WIP: granny squares - for a change!

Scroll down for english, please. 

Desde que meti a manta de quadrados que a minha mãe fez, na cama da G. há uns dias atrás, que fiquei com vontade de fazer uma também. Já ando para fazer uma de retalhos, como a minha há muito tempo, mas esse tem sido um projeto sem começo sequer. Voltando à manta de quadrados, em crochet, bem... a ideia andou a rondar durante uns dias, e para me fazer decidir, descobri há pouco um blog espanhol que é uma perdição e que está neste momento a fazer um curso de crochet para quem se quiser iniciar nesta arte que eu não domino. Assisti às lições 1-5 e achei-as básicas. Parece que afinal até percebo qualquer coisa. Há duas noites atrás experimentei brincar com a agulha e um novelo de lã rasca que tinha comprado para o cabelo de uma boneca - como todos os novelos que faziam parte da minha caixa. Afinal, crochet e malha é algo que passo sempre para a minha mãe. No entanto, acabei por fazer uma pesquisa online. Não li nada, olhei apenas para as imagens e achei que conseguia começar qualquer coisa de jeito. Ontem, sai de casa pela manhã com os pequenos e comprei 5 novelos de lã. Pedi conselhos à senhora, a grossura da lã, o nº da agulha que deveria de usar (não comprei porque estava certa que teria uma por casa e acertei, o nº 3 e tudo como a senhora me indicou) e fui-me a elas. Olhando de perto para a colcha da minha mãe, copiei o esquema e lá fui fazendo os primeiros quadrados. Comprei 5 cores e juntei o vermelho que já tinha comprado o ano passado numa tentativa vã de fazer uma boina para mim. Cada quadrado tem 6 voltas, mas ainda quero juntar o branco para fazer uma volta a mais em cada um dos quadrados. Também quero usar o branco para os juntar a todos mas nem vou pensar ainda nisso. Primeiro, vou-me entreter a fazer quadrados e quadrados... depois logo se verá se sou capaz de mais. Hoje mesmo fui comprar o branco e comentei com a senhora que já levava 6 quadrados feitos, ao que me respondeu que já ia bem encaminhada. Depois disso já fiz mais cinco, mas o último (ao qual já acrescentei mais uma volta em branco) não aparece nas fotos. Só sigo dois blogs especialistas nestas coisas, o da Susana e o da Naná. Duas meninas que já tive o prazer de conhecer pessoalmente. Elas têm sido uma inspiração e têm-me dado vontade de aprender mais, apesar de saber que não é o meu forte. As cores dos seus trabalhos deixam-me sempre com um sorriso na cara, principalmente as cores mais fortes, e isso é o que gostava de ver na minha manta. 

Ever since I've put the granny square blanket my mom made, in G.'s bed a few days ago, I've been feeling like I too would like to make one. I've been wanting to make a scrap one for a while, just like mine, but that's something i couldn't even start yet. Back to the granny squares, in crochet, well... the idea has been around for a few days, and to make me make up my mind, I found the greatest spanish blog, which is hosting crochet lessons right now, for begginers, like myself. I watched lessons 1-5 and got the feeling that they were too easy and I actually knew a little about it. Two evenings ago I  played a little with the needle and a cheap wool I had bought to make a doll's hair - just like all the wool in my stash. After all, I always pass crochet and knitting stuff to my mom. Even though, I went searching online for granny squares. I didn't read anything, I just looked at the pictures and thought that maybe I was capable of starting something worth it. Yesterday morning, I went out and bought 5 balls of wool. I asked the old lady from the shop some advices such as the width of the thread, the needle's number (I didn't buy one though since I was sure I'd have one similar and I was right, I had the same number she told me which was n.3) and got to it. Taking a good look at my mom's blanket, I copied the pattern and started with the first squares. I bought 5 colors and used the red I already had, from last year, when I tried in vain to make myself a beret. Each square has 6 rows, but I still want to buy and add a white one to each of them. That's the same color I want to use to put them all together, but I won't think about that yet. first, I'm just going to entertain myself by make square after square.. and then, we'll see if I'll be capable of further. I bought the white today and commented with the old lady that I had six squares done already, which she answered I was on the good path. After that, I have made five more, the last one though (with a white round too) is not on the photos. I only follow two crochet and knitting focused blogs, Susana's and Naná's blogs. Two ladies I have already met in person, by the way. They have been a huge inspiration and have been making me feel like learning more about it, although I know that's not my thingy. The colors of their works always leave a smile on my face, especially those strong, vibrant colors, and that's exactly what I'd like on my own work. 

Got to test a pattern!

I've been wanting to test patterns for a while. And now that I have, I realised I love testing more than I had imagined. It's such a fun way to learn, and the rush of having it done by the deadline is what I really need to keep me busy. Like my V. says, I always work better under pressure... or almost always. 

So, I got to test Mama RaeAnna's latest pattern... The Bumblebee Dress, which you'll have to admit is a.w.e.s.o.m.e. and will be available to purchase soon. I tested "view b" (there is "view a" as well) size 2T and no doubt this was the better fitting sizing-age appropriate pattern I have tried for my little girl. 

On to the dress... since it was a test dress, and I wasn't really sure how I'd work with a test pattern (first time remember?!), I didn't want to use one of my most loved fabrics. Instead I went for pink. I don't usually like pink, actually I usually avoid pink unless I am asked to. I don't even know where on earth my mind was when I bought the heart themed fabric - actually I know, I was a new mommie, my hormones were crazy and the hearts pattern was cute... not to mention I bought a good quantity very cheap. I've been thinking I could dye the rest... Anyway, the problem with this fabric is that it is heavy, and to make it even harder for meI decided to pair it with a fuscia pink that I had left from a knock off dress I was ordered last year, which is very light.

All this plus, little rest and August weather tiredness, made me take a lot longer than expected to do the dress. I kept making mistakes. Believe me, this pattern isn't complicated to follow, the instructions were clear (and they got even better after I had mine), but still I kept making really stupid beginner's mistakes. Of course, I would get so mad at myself to have to unpick and redo a lot of the steps. There are days like this.

On the other hand, this was the perfect excuse for me to sew... I have been much uninspired lately. I did sew a pair of Harem pants for my little niece but pictures must be takin still. 

I didn't change a thing about the pattern as I thought since it is a test, I should follow isntructions as it is. Turns out I can do so much out of this pattern, there are so many variables possible. You can even make it reversible - use front as back and back as front. I'm just pretty sure everyone will love this pattern! I am sure I will make a few more out of this, and will surely try to top stitch the neck ruffle down on my next one. 

Extra: f you want to do a Bumblebee dress with pockets, make sure to visit me later this week... I will have a tutorial for you. 

And by the way, G. loved the feeling of wearing a long dress, she kept dancing all the time. And just because I love it... here's a less thoughtful picture we took of her in it. 

Self Challenge for May

You know how I love a good challenge, don't you? So, when I looked to the pile of clothes I've been acumulating because they just need a little fixing I made my mind: I had to dedicate a whole month to mending those pieces. and I've started already. I will try to share as much as possible of those little fixing into my clothes... Did I mention I just  h a t e  mending?

It's going to be a good challenge for me!

Oh, and by the way... my Flower Fairy Dress was featured at Pam's Threading My Way! Thanks again, Pam!

The Sew Off week 2 < A new Entry... >

NOTE: Heavy post!!!

So, here I am, second week of the The Sew Off competition. And this time around, the theme is Home Decor. When I first read the news that I did make it to the 12 contestants I sort of panic. When I made it to the 9 contestants I really did panic!

What was I suppoused to do now?! 

I was comfortable with the children's look because I was already sewing along Sew-vivor and PR&P. I never thought I could make it to the competition. Although I did audition for The Sew Off, I just thought I wouldn't make it anyway and was going to enjoy a light sew along... but, I made it, and suddenly I realised I would have to do bigger and better than I had previously believed I would. I have to do the best I can, for me and for the judges who picked me! 

So, back to my first idea - I tend to get lost, sorry - I decided it was about time to make my G. a brand new playhouse in which we could hide all her toys that usually makes our floor so messy. I was sure I didn't want to make something just like what I had been seeing around. I wanted to make something special to us, and on a imnsonia night, it clicked me!

As you may, or may not know, we live in Portugal, more precisely in the Algarve, the most southern region of the country. Right above us, there is one of the most beautiful and richers regions, the Alentejo, which I adore. As a tourism student, one of my projects was to write and present on a school trip the entire region of Alentejo, all its typical stuff and so on. Ever since, I still remember every single thing I talked about, and one of the most interesting ones for me is their typical houses. That's how I planned to make my playhouse like...

But my playhouse project died the moment I saw Amy's from Nap Time Crafters. Although I follow her blog for years, only recently I found out her playhouse, and I knew any other I would make would just look tiny and basic compared to hers. I did not give up on the entire idea of the playhouse, I just couldn't make it in one week. So, not done now, but certainly a to do project for the future.

I knew I had made it through another week last Monday, and let me tell you that, back then, I wasn't still pretty sure of what to do. I don't usually sew decorative stuff, or very seldomly I do. The only thing I could think was:

- I will never beat my baby's nursery project! or the mini sofa...

- There's no way I can do better than that... 

- Can I cheat and say I did that now?!

- Perhaps I can make a coordinate something to go with it?!

- Crap, that took me months to get done... and I only have a few days. 

Pfff... I was totally lost and hopeless about this week's theme. Honestly I still am. BUT, I had to get something done. I HAD to try my best, and I had to get whatever it was going to be, done ready.

I thought and thought and thought... and went through some magazines, searching for inspiration. It hit me when I saw a technique ("Catedral de Windsor" - free translation: "Windsor's Cathedral"... please correct me if I am wrong, because I'm not really familiar with it). I saw it in a magazine I had bought a few years ago, and that's from where I addapted my nursery pattern. There it was, I would try that.

I had to open my doorway to take this picture... since I have no angle at all for good pictures/or nice light for photos. 

Again, I have to say I am not a pro with the patchwork and similars, nor do I have specific items to sew it with. As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't even own a rottary cutter... That bad! But, I decided I should expand myself and try something new and different for this challenge. And I did it!!!

My very first try with this technique results are here:

So... I centered my attention in my entry after all. I bought this cube shelf about a year or so ago, and I meant to sew some fabric baskets ever since. Another project I never crossed from the list until now.

Here's how it looked before:

a total mess, I know.

I knew I wanted a place for all the mail we get and also a place for G.'s shoes. Next to the shelf there's a cabinet for our shoes, but it's full... and since she has so many little shoes, it would be nice to have a place on the entry to store them too.

there's a on work patchwork piece here too, but just because I didn't want it to look so empty!

My first idea for this project was to make four baskets and two pillow covers, but I ended up with only half of the first idea. I knew I wouldn't make it all in time. And when having to choose from 6 badly finished pieces and 3 well finished pieces, I went with the second choice.

I picked my project colours after the ones used on the picture that's hanging on the entry's wall. And always trying to adjust it to my already existing stash. I am pleased with what I got.

For the baskets I used diaper card boxes, covered in white paper sheets because the fabric from which I sewed the baskets was linen and would show the image below. In the front of each basket I added the words MAIL for one, and SHOES for the other with the same yellow I used on the pillow cover. I interface the letters, which were cut on free hand; and, I sewed them to the linen with a straight stitch carefully.

For the lining, I used a very sentimental fabric for me. It's white with little yellow/brownish polka dots. It used to be a sheet from when I was a child. I still remember when my mom bought it together with another one full of little pink hearts. One for me, one for my sister.

If you need to make your own baskets, again Amy's got a great tutorial on her blog. That's not how I made mine, but it's a good one if you need it.

For the pillow cover, I used 5 different fabrics and tried my best to coordinate!!! Again, remember it was my first attempt at this new technique and after I sew all the squares together I only had to unpick 3 of them when it was time to press seams and I realised 3 weren't even sewn together... arghhh... I hate unpicking, but it was a necessary mean.

back 

And this is it. Sorry that this was such a long post.

Now again... if you liked what you've seen, go HERE and vote for me!!!

My thoughts on Placket Pockets tonight

Don't you just hate when something doesn't come out the way you want to? I do! And I'm not going to make any mistakes today. It's gonna be perfect!

I've been practising doing placket pockets here. I need to make a couple for the project I am working at the moment. I don't do one for years, plus I haven't done more than 3 in my entire life, and I was going to make the first one on the final piece, but then found myself scared of messing up the whole thing, since a few of my latest projets didn't go as well as hoped... (here)

Good thing there is a lot of great tutorials out there just to remind us how to do things the right way. Though it's not quite as I used to make them, I'm going to try to follow this tutorial now. I've also been reading a Burda book I got, but again, why do I find Burda's indications so hard to follow? I usually get even more confused after I read them. =/ and I'm glad to know I am not the only one thinking so.

So, off I go to try to get a perfect placket pocket. ;D