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!