Finished It Friday

I’m really sorry if you were expecting fluffy bikinis and hot pants, it’s not that kind of accessories! It is however what every discerning Women’s Institute member would obviously make to take on a crazy weekend clubbing in Magalluf isn’t it? I did stop myself from making a matching passport holder, I think I might have been banned from the hen do. I’ll see you all on the other side.

So, what have you finished this week? Some craft, a book, the crossword. Join up so we can all come ooh and ahh.

I’d seen these headbands on Pinterest a while ago, and they are great for using up a little bit of leftover fabric from another project.

I used the flap from the pillowcase I used to make pillowcase dresses from. The tutorial is brilliantly put together and easy to follow.

You turn your back and even small boys have taken a fancy to them.

Last week My Gorgeous Boys posted about a fantastic sock monster linked to a sharing books with children course. A great tutorial if you are looking for inspiration.

Merry had finished a beautiful cardigan for her niece Nina. I love it.

Photo Credit: www.patchofpuddles.co.uk

So, what have you finished this week? Some craft, a book, the crossword. Join up so we can all come ooh and ahh.

p.s There probably won’t be a FIF post next week as I’m going away on Friday morning until Tuesday, on a hen do, to Magaluf, with 30 others, and no children – yikes!

This week I felt I was in danger of finishing nothing again. So much going on in the house and garden demanding attention and the small matter of a little boy’s birthday – today! However, I gave myself permission to have a good sewing session yesterday afternoon. I wanted to get another pillowcase dress finished. From the leftover bits of the pillowcase flap and some other small fabric pieces I made some tissue covers. Hugo has had a bit of an obsession this week with marbles. He carries them round everywhere with him, tells me what he is doing with them and generally keeps them in his pockets. Poor washing machine has been hammered this week. So I decided to try and fashion a little drawstring bag for him to keep them safe. Here’s the results.

Love the concentration on these two – Open & Closed

So, what have you finished this week? Some craft, a book, a hot cup of tea (elusive in these parts). Join up so we can all come ooh and ahh.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by for last weeks Finished It Friday and giveaway. Mollie Makes has certainly had a massive impact on lots of people judging by the desire to get hold of the first issue. Thank you also for all your lovely best wishes and tales of your own experience of redundancy and how so many of you had used it as an opportunity to pursue creative and family pursuits.

We’ve had great fun this first week of the holidays, ‘helping’ my OH renew fences in the garden. The 2YO’s plastic tool kit has been put to great use. Yesterday my 8YO and I had a wonderful morning at Make & Do Studio, learning how to wet felt. It was a brilliant experience, with expert tuition for a small group of children.

We learnt how to turn this:

Into this:She drew a design onto paper first and then cut it out to use as a template. The blue felt was made first and then the colours overlaid.

It was amazing to see how the little pieces eventually knitted to the background piece and how sturdy the felt fabric turned out.

We’ve just got to sew the two pieces together and add the handle, now that the piece has dried thoroughly. We’ve also got a kit for home and some wool to have a go at some other things. I quite fancy trying to make some felt beads to thread as a necklace or bracelet.

There were some gorgeously inspiring entries last week. If you haven’t had chance to check them out please do.

Click on the images to see the story behind them

Claire's 365 Amigurumi dinosaur

Read Dillytante's story of making a house a home

Jax talks about finishing The Sea on Our Skin, which is pretty amazing with a 4 week old. Finishing a cup of tea would have got a round of applause from me.

A beautiful ruffled belt tutorial from Mum of All Trades

Another Goldfish has completed a sweet 'Gnome Sweet Gnome' cross stitch

Pampootie has finished a wonderful shawl, with a link to a free pattern for it

So what have you finished this week? Some craft, a book, the crossword or mending your fences? Leave a link below so we can have an ooh and an ahh.

Edit: Thank you to everyone who commented and all your kind words of encouragement.

The winner is

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I take full credit for the beautiful weather we have had over the last week, yes it is all down to me, honest. It’s because I’ve been knitting the chunkiest warmest cowl you could ever wish to have when it is -5 degrees outside. So obviously I finish it in the midst of a heatwave. It’s from Mollie Makes Issue 11 and is the Ada pattern from Quince&Co, I used Debbie Bliss Como.

I’ve also had another big finish too – work. I was officially made redundant this week, after a long period of knowing it was going to happen, it still feels rather strange to be here. I’m looking forward to having some time with the children over summer before really deciding what I want to be when I grow up. I still have my part-time photography to keep me busy and I’m about to embark on a distance learning City & Guilds Certificate in Hand Knit Textiles. Our newly formed Women’s Institute is taking up the rest of my spare time, so I won’t be twiddling my thumbs watching Jeremy Kyle.

I’ve been having a huge tidy up and very importantly getting all my magazines in order, alphabetically, subject and colour coded – only joking, but I have found a brand new first issue of Mollie Makes, with gift sewing kit attached. I’m sure that those who are new to Mollie Makes would love to get a copy of the out of print first edition, so please leave a ‘pick me’ comment and I’ll draw a name on Monday 16th April when the kids are back in school.

Last week I was astonished to see this linked up for Finished It Friday. It was still very much a work in progress two days previously. K must have foregone sleep last week to ensure this was finished for her very lucky sister in law’s wedding. Such a work of art and many hours.

Photo credit: www.anothergoldfish.co.uk

Merry at Patch of Puddles finished this amazing crochet pot. I’m a little in awe of this, mainly because it actually stands up and is useful. I’ve never had this success with crochet, it isn’t even felted, very clever.

Photo Credit: www.patchofpuddles.co.uk

So what have you finished this week? Something crafty, a book, the crossword or your job? Link up below so we can ooh and ahh.

A small sense of achievement in getting something finished. My favourite baby bootees, from Debbie Bliss The Knitter’s Year or Baby Cashmerino book 1. A little nappy pin name card which is perfect for short names but no good for any Charlottes or Alexanders. The bootees take less than one ball of Baby Cashmerino yarn and are pretty straightforward despite the complicated looking appearance. 

The beautiful playmat is from Tree Fall Design and has been with us a couple of years nearly. It is well loved (and washed) and is definitely on it’s way to becoming a family heirloom piece.

The recipient hasn’t got them yet, but I did get to meet him last week. Absolutely adorable, and at 12lb 1oz born he was still a tiny cutie.

What have you finished in the last week or so? Something crafty, a good book, a cake or the crossword? Link up below so we can all have a nosey.

This week I’ve been playing with some really fun projects. This is the first giraffe I’ve finished from Hop Skip Jump, who sells the pdf pattern for him and some other lovely little animals.

I made Rufus dog before Christmas and didn’t take any photos as it was such a last minute finish, so I’ve got another underway. My teaser here got some great suggestions.

It is amazing how much stuffing you can get into a giraffe’s neck, if was never ending. He’s a really cheeky character and is alway turning his head to look to his right, probably to check where my 2YO is.

Hugo found his ‘scarf’ silly and said that giraffe’s don’t need them. I begged to differ and said that in this cold weather and with his long neck he needed to keep it wrapped up. 

So what have you finished this week, a book, some craft, knitting, crochet or like Merry who’s blanket was featured last week – a baby! Congratulations to her and Max on the wonderful arrival of Benedict.

Leave me a link below so I can have a nosey.

So pleased to be back with Finished It Friday. My crafting mojo has been a little bit AWOL in early January. I think the Christmas deadlines invoked a bit of a post holiday time out. Before I tell you about my crafty finished item, I just wanted to mention a fantastic book I finished mid-week. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It is a fantastic book, with lots to learn about a difficult time during the internment of American Japanese citizens, but more than that a beautiful romance of a young boy and girl. Read my full review over at Love A Book.

I’ve got a few things on the go now, but this is a little sheep that I finished this week. It’s the second one I’ve done of these, the pattern is free from Lionbrand here. It can probably be completed in an evening. I’ve used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan yarn for the wooly part of the sheep and a Patons Merino DK for the head  and feet.

Wooly sheep isn’t just a friendly little companion, he holds magical powers. He is actually a Worry Sheep. He comes with a special purpose.

Other lovely people who’ve linked up this week include Another Goldfish and her gorgeous biscornu. Blackwork isn’t a technique I’ve tried myself, but pop over to Another Goldfish to find out more about the pattern.

Photo Credit - Another Goldfish

Merry at Patch of Puddles has finished the most amazing Nina blanket and a beautiful double moss stitch rainbow blanket. I can’t do the story behind these blankets the justice they deserve.  You need to read Merry’s own heartfelt words. Aren’t they absolutely gorgeous?

Photo Credit - Patch of Puddles

Photo Credit - Patch of Puddles

Also delighted to show you an edible Finished It Friday from Helen at Casa Costello. She can work wonders with creme eggs and the detail in this valentine flower basket is stunning. Take a look at the full post for the ingredients and techniques she has used.

Photo Credit - Casa Costello

What have you finished in the last week or so? Something crafty, a good book, a cake or the crossword? Link up below so we can all have a nosey.

Finished it Friday has been missing in action over the past weeks, as everything I’ve been making has been for Christmas gifts and I didn’t want to spoil any surprises.

This little zebra from Debbie Bliss Knits to Give (which would be a great gift for a knitter you know) is for my 2YO and as he doesn’t read the blog, I’m sure I’ll be safe in posting about it.

It was a really quick make and quite easy to assemble – I always put off actually finishing things off, but it didn’t take long at all once I got going. The hardest thing was trying to match the stripes up at the seams.

So what have you finished in the last week or so, anything fancy for a Christmas gift or something for the home inspired by Kirstie? Leave me a link below.

I’m feeling very seasonal this week, and whilst off with the children for half-term and doing all manner of Halloween activities, it’s nice to be able to relax with a little Autumnal knitting.

This pumpkin is from The Knitter’s Year by Debbie Bliss, a book that I’ve made a number of items from including the floral corsage, flowerpot covers, lavender bags and baby sandals.

I love it, it’s really squidgy and the Rowan Kid Classic yarn with it’s slight fuzziness, gives it a real rustic look and feel.

So what have you finished in the last week or so? Have you started your Christmas makes or have you been absorbed making halloween crafts? Leave a link then we can all have a nosey.