sure when I brought this, or what drugs I had been given, but all I can say is, it makes me look about 6 months pregnant, apparently the puffy under the bust skirt is not my friend!

 

 

The dress was originally from miso, and although I love the fabric and the fully lined skirt, I was not loving how it looked on me. So I changed it up a little bit.

 

NOTE;  Please give yourself some time to prepare yourself for some VERY awkwardly posed pictures taken by momma Knitwit. (Who only just learnt how to use an SLR camera today) (and kept making me giggle)

 

 

 I basically cut the skirt away from the lining but left it attached to the top. Sewed some lace around all the over locked edges on the top, and turned the skirt piece into an actual skirt using elastic! Oh elastic that's very eighties isn't it!

 

 (I know I am rubbish at explaining what I do, it's basically, cut, swear, pray, sew, cheer)

 

 

 Here's the back, (still working on that focus with momma) it originally had straight straps but I decided to cross them because one had broken anyway!

 

 

Wack on a belt and heels and I'm good to go.

 

 

Here's just the top, and yes I do know it looks like a nightie untucked but if Madonna can rock it so can I! The shorts are also a refashion, they used to be my sisters jeans and were cut down the summer my mum decided my sister needed to get her legs out more.

 

 

And this is the skirt as a separate, paired with my very old Ethel Austin top. I actually think I like it best styled like this, but either way its definitely more wearable now it doesn't make me look like I'm expecting baby number two!

 

 

But what have this project taught me:

1. Current fashion trends, can be achieved at home , without the hefty price tag.
2. If I could crop my legs at the knee in real life I'd be much happier
3. My mother should not be let near technology
4. Don't bin anything
5. And as much as it pains me to admit it, I would not win Americas next top model with my dazzling modelling talents!.

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Finishes and Fabric

It's definitely been a good couple of days I finished my Bird Embroidery all I had to do was sew the branch in, I went for more of a free form style, because when I try and draw branches and trees they always look a little fake, so I free styled and it ended up looking more natural!

 

 

Definitely pleased with how it turned out! It's pretty girly for me, but I've been trying to change things up a little bit.

 

 

It was nice to do a mixture of different stitches and to alternate between complete blocks of colour and more liner areas.

 

 

 It's already sat in a pile waiting with my other embroidery projects to be turned into a cushions.

 

 

And a package has been delivered to a customer, Via the official Knitwits Delivery person ( AKA my momma!)

 

 

It was a custom order for a friend who's daughter loves ORANGE! It's a doorstop and it's the package that I blogged about here! 

 

I also received a very special delivery today from Mr. Postman! My Dragonfly Fabrics arrived from the competition I won on Handmade Jane's blog!

 

It was beautifully wrapped in tissue paper but I might of ahem, ripped it off as soon as a realised what it was before I had chance to take a picture!

 

 

But it was wrapped up in a ribbon which made me swoon even more! And as an added bonus FREE ribbon! Ooft!

 

 

I chose Field Study- Sinister Swarm Vivacious By

 

 

I got 60cm so its the perfect amount to make myself a cute little summer skirt!

 

 

And then I also chose a white cotton embroidered flower fabric in white, which I can't find on the website now! Hope I didn't steal it all!

 

 

I got 2.5m in this because I already have a pattern in mind for it! from my sew your own wardrobe book! It will need a lining underneath though, so that will be a bit of a challenge.

 

 

But I really hope I've got enough left to make some other treats!

 

 

I'd like to thank Jane and Dragonfly fabrics again for an AWESOME giveaway!

 

Today has been an awesome day so far! Hope you guys have a lovely day as well!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

 

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

I'm starting to think I'm the only person in the entire world who hasn't seen frozen? My friends have seen it, my Niece and Nephew have seen it, the big burly men that Mr Knitwit works with have seen it (they wernt impressed) But I haven't, I don't even think I really want to watch it, there was a lot of hype around Despicable Me if I remember, but I wasn't particually impressed with that, although the minons are adorable!

I don't know maybe I just don't want to be disappointed or maybe I need to realised that Disney movies arn't going to be cartoons anymore, they are all 3d and textured now , and you don't even see the same back drop on rotation :( how times have changed!

 

 

But in response to my own question yes I do like building snow men and I've actually made one! (and yes I realise that this is completely the wrong season!)

 

 

This is another doorstop, and I made it for my Momma Bear (yes I'm twenty one I know I should just call her mum but I'm a big kid at heart!). I made it as part of last years Christmas present , and I'm happy to say she loved it! Well there was no doubt that she would really she loves Christmas!! No one does Christmas like my Momma! She goes all out real tree, ornaments in every room and she bakes Christmas cakes for me and my siblings and for her and my Dad! You have not had Christmas cake until you have tasted my mommas! But if you have more than one slice your not safe to drive! Very loose with the brandy bottle is Momma Knitwit! 

 

But back to the little snowman! He's full of Christmas goodness, top hat twig arms, coals for eyes carrot nose! He was a last minute make but I can definitely see me making a few more this year , although I will have to buy some more white wool! As if I didn't have enough wool already!

 

Much Love!

 

Frankie

 

XXX

Star Wars: Return of the Knitting

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....... one of my most favourite customers placed her third custom order with me! (She's a beaut that one) and this time when she asked me instead of being worried, I became so excited I squealed at my phone! Something that is fine in your own home but entirely inappropriate when out and about in public!

 

But basically she asked me to make her a knitted Yoda! I kid you not! YODA! For anyone who doesn't know who Yoda is, he is an incredibly wise, little green, Jedi in Star Wars! And possibly the coolest character ever created!!!!! (I realise this description doesn't help at all, so I recommend you rent the films. You will have the time of your life!) But anyways this is what Yoda looks like and an example of something wise he might say.

 

 

Strangely enough Yoda actually reminds me of my Mum. In a GOOD way! This is just the sort of advice she gives me when she's trying to motivate me into believing in myself! But she's definitely not as wrinkly as him. 

 

Anyway enough of the soppy stuff, here's what I made.

 

 

He photographs a little weird but he's actually a lighter green and his light saber is detachable so you can , erm, play with him. Which I totally didn't! Not for long anyway!

 

 

 

Posing by the door in case the Sith attack!

 

 

 

His Light Saber can go in his hand or his belt! Every Jedi needs storage! 

 

 

He even has his own hood! Well sometimes even Jedi Masters have to be sly!

 

 

I definitely think he falls pretty high on the adorable scale! Cant say I'd ever thought I'd be knitting Yoda but I had so much fun making him! Incidentally I made my own pattern again but have it written down just in case I ever need to recreate him! He was also the surprise under my packaging post here!

 

Sadly Yoda isn't a part of Pinterest fortnight , but come back later for Day 5 ! If I ever get it finished that is!

 

Much Love

 

May The Force Be With You

 

Frankie

 

xxx

I Wondered Where That Went?

We've been decorating for, well, what seems like forever! We did little Knitwits room and then we did what is formally known as the man room! But as with all redecorating projects we ended up finding lots of things that we thought we had lost or misplaced! One of which was this little teddy bear I made when I found out I was pregnant!

 

 

It was the first stuffed toy I had ever knitted and I have to say I was pretty proud of it. Now I know what your thinking. Yes he does look like he's been run over and yes he is fairly flat. But that was how I wanted him! When I decided to make my little bump a stuffed toy I immediately panicked ! I wanted something safe, something he could breathe through and something I wouldn't have to worry about, so yes when I started to draft out the pattern I made him as flat as possible (yep even then I decided making my own knitting patterns was easier than trying to read the Morse code crossed with abbreviated English of commercial patterns. I have never yet gotten through a commercial knitting pattern without ringing my mum, my Nanny or popping over to my old baby sitters house Auntie Audrey! )

But in my first time mum panic I decided that this pattern needed to be as child friendly as possible I even googled how long to make his scarf so there would be no risk of strangulation, and even then I hand stitched it on just to make sure!

 

 

 

Now I thought he'd been lost and although I enjoyed making him, he was never a favourite with little Knitwit who only has eyes for his Donald duck! So when it became apparent that he was lost I wasn't particularly bothered, I took the approach of "you can't win them all" and by then my knitting had progressed! I mean I know stocking stitch as well now! I don't use it very often, but I know it! 

 

But when I found it lurking at the back of one of little Knitwits cupboards, it all came flooding back to me. The memories of being a first time mum and of making something for my baby, placing it into the boxes of things we'd gather for him and waiting for the day I could give it to him in person. Now this little guy was in danger of getting thrown away , or at the very least harvested for parts! But now he has a very special place in a box of old baby things that I just can't bear (no pun intended) to throw away! He might not have been a favourite of little Knitwit but this little flat bear will always be a favourite of mine.

 

 

Even in the picture you can tell he's not impressed!

I would also like to add that this teddy does not look that evil. So it is possible I can make stuffed toys that haven't been possessed by the devil! Unlike this and this.

 

Have you kept anything that you made for your little ones? Even if they didn't like it or use it?

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

XXX