Making Ponchos!

Hello Everyone!
I started making my first poncho yesterday. I tested out several patterns by taping newspaper sheets together and them cutting and assembling them as I would have done with my fabric. There are so many different ways to make a poncho, with quite different results! I tested and tested and tested again, because I really didn't want to spoil the gorgeous fleece I bought for this...

Well I finally cut the poncho out yesterday. I think it's turning out really nice - even better than I expected. That's all thanks to the beautiful print.

I'm not showing you a pic yet because I still want to personalize it a bit. I'm thinking of maybe adding a hood... I love hoods, they're both cute and practical.

Stitching Blogger's Q of the Wk: Whatcha doing?

"A nice and easy question (... and yes I'm running out of questions, so please feel free to think up some!): What are you working on right now?"

Here's what I was working on at the time the question was posted:

This is another little card I stitched up and mailed off yesterday for my grandmother's birthday. She's 96 years old! My grandma is so important to me.
I may not have chosen the same colors on another occasion, but being 96 my grandma cannot see much anymore... Which is very hard upon her, as she used to divide her time between sewing, crocheting and reading...

Otherwise... I should be stitching one of the doll's dresses as Xmas presents for my sisters. But I haven't started on either yet... I've been sewing instead of stitching in my spare time, lately...

...And that's one Chismas present done.

The nightie for my older sister is finished at last. I went through all the final little details yesterday... I decided not to make the "classic" straps but to sew ties to each side, so my sister could tie them and adjust them to the length she liked best. She's not too fond of straps because she says they keep falling off her shoulder, so I thought this would solve the problem!
I also added ties in the back, because the nightie was too baggy otherwise - although I did want it to be comfy: I mean, can you sleep in a tight nigthie? I can't!

(sorry the details don't show too well... but I couldn't figure out how I could make both dark fabric and white lace come out!!)

As you can see, this is not a "sexy" type of nightie - but a cute one, rather. Well she's my sister, and I thought it would feel weird to make something really sexy for her! Especially as this is to be opened around the Xmas tree, in front of everyone...

Also, couldn't resist showing you a close-up of the lace I've been
using for the top and bottom edges:

Eyelet has always been my favourite type of lace. In French it is called dentelle anglaise ("English lace"), and as English/anglophone stuff has always exerted a special attraction on me, maybe the very name may have been also part of my fondness for this type of lace... Go figure... I'm not Freud.

I've got [no] mail

Yesterday was a weird day. In the morning mail, I had my new issue of Cross Stitcher, which was good news; but I also found a torn open, empty envelope; from what's written on the envelope I gathered it was some fabric and instructions I had ordered from the US to make a quilt as a Xmas present for my parents. Someone fetched the envelope from inside my letter-box (maybe it was showing a little from the opening), torn the envelope open, took the quilt kit and just left the envelope. So, I've got no Xmas present for my parents. Just telling it to you, a day after, still makes me so mad and so sad.

Now, I really wonder what they'll do with the quilt kit. And I also wonder how this could happen, since to reach the letter boxes in my building you first need to go through a door with a digital code. I don't want to believe this was done by someone living in the building.

Ah well, let's talk about Cross Stitcher to try and forget about that...
I really like the issue. I'm happy with the free gift - bellpull hangers: I love to have new ways of finishing xstitch projects, and what's more I have absolutely no Xmas decoration yet, since we moved into our flat only last June. But... I really don't fancy the Xmas ornaments they suggest stitching onto the bellpulls! Never mind - there are also other cute designs in the mag that would fit in: a "Jacobean", very original flower, an ivy motif, cute butterflies with a birdhouse, as well as a full choice of flower borders. ...But then, those won't make any Christmas ornaments!

In the issue, you also have one exclusive Tatty Teddy chart, and two Newton's Law charts! Also, a gorgeous Santa train, that can serve as an Advent calendar. What I like best and may really stitch, are funny 3-aperture Xmas cards: a Xmas tree being progressively decorated, a house progressively lit up for Xmas, a Santa going down a chimney pot and then reappearing in the fireplace, a heat of snow turning into a snowman... So cute!
Oh dear, there are plenty of things I'd like to stitch in that issue!

A Quickie

Thanks everyone for your sweet words about the Crafty Cat finish! Yes, I still intend to frame it with a wooden embroidery hoop, but my LNS (well, more accurately, the vendor of sewing materials who holds a stand on the market taking place almost next to my flat, every Tuesday and Friday) didn't have the right size -- he told me he should have one for me next Tuesday. I promise I'll post a pic of Crafty framed when I do get that hoop!

Today I wanted to share with you a quick card that I made yesterday evening for my older sister. She's just finishing her PhD and sending her thesis out to her jury next Tuesday. I thought I would send her a little card for her to receive on that very day!

I chose a butterfly because (as you can imagine!) she'll be feeling "light as air" on that day... after completing the hard work of several years! I was looking for a cute, tiny design on the Internet and almost immediately came across this one. I chose the colors from some I used in Crafty Cat (a nice way to use up those bits of leftover threads, isn't it?) I'm really fond of the light pink I had had to use for Crafty Cat's nose (Anchor #1021). The other colours are dark pink (#59) and dark grey (#400).

Happy Dance at last!

Yes Crafty's finished, and I even just washed it! (I love laundrying my finished projects, don't you? It feels sooo rewarding... )

The couching was a PITA. Not really difficult, but tedious. That being said, I still think it was a wonderful idea to include this in the design, it renders - or rather, creates - the mess of threads so well!

This kitty took me way longer than I had expected. Not because it's hard to stitch - quite the reverse! - but because I've been soo busy with my work. I could only afford to devote a little time to Crafty, every other evening or so.

Never mind, Crafty's fully alive at last, making its mess with threads, just as any cat may do! Seb loves it. I intended to hang it over my "crafty" corner, but he wants it hung in the bedroom so we can both enjoy it!

Nearly There...

Hello Everyone :)

I didn't intended to post a pic before Crafty Cat was completed - but I'm spending the week-end at my parents' in Lille (Northern France) and won't be stitching at all over the next couple of days. Heres' a pic of Crafty before I leave.

Most of the backstitch is done, except for the pins and needle in the pumpkin (and a bit of the hairs in the kittie). Then there'll be the couching stitch... But well, I'm sure you'll agree that Crafty is fully alive already, with his mischievous smile and his whiskers all in a mess.

Have a nice week-end!

Update at last...

Hello everyone! It's more than time I gave you an update... Sorry I haven't been writing for a while - I was sick but unfortunately couldn't stop working, so I couldn't cope with everything... and that's why I didn't manage to keep you posted on my stitching!
Anyway, I'm better now, and here's at last a pic of dear Crafty:

(as usual, you can see it in more detail if you click on the picture)

All the stitching in two strands is done, there remain the one-strand stuff... Backstitching and so on. But I usually enjoy this part!

I'm really happy about the Anchor colors. I did change the greens though - those required were too bright for my taste so I hushed them down a little; and I thought the yellow of the scissors was a bit more orange than yellow, so I took a ... "yellower" floss.

I have to say again I really love this design - it looks like a painting, with all the shading effects. The more I see them, the more I enjoy Margaret Sherry kitties, and I know I want to stitch a bunch more.