365: January 2015

I started another 365 project on 1 January on instagram this year. I'm not particularly artful but I do like looking back at my year to see what was happening.  It is extremely challenging to find something to take a picture of when your life is very routine, so my main goal is to look around each day for something different, for inspiration or whatever.

January:

1. A new diary, with the intention of writing something every day, which I am not ashamed to say I am failing massively at.
2. The ever trendy sneakers-with-dress look, walking to work, sticking to my new years reso to get fit.
3. It only took me 3 days to get a pic of The Kitten in.  
4. My lunch, because that's what instagram is for right?
5. Re-watching The Hobbit movies before seeing the last one (which I still haven't seen btw)
6. My belated Chrissy present to myself, a set of knit-pro interchangeable needles, worth every penny.
7. Classy decorations at Spaghetti Tree, spotted during lunch.
8. Learning new skills: buttonholes for my McCalls 6696.
9. First ever traffic infringement :(
10. Some of my very numerous pop figures.
11. Attempted arty shot of my baboo.
12. 1-2-3-ISAGENIX.  I am liking this program btw.  I might write more about it at some point, even if it does feel like I've joined a cult.
13. Accidental purchase of a whole lot of pretty vintage patterns.
14. "Shoes make me happy, I'm superficial, whatever." =D
15. I want to complete my Pratchett library this year.  Latest edition, Men at Arms.
16. Hot Cross Buns in January!?!  I'm not surprised, but yikes.
17. Dead plants.  So good at gardening.
18. Hanstan pretties.  My collection is looking shit hot, seriously. 
19. Still loving postcrossing.
20. Melbourne's laneways are so photogenic.
21. I love isagenix, but I get really hungry and really appreciate actual food now.
22. Artichoke tureen.  Another addition to another of my shit hot collections.
23. Knitting.  slow slow progress. 
24. Creepy animatronic bakers at Bourkies Bakehouse.
25. My little sis modelling a 'bowser bra'.
26. This is kinda a cool book for knitters.  I would recommend.
27. Tomatoes.
28. A walk through Fitzroy Gardens.
29. Vintage knitting book from Brotherhood Books (which is an amazing website if you haven't heard of it).
30. Choosing a nail polish colour.  
31. Literally watching the grass grow.

~Tan

Emergency gift: Baby life quilt

Having a baby?  Well, as good a reason to craft as any, right?  Crochet or knitting are my usual preferences, however my very good friend is nearly ready to pop and the planned layette is far from finished.  

So, I decided to make a quilt.  Noting that I have never made one before.  I started on Thursday night and finished about midnight on Saturday.  Given that context, I don't think it turned out too bad. 

I followed the recipe for the Baby Life Quilt from Moda Bake Shop, which I have loved ever since I saw it.  I omitted the additional border because I was short on time.  Instead I used the same fabric used for the lettering for the binding to tie it together (hopefully).

This was the first time I'd used heat and bond.  I used this tutorial to learn what to do.  I'm slightly worried that the letters will fray, them being just stuck down with the heat and bond.  I tried zig-zagging around the edges but that was wayyy too fiddly and time consuming, and frankly I was just not good at it.

Not sure if you can tell, but I've used 4 different coloured threads to quilt with.  Not sure if I should have done this, but it was something to try.  I also didnt have time, I was going to do more quilting on the oppostite diagonal to create a diamond pattern, but it seems to look ok with the de minimis quilting.

Again due to timing (and laziness) I didn't blind stitch the binding to the back, instead I stitched in the ditch to secure the binding in place. And look at the back!  Cute kitties!

Pattern:  Baby Life Quilt by Moda Bake Shop
Fabric:  All purchased from L'uccello in Melbourne
1m of the yellow spots for the for the top ( Confetti Dot Dear Stella Designs in gold )
1m of a cute Japanese printed cat cat print for the back
Fat quarter in four colours for the letters and binding.  I chose 3 cotton & steel prints (one Rashida Coleman-Hale and two colours from basics) and the red Stof shadow fabric.
Finished size: just over 1m squared (104 x 108cm)

It was all done to gift to my expectant friend today.  I think it was well received and I am a very happy crafter indeed :)

My one regret, I really should have substituted 'poop' for 'play' don't you think??

~Tan