Crochet Quilt

 

I just finished this long term crochet project. It was a project that I'd pick up every now & then when I needed a break or was in-between projects. I think I started this one over 5 years ago.

I tried to make it like a 'crochet quilt' as the yarn I was using was variegated (like this yarn...) and if you do the same thing over & over with this yarn the colours tend to pool in the same place. So I broke it up by doing large squares & smaller squares then joined them into a 3 square block before joining again to form the larger 'quilt top'.

Does it work as a crochet quilt?  I also had intended to make it a larger blanket but was vetoed by the rest of my family members as they stated it was perfect as it was. 

I still have one more 'long term' project in my cupboard but that is actually nearing completion too. I'm going to have to start thinking ahead for the next one after that is complete now! Do you have ongoing longterm 'in-between project' projects too?

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to my YouTube channel & possibly subscribe to my channel or even liked some of my videos.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Sssh, secret birthday business planning

 I don't know about you but I plan on gift giving well in advance. I need to plan so far in advance because making gifts is a long slow process. Have you got a list planned out for this year?

The first birthday in our house is my daughter's in September. I plan on making her a bunch of barbie clothes and clothes for her 18" doll. I'm also in the process of crocheting her a bear from the softest yarn but I'm not sure if I'll give it to her for her birthday or for Christmas.

The next birthday is in October, my husband. I've bought this super gorgeous fabric (that I got from here) as he loves Holdens and even has a classic Holden in the driveway that he's been doing up over the years. I plan on sewing it into a shirt for him, maybe this one but I'm not 100% sure yet. If you can recommend one, I'd love to check it out.

Then  a week before Christmas, it's my son's birthday. I'm also going to crochet him a soft toy from this yarn, I'm thinking a shark because it'd be super cute ... or maybe I'll save it and give it to him for Christmas like for his sister too.  The major present I want to give him for his birthday s this awesome crochet monster head thingy.  It's possibly the best thing that I've ever seen in my life. I've bought the 'special' yarn for it but have yet to buy the greyish brown for the face & horns.

With all this planning in advance, I also buy birthday cards to put away and well, have you seen these awesome pop-up birthday cards?   I'm trying to decide which ones to get for my kids, hubs and my penpals too, which is your fave?

Then, of course, I'm going to have to think about Christmas but my brain hasn't clicked that far yet, I tend to start mulling over that in July.

But back to sneak crocheting the teddy for my daughter!

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to my YouTube channel & possibly subscribe to my channel or even liked some of my videos.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

A Knitted Jacket

 

I just finished sewing on the final details of this awesome knitted jacket, it's the Penguono and ohmygosh, it's awesome!

I added pockets and reinforced the shoulder/neck edge as I didn't want it to stretch if it's hung on a chair. If you recall, I also knitted one for Joe a few years ago, check his out here...

I had to finish the back off, I orignally was just going to leave it as the gradient/ombre but after trying the jacket on, I felt it needed to be as 'jazzy' as the rest of the jacket. 
So tell me, what do you think of the sequin eye patch? Do you like it? I absolutely adore it, I think it fits the jacket perfectly. Joe is a little jealous now because his jacket hasn't got a patch on it!   

How did I do that awesome eye? Well, I used this eye patch from here... it was so easy to put on!

I used this gorgeous binding to add strength to the neckline.

This was also the perfect stash buster as you knit 2-3 strands of yarn at a time & I had lots of scraps left over from other projects, a big box of them. Well, now that box of scraps is almost empty as it's all been knitted into this jacket - perfect of Tasmanian weather!

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to my YouTube channel & possibly subscribe to my channel or even liked some of my videos.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

The Bowen Dress

 

My recent make is for me and yes, it has pockets!  I haven't sewn myself a dress in years, so when I saw an awesome woven dress in a magazine, I just knew I had to sew it.

I made a few mods to the pattern/garment and of course, even though I read the instructions, I still kind of sewed it my way not sticking to the designer's directions.

I filmed a Youtube clip of me making it, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv96JbzuySg   if you want to see how I made this. I also did a little clip at the end of me wearing it, if you're wanting to see the fabric/drape/fit.  I'd love for you to tell me how it looks as I was loving the dress until hubby said it looks like a tent. My kids have reassured me that it's not the case and that I look awesome but still that 'tent' remark is still there in my brain. Sigh.

Anyway, enough of tents, the mods I made to the garment were as follows:

~ I used what I had for the skirt & sleeves pieces, so they are smaller than directed so there are no 'ruffles' to the sleeves.

~ I didn't want the open back/front & buttons, so I seamed that piece together.

~ I added a fake button tab to the sleeves.

Mods for next time I make this dress:

~ I'll size the bodice down another two or three sizes as it just keeps sliding off my shoulders, it's just too wide.

~ I'd change the skirt so it had two or three tiers so it was less 'tent like'.

~ I'd change the pockets so they were higher up (maybe come up 3cm) and have the shape so it hangs from the waist line (on the inside of the skirt)

~ I really like how I did the sleeves but I'd make them a bit shorter.

Do you have plans to make this dress too?  If I plan to make the dress again with the above mods then I think I'd use this striking bold fabric or this statement fabric.

I'd totally appreciate your support if you popped over to my YouTube channel & possibly subscribe to my channel or even liked some of my videos.

If you need more Crafty Inspo, then check out my shoppable lists here....

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie