Giveaway winners announced!

It's time to announce the winners to my little giveaway!  All in there were 11 entries via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and the following random numbers generated were entry numbers...

7 - Bonnie

4 - anne miklos sarvida

6 - rosewendy

8 - Kimberly Tiu

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, I'm looking forward to sending my crafting paraphernalia off to their new international homes!  I may even host another little giveaway in the New Year, I've found a few more books that could do with being passed on.  If the ladies who won could drop me an email to 3rdlawofmotion at gmail dot com with their address, I'll sort out getting your items to you.  First come, first served, so the faster you let me know which prize you want, the more likely you are to get it!

There's actually another little announcement I need to make just now, I'm putting this blog into hibernation for the moment.  I've been offered an amazing job opportunity that I can't afford to turn down, but is going to take all of my time and energy for a while.  I don't want to do a half hearted job of this blog, I've enjoyed it too much to let it wither away to nothing, so I'd rather let it lie dormant for now.  I may come back to it at some point in the future and in the meantime will still be showing off my crafting and thrifting on Instagram (Craftandthrift) and Twitter (@craftandthrift).  I hope to see you all over there and will be reading your blogs and interacting with you all via other mediums but for now, adieu little blog, sleep well.

Fabric and sewing/knitting books giveaway!

In the spirit of #secondhandfirst, I had a little clear out and reorganisation at the weekend.  I sent a few bags of things to charity, moved some old clothes into the refashion pile and found a few bits I thought you lovely people might enjoy.  Christmas is a time for giving and it would give me great pleasure to pass these items on to someone who might get more enjoyment out of them than I have.

To that end, it's giveaway time!  Check out the following lovely things to be passed on to my fellow crafters, sewists and knitters and see the rules for entry at the end of the post.  Good luck my lovely readers!

1. Large piece of light jersey fabric.  This piece measures roughly 330cm x 75cm so it's a bit of an odd size but there's certainly plenty of fabric there.  It is technically two pieces of fabric sewn end to end, so there is a seam down the centre.  Lovely floral pattern of red, white and grey flowers on a black background.



2. Generation T: 108 ways to transform a t-shirt by Megan Nicolay.  This is in very good condition, other than one slight dent on the top edge and my darling brother has written a merry Christmas message on the inside cover.





3. 99 ways to cut, sew, trim and tie your t-shirt by Faith and Justina Blakeney.  This is in pretty much perfect condition.  Nice ringbound layout so it lies flat as you're using it.





4.  Knitting Vintage by Claire Montgomerie.  In perfect condition.





The Rules!

Super simple, just Facebook/Tweet/Instagram a link to this blog post AND follow me on either Twitter (@Craftandthrift) or Instagram (Craftandthrift) - check out the links on the right hand side.

Leave a comment here to let me know when you're done and I'll enter you into a prize draw for your choice of prize.  First to reply to my email saying they've won will get first pick of the prizes.  If you link back to me in multiple formats e.g. Twitter and Instgram, then leave 2 comments and get 2 entries!

The giveaway is open to international folks too!  I'll be drawing names out of a hat 2 weeks from now, so Wednesday December 17th, a nice little surprise for you just before Christmas :-)

Tessuti Fabric Lola tee from stash jersey

Remember when I won a sewing competition?! I chose Tessuti Fabric's Lola t-shirt thinking it would be a nice easy introduction to sewing with jersey or knit fabric and using my overlocker...and I was not wrong!



Described by the designers as follows:

The summer Lola Tee Top flares slightly at the hips and features a scoop neckline and cap sleeves. Stylish and contemporary in design, the Lola is a wardrobe winner and is best made up in light to medium weight cotton knits as well as viscose and t-shirt weight jerseys.

It was a lovely easy pattern to use, only 10 steps from start to finish and super easy instructions, complete with photograph pictures to illustrate the descriptions.  What slightly threw me to begin with was the hand-drawn nature of the pattern, it looks literally hand drawn and hand written with the instructions on the pattern pieces, but the outcome is the same; you know what to cut where and what to do with it at each stage.  I guess in sewalongs I've seen on blogs using indie designer patterns, all the pictures have shown computer printed pattern pieces so I was expecting something of that nature.  Not an issue with the final pattern or item of clothing produced at all, just not quite what I was expecting!



I was expecting a battle with the binding round the neckline, after reading of other blogs describing similar patterns ending up with saggy necklines.  In reality the maths worked out perfectly and my neckline was overlocked like a dream.



I altered the 'twin needle' overstitching step to 'stitching with regular straight stitch on my sewing machine because to be honest, I haven't got to the twin needle part of my overlocker instruction manual yet and between the 'sewing from a pattern, 'sewing with jersey' and 'sewing with my overlocker' mental steps to overcome, I wasn't going to add 'working out what the fuck a twin needle is' to the list.  I made sure to catch the underlying overlocker seam into my straight stitch, since that was the ultimate outcome to that particular step in the pattern.



I left the bottom hem and sleeves unfinished, as this was one of the ways to finish the pattern.  Next time I'll hem them, just to compare and see what difference it makes to the t-shirt.

I'm currently wearing said tee, after a cinema/dog walk/pub date with Andrew on my day off.  I can attest to it being comfortable and easy to throw on over a vestie (and under a handknit, hello Owls!). I cut a size S based on my measurements but to be honest, it's too big all over, meaning I have to wear it with a vestie underneath or risk flashing mah baps every time I bend over.  Next time I'll cut an XS and see how that compares.







Super proud of the neckline though, as flat as linoleum. Boo yah!  I talk about the choice of fabric over here if you're interested.



Overall, a definite make again!  I could see this is in a range of colour combinations and weights of jersey.  Other than one minor error (seen here on Instagram) where I cut a hole in an armpit with my overlocker, I had no issues with the serger and would definitely use it again, so quick and easy!  This is also my first item of clothing photographed myself using a tripod, I'm hoping to upgrade to outdoor pictures once I master the art of self-imaging but for the moment wanted to confine my embarrassing running-to-and-fro to my bedroom.  Hope you enjoyed my working fireplace and vintage mirror though!

Lola t-shirt planning

Remember when I told you all about my refashioned men's fairisle sweater for the Sew Amy Sew Repurpose Reuse Refashion competition?  WELL, I WON!!  I know, right?!  Who ever thought it possible that I would win a SEWING competition?!  I won the 'So Simple but So Effective' category but to be honest, I love that cardi with a passion so even if I hadn't won the competition, I definitely won at this particular project!



My prize?  My choice of pattern from a range of awesome indie designers.  I chose the Lola T-shirt pattern from Tessuti Fabrics, I figured it would be a simple but effective (see what I did there?  Eh? Eh?!) pattern to help me master my new-to-me overlocker but also the kind of pattern I would wear over and over.



It's a download and print at home PDF affair, which I love because there's less pressure to trace or cut it out, where I inevitably go wrong and waste an expensive paper pattern.  I raided my stash (in my ongoing 2014 resolution...) for fabrics and came up with these that I think fit the bill as either cotton, viscose or linen knit.  I think.  They are all thrifted after all so I'm actually not sure what they all are.



First up, scrap of knit bought from St Albans market (where my folks live) approximately 75 years ago.  I kid.  But seriously, it was YEARS ago.  I'm not so keen on the slightly wacky, 70's style pattern, but I like the brown and I figured as a possible wearable muslin, it would be a good place to start because if it doesn't work out, I'm not hugely fussed by the fabric.  Down side though, it's pretty thin and stretchy, which I think might make my life difficult.  Plus side, cost me 75p because the stall holder had vanished and after waiting in the rain for 10 minutes for him to return, I got bored and left the change in my wallet on the table and took the fabric. I feel guilty about it now (sorry St Albans market Fabric Dude), but to be fair, who leaves their market stall unattended without at least a sign?



Second up and second favourite, black with red flowers.  I like this a lot but large prints don't tend to suit me, being of the small variety.  Also, black will go with nothing in my wardrobe since brown is the base colour for my clothes.  But still, wearable muslin and all that.



Third and best, the green.  I really like this and think it'll suit me best and get the most wear but we'll see.  That's why I'd like to do the first two first, as a practice run so by the time I get to this one I hopefully won't make any stupid mistakes.  This is the thickest weight-wise though, so not sure if that's going to work with a drapey t-shirt.  We'll just have to wait and see!

...and the winners are...

*drumroll please*

It's time to announce the winners of my Handknit gloves and hats giveaway!  (probably should have come up with a catchier title on reflection).  I've had lots of fun with Random.org chosing the winners!

• The most popular item was the purple cable gloves, who will be winging their way to Jaclyn Reynolds.  I'm glad they're going to a good home, I do love them but I never wear them and they deserve more love than I can give them.
 

• Else won the Penis Gloves.  I'm sad to see you guys go, I only wore you twice before I realised that they were basically falling off my hands.  Mental note - must knit more gloves.

• Lorraine - you'll be getting the headband!

• Sarah T - the wool bobble hat is yours.

• Keith has been bequeathed the cream hat.  It'll keep yo'head snuggly warm!

No one wanted the poor, sad fingerless gloves.  But, since they're the only item not made by me and no one wanted them, I'm going to take that as a sign that you all wanted a piece of the Amy-made love.  You're welcome.

Thanks so much for entering everybuddy and sharing my little corner of the blogosphere with the world.  Welcome to my new readers!  I hope to not disappoint.



On that note, onto the crafts!  Just a little one this evening as I'm got a date with a bath, a glass of wine and Neil Gaiman.  I've been ill most of the week so I'm indulging now I feel back to normal.  I made this little guy a few weeks back for my mobile, after an unfortunate incident that led to a broken screen and a claim on my phone insurance.



How cute is this fabric?!  And I'm a vet, so how appropriate?!  The only non-appropriate part is that it's white, so it already looks a bit grubby.  Since it's lined with some stash-satin, I'm not sure it wouldn't shrink horribly in the wash so it's a handwash jobbie for definite.  Also, since I've started to use it, 2 buttons are a bit impractical, its a bit of a fumble to get the mobile in and out.



Overall though, a success and I use it all the time now.  And all from stashed fabric and buttons, how thrifty am I?!  Now to go spend all my monies on Christmas presents instead.

Teacup pincushion

If you follow me on Pinterest, you'll see I've been pinning teacup pincushions recently.  It's all part of my grand Christmas plan to bring a handmade touch to some of my presents, without going overboard and crafting huge amounts of items and stressing myself out.  Last year I made a skirt, a jumper, a scarf, a snood and several baby toys, with the end result being hours of frantic knitting and sewing, sweating over my needles and giving myself hand cramp.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love making things for other people.  But the problem with Christmas is you need to make so many things ALL AT ONCE.  Rather than birthdays, where it's individual items spread throughout the year.



This year I decided to keep the handmade-by-me to a minimum and instead try and buy presents from other craftspeople.  What little crafting I intend to do will be small pieces to compliment bought gifts, rather than the main present itself.



So, enter the teacup pincushion!  I'm making my Mum a sewing basket, once it's done and finished it'll be the subject of a future post but in the meantime, I was excited to share my pincushion just now!



I went through a phase of collecting blue and white china, a hobby I intend to revisit once I live in a rambling farmhouse in the country 20 years from now, but for the moment I live in a 2 bedroom tenement and so don't really have space for slightly impractical sets of teaware.  Not that I haven't used my china, over the years I've thrown several tea parties for the Royal Wedding or the Diamond Jubilee but if I'm being honest with myself, it's a big box taking up room in the cupboard that could be put to better use for the time being.  So I've decided to upcycle as much of the china as I can.



Most of it was acquired from auctions or charity shops and none of it was expensive, I have in mind this little guy cost me around £1.49. The beads, material and stuffing were from my stash so this is a proper thrifty project.  I googled several tutorials for teacup pincushions before starting and took the basic concepts on board to make my own.  This was attempt 2, attempt 1 ended up in the bin after trying unsuccessfully to glue the pearls around the edge.  The glue went everywhere, including my table and fingers and just looked awful.  The second attempt I glued in the cushion but sewed on the pearls, which looks much nicer.  I'm debating whether or not to glue the cup to the saucer or whether it will be more flexible to be able to separate them as needed.  I could see Mum using the saucer for thimbles and chalk so I might just leave them unattached.  I want to make one for myself now!

DON'T FORGET YOU'VE ONLY GOT 5 MORE DAYS TO ENTER THE KNITWEAR GIVEAWAY!

Handknit gloves & hats giveaway!

Remember 10 days ago, when I teased you guys with talk of a knitwear giveaway?  Well, it's finally here!



Inspired by the lovely Handmade Jane, who hosted her own giveaway back in May to gift her hand sewn clothing onto appreciative sewists all around the world, I decided to follow suit.  We've all been there, made ourselves lovely things that end up not fitting quite right or not matching anything in our wardrobe.  They languish in drawers, making us feel guilty for the amount of time and effort that went into them, the money spent on beautiful wool or patterns, only to never see the light of day.

Well, no more I say!

I'm paying forward my Banksia top win and passing on some of my handknit possessions to people I hope will appreciate and use them more than I have.  Disclaimer: those items made by me (not all are, though they all are handmade) are made to the best of my ability as an amateur craftsperson.  They are not perfect but they are functional.  And lets face it, if you win, you're getting it for free so shut up already about the missed cables!

Onto the spoils...

1.  Long purple cabled fingerless gloves.  These are looooong (approximately 38cm long in fact) and made from acrylic DK.  They've been worn a few times and washed.  They're a small size for folk with slimmer arms (there's not much stretch in them).  Yes, one is slightly longer than the other, what of it?





2.  New Lanark grey aran wool headband/earwarmers.  Widens at the back to go over your ears.  Measures 58cm around, 8cm at the thinnest point and 10cm at the widest.







3.  Wool bobble hat.  Pretty much as it says on the tin.  Average size, with some stretch.



4.  Acrylic cream beanie.  Again, the clue is in the title.  Average size, with some stretch.



5.  Not-made-by-me fingerless gloves.  These are handknit and I would guess in acrylic or manmade fibre.  Average size, with some stretch.



6.  Tweed gloves with red tips (Andrew calls these 'Penis Gloves').  I made these for myself for this winter and they're too big so I have cold hands.  Sad face.  But my loss is your gain.  Would suit a guy, though comes with the warning that one thumb is slightly smaller than the other.



The rules!

1.  Link to my blog somewhere on t'interwebz to enter.  You can link to me from your facebook, twitter, instagram, blog...I don't mind.  I'm not too proud to say I want to boost my reader stats.  Don't hate.

2.  Comment on this post to tell me which you want to win!  You're welcome to enter for more than one, just link back the appropriate number of times.

3.  If your contact details aren't easily found, leave your email in your comment.

4.  The giveaway is open worldwide!

I will pick winners using a random number generator on December 6th!  Good luck you guys!

Banksia top from Handmade Jane and knitwear giveaway teaser...

Months ago, I won a giveaway hosted by the lovely Handmade Jane. She writes a blog about sewing clothes for herself (and occasionally her son) and has adorable style, think polka dots and vintage and chintz.  She dreamed up the giveaway as a way of clearing out some of her unloved, unworn handmade items of clothing, in a bid to spring clean her wardrobe.  You can check out the other items up for grabs over here, as you can see there were some delights looking for new homes!



I entered for the Banksia top, I loved the floral pattern and the fact that it started life as a pair of curtains (we're all about refashioning over here!).  To my surprise, I won!  I've never won an internet giveaway before so I was delighted!  You can see Jane's original post about the top over here, she claims it to be inspired by the Von Trapp family in it's recycling roots but I reckon it's way more stylish than that. So stylish in fact, I wore it to our recent engagament photoshoot!



See anything you recognise...? 

It fits really nicely, it's slightly too big all over but I quite like it that way, I don't normally go for 'boyfriend' type fit since it can drown what little figure I own, but there's something comfortable yet still flattering about the fit of this little number.



Jane is definitely leagues ahead of me in the sewing stakes, this baby has a button down front and a placket (WTF is a placket already?!) and facings and all kinds of technical words that make me reach for the gin.  It certainly doesn't look handmade until you look closely.



I thought the spring clean idea was a such a lovely one, what better way to honour your unloved handmade clothes than by giving them away to other craftsters?  People who will admire the smallest details and appreciate the time and effort that went into every stitch.  I was so inspired that I thought I would pay it forward and host my own little giveaway, this time of knitwear!



Just a little teaser

I've knit so many hats and gloves over the years, there's really no way one person could ever wear them all and so I've had a sort out and come up with 5 warm woolies that will be looking for a new home in the coming weeks.  Watch this space if you need a new hat or gloves this winter!