Shop update

I've neglected my Etsy shop lately. Just not enough hours in a day!

I have some hand dyed yarn waiting to be listed.
Taking pictures takes time and so I've listed only one skein today.

I call it Summer Fling. The colours are very vibrant. I have two skeins available.

I've been sewing Project bags these past few weeks. These are great for small knitting projects or even to carry your lunch or library book.

I listed two of them this afternoon. 

And this one sold almost immediately! Guess I'll be listing a few more tomorrow.

I've been knitting a baby blanket with a chunky cotton yarn. I should be finished by the weekend. The blanket will be gifted to a cousin expecting her first child.

A day with an old friend

When it's been too long since you have spent good quality time with your favorite friend, it's a real treat to do so for a whole day.
My friend and I did such a thing today.

Wanna see her picture?

Here she is.

Years ago, my sewing machine used to be my constant companion. Now, I take her out only occasionally.
I started sewing when I was 12 years old. And I sewed a lot, all the time, making most of my clothes and most of my children clothes till they were in their teens. I even sewed my wedding dress because I could not find what I wanted in the stores and prom dresses for both my daughter and myself.
My fabric stash was quite impressive back then.
Now, I don't sew my clothes anymore. I pretty much only sew for our home. Curtains, roman shades, duvet covers, slip covers...

Todays rain meant indoor time. So out came the sewing machine and with a search through the fabric pile, I came up with a couple of things I could quickly make today.

Here are the completed projects.
Pillows on the sofa badly needed some updating. At the end of the morning, I completed red and yellow pillow covers for the rec room sofa.

Last night, while reading a few of my favorite blogs, I came across this very well illustrated tutorial for a small project bag. It's actually a lunch bag but I will use it for small knitting projects. You can find the tutorial here.

 Using left over fabrics is always perfect for these small projects.

 The bag is lined with a blue and white gingham.

It has a drawstring top on the inside so that you can hide your project and protect it from dust and dog hair!

So all in all, a good productive day. 

Back to sewing...

Sewing has always been a favorite passtime of mine. I was sewing my clothes at the age of 12. I was sewing for my mother's and sister's at the age of 15. I loved it! I sewed in the evening after work, on weekends and on holidays. In other words, I sewed all the time. That was back then.

My mother taught me to sew. She was a wonderful and talented sewer. She had lots of patience and lots of skills.

But I've gotten away from sewing in the last 10 years. I mostly sew stuff for the house now, curtains, duvet cover, roman shades, pillows, and such.

Allthough I've given away a lot of fabric from my stash, I still have enough left to make a few things here and there.

I wanted to make something for these. Any idea what it might be?

I read through several tutorials online  to make a needle case but I mostly followed this one.

Black and white outside.

 With yellow and red added on the inside.

 Lots of room for all my needles and other knitting stuff.

 Finally, my needles will all be in one spot and organised.

Even though there is room in this needle case for my double pointed needles, I think I would prefer to make another case for those. I have lots of DPs and I would prefer a smaller case for them. So next time I feel like sewing, I will have a project waiting!