Glastonbury top

I have been sewing like a woman possessed lately. I don't really know why, perhaps the seasonality of certain crafts (wool based = winter, sewing = summer). Whatever the reason: if there is sewing funk I have been giving it up. 

I made this top with my upcoming trip to Glastonbury (whoop whoop, first time after an eight year hiatus) in mind. I chose the fabric because it was full of things you might find there. I had a search around for simple sleeveless patterns and found this one bought from an Etsy seller:

Let's hope it's not buried under a cagoule the whole time. Please.

I also made two of these simple blouses for work.

The little patch of Liberty fabric is quite dear to me as it is the same as a dress and bloomers my Granny made me when I was tiny.

I made the second one a bit longer, more a tunic length to go over skinny jeans. 

You basically cut out the front and the back, and sew them together. Add some bias binding and that's it. I decided to add the asymmetric panel because I felt that's what David Bowie would do if he made blouses for his job as an art teacher. And I try to think of what David Bowie would do every day.

More to come, but for now I'm off, off to where the ley lines meet, the kids will be at my mum's... if you see me say hello!

You Can Call Me Owl

I finished the cable owl tank top. Cabled owls and no pattern. This was boldly going to new frontiers in crochet for me. And I don't even watch Star Trek. I put the link to the tutorial I found helpful to make the crochet owls in my last post. 

Structurally speaking, a tank top is pretty simple. So when I couldn't find what I wanted, I decided to just go for it on my own. I looked at the pictures of this pattern for a bit of guidance on shaping. A train journey to Nottingham and some ribbing along the bottom and it was finished.

This experience has reinforced my belief in the tank top as a superior garment. What else keeps your vital organs warm, your hands free, and allows you to wear three owls on your chest, all whilst looking badass?? Nothing, that's what.

Owl odyssey

I fell down some rabbit holes recently looking at crochet owls on Pinterest. Who knew there were so many ways to crochet an owl? Not me. 

In the end I chose this one. Meant to be an iPhone cover but now my older daughter uses it as her, umm, make up bag. 

Then, I had a go at this one and I loved it, it's basically a granny square. Before I knew it I had finished a couple. Another surprise: it turns out owls are pretty quick to do. 

But the biggest achievement for me has been getting the hang of crocheting an owl in cable. There a lot of tutorials around for this, but they all defeated me. I finally found one that was (almost) easy to follow here. It took a practice run but I got it. I was too impatient to watch the video, just followed the pattern for the owl.

I am making a little tank top for them to roost on (do owls roost?) nicely dovetailing my belief in the tank top as the ultimate garment with my new skills.

Sensible cords

I made these cords for my little fella Nat. Deep red with an elasticated waist and leg cuffs, I bet they feel amazing. 

Sometimes I think one year olds have all the fun. All this and you get to eat cat food when no one's looking. Stairs are unbelievably exciting. Naps in the day. Drop your bunny and someone adoring will pick it up.

Nice and roomy for his big old nappy clad bum.

I got the pattern from the wonderful Minikrea brand that I wrote about here. I did the simple view and appliqued on some kneepads because this kid's knees are seeing some heavy work at the moment.

This were so painless to make that I am going to do more. Next up in this cotton lawn for the summer. 

 After that, perhaps in denim and then a mustard corduroy for the autumn. To be teamed with a smoking jacket and cane. Boy's fashion: it's a lot more fun than I thought it would be.

Barcelona

I took Mr Year to Barcelona. It was a surprise present for a significant birthday. 

Delicious churros, an incredible final score, and a great flea market. I sadly did not come home with the tiny furniture or the pink typewriter but the much more baggage allowance-friendly box of colouring pencils.

Spanish names for colours are very beautiful. Amarillo cromo. 

I am going to keep little hands away from these.

May the Force Be With You

Hi. I am still alive and making things. 

Here are two and they both feature Yoda. I feel like Yoda has been a counterpoint to my life, and I'm sure to yours too. My cousin had a little toy hand puppet Yoda and he liked to chew his ears as he fell asleep. He's a professor now.

Also belonging to my cousin was a black guinea pig called Yoda. My brother did (and still does) very good Yoda impressions. None of this is surprising from these children of the 70s and 80s, but now I see Yoda love in the next generation. I think this is all A Good Thing.

I have a 12 year old nephew and am never sure about crafting for him. Is it any way cool? I know I think so, but not sure how he feels. So, I ploughed on regardless and made him this Yoda iPhone cover. 

It was not so much complicated as lengthy: once you had finally finished the duffel coat there were the ears, and then the hood and then the eyes, and then... who knew such a little guy took so long?

out of focus photograph you have taken

I think Sam is pleased, at least he said thank you very nicely.

Then, I made this hat for my godson, another mini Jedi. I took the pattern again from Ravelry and it went like a dream. 

When I got to making it up, the ears were a bit floppy so, for the first time, I started a thread on a Ravelry forum. Within an hour I had about 15 replies and suggestions for making Yoda's ears, um, stiff... You hear a lot about online 'community' but this really felt lovely. I do love Ravelry very much.

Here is the hat modelled by one of my own. In the end I made a stuffed pair of ears out of felt (I had some in a matching green) and sewed them on by hand, thus anchoring the crocheted ears.

Happily, my little godson is too young to be troubled by thoughts of whether a crocheted Yoda hat made by his godmother is cool or not, he just lives for the moment and wears his hat with the joy of a 4 year old. Very Jedi.

Finally, huge thanks to Kate, author of one of my favourite blogs for a very kind (and undeserved since it's so shamefully long since I posted) shout out. Kate, thanks for kicking me up the behind. And thanks for writing such a beautiful and inspiring blog.