March 2nd, 2010
After a disastrous attempt at making my own bag pattern yesterday, I bought Cath Kidston’s book Sew! today. Mostly because it came with the loveliest material and pattern for a shoulder bag. I found the instructions a bit hard going, and so went slightly wrong – I also gave up on including a button loop because the pesky thing would just not turn the right way out after hemming.
I sewed the buttons on by hand as either I’m missing something, or my machine won’t sew thick buttons onto thick fabric. I physically can’t fit both the button and fabric between the darning plate and foot.
Anyway: Cath Kidston shoulder bag! Smaller than I was expecting, and I need to find a way of securing the top. But quite pleased with it as a second attempt.
Posted in Sewing | 1 Comment »
February 26th, 2010
Well, I made my first bag today. I’m not quite sure what to make of it: if I thought I made a few mistakes with the cushion, I made even more with this bag. There are definitely a few things I need to purchase, and I should really learn that I can’t estimate with sizes and spacing. I need to USE the tape measure, that’s what it’s there for!
Excuse the horrendous background – a very battered studio wall and desk: I am tempted to get a lightbox when I actually start selling things. They’re not too expensive on Amazon now.
Also, my first green bracelet! Again uses metal and miracle beads – it’s very similar to the pink one I made previously. Made of elastic also.
Posted in Beading, Sewing | 2 Comments »
February 23rd, 2010
I’ve spent the past two evenings making a blue and purple chain bracelet:
It looks more blue and brown than blue and purple in this picture but it is actually all dark purple and blue beads. There’s a mixture of acrylic and glass beads, and a scattering of glass leaves. Definitely my favourite piece so far.
I also finally finished up that cushion in the previous post (it was being held together with a safety pin at the back). I have discovered that my sewing machine does buttonholes nicely but I hate sewing buttons with a passion. I’ve broken 2 buttons already – suspect I am putting too many stitches? – and they just look messy. Comes with practice I suppose. I think I also have some leftover black thread in the bobbin area as both with the cushion and the button hole there have been strands of black thread mixed in with the white. Doesn’t look so good. 
I think cross-stitch will be next on the agenda tomorrow evening!
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February 18th, 2010
I’ve spent the past week organising my craft things into somewhat of a system. I’m hoping to sell the stuff I make once I’m a bit better at it, so have started keeping track of my crafty outgoings. I’ve also joined up to a few craft forums, and seeing the things that people make on there has inspired me to branch out a bit from just cross-stitching and beadmaking. My sewing machine got its first proper run today – I made a cushion! Very basic, the pattern was easy – it was the measurements and the ensuring everything lined up that was a bit fiddly.
It’s not secured at the back with anything apart from a safety pin at the moment, as I either need to get a zip or some buttons. But I’m quite pleased with it for a first attempt! Fabric is plain white cotton and Amy Butler Midwest Modern 2 Mustard.
I’ve got some other Amy Butler fabric to use, as well as some scraps of what I think must be curtain from years ago, so I sense there are going to be a lot more cushions to come. I’m tempted to make a bag but think that might be a bit ambitious at this point…
At least I can finally thread my sewing machine without getting out the manual! 
Posted in Sewing | 1 Comment »
January 4th, 2010
Just a quick post as it’s freezing cold here and my fingers are quite numb! Back in the Midlands now, after a 4 hour drive yesterday and a further 4 hours unpacking and tidying(!). Today my bank account took quite a hit: I had to buy a blanket for the bed as it is so unbelievably cold at night; of course the usual post-holiday filling up of the food cupboards and a rather expensive sewing machine! I didn’t realise how expensive they were – in the region of hundreds of pounds?! I ended up going for a Brother one from Argos for £70, more than I was really willing to spend but the last thing I wanted was to get a rubbish one that didn’t sew properly. So the patchwork quilt can commence just as soon as my ordered fabrics arrive – they were dispatched last week so hopefully won’t be too long!
In the meantime…
A birthday (Dad’s to be specific, hence the car! It’s quite hard to stitch something for a guy…) and two of many Christmas cards made last year… there are far too many to put all into one post (plus, I get lazy) so will add some more in my next post. The other picture is an Art Nouveau lady I stitched for my sister’s new flat as a Christmas present. My first big piece – and I am quite pleased with it! My parents have now put an order in for next Christmas… 
Tags: birthday, christmas, cross-stitch
Posted in Chatter, Crafts, Cross-Stitch | 1 Comment »
January 2nd, 2010
Apparently, I am not very good at personal blogging. At all – as evident from my LiveJournal, where I made a grand total of 8 posts in 2009. That’s not even one a month. So I don’t know what made me think I would be any better blogging on an external site where I would actually have to also maintain said blog.
So, since I have been such a busy-bee crafting for most of 2009, I thought it might be a good idea to share some of the things I’ve made online. I quite like the idea of posting work-in-progresses (WIPs) so that is what I shall be doing from now on. I think this might call for a domain name change though. Cathy’s Crafts or something like that. Original, huh? 
Ideas would be greatly appreciated!
So, a little info – I did my first cross-stitch when I was about 7. I am not going to show that on here! I started cross-stitching again when I moved in with my boyfriend in summer of 2008, mostly combining cross-stitch with making cards, and completing my first large piece in 2009 as a Christmas present for my sister. Pictures of all these will be shown when I’m back home and on my own computer. I also started beading in the last few months of 2009 – so still very much a complete beginner in that craft!
And this year my new year’s resolution is to create a patchwork quilt, something I have been wanting to do for some time. I did attempt it a few years ago, but with a 20 year old sewing machine it didn’t particularly work well. I’m doing it properly this time around though – one of my first purchases when I get back home will be my very own sewing machine.
And on that note, I have a few photos on this PC of crafts I made in 2009:
The first is a charm bracelet I made for a friend’s 21st birthday. Charms on it are: dog, flower, dragonfly, “Love”, “Faith”, “Hope”, “Joy” and a little “Made with love” tag by the clasp. The second is the Christmas card I made for my boyfriend – quite a rushed jobby on Christmas Eve!
Tags: beading, christmas, cross-stitch
Posted in Beading, Chatter, Crafts, Cross-Stitch | No Comments »
