More wrist warmers

Another gray Sunday. I slept until noon and spent most of the time watching movies or getting lost in the big black hole known as the world wide web. I am rather talented in bringing my browser to its virtual knees by opening multiple tabs without any mercy. However, this peculiar habit seems to reflect the state I am in most of the times - too many things to do, and the unwavering will to conquer them all at once.

Luckily I did manage to get something done last week, besides my mouthwatering pancakes for breakfast of course. I needed to take some pictures of my wrist warmers, and U. has been a wonderfully patient and pleasant model to get these done on a sunny afternoon last week. Only a few more bits and pieces and they can finally go into my shop, whose opening seems long overdue. But I wanted a few scarfs and cowls to accompany them, before it's all set and ready for your browsing eyes. Soon, soon!

100 Posts and a Giveaway

Here it is. The long-awaited blog post number 100. Let's celebrate! If you like, the oldfashioned way, with honking horns and a good glass of selfmade fruit punch. But since that kind of excitement is rather difficult to share virtually, I prepared something you may enjoy just as much, dear reader - a giveaway!

I've always adored giveaways on other blogs, and have found many wonderful and talented bloggers via links and recommendations. I couldn't wait to hold mine. So here's what's in store for you:

A pair of selfmade wrist warmers to keep your fingers snug and swift for all those craftsy projects during chilly hours. The floral fabric is quite cozy and consists of 10% wool, whereas the lining is made up of a very soft black viscose jersey. These can be worn inside out as well. There's a small label close to the wrist on the black side. Both fabrics are very elastic and will fit your wrists perfectly.

You'd like to win these? Here is what you must do:

1. leave a comment below this post
2. cross your fingers and wait until I announce the winner!

Easy, right?

I'll be holding this giveaway until the 29th of February and announce a winner on the 1st of March, using one of those random number generator thingies.

Good luck! <3

Furry wrist warmers

I am experimenting with new fabrics, probably due to the incredibly low temperatures outside. I used a 100% cotton fur, the kind you usually find your favourite teddy bear made of. It feels wonderfully warm around the wrist and keeps my fingers warm (at least in here).

I'll test-wear them today on my way to work, to see how the fabric behaves after a while. Wearing my items or giving them to friends for good feedback is essential to me. As a customer I'd be disappointed if the fabric of a loved item wears off, bleeds out after washing, or simply leaves threads and fluffs all over the place. So I'm trying to exhaust all possibilities.

Update

Yesterday I woke up to a winter wonderland and tried to capture it for you.

I've been a busy bee (that's why it's been so quiet here), anticipating every ray of light to make product pictures for the little shop (I finally decided to go with Etsy), trying to grow an avocado (it hasn't worked so far, and I've gone through a lot of tutorials to get it right this time), and drooling over my new polaroid cam which I purchased second hand (and which was of course a lot lot cheaper than the polaroid pictures I would have to load it with).

Next weekend I'll be going to Amsterdam for a one day trip only. So if you have any recommendations on what I should definitely see/try/taste/buy, I'd be so grateful if you left me a message.

I hope you're enjoying this late winter. We're having nearly -15°C here, but as long as the sun is shining and you've got a good cup of tea waiting for you, it's bearable.

New colors and cowls

Mum came by yesterday to dye my hair. I am trying to go from brown to blonde (which could end in a disaster if you don't really know how to use hydrogen peroxide appropriately). Mum is an expert of timeless and subtle elegance, so instead of boosting my hair straight into a bright color (which I was actually preferring first, since it gives you this "I was at the hairdresser's and am a new person now" - feeling), we go step by step every few weeks and the transformation is very natural and gentle. I'm at almondish bright brown right now, with loads of flattering facets.

While highlights were left to act for an hour, I made another version of the tighter loop scarf. Mum loves turtle necks, and having a separate one is the best option for her to turn non-turtle-neck pieces into the new favourite items. She chose a black jersey to go with the beautiful floral fabric you know already from I's scarf and A's wristwarmers. I love how she smartly combines it with a classic silver necklace and that timeless tweed jacket.

I hope you're having a good Sunday!

Cowl neck and loop scarf

I knitted this scarf for D already over a year ago. And even though the wool is of such high quality and amazingly soft and warm it can't smooth out the characteristic most loop scarfs seem to have - they're just too lose around the neck to really keep you warm. I know, it's also a fashion thing, and of course you don't really need to stay toasty in spring or summer. But right now, with the first snow flakes falling in January, you'd want your neck well covered.

So I made another cowl for D, to go along with both, his knitted loop scarf and the wrist warmers I made recently. Now he can enjoy the subtle fashion statement a loop scarf might make, without having to suffer the biting cold. Combined pretty with practical - done!

In passing

Work is very demanding now before Christmas, so I try to spend every free minute in the sewing room, with a nice cup of coffee and all those dear fabrics. It's my haven, the place I can recharge my batteries best.

A few more wristwarmers are coming along nicely. And D. liked his ones so much that he asked for another pair. He'll have them for Saint Nicholas Day, hidden in his shoe in the morning. I went for a plainer version this time, to be easily combined - dark grey and black jersey. So cozy, you'd love the touch of these.

Toasty wrist warmers for him

I've made these wrist warmers for D, mainly because of his complaints about cold fingers while working on the computer. And as it is rather inconvenient to sit inside with a cozy mitten trying to hover the mouse over complicated snippets, I remembered that keeping your wrist warm does the job just as good. Maybe not when snow is upon us. But for now, he'll be safe.

This fabric was such an inspiration, it's amazingly soft and cozy. And the pattern just asked for this purpose. It's so rewarding to notice when I make something for someone in particular, and they put it on, it suits them even better than it did in my head. As if they have had it long before. I am generally inspired by particular people I make something for, rather than blindly creating something out of thin air (although I envy that aptitude so so much).

How do you get creative, I wonder? Do you start from scratch and think about who it might suit best along the way? Or are you inspired long before the actual result?

Loop scarfs for loved ones

I somehow stumbled into November (or November happened upon me), and can't believe Christmas is actually almost there. Time to get ready for the coldest season. I've been making loop scarfs recently and am quite enjoying the results, as they're fairly easy to make and therefore so rewarding!

For her birthday I made A. one in rather funky colors (in remembrance and anticipation of our traditional New Year's holidays), lined with a cozy warm fleece fabric in blue. Of course we had to go outside and snap some pictures of it in the warm autumn sun. It's been spoiling us all weekend.

I assume autumn is pressing every button to make up for the rather weak and moody summer. Enjoy, until you'll have to go all onioning by putting on 3 tights and at least 2 cardigans! 

Belated Cotton Love

I had this post prepared such a long time ago. It was even before my harddisk died on me, and I am glad I had already uploaded this picture. I didn't want to post it too early, since I had planned to make one of these tote bags for my friend Syl for belayed Christmas (a habit we still pursue very much), and I wanted it to be a total surprise.

This bag is now about half a year old and my substitute for any handbag I had before. It's so practical, and always fits more than you think, without becoming a burden to your shoulders and back. I've been dreaming about making a few more of this style and open a little etsy shop. To share the love over handmade uniqueness.

So here's the original post:
"I'm a big fan of cotton tote bags. Not only does it keep my wastage of plastic bags to a minimum, it also adds to my individual style. After having tried out a few prototypes, I finally finished my first very own cotton bag.

Since the sourcing of darker shaded heavy cotton seems to be more difficult than I thought, I had to dye some beige cotton to get this brown color. I'm rather dissatisfied with the result, as it is quite blotchy. Hopefully I'll find a supplier of darker cotton or linen soon. Sadly Etsy is not the answer yet.

What I love most is the floral lining, which only peeks out a little if you're rummaging around for your things. I decided to go with the darker old rose ribbon, since it suits my scarf so well. But I'm planning to combine it with all kinds of colors, depending on the wearer and its wardrobe."

I've already made two more of these bags, always one of a kind. In the meantime I found a very solid brighter linen, substituting well for the brown shade. But I'm still hunting for a similar quality with darker shades since, well, these bags do live. And they will become a little blotchy and messy as you carry them around lovingly. But they'll always be unique.

A pouch for sunglasses and the problem with bulky corners

I forgot to post this pouch. These last days have been a little unorganized.

This pouch was made as a present to store some newly purchased sunglasses (or my own ones temporarily as seen above). I've been on a mission to minimize wrinkles on other's foreheads. You'll see me ironing those worry lines with my thumb whenever I catch someone overly concentrating. The kind of concentration that leads to obstinacy. Some peeps like to combine this with a little pouting. Sounds familiar?

I've heard that sunglasses help, at least with the wrinkles between the eyebrows issue. And they will give my thumb a little break.

The design is rather plain with only a little embroidery, since it's made for a guy. The inside is made of molton, a very soft fabric usually used in stage design. I love working with this material, it seems to float along by itself underneath my sewing machine. For the outside I used some plain and solid linen.

Even though there are tons of tutorials on these pouches, I feel like noone has really revealed the secret of the zipper corners in full detail yet. There are various ways. You could either cover the zipper with a small piece of fabric, as I did here, then shorten the zipper a little to reduce the bulk. Or you refrain from using any extra covering, but will have a little more bulk then with slightly rounded corners.

Maybe there's no real solution if you want to use lining. But I've seen some around with very pointy corners, so I am determined to discover the secret of those. And when I do, I will share with those of you who have been in the dark for so long as well (unless you know already and would love to share!).

Hope you're all having a good week!

Childhood thoughts and another gift

On my way back home I was favoured by fortune to ride in one of those old train wagons. They're very rare and replaced by the (in my eyes) rather charmless modern models. Even though this one is not the oldest version yet, it reminds me of my childhood and travelling long distances by train when visiting my grandparents. Grandpa came all the way from his hometown just to pick me up at the station where I was waiting with my parents. Once inside, I stood on the upholstered bench, wistfully in anticipation, and we both waved my parents goodbye. 

I must have been only 3 or 4 years old, but I still remember the smell of the brownish upholstery. And how I felt so wonderfully taken care of by my grandpa, who started cutting small pieces of apples for me with his pocket knife on those little foldout tables. I remember wondering about "Aschenputtel" (the german version of Cinderella), and if she really lived in Aschersleben, a little town our train always passed through. Even though grandpa is gone for many years now, I still wonder. In a more grownup and mature way, of course.

Back home I finished this little birthday gift for a friend of mine. A while back I made a cotton bag for her in a very similar design, and she fell in love with the anchor patterned linen. The zipper pouch fever has gotten me a few weeks ago and I've been through so many tutorials to get the hang of how to make these. They're so lovely to have for little bits and bobs and make such a wonderful present.

Early autumn dress

It's been a little quiet on my blog front, I apologize. But do you know those times when you've got so many things at hand, you just don't know where to start?

Sometimes my creative vein is blocked. And then there are days when I take up three projects at once and literally run from one to the other. As if I needed more than two hands, and maybe another head even.

So here is one of my later quests. And I'll make every effort to share the other ones as well.

I found this adorable fabric a couple of days ago and instantly fell in love. I thought of making a cozy and practical dress. Something you can just pull on quickly while it still flatters your shape.

Since I had only 1,40m to work with (it was the last bit) I had to alter a pattern I made for another project, and insert some seams. But I think it still turned out beautifully. I know, you can't really see it too well there, but dusk was falling when I finished this dress, so it was the best shot I got. I promise I'll make some better pictures soon.

Some early autumn break music matches well with the seemingly ending summer and my new early autumn dress. 
Have a lovely weekend!

Summery cover for my brother('s laptop)

This was supposed to be a birthday present in April. But as you have noticed, all those special dates have gotten a little difficult for me this year, and I am still catching up on last year's Christmas.

I made a cover for my brother's laptop a few years back, and was so delighted to see he really used it lots. Now he's gotten himself one of those superslim macbook airs, and I've been wanting to "cover" that one for him too. Finally, here's what I came up with. I thought of something light and summery, and a pattern to go along with some shirts I noticed in his wardrobe.

The inside is lined with a soft thicker kind of cotton called "Molton". I really love working with this fabric, even though it is usually used to cover iron boards for example. Hopefully it will keep away some ugly scratches you usually get from carrying your laptop around to public places or meetings.

The front flap easily closes with the help of simple Velcro. I used some blue linen to fortify the rather soft lining, so it will withstand grasping and ripping in rushy hours.

Can't wait to see this one in action!

Recharging batteries

The weekend was so soothing. It was all about cooking, baking and recharging batteries. There's nothing like a late night self made spaghetti carbonara. And best of all, I got the chance to share my wonderful chocolate cake with a spontaneous visitor!

I immediately got my energy back and could finally finish a very rough mockup of the costume I was going to make. It doesn't fit my dummy very well, since it's for a bigger size. But so far I am happy with the shape and will need a proper fitting now to adjust neckline and darts.

It does look a little creepy to pin down along the spine, doesn't it..

Hope you're having a good start into the new week!

My birthday skirt

I've been wanting to write about this skirt for quite a while, but was always overcome by that small monster called procrastination. Now it's been already a month! Finally, here it is.

My birthday (party) skirt.

I used a pattern from a brazilian sewing magazine. It is amazing how much more curvy they create their patterns, and how lovely the buttpart fits. I had to so some adjustments in the back area and added some seams in the front for extra detail.

You can see there are still a few wrinkles around my lower back which I could not tame, but since the fabric itself is so fuss-free it still looks okay when I move around and doesn't scream 'back seams badly done' right away.

I'm so happy with the outcome of this skirt. Against my expectations it is super comfortable to wear and sort of supports my waist area like a light corset. It also gives this wonderful curve and creates a silhouette I actually don't have (I'll withstand the urge to complain about my lack of waist at this point).

The lining is made from an adorable dark blue polkadot fabric, and I added this little label I recently ordered from a company to stitch my name on. It makes the garment feel a bit more like a whole.

Can't wait to wear this skirt on more occasions, but since the weather has been calling for a lot of bicycle cruises lately, you can imagine it's not really the best choice of apparel.

Come rain or come shine

It's a terribly rainy day outside, so I am staying in with my big knit cardigan and a good fruit salad. Mum brought some raspberries from the market. They remind me of my childhood and when I used to pick berries in the gardens of my grandparents, shoveling them right from the bushes into my mouth. 

I only remember sunny days without worries there. And a wonderful smell. You know when you sometimes get out on the street on very early mornings, and the day still smells so new, almost innocent. It's in those moments that all my memories of the gardens come back to me, and fill me with contentment (and I am not a big fan of very early mornings, mind you).

I've been working on a dress pattern these past days, but I find myself being too impatient to work towards the result. It annoys me having to use cheap fabrics to sew a couple of samples which I have to discard or alter over and over again. I'd love to start with the pretty fabrics already! But I know it would leave me just as frustrated if I wasted those beautiful materials on something that isn't quite the thing I would wear yet.

Worry and Vim

My mind has been occupied for a few days now with the limping of my little cat. She fell most awkwardly from a shelf last thursday and has not gotten better yet. But other than the limping she she seems content, eats and drinks and purrs whenever I caress her. So I am hoping time is a good healer.

I managed to make this little pouch last week, and I have gotten so much positive feedback that I am planning to make a few more to give away as presents. I love these kind of personalized gifts as I adore spending hours searching for matching fabric patches, ribbons and laces and just that little something that could make it special for one particular person. 

My hope is that this kind of affection will always show in the things I make.

Inspiration

Inspired by the wonderful work of bloggers such as Lotte or The Blue Rabbit House I exchanged my knitting needles for some crochet ones, just to try something new once in a while. Get those synapses working.

The little pillow on the left is part of a project I have been working on for such a long time. These pillows are filled with a custom mixture of lavender and eucalyptus. But sadly I have not found a good way to refill these yet, so the smell fades away after a year or two. They are still rather pretty to the eye though, and make an adorable present for any kind of occasion.

Well, I know, that little doily is all warped and slouchy, and only with the simplest stitches you first learn when you start crocheting. But it's my very first one and I did manage to finish it in one evening. I am amazed at how old fashioned I once thought these were (like back in those years when granny used them under pretty much any platter you could imagine). How adorable I find them now!