Christmas Bags

Don't wrap your Christmas presents, bag them!
I love doing this...I've done it on and off for the past 10 years depending on how much time I have leading up to Christmas. This Christmas I'm feeling particularly organized and on top of everything so I've made some more.

They're so easy. Just buy some pretty Christmas fabric and ribbons. Sew simple sacks in various sizes to fit whatever you are giving. They're especially good for hard to wrap pressies.

Sometimes I sew the ribbon into the back seam. This year I'm just adding the ribbon around the top separately. If the sack isn't quite big enough to scrunch around the top, fold in inside like a pillow-slip and wrap ribbon all the way around the gift.

Here are some, I still have more to do...

They're so easy.
Just fill, tie with ribbon and add a gift tag.
And another advantage is they're reusable!

Christmas Presents

This year I decided to sew most of the Christmas presents, especially for the nieces & nephews, and our kids.
Here is some of what they're getting...

The kids' aprons have recipe journals and kid's cook books to go with them.
The library bag will have books and a toy inside.
And the beach bags will have fun-in-the-sun goodies inside.

I've finally finished all the present sewing.
Now I'm sewing bags instead of using paper wrapping.

I'll put those on my next post...

Felt Christmas Decorations

I love making Christmas decorations.
I decided to make these for my son's teachers this year.
I loved getting decorations with the child's name and year when I was teaching.
I still hang them on my tree and remember them fondly.

 

front

 


back

 I also made these without the words for our mums' Christmas presents.

My boy's favourite colour at the moment is orange and he wanted these for his tree.

So grab yourself some felt, beads, stuffing and cord and go for it.

You can stuff them or leave them flat, either way...

they're fun, cute and cheap!

Aprons!...and other things

My latest sewing spree has left me with these, which are on my online shop Sew Thea on Made It.

To make these...

I used these patterns...



Butterick 5506



Butterick 4945

And I made some beach/swimming bags in different sizes using beach towels.

The smaller sized bags are 1/4 of a beach towel, folded in half to make side seams. A casing is sewn around the top for a draw string. I cut the hemed sides from the towel to use as the shoulder strap/handle. Inside the top casing hem, I've sewn in a face washer folded in half with a small zip to make a concealed pocket.




Granny Square Scarf

Yet another scarf.

Told you I was in a scarf mode.

This one is a present for my 12 year old niece.

Make 14 (or more if you want a longer scarf) granny squares using variations of 3 different colours.

Using a fluffy yarn, join squares with a row of single crochet.

Finish ends.

Using the fluffy yarn, single crochet all the way around the outside of the scarf.  Finish ends.

Pattern for granny squares -

Using 8 ply yarn and size 6 crochet hook,

Ch. 6, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Round 1 - Ch. 3, 2 dc, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 3) 3 times, sl st to join to the 3rd chain stitch from foundation loop.

Round 2 - Work 3 sl sts so that your crochet hook is adjacent to the space formed by the closest set of chain sts. Ch 3, 2 dc in space, ch 3 to form corner, 3 dc in same space, ch 3, (3 dc in next space, ch 3 to form corner, 3 dc in same space, ch 3) 3 times, sl st to join to the 3rd chain stitch you crocheted at the beginning of the round.

Round 3 - Work 3 sl sts so that your crochet hook is adjacent to the space formed by the closest set of chain sts. Ch 3, 2 dc in space, ch 3 to form corner, 3 dc in same space, ch 3, (3 dc in next space, ch 3, 3 dc in next space, ch 3 to form corner, 3 dc in same space, ch 3) 3 times, 3 dc in next space, ch 3, sl st to join to the 3rd chain stitch you crocheted at the beginning of the round.

Knitted Scarves

I'm going through a scarf phase at the moment.

I am loving the different types of gorgeous yarns around so I buy balls and wonder what to do with them.

So far, I keep turning them into scarves!

Shame it's not really cold enough here to wear them.

So, grab a fancy ball of wool/yarn.

Garb a set of large knitting needles, size 5mm - 7mm.

And knit away until the ball is finished!

Here are some I've done so far...

Girl's Feathers Hat

I made this for my 2 year old little girl.
Here is the pattern for 3 sizes - toddler, girl, teenager/adult

Using Feathers style yarn
5 1/2mm knitting needles
Cast on 60 (64, 70) stitches
Row 1 - 4 Knit 2, purl 2 to end
Change to 6mm knitting needles
Knit stocking stitch until work measures 16 (17, 18)cm from beginning ending with a purl row
Knit 2 together across the whole row
Purl
Knit 2 together across the whole row
Purl
Cut yarn at 30cm from end of work
Thread a wool needle onto yarn and pass the needle through all stitches left on the knitting needle
Remove knitting needle, pull stitches tight, sew seam down the back of the beanie.

I crocheted a flower that I found here to sew on the side.

Bobbly Scarf

I picked up a couple of balls of Ping Pong yarn from Big W yesterday to make a scarf.  I'd never knitted with it before so it took a little while to get used to the bobbly bits.

I wasn't expecting it, but I started and finished it yesterday!

You need -

2 balls Ping Pong yarn
6mm knitting needles
To make -

Cast on 6 stitches
Knit until you finish both balls
Cast off
Finish off ends

Can't get any easier than that!!

This blue one is knitted on 5 stitches which makes it slightly thinner and longer.

Knitted Teddy Bear

I love this toy!
I love knitting and I love soft toys and this one is so easy.
It's knitted in one piece, then stitched up and stuffed...can't get much easier than that!




Materials -


2 x 50g balls of any fluffy yarn
1 x 100g ball of matching or contrasting 8ply yarn
6mm needles
2 black buttons for eyes (optional)
black yarn
stuffing


Legs:
With 6mm needles and one strand each of plain and fluffy yarns held together, cast on 8 stitches.
Stocking stitch for 16 rows, ending on a purl row.  Break yarn and transfer live stitches to a stitch holder.
Repeat for second leg, again ending on a purl row.  Do NOT break yarn.
Knit across the leg just worked, and the leg from the stitch holder (16 stitches).


Belly & Arms:
Stocking stitch 12 rows.
Cast on 10 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows using backward loop cast on.  These form the arms, a total of 36 stitches.
Stocking stitch 6 rows.
Cast off 10 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows to finish the arms (16 stitches remaining).


Head:
Stocking stitch 32 rows (creating front and back of head).


Arms & Back:
Cast on 10 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows using backward loop cast on.  These form the arms, a total of 36 stitches.
Stocking stitch 6 rows.
Cast off 10 stitches at the beginning of each of the next 2 rows, to finish the arms (16 stitches remaining).
Stocking stitch 12 rows.


Legs:
Work first 8 stitches on needle and slip remaining 8 stitches to a stitch holder.
Work 16 rows for leg and cast off.
Place stitches from stitch holder back onto needle, rejoin yarn and work 16 rows for leg.  Cast off.


Making Up:


Weave in all ends.  Fold bear in half along the head section ensuring legs and arms line up neatly.  Pin in place if desired.  Starting at an inside leg roughly an inch from the end of the leg, begin seaming the bear, following round the outside to the top of the head.  Secure yarn, and seam other side, again starting near the bottom of the leg and continuing to the top of the head, with an opening now left where the legs join the body.


Create ears by running stitches across the corner at each side of the head.


Stuff bear, filling head and arms first, and then legs and stomach.


Make neck by weaving a length of yarn in and out around the bear where the arms join.  Pull tight, pushing more stuffing up into the head to firm before securing the yarn and tidying the ends.  Finish stuffing the bear, and seam the opening shut.


Sew  buttons on for eyes and embroider a nose and mouth.  If giving to a child, embroider eyes rather than using buttons.

I love giving these as gifts for new born babies.

Bed Socks

I've just finished this cute little pink pair of bed socks (toddler size) for my 2 year old daughter.  I made some (young child size) for my 5 year old son last year.

Here's the pattern...

Accessories - 1 pair each 4mm and 3.25mm knitting needles

Materials - 1 x 100g ball 8 ply yarn

Sizes - toddler, young child, older child, ladies, mens

Approx finished length - 16cm, 21cm, 

Using 3.25 mm needles cast on 41 (55, 61, 67, 71)

1st Row - K2 *P1 K1 rep from * to last st, K1

2nd Row - K1 *P1 K1 rep from * to end

Work 19 (25, 29, 31, 33) rows rib

Change to 4mm needles

Work 16 (20, 22, 24, 26) rows stocking stitch beginning with knit row.

Divide for instep - K28 (37, 41, 45, 48) turn.

Next row - P15 (19, 21, 23, 25) turn.

Work 9 (13, 15, 17, 19) rows stocking stitch on these 15 (19, 21, 23, 25) stitches.

Row 10 (14, 16, 18, 20) - P1, P2 tog, P9 (13, 15, 17, 19), S1 P1 psso, P1

Row 11 (15, 17, 19, 21) - Knit

Row 12 (16, 18, 20, 22) - P1, P2 tog, P7 (11, 13, 15, 17), S1 P1 psso, P1

11 (15, 17, 19, 21) stitches

Break off yarn.

With right side facing, join in yarn and knit up 12 (15, 17, 19, 21) instep sts, knit up evenly along side of instep, knit across 11 (15, 17, 19, 21) instep sts, knit up 12 (15, 17, 19, 21) evenly along other side of instep, knit to end... 61 (81, 91, 101, 109) sts.

Knit 11 (15, 17, 19, 21) rows garter stitch.

Shape foot

1st Row - K1 (K2 tog, K25 (35, 40, 45, 49) K2 tog, K1) twice.

2nd Row - Knit

3rd Row - K1 (K2 tog, K23 (33, 38, 43, 47) K2 tog, K1) twice.

4th Row - Knit

5th Row - K1 (K2 tog, K21 (31, 36, 41, 45) K2 tog, K1) twice.

6th Row - Knit

7th Row - K1 (K2 tog, K19 ( 29, 34, 39, 43) K2 tog, K1) twice... 45 (65, 75, 85, 93) sts.

8th Row - Knit.  Cast off.

Make up - Use flat seam to join leg and foot seams.

Now, I'm off to make a pair for myself! :)

Short black cardigan

I finally finished my latest project.
I love to knit!

Girl's top and pants

This is the other outfit that I cut out last year but didn't get around to sewing until now. So, it too is too small for my little girl, but hopefully is just right for her cousin!

I used Butterick pattern #5017

Mix & Match Girls Outfit

Last year I cut out 3 outfits for my then 18mth old little girl.

I just finished sewing 2 of them, but now that she is 2 1/2 they're too small.  Oh no!

I used McCall's Pattern #5028



















Here's how they turned out...

Cute, huh?

Etsy??

Doll's top & booties

I've been promising to make some clothes for my little girl's doll for ages.
My Mum used to make doll's clothes for me and I just loved that she did!
So today I finally came good on my promise and made a top and booties for Molly Dolly.

 

I used McCall's Pattern #5553.  Dolls clothes are incredibly fiddly because they're so small.  But I love making them because you can finish something in a couple of hours.

Guess who's got the sewing bug?

So, what to sew next??

Another outfit for Miss 2 perhaps.