Sewchet

Sewing, crochet, crafts, accessories, baking, tutorials,


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Mens Red Shorts & Giveaway Winner!

They’re finished!

Bright red, tailored shorts with so many exquisite little details that make them a joy to look at!

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Just one look at the smile on his face tells you how much Mr H-L likes them.

happy with red shorts

To see the full blog post over on the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network, just click on the following link: Red Shorts With Camper Van Lining

In other news, I am delighted to say that the winner of the fabric giveaway is……

giveaway winner

Congratulations Lulu! Please email your full name and address to info@sewchet.com so that I can get your prize in the post to you as soon as possible.

 

 


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Reversible ‘Oliver + S’ bucket hat and a GIVEAWAY!

So our holiday in Spain is drawing ever closer and I’ve made a few things in anticipation. I’ve also had some leftover fabric from various other projects and, being the type of person who a) loathes waste and b)keeps fabric scraps any larger than an inch square, I was keen to make a few ‘free’ items.

I was lucky enough to be gifted some abstract Rose & Hubble floral fabric by a friend who was having a clear out and only used about half of it making this keyhole tunic from Love Sewing magazine.

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Last weekend, No.2 Son declared that he needed some new shorts and was dismissed with the instructions to “go and make some then”.

He did and, an hour and a half later, came back sporting this very fetching pair of Hawaiian shorts using more of the same abstract print fabric.

Hawaiian shorts

I also had a small amount left of this campervan fabric from Minerva Crafts. It was used to line the pockets and waistband of an equally garish pair of shorts made for my husband (yet to be blogged about).

What can I say? He’s inherited his father’s love of bling:)

campervan fabric

So, armed with this combination of fabrics, I thought they’d make a great reversible sun hat for No.2 Son to go with his new shorts.

fabrics

Enter ‘Oliver + S’ with the perfect reversible design which I loved as soon as I saw the three that Hila has just made on her blog, Saturday Night Stitch.

Oliver + s

I found this free pattern on the Oliver + S  website, downloaded it instantly and printed it off within minutes. It taped together very quickly and easily and is sized for 3 months – 8 years. I just graded up again for No.2 Son who is ten.

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Nothing tricky whatsoever in the sewing process, the instructions were clearly explained and faultless and within a couple of hours the hat was finished.

So quickly that I completely forgot to take ANY construction photos.

Never mind, No.2 Son loves it and was more than happy to pose for a few photos before school this morning.

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No doubt it will look more appropriate in Spain with a pair of trunks and flip flops!

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I love the rows of top stitching that add structure to the brim.

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The reverse side peeks out from under the brim.

 

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Yes, it will be perfect with his new self-made shorts.

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Talk about eeking out the fabric to get as much use from it as possible and I still have a metre of the blue one left – which brings me nicely to my next point.

My second Blogiversary has just passed, with 216 posts and total views tipping 106,000!

So, a HUGE “Thank you” to everyone that follows my blog and, as a token of my appreciation, I thought another giveaway was in order.

I’m giving away a metre of the Rose & Hubble print fabric which is lightweight and has a lovely drape to it – it would make a lovely Summer top.

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There is also one and a half metres of this fabulous, super drapy fabric, a heavyweight crèpe I think, which would make a great evening top.

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To be entered into the draw, just leave a comment below mentioning one of my past makes that you particularly liked.

For more entries, just share this post on social media and let me know. For every share, you will get an extra entry.

The winner will be picked at random after midnight on Sunday 15th May – so hurry!


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Giveaways And Giving Back

I knitted an egg this morning before No.1 Son had crawled out from his hungover slumber just after midday.

Yup, you heard right – I knitted an egg.

Knitted egg

It took an hour and a half of knitting on 2.25mm needles with leftover sock yarn to finish this tiny creation, which was supposed to be sent flat to be filled with a polystyrene egg by the recipient.

Knitted egg progress

Trouble was, I didn’t have the required 2.75mm needles or a tension gauge to refer to so it probably wouldn’t fit. I stuffed it with fibre fill instead, and popped it in the post.

Egg

The deadline was “Autumn”, the first day of which is 21st September so, although I’ve had this on my to-do list since early July, it’s still in time. Forty are needed to give to children next Easter according to Claire’s original post. How’s the tally going Claire? Do you need any more? Look out for this little parcel in the next day or two:)

Parcel

Talking of parcels, this one arrived a few days ago – I LOVE getting parcels in the post, even if I already know what’s going to be inside. Is anybody else like that?

This was a yarn related giveaway from Sharon who blogs at Creativity and Family.

The ‘wrapping paper’ was printed patchwork cotton fabric and the ‘gift tag’ was a cute little chalkboard with my name on it.

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There was a handwritten note inside saying that Sharon had also included some sweets for The Boys. How thoughtful!

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This is what the parcel contained. What a spread!

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Shall I show you in more detail?

This lovely book which has so many great crochet projects to inspire.

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I’m rather liking the look of this boxy cardigan to start with.

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Two balls of Debblie Bliss ‘Milano’, a tweed effect yarn with 40% wool.

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These gorgeous little stork embroidery scissors with attached miniature crocheted cat – a sweet reference to the competition which I won with the cat’s name “Whiskers”.

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All of this will fit in the pretty Cath Kidston project bag.

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I’ve already started making a tweedy hat for one of The Boys.

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I’ve just found out that I’ve won another giveaway too, this time a Hallowe’en fabric bundle from Nat at Threads and Bobbins.

Hallowe'en bundle

I can’t wait to get stuck into that little lot – any ideas what I could make?

If you cast your mind back to July, I won another giveaway, this one from Amy at Yarnaway, containing all this: –

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I made a crocheted rib beanie from the multi-tonal yarn…..

Hat

….and a pair of bobble fingerless gloves from the beautiful book that was included in the giveaway.

Bobble gloves

I’ve still got a whole ball of yarn left to use myself, so I thought I’d pass forward some of this generosity by hosting another giveaway.

If you would like to win the beanie and matching gloves either for yourself or maybe to give as a Christmas present, just leave a comment below.

A winner will be picked out of the hat as usual (no ‘random number generators’ on this blog!) after midnight on Wednesday 16th September.

Good luck!


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Bloggiversary GIVEAWAY!

I turned on my computer this morning and this popped up in my notifications: –

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I thought it was next week but I’ll go with WordPress and celebrate today as my One Year Anniversary, rather comically referred to as a Bloggiversary (my interpretation of spelling, seeing as it is a made up word!).

I’d planned to do a giveaway as a small gesture of thanks to everyone who has followed, visited or commented over the past twelve months as, without such unfailing support, this blog would not be here now. You can’t continue without constant encouragement, can you?

I can’t put into words quite how much I have enjoyed blogging – both the creative process and (even more) discovering the multitude of fantastic blogs out there. That so many lovely (mostly) ladies are happy to share so unselfishly their ideas and creations, quite overwhelmed me in the beginning and gave me the confidence to join in and nervously share some of my own makes.

I fully expected criticism as part of the deal, but can honestly say that I haven’t had a single negative comment – all words have been constructive and, most importantly, kind. I feel as if I ‘know’ a lot of you and hopefully will somehow meet some of you wonderful, like-minded people in the future. (A get-together anyone?!)

Anyway – back to the giveaway.

Remember the hugely successful Crafternoon that I held for Comic Relief, raising £340 in total? I did a couple of posts (here and here) in the run up showing you the things I’d made prior to the day itself.

Would anyone like to win ALL of them?

To enter, just make sure you ‘Follow’ the blog then leave a comment below.

No. 3 Son will pull a name out of the hat after the closing date of midnight on Saturday 18th April – so be quick!

As a reminder, here’s what’s up for grabs: –

pear pin cushion

Pear Pin Cushion

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Felt Chick

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Attic 24’s Spring Posy Brooch

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‘Make your face funny for money’ Moustache

cloud mobile

Felt Cloud Mobile

red nose

Crocheted Red Nose

Thanks again to EVERYONE for your brilliantness (definitely a word)!


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Giveaway!

I’m having a little Giveaway on my Facebook page – pop over and ‘Like’, leaving a comment to enter:)

Sewchet Facebook Giveaway