Pink Knitted Chartres Cardigan

I first bought all the supplies and knitted a swatch for this project in October 2021.  I got round to actually starting it in September 2022... and I finally finished it in May 2026!!  Ridiculous that it took me this long - but I'm so glad I finally finished it!

It is the Chartres Cardigan by Amy Lowden - link to pattern is HERE.  Such a great, clear pattern.  This was the first garment I've ever knitted and it went well!

The yarn I used was Drops Air in colour 24 Pink.  It's a really pretty pink!

I had some mother-of-pearl buttons in my stash that went really well, I thought.

I knitted the cardigan in size S and had to size up with my needles as I am a tight knitter (and crocheter).  It should have been knitted in 5mm needles, and I used 6mm.

I would like to knit another one in a lilac colour - but I think I'll finish some other WIPSs before embarking on another one of these, after it took me so long to make this one!!

I'm so pleased I've actually knitted myself a garment - and one that I'm quite prepared to wear in public!

Stitch Birthday Cake and Topper

My daughter requested a school cake birthday cake this year.  School cake is a very simple cake to make in theory, but I'd never made one before and was a bit nervous - I'm not the best baker!  I think you can make a cake look fancier if you're doing a round birthday cake - especially if it is covered in some kind of buttercream or frosting that you can use to hide a multitude of sins!  But, school cake was what she wanted and the theme was Stitch from Lilo and Stitch!

I made the topper in advance using my Cricut - I was very pleased with this part of the cake!

I printed the Stitch character onto card and cut him out by hand.  The other elements I cut out on my Cricut Joy machine and assembled and stuck together.  I used the Stitch movie font to cut out "Emily" from glitter iron-on vinyl, which I ironed onto the card banner part.  I was so pleased with how this turned out!

Then it was time to make the cake...

Not the most polished cake - but the birthday girl was very happy with it!  I used my topper, and some Stitch characters that my daughter had, to decorate the cake.

Then seven candles were added when it was time to sing 'Happy Birthday' and blow out the candles!

Bye for now!

Sip and Paint Painting

This is a bit of a different one from me today!  Back in March I went on a Sip and Paint evening organised to raise funds for my children's school.  I wasn't sure it would really be my thing, but I went along to support, and actually really enjoyed it!

We were guided along the way to create the painting below...

I'm actually pretty pleased with it!  There are definitely areas that I could have painted better, but it still looks good, I think.  My children were really impressed with it, and want it to go up on a wall somewhere!  Very sweet!

Cross Stitch Bakery

My friend, Anna, gave me a gorgeous cross stitch kit for Christmas, and I was so excited to start it.  Once I got going, I got completed addicted to it!  I just couldn't wait to see the next it of the picture appear as I stitched each little cross!

It's such an adorable cross stitch!  The kit is from Caterpillar Cross Stitch.

I decided to sew some felt to the back to give it a nice finish...

It got a bit crinkly in one spot, but it's fine for the back.

I loved making this, and am now inspired to finish a long-standing cross stitch I started many years ago!

Although, there is a knitting project that I'm getting close to the finish line with... so I hope to be able to show you that finished item soon!  I would like to finish a lot of WIPs this year, so let's see how I go.

Until next time, happy crafting...!

Crochet Bunny Bag

This is a little project that really got my craft mojo going again!

My daughter requested that I crochet her a bag with a little bunny on it.  She knew exactly what she wanted with regards to size and colour.  She wanted me to crochet a little bunny head, and knew what size and where it should go on the bag.  I found it so motivating and inspiring trying to bring her vision to life!

She is so happy with it, and even brought it to school for show and tell!

I started with the base...

For this, I used a pattern I found here.  It was to make ovals for mosaic crochet bags.  This wasn't a mosaic bag, but I followed the instructions from 'Making the Oval' - using the exact number of stitches as in that example (starting with a foundation chain of 24 stitches).  I followed along till the end of DC round 3, then I did my own thing to crochet up the sides of the bag in SC, round and round.

This was the finished bag before the bunny was added...

For the straps, I just crocheted onto the top of the last round of SC.  I did 4 stitches back and forth until they were long enough, then slip stitched them to the top of the last round in an even position around the bag.

I actually really like the bag like this, without the bunny - and wouldn't mind making one without the straps as a little basket to go in my craftroom.  Probably a bit shorter.

This was the bunny face - following my daughter's design idea.  I was nervous, but she was very happy with it - phew!

One happy daughter, and one happy Mummy - I really enjoyed making this and was so pleased with the end result.  It was just so heart-warming to be able to make something that my daughter imagined and for her to be so pleased with it!

I've started and nearly finished another project since making this.  Not crochet this time.  I hope to be back soon to show you that too!

Until then, happy crafting!

Creation Consolidation - 2025!

Here is the consolidation of all the things I made in 2025.  As I say every year, these days, there wasn't much made!  I don't know why I've been so rubbish at being creative!  I got made redundant and my son started school in September - so I've had more time at the end of the year... but still didn't manage to make much!

However... here is what I did make.  Click on the headings or the images to be taken to the relevant blog posts.

Crochet Unicorn

Felt Tooth Fairy Pouch

This was actually made the year before, but hidden and un-photographed until my daughter had her first wobbly tooth!  So it was blogged about in 2025.

Fabric Mouse Doll

Birthday Cakes

Beach Hut Scissor Keep

Felt Tree Christmas Tree Decoration

I didn't make much, but I'm pleased with what I made.  The unicorn and mouse doll were especially cute creations, in my opinion!  I hope I make more things in 2025... but who knows!

If you are interested, here are my consolidation posts from previous years:

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017
2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

I didn't do a round-up for years before that, but you can see other finished items at the below links:

Crochet

Knitting

Sewing

Here's to a happy, creative 2026!

Felt Tree Christmas Tree Decoration

Here I am again with my yearly Christmas tree decoration/ornament that I make out of felt!  I've been doing this since Christmas of 2018 - our first Christmas married and in our new house.

It's hard to choose what to make each year - but I've been wanting to make a Christmas tree one for a while.  I used a pattern from What a Curly Life but tweaked the shape a teeeeny bit and added beads for baubles.

I embroidered the year on the back as usual - my least favourite part of these decorations!!

And here they are all together...

I love my little collection!

This will be my last post of 2025 - so wishing you a happy start to 2026!

Beach Hut Scissor Keep

I've had this on-the-go for years - but finally finished it in September!  Now I'm getting around to blogging about it in December!  The beach hut theme doesn't quite match the Christmassy mood, but here goes...

This was made with a kit given to me by my lovely friend, Anna.  The kit was by Sue Hawkins Needleworks.  It makes such an adorable little scissor keep!

It even has a little message on the bottom!

I'm really glad to get this WIP completed and want to get on top of the many fun projects I've had languishing for ages.

I've recently made my yearly felt Christmas tree decoration, so will be posting about that before the end of the year if everything goes to plan!

2025 Birthday Cakes

These days I like to show the birthday cakes I make for my children each year.  I am far from an expert cake baker and decorater, but I like to make their cakes myself.

First we had Emily's cake in May - The Little Mermaid theme.

I made the 'Emily is 6' cake topper with my Cricut.  The rest of the decorations were bought from Amazon here (affiliate link).  The Little Mermaid figure was a toy she already had.

I was nervous about whether this would meet Emily's expectations, but she was delighted with it!

Then in June, I made a cake for Max.  He requested a dinosaur AND Spidey cake!!

It was hard to get a good picture, but you might be able to see that Spidey has captured the T-Rex with his web!

I made the 'Max is 4' topper with my Cricut and used Max's toys on the cake, with some dinosaur sprinkes.  I used some white embroidery thread for the web that Spidey is shooting out at the T-Rex.  At the front you can see four dinosaur candles.

That's it for today.  I've recently finished something I started making years ago, so I will be back soon to share that!

Fabric Mouse Doll

I don't know how it is taking me so long to post things these days!  Especially when it's something I'm so proud of... like this cute mouse doll!

This is a pattern by Studio Seren - she has the most gorgeous patterns!  I'd had the pattern and fabrics to make this for about two years, and finally managed to have the time!

I made it for my daughter's birthday in May, and she was really pleased with it!

The pattern was so detailed and thorough, and I'm so pleased with the results!  I would like to make some more outfits at some point, which my daughter would like.

I'd like to make one of Studio Seren's patterns for my son, but I'm not sure which one.  Whichever one I choose, I think he'd definitely want it wearing Spiderman related clothes!!

If anyone is still here, reading these posts, let me know what you think.  Hopefully it won't be as long until my next post!

Felt Tooth Fairy Pouch

I actually made this last year, in a panic, as I felt like it could be any time that my daughter lost her first tooth!  She discovered a wobbly tooth back in February, which is when I presented her with this...

She loved it as much as I'd hoped she would!  However, we are still awaiting the wobbly tooth to fall out... she since has claimed she has 13 wobbly tooth, so I am now questioning whether there is even one!  (She won't let me feel around to check!)

The back of it has a little pocket for Emily to put her tooth, and the tooth fairy to pop a coin in when she takes the tooth!

I cut out felt and embroidered the face onto the tooth shape.  I hand-sewed it all together, with white felt and pink and gold glitter felt for the wings and crown.  I used my Cricut Joy to cut out the letters for "Emily's tooth" and the little stars, out of iron-on vinyl.

I'm so pleased with how it came out - it was as good, if not better, than I had imagined!  Very satisfying when that happens!

I will need to make a similar one for my son, who starts school in September.  I'm just not sure how to vary it for him.  He has said he doesn't want a crown, but I'm not sure quite what direction to go with his!  We shall see...

Crochet Unicorn

I am pleased to show my first completed make of 2025!  I started this in the summer of 2023, and finished it in January this year, so it took way longer than it should have!  My poor daughter has been patiently waiting for it all this time...

It's a crochet unicorn!  The pattern is from the book Animal Friends of Pica Pau* by Yan Schenkel.

My duaghter chose the colours of the horn, wings, mane and tail herself - and I think she did a great job!  I love how it has come out!

It feels like a real achievement to finally get this finished, and made me feel I could start new things!  (Even though there are plenty of other WIPs I should be finishing really!)

I hope to be back soon with more things to share!

*affiliate link - I may earn a commission if you purchase via this link, at no extra cost to yourself.

Creation Consolidation - 2024!

I'm very late with my usual round-up of the previous year's makes.  I feel like I say this every year since having kids, but there weren't a lot of makes at all!  But, here goes... click on the headings or the images to be taken to the relevant posts...

Velvet Mushroom Decorations

Crochet Blueberries

Crochet Cupcake

Birthday Cakes

Trolls Party Decorations

Felt Reindeer Christmas Tree Decoration

That was not a lot for a whole year!  Let's see if I can do better this year.  I've already finished something I'd been very slowly working on since summer 2023 - so I'll be sharing that soon.  I'm very pleased with it!

If you are interested, here are my consolidation posts from previous years:

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017
2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

I didn't do a round-up for years before that, but you can see other finished items at the below links:

Crochet

Knitting

Sewing

Here's to a crafty 2025!

Felt Reindeer Christmas Tree Decoration

My last post of 2024 - and it's my yearly felt Christmas tree decoration!  I've been making these since 2018 - the year we got married and moved into a new house.

My daughter requested that I make a reindeer, so her wish was my command!  She did actually want it to be pink, but I was concerned it would end up looking like a pig with antlers!  So, I compromised with pink glittery antlers - she was happy!

The back is embroidered with the year, as always:

And here is the collection altogether!

Do you have a favourite?!

Trolls Party Decorations

My daughter had a Trolls themed party for her birthday, and a I made a few bits.  Not a lot, but a little something!

I bought some fuchsia pink tulle and tied it around a hairband to make this Poppy hair hairband for my daughter to wear.  As this was back in the Spring, I can't remember which tutorial I used for this - but it might have been this one.  I used it for the hair part, but I did my own thing for the flower headband.  I made that with a green ribbon for the band, and blue and green card for the flowers.  I cut the flower shapes out with my Cricut Joy and stuck them together and onto the green ribbon.

I also made table decorations...

I created a cone out of pink card, then wrapped strips of the pink tulle over it, tying at the top.  I used the same green ribbon and green and blue flower shapes as mentioned previously - wrapped around the bottom of the cone and tulle.

I made three of these...

I placed these down a long table where the children sat to eat.

You can see a couple of them above.

It wasn't a lot, as time was not in abundance!  However, it was nice to add a few personal touches and I found Poppy hair decorations were fun things to make!  I love the bright zingy colours and was pleased with how they came out!