Nursery Curtains #2

The curtains are basically done and don't they look pretty with the sunlight shining through a little like this? I took this picture just now.

The second to last weekend before was spent crawling on the floor, measuring, cutting, pinning. It did go slowly with the bump but was well worth it.

That weekend I finished the inner seams and turned, pressed, and pinned one for topstitching.

Then, last weekend, I managed to finish them - all in all clocking in at roughly nine hours worth of work - but my husband only put them up for me to snap and appreciate during the week. The weather has been atrociously grey so these pictures aren't great. Anyway, the curtains are. They are up in the living room at the moment and really make me wish for new curtains there as well. Haha. My last curtain experience nearly put me off them and this one has me pining for more work. Well, maybe in a couple of months.

I'm just so in love. Success all along. Obviously they still need to be hemmed to the perfect length but that'll be done once the husband has put up the curtain rods.

Extra shot: they look pretty folded, too.

Happy sewing!

Grecian Waters HSTs - Return of a WIP

Does this picture remind you of an old project of mine?

Well, if it does, you sure aren't wrong. In late winter 2012 I started my first (and so far only) all solids quilt with a FQ bundle in my favourite colours that I'd got for Christmas. In a sewing frenzy I managed to finish the HST top just in time to enter it in the Emerald Quilt Challenge at a²(w), top only category, and placed second. Whooo, that was so exciting.

My plans for finishing this beauty included lots of handquilting with blue and aqua threads and, unfortunately, an utter indecisiveness whether I liked the size as it is -  approx. 1,42 m x 1,86 m (56'' x 73'') - or would prefer adding a border to make it bigger, especially wider. So I got sidetracked. For a long long time.

Now, however, is the time to revive this WIP, all due to a lovely project by Molli Sparkles. Back in the day I'd considered adding a border in Kona Sage, thus picking up the "dominant" colour in the top, the one of the hearts. Molli's squares and prepped fabrics have altered my mind, though. I've fallen heavily for the teal/lilac combo and am determined to choose a solid from the purple spectrum to add some spark and unexpected warmth which will contrast with the cooler aquas and greens. Im thinking about 20 to 25 cm each side to bring the quilt to a snuggly 1,80 m x 2,20 m (71'' x 86,6''). I think a purple colour will also make for a great backing to which I could add single leftover HST blocks.

So much for inspiration and excited plans. But which colour will it be? I'm drawn to a darker tone such as Berry, Hibiscus, or Eggplant to play up the contrast but have trouble making up my mind. Haha. Let's hope this doesn't turn into a stashed-away WIP again so soon after its resuscitation.

Happy sewing!

Wool on Sunday #2

This huge parcel arrived on Thursday and got me very excited so I'm sharing it with you.

Tons of pretty wool: Grey...

...a teal-ish colour (you must have expected that, right?), and a darker blue.

Unfortunately today is a grey-ish, autumnal day and the colours don't really pop in these pictures. Anyway, I'm looking forward to knit some pretty two-toned scarves with these.

Circular needles in lengths and sizes not yet in my stash had to be added as well, of course.

All in all, a lovely haul which should keep me busy when I'm too tired to sew and might just yield a present or two.

Happy knitting!

Nursery Curtains #1

The first step towards pretty nursery curtains has been taken as I've just finished these twelve hangers.

I'm keeping an eye on the clock this time around because even if it's a labour of love it's good to know just how much actual labour goes into things (and in case anyone asks me to make some for them I can point to that on top of material costs). 1.75 hours of ironing, cutting, ironing, chain-stitching, ironing-turning-ironing, top-stitching, ironing. Not too quick but not too slow either as I'm working very carefully.

Next up: ironing two lengths of fabric for the first curtain's body, cutting lengths to perfection, pinning. Washing two lengths of fabric for curtain number two. Not before a well-deserved break, though.

Happy sewing!

TGIFF - Zig Zag Scarf Edition

Finally! I've finally finished the blue and grey zig zag for my sister. Never mind that it had a November 2013 birthday deadline, I'm just glad that it's done after nearly 11 months and ready for the approaching autumn weather.

Knitting began in October 2013 once I had quickly made up my own version in a thicker yarn to gain confidence in the pattern. Alas, the fingering weight yarn which the pattern called for drove me insane. Progress could hardly be seen even after sessions of several hours which was demotivating. Transitioning into work life and new responsibilities also took it's toll. I'm not a summer knitter and with gran's death and the pregnancy - I ended up not touching this WIP for at least six months if not eight, best not think about it, although it was only a few repeats from a finish.

Anyway, it's done! My own version was a bit longer than necessary so I'd decided to make the one for my sister shorter. This is how the loops compare in size.

And another close-up. It's a beautiful pattern, easy to memorise and easily manipulated for wonderful colour effects but if I make another one it'll definitely be in DK weight or thicker. Now, cue the celebration that I'm freed up for other guilt-free knitting projects as well as my quilting.

Happy sewing & knitting!

Maritime Baby Girl Quilt #2

Last weekend I made some progress on the baby girl quilt front. Not only did I wash the fabrics for our little one but I also spent time with the mermaids of the Maritime Baby Girl Quilt for B's little sister.

Not much, granted, but enough to keep me satisfied. I'm sure I would be quicker with a proper block and layout but I don't mind. It's interesting to work with less of a plan and see the quilt grow nonetheless.

Most of all I'm just glad to be creative again and I adore these teeny mermaids.

This weekend, alas, had to be spent in bed due to a nasty cold but it hasn't kept me from being creative. I've taken up my sister's scarf again. Yes, the one with the November 2013 deadline - I'm determined to make the November 2014 one! This is an old picture - it's actually only a few repeats away from being giftable.

Further, I spent considerable time on ravelry and have tracked down two cowl patterns as well as a hat pattern that I'm dying to try out for quick but pretty knits. After finishing my sister's zig zag, of course. But I simply had to ponder and order yarn already. Best to be prepared, right? Most importantly, it's all DK/8-ply Worsted/10-ply yarn. No more sock yarn for me - I've grown to despise the stuff.

On top of that I've also ordered backing fabric for little one's curtains - Kona Regatta will go with this beauty.

To speed up the delivery I've ordered it from a German store this time. As I'm slowly starting to notice the pregnancy more, I'm 25 weeks along after all, it's probably best to get the curtain sewing out of the way as quickly as possible. Crawling on the floor pinning fabric panels of nearly two metres length (and that twice!) won't be the most fun thing to do but I do want these badly and at least I don't have to make sure that the stripes are perfectly vertical this time around.

Happy sewing!