This post follows on from my last one, which was getting a little lengthy.

Next up is this little romper, the pattern for which came from one of the Ottobre magazines (3/2017) loaned to me by Katherine of Sewblooms. I used a fabric sample from Materialise for the bodice and some thrifted knit I’ve had in the stash for the rest. For some reason I didn’t take final photos, just these in progress ones, so it’s not finished, but you get the idea. I was pleased to use the “cutie” label from the Kylie and the Machine Advent calendar, also given to me by Katherine. I was pretty pleased with my invisible zip insertion. .

I knitted this toy dog and kennel from a book called “Topsy Turvy”, by Susan B Anderson. It contains some really cool patterns. Again, this book was a loan from Jenny (who gave me the smocking pleater), but I’ve got it on order as I want to make all the things! The collar and lead were not part of the pattern, but I felt like knitting a piece of I-cord, so I did!

As you can probably see, the dog turns into a kennel and vice versa, which I think is a lot of fun. I just used yarn from my stash but I might be more deliberate for the next make and actually buy appropriate yarn – gasp!

My other Christmas makes were all for Mark. I made him two tee shirts and a pair of linen trousers. The tee shirt fabric was from deep stash and the linen for the trousers was from Woven Stories Textiles, bought with voucher I won from the Indie Pattern Designers challenge. The tee shirt pattern is from Merchant and Mills, and the chinos are Kwik Sew 4045. I also made him yet another pair of socks with wool bought at Purl Soho in New York. As you can see I was using up scraps.

He was so happy with his Christmas haul.

My last make for this post, isn’t really a make but an update. Years ago I bought some little grow suits at Mothercare, some of which have been lingering in the cupboard. I thought I’d cut three strips, put rolled hems on them and then sew them to the growsuit as a cute ruffle for when my granddaughter begins to crawl. The fabric is a beautiful piece of Japanese lawn leftover from another make. I might have to do another one of these with some of her great grandmother’s lace.

So that was Christmas!

I’m now making a few things for the next grand baby due in April. I’m finding it tricky getting my head round sizing and also the seasons as this one will be in London for a while.

I’ll be back!