Crafty Projects

Recently I have been completing some knitting and sewing projects.  While I have finished quite a few projects, I still haven't finished my quilt (2 years running) and it is almost getting too hot to quilt with all those layers on my lap.  These photos aren't the best (they were just taken on my iPhone) but here are my most recent finished projects.

Knitting

I have only picked up my knitting needles again about 2 months ago after years of not knitting and being dis-heartened with my projects that I never finished.  This time around, I've been knitting cowls on circular needles while trying out a few different stitches and seem to be able to turn them around quite quickly (which equals sense of accomplishment).  I have also been spurred on by a friend who lent me the wonderful book by Jenny Lord, 'Purls of Wisdom'. 

1. Black woolen necklace knitted on giant circular needles; 2. Black cowl; 3&4. Grey and moss cowl knitted with some baby cables and regular cables.

Sewing

My sewing adventures started again about a month ago with an awesome Victory pattern I found via Paunnet (images of the dress at my tumblr here and here).  It was a brief and challenging foray into sewing followed by weeks and weeks of  ... nothing (but study and work). So, last weekend, I dedicated a couple of hours to 'hobby-time' to help keep me sane and this is what I did.

 1&3. Blue/Grey Linen/Nylon blend dress made from the Wiksten Tank pattern. I made this dress last and I think I was tired as I cut out the fabric pieces back-to-front (ie i mixed up the fold and the selvedge sides).  I remedied this by fixing up the neckline/arm hole and then adding an extra piece to the hem so it still went long in the middle and shorter at the sides; 2&3. My sparkly jacket.  This has been sitting, cut and pinned, on my mannequin for almost 2 years.  I got the fabric as a cheap off-cut, cut up a quick pattern and then it sat, un-touched.  I think I was worried about sewing through the sequins and also the fine fabric (it pulls REALLY easily).  I ended up overlocking the whole thing which made everything better.  I also started work on my Halloween costume for this Saturday's party and think this jacket will fit in really well.  I'm going as a star, mainly because I want to cover everything in glitter; 4-6.  This was my favourite piece for the weekend.  The pattern was the same Wiksten Tank pattern that I used on the other dress but it worked out much better.  The fabric was a little thicker and holds it shape much better. I then teamed it with my favourite belt (from Nelson Molloy) and my new favourite necklace from Kate Miss and wore it to work on Monday.   Sewing seems to be a hobby of extremes for me.  It is either very successful  or fails miserably and I never wear it, so it was good to have a win this weekend!

Finally, my other sewing projects which I completed this weekend (but were already pretty much done).  Thanks to a wonderful friend, I learned the joys of overlocking on the weekend and was able to finish both of these skirts so the insides weren't frayed to the point I couldn't wear them anymore (yes, I've been wearing unfinished projects).

1&2. Skirt I made based on another skirt I owned that I loved to death (it literally fell apart).  Made from fabric I purchased from Nelson Molloy; 3.  Marie Tulip skirt pattern from Burda Style (it's free), made with a cotton/elastane 'ink blots' print.  I love this pattern so much and have used it many times but this print is by far my favourite use of the pattern.  My only criticism of the pattern is that it ends up too big and I have to adjust it.