Blogiversary giveaway winners

Thank you so much to everyone who commented on my last post where I asked for tips on using an overlocker. I now have a whole host of tricks of the trade from you lovely people which have already come in handy as I've been playing with my overlocker today.

Right, it's time to announce the winners of my blogiversary giveaway! The random number generator has spoken and the winners are...


Jersey fabric (lot 1): Sabs from tybalt: king of cats

Sew and Stitch Home book (lot 2): The Hojnackes

Simplicity 2444 pattern (lot 3): Ashley from Jellybean's Odds and Ends


Well done to all three winners! Please could you all email me your addresses and I will pop your prizes in the post!

I didn't want to do a blog post without a picture so I'll leave you with this....

This is a dosa, a big pancake made of rice flour, and sambar, a spicy soup. I love South Indian food and I am attempting to cook dosa tonight for the first time...wish me luck!!!

K xx

Overlockers: How do you use yours?

A few weeks ago I became the owner of a shiny new overlocker. It was something that I had been thinking about buying for some time - I'm a sucker for a neatly finished seam and I always admire how professional peoples makes look if they have used an overlocker. I did quite a bit of research beforehand and decided on the Janome 9200D as it has excellent reviews. (How did anyone ever decide to buy anything before the Internet?? Any big purchase and I always google the reviews!).

I had a bit of luck when I went into John Lewis to make my purchase - they had one on the shop floor that had been returned by an elderly lady who had bought it but found it was too complicated for her to work out, so they offered me this machine for 20% off - bonus! I did feel a bit sad for the lady who had returned it though. I like to think that she would have been able to work it out eventually.

I had a bit of a play with my new toy when I got home. Although the machine comes pre-threaded (whoop!), something was not quite right. I suspect that the lady who had it before me had had a bit of a fiddle, because it was not threaded properly. Using the very helpful instructions I managed to thread it properly and get it working. I was rather proud of myself!! The instructions recommend that when you come to change the thread, instead of starting all over again you simply tie the new thread onto the old thread and pull it through the machine. Genius. So in theory I should never have to thread the machine again. In theory...!!

So, people with overlockers! I have a question for you. I'm all set up and ready to go, but I must admit I am still a bit stumped about when to use my shiny new toy. I know that when sewing jersey you can do the whole thing with an overlocker, without touching the sewing machine at all. Right? But when it comes to non-stretch fabrics you sew with a sewing machine and finish the seams with the overlocker, as i understand it. Do you serge before or after sewing the hem? Also, where is the best place to buy the large spools of thread for a good price? Any tips gratefully received!!

Don't forget there is still time to enter my blogiversary giveaway...the deadline is tomorrow! I'll leave you with the results of my Easter crafting...twit twoo!

 

 

K xx

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

Beating the sewing blues

...or rather, the non-sewing blues! Yep, as you may have noticed, there has been very little sewing going on round these parts since...well, before Christmas. I'm in a proper non-sewing rut. Mostly, I blame the weather. It's cold, so so cold. It's dark. It's dingy. It's dark when I leave the house, and it's dark when I get home. Most days all I want to do when I get home from work is curl up on the sofa under a blanket and veg out in front of the TV for the rest of the evening. I know I'm not the only blogger suffering from a bit of this at the moment. I don't do well with winter - I think I would like to be an animal that hibernates, perhaps a hedgehog, or a bear. Bears are cute. I could eat plenty of high fat foods (yum cake) for a few months to store energy, curl up under a huge pile of blankets in the toasty warm, go to sleep for a few months and live off my fat stores and then wake up in the spring when the sun is peeping out. What's not to love? Seriously. Sadly, I am not a bear. So I must put up with the winter and the associated lack of motivation to do, well, anything really. So as I said, mostly I blame the weather.

Over the last few days though, I have been getting a few signs that spring may be preparing to be sprung. The evenings have definitely been getting brighter, and there are some beautiful crocuses blooming on the grass near my office. I love spring flowers, daffodils and tulips are my favourites, particularly daffodils. When I was in my previous job I used to walk to work through a park where every spring there were daffodils in abundance. I used to love walking past and marvelling at all the many many different types, blooming in all their glory. Is there a more cheerful sight to be seen than a flowerbed full of daffodils? I think that's why I like them so much - they make me smile.

I think another reason for may sewing rut is that l haven't made anything I really love in ages, which has knocked me back a bit. I think what I need is a quite and easy project to give me a big kick out of my sewing rut and back in the game!

Do you suffer from the sewing blues? Or even the winter blues? I'd love to hear your tips for banishing the blues away! Bring on the spring I say :)

K xx