York Pinafore

I wanted a new slip on dress for the summer and when I saw this york pinafore pattern I knew I wanted to try it! The pattern is by Helen's Closet and I really love how it turned out.

As per normal for me I sized up for the hips but then worked out after sewing it together I really probably shouldn't have... actually I think my problem was twofold... I probably should have added an inch at least to the height of the top half as every other person it sits down further on them. As in it doesn't join until closer to the hips not right on the waist. Maybe if I make it again I'll change it but probably not as I like this!

 

 Also I had a big talk to a group on facebook about it and the reaction from them was yeah you're a pear shape but HOW are you a pear shape. I worked out that I'm not really that WIDE if I was to half my hip measurement it would go further than halfway around my front but wouldn't cover my backside and that is my problem. I've got a big butt. So what I probably should have done is add the width only to the back piece or add back darts in. I may still add the back darts but I like this dress as I want a lazy throw on dress that makes me happy.

This dress took me way way way too long to make for such a simple dress. As you can see I still had brown hair in the picture above which makes it late September sometime. I coloured my hair on the 1st of October. But I'm using the excuse of I just didn't have the headspace. I would like to make another to get me through the summer but we shall see. Shorts come first!

 You can see the excess fabric around the waist area in this photo but... I still like it as it sits so comfortably.

 Also I had to get these photos taken twice as the first time I managed to put the dress on backwards! It doesn't look too bad though it does pull a little around the throat!

Oh yeah, I used a duck cotton fabric that I bought at spotlight. So it's a solid fabric without a lot of drape but I quite like that.

So not exactly how I was planning for it to turn out but I learnt a lot about my body in the process and I do like the end result so meh! Oh yeah maybe if I can be bothered I might even sew on the pocket on the front but probably won't be bothered....

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Crafting Update

So I have ACTUALLY been crafting not just taking photos of previously finished projects :D

This little cross stitch set is FINALLY up on display again. It has been waaaayy too long. This is a set of Faye Whittaker designs I finished when I first started this blog.

Also speaking of way too long :D the last of my gingerbread men is making an appearance at the moment. I'm hoping to finish this over the next couple of weeks then I can finish all of them at once and put them up on display this year.... it's long over due but then again I'm saying that about a lot of things lately.

I finished my Doctor Who cross stitch and washed it in the sink to get rid of some of the marks.

Here is my finished piece :D in all it's wet glory!

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Let the fun begin!

So university is finished for the Semester, it's 3 months ish until I go back next year. Work is still crazy busy but it is contained to just days. My evenings are mine again!

I have so many awesome plans for this time. Particularly since I spent this last Sunday cleaning my craft room. Oh my it looks stunning! I focused not just on cleaning but on finding homes for everything that was on the floor not just moving it to another area. That is what took so long as I have sorted through a lot of stuff to get it to what I want. I didn't actually take any good before and after photos (bad blogger) but did manage to take two videos which you'll find over on my instagram here. I would embed it here but that has never worked in the past so I'm going to assume it won't now.

I have been working on my rainbow ripple star blanket and it's getting bigger and bigger. I'm not sure exactly where to go with this blanket, not sure how much bigger I'm actually going to push it. When I finish the 6 rows of the blue am I going to call it? Or should I add even one row of each of the colours as a kind of border? Should I add a different border in the blue as the last row of the 6? So many questions going round my head. I will see if I can get a photo of this whole blanket later to show you how big it is now it's big enough to curl up under on the couch but do I want more?

 

Also got some more fabric this is particularly picked up with a pattern in mind. I NEED some shorts for this coming summer. It's already hot so I need to try something. I'm looking at the itch to stitch Belize shorts as they are elastic waisted and don't have a fly, but also don't look like extreme gathering as the front is flat and the elastic is only at the back. You can find the pattern here. 
I will probably add length to the legs but I will be making a muslin before playing with my fun fabrics here. The two dark blue ones are tencel denim and the cactus one is a Duck Cotton. I have enough for 3 pairs of shorts Maybe a 4th if I place things right for Lana if she wants a pair.

Also that dog fabric is actually a sewing finish but I forgot to get photos of me wearing it so a finished post will probably be coming next weekend. It should be washed by then and able to be worn.

Lastly I have been cross stitching!!!! I'm so close to a finish on this Doctor Who biscornu! I am getting really excited about this! Who is watching the new doctor at the moment? I'm loving her and I love how it's panning out.

Expect to see more cross stitch again as I have more time to craft I'm going to get back into it as I really enjoy just stitching. It makes me happy so I need to do it. I'm hoping for a finish on this one by the end of the week as I'm making sure I get off my computer at work and do something at Lunch that isn't staring at a screen so Cross Stitch really works.

Anyway that's it for my update, and expect to see me more around here as I get back into crafting over the holidays.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Happy birthday to me

Oh gosh it's been a while since I last posted.... end of May by the looks of it.

So I've got lots to say. 

Sooo much has happened. If you want to keep up to date with things as they happen you will need to check out my Instagram. I'm naughtscrossstitches over there as well. I'm good about posting on there, not quite as good about posting on here as it takes more time.  

So let's get you up to date:

The latest news is that it's my birthday this week.  I turned 30 which really only means I am now upn an age bracket on forms. For my birthday and just because if I'm not going to do this now when else would I do it? I dyed my hair purple. As in BRIGHT purple!! and I am in LOVE with it. 

I went from this:

To this:

then 3 days later I turned it into this:

I am also doing some pretty hard courses at uni this semester. I've had weekly assessments since week 2 so I am really looking forward to finally getting a bit of a break from assessments for the Summer holidays. Only a month left :D

This year has been a killer, the subjects have been difficult and I've been struggling to keep up with everything. I think as well I have really ramped up my fitness goals this year. The kids and I are doing an obstacle race in 3 weeks! 8km with all sorts of fun inflatable stuff. It's called the YMCA rat race if you're interested in finding out more about it.

I have been doing some crafting though not much. My head is in many different directions at the moment. We went away camping and I DID take my cross stitch. I also sit and do my cross stitch while in lectures. It's starting to look pretty amazing.

 I had a beautiful view, it was lovely to sit and enjoy myself.

Also reading while stitching. I was reading Something like Adele. I have watched the first episode of the new Doctor who and I'm so excited for this new season.

This is the Doctor Who Biscornu by Cloudsfactory. Very easy stitch I just wish I spent more time on it.

I'm going to go through my projects and work out what else I haven't shared over the last few months and update you guys. I know I've finished some simple gloves and hats. I want to get back into more writing and projects. University will be done for the year in mid November and I will have more time to focus on relaxing and projects instead of stuff only for University.

I love to read your comments and I look forward to writing more to share with you guys.

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

The Snow Child: Review

I just finished reading The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey and just had to share with you guys. It was a slow book to start but the imagery of Alaska was stunning. As it went through I enjoyed it more and more and I ended up in tears at the ending. Below is the link to my good reads review. If you like fairy tale adaptions and love reading about different places I think you will enjoy this book.

Below is a link to my good reads review and you can see more about the book there. I'm really glad I persevered and read this book.



The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was slow to start and I found the attitude of the main character frustrating in how negative she was about everything. But I kept reading because the images of the landscapes that were being written about were so realistic and beautiful that I just had to know more. Her descriptions of the environment were absolutely beautiful and really transported you to Alaska. As the book moved forward I became more and more invested in the characters and by the end was in tears. You have a fair idea where the book is going by about 3/4 of the way through but it ends beautifully. If you know the fairy tale then you know what essentially will happen but this version is just beautiful. The only reason it's 4 not 5 stars is I found it hard to get into at first and even when I was enjoying the story I could still put the book down for a couple of days without a worry. So it didn't capture me entirely.

View all my reviews