sewing

Why I Love Sewing

4 min read

Back in 2012 – the year The Hobbit was finally in theatres, and everyone joked that the world would end – I realised I hadn’t made anything for over a year. That’s how this blog started.

Like an echo, 2015 ended a lot like 2012 did for me. It hadn’t been a yearlong break from making, but at this point even a two month break feels like an eternity. Two months of daily progress on something adds up – and you never get that time back. After weeks of intense making all summer and autumn long, my DIY flame burned out. Kaput.

Confession? When I haven’t been in bed at 8PM, I’ve been a film junkie instead. All those years of turning my nose up at unproductive sofa potatoes has come back to haunt me! And yet, the cliche of the brain working when you’re not actively being creative is true. After a winter funk, I’m bursting with ideas.

6 min read

In collaboration with Fiskars

Organising stationery is a guilty pleasure of mine.

I use a lot of A6 notepads and notebooks. It’s the perfect size for a day’s to-do list or a project sketch. I even like lugging one around in my handbag, which isn’t very notepad friendly. A DIY cover was overdue. This felt sleeve was my solution to bring stationery on the go.

And, to be honest, it just looks nice on my desk too! This tutorial can be used to make a felt sleeve of any size. If you’re not as obsessed with notebooks as I am you can make a gadget cover.

6 min read

Find-the-pin-with-your-toe isn’t a very fun game.

Trust me, I speak from experience. When I started crafting in earnest, I knew I needed a good way to store my pins. A little tomato with a flimsy thread loop wasn’t going to cut it. This pincushion was my first crochet design—not that I invented granny circles or anything. Instead of anything as ambitious as a blanket, my first crochet project became this pincushion. Circle, circle, insert, and done.

Ultimately less effort, and just as practical. Have no need for a pincushion? Fill it up with lavender for scent or rice to make a weight.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you’ll recognise this project. Two-and-a-half years after writing the original pincushion tutorial, I thought it deserved an update. I would hope I’ve gotten a bit better at explaining crochet through experience.

There’s a free PDF version to keep on the go, too. Let’s get making!

4 min read

When I was a kid I totally and 100% believed in astrology.

That might not be true now, but that love has been transferred to astronomy instead. I love watching the stars and hearing about the latest discoveries in space.

I’ll be honest; this project was supposed to get finished weeks ago. My three weeks away in Finland were so hectic I didn’t even get the chance to watch the Perseid shower, let alone make coasters in honour of it. C’est la vie.

Here’s a star-loving project for my fellow astronomy lovers. Fabric is courtesy of Zazzle.

4 min read

I made this project catching up on TV last night. Summer means it’s usually too sticky during the day to even think of crafting.

Sunny days in our house involve a constant supply of ice cold pop and an ever-growing stack of outdoorsy magazines. I love how bright and long the days are in summer. It’s my favourite time to make new decorations and try different arrangements in the house.

When Zazzle offered to send me a sample of their new custom fabric range, choosing a design was the hardest part. There are almost 150,000 patterns available. (If you love design, you can even make your own patterns too.)

Since we’re all about the outdoors this season, here’s a quick make inspired by my husband’s fishing habit. Bring the sunshine in!

4 min read

When I had dinner plans the other week I realised—the day before—that I didn’t have a suitable bag.

When you’re spending the night somewhere, an overnight bag isn’t exactly practical or stylish at a restaurant table.

Instead of rushing to the shop I decided to make my own clutch. Ultimately, it was a much more satisfying choice—this way my bag was one of a kind. My latest craft obsession is combining sewing and crochet. I love how fabric and yarn complement each other.

If you need a last minute clutch too, here’s how to make your own:

sewing

Why I Love Sewing

DIY Woodland Notepad Cover

Organising stationery is a guilty pleasure of mine.

DIY crochet pincushion

Find-the-pin-with-your-toe isn’t a very fun game.

DIY Constellation Coasters

When I was a kid I totally and 100% believed in astrology.

DIY hanging fish decor

I made this project catching up on TV last night. Summer means it’s usually too sticky during the day to even think of crafting.

DIY Clutch with Crochet Band

When I had dinner plans the other week I realised—the day before—that I didn’t have a suitable bag.