Crafty Presents
Bianca SilvaHello, hello!
How are all your Christmas preparations going?
I have not wrapped a single present yet, my felt ornaments aren’t ready and we haven’t decided what the menu is for Christmas Eve. 😂
But all is well! A few more late nights and it will all come together.
What I can’t wait for is for Santa to come by and take his elves back to the North Pole with him! They are running out of ideas of things to do while the kids are asleep. 😅
What I’ve been doing the whole week is working on quite a few felt ornament projects.
It’s been a while since I’ve been hooked by something other than knitting and sewing and it is taking over my life!
Embroidery and beading!
I never really enjoyed hand stitching and this included sewing on buttons and other bits needed for sewing projects, I even tried hand embroidery 2 or 3 years ago and never took to it.
But something this year changed!
Throughout the year I did small bits of hand stitching and towards the end of the year, I can’t remember how it got started but I think felt projects that involved embroidery and beading kept popping up on my social media.
I also can’t remember exactly when, but something in my brain clicked and said, it’s time to have a go at embroidery again.
I’ve even been to the library and borrowed 4 books on hand embroidery! I am learning as much as I can about it. I think it will be a great opportunity to further personalise my garments later on or even gifts.
I have a few plans other than Christmas ornaments to dive into after the festive season and it is just all so exciting!
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And since I won’t be in your inbox until after Christmas, I wish you and all your loved ones a great Christmas!❤️
Stitches of the Week
Canela Vest - Rita Made This
I am enjoying this nice and easy vest after the white Take It or Leaf Sweater.
I’ve finished both the front and back panels, they are all sewn together and I’ve knitted the neckband and one of the armbands.
It’s just missing the one arm band.
I’m down to a little scrap of yarn, so I am hoping that I will have enough to finish it, there is only 8 rows to go. 😬
Worst case scenario is having to get an extra skein to finish it. The only little bump is that all businesses are closing for the festive period so if I do need another skein, I may only get my hands on one next year.
Yarn: Yarnsmiths Merino Aran Superwash gifted by Wool Warehouse
Size: Smallest size
Needle Size: 4.5mm and 5mm
The Drama: Will I have enough yarn to finish?!
BeeSilva - Knitted Scarf
It’s finished! Ends woven in and all!
This Lilo and Angel inspired scarf was quite a quick one.
A simple 2x2 rib all the way and just one colour change did the job
Both my daughter’s said they liked it and even want one each. 😂
It’s not happening though, especially after I’ve just made them fleece ones!
Now I just need to wrap this one up ready to give to our friend’s daughter! 🥰
Needle Size: 6mm
The Win: Finished and ready to gift!
The Drama: My kids also want one now.
BeeSilva - Christmas Ornaments and Gifts
This has taken over my life this week!
And I still haven’t finished a single one!
The letters ‘B’ and ‘C’ are missing a hanging thread. I’m just doing the blanket stitch around the ‘Z’, and the ‘D’ I need to restart completely.
In the meantime I booked a ticket to go to London just after Christmas and since I’m going to see my mom, sister and nephew, I wanted to make them a little something.
So I’ve cut out 3 more letters, one ‘H’ and two ‘L’s.
The ‘L’s I’ve kept simple with black felt, embroidered stars with a bead in the middle and more scattered beads. These are for my sister and her son.
The ‘H’ is for my mom who loves purple and hearts so I cut the letter in purple felt and did hearts in different ways. A couple were cut from felt and sewn together using a running stitch, another with french knots, yellow beads, satin stitch and lazy daisies filled with satin stitch. Then I added more stitches to resemble sprinkles and added beads too.
There’s a lot going on on this one! 😂
I also then sewed three 3 lip balm holders because my mom sent me an Instagram reel a while back saying that she thought it was really cute and would like to have one.
I hope they don’t read this week’s newsletter and find out what I am making for them.
Materials: Felt, embroidery thread and beads for the letters. Cotton fabric, keyrings and swivel hooks for the lip balm holders.
The Drama: Nothing is finished! 😂
The Win: I’m loving hand embroidery!
BeeSilva x Violette Field Threads - Hacked Gracie Sleep Mask
My daughter asked Santa for a rainbow cat sleep mask that she had seen when we went out shopping one day.
But I didn’t want to pay the price of it, especially the hiked up price just because it had the Claire’s tag on it.
So in comes sewing mama. 😂
I didn’t have any fluffy rainbow fabric in my stash so I went with the next best: pink fleece!
I used the Gracie Sleep Mask as a base and drew some cat ears. The original sleep mask my daughter saw had a machine embroidered face and because I’m all into hand embroidery lately, I thought I would give it a go.
I stitched on some sleepy eyes and whiskers and machine sewed on a felt nose.
The pattern called for foldover elastic which I didn’t have, so I cut a strip of fabric and threaded ½ inch wide elastic through which does the job perfectly.
I want to add a little something to one of the ears to make it look prettier and I am leaning towards a bow in maybe a yellow, green or orange felt.
It is such a simple addition so I hope I get time to do it this coming week, otherwise Santa will give them as is and I can add them later. 😂
Materials: Felt, embroidery thread, ½ inch wide elastic and polycotton fabric
The Drama: Will I have time to add a bow to all ears?
The Win: I made 4 sleep masks! One for each of my daughters and another each for their dolls.
Skill Builder of the Week
Check the Length
This one might seem obvious but before hemming your sleeves or the bottom of your garments, try it on first to make sure the length feels right.
I have a few garments from the beginning of my sewing journey where the sleeves are too short. I just went by the pattern measurements and I didn’t account for what I would have preferred.
This small step can save you from unpicking later or worse yet, leaving your garment in the mending pile for who knows how long (I’m guilty of this 😶).
Maker Spotlight
This week’s spotlight goes to @bringingsewingback!
Catherine made this gorgeous red bow ballgown for a Christmas party! 😍
The sewing community helped her along while a toile was being made and Catherine has it documented on her Instagram.
Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make and a little about it, I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍
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Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx