Pink pigs

I made another Dewdrop Handbag, this time for my sister for her birthday. I love the way it turned out.


The Echino fabric is perfect for this bag as it has a sturdy weight and crisp hand that give the bag structure. I included fusible interfacing as well. It's one tough little bag!

When edge- and top-stitching there were times when there were several layers to sew through which would have been difficult without my trusty walking foot. I love that thing! Absolutely indispensible.


I wanted the bag to be deeper than the last one I made so it could hold more. To achieve this, I cut the pattern in half horizontally, separated the two halves by two inches, and then pinned and cut.


I totally love this fabric and have several more prints that I'm looking forward to using.

Have you made something with Echino?

Fall (or stashing season)

We've had some rainy, cold, windy weather here and I've got handknits on the brain. I mostly concentrated on sewing during the summer but with the leaves turning, the mercury plummeting, and Christmas 62 days away, I find myself poring over patterns and hankering for hanks.

I visited The Needle Emporium in Ancaster to pick up some new yarns. The shop is like a candy store, so jam-packed with yarn I felt giddy. Once I managed to compose myself, I bought some lovely autumnal yarns.

First up, this delicate Silky Alpaca Lace by Classic Elite Yarns (70% alpaca, 30% silk).

I bought the other yarns with a purpose in mind, but this FeltedTweed by Rowan (50% merino wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose) was a total impulse buy. I LOVE it. I will probably make myself a nice wrap with this.

Good old Cascade 220 The Heathers (100% wool) will combine with some 220 already in my stash to become a new pair of mitts for me.

I hope to design a cowl using this super bulky Big Wool by Rowan (100% merino wool).


Bought any new yarn lately? What projects have you got lined up?

Socktoberfest!

Socktoberfest is a month-long celebration of socks and I'm celebrating by joining the Through the Loops Mystery Sock Knit-along!

Every week during October, Kirsten of Through the Loops will post a new clue in a free sock pattern; first the cuff, then the leg, the heel, etc. You don't know what the sock will look like until you've knit it! It's exciting to see the pattern emerge as I knit.

I thought I'd use a nice fall colour for my socks. I'm using Spud & Chloe Fine Sock in Clementine which is 80% superwash wool and 20% silk.


If you're on Ravelry, you can join the KAL group here.

Halloween craft round-up

Halloween's around the corner and there are a ton of great crafts out there to help get you in the spirit. Here are a few of my favourites:





Zombies and Monsters: embroidery patterns for sale at Sublime Stitching
Image: Sublime Stitching







Spooky packing tape transfers: a tutorial from How About Orange...
Image: How About Orange...








Sugar Skull Pincushion: hand and machine embroidery patterns for sale at Urban Threads
Image: Urban Threads








Knitted eyeballs: free pattern from Mary Jane Mucklestone
Image: Mary Jane, Midge and Mink







Polka-dot Pumpkins: an eHow.com tutorial
Image: Lolo-B @ eHow.com








Day of the Dead Dolls: free pattern from Knit1
Image: Knit1









Las Calacas Danzantes: free pattern from The AntiCraft
Image: The AntiCraft

Spooky portraits: a tutorial by Sweet paul
Image: Sweet paul

Lavender Sachet

I made this from a great book I recently bought......


It's a sachet filled with lavender flowers. The pattern calls for a striped fabric that you then cut into matching squares and sew together to get this diamond effect. I used some Heather Bailey fabric that I had leftover from my Buttercup Bag.


The book is The Impatient Patchworker by Jayne Emerson and I love love love it. Jayne uses gorgeous combinations of Rowan fabrics and the projects are all relatively small and quick to make. I was surprised when I found this book in the shop because it's from 2006 but I hadn't ever heard of it before.

I'm going to use my sachet to keep moths away from my yarn. I haven't had a problem with moths yet (touch wood) and I'd like to keep it that way!