my finish along list 2020!

It’s time for another year of the finish a long, and a fresh start, (although most of the projects are carrying over from last year and some from year before!) The finish a long is going to be more instagram based this year, but I might still try and blog my progress.

I have decided I will write my full work in progress list for reference and in case I just fancy a change of project. I am also going to just pick a handful of projects I really want to finish this quarter.

So Q1:
First is my catty corner quilt. I am pattern testing for @stitchandyarn so I have a definite deadline for the finish. I am making good progress and it will hopefully be finished for mid-end of February!

Next is my #birthdaystitchersswap2020 parcel. I have made one thing this month but have another 3 to make before my partners birthday. As much as I’d like to post sneak peeks and progress photos, I just don’t want to spoil the surprise. They will stay a secret until opened and then I will share.

I’d really like to make a new #snappyzippouch for my phone. I cut it out of some meadowland left overs ages ago but have been distracted by other projects.
I’d also like to make a large fabric basket with my meadowland fabric to keep my hair dryers tidy. Hopefully I will have enough fabric to do it, though I think a bit of patchwork may be required.

A banner for my pin badge collection has been on my make list for ages. My collection has grown so much, I have bought a basket from ikea for them. Now I need to make a fabric basket/liner to go inside and make it easier to use. I will still need to make a small banner for my disney pins too!

Last picks are a couple of pouches. I have had a unicorn retreat pouch cut for a couple of years now and have just been putting it off. It scares me for some reason, a friend recently posted one on Instagram though and it has made me want to give it a try. The other pouch I want to finish for myself is the liberty baby cord and pink cord pouch I started last July. After it looked bigger than I expected during making, I decided to add some hardware and make it into a bag. I have since bought the hardware, but still not finished making so it joins the list.

Now the projects I will probably be leaving til next quarter:

• A father's day gift: I have bought the fabric and have a pattern I’d like to try. Since Father’s Day isn't until 21st of June, there’s no rush.
• A case for Millie’s cool mat: Since Millie hates laying on just the mat, we had to use a old postman pat cover last summer. I have bought some lovely summer fabric to make her a new cover this year.
• A Tasha Noel seaside skirt: I bought a panel in the summer and really wanted to make a skirt. I didn't get it made in the summer ,but hopefully I will this year before all the hot weather comes.
• The Adele dress: I cut a toile ages ago to check the fit and then never stitched it up.
• Halloween cushion: I bought the ghost pattern from then came June but don’t fancy an entire quilt. I found some lovely fabric in the sales though so want a cushion or two.
• Makers mat: I have been wanting to make a makers mat for a couple of years, the pattern designer hosts a sew along for it too. I am really hoping to finally join in this year (about October time) I have my fabric planned and ready. Really I should make 2 but will see how it goes, or if my old sewing machine gets claimed by my sister then I'd only need to make one!

Christmas makes:

• A Christmas cross stitch: This was started ages ago, so hopefully I will just keep doing a little bit throughout the year and have the finished stitching to frame in time for Christmas.
• My advent calendar: I started this last new year and didn't get it finished. I joked that I would end up sewing one a day this December, but with gifts still to make, that didnt happen either. It has been put away and will hopefully be out and finished ready for the 1st this year.
• Christmas bunting: my mum encouraged me to buy a cute panel. I have all the supplies I just need to put together. It shouldn’t take too long, but will be a project for later this year.
• Polar bear cushions: I can't even remember when I started these! I will try and get them finished this year though.

Quilts:

• First I need to finish the car quilt I started in July 2019. I finished making the top, just didn't have the right batting to finish it. I have bought the batting but just not gone back to finish the quilt. I also want to make a couple of extra cushions and seat belt cosy.
• I want to finish the heather ross sugar plum and trixie quilt, it is a big project but I'll hopefully have time to finish it this year.
• A liberty HST quilt: This has been waiting ages. I started cutting and then it got pushed to one side for other projects. It would be really nice to make it though, especially since I managed to get a big piece of liberty in the sale for backing.
• A quilt using the doll house range: This wouldn’t be my first choice of quilts I want to finish, however, my mum is redecorating and I think it could look really nice in the lounge so it has been pushed to the top of the list.
• Ice cream soda quilt: Obviously I still have this to be working on. I am doubtful it will be finished 2020 though, but I'm happy to keep hand stitching them in between other projects and see it grow.
• Green & cream quilted blanket: I started this years ago, but never completed the quilting.

*I wont bore you with a list of the other quilts I want to make. I have bought the fabric and picked patterns for quite a few. I highly doubt I will finish all the ones above, never mind these but I can always add them later this year depending how things go!*

Lastly I must learn to crochet! I was bought a couple of toft kits to make crochet animals. I really want to make them, but am not having much luck actually learning to crochet. I am really hoping I will manage them this year though.

I think that is everything although I am only planning the get the first few bits done this quarter. I will be posting my finishes on instagram and will try and use the #craftylilmousefal2020 to track my progress. You can also check out the @finishalong account if you want more details on how to join in.

Mx

sweet seaside bunting...

As part of my birthday stitchers swap parcel, I made my partner some bunting. Sally had suggested she’d like some bunting, however, it wasn’t really clear from her inspiration board what style she would prefer. Knowing Sally’s fabric tastes and because I wanted it to feel fresh and summery, I chose the Tasha Noel seaside fabric range first.

I think bunting is always better double sided, so I chose the Tasha Noel a small floral design from the a little sweetness range to compliment it. Making it reversible also gave her an alternative look in case she didn’t like the seaside theme. Since I learnt Sally’s favourite colour is red, and it matched my fabric choices perfectly, I picked out a red lace edge binding for the top of the bunting.

I first fussy cut some of the seaside characters, then added the other fabrics in between from the range until I was happy with the layout. I cut the same amount of florals and interfacing. I’m not quite sure why I interface bunting, I just like the way it looks. I stitched it all together and then tried to get a photo of it all, which turned out to be quite tricky.

I never know how many pennants to make when sending bunting, this might be a lot but hopefully she will find somewhere to hang it all!

This is one of my finish-a-long projects, although finished in Q2 I think... it wasn’t gifted until October so I’m including it in my Q4 finishes. You can see my finish-a-long list here.

Mx

halloween bunting!!

• basic grey for moda cotton (Halloween fabric) 3 x half a metre
• iron on interfacing (medium weight) 1.5 metres
• black bias binding (1 inch wide) 9 metres
• sew easy equilateral 60' triangle template

I cut 3 different patterned fabrics into 5 1/2" strips. I cut these into the bunting shape using the sew easy- equilateral 60' triangle template. I cut interfacing into 5" strips and used the template to cut my triangles. I ended up with 96 fabric triangles and 48 of the interfacing. I then paired up the fabric triangles with one layer of interfacing for each pair. I then ironed the interfacing to one of the triangles from each pair, before sewing the pair of fabric triangles right sides together leaving the top edge open. I then trimmed the excess fabric with pinking shears and turned them right way around. I then pressed each of the triangles to keep the edges neat and shapes flat. To assemble the bunting, I first arranged the colours into the desired pattern. I then folded the binding in half and ironed along the full length to create a crease. Each of the triangles was then placed between the binding and pinned into position, leaving an inch gap between them and 5 inch spare on either end. The final stage was to sew along the entire length of the binding to secure all of the triangles in place.

 

The bunting was then ready to hang for a party or special occasion. This one is for Halloween but a change of fabric could make it perfect for any occasion or just for interior décor !! It can also be a great project for scrap busting to use up those offcuts of different fabrics. This project did leave me with some spare fabric which could be used up in other projects or a miniature version of bunting.

 

Mx