Sloths and Challenges

Naomi doesn't just like snarky quotations from cult TV shows, she's also rather partial to sloths, so when I saw a pattern for a knitted sloth I knew I had to make her one.

The pattern is from Fiona Goble, and it's knitted mostly in King Cole Tinsel.
Also Sunday was reveal day for the Monthly Challenge. This month we had a pattern from La Contesse et le Point de Croix. I stitched mine on some orphan blue linen, and made it up into a small patchwork cushion.

NSFW Game of Thrones Inspired Sampler

In the most recent issue of Mollie Makes magazine there was a design for an embroidered floral banner.
I liked the floral part, wasn't so keen on the chirpy message, and Naomi had been after me to stitch her a snarky sampler using a quote from Game of Thrones.
So here it is. A very NSFW sampler

I've censored the photo for those of a sensitive disposition.
If you watch Game of Thrones a) you're unlikely to be shocked by four letter words and b) you already know what it says.
If you don't, lets just pretend it says "stupid". Yeah, that's what it says...

Happy New Gifted Gorgeousness

The first "Gifted Gorgeousness" of 2018. In case you don't know Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo from Serendipitous Stitching, and is a celebration of gift related crafting.
This month I'd like to share some of the things I made as Christmas gifts.
I made these zip pouches for the girls, because you can never have enough useful pouches

The TARDIS one is made using a printed panel from Spoonflower here

I also used Spoonflower fabrics to make these two cushions

For Eloise - Anatomical Heart

For Naomi - Map of Europe

If you look closely you can see that I've put a hotfix crystal in all the places she's lived and studied.

I have a friend who has a particular fondness for peacock motifs, so for her Christmas present I cut a peacock feather lino block and printed some fabric which I used to make her this bag and matching scarf

And finally, here is a jumper I knitted my husband for Christmas. He didn't get it wrapped up though because I actually finished knitting it on Christmas Day - I do like to cut things fine 

This is the Breton Stripe Sweater in Paintbox Simply Aran - available from Loveknitting.com  here

I think that's about it for this month. I'm off to see what everyone else has been making.

Happy New Year! Last Finish of 2017 and First Finish of 2018 and a Competition

The title says it all really.

And here are the last and first finishes

The kit for the embroidered hoop was a cover gift with Mollie Makes magazine. I realised after I'd started it that I'd accidentally pulled the wrong thread bundle out of my bag o' cover kits but I decided to just go with it at that point, so the colours aren't as intended but I kind of like them.

The snuggly cowl was knitted from a single ball of cake style self striping yarn (Paintbox Chunky Pots in "Making Hay").

As usual last year I kept a running total of the numbers of my crafting finishes, books read and shoes bought throughout 2017 and offered a prize to the nearest guess.

For 2017 the final total was 85 finishes, 55 books and 11 pairs of shoes, making a total of 151, and the best guess with 76,60,12 giving a very close total of 148 was:-

Jo

Drop me an email Jo, and remind me of your address and I'll sort out a little prize for you

I've reset the counters, so if you want to play along for 2018 leave a comment on this post.