Charm square and linen door hanger

 I finally found the perfect project for using some of my precious charm squares from Sarah's Japanese Charm Swap.  I have been hanging onto them for just the right moment - I wanted to use the charms for something special, and when my brother suggested I make a door hanger for my new wee nephew it seemed like the time to have some fun with my pile of 5 inch squares (which is what a charm square is - for anyone who is puzzled, as I would have been not so long ago).

So I pulled out my favourites and some natural linen - which seemed appropriate since many of the charms are linen or linen mix - and then had a wee think about how to put it together.  I have had this door hanger pinned for ages but wanted to make pockets with a gusset so they could hold more.

I found it near impossible to photograph well which is a shame since I really love it.  I haven't handed it over yet but should really do so soon before it finds a permanent home on our landing door!  I hope wee L will love it too.

Good weather for neck warmers

 You'll be delighted to hear that blogger has spared you all the lengthy words I have just written on the ins and outs of my cowl knitting experience (and the cross words I muttered at the computer).  So instead::

:: I knitted this cowl, it didn't all go well and I have made mistakes but it keeps my neck warm and I like it
::  Charlie likes finding sunny spots in the house
:: I made cowls for the children inspired by these and these
:: we like snow and yesterday we set off for school early so we could play in it

Hoping you have a fun week and that you have a snuggly neck too!

Flasback skinny tees for my wild boys

I tend to feel a little guilty that my boys haven't had nearly so much made for them as my little girls.  So when Rae posted that she would be holding a Celebrate the Boy sewing series it spurred me into doing something about it.

 At around the same time Amanda (Kitschy Coo) had some marvellous new knit fabric in stock which I thought the boys would like.  I let them pick their own fabric (which they found very exciting. I was extremely restrained and didn't even try to manipulate when they didn't pick my favourites).  Amanda has a pattern for a top made with knit fabric but it doesn't go big enough for Finn and Angus so I use Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern - having made her Big Butt Baby Pants and Peekaboo Bonnet (oh and Washi dress too, still not blogged) I was confident the pattern* would be straight forward and well set out.  It was.

I think it took less than a hour to make each top.  The boys love them.  I'm happy.  There will be more.  I'm so pleased I decided to Celebrate the Boy.

* The pattern has detailed instructions for getting the perfect fit for your child.  I decided I didn't need to make any amendments to the basic pattern but ideally I think Finn would have been the same size as Angus (age 9-10 - Angus has just turned 9 and Finn is almost 10 1/2.  I made Finn's 11-12).  Finn is quite conscious of the fact that he isn't that much taller than Angus (and that he isn't quite so broad either, both are skin and bone but Finn is even more so) and I knew he'd be happier to feel that his was bigger!