Ragdolls

After the Hoover cover I thought I may as well make a couple of rag-dolls before I tidy up everything and take off on my trip.

Having quite a few bit of scrap fabric to use up, this was an ideal project. I used the same tutorial I found earlier for the pattern, just that I made the legs longer.

I'm quiet liking the toy making, although I am a bit lazy on the clothes here. They were looking a bit ghostly so I added a splash of colour with some tee shirt trimmings.

Multi Purpose Bag

Well here it is, after 3 days of sewing.  Well partial days..lol. I finished it this afternoon and am totally pleased with myself.  It's styled on a bowling bag and I was really hoping that when it was finished I would be able to get the sewing machine into it.

I learnt the basics of bag making on Creative Cutie and have improved with each bag.......Well I like to think so anyway, I can certainly say that I have gone from being terrified to confident thanks to Daphna's blog.

I made it from curtain fabric that I was lucky enough to receive a year ago and still have a load left.  I didn't bother with interfacing as the fabric is so thick and I don't think my machine would have gone along with all that labour..... I suppose it's due a pamper after all that hard work.

I drafted the pattern and cut all the pieces sewed the pockets on, sewed the outside together, then the inside, the design bit is a pocket, then did the zipper bit. Sewed the lining to the zip bit leaving a gap to turn the bag through at the end. Sewed the outside to the matching zipper side, leaving the zip open, finished all the raw edges...... this takes a while and a lot of thread!   Then the magic part comes when you pull it all right side out, tuck the lining inside and stitch up the gap.  Job done!

I really didn't think the machine would fit through the zip, but where there's a will sometimes there's a way, and boy was I happy when I found the way to do it......Hooray!!  I'm so glad that this will be in use all the time.  I can use it for a weekend away, overnight stay and sewing machine bag.  How good it that!!

Time to dust off the Sewing machine!

 Seems so long ago since I made the vacuum cover...... it's not I know but I had a little of this dotty fabric left since making a peg bag and didn't know what quite to do with it, until today.  I'm going on a wee trip and have just realised I don't have a toiletries bag..... strange thing that, come to think of it I can't even remember the last one.. that is if I had one!?

I lined it with a plastic lining and of course since it's been a while since I made one of these I forgot to leave the vital gap for turning right side out....... happens every time! I've also added a beaded pull to the zipper which is pretty much invisible for a change.

 

 








 


I thought I may as well make a matching small make-up bag too while I'm at it, but since I've no little zippers left it had to be hoop n loop this time. I'm not much of a make-up kind of girl, sensitive skin and all that, but I do wear it when I go out....... and when you take a trip you do get out a bit!

I've started a bag too but goodness only knows how that'll turn out. Cut all the bits and sewn the zipper today and then life called me back to reality....... hopefully the brain will function a bit better when I get the chance to tackle it again. ;o) 

Clog Liners

I had bought these garden clogs in Lidls recently and although they are great I found them a bit wide, and a bit on the chilly side without socks..... especially when I switch from nice cosy slippers!  And this I do not need with my Cold feet tendency.
I only found one pattern online for $5, and I thought no way am I paying that, they can't be that hard to make,  gee I can make socks, so if I can do that I can make liners........ how hard can it be?

So I dug out my scrap yarn bag and started by measuring around the open part which will be covered by  the rib, then I cast on 68sts which was enough when stretched to fit the edge, worked 10 rows of rib and worked the heel like for a sock for 10 rows then turned.  This is where it get a bit tricky as on the first attempt I just did an ordinary sock pattern which did not work out at all when putting in the clog as there was excess at the top.
I then picked up stitches along the flap edge and placed markers at the ends, I worked back and forth on the heel part only doing decreases as normal, AT THE SAME TIME I worked 1st at the end of each row from the redundant needle 2.  This joins the sock together. Repeated until 50sts altogether.

Then I started on needle 2 decreasing 4 sts evenly. 46sts work these as for a normal sock until the toe. At the toe work every row as decrease until 16sts, graft with kitchener stitch.

So now that one half is complete it is time to make the other and try to write some sort of pattern that makes sense and put it on Ravelry or here once tested. These were for a EU 40/41 and I have to say they have made the clog a better fit on my foot. I'll have to pick up some nice coloured yarn to make proper presentable ones so I can wear them everywhere except the garden!!

Chunky Socks Pattern

200g Alina by Zettl Bulky / 12 ply 100% Wool 

4mm Double Pointed Needles

gauge approx 18sts by 24 rows = 4”

I wear a EU 41 shoe and this was enough yarn  for this pattern. I had a little left over so could have worked an inch longer in the length. Also should mention that these are not designed to be tight.

Cast on 44sts. Work K2, P2 rib for 12 rows or desired length.

K3, P1 to end this sets the pattern. Cont in pattern for 29 rows or desired length.

Heel Flap

Divide sts in half Work on 22sts as follows

WS  Row 1:   *Sl 1 purl to end.*

RS Row 2:  * Sl 1 purlwise, K1 * repeat  to end

Repeat these rows 9 more times, the flap should measure about 2 ½ inches.

Turning the Heel

WS      Row 1:  P12, P2tog, P1 turn

Row 2:  Sl1, K5, K2tog tbl, K1 turn

Row 3:  Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1 turn

Row 4:  Sl1, K7, K2tog tbl, K1 turn

Row 5:  Sl1, P8, P2tog, P1 turn

Row 6:  Sl1, K9, K2tog tbl, K1 turn

Row 7:  Sl1, P10, P2tog, P1 turn

Row 8:  Sl1, K11, K2tog tbl

Row 9:  Sl1, Purl to last 2 sts, P2tog, turn

Row 10:  Knit to last 2sts K2tog.

12sts remain.

Heel Gusset

Put all the stitches on the other 2 needles onto one 22sts this is needle 2. Divide the 12 sts onto tow needles.

Using Needle 1 pick up and knit 11sts down side of heel flap (17sts on needle 1).

Needle 2 work pattern.

Needle 3 pick up and knit 11sts as before K1, P1 K3 P1 from needle.

Next Row

Needle 1:  K3, P1, K3, P1, K6, K2tog, K1

Needle 2:  Work pattern

Needle 3: K1, SSK, K5, P1, K3, P1, K3, P1

Row 2

Work all sts as set

Row 3

Needle 1:  Pattern to last 3sts, K2tog, K1

Needle 2:  Work pattern

Needle 3: K1, SSK, pattern to end

Repeat Rows 2-3 until you have 44sts again.  Continue in pattern until approx 2 inches short of desired length

TOE

Row 1:            Needle 1:  Pattern to last 3sts K2tog K1

                       Needle 2:  K1, SSK pattern to last 3sts K2tog K1

                       Needle 3:  K1, SSK pattern to end

Row 2:             Work pattern as set.

Repeat these 2 rows until 16 sts remain, 8sts on needle 2, 4sts on needles 1 & 3.  combine sts one needles 1 & 3.  Kitchener stitch toe closed or turn inside out and do a 3 needle bind off.

This is my own pattern and is available for personal use only © Gormal Crafts.

Vacuum Cover done!

Nipped into town this morning and the only thing I could find in the charity shop was a nightie, so I took it home with me.  

Dug out my faithful sewing machine and got to work. I removed the bust of the nightie, pleated it front & back to fit the doll sewed this down adding elastic for a better fit reused the trimmed bust and made a cross over front.  Made a vest from scrap fabric in the stash. 

This is the end result. Worked out just long enough to hide the Hoover.

I'm sure it'll raise a few giggles too.

Soap Box Recycle

I'm gently easing myself into paper crafts, I'm totally in awe of Kens creations and will have to delve more into the site to learn the how tos of it all...hopefully.

Anyway back to the topic. It took a long time to empty the big box of washing powder, actually it's more medium sized, but we managed finally.  Since it was just the right size and shape to squeeze in between the dressing table and the wall I figured it would be perfect as a bin. So I printed of some nice paper and borders and glued them on with pva.

I like how it turned out so it's a shame you're only going to see the skinny end.

I'm buying the biggest powder box I can find this week and in about a years time I will have another go......... yes it will take me that long to empty it!!

Hopefully by then I'll be a little better at the decor side of things.

Vacuum Cover - progress so far

I've wanted to make one of these ever since I saw one in some movie. Don't know why, but I just thought it was such a clever idea. anyway I watched the said movie again 2 weeks ago and it caught my eye again, so I remembered I was going to have a go at it.  

Bear in mind I have no idea how these are made and the only thing I could find on the internet was to behead a soft toy..... nope not doing that! Someone might think I have issues!!

So basically what I did was make a rag doll torso, using a plate to draw round for the head. I've never made a doll either so this is new to me. Make arms, stuff and pin to torso (this I didn't do...duh eejit), sew the body and stuff the head. Then I had to figure out the gap for the handle to go in, I find it easiest to place it on the handle and pin in place, when you take it off straighten it up and sew around it. stuff it well and fit over the handle, it should sit nicely. Sew the stuffed sides closed.

Okay next up is the hair......another mystery to me but I found a tutorial and made two sets and stitched them onto the head, I decided to plait the hair for practicality.

Next up is the face, now this had me searching for quite a while as I wanted a sort of manga/anime style with the eyes. when I finally found something I liked I stitched the face on, putting pink felt for the mouth. I left out the eye colour as the thread I had was too dark, now I can't decide to leave as is or to get a bright colour and try that.

So now I've to scour the charity shop for fabric to make the clothes....... that'll be a challenge as they never have much, but hey I might get lucky.

So this is where I'm at so far. Now it's got me wanting to make rag dolls, oh I wish I had internet when my daughter was little I could have made so many things other than fancy dress costumes.