Hopefully the first of many

So in my re-found love for sewing I decided to to make myself a skirt... one of the (hopefully) easier pieces of clothing to attempts first =) 

  I chose this 2286 Learn-to-sew pattern by simplicity as even though I have made a dress before it was 6+ years ago when I was doing a fashion and textiles course at college. Where we had guidance through out the whole process and I haven't made anygthing since. I also liked that it had pockets =)

Also instead of doing A or B I combined them so that my skirt had pockets and the ribbon trim around the bottom, mainly as my fabric was quite patterned so I figured it would break up the pattern more =) -reducing the girly-flowery-ness of it (a bit).

 Closer picture of the pockets and little bow on the bottom.

Over all this was fairly simple to make, although the measurements told me to make a size 12, and it turned out far too big as I thought it would do, either I did smaller seam allowances then I should have or the fact I had to tighten the elastic allot was meant to happen. 

Might try one of the double layered ones next time .... or one of the other 3 patterns I have to try. 

Button tree cushion

So finished all my work for my deadline today last night, and figured I would complete one of those many planned but never happened projects - Button tree!!!! (cushion).

I've had the idea for this for a very long time now - the initial inspiration for this came from this button tree card -

http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/craft-idea/button-tree-card/IDEA01749 

which there is a picture of above our button fixture at work. 

I had also decided a while ago i wanted to do something with the spotty fabric as I love the colour so much =D 

So wala button tree cushion idea was born =) I also decided to sew on a my buttons for extra security - and here it is:

I looked around for basic tree outlines and then altered one I liked the shape of so that the branches weren't so wispy. 

For the cushion cover I used this video as a guide 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhZnHhbcN-Q

Although I gave my self a much larger seam allowance and also a larger over lap at the back.  I've used this before and found that the cushion has open apart at the back with the smaller over lap showing the filling. Might even add more buttons to the back to prevent this....

Instructable for this can be found here :  http://www.instructables.com/id/Button-tree-cushion/

Knitted hand warmers complete at last =)

So I found this instructable a while before x-mas and planned to make some for friends =) ...... it didn't happen instead I finally competed a pair by February and now I'm keeping them. 

http://www.instructables.com/id/Knitted-Fingerless-Gloves/

 I used what I think are 2.25mm double ended needless... (guessing from the previous projects I've used them four as I have no idea) And Regia 4 ply mosaik sock yarn in Istanbul colour. I had this wool in my stash, and had no idea how it would turn out when knitted but i actually really like the finished mish-mash of colour pattern =) hence why I'm keeping them. I still have another ball of this left and probably about a 3rd of the one i used... so could get about 3 pairs out of two balls if you felt like it ....

Planning to wear them over my touch screen gloves for extra toasty-ness =) bring on the snow!!!!!