Friday Finds

I've been wanting to start this series for a while. I am a bit of a youtube addict ... well not really but I do like watching youtube when I have the time. It's also fun to watch something while I'm crafting as that is easier than reading (ie. no pages to turn)

So I'm going to make these a bit of a normal thing. Most of the time I'll share videos that are fascinating me at the moment but sometimes it will be other things.

 

This is my current obsession! I have gotten into watching the bouldering world cup. For anyone not really in the know (which was me about 2 weeks ago) bouldering is actually a sport you can compete in. What is bouldering you ask? It is rock climbing without a rope. They leap and stretch and climb in ways I can only dream of being able to do. If you want something interesting to watch while stitching away I would recommend putting it on (yeah it's 3 hours long but it's an excuse to craft) and watch some amazing athletes.I do usually skip the introductions at the beginning to get to the climbing.

This hasn't just come out of nowhere. Here I am below climbing a purple level wall. This one is only a step up from beginner and it took me a number of tries! My sister is big on rock climbing particularly bouldering and I know why she loves it. It is great exercise and so much fun for everyone.

See what I mean by everyone? The kids love it too every time we take them! Actually they often get a chance to go more times than me, as they are free more often.

Anyway I hope you enjoy this video if you have time to watch it. What do you do to exercise and have fun?

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.

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