Make my week, baby: Weeks 5 & 6

 I had a feeling the crafting would have to slow down a bit once our non-holiday routine kicked in. It's much harder to fit it all in between pick-ups and drop-offs, playcentre, Yo Gabba Gabba viewings and snack servings.
I've also been a little distracted lately. Summer seems to have finally arrived, and we have been busy with beach outings, and our very first family camping trip! (I'll try and blog about that tomorrow, seems worthy of its own post..) We've been busy trying to eat as much sweetcorn as humanly possible, and making the most of reasonably priced peaches and nectarines. All in all, Summer has taken over a little, in the best possible way.

But, don't get me wrong, there has been a little crafting. I haven't forgotten the project altogether!

Firstly, I finished up this wee vest, from the delicious wool that Steph sent me. It's Malabrigo 'Pollen', and by golly it is scrumptious (the pictures really don't do it justice!). The pattern is Felipe, and whipped up super quick.

That was all I had made for the bump, until today.
I spent today sewing up a storm of patterned t-shirting, and came up with two onesies and a few t-shirts for Otto, too. I love to make these envelope/90 minute tee style shirts. They very rarely turn out looking anything other than awesome, and they are the perfect staple tee for hanging out around home and going to playcentre : )
(I've just realised that most of these photos are less-than-awesome, I apologise for that. They looked fine on the camera, and I really don't have the energy to re-take them!)




On a crafty, but not baby-related, note: I also finished up some sewing I've had lying around the studio for months now. These cushions are filled with fabric scraps (making them lovely and heavy. Perfect for brothers to toss at each other..) and make good use of the largest of my odd buttons. Love that.
(Yes, the wall could do with repainting. The joys of renting!)

It was all yellow.

If yesterday had to have a theme, it would have been yellow.
Sunshine, popcorn, and buttery yellow knitting. Lovely.

I also have a recipe to share with you. I had planned to do so earlier in the week, but it just seems to fit so perfectly with the 'yellow' theme, that it would be a shame not to share it today.
It is a recipe for Zucchini Loaf, given to me by my Mother-In-Law quite a few years ago now. It doesn't sound very appetising, but I swear it is one of the most moist and delicious things I ever bake. The 'healthiness' of the courgette is counter-balanced with a tonne of sugar, and even my kids will eat it. (Though, I confess, I did tell them it was banana until they'd finished the first piece..)

Charlotte's Zucchini Loaf

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 tsp vanilla
1/2c oil

2c firmly packed grated zucchini (green or yellow)
1c walnuts or 3/4c choc chips (optional)

2 1/2c flour
4tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 177C (350F).
Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil.
Stir in zucchini and walnuts/choc chips.
Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
Place in two loaf tins, and bake for approx 40 minutes.

I usually freeze one loaf and we devour the other, slathered in butter, quite promptly. Nyum.

Make my week, baby: Week 4

This week, I decided to do things a little differently : in true Rhiannon style, I decided to start knitting on the hottest week of Summer we've had so far! I'm so smart. hah. But really, some amazing lady told me that I would knit baby hats on circular needles (because double points and I just don't get along..) and I had to give it a go. And then I had to try and do one with stripes.. and well, the cardigan? I don't have any excuses for that one. I just love the pattern so much, I found some wool at the op shop, and had two days left in the week : )
(Hat is this pattern, and the cardigan is another one of these.)





I don't know if you can tell by the pictures, but these wee sets are made from 70's stretch towelling. Am I the only one who has a thing for babies in towelling? It just seems like the perfect fabric for little ones. And these colours are too, so hard to find baby clothes in bright colours these days!
The hats are, of course, more Sweetpea Pilot caps. And the pants are made from the Kwik Sew pattern I used for the merino ones.)



Lastly, I think I nearly perfected a pattern for newborn harem type pants this week.
(They are, heavily, inspired by the pants by this incredibly talented woman. I take no credit at all for this design.)
I made these from light sweatshirting type fabric, and put ribbing bands on the waist and the cuffs. Ribbed waistbands are so wonderful for little new pukus (and for pregnant ones too..), much softer than elastic. I plan to make a few more pairs of these, in a bigger size, they seem like they'll be the perfect comfy pants.


In other news, I'm sure most of you saw that the first of our wee pregnant-bloggy-quartet welcomed her little one earthside this week! Congrats Stella, and welcome to wee Garland James. You are both very lovely, and have me feeling incredibly clucky!
Dee, who will be next, is going to be giving us some baby-related tutorials and posts over the next few weeks. I'm feeling so excited about all the babies at the moment! Eeee.

A rusty Puerperium.

I made a wee cardigan last week.
Cause, you know, that's what I should be doing three weeks before xmas... nevermind about the mountain of things on my Christmas crafting list?!
But really, I couldn't resist. I saw a picture of one that another blogger had made, and was instantly sold on making one of my own.

I didn't have any money for yarn, so I used something I had in my stash already. I found a giant bag of this wool at the op shops some time ago. ( I'm guessing it used to be a very large men's jumper in a past life..). I decided it was 'unisex' enough, and set to work.

The pattern was wonderfully simple and knitted up really quickly. I can see many more of these in my future.

I did break my destash rule by buying buttons, for only the second time ever. Seven matching, wooden, buttons are hard to find in my stash.
But I think spending $7.50 total on a handknit jumper is still pretty a-okay. Can't wait to take pictures of the little munchkin all snuggled up in it.

Let the crafting begin!

Thank you all for the lovely congratulations and well wishes! So kind!
Yes, we're VERY excited.
It still doesn't feel very 'real', but that is not enough to stop me from commencing with the craft.
I actually started this vest last month, thinking I would just pop it away in the 'for the next one..just in case..one day..' box (that box is VERY full!) but it's very exciting to have finished it and to actually already be growing a new little body to put in it.

Details on Ravelry.

Wardrobe Wednesday!

The lovely Clare over at Green Valley Crafts has begun a new little challenge for us bloggy ladies. It's not a new challenge in that a lot of bloggers around the world take part in similar challenges, but it is new for us.. and maybe for you?
Every Wednesday we will post a picture of an outfit we've worn that week. (Doesn't have to be on that day)
You can add the details of what you wore and where you got it, if you want, ala Wardrobe remix styles, or not. It's up to you. But the whole idea behind it is that we might inspire each other to get out of our trackies and start feeling good about our older-post-baby-or-not-frumpier-than-before-selves. Anything that offers that possibility is a must in my book! So here goes, my first Wardrobe Wednesday:

The shoes are from The Warehouse, the tights from my sister in London, the singlet is from Glassons and the cardi is from The Sallies. The cowl is the only thing I have knitted this Winter (other than a failure of a baby cardi..) and is made with this pattern. I wish I had made it wider though.
The skirt was originally made by 'Woolworths', bought for $1 at The Sallies and then altered by me. I cut about 4 inches off the bottom, took off the original belt loop bits and added oversized, patterned ones. Easy peasy, and much prettier. You can't beat $1 clothing!

Look forward to seeing what you've been wearing too! Just blog about it on a Wednesday and then, if you like, leave a link in the comment of Clare's WW post each week. Cool bananas.

Winter blahs.

The past two days have been very grey, snotty, pyjama-all-day sort of days.
Aesop has a hacking cough, I have a scratchy throat and poor wee Otto has gunky eyes, snotty nose and a constant, roaring temperature. We are a sad bunch.
Actually, I'm finding everything hard going at the moment. I seem to get to this point every Winter.
It's cold, it's too hard to get motivated, we're sick, we're tired, I eat too much comfort food, Aesop complains 'cause he is bored but it is too rainy to go out.. blah blah blah. 'The blahs'.
But I am working hard to over come them. I've signed out of my facebook page for two weeks (I am cheating and checking my profile when Abraham signs in, but won't get messages or read my feed etc. And, most importantly, I won't spend hours and hours playing addictive games!), and am attempting to get some crafting done. I am going to use Abraham's week off next week as a good chance to get some well-needed exercise, and will make sure to be knitting while I 'blob' in front of the telly, to ease the guilt. I have written a list of things to do with the kids for the rest of the holidays to prevent too much nagging, arguing and frustration.

I'm also trying to cherish the good moments that we have, like making the most of our snotty faces and having woolly moustaches, eating nummy food, finishing the body of the cardi I'm making for my new niece or nephew (come on out little one, we want to come visit!), listening to great music (loving Laura Marling, Joanna Newsom, Alela Diane and She and him today..) and receiving incredible parcels from my twinny-twin-twin.
What do you do to get over 'The blahs'?

Gifts for (very) loved ones.

Abraham had a birthday recently.
Last years birthday was a bit of a let down, I think, so I decided that this birthday needed to be pretty awesome for him. How to make an awesome birthday with very little cash? Hmm..
In all my years of sewing I have never managed to get round to making Abraham a hoodie (something about mechanics always having run down cars etc?)  so I decided that that would be the perfect start.
He found an image online of one that he liked, I took a pattern from his favourite jumper and whipped one up. (Well actually I had a heap of trouble with broken needles, too many layers of fabric and zips that didn't match. But, you know, you get that ).
I also overcame my fear of double points and made him a hat! Once I figured it out it was fairly easy, and I really liked the pattern. Will be knitting that one again, for sure!
Those presents, combined with a huge, huge container of sour lollies from Aesop, some indian takeout and going to the movies to see 'Boy', meant it was deemed a successful birthday.

I also, finally, finished the wedding present for my sister-in-law and her new husband.
I used the leftover fabric from the bunting for the wedding and made a wee quilt for their future lil' 'uns.
(It's not wonky, I don't think. That's just the way it's laid out.).
I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and I hope they are too. Now I get to look forward to the day, whenever it may be, that I become an Aunty and get to see it in use! No pressure guys. Heh.

Preparing for the cold!

Two crafty projects in preparation for a cold Winter ahead.
Firstly, the 'Professor vest' has finally been blocked (not very well, it looks a bit wonky.. I promise, it's not!) and buttoned. I love this wool, so soft! And the buttons are made from coconut shell. The wriggly one hasn't tried it on yet but it looks a much better size than my first, acidic, vest.

The second is a sleep sack. We never had many problems with Aesop kicking blankets off, but Otto is such a wriggler that a sleeping bag is going to be essential in the colder months.
We found one at an op shop recently but with our grubby (and spilly) boy, we needed more than one! Eventually I'll whip up a few more but, for now, I'm pretty happy with this one.
Oh, and a few people asked last time whether I have a special foot for my machine to do cursive applique stuff. The answer to that one is 'no'. I just use the regular ole foot, and for writing I do it freehand ( for pictures I have a bit of a different method..). I've been doing it for years so, hopefully, practise is paying off!

I have so many projects on the go at the moment. Why oh why do is it such a struggle to get things finished before the next thing pops up? I'm so behind! I'm determined to watch less TV for the next few weeks and have more to show for myself... if only that wasn't easier said than done!

Easter crafty round-up.

After a super grouchy morning on Sunday (we all have days like that, right?) Abraham took Otto on a big long walk (where he filmed this) and  I locked myself in the studio from some serious sewing.
I finally got round to cutting up a few of the jumpers I have been picking up from the dollar rack and the op shop and, heavily inspired by the Craftykin pants tutorial and the MADE vest tutorial (which I didn't actually read, but I was very inspired by the pictures.), I whipped up two pairs of pants for Otto and a vest for the noisy one.
I also cut up a sweatshirt and made a wee pair of trackpants. I was stoked with how they turned out, I love the fabric on the knees. All of the pants are a tad big for Otto at the moment but, at the rate he is growing, they won't be for long!

I also managed a bit of knitting. I whipped up another 'professor vest', this time in a smaller size (and a slightly blander colour!) for Otto to wear now. It is awaiting a wash/block, buttons and perhaps an applique. I had hoped to do that yesterday but we were dealt a pretty gloomy, wet day.. we even had thunder and lightening! Not a great day for washing.
The second item will be a jumper for Aesop. I'm using re-purposed oatmeal coloured wool and it is, at the moment, full of kinks. It makes for a pretty ugly UFO but I'm confident it will all even out with some steam ironing and a good wash. I just need to get over my fear of double points so that I can do the sleeves!

I was pretty pleased with my little pile of crafted goodies. Should  keep my crafty urges satisfied for a week or so.. goodness knows I won't be doing much crafting with both the boys home for the holidays.