Monday, August 8, 2011

A grand day in.... Actually, three of them.

The combination of cold, grey Melbourne skies and my feeling quite poorly made for a perfect weekend of cosy, crafty indoor activity.


On Friday I made a wavy (knitting-machine-short-row-practise) scarf using two balls of the lovely Tencel yarn I bought at the quilt show. All manner of dodgey-ness (in technique and finish) prevent me from giving it as the gift it was intended to be, so it's MINE...and it's sooooo lovely and soft to wear... and drapes beautifully. But dodgey... yes, too dodgey to give away.


Saturday was a sewing day with the wee one. We cracked into the Saffron Craig cat panels that I brought back from the Sydney show. The wee girl is cat-obsessed and likes sewing so it was a no-brainer project choice. Little snippy embroidery scissors gave her the control she needed to snip confidently around the seam allowances, and were a huge hit. (I only wish she'd listen to my advice about holding onto the main fabric and snipping off the little scraps, instead of the other way around. I guess she's only going to learn when she cuts herself. She's that kind of kid....)

She changed the name from the "Tom-Puss" printed on the panel (and we therefore had to make a new name-tag). I believe she also gave it a sex-change... "Kitford is a girl, actually...."


The other panel-cat is "Catford". (Catford is a girl too, I think).

The fancy-schmantzy sewing machine was set to super-low-speed and she sewed curves and corners - first with lots of help but needing less as the day progressed.

I drew lines to show her where to clip the seam allowances, and she managed without accident or incident. We used pinking shears too.

After a bit of stuffing and slip-stitching, Kitford and Catford were ready for bed..... ..with all the other friends. (Note: "Starrie" from the girl's last sewing lesson and "Snailie", a gift from the gorgeous Annie).
Then she decided to design and make her own cat and bird.
On Sunday we ventured out to the backyard for a photoshoot of the newly finished knitted dress (started on the train to Sydney). It was too cold to go out without a few more layers...the Beebop cardi I made last year, a crochet hat...

...and a hideous acrylic Collingwood (football team) scarf that the wee girl and I knitted on the machine a few weeks ago.
The dress was a bit of a make-it-up-as-I-go-along thing, based on a few of the techniques I've picked up from making other simple patterns. It worked really well and I've no idea how to repeat it.
I spent the better part of Sunday with the knitting machine. The wee girl made another softie cat, pretty much on her own. By the time she finished it, I was too busy trying to undo a major bungle on the knitting machine to take a photo....
But you've probably seen enough photos of the weekend in this post, non?

14 comments:

A Peppermint Penguin said...

Glad to see you both enjoying your craft!

Fiona said...

Love those cats .. and that the wee girl can do so much at her age!!

Buy Design said...

Looks like a lovely weekend and so nice that your wee girl likes to copy her mum and sew things. Mine are, and always have been, rubbish at sticking with any craftiness for long enough to finish anything.
My comment moderation word is 'talicat' which seems like a good name for the next cat she makes. I love it when word verification is kindof a real word.
Fiona x

CurlyPops said...

Sounds like the perfect weekend!
What is it with all these wee little ones who have been brainwashed into barracking for Collingwood by their daddies?

Lynne said...

What a lovely weekend! The perfect antidote for feeling poorly!

I love sewing with my DD too; she's 25!

thornberry said...

It all sounds and looks wonderful! I adore that knitted dress; it's almost enough to make me crack out the pointy sticks. You are uber talented Ms Nikki!

Lindi said...

I love her cat! She's another designer in the making. :) Oh, and your finishes are lovely, too. lol

Gay McDonell said...

Those cats are great - and her own designs are awesome!!! That knitted dress is lovely too. You two shall now be known as the Dynamic Duo of the Craft world!

bec said...

Cute kitties! And the names are great, too. My little one also sat down at the machine- no interest in handsewing, but is off on the machine, 3 projects in one day! And wanting more! Will hopefully post about them tonight. Great knitting!

Tas said...

I am always amazed at the wee one's talent. If she doesn't grow up as talented as her ma, I will be shocked.

(I don't follow footy but on principle I don't like Collingwood so I wont comment on the scarf lol)
Cute cardi though.

Cass said...

Everything looks great except that Collingwood scarf!

Fer said...

Oh so precious. I notice that the wee girl's hair has been de-felted as well!

Karen said...

Sounds like a lovely weekend in Nikki - and what I'd like to be doing today in this rainy cold weather!
Your wee girl is quite a whizz on the machine - you better watch out - it might soon be Nicole Mallalieu and daughter on your letterhead.

Saffron Craig fabrics said...

That is just too cute. Thanks Nikki.