making handkerchiefs

Over on the Facebook page I have made a step-by-step tutorial on sewing handkerchiefs from old sheets. Take a look!

Hot water bottle covers

Seem to be on a theme here, don't I? 

Hot water bottle covers where something I tried a couple of years ago, when going through my daughters baby jumpers. some where a little worse for wear, or too loved, to leave our household. I found some knitted ones, with stretchy enough necks for me to slide the water bottle through it, then I traced a hot water bottle onto the (inside out) jumper, and just sewed around that line. Bingo! 

I have made them from brushed cotton night shirts,

zip up cardies, and larger than baby clothes too. 

                                                                                                                                                                    some get the sleeves sewn in, so your hot water bottle can give you a hug:)

pink pillowcases

Just a quicky, about another pillowcase project.

These pillowcases where a commission for a young girls first full-sized bed. The fabric came from 2 super-king sheets off the bed she used to sleep in as a baby, that got torn. A fitted single sheet was also made, but that is a different story altogether! 

There was plenty of fabric to use for this one, so no buttons where needed for the back. 

The sheets where faded in places, and had been machine dyed at some point, so where splotchy, and I tried to cut the best bits, but you can see the graduation on the red pillowcase. Again, the sentimental value of the project means these “imperfections” just add character, and they where well received!

The set went for £30.  

sew what?

As well as all this knitting and beading, I do a fair amount of sewing. Well, some of my acquaintances would call it an unfair amount of sewing, but I'm happy either way! Well, due to an injury I have been less able to knit so far this autumn, and my creativity has been more aimed at my cooking and sewing, “sew” here is a recent project!

When I moved into my current house, the previous owners left us most of their crud. There where 10 or so bin bags in the back garden, and I couldn't just put them out as trash, I had to check for treasures, recyclables, and charity shoppable items. I got it down to a pretty low refuse count in the end, and reclaimed some bed linen, bedding, curtains and blankets. After a lot of laundering and airing (they where smokers, and I have sensitive smelling abilities as one of my super-powers), sorting, blah blah blah, I got to a single brushed cotton sheet with a tear. After a few years on the toddlers bed, tucked in various ways round, it then became redundant. But I did need some pillow cases...

you can get 3 oxford style buttoned pillow cases out of a single flat sheet.

Some will be a bit thin in places, but try to place these bits on the back of the pillow case.

So, I cut my sheet sideways into thirds. I lost 1 third due to the tear:( Inside out, layed it down next to another pillowcase for size guidance, and folded it so that the opening is on the top, with the larger side on the very top.

Pinned this all together, and sewed down the sides. The sheets edging will provided me with instant finishing for the flaps!

Turned this the right way out, and pressed. Measured how much wider my case was than the pillow that is going in it(this may well be a standard size?). Divided this by 2. checked the ends too, as they where a bit different. Using a rule on my machine, I then stitched a border around my pillowcase this wide.

I then popped a pillow in at this point to see whether I was happy with the closure. I wasn't. The pillow inside was bulging out a bit, so I sewed 3 buttons on to the top flaps border, then marked button holes on the lower flap, so they would button to the inside of the case and not be uncomfy if(when) the pillow flips in the night.

Sorted.

I find the children appreciate these upcycled projects I do, as they recognise the new pillow as being their old sheet that was useless, and love it even more!

Beading sessions are back!

Beading sessions are back! At a new location on Ratcliffe Road, Stoneygate, Leicester, with a bigger table and better light, we shall be holding fortnightly 2 hour sessions in the second half of the autumn term.

Going back to basics to gain a stronger foundation for your own beadwork designs, each session will be project based, with more stages for faster or more advanced beaders.

Age 8-108, under 8s welcome with 1-1 parental supervision.

Price in advance £7 per session, £20 if all 4 are booked. £9 drop-in per session.

Those with no experience need to make the initial session, as basic techniques will be covered.

1-3 Thursdays

1^st November

15^th November

29^th November

13^th December

Advanced bookings before 25^th of October, or 1 week before session to be booked, drop-ins please phone before turning up to check for space.

oh seven nine one oh, oh four one nine seven three

cat.inna.hatATgmail.com

If you can't make these sessions but are itching to have a go, why not book me for your own family and friends, at your own location? Email me for a quote.

Cat Bellinger

Little Gem dress

The lace in this pattern reminds me of lettuce! This project is worked in the round with a provisional cast on, lace, ribbing, raglan shaping and picot edging. The raglan being worked bottom up gives crisper decrease lines, while the skirt down allows you to relax about your yardage. Perfect item for an heirloom christening gown, or just a special summer dress.

Knit on 4mm circular needles using Manos Del Uruguay Silk blend, this pattern is written in 3 sizes from 6-18 months.

£3.50

motivated to work:)

So, knitting for fun is working well for me at the moment, so well that after a 6 month break I am ready to jump back in board the designing horse:)

To try and not waste time redescovering what I have to do each time I find a moment/afternoon that I could work in, I am trying to come up with ways to keep track of my work. I have a worksheet, that looks a little something like this-->

LITTLE GEM

TEXT, PROOF READ, TECHNO, MEASUREMENTS, PHOTOS, CHARTS, SCHEMATICS, PDF FILE

with an entry for each project on the go, highlighted as I get through them. I have noticed stuff gets stuck at a certain point, but that is ok, because I can see that now!