My crafting countdown

I have not been blogging recently as I have been getting ready for my International Basketball tournament.  All the gifts people made have been gone to the athletes and they are busy playing.

Leading up to the championship I posted some countdown photos.  I have made a video of the photos but will explain the meaning to you.

Day 7:  At my day job we have a reindeer who is part of the team and I dressed him up with a basketball vest.  I was wearing a handmade top from a pattern called Sorbetto by Colette Patterns.

Day 6:  These were some of the basketballs that didn't get made into cufflinks for gifts to athletes.

Day 5:  These scraps of fabric are from five items of clothing I have made over the years.  The scraps are going to be made into patchwork.  I have never done it before but should look good.

Day 4:  This photo has four of the different gifts given to the athletes at the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships

Day 3:  Pin badges are always exchanged at international basketball tournaments and these three pins are from the major championships held in the West Midlands.

Day 2:  I love beads and being able to convey a message with them was great fun.

Day 1:  Mandeville was the mascot from Paralympics 2012 and there was a number of silver charms available so I got a basketball.

The tournament went well and the video can be watched here.  The music I used in the video was called "Many Hands" and I would like to thank many hands who made gifts, I really appreciate your help.

The Knitting and Stitching Show - Alexandra Palace

About this time every year Twisted Thread and Upper Street Events host the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. 
So this time last week off I went with some of my London knitting friends up the hill to Ally Pally.

It's been a few years since I went to this show, so wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  Alexandra Palace is such a lovely building.

I didn't really need any knitting or fabric stash but when has that stopped me or any other crafter?  The stalls were filled with lots of pretty things and people would stop oggle over them.  We went quite early and that was a good idea as it was busy.

I noticed this quilted bag on a stall, in the end I did buy some fabric.  

Some time ago I bought the t-shirt in the photo below.  It was made by Merchant and Mills for Uniqlo and I ended up buying fabric from Merchant and Mills.

Here it is and I intend to make another Belcarra Blouse number four.

It's always nice to be able to see products in person and more importantly spend time with friends.

The Big Hoot

 

As I walked home after a lovely knit night, I finally got to see some of the owl sculptures that have descended on the West Midlands.

These sculptures are part of The Big Hoot.  This is taken from the website "Presented by creative producers Wild in Art working in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, The Big Hoot has brought businesses, artists, schools and the local community together to create a public art trail of stunning owl sculptures on display across Birmingham from 20 July until 27 September.

With 89 giant owl sculptures to see – each one individually and intricately created by artists from Birmingham and beyond – this ‘owl-spotting’ experience is inspiring fun for everyone and is completely FREE.

Follow the trail from the City Centre to Sutton Coldfield; Winson Green to Bournville and many places in between and enjoy beautiful open spaces; inspiring buildings and Birmingham’s cultural heritage along the way.

All the giant owls have been sponsored by companies and organisations and at the end of the trail, they will be auctioned to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Children and young people from Birmingham’s schools have also been busy creating over 120 owlets. These are displayed in ‘parliaments’ across the city as part of The Little Hoot education programme."

In a short walk I came across this one  

This one is impressive but my favourite so far is Peacock, located in the Mailbox.  I don't think I will get to see all of them but I am going to enjoy the trail and this great project.  I will create a folder with all of my photos so you can keep up to date with the owls and owlets I find.

Love Your Blog: Gratitude

I have been meaning to post this blog for some but health, basketball and life got in the way.

The Love Your Blog Challenge has helped me get my blogging mojo back.  I have been getting more organised and now plan my blog entries.  This helps when I don't have the chance straight away to write my blog entries.

It also gave me the opportunity to buy more stationery, I do love washi tape, sharpies and filofaxes.

Thanks Kate from A Playful Day blog & podcast for helping me get back on track.

A week of sewing

After sewing another summer dress last week, I got the sewing bug.  I had bought a Sewaholic pattern called Belcarra from Guthrie and Ghani my local independent haberdashery over a year ago.  It was about time I used the pattern.

I looked through my fabric stash and found that I still had some of the lovely fabric from my original summer dress.  So off I went. 

Here is the finished top and I loved making it.

Amy Butler fabric from House of Fraser

I loved it so much that I made another one.  The pattern didn't have many parts to it and the instructions were relatively easy to follow.   I did struggle with the cuffs but found a great page on a Sewaholic sew-along page. 

Sewing this week hasn't aggravated my primary raynauds.  I have cut out a third top and hope to finish it soon. 

The pattern can be purchased at many places in the UK and online

• Sewbox
• Fabric Godmother
• Sewaholic Patterns (This is a PDF download)
• Guthrie & Ghani

A Summer (dress) Revisited

After an unsuccessful shopping trip in 2008 I decided I wanted to learn how to sew and use commercial patterns.  I signed up for an adult education class.

One of the first things I ever made was a New Look pattern. The number is 6890 but is now discontinued. 

I made this summer dress and it has worn really well.  I still get positive comments about it.

We have had some lovely weather in the UK in the last few weeks so I have been wearing my orange summer dress. 

I thought I would I would make another dress from the same pattern.   This time I wanted short sleeves.

I thought about pattern matching this fabric, in the end I didn't bother. 

I pressed my hems in place before sewing them.

 

Attaching the sleeves was pretty easy especially when I referred to my other dress. 

I covered a button with some scraps and I also made a scrunchie.

Apart from the bottom hem I managed to complete the dress in one evening.  I was really pleased with that as I have been struggling with my energy levels. 

I loved making this dress and will make more in time. 

What things are you making? 

My First Shawl Anniversary

Around this time five years ago I knitted my first shawl.  I could knit but had started again in order to re-balance my mind.

I was due to go home to London and thought I would search out a yarn shop.  So I found online that Loop was moving and having a party.  Off I went to Islington and found the most delightful shop full of yarn and people.  As I made my way through the shop not knowing what to buy  I came across a friend of a friend.  She was very helpful in me choosing my purchase.  I think the free Pimms helped too.  I purchased Malabrigio lace  in the Bobby blue colourway. 

I couldn't wait to cast on so I got my mum to hold the yarn  whilst I wound it into a ball.

I worked away at this shawl until I kept ending up with the wrong amount of stitches. I also found out this lace weight yarn was difficult to unpick.

This was when I decided to make stitch markers.

Then in between my games at the World  Wheelchair Basketball Championships, I would work away at the shawl.  I learnt to challenge myself as I started to knit, lace work and kitchener stitch.

Five years later the shawl is still going strong and if successful I am looking to knit another shawl at another Championships, keep your fingers crossed for me.