WIP: Granny Squares

Scroll down for english, please!

Fazer quadrados tornou-se viciante. Basta começar para não conseguir parar. E isto de ter passado uma semana em casa da minha mãe, traduziu-se num grande aumento de quadrados para a minha manta. Estou longe de ter todos os que necessito, mas já tenho suficientes para se ver qualquer coisa. E o novo vicio ainda nos valeu umas risadas, quando me deu para ensinar a minha sobrinha(8) e o meu sobrinho(9) a fazer crochet. Só aprenderam a fazer a corrente, e ele tem muito mais jeito do que ela, fizeram uma corrente enorme, e mais outra e outra que ataram juntas formando uma única e que depois atámos numa palmeira pequenina na rua da minha mãe, mas uma das vizinhas, cortou-a toda assim que saiu à rua, alegou que pensava que era bruxedo, vejam só! Os miúdos ficaram super desiludidos! Voltando ao meu trabalho, estou a gostar, até ao dia que voltei (na terça), tinha 35 quadrados feitos e alguns deles já estavam unidos. Entretanto fiz poucos, uns 4, e passei mais tempo a unir mais quadrados, tenho 20 unidos. 

Making granny squares has became an addiction. I just have to start them and then I can't stop. And the fact that I spent a week at my mom's, has translated into an increase in squares made. I am far from having all the ones I need, but I already have quite a few. And the new addiction has given us a few laughs too, as I taught crochet to my niece (8) and my nephew (9). They have only learnt how to do the chain, he's better at it then she is, and they did a huge one, then another, and another and then tied them all together, and tied it around a small palm tree in my mom's street, although one of the neightbors cut it off as soon as she stepped out her door. She said she thought it was witchcraft, WTF?! The kids were super disappointed. Back to my own work, I am enjoying it, until the day I came back (tuesday) I had 35 squares finished and some of them were put together already. Since then I only made a couple, about 4, and spent some time putting a few more together, I have 20 together right now. 

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. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 5|

After posting yesterday (late, very late at night) I decided it was a good thing to take clothes out of the closet where I keep my to be refashioned clothes to search for the perfect thing to use as a new Phresh Blazer. It took me a while and I have made a huge mess out of my sewing space, but at least I found it. It was a suit so I had plenty of fabric for the whole thing, it had sleeves, it was just slightly stretch and a very good quality fabric. I worked more than one hour on this today, but I can't precise how long exactly because I did it in parts. I know I cut the pattern pieces from one single part of the suit so I spent a little trying to figure out how to best cut it, then after lunch I had the back of the blazer ready and by noon, all that there's left to do is attaching second sleeve and add bias to the hems. Tomorrow, my daughter's friend will have a brand new blazer done. *big smile on my face* I didn't even touch the Mara blouse today, I was too excited about the blazer to be honest. 

Kids Clothes Week |day 4|

There's just one thought in my mind right now. It is exausting trying to sew along with KCW, plus all the rest going on in one's life. I didn't get to sew anything today. I did use my one hour for the matter, but it wasn't actually sewing. I changed my sewing plans for the week. My daugher's best friend (first one!) is having her 4th birthday these days, and that's an awesome excuse to sew another Phresh Blazer. I spent a long, long time trying to figure out how to display the pattern pieces in the fabric just to find out that I am not one to make miracles and no matter how many turns I'd give it, that blazer just wouldn't fit in the piece of fabric that I wanted to use. I then searched through my refashion piles and I got frustrated because the way I last organized them isn't that good after all, it is hard to reach a lot of the pieces and they are not all easy to see either. That's important when you are looking for something very specific. I don't want to use a light fabric, I want something that's rather stiff, with a little amount of stretch, with sleeves... and on it goes... it's not being easy so far. 

Before that, I was able to cut a Mara Blouse. Unfortunately the skirt wasn't enough for the sleeves and I will have to sew them in a different colour. I am crossing my fingers that I will like it after all. 

WIP: maternity

I thought I wouldn't be sewing anymore for myself. Not until after I gave birth to mister S. but here I am currently finishing another garment for mommy. And this is a very handy one... any guesses? I just need to buy some little supplies to have it ready. I think I'll be able to finish this today! Yey! I'm excited!

Backstage working...

It is extremely hard for me to finish projects ahead and then have to wait so long to share them. I am the kind of seamstress that enjoys sharing whatever I create right away. But sometimes we compromise to other people, and sharing what's been made has to wait.

So, that said, let me tell you I've been like a busy bee, not only sewing, but sorting patterns, searching for inspiration... There are a few great things coming... have you heard?! Here are a few I can share for now... 

The 9th season of Project Run and Play is now starting with the introduction of the designers. The first link party will be open March 24th. Challenge Create starts March 31st, an adult sewing edition, organized by the ladies from Skirt Fixation. 

Themes for Project Run & Play (click link to read more on blog):

- Take me to the Zoo

- Spring Break 

- Design your own fabric

- Signature style

Themes for Challenge Create (click link to read more on blog):

- Inspired by Nature

- Refashion

- (a hint of) Vintage

- Destashing

Also, Kids Clothes Week is coming back (April 7th - 13th) with something new. It is a themed edition... Mini Me... And this time I am planning to do things right. I have signed in the site already, I am trying to pick my patterns already, and decide what I want to get done through that week. I hope I'll be able to share my creations on time too. I am planning to exclusively sew for the baby during KCW, and am trying to keep the list short, though it's hard. I get all excited and want to do it all, but I know that if I put high expectations into it, I might end up dissapointed, so let's do the best not to.

What about you? Will you be sewing along any of these too?

WIP: Duvet Cover

Back in July 2013, I realised I didn't have a single duvet cover that would be big enough for my bed. We changed our regular bed for a bigger one and suddenly nothing would fit. So, I thought about making one myself. A patchworked one. I searched for inspiration and I finally decided what I'd like. I still don't own a rotary cutter or a mat, so all my cutting is made by tracing and using a scissors. Extra work, yes! But it has been worth it! I started it not long after I thought about making it, but of course, there are times (weeks and even months) when I won't even touch a single scrap from it.

I haven't blogged about it either. I did show you a bit of it when I did a round up of my 2013 creations (here) but it has only been through facebook that I shared a few photos from it every now and then. I've been so excited about it these last few days that I want to share my work in progress with you all and share details for the ones interested! 

Here's the pattern I made to organize myself. It will have 1025 scraps sewn together when finished, and it's made out of 72 patched blocks. Gorgeous! It's been a great way to bust my stash and it has always been great to sew, because everytime I attach a new scrap piece, it reminds me of any other projects I have done using that same fabric. I tried to count how many different fabrics I've used so far, but I got lost so I will try to do it again once it's done. 

And here are the photos I've been sharing along through facebook, just in case you missed them. They are taken since the first scraps until around the last time I touched it a couple of months ago. 

I still remember how happy I felt after sewing together the first row of blocks... then looking at it and thinking... Crap, there are another 7 of these to make!

please excuse my dirty iron board, but I have two cats that don't help at all

Just a few days ago, I started working on it again. I started writing this post a week ago, and then I had

- 3 entire rows (of 9 bloks) sewn together 

- one row (of 9 blocks) sewn together waiting to be attached to the other 3

- 9 other squares pinned to the yellow stripes to be sewn together and make a fifth row

- 16 other squares finished and 

- 4 squares half way done

Today, I have:

- 6 entire rows of 9 blocks finished and put together (see photo below)

- all my blocks finished

- 7 blocks have the yellow tripe sewn together, so there's nearly another row of blocks ready to be put together. 

When looking at it like that I don't think there's much left to do. I'm way over half the work and it feels really good. I can't actually wait to see it finished. I thought I'd really have to hurry to get it done before baby two is due (in July), but I am very positive about it now. I need this for summer and I know that if I kept postponing this, I wouldn't ever finish before this baby arrives... and after that, who knows when I would I be able to finish, right? 

Here's some of the latest shoots. I like some blocks better than others, but I don't really follow an order to sew the little scraps together, so that had to happen of course. I surely have spent quite a while contemplanting it already. It already fits a regular couple's bed, and it's just beautiful to see. 

My daughter has been asking me to make one for her bed too. Maybe as her 3rd birthday present?! Who knows? Since she's going to share her room with the baby, I might wait until I know the gender and perhaps I'll be able to do something coordinate for both. 

Just thoughts

What a great group of ladies so far, don't you think? I've been enjoying this Refashion Month so much, and I hope all of you too. It's just 15 minutes past midnight as I start writing this. I just feel like writing something. I've been refashioning a little behind the scenes, not much, since my full energy isn't back yet and also, I got a pretty cold. So, today I still don't have anything from me to show you, be sure to come back tomorrow and I will. 

I'm happy though, Project Run & Play is around to corner to start (this monday!!) and I was able to sew something for the sew along. I had planned 3 pieces, but, really? What was I thinking? I can barely stand for half an hour, how could I be able to sew three pieces? Especially when I've been using my little moments of energy and good mood to test a pattern... 

Yeah, I tested the Small Fry Skinny Jeans for Laura at Titchy Threads, I only have very good things to say about Laura's patterns. It is available now, so if you're planning to buy it, just click the pattern's link above. I had sewn the free 2T Small Fry Skinny jeans before and totally loved but this time I was assigned a slightly different version and again, I loved making it. It is a little time consuming but so worth it. I am planning to share the test piece soon, for the 3rd week sew along of PR&P, so just wait a few days to see it. 

I've also refashioned 2 onesies for G. which I will share later, there's more to go in the same way, I refashioned a cardigan (yes, you'll have to wait for this one too) and most recently - I just finished so I am all excited about it! - I've turned a pair or red velvet pants into something adorable to my daughter. Tomorrow we're taking some photos so I can show it to all of you. 

So this morning I was feeling sad, I felt like, though I am hosting a refashioning series, I had nothing to share myself. But see, everytime I host the series, I make a self challenge of achieving at least 4 pieces refashioned. If you followed what I just wrote above, I am counting 5 pieces already (the test piece was refashioned too), and it's not half month gone yet... so, why was I frustrated about? I haven't blogged about it, that's for sure, but I will soon, and I'm over what I expected from me, so I should be happy, right? Come back tomorrow and check my latest love piece. 

There's a lot of sewing for this week and the next ones, so a lot to show and share will be at its time too. 

WIP: sneak peeks!

I know it's been quite silent around here. I've been busy... pretty busy. This is my daughter's birthday month. And even though it's only by the end of the month, I love to get started pretty soon. Last year I started planning it 6 months ahead. No kidding! But I figured I should save that anxiety problem this year. Project Run and Play and all the other challenges have kept me quite busy so far, to think about that. But it's getting closer, and I have to put my hands on it soon. 

I hurried to get the invitations done by the end of May, so I could focus on all the rest and have an idea of how many guests we were having... 

BUT, June is a busy month for me... not only I have my daughter's birthday, I also got an order from a friend for her kid's party too. She ordered 26 drawstring bags (20x30cm). 13 Minnie like and 13 Mickey like. I am finishing it already (thanks god, I can't stand that many bags anymore! hehe), but I still have to sew 13 ribbons for the Minnie like ones. 

Before this order, I had started doing my kids clothes for her own birthday. A couple of months ago I discovered Marta's blog (DoGuincho), exactly by the time she posted about these pleats. Ever since I wanted to try it myself. By looking at her pictures I didn't think it was hard so it was always on my mind for a future project. And I was really happy when Marta wrote her own tutorial for them, it really made my life easier, so Obrigado (thank you!) Marta!!!

When I thought of what to do for G.'s second birtday, I first thought of a dress, but then I went back... wait... ANOTHER dress added to her already growing-up-fast-list of dresses? No way! I had to donate a few fitting ones because they were just too much, how would I make another one?!

I decided I would do something different this time, but since I know that at least one of my readers will be at the party, I won't show or tell you what my idea was. Not yet, you'll have to wait until after the party!

The only thing I can tell you is that I am finally doing the pleats! And boy... they are time consuming. I think I might have spent about 3 to 4 hours on them already ( I can't tell since I didn't do them all straight), and I still have about the same amount to do... 

sorry for the blurry picture!

And there's more... yesterday I got invited to a Christening of my cousin's kids with two weeks ahead the event. I won't be sewing anything for baby G. but I'd like to sew myself a skirt, and I'd like to sew something as a gift for my little cousin B. She's almost 3 years old but she's wearing basicly the same as my daughter, so size should be an easy issue - I guess. 

Not all yet... on the 17th there's our little niece's first birthday too. And I'd love to sew something for her too... just not even sure what that'll be yet! Any ideas?!

And last... I have to get started on my own project(s) for July's Refashion Month... are you with us?

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!

KCW day 8 and still working...

Just like I said I would, I've worked on my WIP Kid's Clothes Week, but I couldn't blog about it, since I left to Spain. I arrived yesterday almost at midnight, so no sewing or blogging, I just went straight to bed. 

So, the reason why I am still talking about day 6 is clear now. 

I managed to put a few pieces together, cut the remaining pieces, chose my buttons (although I have changed my mind already). 

Today's the 8th and last day of the KCW, and I've been working on my piece again. There's not much left to do, since I was able to bassicaly finish the back of the dress, and I am just three stitches away from finishing the front. Then I have to put them together, add button holes and buttons, and add a fabric band... where? You'll be able to find out when I'm done. 

I just wanted to show you all this because I will try to finish it later today, but I am not sure if I will be able to, so you can see what I've done so far. 

Baby G. is napping and I don't want to wake her up with the sewing machine's noise. I can use my machine in the evening when she's sleeping, it doesn't bother her, but apparently it does when she naps. She allows me to sew a little when she's up too, so that's great. What about you, sewing mammas? When do you find the time to sew when your little ones are around?!

KCW. Day 6 and the forgotten romper dress

I said I was done when I finished the only thing I did for the Kids Clothes Week. And I really thought I was , but it seems I just couldn't let it pass like that, when a thought came across my mind. All the way back to January, I started a new romper dress for my daughter, but then I went for the PR&P challenges, then there was Sew in Tune, the Pinterest Challenge, Sew-vivor, The Sew Off, Peques de Cine and April is ending and the romper dress was nowhere to be seen anymore. After I found it, I couldn't find the rest of the fabric - apparently I kept them separated! I spent 1h over midnight searching for it yesterday, because I really wanted to give it another try before the KCW was over. 

I'll try to do it today. Since January the only thing I did was sewing the pockets about two days ago. But later today I'll be off to spend the weekend over my parents.