Zip-away tote

 

Another gift sewn, this time a bunch of zip-away totes which are great for shopping trips. You can tuck multiple into your bag or hang one from your key ring.

Easy!

Check out my Youtube tutorial here.... on how I made mine.

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I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

10 minute gift idea

 

Yes, you read the title correctly, sew an awesome gift for someone in 10minutes! In fact, you can cut & sew (& stuff) the entire gift in under 15 minutes! No pattern needed.

So what are you waiting for, go check out my Youtube tutorial (here: https://youtu.be/6V4mDRJ7Icw)  & see how it's done (I've even included a timer, so you can truly see how fast it takes me). 

The fabric is soft, smooth & totally awesome;  it's velvet and you can get it either here....    or here.... (if in Australia).

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The cutest Secret Santa gift

 

If you need an idea for possibly the cutest gift ever, then stay tuned!

I made this super cutie pouch as a secret santa gift .. it's so soft, fluffy, squishy, colourful and useful too!

Check out the tutorial on how I made it here:   It really was easy to sew!

Another idea for making an unforgettable Secret Santa gift this holiday season is using liquid Sculpey polymer clay! This versatile material allows for intricate jewelry designs or adorable miniature figurines crafted specifically to the recipient's personal interests, creating something truly one-of-a-kind and original! If this idea intrigues you, online tutorials provide instruction for this method - adding handmade flair to your gift-giving this season.

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Scrappy Tula Pink pouch for a gift

Another present sewn, ready to be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. I hope this will be loved as much as I enjoyed making it. In fact, I'm a little jealous of it, I might have to make myself one too!

I filmed myself sewing it & kind of did chatty Vlog type thing, I hope you like it. See it here: https://youtu.be/MimfBHC7xnc   

Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel yet? Do you love my scrappy pouch?

I'd love it if you popped over to my YouTube channel & subscribed to it & even liked some of my videos. Every like, every follower, every comment is like a great big hug! 

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Sunday afternoon & the perfect gift idea

 

I had a nice quiet Sunday afternoon: I sat inside with the kids and whilst they were playing video games, I crocheted a Christmas present.

Isn't it just absolutely adorable! Can you tell it's a watering can? As soon as I put eyes on it, it just came to life and now my son wants me to make him one too! 

Pattern is from here: https://amzn.to/3B4EthR or if you're in Australia (like me), then you can get it from here...... 

Yarn, I used stuff from my stash but you could also use this green or maybe this pretty green too.

Eyes: I used this type.

The question is, should I make more? What colours should I make? Perhaps I should make a big collection of watering cans but what is what would they be called? A sprinkling of cans? A clan of cans? A school of clans?

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The Skull Cowl

 

Joe turns 12 in a few weeks and I wanted to knit him something as he loves wearing handmade. Choosing something to knit a preteen is difficult, it's not about what I think he'll cute in but rather what he would choose to wear & like wearing. 

When I discovered this skull pattern, well, it kinda just ticked all the boxes. The pattern actually comes as either a scarf or a cowl, I chose the cowl version and also chose the bulky yarn version so I had a chance of finishing it before his birthday.

You can't tell from these photos but the yarn is actually a dark hunter green.

The pattern is this one and yes, it's "lace" but hey, I did it & didn't even have to block out any mistakes, so if you've never done lace work before, then this is perfect for you! And I also just discovered that the knitting designer who made this pattern is actually Australian!  Yay for supporting local!

I used yarn from my stash, but here's a few suggestions for you to use: this gorgeous dark colour or maybe this bold colour yarn too.

Also, I have say that I used this stitchers gps to make reading a lace chart super easy. I'm so glad that I used it and have actually bought another one so I never ever ever get lost in a pattern again!  I can't believe that something so simple made it easy for me to knit lace! 

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Thinking of useful things

With the end of the year approaching, I'm starting to think what to give as gifts, what would be appreciated to receive as a gift and what is something that I would love giving.

For me, the best gifts to give are useful gifts as those gifts that are just given & put away in a cupboard are just a waste of time & money. 

I love giving gifts that are used, they can be eaten straight away, planted & grown, used daily or popped somewhere to make life brighter. 

Image via Teapro

So I've decided to list below some useful gifts, gifts that you'd love to give and more importantly, gifts that would love to be received. Not forgetting those gifts that are personalised, now those type of gifts truly show that you've taken the time to get them something special, here's a link to see a gift guide chocka block full of personalised gifts.

First let's think a month long gift, yes, those awesome Advent Calendars but good ones!   

Did you know that you can get a Tea advent Calendar and even a Dog Treats Calendar for that special pooch in your life.

For those who love the great outdoors & gardening, there is a gorgeous Seed Bomb pack or these gorgeous cat planters.

Image via Patimetal

For the book nerds in your life, these book ends are super cute and these book ends are using the force to hold the books in place!

Acknowledge the hat wearer in your life with possibly the best cap on Earth!

For that super hard person to buy, well, this Octopus is giving me the vibes! 

Image via MonvatooLondon

You've probably never thought of giving a doormat before, that's because you've never seen one as cool as this one!

The best designed toiletries bag ever, in fact, I think I'd use it as my handbag! 

Lastly, you need to check out this store for their jewellery. The best ever dragon rings, the most cutest bunny rings. I want all of these, they have pendants as well as earrings and necklaces. Want. Need.

I hope you found these ideas useful!

I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Bilbo Battins

I just finished crocheting this cute bat, I've named him Bilbo Battins, do you think it suits him?

It's for Joe for his upcoming birthday (in December), I'm actually organised early!

To be honest, I had originally planned on crocheting a shark for Joe but when I saw this cute lil bat with those gorgeous big ears, well, I kinda fell for him!

The bat is so soft & squishy thanks to the yarn that I used. I used this yarn from the lovelies over at American Yarns who are based in Victoria, Australia.

The pattern is this one, it was an easy pattern to crochet.

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A new toy to play with!

 

Forgive the slightly crappy photos but I wanted to show you what I've been working on and I honestly didn't have a chance to take good photos as Joe took them both straight away to try them on & didn't give them back as he loved them too much!

Firstly, I need to tell you that I made them entirely on an overlocker (serger) that I got for my birthday a last week. Hubby asked me what I wanted for my birthday, so I sent him a link of what I really, really wanted and wowzer, he bought me it!  Such a lovely surprise, I've been wanting one for years but after I borrowed Mum's I didn't actually want one after that as threading it was a total nightmare & made me very crabby. So later, I did some research and I totally made the right decision in choosing a machine, are you keen to know what I got? Hmm, I'm now the proud owner of this overlocker/serger, it's the easiest thing to thread ever. It's even easier to thread than my sewing machine! I totally recommend it, especially after I've now made several things on it & changed the threads a few times, that air threading button is a dream to use!

I made the first pair of trousers below (the dinosaur ones) 100% on the overlocker, including the hems on the legs, waistband & elastic. I also didn't use a pattern, that's why they're a big baggy but hey, Joe still loves them.

I then made the second pair, the top image, using a pattern (this one) and once again, just used the overlocker including the pockets, hems, elastic & waistband. I love the style of these trousers and have made them before for Joe and he's always wearing them as their super comfy. Oh & fyi, the pattern is a free one, so grab it & make them too!

I honestly, did not know that you could sew a complete item like this on the overlocker, I always thought that you had to use your sewing machine as well to make them in conjuction with the overlocker. So now I'm keen to find out what else I can do with the overlocker! If you have any suggestions, then please let me know in the comments what other projects I should make!

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The Cutest Pouch Ever!

 

These lamb pouchs are possibly the cutest things that I've ever sewn!

It's a great stash buster, as you can use smaller pieces for the ears, the 'fringe' and you could even use different fabrics for the front & back.

I filmed myself making it, if you wanted to see someone doing it..  maybe because you're keen on sewing some for gifts now too?  I think it would also even look cute as a bag, with a small D ring sewn to the top (at the end of the zips) and an adjustable strap to go over your body.

Youtube clip here: https://youtu.be/quBz-KQkaSc

Pattern here: https://tidd.ly/3PBrRU6

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The Barbie Onesie

 

I knitted this super cute Barbie cat onesie for Delaney's 9th birthday.

She loved it, she also told me that her Barbies love it too and could I please knit some more!

It's a great stash buster as it doesn't use much yarn, pattern is this one....

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Cutest crochet teddy bear

Well, hello Teddy!

I just finished sewing in the ends of this cutie bear that I crocheted for Delaney's upcoming 9th birthday.

I wanted it super soft & snuggly, so I some gorgeous snuggly yarn from American Yarns.

I added the ruffle to finish it, it looks cute right?  This pattern was a first for me, I hadn't actually crocheted a body & head all-in-one before, you normally crochet them separately then sew them together. 

The eyes, well, I wanted to try something different than the standard safety eyes (like these ones), so I used these glue-on felt eyes and wow, they give the bear such a cute expression.

Yarn was the Premier Parfait Chunky Yarn from American Yarns

Teddy crochet pattern from here..

Felt eyes were from this online store..

check out his cute lil tail!

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Flora Supply Cases

I just finished sewing a couple of cute cases.  I've had the pattern for a while now but for some reason, I never made it. I actually have a stash of patterns that I've purchased and not used - I'm trying to make them all at least once otherwise I've just wasted my money! Do you have a similiar problem to me?

This is the small pouch and I wanted to try sewing hst (half square triangles). It was pretty fun, I used a template and just sewed along the dotted lines & cut where it instructed. Couldn't have been easier, don't know why I waited so long to do it!

This pouch, well, I wanted to try something completely different! I really wanted to try to do a 3d cover for the case and decided on a mini puff quilt. 

Honestly, I think it looks awesome! I know want to puff quilt everything! 

Grab the sewing pattern here: https://tidd.ly/3e3AVDU

You can try your hand at sewing hst's using either this template or any of these ones.

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Sewing beanies

I'm currently in between major knitting projects and I hate being idle, so I decided to start knitting beanies for charity. 

I asked my Mum for her beanie knitting pattern and memorized it after the first time I knit one. I'm using up my stash, so the beanies are all different, wool, acrylic, wool blends.

I then thought that I needed pompoms, I was going to buy some and shuddered at the price, so I decided to make some. They're actually easy to make, let me know if you want me to do a tutorial on making them.

I then decided to sew some beanies as my favourite 'go to' beanie that I wear is actually fabric, not knitted. I used this easy sewing pattern...  and gosh, it's possibly the easiest thing that I have ever sewn. Can you guess how long it took to sew one?  If you want to find out how long it takes to sew one, then click here... to see the clip I filmed.

These beanies have been donated to my local public hospital, to the cancer treatment ward, to help keep patients warm as it's super chilly cold here as it's mid-winter.

I'm going to keep knitting & sewing beanies because I can't choose what to knit but I'm narrowing it down ... it's just the cost of yarn that is truly stopping me.

What do you do in-between projects when you need something to keep your fingers busy not idle at night time?

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Crochet Quilt

 

I just finished this long term crochet project. It was a project that I'd pick up every now & then when I needed a break or was in-between projects. I think I started this one over 5 years ago.

I tried to make it like a 'crochet quilt' as the yarn I was using was variegated (like this yarn...) and if you do the same thing over & over with this yarn the colours tend to pool in the same place. So I broke it up by doing large squares & smaller squares then joined them into a 3 square block before joining again to form the larger 'quilt top'.

Does it work as a crochet quilt?  I also had intended to make it a larger blanket but was vetoed by the rest of my family members as they stated it was perfect as it was. 

I still have one more 'long term' project in my cupboard but that is actually nearing completion too. I'm going to have to start thinking ahead for the next one after that is complete now! Do you have ongoing longterm 'in-between project' projects too?

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Sssh, secret birthday business planning

 I don't know about you but I plan on gift giving well in advance. I need to plan so far in advance because making gifts is a long slow process. Have you got a list planned out for this year?

The first birthday in our house is my daughter's in September. I plan on making her a bunch of barbie clothes and clothes for her 18" doll. I'm also in the process of crocheting her a bear from the softest yarn but I'm not sure if I'll give it to her for her birthday or for Christmas.

The next birthday is in October, my husband. I've bought this super gorgeous fabric (that I got from here) as he loves Holdens and even has a classic Holden in the driveway that he's been doing up over the years. I plan on sewing it into a shirt for him, maybe this one but I'm not 100% sure yet. If you can recommend one, I'd love to check it out.

Then  a week before Christmas, it's my son's birthday. I'm also going to crochet him a soft toy from this yarn, I'm thinking a shark because it'd be super cute ... or maybe I'll save it and give it to him for Christmas like for his sister too.  The major present I want to give him for his birthday s this awesome crochet monster head thingy.  It's possibly the best thing that I've ever seen in my life. I've bought the 'special' yarn for it but have yet to buy the greyish brown for the face & horns.

With all this planning in advance, I also buy birthday cards to put away and well, have you seen these awesome pop-up birthday cards?   I'm trying to decide which ones to get for my kids, hubs and my penpals too, which is your fave?

Then, of course, I'm going to have to think about Christmas but my brain hasn't clicked that far yet, I tend to start mulling over that in July.

But back to sneak crocheting the teddy for my daughter!

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A Knitted Jacket

 

I just finished sewing on the final details of this awesome knitted jacket, it's the Penguono and ohmygosh, it's awesome!

I added pockets and reinforced the shoulder/neck edge as I didn't want it to stretch if it's hung on a chair. If you recall, I also knitted one for Joe a few years ago, check his out here...

I had to finish the back off, I orignally was just going to leave it as the gradient/ombre but after trying the jacket on, I felt it needed to be as 'jazzy' as the rest of the jacket. 
So tell me, what do you think of the sequin eye patch? Do you like it? I absolutely adore it, I think it fits the jacket perfectly. Joe is a little jealous now because his jacket hasn't got a patch on it!   

How did I do that awesome eye? Well, I used this eye patch from here... it was so easy to put on!

I used this gorgeous binding to add strength to the neckline.

This was also the perfect stash buster as you knit 2-3 strands of yarn at a time & I had lots of scraps left over from other projects, a big box of them. Well, now that box of scraps is almost empty as it's all been knitted into this jacket - perfect of Tasmanian weather!

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The Bowen Dress

 

My recent make is for me and yes, it has pockets!  I haven't sewn myself a dress in years, so when I saw an awesome woven dress in a magazine, I just knew I had to sew it.

I made a few mods to the pattern/garment and of course, even though I read the instructions, I still kind of sewed it my way not sticking to the designer's directions.

I filmed a Youtube clip of me making it, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv96JbzuySg   if you want to see how I made this. I also did a little clip at the end of me wearing it, if you're wanting to see the fabric/drape/fit.  I'd love for you to tell me how it looks as I was loving the dress until hubby said it looks like a tent. My kids have reassured me that it's not the case and that I look awesome but still that 'tent' remark is still there in my brain. Sigh.

Anyway, enough of tents, the mods I made to the garment were as follows:

~ I used what I had for the skirt & sleeves pieces, so they are smaller than directed so there are no 'ruffles' to the sleeves.

~ I didn't want the open back/front & buttons, so I seamed that piece together.

~ I added a fake button tab to the sleeves.

Mods for next time I make this dress:

~ I'll size the bodice down another two or three sizes as it just keeps sliding off my shoulders, it's just too wide.

~ I'd change the skirt so it had two or three tiers so it was less 'tent like'.

~ I'd change the pockets so they were higher up (maybe come up 3cm) and have the shape so it hangs from the waist line (on the inside of the skirt)

~ I really like how I did the sleeves but I'd make them a bit shorter.

Do you have plans to make this dress too?  If I plan to make the dress again with the above mods then I think I'd use this striking bold fabric or this statement fabric.

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Sample piece: Joe's Crazy Patchwork Quilt Coat

 

I just finished making this patchwork coat and I'm slightly in awe at how it turned out.

I used only scrap fabric with some elastic for the edging, does it look ok?

Would you believe that I didn't use a pattern .I made it up as I went along and actually, it was pretty easy!  I was thinking of making myself one and tested my idea out with this for Joe as I'd rather do a small sample then a big one!

Should I film a tutorial on how to make it?  Would you be interested in making a Quilt Coat / Quilt Jacket?

Tell me,  is it a coat or a jacket? 

I used this type of elastic for the edging. I was going to add a zipper but Joe kind of stole it from me when I asked him to try it on for size and doesn't want to give it back, stating that it doesn't need a zip!

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I utilise affiliate (aff) links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie