Rev Up the Sleigh

Time to get cracking on the holiday crafts and Christmas presents.  Finished making my list and it’s a long one this year.  Good thing I wrote it out earlier.
Holiday Craft List #3

• Dummy
• Mittens
• Wildlife
• Baby bear
• Ornaments
• Gift bags
• Bows
• Doll makeover
• Bags
• Collars
• Barbie clothes
• Doll clothes
• Animals
• Sleeping bags

I plan to have them all done by the 21st.  That leaves time before Christmas to relax, or franticly wrap presents.  Which ever is more likely.

Read More »

Finished At Last

A few days late but here they are, the last couple of projects for my list. 

I had a pile of fleece squares and needed something quick to do with them.  Actually, I still have a pile of fleece squares, it’s just smaller now.  Since the Holidays are upon us (already!) I thought to make a bunch of mittens and stockings out of them. 

Simply cut two of each shape and use a blanket stitch around each.   Easy enough for a child.  Now what to do with them?  I could hang them on the tree as soon as I drag it out of storage.  I could also make pins out of them for quick gifts, or possibly stick them in my hair.  That is actually very tempting.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Ten down and out.  Just in time.  I have to get started on my actual holiday crafts.

Read More »

Fluffy Fleece

So I do love, love, looove making my pretty dresses with big poufy skirts.  The problem is that when it gets cold it’s hard to wear a jacket over those skirts.  The solution?  A dress coat or jacket.



Like this one.  I used off-white fleece and a basic jacket pattern with a few tweaks.  Basically I made it about waist long, added a skirt, and added a panel in front to make the neckline higher.  I had intended to make it collar-less that is until I saw what the neckline looked like without one.  It wasn’t pretty. 

The final results are something I can be mostly proud of to say the least.  The buttonholes I’m not too proud of, but at least they show improvement.  Also, the lining gave me some problems here and there especially in the skirt. 

Otherwise I am happy with the results.  Plus now I have plenty of leftover fleece to make accessories like mittens and stuff.  I already started with the bow pin on the collar.  I'm not sure if I should leave it there or wear it somewhere else.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Six down, just two more to go.  The last two should be done by Wednesday at the latest.

Read More »

Bags Again

I’ve done some work on my Knifty Knitter again.  I think I’ve really gotten the hang of it and I may be ready for more difficult stuff.  For now it’s easy peasy projects like these simple bags.  They are a little different than the last ones I made (see Back From the Chaos with Something Pink).  The one on right is a simple rectangle shape, made purposely wider than what I’ve previously done, and with a zipper to close it.  I had intended to make it with a flap to close, but that didn’t work out.  The one on the left is a simple drawstring bag.  I didn’t plan the drawstring part it just happened that way.  It is made in a similar matter to a knit hat, at least I think it is.  I haven’t tried making hats yet so I’m not sure, but that would be a neat project to try next.
Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Seven down, just three more to go.  I should have the next one up this weekend.

Read More »

Blue Bells and Achy Throats

If you follow me on twitter, you probably already know that I have been sick the past few days. I probably shouldn’t say “have” since I am still coughing like crazy.

Anyway, being sick has slowed my pace a little so I have gotten slightly behind schedule in a lot of things. Crafts included, but what else is new?



I manage to finish my new dress just in time to wear it Sunday, and without sneezing or coughing on it which was a miracle. It didn’t come out quite like I wanted it. It was supposed to have long puffed sleeves, but they came out “funny”. And despite being the third time using this pattern for the bodice, I still haven’t gotten the fit right.

Beyond that everything's perfectly swell. I love the blue trimming. If you look closely, you can see that it’s ribbon with embroidered blue flowers. I got a fantastic deal on it at SAS, 25 cents a roll and buy 2 get 1 free. Needless to say I stocked up on it. You will probably see it again soon along with this blue fabric. I promised my niece that I’d make her a skirt like this if she got a flu shot. She did.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Six down, four to go. The next one should be up before Thanksgiving. If not, Happy Thanksgiving y’all.

Read More »

Pouches and a Cat Inspection

First up, last December I made some cute tissue pouches (see Pretty Pins and Pouches).  Now those I made for gifts, not for me.  But now I need some too. 

So I made these ones. They look a lot like the other pouches until you open them.  These ones have a flap to make it easier to put tissues or handkerchiefs in them.  It also makes handy for other things or it would if I could think of another use for them.

I did say there would be two projects today, and the second is this cat bed.  The design is based on one I saw in a store years ago.  It’s basically a soft mat with some sides, I guess sort of like a plush tray.  The only difference it this one isn’t made from foam or tacky looking like the one I saw in the store.  There’s one problem.  When I showed to my cat, Midnight she walked away…

…Then he showed up.  Angel had to give his two cents.

Looks good to him.

But I made it for Midnight.

Don’t go Angel, you can have it.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Five down, five to go.  Yay, half way through!

Read More »

Birdy Birdy Birdy

I was sitting on a bench on campus working on the computer and noticed a bunch of little birds around me.  These birds definitely weren’t shy, too use to messy students leaving food scraps.  I thought how cute they looked and it gave me the intense urge to make cute plush birds. 

I use pink felt for the bodies and white felt for the wings.  The eyes are small faux pearls.  I’m not sure what to do with them yet.  I might possibly sew some ribbons on them and make ornaments.  I also thought I could stick combs on them and wear them in my hair, but maybe that might be too much.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Three down, seven to go.  The next project will be up by Wednesday, or should I say projects, there should be two.

Read More »

Give Me a Doll with Hair

Ready for my excuse?  It’s a good one.  I didn’t post this yesterday like I said I would because I was sick, again.  Something is going around over here and it finally came around to whack me in the face.  Moving on.


I think a few of you should recognize this doll that I bought at Goodwill (see Finally Remembered).  Only a buck but she needed a bit of work.  Her hair was almost hopelessly tangled and frazzled, someone must have really “loved” doing hair.  She was also dirty and still wearing her original lame horrible plain dress.  I couldn’t let her stay like that. 

So before…

…And after.  

I gave her a good scrubbing and wash and conditioned her hair which made it so much easier to tackle her rat’s nest of hair.  Of course I gave her a hair cut, I do enjoy cutting doll hair and there’s nothing else that can be done for damaged hair. 

The dress I made for her is a simple pillow-case dress style, if you look you can find tutorials everywhere online.  I added some elastic to the waist because I thought it looked better that way.  With some matching ribbon tied in her hair, the look is complete. 

She’s a much cuter doll now.  The only thing is that I have no clue what to do with her now.  Do I keep her or give her away, and away to whom?  I have too many nieces and a nephew who would all love her.

Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

Two down, eight to go.  Sick or not the next one will be up by Monday.

Read More »

Sewing a Car?

So one fine day, while I was busy sewing I asked my nephew if he would like me to sew him something.  His response?  A car.  How do you sew a car?  I thought about it and came up with this…

…Felt cars.

They are made from two layers of felt.  The top layer has details cut from scraps and sewn on.  The bottom layer is made of two over-lapping parts, this make a small opening that allows for something small to be hidden inside such as a note or key or something.  I’m not sure what to call them yet, but I know my nephew will love them.
Here’s the updated list:

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

One down, nine to go.  The next project should be up this Friday.

Read More »

Up to Twenty-Three

I literally just finish drafting up the new project list.  Nothing spectacular about this one, but some of the projects I should be needing fairly quickly at least judging by the current weather here.  It’s cloudy and the temperature is expected to drop about 20 degrees tomorrow with a chance for rain.  If it does rain at least I’ll have plenty to do.
Project List #23

• fabric car
• hankie holder
• birdies
• cat bed
• tiny mittens
• tiny stockings
• doll makeover
• blue dress
• knitted bag
• jacket

I should have them all done before the 30th.  Then I’ll need to start the Christmas list.

Read More »