Experimenting - 2D to 3D

I have been experimenting with gusset techniques to make a more rounded head. My main resources are from Abby Glassenberg's as well as Maritza Soto's blogs. Two really talented softies designers.

These are hand sewn with felt pieces. I just wanted to test the techniques I have learned and I think they turned out as I imagined them to be. There are others I want to try but I am happy with these.

Another technique I tried was from Home Spun from the Heart using a tear drop shape piece. I cut out 6 pieces to form the rounded shape. As I used a piece of orange felt, it was looking like a pumpkin or a persimmon so I just cut out a green piece and stuck it on top. I might as well use it as a pins cushion right? It looks quite cute actually and I don't think my camera focused properly!

Tidy up

I didn't feel like doing much on one of the Easter long weekend days but rather than the usual procrastinating in front of Pinterest which I am getting good at, I thought I would tidy up one of my crafty drawers.

From this:

To this:

I had no idea how many straight knitting needles I had!

This weekend I decided to tidy up the tray I keep on the coffee table that has a range of knitting/ crocheting tools and a drawing pad etc.

I recently acquired some additional stitch markers from Stranded in Oz and here is how I store them.

I am feeling organised enough now to go back to pinterest!

Spotty Panda

 

Over the Easter break I made another softie for another impending baby. I haven't decided which baby will get Spotty yet but at this stage 3 of our friends' babies are due between May and August so I just wanted to have something ready for each.

I had sketched this panda up a few years ago and this is an improved version of the original drawing. I then enlarged my drawing by photocopying it to approximately 150%, I had to do that over a few pieces of A4 size paper. Once I was happy with the size, I folded  my drawing in half length wise so it is symmetrical.

I had forgotten to take more pictures of the pattern making process. I am learning and getting better at this but I really need to learn how to apply gussets so that the softies are shaped better. I have since discovered While She Naps and her design process series of blog posts. Her work is really inspiring to me.

This Spotty Panda is approximately 43cm long from top of the head to the bottom of the feet, almost the size of a full term new born baby. So I hope he can give some good cuddles as well as serve as a good pillow.

Since I haven't confirmed the sex of each of these upcoming babies, I stuck with neutral colours. It's more difficult than I thought but I think I have managed it this time. I used just less than roughly 75% of a fat quarter fabric for each of the front and back. Eyes and nose are felt pieces and I stitched on some felt pads for the ears to give them extra texture.

 

Easter 2012 - belated post

It's a bit late to post this since Easter was 2 weeks ago but to keep up with the last year's tradition, here are some origami I made for Easter 2012.

I learned to make another handy origami, the Easter bunny rabbit container from the Origami Spirit site. I love this site, she and all other artists she features are so clever!

The Grace Kelly bag

This weekend I finished sewing Lisa Lam's The Grace Kelly Bag. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw the pattern last year and promptly ordered the world's cutest purse frame.

I did make a slight modification, instead of 2 pockets in the elastic compartment, I made 3 with the centre one big enough for my kindle.

So very proud that I managed not to get glue all over the fabric, only my fingers but that's a small prize to pay for such a cute bag. I literally held my breath when I inserted the fabric into the frame.

Anyway it's scotch guarded and ready to be used - YAY! I am so happy with it and it is going to work with me tomorrow!

Following the World's Greatest Shave...

So following the World's Greatest Shave a couple of weeks ago, Terry is still getting used to the no hair. With winter coming, I have (naturally) made him a beanie!

The pattern is Nottingham by Melissa Mall. It's a simple straight forward pattern and it is made up snug and warm. I used a skein of Naturally Harmony 14 ply and half a skein of Katia Sulka. I ran out of the Naturally Harmony and the local yarn shop doesn't stock the 14 ply anymore so I took a punt and got the Katia Sulka in similar weight in a slightly lighter shade brown. The colours merged nicely I thought.