Scarf → Kaftan

I had a very nice white cotton scarf with gold tassels in my altering pile...it was there because it was a summer scarf, but it seemed way too wide and so was a bit hot to wear when it was warm. But I hadn't got around to making it narrower. And with a sunny holiday looming, I needed a kaftan for lobbing over my swimsuit and so I made a different plan...

  

First I folded the scarf in half. To make side seams, I sewed two lines about 20cm in from each outside edge. I left a space of about 30cm at the top to put my arms through.

Then I measured across the top fold to find the middle. I slowly and carefully trimmed a hole to put my head through. Just a slight curve for the back neckline and a not-too-deep V at the front.

 

Then I stitched some gold bias binding on to the wrong side of the neck opening, stitching in the fold as I opened it out. Purchased bias binding makes the process very quick and easy. Before getting back to the start, I stitched the two pieces of bias binding right sides together, so that when I turned it to the front, there would be a neat seam. 

                           So I folded the bias binding over to the front and top-stitched it in place.   

 

And that was it: ready now for some beach weather and holiday fun!

  

                                

                                       From this...

...to this!

  

   

A personalised gift

A toiletry or makeup bag or even a pencil case - personalised for a friend having a special birthday...

...and so the idea developed as I had a packet of "Miracle Fabric Sheets" which are pre-treated fabric sheets (for printing on) which are attached to backing paper so they'll go through the printer...

Knit a pet?

A couple of years ago, I started this cute as, knitted border collie that I never got around to finishing until just last week.  I think people have called them UFOs - UnFinished Objects, so finishing it is kind of hard to believe! The pattern was in a book called Best in Show knit your own dog by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne.

It only stands about 10cm tall, so there wasn't alot of knitting to it, I just put it away and didn't come back to it. I only had a few small pieces left to finish (like ears, and tail) so without too much trouble, I soon had a little mound of knitted pieces and loose tails (no pun intended). Once I laid them out, I could see the parts that would make up the whole.

 

With a bit of stitching up of the body, it started to take shape even more so.

And before I knew it, the puppy had been born! 

                                                 Why did I take so long to finish it??? 

 

Hearts for Valentines

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I've worn hearts every day this week!
Last night I thought I'd valentine up a little cardy I'd snapped up at an Op Shop with a little needle felting.

  

Needle felting involves using a special needle that has no eye, and tiny little barbs on the pointy end to punch through the layers of fibres and matt them together.

Ladybird pin

Scarf - felted, woollen and upcyled!

I love old jumpers: real jumpers made with real wool and perfect for recycling!  I've found that they can take a bit of hunting for, but with a number piling up, I started on my scarf project...

 

Fabric storage basket using recycled denim

A quick and interesting way to use an old pair of jeans - and a cheap source of fabric.

Photo by Sarah Ryan

Start with an old pair of jeans and cut off a portion off the bottom.

Bag: re-using a woollen blanket

I love the old check woollen blankets, and I have been stashing a few. Last week, I discovered that my every-day bag was disintegrating, and new ones that I looked at were so expensive! So I got to, and decided to put one of my old blankets to good use (this one I'd picked up for $2 at an Op Shop in the doggy blanket section).

Photo by Sarah Ryan

So I made a template from my old bag, and cut out two on the bias (diagonally), and two from a contrast fabric for the lining. Then I added an extra piece to make an inside pocket. 

Little crochet storage basket

I haven't crocheted anything, ever, other than crocheting a chain when I was a kid. But I was tempted to have a go at this simple looking little basket...good for storing bits in the bathroom, or sitting room, or full of felt pebbles like mine here!

Photo by Sarah Ryan

A workshop was advertised at "Gather Handmade", a giftshop in Liverpool St, so I went along to have my first real go at crocheting.

Appliqué scarf

Appliqué:  [Pronunciation: ap-li-kay]   (n.) ornamentation, as a cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material (Source: OED online. Oxford University Press, March 2015. Web. 17 April 2015)

Now I am a bit of a scarf fan...so making another scarf was inevitable really...

 

 Photo by Sarah Ryan

So....I just happened to buy 50cm of cheesecloth, and 20cm of a white lace fabric.

Arm knitting

The INFINITY SCARF was a project that I got caught up in trying out, making about ten before deciding that it wouldn't be suitable as a class project!

Photo by Sarah Ryan

BUT  they can be made in well under 2 hours (I found it took a bit longer than the suggested 1/2 hour)