Multiple projects are the way forward

Craft is all about feeling. All about how you feel and how it makes you feel. That's why having multiple projects on the go is the way forward. It means there is a way of including craft in the everyday and therefore enriching that experience - no matter what the day brings.

So I thought I would give you a quick walk through of the projects (and the feelings) I have on the go at the moment, so you get a sense of just how mood specific it can be. 

NOTE: If your name is Simon or Julie - look away. Nothing for you to see here!! 

1. Comforted - or the long term when-there-is-nothing-else-to-do project. 

I have been making this scarf for over two years - and it will be stunning. It takes about 20 minutes to do a single row and by my calculation I have an astonishing number of rows left. It is made with cashmere though, as a special present and so it is worth spending the time. I always have this as a go-to when running out the door, when nothing else is in a fit state to take with me. This is always in it's bag, ready to go, waiting for a stitch. One stitch at a time. 

2. Love - or the bugger-this-is-boring-but-I-have-to-get-it-done project

I love love my SIL. She is sweet, kind, super-amazing smart and a great cook and one of the few people I would knit for outside of my kids. But this cardy is a hard hard slog. 5ply and nothing but stocking stitch ahead of me. I really want it to fit her and so I am slightly avoiding doing it as I'm worried it won't. Classic perfectionist avoidance - if I don't finish it then it won't be less than perfect, because it's not finished. Anyone else know about this kind of crazy??

Inspired - I'm sure you recognise the image. The irony is that I won't get to make this until the event is over.

3. Inspired - or the wow-I-feel-super-inspired-to-do-this-but-can-only-do-it-when-I-have-uninterupted-crafting-time project

I so want to start this quilt. I posted the fabrics and an idea for the design on instagram last week. But in order to do it I need some time. Not evening time as I make mistakes in the evening but about 2 hours of daylight. And it isn't happening. Weekends are out as I have a pile of small people and the daytime is currently taken up with my little side project. In my head I have already started; I have ironed the fabrics, done a small test run and it looks gorgeous. It sadly exists in pile form only - a pile that sings to me each time I walk past it in a longing and loving way.

Organised - Summer wardrobe basics

Organised - Colours and fabrics chosen by my little fella. 

4. Organised - or the kids-need-clothes project

This also exists in a pile at the moment (except for the one I did today which is pictured above). I know what needs to be done.  A couple of skirts and three pairs of small boy shorts in a hardy but soft light weight canvas or linen. No more will I be making shorts out of quilting cotton weight. That kid is playing soccer and keeps ripping the bottom's right out. Not sure how it's possible. I will be making my favourite boy's short pattern Pattern "l" from Happy Homemade. Seriously the best kid's Japanese pattern book of all time!

Fun - Love love love this pattern, fabric and small person

5. Enthused - or kids-don't-need-clothes-but-gee-this-fabric-is-pretty project

I have made a few of these dresses so far and see many more in my future. They cover the shoulders, are a sweet vintagy style and are simple to make. Pretty fabric and a great pattern = fun. Bring it on.

6. Motivated - or gee-I-can't-wait-until-this-is-finished project

I love this new knitting pattern called James. Super simple but with great shape. I started this twice and had to rip it out. Luckily I am doing this as a knitalong with my lovely friend Karen over in the US of A. Go and check her out. She is pretty amazing.....and she is now waaay ahead of me due to my false starts......competition and the promise of a super jumper is enough to keep anyone motivated.

Quick and dirty - new elastic into winter tights.

7. Frugal - or the *&%$!*& mending pile 

Nothing to say here except how on earth does this thing grow at the rate it does and why did I have so many children? 

Nurturing - Just because it will make her happy. 

8. Nurturing - or gee-I-love-my-small-people birthday project

A rabbit with a pink dress. While I love sewing felt (gorgeous feeling of the needle sliding through the felt), I hate starting it. Wrangling embroidery cotton is just plain annoying - unknotting the right colour from the big tangled mess. I might need to have a look in on Melissa's Embroidery Classes to see if she has some tips.  

But the small person will love love this rabbit. She has already named her Sophie. She and Sophie are to have matching pink dresses. I have also been asked to make baby Lucy (her doll) a matching quilt to the one she takes to bed each night. How could I say no?? 

9. Happy - or I-need-a-new-dress-or-two project

I have two to make. One is another Wiksten tank (See hundreds of gorgeous versions here). This tank is awesome. I wear this pattern more than anything else in my wardrobe. Over jeans, over leggings. Love it. (If you aren't confident about applying binding, working with light weight fabrics, french seams, handkerchief hems and beautiful finishes then sign on up to Sophie's Wiksten Tank workshop. You will finish the day with a beautiful tank and a feeling of pride and joy. What more could you ask for?). The other is a modified Darling Ranges dress by Megan Nielsen. I have made two of these before. The most wearable day to day dress ever. 

Adventurous - Started with some rough numbers and an idea.

10. Adventurous - or I-have-an-idea-and-I-want-to-try-it-out project

I've had this idea roaming around in my head for a while. Colourwork with a plain background and a single colour at a time. I love the contrast of colourwork done this way. The child doesn't need any more cardigans. But some scrap yarn was singing to me as I walked past and I really wanted to try this out. Just to see if I could make what was in my head. 

Excited - Gifts in the making.

11. Excited - or gee-I-created-this-craft-event-and-I-want-to-make-it-special project. 

No explanation necessary for this one.  

.....and there are more.

Who else needs more hours in the day??  Do you have different crafts for different moods?

Felicia x

Registration Update - Registration will close on October 10th. This lets our teachers better organise their classes and you organise your materials. Thanks for the registrations that have come in over the last few days! We will be sending the class confirmations and final materials list out to you all this week. 

"Best Of" - Happy Homemade V2

I thought I would start a mini series of the "best of" patterns/materials I go back to again and again. These are my tried and tested and repeated patterns/materials - my go-tos. Might help some of you that are looking for some ideas?? Or those of you that don't have time to shop around and just want to get to the good stuff fast - these posts might save you some time.

On that note, the proviso is of course that this is just my opinion - you might hate them. Craft can be like that. One persons water is another persons wine....or something like that. That said, this first one up can really have no arguments.....it is that good. 

Best Of Japanese Kids Pattern Books - Happy Homemade V2

We are going to start with my most used kids pattern book of all time - Happy Homemade V2. Have a quick look around the internet and you will find this book comes up more than practically any other Japanese pattern book for kids. 

This book is a fabulous all rounder that includes my favourite small person shorts/jeans pattern and my favourite skirt. Both boys and girls staples are fully covered in this book. This is my go to book at the start of a season, after they have beanpoled their way out of last years clothes and I need to do the "right - we have no skirts/pants/shorts - let's sort that out!" thing. 

When I do this kind of making I almost always make multiples at a time; like the three skirts below. It's much faster than sewing things one by one, and really gets the wardrobe situation sorted quickly. Skirts are now covered. 

Ran out of pretty washi tape - sticky tape it is my friends....

I love how this skirt makes the little waist look so sweet - even with the just-got-outa-bed-dreadlocks. It is a little vintagey, great for twirling and good for summer or winter. 

When I went looking for pants to photograph for this post I found 6 pairs of various sizes made with different modifications. This number doesn't include the shorts made from this pattern either. Or the ones I have given away. I make them using a denim with a small amount of stretch, which combined with the elastic waist makes them super comfy for playing and climbing.

The jeans/pants

There isn't actually a jeans pattern in the book. There is a pants pattern but it is very simple. The pattern I use is a shorts pattern but because of how Japanese pattern books are (you trace out the pattern from a sheet) then I just extended them to the pants line to make the shorts into jeans....have I confused you yet? Japanese pattern books often use the one base pattern and then have different variations that use the same base. So I use the shorts pattern with front and back pockets but added the length from the pants pattern to make jeans.

Happy Homemade V2 also has a gorgeous layered dress - pattern f - that I made as my middle one's birthday dress. This dress is just stunning on. Terrible for sun coverage but great as a birthday frock. Wonderful twirling potential. 

This book also has other stuff I haven't yet tried making. There are a couple of different frocks and shirts - most of which I plan on making at some stage.

The lovely Anna has made about 15 versions of the dress and shirt pattern. I just clarified with her tonight  when she popped in and she has made 2 of the dresses with the yoke and 5 shirts/frocks of the pattern with the front tie. Again great basic patterns. 

In the interests of keeping it real - here is the gorgeous frock on Anna's lovely small today- complete with the water blotch or two. 

The lost buttons = true love? This frock has been worn fairly constantly for the last few years.

The book has pretty much every basic clothing type covered. Shorts, pants, skirts, shirts, hoodies and dresses. When I purchased it many moons ago it was only in Japanese. Thankfully it is now also in English. That said, it is for someone who has some basic skills - not a complete beginner as the directions are a bit on the vague side. They show you what order to do everything but not how to do it. 

Favourite short/jeans pattern

Favourite skirt pattern (and the shorts)

One of Anna's favourite frocks

I love this hoodie. I have plans to get there soon.

Beginners: If you are looking for some good kids patterns for beginners please try  Made By Rae - for great everyday kids clothes that are quick and easy to sew  or Oliver and S - for more formal, incredibly beautifully finished clothes. Both of them include great instructions and I promise you that you will come out from making them knowing more than you did at the start. 

Do you have Happy Homemade V2? Is there another Japanese kids pattern book you love more?  

And are you interested in me doing more of these types of posts?

Felicia x

Good technique is overrated - discuss

I think about this a lot. It bugs me because I think that the idea of needing to have "good technique" is such a discouraging one, especially when you are learning. I've been talking about it a bit too - around the traps - and I always come up against the "aaaahhhh but if you don't have good technique then things look terrible" and I beg to strongly disagree *. Let me explain. 

I was at a craft night recently where a lovely woman, lets call her "Trevor", said to me "I'm not very good at knitting" as she sat there knitting. She told me she was trying again and was super discouraged because she felt like she wouldn't ever get the hang of it. She was doing that classic learner knitting thing (that I did for about four or five years!) where she was holding the left needle with one hand and wrapping the wool around it by doing a huge arc with her right hand. She was watching me knit and feeling discouraged. I had a look at what she was knitting - a lovely little scarf for her small person - and pointed out to her that she was knitting a scarf and that that scarf had perfectly even tension and looked beautiful. Who cares that she was a bit slow and awkward. She was making. Something that would give her (and her small) joy every time she saw it worn.

Beginner knitting by me about seven years ago. Admire the uneven tension and dodgy wool. BUT I made a hat - for my small person - with love!!

The reason I feel so annoyed by "need to have good technique" is that I think that people often feel like they aren't getting the hang of it because of their technique. Beginners and not-so-beginnners feel like good technique is out of reach and give up making. The suggestion is often that people who have good technique are "so talented", when really it is just a matter of practice. A matter of hours on the road so to speak. 

Noone (except the odd freak of nature) has good technique when they begin, and many times they don't have good technique after a few years. Most people are slow and awkward. Most people throw stuff in the bin in disgust. Most people have to unpick and unravel. But if you persist in the somewhat-average-slow-and-awkward technique for a while,  then you will make something you like. Maybe not love but like. So who cares that you don't have "it". You are making and by making your technique will get better. Little by little.

It is not talent that gives you good technique but practice! 

I don't have a knitting gene that means I have good technique. I have however, knitted for over ten years in a borderline obsessive manner. And I am still learning!  The quilt I made in the last blog post was only my third hand quilting project and at the moment my technique is still kinda dodgy. I have seen youtube clips of people hand quilting and I don't yet resemble the masters by any stretch of the imagination. In fact at the moment I appear to have made up my own funky little way of doing it. It gets OK results, with little pain and isn't too slow. Win win win. Because I have been in this place with other crafts before this, I know that it won't be long before a rhythm will appear and I won't know how not to do it. Like riding a bike. And the most important thing is that I made something I love - with dodgy technique - that is beautiful!!

Another photo of my first hand quilted quilt. Super simple, whole cloth with minimal stitching. I didn't even try to do a straight line as I thought that would add to the level of difficulty. I just stitched a freehand line.

I thought I would make some suggestions for how to make things you love, while having less than good technique. 

1. Do simple projects 

I mean projects that only use simple techniques. Master one and then up the ante just a little for your next project. Simple techniques can achieve the most beautiful results. I doesn't have to be complicated to be gorgeous. Many times simple is best. 

The Purl Bee are the absolute masters of this. Most of their projects are simple and straightforward and make use of super simple techniques. And they are stunning and mainly free. Go have a look if you are in search of inspiration. Their back catalog is amazing. The key to their gorgeous projects is point 2....

2. Use beautiful materials. 

A simple project using simple techniques with beautiful materials normally equals a beautiful result. Don't get sucked in to thinking that because you are a beginner or not-very-good that you should buy cheap materials. Dodgy materials are the path to demoralisation and grief. Buy the best you can afford.

Beautiful materials mean that people are so focused on the materials they often overlook the dodgy making. Don't be tempted to tell them about all the mistakes either. When they say - "how gorgeous!", you say "thanks!". I have had to practice this bit.

3. Make something you really want

If you really want it you will keep going. Even if it is slow and you have to unpick over and over again. My first knitting project was ripped back to the start four times, because I had no idea how to fix mistakes. But I really wanted it to exist. And it did. Mistakes and all. 

4. Try to change one thing about your technique each time you start a new project.  

Don't work on everything that is wrong with your technique at once. Make a small change each time you start a new project - this means you can still make something and don't get demoralised. Use youtube. It is wonderful!

When I began hand quilting I did it in stages. Project 1 - I just wanted to finish. Project 2 - I tried to make my stitches more even on the back. Project 3 - I tried to work on my speed a little. Progress.

5. Take your time and rip out when you need to. 

When you are making something more complicated, and your technique isn't great, take your time. And always rip out when you need to. Even if it is a whole heap of work down the drain. My rule is "Is this going to annoy the s*&t out of me every time I see it?" If the answer is yes the I take a deep breath and rip it out there and then. Don' t leave it till later or you may find it sits there for many months. Human beings are tricky things aren't they? 

The first knitting project I ever made that I was truly happy with - and at the time my technique was awkward and slow. I was still knitting by taking my hand completely off the right hand needle to wrap the wool.

So tell your crazy brain to be quiet - good technique is unnecessary to fully experience the joy of craft. You can make beautiful things with dodgy-average-slow technique. Practice will get you there in the end, and your journey will be visible in the things you have made along the way. And that is a beautiful thing.... 

What do you think? Do you agree?  

Felicia x

* Just to be a complete contradiction - I completely agree that good technique is normally essential when doing something complicated! But that would be stating the obvious which I am obviously not into.

Perfection in imperfection

So I finished a single bed quilt - it's the sample for the Anatomy of a Quilt class we are running - and after that will live out it's life on my spare bed. It's not perfect. Nor is it what I hoped or thought it would be when I started. But I really really love it!

Which has lead to a very photo heavy post!! Apologies. 

I had this idea when I started it. I had some gorgeous linen from Tessuti* - over two metres of it in fact. It is such a simple beautiful pattern that I didn't want to cut it up - it would have gone against the laws of nature I reckon.

*If you are ever looking for gorgeous linen then check out Tessuti - just stunning!! 

Beautiful linen from Tessuti. 

Back and front together

So a whole cloth quilt was the only way forward. I wanted super simple but without too much quilting as I still wanted the linen to be able to move and wrinkle. Nothing better than wrinkled linen. The spare room it was made for is a simple space so i wanted something that would fit. 

I had been practicing my hand quilting by making a few baby quilts for my smallest girl child and so I really wanted to try something bigger. That said I didn't have time (and maybe not the courage yet?)  to handquilt the whole thing. So what to do. I haven't come across many quilts that use handquilting and machine quilting in the one quilt but I thought I would give it a try. My idea was some feature quilting in the middle and then machine quilting in off white around it, so you would see the impression of the quilting lines but would be played down. I used organic cotton batting which meant I could leave the quilting lines to about 5/6inches apart - which meant I got to keep my favourite linen characteristic - wrinkles!!

This photo shows the faint lines of machine quilting outside the main hand quilted circle.

There are so many issues with this quilt - which is going to make it a great teaching piece. So many issues....

But I really want to focus on the love. The fact that it doesn't need to be perfect to be perfect. The fact that I learnt so many many things while making it. Things that I actually already knew in theory but I now have tangible proof of. Gotta love some in your face mistakes to help you really learn. It was also a good reminder that even though your initial idea might not work - this looks nothing like what I planned - it can turn out even better. 

The back detail

Have you had mistakes that turn out better than the original idea?? 

Felicia

An ode to sewing with knits

I just finished a big project in the last few days, which has lead to my mind wandering around thinking of what to start next. Often at the end of a big slow project I like a quick win as a little pick-me-up to get the engines firing. And I think I am heading to some knit sewing. So I thought I'd share with you why I think sewing with knit fabric is so awesome.  

I have been involved in crafty circles for a long time and am often talking about sewing/knitting/quilting. And what I hear is that many other crafters say knit fabric makes them nervous as it looks kinda tricky or that they don't have the right equipment (eg. overlocker) to do it properly. To that I say piffle - one of the main things I love about it is it's simplicity. I agree there is a little bit of an art to making it look great rather than super homemade (which is where Sophie's Sewing with Knits class comes in) but I guess I want to show you just what you can do if you take the time (or class) to learn a few basics. 

Nani Iro knit leggings for my small boy before he got big and decided leggings weren't that cool....

Nani Iro knit fabric

In the interests of full disclosure I should say upfront that I have never owned a working overlocker nor do I have a coverstitch machine. And also that my mum was a Knitwit sewing teacher when I was little which is why I don't have the "sewing with knits" fear. It's not because I am naturally fearless.

So again with the lists....

Why I love sewing with knits

1. It is so easy and quick

Knit sewing means that you don't have to finish your seams as the fabric doesn't fray.  It means that you don't have to hem if you don't want to. I generally also don't bother to pin unless I am working with a curve. All this saves so much time! 

Based on some of the photo's I have posted on this blog you might be thinking I am a careful seamstress. Knit sewing is where I let it all go. Slapdash is a word that could often be applied to my knit sewing - however the great thing about it is that it is really hard to tell. 

2. Knit sewing is great for kid clothes

Kids like to be comfortable. Leggings, tshirts, shorts, pyjamas - all of these can be made incredibly quickly using knit fabric. A kid's tee takes about an hour's sewing time....

Kid's winter dress which is super comfy and sparkles. 

What more could you ask for?

3. Knit sewing is flexible and forgiving - fudge away people!

To state the obvious - because the fabric is stretch then there is more flexibility in the fit. I made my small boy shorts that have fitted him from when he was 3 till now - he is 7. I got four years out of 20 minutes work. The last tee I made for me - when I realised it was a bit big I just took in the sides until I was happy and cut off the excess. Not something you can easily do with woven fabrics.

A great example of how forgiving stretch sewing can be would be the last pair of knit kids shorts I made for my little fella to wear to school. I generally make these out of my partners old tshirts and they involve four seams in total - FOUR seams!! One for each leg, one joining the two legs and then the fourth seam is to make the casing for the elastic. I don't even bother to hem them which means that they take 30minutes total to make. And while I can hear you saying "what a laaazy crafter", I would shoot back a "they only last a couple of months before he has put another hole in them therefore hemming seems like overkill".....y'know?

Anyway back to my story. Last pair of shorts I accidentally sewed the two legs pieces together in totally the wrong way. Because it was stretch fabric, and it only had a 1cm seam, rather than unpicking I just cut off the seam. And it made no difference at all.

These were made when I had my last baby almost 3yrs ago from a free internet pattern. I made up a size 4, used their size 2 and a newborn size. Small people were super chuffed with these....bless. 

4. You can make things that fit you in fabrics you really like.

I often find that tshirts and tops I buy from the shops stretch out of shape as the quality of the fabric isn't that great, even from good stores. With stores like Tessuti and the Fabric Store in our capital cities, some great local fabric stores, and online shops like Kelani**, all stocking stunning knit fabrics, you can make something you will love in beautiful good quality fabric.  And you can make it to fit. In the time it takes to go to the shops to look for the perfect striped tshirt you need, you can have whipped one up.  

**Elissa has got the most gorgeous organic knit fabric in at the moment!!

Sophie's amazing leggings.

Top pattern by Megan Nielsen. Sewn by Sophie.

5. Once you have the basics there is nothing to it. 

It is simple sewing at it's best. The kind for when you need a quick win or you only have an hour or your girl child desperately needs a new skirt by tomorrow in red for her special day at school. 

I thought I would finish up with some resources and an idea.... 

Some Resources

There are great patterns for women. These are just a small sample.

• Darling Ranges Briar
• Tessuti's new Boat Neck tee*** plus their old school freestyle tee
• Tessuti's Anita Ponti Pant  
• Grainline's Hemlock tee
• Sewaholic's Renfrew top
• Kitschy Coo's Lady Skater Dress
• Skirt As A Top's Scoop Neck Tee 

And for kids have a look at these. 

• Banyan tee - what will be covered in Sophie's class
• Flashback skinny tee
• Go to Leggings 

***while you are there have a look at their other patterns. I love their new Suzy Pant - such a great shape.  

An Idea for Monday

I really want you to get how easy this type of sewing is. So I've come up with an idea - as I have a science degree I thought we could do a little experiment. I have an hour or two on Monday so I thought I would make the Grainline Hemlock tee in a piece of gorgeous Tessuti stretch cotton and give you "live" photo updates on instagram and facebook as I did it. Just so you could see how quick it is to whip up your own knit garments.  

I've already mentioned it in the post but just in case you didn't hear the shameless plug I thought I would let you know that there is still some space in Sophie's Sewing with Knits class. If you fancy coming to a weekend crafting retreat that is. At the end of the class you would be able to tackle ANY of the patterns I mention above with confidence and come out with a great looking garment. Yeah Sophie!

Any other suggestions for patterns or fabric resources?  

Felicia x