Stitching Update

 I've been a bit sick this last week. Ended up with a couple of days off work and it just hasn't gone to plan. It doesn't help that I have absolutely no energy thanks to having been sick. I often get home from work and just collapse. You know those days? I've got all sorts of amazing goals and thoughts going around for my stitching but I am really struggling to actually follow through and finish them. 

 

Some of what is coming IF I can get myself to actually follow through on my goals. 

 - I'm trying to write a book. It is a book to help beginners with techniques and talking about what you need and don't need to know to actually cross stitch. I want it to be the ultimate resource for people to go to if they need to know something. It will have a selection of exclusive patterns to teach each of the techniques and I'm so excited. I have been adding more words each week so it is something that I am really working on but it may be months more before I have everything written. I want it to be comprehensive and give as much information as possible. I want to do it right. So if you catch me asking questions about techniques you want to know about please give me answers because it's probably for this book. 

- I'm playing with a tonne of new designs. I have a aussie summer design I'm looking to submit to a magazine that I need to work on ASAP. Also a mermaid pattern to go with my fairies which is pretty much done but I am testing out the pattern at the moment so I need to get that finished. 

- I have a tonne of drawings and ideas constantly going through my head. I just have to find time to do it all, which could be why I sometimes struggle to get anything done.I think I just need to focus on a couple of designs and just push through with those and then pick up the next ones. Just little by little! 

So what do I have to show you? 

Well my mermaid is currently looking like this ... so it's getting there. Honestly I don't know what is slowing me down! 

My book dragon has gotten more done on it. I'm missing a few critical colours at the moment and I need to organise to get them but the local store has a horrible selection!

I have also been sewing I needed another skirt for work so I tried out making an 18th century style petticoat. It's secured by Ribbons not buttons or zips. So it was a really quick make. I have worn it a few times to work and it's been perfect and exactly what I needed. I had the zip on one of my work skirts break a couple of months ago so I was getting desperate!

So this is what has been happening in my cross stitch and crafting life at the moment. So much happening at the moment! 

Happy Stitching, 

Caitlin

New Knitting Project

This has been in the wings since July last year when my sister came home from visiting Tasmania with 4 skeins of yarn for me. I still don't know exactly what I'm going to do with the other ones though I think the red one is slated to be a beanie/hat of some kind for my sister since she bought me this wool.

Found this screenshot of when I posted this on instagram.... oops it has been a while.  But I'm working with the second yarn at the moment.

 Here I am using the chair to wrap the skein into a ball... I didn't keep using it like this, ended up just having it over one side and then going from there. One of the reasons it has taken me so long to deal with this yarn is that I have never balled yarn from a skein before by myself so it was a bit intimidating. So hopefully the ball works..... You can't really go wrong can you?

Now I'm sure you're nodding your head going ohk so you have a ball of yarn now what?

I'm planning to make the close to you shawl by Justyna Lorkowska. It's such a simple pattern but I think it will sing in this yarn.

Here is a photo from the designer of the shawl. Photo taken from the ravelry link just above :D

I have over 400m of yarn here so it should be a decent size and the colour will just pop!

Have you got a new project you're working on?

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Homebody Sweater: Pattern Review

So I never expected to say that within 4 weeks of starting this sweater that it would be finished and able to be used. I started this expecting to MAYBE get it done by this winter. But it ended up being such a quick make. It's the Homebody Sweater pattern by Meg Made With Love.

 I used Spot Saver yarn from Spotlight in the purple and donkey. I had bought the purple last year thinking of maybe making a shawl but I wanted to start a project and this one was calling me. The spot saver is a 10 ply or worsted weight yarn like the red heart super saver (at least that is my understanding). I made a size medium with a 5.5mm hook so it made quite a heavy thick fabric. Next time I will use 8ply yarn and a larger hook to make a softer fabric.

It's a very boxy sweater designed to be worn off the shoulders. With arms that are meant to be cuffed.

I love how it looks on me. Though you were really lucky to get any photos with me modelling this as it was REALLY hot over the weekend. You wouldn't think that it is now autumn but the temperature is still over 30 degrees celcius most days.

Now being me and being a little laxy I did make some significant changes to the pattern.

I worked the main body of the sweater in the round. Instead of working the front then the back and then seaming I didn't want to have to seam it at all so I did the two bottom rib sections and then joined them in the round when I did the first row of the body.

 I did have one problem with this as you can see by the photo above my seam moved. I managed to fix that for the arms by turning every row but forgot about it for the main body.

Now the pattern calls for you to seam up to row 33 or something (check the pattern for your size if you want to make these changes.) So I worked in the round until then and then worked across the front the 72 stitches (in my case) and just worked the front up to the top. Then I came back in and joined the back on and worked it up to the top. I'm sorry I don't have any photos of this process because it was all done in the middle of lectures at uni and I felt very self conscious trying the take photos. But if you want to know more I am actually waiting for yarn to make a second one so .... photos will be coming I hope! Also send me a message and I'll try to explain it a different way if you want.

I then did a single crochet seam across the shoulder points. I did debate doing a join as you go thing but I wanted a very solid shoulder point. To add some structure.

I then joined the arms on as the pattern stated and went from there.

As you can see from the photo above I did some research in to how to stop the travelling seam (diagonal seam shown on the body above) and the best solution seemed to be to turn your work every row. This also gave the piece the ridges that the top half is showing but the bottom isn't because the work there wasn't turned (difference between rows and working in the round)

But because of the green stripe it isn't noticeable as it could be.

So my final thoughts:

Will I make this pattern again? Hell yes and I already have yarn on the way, but this is time I will do it differently.

What would I change? I would work the body in the round again but this time turning every row to create a seam up the side and also I would work it in a yarn other than acrylic. I am also tempted to try shaping the sleeves to come in more on my next one so that they're sitting tighter around my arms instead of just hanging but I may not do that if I can manage a drapier fabric overall.
 
But for now, I will leave you with this awesome photo of me attempting to do some fancy modelling and having a lot of fun :D

Have you attempted this pattern? How did it go for you?

Happy stitching,

Caitlin

Just Strong

As you guys know this last year I have been really focusing on my fitness and getting stronger and fitter and generally more able to do what I want when I want to. I have absolutely fallen in love with obstacle courses and just general fitness. I know I'm happier when I take the time to get out and actively do something.

That is why when this opportunity came up it was hard to resist. I have become a brand ambassador for the company just strong. If you click this link here you will be sent to their store and it will automatically apply the 10% discount code for you. It is an affiliate link so I do get a commission if you buy from them but you also receive a discount so.... if it interests you then please support me.

 I have always been picky about what brands I choose to support here on my blog, and I want to explain some more about why I feel that this brand is worth supporting.

Since I can remember I was always given the impression that women can't be strong. That they can't have muscles and they don't have the abilities that men do. It was never implicitly stated to me but the women that surrounded me gave me that impression. Although my mum is amazing and used to be really fit most of my memories as I was growing up were of her struggling with her weight and fitness. Then through high school I had an innate fitness that managed to get me through the down times but even by grade 12 I was finding I didn't have the fitness to keep pushing through everything. I was finding that I would play softball for 6 months of the year, and get decently fit by the end of the season, then spend 6 months doing nothing only to have to start all over again. This cycle has continued for the last 10 years of my life.

Mud anyone?

I like exercise, actually I LOVE exercise but I am one of those people who generally likes to exercise with others more often than not. About this time last year I decided that enough was enough and I needed to change right NOW or I would end up unable to move at all. I found an ad on facebook and joined a bootcamp. Since then I haven't looked back. I've done 3 obstacle courses (exhibit A above :D) and am looking to do more. I joined back up with a softball team and generally just find I function better when I'm moving and doing. So I strongly believe in the power of exercise both for my mental health and for my body.

That leads us to this company. Here is a quote directly from their website.

The squat is the perfect analogy for life - it's about standing back up after something heavy gets you down and what better way to present this analogy by using it in our branding. We are here to empower and motivate strong women from every walk of life.

We want you to never give up and to stay strong physically and mentally. Just like the squat, our clothing is a symbol of standing back up, fighting against any resistance life throws at you and becoming stronger. This is the idea of where our company was born. Motivate strong women to overcome their adversaries and embrace their strength, no matter the source.

If this isn't exactly what I was saying before I don't know what else is? I believe that exercise is the key to feeling better about yourself both mentally and physically. Yes I will never give up my crafts but since starting to exercise again I actually have more energy to craft. I'm not saying everyone should start doing obstacle courses (though if you want to I'll be there cheering you on from the internet) but even walking every day makes a difference.


So I'm happy to support a company that believes in women being strong. I'm currently waiting for my first order to arrive and then I'll be able to share some cool clothes with you. (I may have done a happy dance when I found out just how many purple clothes they have). Sometimes it's the little things that get me out the door to bootcamp and I often like to show off my cool outfits.

Therefore if you're into fitness clothes (I have developed a weakness) and want to support me and an interesting company please click this link or visit the Just Strong website and use the code CAITJORD10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase. And in case you missed the disclaimer earlier this code is an affiliate code so I do get some money from every purchase you make using this code BUT with it you don't pay any extra you actually save 10% so if you are making a purchase please consider using the code.

Also please know that I won't be turning this blog into a constant fitness blog. But I will show off cool clothes and stuff happening in my life because that's what I like to do here.

Thank you and Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Belize Shorts

 So I didn't expect to be writing this post any time soon. Actually I'm a bit shocked... because in one day I managed to start and finish a pair of shorts! I did trace and cut out the pattern a couple of days before but didn't start cutting fabric until Sunday morning.

This is the Belize Shorts pattern by Itch to Stitch and I am already in LOVE with it! From this time I started sewing it to the time I finished the instructions were clear and the pattern just came together quickly and easily.

 I have taken to using wrapping paper to trace out my patterns on as it is so much wider than anything else and I don't need to piece it together.

 I had this quilting cotton (at least that is what I think it is) that was part of some fabric my grandma had given me so I decided to use it to test out the pattern and make a wearable muslin. I didn't have enough of the floral fabric to make the waistband and pockets so I used my trusty blue sheet.... I don't have much of this sheet left now it has been pretty amazing!

Here I am sewing on the waistband of the pants. It really didn't take long to get to sewing on the waistband. I got given a T2 cup for my birthday and it's designed to make iced tea as well as hot teas and I'm in love with it and it was needed on the weekend as it was uncomfortably hot.

And here is my finish : D One pair of pants all ready to be worn! I love the way they have turned out.

 That said I will be adding some length to the crotch area as they are sitting lower that I want them to. I wanted a pair with a high waist and these aren't quite there. They are pulling a but and seem to have some extra fabric ... not sure if that's because of the length or something.... hmm

I also need to work out how to get rid of that little bit of excess fabric in the front.  If anyone knows how please help me!  But I will wear and wear and wear these this summer as they are long enough that I'm not feeling exposed while still being comfortably cool.

But for my first ever pair of shorts for myself I am really happy with how these turned out. I also paired them with my modified sorbet top as this was another one made out of the tester sheet fabric.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

p.s. I do get all your comments and I reply to them on the comment itself... the comments stopped coming to my email so I can't reply there anymore.