Sharing experiences from my life, places I have visited, crafts I have created, and hoping to inspire other people in this journey we call life.
Category: Crochet
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I’ve always loved the Chevron pattern. I have made two crochet blankets in a chevron pattern, and now I have also made a chevron patchwork blanket.
My first chevron crochet blanket.The chevron pattern looks great!
This blanket was suppose to be for our youngest Grandson. He was born November 2016. I made it in pure New Zealand wool, but it ended up being so heavy. I would have to pay a fortune in postage to get it to London, where he lives. My eldest daughter now uses this blanket at work. On a cold day it is perfect to wrap around her legs and keep her toastie warm.
Great colours for a little baby boy 🙂This photo shows the colours better
This was my next attempt, and I am really pleased with how it turned out. I made it out of acrylic, which is really great for wash and wear. It was also much lighter and cheaper for postage 🙂
Look how snuggly this blanket turned out! Little grandson is tucked up nice and warm in his Nana made blankie.
Now onto sewing Chevron. It is actually a whole lot easier than it looks. In fact with patchwork, there are often little secrets to the sewing that make the whole process a lot easier than you think. Thank goodness for that, because, by nature I am a rather impatient person, and to have shortcuts really suits my personality.
Here is the process I used to create my quilt.
Start off with two piles of square cut materials. One pile is plain fabric. I used calico. The other pile has a number of each colour. The amount depends on how big you want to make your quiltPlace the two squares together, good sides facing each other, and sew a quarter inch seam right around the outside joining the two pieces of material togetherUsing a cutting mat and quilting ruler, cut diagonally in both directionsYou will end up with 4 new squares from each of the original squares. These ones have a join in the middle and have two different materialsOnce all the squares are cut and pressed, lay them all out to work out the pattern and colour scheme you wantSew each row together and iron the seams one way on one row, and in the opposite direction on the next row.I keep the rows in order as I sew, so it is easier for ironing and joiningNow you sew the rows together. As you sew them together, you will notice that they fit together nicely when the seams are ironed opposite.once the mail chevron pattern is sewn together, you can pick how you would like to border the quilt. Put the layers together and do your top stitchingI’m lucky to have a lovely big craft room with two big tables that I can spread my quilts out on. This makes putting the layers together a little easier. I love the curved safety pins that I can use to temporarily hold all three layers together while I do my topstitching.I do all the topstitching with my cheap brother sewing machine. It has served me well, I can tell you. I roll up the quilt, and slowly feed it through as I sew. This is a process that requires lots of perserverance and patience. I do my own topstitching as I am too scroogey to pay for it to be done professionally. I’m quite happy with the finished effect.The finished product
To finish my quilt, I did multiple rows of stitching on the outside border. I then sewed the binding on and it was complete. I love it and it has become my quilt that is used the most. I can just throw it in the washer and it comes out great. A very practical quilt that is pretty to look at as well 🙂
I hope you can follow my instructions and create your own Chevron Quilt. You can finish it off to your own liking. Please post a photo of yours in the comments below. I would love to see what you create.
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It’s 7:45 and I’m still in bed, but definitely not sleeping or relaxing. I’m thinking about the thousand things I still need to do today. I need to get up! But, I do have a list! I love being able to tick off jobs as they are completed and then knowing I am fully prepared for our holiday…. Hopefully!
Mostly I am excited! Eeeee! I have just finished checking Facebook and Snapchat, and have seen photos of my family and their travel shots as they make their way to Poland. C1, C2 and G3 are driving from London to Leszno and they crossed from the Uk to France via the Euro tunnel early this morning. And they are now in Germany!
Looking very excited! G3 and her Dad C1 🙂
Visiting ‘The Shard’ in London
Waiting to board the train at the Euro tunnel.
On the train!!!
A stop for refreshments in Brussels 🙂
And now they are in Cologne Germany!
Meanwhile C4 and D3 have arrived in London and are staying on for a few days while C4 has some work to do. They fly to Poland later in the week.
Don’t they look very relaxed! Lovely 🙂
Now, I have to wash my sheets and remake the bed! Clean the whole house including the bathroom! Print out travel documents! Phone Visa! Fold heaps of washing! Pack my bag! Prepare a meal for us and my two Aunties for tonight! And… The list goes on!
I really wanted to finish my crochet blanket before I left but will have to leave it at this stage until I come back home in January!
It can wait! But getting up can’t!
I leave New Zealand tomorrow!
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While expecting the three new grandchildren to arrive this year, I decided to get back into some of my older craft activities. Amazingly, the Scrapbooking has been put aside until I’ve completed these baby gifts! But I will get back to it as there will be so many photos of each new grandchild to make pages with… I can’t wait!
I’ve now been sewing baby clothes, wraps and bibs and also had the knitting needles and crochet hooks out….and I’ve had fun! Nothing like a new baby to give you motivation.
So first to be born this year was G5 on the 4th of February. I made her a crotcheted blanket just like the one I had for my children when they were babies.
G5’s Blanket. I had to feature some pink!
And here is beautiful little G5 tucked up and sound asleep with her new blanket. Hopefully she will be able to keep her own ‘Nana made’ blanket for years 🙂
Doesn’t she look so peaceful
While I was making G5’s blanket I had another pink one on the go. With having two grand daughters arriving I needed/wanted to make one for each of them. The other blanket was quite different. Instead of crocheting in rounds I crocheted in rows of treble crochets.
Now…this is a much brighter pink!
I had fun making this blanket as it was in 12 ply and grew very fast. Trouble was it used heaps of wool up too and I ran out doing the edge! As it was such a bright blanket I decided to tone it down with a fancy white edging. This blanket is now in England waiting for grand baby girl to be born. And….I can’t wait to hear the news as it could be any day now 🙂
In the end I loved the white edging. It brings such a contrast and is quite lacy
Here is a close up of the lovely white lacy edge…
I think it is really pretty. I just hope her little fingers don’t get caught in it all the time.
So G5 was born in February and on the 10th of March I headed for Sydney to be there when Grandson G6 was born. I took a suitcase of wool with me to crotchet G6’s blanket with. I had 20 days! He arrived on the 18th of March, one day before his due date.
Waiting for G6’s day of birth. I’m crocheting and D1 is journalling
I started a pattern of so many rows of the blue/green wool and then two rows of white. The blanket ended up huge, as I had to complete the pattern…and I ended up having to race to ‘Spotlight’ to buy more wool. But in the end I was really happy with it…and I got it finished
It was big enough to cover the sofa! And this isn’t the finished size! I still had more rows of colour to do and also the white edge!
And because I had brought more wool I decided to use it all up and make a pillow to match…although the pattern was different as I had more white wool left than the coloured wood.
The finished blanket and pillow! I managed to make both of these in 20 days…so happy 🙂
I have a photo of G6 laying on his blanket in the previous post. Go and have a look at him…he is such a little cutie!
I enjoyed crocheting so much I have started another blanket. It’s so easy to just sit and crotchet while you are watching TV, or a movie, or even while you are talking. I feel like I’m being productive even while doing nothing.
Now isn’t that cute 🙂
I should really be using a bigger size crochet hook but I didn’t have mine with me when I started and I didn’t want to undo it and start again….so it is very tight crocheting and quite firm! I hope it’s going to be okay when it’s finished.
Now, when I was in Sydney I also finished off knitting a little blue cardy. I started it when D1 first found out she was pregnant….so it has definitely been a work in progress! Apart from sewing the buttons on, which I left for D1 to do (I didn’t have any and didn’t have time to shop for some), I got it finished! Phew!
Minus the buttons and a little bit of sewing up 🙂
So along with the knitting and crocheting, I have also been making myself a couple of dresses and some baby items as well. I forgot to take photos of the baby things apart from these two little dresses…
One for G5 and one for G7 🙂
I usually find it hard to make clothes for myself that fit okay once sewn up. I’m not very good at altering the pattern for my body shape! I usually sew it up as much as possible and then put it on inside out and pin the seams to fit better! I decided to buy a new pattern as see how it turned out by just cutting and sewing as the pattern said! This is the pattern…
This pattern is really easy to use! I was really happy with it 🙂
I purchased my material from ‘Spotlight’s’ 30% off sale. For one dress it cost $12! Now that’s a bargain. especially if you don’t count the value of my time taken to make the dress. I made it for me for free 🙂
This is the first one I made. Excuse the fact that my body has got wider through the middle as I have got older. I need to exercise more but I am too busy sitting down doing craft!
This dress has pockets at both sides. It has been cut and sewn just as the pattern said and fits me perfectly. You have no idea how happy this makes me feel. So happy that I had to make another dress!
This one I decided to make a contrast top on it like in the pattern 🙂
I just have one more dress cut out to sew up for me, and the crochet blanket to finish, and then I can spend some time creating with these beautiful fat quarter fabrics. They have been washed and are just sitting waiting for me to find some inspiration and spare time! Aren’t they fabulous!
Now what am I going to make????
I will be spending a wee bit of time on ‘Pinterest’ looking for ideas I think 🙂
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I am always amazed at pregnancies and birth. It is such a miraclulous event! Â I always think of Psalm 139:1-16 when I hear of a new pregnancy. Have a look in the Bible at this scripture and see what you think?
Now I have just had the most amazing 20 days in Sydney! I arrived on the 10th of March and left again on the 30th, and in that time I became a Nana again to grandchild number 6. Master G6 arrived at 3:50 am on the 18th of March, weighing in at 8lb 11 oz, and with a thick crop of black hair!
Baby G6 surrounded by his adoring family, Dad C1, Mum D1, and sisters G1 and G3
So I spent 8 days in Sydney waiting for labour to start, and helping D1 with the last minute preparations for having a new baby in the home; and then 12 days having lots of Nana cuddles with G6 and getting to know him a little, and also spending quality time with his two big sisters, and Mum and Dad. I also had my camera out ready to capture all the memory making moments! Here’s a sample of those precious moments…
D1 is so tiny…and look how big her tummy is. This photo was taken only a few days before the birth.We thought he was going to be born on the 16th…so we were prepared!And we took another photo of the 17th Just in case!But we didn’t think D1 would last until the 18th….so we didn’t take a photo with the number 18! This one will have to do!Brand new baby G6 with his very proud Daddy 🙂And the first photo of G6 with his Nana Pam….me!!!!
And from that first day of G6’s life after his birth…we managed to take heaps of photos. C1 reckons there are already more photos of G6 than he has of himself in his whole life… haha. But really, how can you not take so many photos of a very cute baby. And….such a good baby as well.
His first change into a night time stretch and grow. His big sisters are amazed by him 🙂And getting his first hairwash and bath by his Daddy, with help from his sisters G1 and G3 🙂
Now I tried to be helpful, and not be labeled as an interferring mother-in-law (D1 and I get along really well, so I don’t really fear that label at all….but I treasure our relationship, and certainly want to make sure we remain great friends …always). So I did what I went over to Sydney to do. To be helpful and make life easier for the new Mummy, and the family as a whole. I helped with the cooking, washing and transporting and anything else that needed to be done. I also had many swims and managed to crotchet a whole blanket, and cushion cover and finish a little knitted cardigan….all for G6 🙂 I hope that I was a blessing….I know that I was blessed 🙂
The first time I hung out G6’s clothes….such an emotional moment for me. I even made sure the pegs were all blue! Doesn’t that clothes line just melt your heart!And here he is laying on his new crocheted blanket that I made for him 🙂The look of satisfaction. Tummy full and sleeping peacefully 🙂
And on the last full day of my holiday we went to get some family portraits taken. The photographer allowed me to take some photos from beside her. I imagine her photos are going to be spectacular, because even though my backgrounds aren’t perfect, the photos are amazing! I love them all!
A bare body photo of G6 at 11 days old 🙂A Beautiful family portrait 🙂A special moment between mother and son.Grand daughters G1 and G3 with me….Nana Pam. The photographer also took a photo with Luke as well, but I have to wait to see that one!
My son C1 has always been at ‘Star Wars’ fan. He has watched all the movies….many times. He has lots of Star Wars memorabilia. He has many collections of Star Wars collectors cards…and he can now say ‘Luke….I am your father’
Yes…One very happy Daddy to have a son after two beautiful daughters. His family is complete…or is it???
Yes….2014 has been a great year so far. We have two new grand children to add to the fabulous four we already had. We also have another one due to be born in April. A little girl, and she will be born in London. I am guessing that that event will be my next post! And I can’t wait to meet her and share her with my world 🙂
