Super A!

I finally made that super hero cape I've been threatening to make.

It didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. Firstly because I was in a rush I managed to snag the material in the sewing machine. Secondly I didn't bother to learn how to applique properly, so the A is just stitched on with a zig zag and looks a little bodgy.

I'll try again - hopefully next time will be better! Even if it isn't I'm sure ChingyPingy and Mr McGillicuddy will love their super hero capes just because mama made them!

On the plus side - this took less than half an hour to stitch up.

Sewing machine woes

I have an old sewing machine my mum gave me. I haven't sewed properly for years, but I know how to *theoretically*.

Anyway, today I decided to make a superhero cape for a 3rd birthday I went to this morning. I'd cut the cape out and I figured it would only take about an hour to sew it. So I wandered down to my sewing table. My mother-in-law recently gave it to me. It's kind of exciting - the sewing machine lives in the middle of the table and there is a pneumatic lift that pushes it up to the top when you want to sew, then back down for storage.

My son Mr McGillicuddy was asleep, so I was in a bit of a hurry to finish before he woke up. I worked out how to use the pneumatic lift and started to thread the sewing machine. The needle went and snapped on me!!! Not good. I don't seem to have a spare needle either, or if I do I can't remember where I put it.

So I had to resort to one of my back up presents, a view finder. Oh well, the capes will have to wait for another day.

Tut tut and tutu

Well, so much for one post a day in August! First I forgot, then blogger was running really slowly and then - well, then I was just very very slack. Anyway - I'm back now!

I'm half way through making a tutu for Chingypingy.

Once I'm finished, I'm going to make a few more to give as birthday presents. I'm also going to sew some capes to help me get reacquainted with my sewing machine.

The longest craft project

The longest time it has ever taken me to complete a craft project is 21 years. Yes, 21 YEARS.

When I was 9 years old, I started a latch hook kermit the frog. I finished it a few years ago - just in time to present it to Chingy Pingy. As a 9 year old, I never would have guessed that I was latch hooking for my future daughter!

New craft book

I've just received a new craft book -

I've had a flick through and it looks great! I've been hoping to find some craft projects that utilise things around my house - partly to be environmentally friendly and partly so that I can start some rainy day projects with Chingy Pingy (my daughter) without having to buy lots of stuff.

I'm particularly keen to try making little pendants - I've bought Mod Podge especially for the occasion. I think these might make cute little take home gifts for Chingy Pingy's birthday party later this year.

Book Club

Did you know I'm a member of two book clubs? Well it's true, I am.

I've just started a blog for one of them - it is a work in progress, so far all I've managed to do is post the next few books.

Pattern lost - and found again!

A tale of procrastination.

When my daughter was born, I decided to knit her a sweater. I found a pattern I liked in a Family Circle magazine. I started to knit. I knitted and I knitted. Then I knitted some more. Then I put down the knitting.

For many months, I carried the knitting and the pattern around with me everywhere I went. Although I never knitted a stitch, my daughter's sweater and I were inseparable. By now, my daughter was 2 - and the sweater was a size 1. Oh dear.

Eventually, the inevitable occurred. I lost the pattern. By then I was pregnant with my second child and hormonal as all hell. I wept. And I wept. And then I wept some more.

My husband posted a classified ad asking for the pattern. Eventually a kind lady sent through the pattern. By now my daughter was 3 - and the sweater was a size 1. Oh dear.

I decided to knit a new sweater - using the infamous pattern - for my newborn son. This time, I actually knitted it (rather than carrying the knitting around with me). I finished it too! Don't you love a happy ending?


P.S. I happened to be at a book sale not so long ago - and found the magazine with the pattern. Exciting.

P.S.2 What is it with this pattern? My mother in law came around the other day with the latest Family Circle for me - they had reprinted the pattern!