Knitted hat and crochet scarf as gifts and stitching update.

Hello everyone,

How are we all hope you are well, thank you for your comments and visits to my blog.

Are any of you starting to make gifts for Christmas? or perhaps you are preparing for Halloween.
I have started a fun hat for one little person I saw these fun novelty hat kits over at
PurpleLinda Crafts

It also comes with the pattern and you can choose  crochet or knitted.



I finished this crochet shawl using SIRDAR snuggley DK yarn and a cream contrast colour in DK.

worked on a 4 mm hook stitch pattern is in trebles. Nice and easy.

The pattern is from Shawls an Wraps by Laura Strutt

In the book it shows the shawl crocheted in an emerald green yarn but as you can see I wanted a different colour, this book has a lovely collection of designs and I was lucky enough to buy this with some gift vouchers I was given.



I have some cross stitch updates the ship ahoy design I started in previous post is still on going I have not done as much has i would have liked,

my eyes have been a little tired. Even though I use my magnifier when stitching on even weave it can be hard to see for me sometimes  but it will soon be finished as it's not a large picture.


I am also stitching this Autumn design using those lovely rust and gold colours,

which is being stitched on 14 count rustic aida and not a strain on my eyes. Maybe 14, 16, and 18 count fabric would be easier to use for me there is no point in straining your eyes I enjoy my stitching so much it is so relaxing.
Anyway the above pattern can be found at Tiny Modernist

Well that is all for now and I hope you have a lovely weekend.

bye for now

Julie x

Fabric heart garland and knitted crop cardigan.

Hello everyone,

Gosh October already this is the time of year when I enjoy seeing Autumn colours and the reminder of cooler mornings ahead.

Nest of Knitted Birds by Julie.C

It is also time for me to plan any Christmas gifts I want to make so they can be finished in time, which will be some knitted and crochet gifts.

 But first I want to show a few finished projects I made for Suzie, here is a fabric heart garland made for her bedroom.

I used scraps of colours I had in my stash and added felt flowers on the darker pink hearts and she loved it.


Next I had knitted this little crop cardigan a month ago but had not got round to showing you this was also for my Grand daughter while the weather was still mild for her to wear it.

Knitted with Sirdar Jolly which is lovely and soft to work with, it is machine washable too.

Have I ever shown you my work space well here is a photo, I am lucky to be able to use the small back bedroom in our house. OK you may think and isn't it tidy well on the other side of the room it is shall we say quite well stocked with loads of yarn in plastic boxes and shelves storing my craft books etc; when I get round to tidying that side of the room I shall post a picture.


Now I am off to start that list of projects to be made and organised, wish me luck.

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend 

bye for now

Julie x

Jane and The Happy Crow cross stitch pattern finished at last.

Hi everyone, How are you all. It looks like it will be another warm day today here in the UK.

Well I have finished the In The Garden cross stitch.

If you remember from previous posts the pattern is produced by Riverdrift Studio
and the artwork by Jane Winton/Jane and the Happy Crow.
Stitched on 14 count cream Aida using Anchor threads. All ready to be framed now then i will be hanging this in my living room.


I also want to show you a small Autumn pillow I finished

 I stitched this on 18 count using DMC threads and you can find the pattern over at Lynn B's blog Here 
 On the reverse side is a lovely verse from Emily Bronte.

 I have been treating myself to this helpful stitch book by Jane Greenoff, beautifully illustrated with picture tutorials showing 101 counted stitches and techniques.

It also came with some fabric and threads which you could practise with, you will find more details at The Cross Stitch Guild
Jane's website offers a lovely collection of patterns and kits with tutorials to, well worth a visit.



Well that's all for now I am off to finish a few chores around the house before walking Bruno who seems to relaxed to go out don't you think.

Till next time

Julie xx

WIP owl embroidery and cross stitch updates.

Hello everyone,
How are you all?

The weeks have been busy and I have been snatching a few hours here and there to work on my embroidery project, this was a fun sketch I did of an owl on a branch.

Slow progress on the cross stitch for Jane and The Happy Crow you may have seen in previous posts, not much more really. I cannot wait to hang it on the wall when finished.

What else have I been stitching well I made a simple needle case for a family friend with scraps of felt and applique flowers on the front of the case, she was thrilled to bits when I gave it to her because she is just starting to learn how to cross stitch so you can imagine I have been sorting through all my stash for fabric aida and threads for her to practise with.

I have also made a card for my sisters birthday

Well I hope you have been enjoying the weather where ever you are today is a little dull but the clouds are starting to clear, and if the weather man is right we are in for another  heat wave here in the UK. It has been to hot for me to knit and to be honest apart from knitting a little short sleeved top for my Grand daughter made with Paton's dk cotton that has been all I have wanted to do.

Cross stitch and embroidery is allot cooler to do and I am enjoying the process, I have been drawing small sketches for ideas for myself which is fun to do. I hope you are finding time to relax and sew and having a fabulous week.

Till next time

Julie x

Progress on Jane and The Happy Crow cross stitch.

Hello everyone,

How are you all? I hope you are having a nice Bank Holiday, if you are like Mr C and I we tend not to venture to far on the roads it gets so busy on BH just opting for a chilled out weekend instead.
The weather here is still dull and wet with strong winds but with a possible brighter afternoon, fingers crossed then.

While I wait for the sun I will show you how far I am with Jane and The Happy Crow x-stitch,

quite a bit to go yet but enjoying stitching this one. I already have a place on the wall where I am going to hang it.

While I do that one I am also working on a small heart sampler of my own,

as you can see I am stitching a small bookmark to. I was thinking of adding either some small decorative buttons or charms, I will have a route through my stash and see what will work best.


Remember I told you in the last post I was making a crochet blanket for a baby and a few things for my Nephews two little girls, well here are some pics of them all finished and ready to be given and posted.

Three cardigans one knitted and two crochet, not forgetting I added the knitted rabbit in the parcel to.

Here is the crochet baby blanket.

Just an easy granny square pram blanket with five crochet flowers, I used James C Brett chunky yarn for this lovely and soft.

Hopefully now I can find some free time to make some things for myself so until next time enjoy your weekend.

bye for now

Julie x