Okay then....

I freaked out my neighbour last week, and I mean freaked out! he caught me dragging bin bags out of our black bin, with rubber gloves on muttering to myself. Naturally he thought I'd put something in the bin with personal information on, like a bank statement or my passport.

Oh No! I lost a knitting pattern, yerp I went through three bin bags searching for a knitting pattern and I still didn't find it! Which means its still in the house somewhere lost.

Let me explain the knitting pattern wasn't mine, I had borrowed it from Mr Knitwits Nan, now if it had been my pattern id have just said screw it but because it was hers I was really upset!

Anyway the worst part was I actually need the pattern so I could finish the hat I was knitting! I'd finished the striping and now I needed to know the decreases.

And because I had to make it up myself it didn't turn out as cute as I would like.

I mean it's still cute but it's just not quite as cute as I would like, I think the only reason I get away with it, is because it's baby sized, and everything looks good baby sized.

It matches the baby booties I made a while ago, It still makes a nice set the hat is just a lil more bunched than I would like.  Plus the hat seems really big? Which got me wondering how big babies heads are? I dunno I just finished the pattern instructions [well apart from at the end!]

I knitted it I the smallest size in case any tiny babies turn up! You know just in case! 

In other news ; Christmas = Tiring 

Much Love 

Frankie

xxx

Gingham Cross stitch

I like cross stitching on gingham, I think it gives such a country feel to cross stitch, I free handed this because one day I just fancied doing some simple sewing by hand. I started with the 'F' and just worked outwards from there using two different colours of thread.

Its only small and I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with it but it kept my mind occupied for a small amount of time! Ive been toying with the idea of making a matt with some pockets that i can rest my sewing machine on , something like this.

Apart from I think I'd put the pin cushion on the side and maybe make it a little bigger with a few more pockets for feet etc? And hopefully it would reduce some of the noise from my sewing machine and stop it rattling around. One of my sewing machines runs quite smooth but the other is a rattler! And I work on a glass table so I'm terrified that one day the entire thing is going to get so fed up of the stress and the strain that its just going to shatter all over me as I'm sewing!

It might not happen but it still worries me!!!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

Sparkly baby booties

I finished these baby booties on Sunday and as usual procrastinated about seeing them up! But here they are 

 

I knitted the first size (I always do, it's far easier to see where you are that way) and used a sidar pattern that Mr knitwits nan lent me. 

I think I've got enough wool for the hat mittens and booties. I'm using a dark pink from my stash and a light pink that has sparkly bits in that a friend sent me! 

I've got to say I love this sparkly wool it's so girly! 

 

When I've finished I'm going to put them all to one side for the next little baby girl that's born small. 

It's quite funny actually when lil knitwits was prem the nurses put a huge emphasis on knitwear, apparently it's the best thing for layering up and keeping babies warm! 

Luckily for us we phoned mr knitwits nan and she churned out about four pairs of booties, a hat and some mittens before her visit! 

The only alteration I made to this pattern was to knit to whole thing in garter stitch, mainly because it's my fastest stitch and I don't see the point slaving over purl stitches when babies grow so fast! 

Although after looking at the pattern I think I might make the hooded jacket and follow the pattern properly. I'll just need to find enough wool! Really I should make the next one uni sex! 

In other news we've been cracking on with the Christmas shopping in a big way! In fact we've nearly done! We always start early mainly so we can get it all wrapped and away, and secondly because we both hate shopping during the Christmas rush! Shopping during the Christmas rush is how bad decisions are made !!!! "Yes of course he'd love this book in oddly shaped trees"

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx

Woo's A Pretty Owl Then?

This owl was slow going, probably because I've been doing a little bit of everything at the moment! But its finally finished! I love making owls , I have so much fun deciding on their little personalities and was accessories they should have.

I feel like I should call this owl "Molly Ringwald" Because it reminds me of the movie Pretty in Pink! If you haven't seen Pretty in Pink buy it and watch it immediately! this is the film my mum showed me when I realised I didn't dress the same as the other kids.

 

 

Here she is! I decided to do block stripes this time in a nice set of pastels, and then used pops of colour as accents.

 

 

So in love with her lil dinky feet/flippers?

 

 

She is filled with toy stuffing and rice to add weight!

 

 

Don't you just love the bow! Couldn't resist a girly touch!

 

 

This little lady with be winging her way over to Esty shortly (depending on how long Little Knitwit decided to nap for!)

 

Other than trying to get this finished lots has been going on! Little Knitwit has been testing how much he can get away with and testing mummy with it!

 

I've been trying to find a time to shoot my vintage inspired pyjama set , which I still haven't worn in an effort to keep it nice! I did however recommend the elastic I used to a lady at Tesco and managed to slip in that I'd made my own jimmies', she was less than impressed, but how can you expect someone who made their own wedding dress to be impressed by pjs! I know a wedding dress! Amazing!

 

And this week I also had the opportunity to go to my very good friends 21st birthday! And I used my up cycled moustache bag! Hopefully pictures of what I wore it with will be up soon!

 

How you've had a good weekend!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

   

And loses herself in her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk through in their coaches

Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?

Finally Finished!!!

I'm doing my happy dance. Well not right now, right now I'm sat typing, but I was doing my happy dance. All because I finished my pyjama robe! I've actually made a full set (minus top but give me a break!) of pyjamas! Bottoms and a robe! Without adult supervision! (I don't count as an adult, I am mearly I child confined to an adults body!) I'm giddy with excitement! There not perfect but they are mine! And I made them!

 

This is the robe I made, it's based on one of my other robes.  I just copied the design and style using the old one, actually this taught me a lot about fabric and how it can change the look of a design. The original robe was made in some sort of see through crepe, in black with a lace coller and a very small ruffle around all the edges. It is VERY saucy (as far as robes go anyway).

 

 

Mine as you can see is cotton flannel in pale pink and is a little less saucy, it's more on the side of Marks and Sparks to be honest. (The nice end! The I want to sip my cocoa in peace and not look like a 1950's vixen end of the shop. I like the think of the look as 1950s housewife aka Bree Vanderkamp). It's roughly mid thigh length and has pockets unlike the original, is anybody else obsessed with pockets? Maybe it is because of all of the junk I carry around all day. But I feel lost without pockets! 

 

 

The only major hiccup I had was with the belt, stupidly used my needle set to the left, thought oh it will be fine, couldn't turn the blooming thing inside out and had to unpick the entire thing. Upon unpicking the entire thing I also realised I had my machine set to the shortest stitch length possible. Nightmare does not quite describe it!

 

 

 In general the robe features raglan sleeves with a gathered front , pockets and belt loops!

 

Please expect some much better pictures as soon as I have time to play model! And as Tyra would say "SMIZE!"

 

The only thing I'm considering is adding is a monogram of the front of one side? My Initials maybe? or Mrs Knitwit?

 

Much Love

 

And yippee I did it!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Bottoms Up

I finished my pyjama bottoms!!! I actually couldn't be more proud of myself! Especially after I had accidently sewn up completely the wrong seams and had to start over, I'd like to say I unpicked them, but I just cut them off because I'm a teensy bit lazy! But either way they are done! And there pretty neat too! I reinforced the edges? (I think that's what you call it? I basically picked the most complicated looking stitch on my machine and re-sewed every edge to make sure they don't come apart, and then trimmed it down, kind of like over-locking but without the posh machine! ) Anyway without further ado here they are!

 

 

This is how they started out, I used an old pair of PJ bottoms as a template and just drew around them , and I cut all four layers at once (I didn't use separate piece for the front and back, I probably should have done to get a really good fit. But you live you learn)

 

 

Here they are finished. Now I completely understand that these are not going to win any sort of award in the pyjama bottom department, but I love them. And to be honest the fit is just as good if not better than some other pairs I have. (And they don't have a missive rip in the bum so there already have one up of some of my other pairs!)

 

 

I did an elasticated waistband because I couldn't actually think of any other way to fasten jammies, until I remembered about tie fastenings! Doh!

 

  

The bow is purely for show! The ribbon I used for it was my grandmothers! She had a lot of the stuff and its never been my favourite thing but it actually works pretty well on this.

 

 

And then I added some of the ribbon to each cuff to give it more of a vintage feel!

 

And I've nearly finished part two of this project, the robe! It was going to be a pyjama jacket but I mulled it over for a while (in bed, with a brew of course) and realised I prefer to sleep in vest tops, its very rare I wear anything long sleeved to bed unless I have the flu! So I've opted for a robe, which I'm making using my old one as a pattern but more on that later.

 

As soon as both pieces are finished, I will be giving them a model! Prepare yourself for some awkward posing and possibly my teddy bear! (you think I'm joking) So keep your eyes peeled!

 

And um did I mention I made them myself? Couldn't be more thrilled if I tried, I've actually made a wearable garment, dreading when the postman comes and I'm wearing them, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from telling him!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx   

Pop Your Pjs On

I'm the sort of person that wears my favourite things to death. Till there are loose threads and holes all over the place. And my favourite things to wear are pyjamas.

 

Yes, it's lazy but sometimes a girl needs her creature comforts and mine is a big snuggly pair of jammies! But I've started to find that my PJs are getting a little tatty to say the least, they've reached the stage where they are no longer suitable for opening the door in (don't get me wrong I mean to the postman, not to normal day to day people! I don't live in my pyjamas, I just wish I could!)

 

I had a look online for a new pair but I couldn't actually find any I liked. No I'm not "grumpy but gorgeous" I'm quite frankly sleepy and my grumpiness is a side affect of your stupidity, as for the gorgeous remark, well it depends on quite how dim your lights are and whether or not I've caked on the foundation with a shovel or just poured a bucketful over my head.

 

I just want some old skool PJs luckily for me I happened to find some fabric I had squirreled away at the back of my airing cupboard.

 

 

I'd already prewashed it and folded it away and then promptly forgotten about it.

It's not actually fabric though, its two double bed sheets. I was given them by a neighbour when we were moving into our house. Her Mother had died, but apparently before dying had brought about 10 new sets of bedding, Unopened, unused bedding! (I'm very much hoping my mother decided to do this with shoes, but in my size of course) 

 

 

It's 100% cotton, and I vaguely remember the box saying something about it being flannel? This confused me at the time because growing up a flannel was something you wiped your face with. Like a Little square of towel material , not a type of fabric.

 

It's a really lovely dusky pink (hence why there not on our bed, Mr.Knitwit is a boy! He will not sleep in a pink bed!) It looks lovely and warm and is very soft! Perfect for jammies!

 

Obviously I had a quick look on pinterest to see what's out there pattern wise and found a few styles I like.

 

  

Very nice pjs but I'm not sure they'll work in my material.

 

 

These are really lovely, but I know already it will go one of two ways either I'll make them and they'll be uncomfy so wont be worn, or I'll make them and they'll look that cute and I'll convince myself they are suitable to wear outside of the home and go to Tesco looking like a Muppet in my PJs.

 

 

Ohhhh PERFECT! Loose, comfy looking! POCKETS! This is the style I'm going to go for! I did have a look for this pattern but I just cant justify it, not when I can just use another pair of PJ bottoms as a pattern and use the bowling shirt pattern from my Sew Your Own Wardrobe book as a starting point for the jacket. Having said that if it all goes horribly wrong I shall be buying a pattern and starting over with the other sheet.

 

How hard can it be? (she says)

 

I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx