A rush post - just some Christmassy projects

Just sharing some Christmas crafts ....

These were for an ornament swap.

Latest crochet

I just haven't been in the mood for any quilting lately but have finished a few crochet projects. I made this blanket a few weeks ago. I just love it. It's bright and cheerful and is the biggest project I have attempted in a long time, although it is just simple granny squares.

This one was made from 100% wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills. I can't wait to stock up on wool and make another one.

I've spent a couple of weeks at home looking after the pups as Sug had to have an operation on her knee due to a broken cruciate ligament. I was supposed to keep her confined and stop her from walking, so we spent a lot of time just sitting together while I did a few hand crafts.

For a bit of a change from crocheting, I've been doing quite a bit of cross stitching. This isn't a craft I am normally passionate about but I have had a thing for it lately and have finished quite a few little projects. Here is one - a little pin cushion:

 

And a band to embellish a hand towel. I also crocheted a pretty filet edge on this one:

Crochet edgings are something I have been having fun with lately. I have more doileys than surfaces now, so edgings make a nice change and means I can beautify the most mundane objects, such as these kitchen towels:

A bit quiet on the craft front

I've been a bit quiet on the craft front although with the cold weather setting in, I've been doing some crochet occasionally on the weekends while snuggling up in front of the heater.

I love doileys and there are so many great free patterns on the web. It's amazing what you can do with a ball of cotton and a couple of hours.

I'm getting over a nasty cold so I spent yesterday in bed making this little one:

While these larger ones I made over the last month or two:

This washcloth was a free pattern on the web as well. I wanted to use the end of some thin pink cotton, so I made a little soap bag as well:

Home Sweet Home Filet Crochet

I finished off this sweet filet crochet on the weekend. Although not a large project, it has taken me a few weeks as I've only been able to spend an hour or so each weekend. This was a free pattern from Sauntering Stitches. I used a thicker crochet cotton, as that was what I had, so mine turned out a bit bigger than the original (about 14" x 17" as opposed to 12" x 14"). I also used a different edging as I really wanted to get it finished and I find picots slow going! 

I'm not sure whether I am going to frame it or turn it into a pillow yet.

Puppy pillow

This was a super quick finish on the weekend but only because I'd done all the work previously. I had an obsession with vintage iron on embroidery transfers for a while (and why not when they cost $1.99 from Grandma's Attic - so saves all that frustrating tracing time) and these puppy stitcheries were two of a series I had planned to complete in order to have enough blocks for a small quilt.

Needless to say, I didn't make enough blocks and a couple of years later I came across the stitcheries and put them together with some fabrics that matched the background and thread of the stitcheries. Then another few months later, came across the incomplete project again, handquilted it quickly and sewed on a backing to turn it into a mega-sized cushion cover for a big 80cm cushion insert I had.

Gee, this is a massive pillow and big and firm too. It would be great for lounging around on the floor. But if I put it on the floor, it really would become a puppy pillow as any soft furnishing so placed ends up belonging to Sugar and Spice.

Midweek Quickie - bookmarks

Alright, I confess, I didn't do any crafting this week. My weekend was spent mowing and doing other similarly not-fun but necessary chores. Considering the grass was dead and yellow a month ago, I shouldn't really complain now that we are getting rain, but seriously, how can a lawn grow half a foot in a week? I wish I could foster some of the poor animals living in the drought affected areas.

So anyway, in the interests of having a post, here are some bookmarks I made years ago. Both really quick.

The first was embroidered in star stitches on Aida cloth in variegated thread, so I got a shimmery effect without having to change colours. Plus the stitches were so quick as each asterisk-shaped stitch covered 2 x 2 squares. I glued it over cardboard with a plain fabric backing and made a twist cord out of leftover thread.

This one was my first and only attempt at ribbon embroidery. I don't know why I didn't do more of this because it was so quick and easy. The leaves and branch took no time at all as each was just a single stitch. The flowers were colonial knots in DMC thread so they didn't take much time either. Again, finished with cardboard for sturdiness and a twisted thread cord. (Don't look too closely at this pic cos this bookmark is a little dusty!)

Midweek Quickie Cheat

It's a cheat because I really didn't do any crafting this week! I have lots of boring and predictable excuses, but why bother?

So today I'm blogging about some older small projects, made over the last year or so. 

First up, a crochet covered jar which I originally planned to use as a vase but have found it kind of useful for storing knitting needles. This was just a made-up-as-I-went thing so no pattern.

And this is a hot water bottle cover I made last winter when I was in a bit of a knitting frenzy. From memory, it was from a Garn Studio pattern that was free online. It was a nice quick project made on circular needles so only a tiny seam to sew. In thick wool, it didn't take long to knit up at all.