Blogiversary Giveaway

Hello Everyone, and Happy Easter! I couldn't let March pass without mentioning that this month marks my two-year blogiversary. Yep that's right, two whole years since I first started this blog....how the time has flown by! It's been a great two years and I couldn't have done it without you guys, my lovely readers. I have really enjoyed getting to know other bloggers, both online and in real life at all the wonderful blogger meet-ups that I have attended, and you really are a fantastically friendly and supportive lot! And what better way to both mark this milestone and give something to say thanks a lot than a giveaway! So, feast your eyes on the three lots below....

 

 

Lot 1: Jersey

 

This is a stitch of Jersey approximately 2m x 2m, more than enough to make a top or even a dress if you're particularly good at being frugal with your fabric! It's a lovely beige with pink and white flowers, and sparkly bits throughout which you may just be able to see from the picture. I bought this from Walthamstow market, along with a load of other jersey, but I'm not sure the colour is very flattering for my skin tone so it's been sat in my stash from quite some time...but now I'm hoping it will find a new happy home!

 

 

 

 

Lot 2: Stitch and Sew Home by Eline Pellinkhof

 



This fabulous book is full of cute projects which combine a variety of stitching methods including cross stitch and embroidery. If you love cutesy vintage-style home projects, this is the book for you.  

 

 Lot 3: Simplicity 2444

This is a sneak peak of my next sewing project! I adore this pattern and I have seen so many gorgeous versions around the blogosphere. However I have ended up with two copies as it was given away recently in Sew magazine, so it's time to share the love! I am so excited to make this pattern. (Speaking of Sew, guess who pops up in this month's issue?! It's only Karen from didyoumakethat! See her post about it here)


If any of these tickle your fancy let me know in the comments section below before midnight UK time (the clocks go back this weekend and who knows if we're on GMT, BST or whatever next week!) on Friday 5th April. Open to anyone who follows my blog via Blogger or BlogLovin' or any other means. Tweeting, blogging or Facebooking about this giveaway can get you another entry, providing you add another comment below to let me know you have done this :)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend of resting, stitching and chocolate-eating!

K xx

FO: Cable Hat

Hello Everyone!

First things first: as I'm sure you've read about already, Google Reader will be no more after the summer. I read blogs via a combination of Blogger Dashboard and BlogLovin' so I don't think this will affect me. However, if you are switching from Google Reader, you can keep up to date with this blog via BlogLovin' here. I also have a Facebook page here.

As I type this it's trying to snow outside...what crazy weather this is! Perfect weather for a cosy knitted hat.

Quadruple me makes: cable hat, owl handwarmers, minoru jacket and snood

I used the same chunky tweed wool as for my owl handwarmers and this free pattern. The hat was a breeze to knit up. I started on circular needles but once I started the decreases I switched to dpns.

When I started this hat a few weeks ago I wasn't sure if I would get any wear out of it this year. Oh how optimistic I was! This cosy woolly has been very handy at keeping my ears toasty warm in this chilly weather. Here is my hat "in the wild" on a trip to Melton Mowbray (excuse the face, it was rather brisk!)

 

What's on your knitting needles this weekend? If you're anywhere near the Midlands and at a loose end on Sunday, it's not too late to join me and Helen Made at the Hobbycrafts/Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch show in Birmingham. Leave me a comment below if you fancy it :)

K xx

Odds and ends...and a meet-up next weekend?

Hello Everyone, and Happy Weekend!

As I type the rain is pouring down outside - I am extremely glad to be in the warm and dry. We have the rugby on - England are playing Wales, and I am reliably informed that even if England lose this match they can still win the Six Nations depending on how many points they lose by - it all sounds very complicated to me, but never mind - come on England!

Thank you very much for your lovely comments about my hat. A random lady came up to me at the bus stop yesterday to compliment me on this very hat -  I think this must be the first time I have had a stranger stop me and admire something I have made, so this did make me smile. Thank you nice lady, you made my day!

I have another finished make to share with you: pair of socks #2!

Roobeedoo assured me that on completion of my first pair I would soon become addicted and I think she may be right! This pair was a birthday present for my mum. I'm getting more speedy too - this pair were completed in around 3 weeks. I do love self-striping sock yarn. There is no way I could every be bothered to do stripes if it involved the fiddlyness of yarn changing every few rows! I bought a few more balls of sock yarn in the John Lewis sale today (I just couldn't help myself!), so no doubt there will be more socks coming very soon.

Next weekend is the Hobbycrafts/Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidary & Stitch show at the NEC in Birmingham. I'm planning to go along on the Sunday (24th March). Half day tickets are currently available for the bargainous price of £5 on Groupon. I am particularly intrigued by the Jane Austen Exhibition - I'm a sucker for period costumes! I'm thinking the chances of me being able to drag Mr KraftyKat along are slim to none, so let me know if you fancy joining me for a mini-meet-up!

One final thing....I may have come home from town today with an overlocker shaped box.....yep that's right, this beauty is now all mine!

 

I've been toying with the idea of getting an overlocker for some time, and today I decided to take the plunge. I decided to go with the Janome 9200, after quite a bit of research, as it seems to have a lot of positive reviews. Wish me luck! Nothing like a new toy to help beat the sewing blues....! Right I'm off to have a play! I'm a total overlocker novice, so any tips would be most welcome...!!

 

K xx

Hat making fun

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on my last post, they really made me smile and it's great to know that I'm not the only one who suffers from a little of the (sewing) blues at this time of year! My thoughts of spring may have been a little premature (we had snow again this week...) but I live in  hope. And I have filled my house with daffodils and tulips...I can pretend right?!

Still no sewing around these parts but there has been crafting! Last weekend I went to a hat making workshop at Hats from the Hall. I had spotted an offer for a day class on Groupon and thought it sounded like fun...and I was right! The class was held in a fabulous Georgian hall which doubles up as both a workshop and home. I had massive house envy! As well as classes, Louise the tutor makes the most amazing bespoke hats for all sorts of fancy occasions.

For this workshop we had a choice of making either a fascinator or a felt cloche. Having already dabbled with sinamay in the wonderful Dibs' masterclass, I went for the cloche. We shaped the hats and made our own felt to make detachable felt flowers. It was so much fun - and I love my finished hat! I deliberately chose colours that would complement my Minoru jacket. I made the felt flower detachable, so I can mix it up a bit if I fancy. And here are a few pictures of the finished article....

 

 

I love the 20s vibe of this hat, I feel so ladylike wearing it, like someone from Downton Abbey!! I have worn it to work this week and received lots of complements. Enough to shake anyone out of a winter funk for sure - at least momentarily!

If you live in the Midlands I defiantly recommend checking out Hats from the Hall. I have my eye on a corset and hat making class next...

K xx