Twig + Tale - A blog tour

Now you might not of heard of Twig + Tale but if you've been reading my blog for any length of time you will know of "Big Little". Big Little has gone through a little transformation and is relaunching as Twig + Tale, same great patterns just a new name and a new place to get inspiration! 

I love these patterns so much, in fact I could bore you with how much I love their patterns, but I think Twig + Tale sum it up perfectly. 

"Twig +Tale is a place where imagination runs wild and is for everyone who shares a love of creativity and an adventurous spirit—beginner sewers especially! It's a celebration of the innocence of childhood and the wonder of nature. It's about comfy clothes and warm things like hugs and capes and coats. It's about handmade, love, and imaginary play—featuring classic, simple patterns that inspire us all to tell a story".

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I've long admired the Wild things coat, but the climate here means the number of days a full Winter coat are needed are few and far between. So combining the Wild Things features with the Pathfinder vest is the perfect combo, I'm not alone in thinking it is a great combo, you can actually buy that pattern combo !

My daughter decided that a fox was the "wild thing" she wanted for a vest. The very next day I spied a large woollen lightweight wool shirt at my local thrift store. It seemed perfect, I just hoped that it was going to yield enough fabric! 

Spot the tail! 

Fortunately there was just enough. I carefully cut around the pockets and reattached them in a new position. The only compromise was a join in the front of the band of the hood. 

Twig + Tale have also released a free Dragon add on for the Wild Things patterns, cool wings, tail and horns. Click here to download Free Wild Things Dragon add-on . It's super cute and might just be the next version I try perfect for a Pete's Dragon fan! 

You might have noticed the beautiful lining fabric, Art Gallery Fabrics has generously sponsored the Twig + Tale blog tour. I had such a hard time choosing something from the Art Gallery Fabrics collection, so many beautiful fabrics! In the end I went with this beautiful print from the Forest Floor collection, Nature Study Ridge. I don't often work with new fabrics so it was a real treat, thank you Art Gallery Fabrics! 

What would a Blog Tour be without a giveaway!

Art Gallery Fabrics is kindly sponsoring 2 yards of Art Gallery fabric of your choice. To make the prize extra sweet, we are also adding a collection of 5 Twig + Tale patterns of your choice.
International entries are very welcome. Our bloggers come from every corner of the world to celebrate the global nature of Twig +Tale too.
Enter using the rafflecopter below.
(The winning entry will be checked to ensure all criteria are met).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do check out the other Bloggers taking part in the tour, I've seen their finished projects. So many stunning versions of Twig + Tale patterns and it really shows that the patterns are just the beginning - let your imagination run wild! 

 Blog tour overview page
Monday: Falafel and the Bee - Handmade Boy - Sew A Little Seam - Sew Shelly Sew

Tuesday: Näh-connection - Khadetjes - Paisley Roots - Vera Luna - Inspinration

Wednesday: Skirt Fixation - Mend and Make New - Idle Sunshine - NZ Green buttons - Candice Ayala

Thursday: Vaahtokarkkimonsteri - Lulu & Celeste - Sprouting Jube Jube

- Life in our busy household - Elephant Dimples

Friday: Pattern Revolution - Milk Monster Momma - Small Steps Big Noises - Fliegfederfrei

Saturday: - Made by Sara - So Popo Sew - Big Little Tales - Needle and Ted

Commemorate

A year ago we were preparing for Centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli landings. I crocheted what seemed to be a ton of poppies to give to friends who wanted something a bit more than the bought ones. I took a wee project bag of them with me all over the place, stealing a few moments here and there. It's possibly the only way to complete anything these days! Also pretty satisfying to see how those stolen moments add up.

My son was also invited to an Army themed party on Anzac day. I had some "jungle green" pants in my "upcycling" collection of clothes and I scaled them down using a pattern from Melissa Wastney's Book - Sweet and Simple Handmade. I cut the pattern pieces out making good use of existing details, like pockets etc. The pattern is so easy they were whipped up the day before in an hour or so.

Lest we forget.

2015, 52 and 2016

I want to put my hand up and say that I struggled my way through 2015, and without going into detail, I'm really pleased it's behind me! Hello 2016, yes I do realise that we are almost a quarter of the way through!

Things I haven't finished often weigh heavy on my mind and it's been bugging me that I stopped blogging my "52 things I've made". I did actually make 52 things last year, actually the number was much greater! But I struggled to get back into this space to blog about it. I'm hoping to share some making highlights over the coming weeks and just get back into blogging in general, for no other reason than to record the little things I've made and the things we've done. After looking way back deep into the archives I've discovered things I'd long forgotten and realised that it's something I really want to continue doing.

My garden is undergoing a wee make over of sorts, I've been busy pulling out box hedging and other "high maintenance" plants, going for a more simple plan with as many edibles as I can squeeze in. We've had the best fig season I can remember and I've squirreled many blackberries away for Winter apple and blackberry pies which are a family favourite!

So join me as I endeavor to return to this space more often, I've missed you!

Crochet cowl (16/52)

I recently finished crocheting a new cowl, I don't need another one. However I'm fairly sure that you can never have too many! I made it using the wool that I spun back here.

I didn't have a pattern and with only 100g of wool I knew I needed to crochet something quite open otherwise it was not going to go very far, the plus side of that is it crochets up quite quickly.

It tones in perfectly with the colours in my garden don't you think?The bright pink leaves belong to a type of Coleus I think, but I'm unable to find a picture that quite matches it. Many years ago my Nana gave me a bouquet of flowers from her garden with a few pieces of this amazingly, almost unnaturally coloured plant in it. It's the sort of plant that obviously grows quite easily from cuttings as it took root in the vase, not one to waste such and opportunity. I popped them in the garden and they flourished! Isn't it an amazing colour? Nature is amazing!

Hopping along (15/52)

My daughter is in the last few weeks of being a Brownie, next term she will be a Girl Guide. We are busily finishing off a few clauses for the last couple of patches she wants to complete before moving up.

One of the clauses was to have a family member teach you a new skill to make a toy, it could be sewing, knitting, woodwork etc. We started with knitting and quickly realised that this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought despite finding an easy garter stitch dog pattern (remember knitting isn't really a strong skill of mine!). So sewing it was!

We had so much fun making these little bunnies, we raided my stash of eyes and were both surprised how different they looked with just changing the eyes. We sat together chatting and stitching, it seems we don't spend enough time doing that.

We stuffed them with left over wool scraps, talking about how much better that was than going out to buy a bag a fibre-fill. I'm hoping those little thrifty moments will have a life long impact on her thinking. Making something with what you have (we talked about how we could have embroidered the eyes if we didn't have any bought ones at hand), passing on skills and having fun together. All things that don't cost a great deal.

I think I need to make it more of a regular thing.

Guava love (14/52)

Just the thought of Guavas conjures up lots of magical childhood memories. We had a Guava tree in our backyard and visits to my Grandparents meant lashings of Guava jelly. What the Guava jelly was served on I can't quite recall, but that tart but sweet flavour is like a window into my past. I also remember being fascinated by the jars sealed with wax and cellophane.

A few years ago I put in a couple of red Guava trees in our garden, this is the first year that we've had enough fruit to actually make a decent amount of jelly. Three jars, and it's absolutely perfect! It teams up well with fresh pikelets! 

Do you have magical childhood food memories?

Kintted (13/52)

 A few months ago my husband bought a large bag of T-shirt rags from our local recycled clothing shop. It seemed we couldn't supply enough rags ourselves to keep up with his demand for them, so for a few dollars we had a giant bag of them. More than he needed so I went through and picked out some coloured ones that caught my eye, leaving him with the copious amounts of black ones to wipe up greasy car oil.

A few evenings were spent cutting them into strips, the perfect mindless activity to accompany some television time. I had some plans to crochet the strips into baskets, but in the end a new bath mat was knitted up instead. Knitting skills are seriously lacking here, it's garter stitch or nothing! I do quite like those rows of wavy garter stitch though.

There might be a few more colourful T-shirts disappearing from my husband's stash! I hope he doesn't notice.

Woolfest (12/52)

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of attending the Auckland Woolfest with a couple of lovely blogging friends (thanks for the ride Leonie!). The weather was particularly nasty but we landed a perfect park right out the front and of course the cold makes for perfect wool/fibre buying weather.

I set off with a buying list in my mind, and a cash budget, fibre for spinning was at the top of the list. I am happy to report that I picked up everything I was looking for as well as a few things I didn't even know I needed!

This fibre "Gone bush" from Fibre 2 Go was spun up pretty quickly, I've got a small shawl like scarf in mind for the finished yarn, which I hope will crochet up as quickly as the fibre was spun.

Woolfest was a bit like being a kid in a candy store! So much colourful squishy goodness it was hard not to give it all a hug! I'll share more of my purchases over the coming months as I spin them up! Spinning seems the perfect way to spend these cooler evenings.

While taking the yarn photos I've discovered the little mossy world that is my BBQ table. It might need a sand and a coat of oil before the Summer!

Possum Pixie (11/52)

I really do enjoy sewing things for little ones, the size means they are often finished quickly which is always a bonus! I had the pleasure of making a little pixie hood coat for my nephew who I met for the first time recently. He lives in a warm land and I wanted to make sure he had something snugly to wear while he was here.

I've made so many pixie hood coat now that they do come together so quickly, I could make one in my sleep. This one I made from a thrifted jumper, a super soft Possum and Merino blend and for the lining my daughter (a proud big cousin) chose a Kiwi print fabric.

I'd forgotten how fast little legs move, especially when they are trying to keep up with big cousins, so photos are limited, but I think you can tell it would be a cosy to wear. It's generous in size so hopefully will last a few Winters, perhaps another visit to NZ too. Well an Aunt can only hope right?

dog's bowl (10/52)

Late last year I popped into a fibre selling market with my boy, with a strict budget and knowledge of exactly what I wanted. Except that boy of mine fell in love with some super soft squishy blue merino sliver and I left without the fibre I wanted, well some of it anyway.

He picked it up and declared that he needed a hat, and I was to spin it up straight away. I did, but in the heat of Summer he quickly realised that it wasn't the most perfect weather for hat wearing. I just knitted a rectangle and at the top stitched it into four points, super easy. I added a few stitches in red on the side too, his favourite colour (it always helps to ensure it will actually be worn).

The weather here STILL isn't hat wearing weather, but last time I looked he was using it as dog storage! I'm hoping the weather cools soon, I think it's a bit wasted as a dog bowl. Don't you agree?

Overdyed (9/52)

A long time ago when I started experimenting with acid dyes, I started off practicing on some pre-loved woollen baby clothes. It seemed a great way to see how the dyes reacted and I wasn't ruining my precious (spent a million hours spinning it) hand spun wool. The most I had to lose was a small amount of dye and a thrifted cardigan.

I went a bit crazy dying lots and lots of wee cardigans. Most needed slight repairs, a missing button or two, or a seam gently pulling apart. For the most part they have sat unfinished in their freshly dyed state for quite some time.

A few weeks ago, I decided the time had come to finish a couple of them and gift them to a couple of little baby girls I know. A few crochet flowers and new mother of pearl buttons and they were done. Hopefully they'll be keeping their new owners snugly and warm in the coming cooler months.

Now to finish off the dozen or so other jumpers I've got stashed away, and to find myself a cardigan in that perfect shade of green!

Lakeside (8/52)

There's a lovely lakeside spot in a town not far from here. It's on the edge of an urban and industrial area, yet oh so peaceful.

We visited recently to take some photos of my latest make. It's starting to become a tradition that I make a Winter jacket/coat for my kids, not quite annually as I normally make them generous in size, so they last a couple of cold seasons. I've tried a few patterns over the years, but this Pixie Coat by Lisa of Big Little is far and away my favourite. It's got everything going for it, long in length to keep little backs warm, a hood to protect those ears and optional pockets to carry all those treasures (this one has inside pockets).

It's recently been updated to include children's sizes up to a size 14, which means my tradition of making Winter coats can continue for a few more years yet! This is the first one I've made this year, super warm with a thrifted woollen blanket for the outside and a bright vintage floral for the lining. I stumbled across this HUGE button and thought it was the perfect way to finish off the coat. It's not quite the cold weather required for such a jacket yet, but that's just around the corner, which gives me a small window of time to make one for my son too!

For this week only the pattern has a special sale price of $8.50 no code necessary. There is another version too, Classic Pea Coat, also in sizes up to 14. The pattern is an instant download and with clear photographed steps even a beginner sewer can achieve a great result.


Stay tuned for the Ladies pattern to be released soon!

Blooming! Things I've made (7/52)

I'm sure I've said it before, but I'll say it again. My favourite thing in the world to sew is recycled and felted sweaters! It seems almost magical to take these poor wee sweaters that someone accidentally shrunk down several sizes, making them only fit for small people to wear, and turning them into something that is useful again. It's so satisfying!

I made these Winter flower boots for my girl, the Summer days are cooling and the evenings aren't quite as balmy as a few weeks ago. So it's fitting that I make a start on some Winter projects, before they are actually needed!

The pattern is Childrens' flower boots by Lisa of Big Little, it's so nice to have a pattern that isn't just for baby sized feet! But she has also designed the Flower Boots in Baby sizes too! So little feet from baby to youth size 4 are covered. I can see how people would want to make these year after year for their little ones. Simple and snugly.

They have leather soles which hopefully will make them more long wearing than the crocheted ones I've made in the past and not slippery on our lino floors too. A long black leather skirt that I picked up for a song was carefully unpicked and used for the soles. It was a large skirt so there will be many more Flower boots in my future! Luckily as my son also wants a pair. Just perhaps without the flowers, although I don't think he'd mind a bit. Red is his favourite colour after all.

The pattern itself is an easy and quick sew, elastic sewn into the lining means they will stay on little feet too. Great for the baby sizes I'm sure, those little baby feet do like to kick don't they?

For a limited time the pattern price is just $5! Bargain right?

Baby Flower Boots
Children's Flower Boots

Now to convince Lisa she needs to make them in adult sizes too! I'd quite like a pair for myself.

Spun - Things I've made (6/52)

I've been doing a lot of spinning lately. The evenings have started to cool and it's a great way to unwind and relax and clear my mind. Not to mention the bonus of having lots of beautiful hand spun wool to crochet with!

The fibre is a Silk/Merino blend, Navajo plied, soft and silky, delicious to touch. Navajo ply is one strand chain plied ending up as three strands plied together. Great if you want to keep colour blends or gradients true, but also great if you have just a small amount of fibre spun. I often ply any remainder fibre on my bobbins this way to keep my bobbins empty.

I love the colours that seem to blend in with colours in my garden at the moment. The colourway is Johnathon dyed by Fibre2go.

Have you made anything lately? I'd love to see what you've been making so leave a link in the comments if you'd like to share?

The new black? - Things I've made (5/52)

Are house plants the new black? They seem to be popping up everywhere don't you agree? I must be ahead of the game though as I've followed in my Nana's footsteps and never really been without a house plant of some sort, although I'm yet to have a conservatory that resembles some remote jungle location! Like my Nana most of my plants are cuttings or gifts from other people's gardens. Gosh gardeners are good at sharing don't you think?

In order to increase my house/houseplant ratio over the weekend I finally tried my hand at making some Kokedama balls, well my version of the Japanese art of Kokedama. 

I used a large clump of a Bromeliad (that was a gift from my Nana one Christmas well over 10 years ago) that had multiplied nicely and was in full flower. I used a mixture of potting mix and a peat, then some moss and an outer layer of coconut fibre. All wrapped up and contained with some bright plastic string.  I made seven balls in total, a couple to take to work, a few for home and a few more to give as gifts. My daughter's teacher was blown away when we gave one to her this morning, no one had ever given her a plant! 

I kind of feel I might be slightly addicted to making these, we might run out of room inside! I might get a jungle room after all?

Do you have any houseplants? Green thumb, or not so much?