Datura Blouse by Deer & Doe

I've decided that I am going to blog about making one thing each week!  I don't blog enough, but I do sew enough, so I thought that this would be a good target to set myself and we will see how it goes...

For my first weekly challenge, I decided to make the Datura Blouse by Deer & Doe. I found this one when I was searching for shirt patterns to make. It's not exactly the shirt pattern that I was looking for but I thought that it looked brilliant when I saw all of the versions around the web. I love that there is so much potential to hack the pattern, and I REALLY like the buttons down the back! 

Here is my version (and me!):

Me & my Datura!

Datura Blouse back with buttons

This was also a brilliant opportunity to use up this lovely Liberty silk which I bought on Etsy. I had originally bought it with a skirt in mind, but I didn't order enough (d'oh) so when I saw this pattern I decided that it was actually a good thing that I had made that mistake! 

Liberty silk twill

I like this version with the Peter Pan collar. It took me two attempts to make it as the first version was a bit bumpy and not particularly round so I wasn't happy with it. 

Datura Blouse with Peter Pan collar

I made this pattern in a size 42 to fit my bust and there is plenty of room. The bottom is flared so there is also plenty of room there! There were a few new techniques to try with this pattern. Although the instructions were clear, there wasn't a lot of detail or many images so I had to read them a good few times to understand exactly what to do, especially with piecing the front and back yolks together. 

I also just stitched the buttons through both back pieces as I knew that I would never unbutton the top and didn't have the energy for button holes. I used bias binding around the bottom hem, as directed, but I'm not sure I would bother with this again. I think you could get just as nice an effect by doing a mini hem (and I am all about the hems since receiving the Colette Patterns guide to hemming). 

I made this at the end of the long Thanksgiving weekend. The day was pretty relaxing as we'd been on a long hike to Garibaldi Lake the day before and my legs were still a bit stiff! 

Garibaldi Lake is stunning, even when it's cloudy. The blue water is so pretty and it was nice to be there on a quiet day just to enjoy it on our own. 

At Garibaldi Lake

Garibaldi Lake

Powelly the Owl

My Big not-so-Snowy Owl

Meet my new pal, Powelly. This is my version of Purl Soho's Big Snowy Owl. I noticed this lovely owl when we were visiting Purl Soho in November 2012. He looked so cuddly and soft, and I couldn't wait to make my own version with the free pattern available on the Purl Bee.

I picked up this gorgeous Goldenrod yellow Cascade Yarn from a lovely sewing shop, Stitches, in Seattle. It was really rainy whilst we were there (pretty typical of the Pacific North West, I have since discovered!) so we went for a look in some craft shops to keep dry and warm. I chose this wool partly because of the name and our proximity to the Cascades, but also because the skein was so big for the price! The lovely ladies in the shop wound the wool up for me so that it was ready to use. 

Cascade Eco+ Yarn in Goldenrod

I love this pattern because it's quite testing at the beginning: it was the first time that I had used double-pointed needles to actually knit in the round. Once you get the past the bottom, it's really quick and I really like the pattern that is created by the purl stitches on the body. 

As I didn't want to invest in lots of different balls of yarn, I decided to knit the eyes in one colour. This made it quite straight forward, although they came out different sizes! I struggled with the instructions for the nose, so kind of just made up my own version. It's not brilliant but as it is the same colour, I don't think it shows too much. 

The buttons and stuffing came from a brilliant organisation that I have been volunteering with: Our Social Fabric. They collect unwanted textiles and notions from all over the Lower Mainland and then sell them at monthly sales, preventing the items going to landfill. 

I've named the owl Powelly because we live just off Powell Street! 

In other non-craft related news, we've been doing lots of exploring in Vancouver with my in-laws and a friend who both visited in May. We've been really lucky with the weather over the last month, so we've been able to spend lots of time outside wondering round. I love being in Stanley Park or at one of the city's beaches. 

Girl in a Wetsuit, Stanley Park

Stanley Park Totem

English Bay Inukshuk

There are so many cool neighbourhoods that it's going to be tricky to decide where to live when we move out of our current place at the end of July. We'll miss the view, especially when the sun is setting like this (no filter I promise)!):

Sunset over the North Shore.

Arriving in Canada and my Lovely Purl Soho Cowl

After a crazy last few months living in Leeds, and a brilliant three months travelling around the world the long way, we've arrived in Canada! We've been living in Vancouver for almost a month now and we're feeling quite settled. I've even managed to bag myself a cool job. 

The view from our apartment looking over the harbour and mountains of Vancouver.

I've set myself a new resolution to go along with my new life in a new country: I'm going to try and blog a LOT more than I have so that I can share my makes and general thoughts with friends and family. So here goes...

I've been meaning to blog again my favourite cowl for ages, ever since I knitted it in October in fact. On our amazing trip to New York in November 2012, I made a beeline for Purl Soho, having read about it online. It was one of the best shops that I've ever been to in my life, ever. Their range of fabric and wool is stunning. The colours are so bright and pretty, there is nothing dull about the shop at all. I think we went into the shop three times in six days, and Andy was very patient, and even bought me their 4 Seasons of Embroidery kit as an early Christmas present (I'll talk about that another time!). I immediately fell in love with their first range of wool, the Super Soft Merino, mainly because of the lovely bright colours. I decided to buy fabric instead of wool during our visit, as I couldn't decide whether I thought this wool was expensive or not, and I had some ideas for a patchwork quilt that I wanted to make. 

About six months after we got back from New York, my sister was going through my handbag (nosy parker!) and found $70 that I'd put in my front pocket for safe keeping! My brother was off to New York in the June so I asked him to get me some wool, and some beer from the Brooklyn Brewery for Andy of course! 

I knew I definitely wanted the Super Pink colour, and perhaps the Heirloom White as I already had the cowl project in mind when I was placing my order after seeing the post about the Garter Gaiter. However, they had run out of the white when Rob was there so he bought the Oyster Grey instead. To be honest, I don't think there is much difference between them and I think that it works quite well! 

Wool & directions!

It only took me a few hours to knit up and I love the effect of the stitch - just knit one row, pearl the next. It was a little tricky at the cross over at the end of each row but I managed to make it look almost seamless. 

Close up of the Garter Gaiter stitch.

I also cast off a bit tightly so that it would go in at the top. 

The finished article, tighter at the top than bottom.

The instructions are easy peasy and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to make something similar with any kind of wool, but I especially recommend the Super Soft Merino as it's so so silkily soft (as in the name!). I used most of each skein of yarn, so it's not a really cheap knit, but not bad value because it is such good quality yarn. 

This cowl (or a snood as I keep calling it - not sure which is the correct name!) is so toasty and warm because of the merino and it's also a great fit. It's not too tight so not too sweaty, and if it's really cold I can put another thinner scarf underneath for extra warmth. It was perfect for the freezing cold climes of Japan and South Korea in January. 

Trying out my cowl at Christmas time with my best gal pals. 

A quilt for every day of the week!

Over the last 12 months, I have made quite a number of quilts as presents for friends and family - I think that there is nothing better than making something home made for special people in your life! 

Quilts are really good for little and big people, and although I have often been frustrated with them, the joy that they have brought to the giftees has made the suffering worth it every time! 

I've actually only ever complete one quilt for myself (you will see why if you look at the post below!) and I was really pleased with it for a first bash. I made it about four years ago and ever since it's been my go-to quilt for cozy nights in the Winter or for really warm nights in the Summer when I still need a cover to help me sleep.  

My first ever patch work quilt!

For all of the quilts that I've made, I've taken inspiration from the person that I am making for, or in some cases, the family of that person.  

The next quilt that I made was for Martha, a very special lady who is Andy's best friend's 3 year old daughter. We don't get to see them much so I wanted to make something that would remind them of us. I used Aneela Hoey's Little Apples as the little girl hula hooping is the cartoon version of Martha with her little light brown bob! I cut up each layer cake piece into 6 bricks (apart from a couple of cute larger pieces) and was slightly astounded by the size when I laid them all out!

Martha's quilt laid out

Obviously the quilt ended up being shorter than this once I'd sewn it altogether, but I also took a row off at each end so that it could be the same size as Martha's brother Emlyn's quilt (more about that later...). I used really thick wadding so it was a bit like taming a beast when it came to sewing it altogether! I also struggled with sewing the bias binding round the edge, which seemed to take ages. I'm also not very good at remembering to take photos of the finished article so unfortunately I don't have one of the final product!  

Now to Emlyn's quilt because of course he had to have one too. As a quick aside, Emlyn was born the day after our wedding, which means that Andy was best man-less on the day because this little man was already on his way! Emlyn was less than 6 months old when I was making his quilt so I took inspiration from his mum and dad, Kat & Martin. Kat is a really talented photographer and they both love to travel. I picked 8 different fat quarters from Birch Fabric's Next Stop and Commute as the cityscapes and bikes are so curt.  I decided to go for a square pattern instead of bricks. 

Emlyn's quilt all cut and ready to go

I have been told frequently that the quilts are a hit! When I get the chance I will be back soon to talk about more quilts for more people.

A labour of love

I have been thinking about starting a blog for quite a while now, but have often wondered whether it would be too much work! So what better way to start it then to write about something else that is becoming quite some work. 

After my wedding last July, I was left with 47 table runners, numerous place mats and various scraps of really beautiful fabric. As many crafty types often do, I put a lot of time and energy into making our wedding look just right. I used Liberty Poppy and Daisy as the inspiration for the wedding, which I sort of accidentally picked up for a tenner at a shop in Stratford-upon-Avon. After choosing this as a theme, the rest of the colours just seemed to follow suit (and then I just had to add in some purple - my favourite colour). So, with all of these bits and pieces left over, a colleague suggested that I make a patchwork quilt to always remind me and my lovely husband of our special day. 

Here's said table runners in action!

I decided to use the English paper piecing method to make the quilt, partly because I have never done it before but I also love the effect of the flowers and thought that it would compliment my specially chosen fabric well. I've made quite a few quilts on my sewing machine so was in the mood to try something more challenging. 

Here's all of my hexagons cut to size

Despite being married for over 7 months, I have only really just got cracking with the quilt. It took me an age to cut all of the hexagons out, both fabric and paper ones. And now I've made 9 flowers (Ok, 8 and a half...). Only 51 and a half to go, and then I'll be on to the cream border fabric and all by hand which is something I am definitely not used to.  

I've set myself a target of finishing the quilt for our first wedding anniversary, but despite the blog title suggestion, it may turn out to be more labour than love.