Pattern Hacked Tie Back Top

I love the old saying business in the front party in the back because well who doesn't love a party?

This top was the original inspiration for my make. 

I found it on pinterest but you can view the whole article here!

I loved the style though and I thought it might be fun to recreate. 

Let me start by saying I HATE this top from the front I think its the most unflattering thing ever! [Sorry about the white on white pictures! But I have nowhere else to take them!]

But I started with a prima pattern for a basic long sleeved shell top and then  basically drafted in some ties and made the back into a deep v. As usual for me I completely forgot to take progress photos! 

Now I don't know what the front of their top looks like but If I were to make it again Id say I either need to add waist darts/shorten the length to waist, OR I need to make it in a jersey? OR maybe the neckline just needs to be lowered a bit? I dunno and to be honest as soon as I'd started to make it I was already sort of bored with the idea.

Its not super flattering from the side either. The top has bust darts but I'm wondering if I should have gone up a size? Waist darts are definitely needed look at all that excess fabric!!! 

Speaking of fabric I used a medium weight peach skin type thing and the main body of the top is lined. In hindsight I think that its a bit too stiff for this sort of top and that it needs something softer. The trouble is you need something soft enough to be flattering on the boob area [after all I am bra free and the tatas don't hang like they used to] but it needs a enough body to be able to make a cute bow. 

The back isn't awful compared to the rest of it. I think If I loose a few inches off the bottom it will sit better on my waist and just look nicer.

The bows a good length though theirs not too much hanging down so I'm happy with that part. 

I'm not sure its a pattern idea that I'll go straight back too but I can see myself tweaking with it in the future. Although I did promise myself I would only make practical clothes this year and their is nothing practical about an open back top that you can't wear a bra with. Unless your going for some sort of breast examination? In which case this would be the top to wear. 

Anyways all in all I'd say this is a fairly pants make. I love the idea but the fabric just didn't work and the pattern needs some major tweaking! 

In other news! 

- I'm currently ready 1984 by George Orwell. I've read it before but its been a few years and I;m already completely gripped by it! 

- I'm currently listening to Oasis on vinyl. After much hinting Rikki got me this for Xmas and I LOVE it! 

- I've not had more sewing on the go due to our tumble dryer pitching a fit meaning I can pre-wash fabric but I can't sew it up! Hopefully we get it sorted soon because the washing pile is becoming a problem. 

- I have however been trying to finish my cross stitch project. Hopefully I can put in a solid hour or so tonight and then it might actually be finished soon. 

Much Love 

Frankie

xxx

Buzz Off

I cant remember the last time I did any proper drawing or illustration work. In fact I think the last time I picked up one of my fine liners it was to write down a doctors appointment. But ill been asked to do some sketches so here I am. Trying to find my groove, Trying to get comfy and trying desperately to get the worlds noisiest fly out of the room. Yes that's just my luck, I wait all day to get Little Knitwit off the sleep and before I know it something else is buzzing around me! Can't win.

 

 

There's a lot more work to be done on the piece as a whole, but I'm hoping I might find some time to do some more knitting today (I've got another hat on the go!)

 

In other news Mr Knitwit finally upgraded my phone. So if your not already following me on pinterest and twitter, get on it! And prepare yourself for a heck load of tweets and pins! I'm also now on instagram, and although the stupid technology wont let me add a button you can find me at knitwitsowls! On instagram you can expect adorable pictures of little Knitwit and adorable pictures of owls! Like this one!

 

 

According to little Knitwit they are mummy's babies and they are having a snuggle!

 

Right I'm off the brutally murder the worlds loudest fly.

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

xxx

Damm I'm Good

I'm getting pretty good at this blogger malarkey! We have some new features!

 

My beautiful Etsy Button - This is located at the side of the page and you can click here to see my Etsy page.

 

We have an "About Me" page! (At the top) - Where you can see a lovely picture of me and Little Knitwit playing farmer on a tractor!

 

We have a "Artwork Page" - So you can see some of the artwork I've done in the past! Which I know I never would have got round to blogging about.

 

We have a follow me on Pinterest Button at the side of the page! I usually follow back unless I don't get the notification!

 

And best of all you can now pin individual pictures to your Pinterest boards! I wont tell you how long that took me to figure this button out!

 

 

Exciting things are happening!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

XXX

A Catch Up!

It's Day nothing! Pinterest fortnight is officially over! And it was quite a relief going to bed last night and not having to worry about what I was going to make today! It also means I can catch you up on everything that's been going on! Not that there's been a lot!

First of all my new hanging basket is out! YAY! Mr Knitwits Nan was nice enough to offer to do me one again this year and as usual its absolutely beautiful! Is it a bit sad that I think my house actually looks a bit classier with hanging baskets? Luckily she seems to do something to them so they don't die immediately! I'm notoriously un green fingered and everything I touch tends to wither away but these hanging baskets never do!

Next I took the huge task of sorting out my wool drawer. This is long over due, when we got our new bed with storage drawers I just seemed to throw the entire contents of all my wool baskets into it immediately without sorting, resulting in a huge spaghetti mess! But I've started to tackle it head on, not only am I tidying it, I'm also re winding all of my wool into balls! Here's what I've done so far!

 

All that winding seemed like a good idea at the time! But now my arm hurts and I cant seem to see the end!

It did give me a chance to find to find some hidden gems though and to take stock of what I've got, (a hell of a lot of blue that's what!)

So until the drawer is fully empty they are sat in the corner of the bedroom!

I'm glad I started though mainly because I prefer working with wool like this, for starters I can easily see how much I have and weather or not I have roughly the same amount as another ball, also I seem to get in less of a tangle with my wool like this, but I'm unsure why!

After the wool is sorted, I have this to work on.

You know how many sewers can't bear to throw away scraps of fabric? Well I can't throw away scraps of wool either!!! I think its the make do and mend in me that or the compulsive hoarder! Once all the wool has been re wound I'm going to start sorting this out, in the hopes I can get some lovely owls made for the craft fair I'm doing in September!

Speaking of the craft fair in September I got these made during pinterest fornight inbetween other projects!

I'm loving cowls at the moment, especially seen as the British weather is being so unpredictable. I tried a new colour way for me, pink and white, it reminds me of eating candy floss at fun fairs ! and I branched out and tried making up a new pattern! I quite like the diamonds. They look super girly!

I also got to use lots of lovely shiny buttons as embellishment! Can't beat a good button!

 

And then I made another plaited cowl, similar to here. This one turned out just as lovely as my first attempt and I'm defiately going to get making these for the craft fair!

More buttons eeek!

 Terrible hair day today! Silly weathers making it poufy!

 

That's it really lots of tidying and finding of hidden treasures, I'm hoping to get my sewing machine out next week for a good long run! But before that I'll need to cut all the pieces for the things I need to sew, urgh.

Hope your having a lovely day!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

We Are Gathered Here Today.....

It's Day 14 of Pinterest Fortnight! This is the end! It's the last day! And I cannot wait to relax and recover! I've found knitting needles in every room of the house and I have threads stuck to me constantly!

So the last day, now I have to say I was a bit stuck on this one. It needed to be grand and special! After all this is the Grand Finale! Which got me thinking to a Pinterest board that I haven't covered yet, yes its the secret wedding Pinterest board! Yes I have one, you have one! Everyone has one! You just have to admit it!

 

 

Now I am engaged so I feel I am perfectly justified in having a wedding Pinterest board, however I know that there is not one thing on that board that Mr Knitwit will like. At all. Not one darn thing! the problem is I'm a dreamer/hippie/punk/crafter/crazy and he's well not? He's very stable and sensible. Well they do say opposites attract!

 

For example I thought todays make inspired by my love of pinning weddings on Pinterest is adorable! He ummmm doesn't?

 

Without further ado here it is the Grand Finale!

 

 

I made a Bride and Groom owls! Yes I am that person and I had so much fun doing it! I took most of my inspiration from the eighties if I'm perfectly honest! ( gotta love the eighties weddings! all that lace!)

 

 

Mr Owl has his very own tux and top hat, as well as a knitted flower and a slightly worried expression, appropriate don't you think?

 

 

And of course his own little bow tie!

 

 

And well Mrs Owl? She has it all! Feathers, lace, tulle, a veil , beads!

 

 

No tacky wedding stone was left unturned!

 

 

And she has the wide eyed look of a women that doesn't realise how annoying living with men can be!!!!! Bless her! She'll learn!

 

Well I suppose that's the end? I've been trying to decide when to do this again and I'm thinking when I reach 1000 pins on my inspiration board. So I'll see you next week (oh I really hope its not reached 1000 by next week!)

 

Thank you everyone who's been reading and commenting , either on here or privately on Facebook. and for all the people who have retweeted me on twitter! I've had a blast!

 

Now what am I going to do with all this free time? I'm actually starting to feel naked without a needle of some sort in my hand! Eeeek!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Adventure Is Out There!

Its Day 13 of Pinterest Fortnight folks , this is literally the home stretch! And I am so excited about todays make!!!! First I'll show you the inspiration then I'll get to the explaining!

 

 

This was my inspiration straight off my Pinterest board! And it come from this lovely little shop on

 Etsy!  

I love the balloons which got my thinking about one of my favourite movies!

Ever since I was little, I have always been Disney obsessed I pride myself on my Disney knowledge , in fact I don't like the toot my own horn but I once won a game of Disney trivial pursuits in one turn! so TOOT TOOT! Anyway there are three Disney movies that make me cry without fail every time "Bambi", "The Fox and theHound" and "UP!"

 

UP! Is such a wonderful story of adventure and ever lasting love! But mainly I love it because of the house.

 

 

 

The house floats by balloons! How whimsical is that! Its just so magical , and I'm actually very jealous that my house doesn't float via balloons. Which leads me quite nicely to my make!

 

 

My very own UP! house!

 

 

 I decided to do the house in quite a simple style so that the buttons would the focus point!

 

 

As usual I worked using my Grandmothers embroidery hoop. Although when I was tightening it I did hear a small crack , now I cant find any damage but I'm being twice as careful as usual with it!

 

 

I worked on a really lovely linen and all of the buttons are from my stash! It was a really nice opportunity to use up all of the odd buttons I've collected over the years , I tend to use buttons in twos or more. So it was nice to have a good search through!

 

 

Lovely bright coloured buttons!

 

 

This might actually be one of my favourite makes from Pinterest Fortnight! Now I just need to find a spare five minutes so I can turn this, my tattoo style embroidery, my owl embroidery, and my Darth vader embroidery into cushions so I can put them up for sale in My Etsy Shop!

 

I cant wait to see all of them as cushions I think they are going to look awesome!

 

See you tomorrow for the Grand Finale! Lord knows what I'm going to make!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Life Is A Kitchen, So Put On Your Prettiest Apron And Make Something Wonderful!

Its Day12! Cor blimey were close to the end aren't we! So here's todays inspiration .

 

 

Tis is such a lovely little apron but I decided to make something a little more practical, well actually I made two! Overachiever much!

 

 

 

The block colour fabric is from my stash and the pattern is from my nan, I also hand embroidered the front pocket!

 

 

 

Again the patterned fabric is from my nan, but this time I decided to leave the embroidery!

this is now my go to apron style, I used it here as well.

 

I love them but I'm not as excited about these as I am Day 13 project!

 

See you for the final days!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx 

I'd Love To Stay But I Really Moustache!

It's Day 11 of Pinterest Fortnight and today we have a recycling project! Woop! Every now and again I have to take a long hard look at my wardrobe and decide what to do, these moments usually come when I realise I can't close it or that the rail is going to fall down! When I do I make three piles , Keep, Charity, Fix/Remake. Now the Keep pile is always the biggest (obviously) and the Charity pile is usually the smallest but the most intersesting is always the last pile. And this is what wound up in the fix/remake pile today!



You can't really see the stains here but  assure you they were horrific!

I brought this clutch in a closing down sale YEARS ago for my brothers wedding, and let just say after the wedding this purse had a hard life! Now I like to think that I look after my things BUT, this purse was mainly used in the years between turning 18 and getting pregnant with Little Knitwit! So it got fairly abused! If this purse could talk! Well actually, judging by some of the stains on it, if this purse could talk it's language would be a little slurred at the least!

It needed a little bit of TLC and some updating!

So without further ado here's our Pinterest inspiration!

Moustaches seem to be so popular at the moment , in fashion and in home accessories! Sadly I cant find the origin of these cushions but there lovely all the same!

I painted it red to get rid of the stains! and to give it a new lease of life! Thankfully it dried a lot darker!

And here's the finished result!

 

I added a moustache using self adhesive felt! It's perfect and I love it! I actually can't wait to take it out with me! And its even better knowing its the only one in the world!!!!!

 

Now i really Moustache!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx