A Bit of a Scrap and Stuff(ing)

My blogging friend Kate and her friend Gun in Sweden host a regular monthly Scraphappy challenge where you can make anything you like out of scraps and link up with others to show and tell.  This is my first time.  It might be my last or it might not.  It’s that relaxed 😉  Just join in if you fancy a bit of ‘scrapping’.

I saw several examples of the hexagon pin cushion/caddy in blogland – notably on Ali’s blog, Thimberlina – and decided it would be a good project to do with my sewing ‘buddy’ who I see on Wednesday afternoons for a chat – in French, God help me (and her even more so) – and a craft session.  Here is the free tutorial we used.

I’m not 100% satisfied with the outcome because – dare I say it – I’m not a good stuffer.  This is why I don’t make toys.  How do you know when you’ve stuffed enough and when to stop?  How does half a bag of stuffing disappear into a teeny tiny object?  What do you do about the lumps?  Usually I avoid anything that needs stuffing but, as I had a few scraps sent to me courtesy of my Secret Sewing Santa and Kate was nagging  encouraging me to join in her Scraphappy challenge I thought I’d give it a go.  Plus, I am always looking for new projects to try out on a Wednesday afternoon over tea and cake (there is always home baked cake – why else would I go?) so I thought I’d throw caution to the wind and take on a stuffing project.

This is how I know how much stuffing (and polystyrene beads)  can fit into a small object – in this case a fabric doorstop – as my dog kindly demonstrated it for me when he was a puppy and was left unsupervised overnight.

Now, this is a tried and tested project and many people have made these caddies.  However, may I respectfully suggest that, should you make one yourself, try to use cardboard thicker than a cereal box for the inner walls.  This way, if you want to stuff a little more firmly, the walls won’t bulge out so easily.

Also, if you turn the joined up outer hexagons inside out and push inside the interior, then sew right side to right side across the top, it makes it easier to hide the hand stitching – although anybody who has zoomed in on my photos may doubt the veracity of this.  (This will make more sense if you actually decide to make one of these and read the tutorial.  Hopefully.)

A handy little caddy/pincushion which turned out to be quite a bit bigger than I expected – which was a good thing – and a useful way to use up some scraps.  However, I think I will be sticking to this one example as the amount of teeny, tiny hand stitching required seems out of proportion to the value of the finished object but that’s just my opinion and I know there are plenty who will disagree.  In any case, I really, really, don’t like the stuffing part.

In other news, I am on the final leg arm of my boyfriend cardigan.  Thankfully, it appears my fears it would only fit an orang-utan were unfounded. Once the raglan sleeves were sewn in place the length of them seemed to take on vaguely normal proportions – so much so that I might not even need to fold the cuffs back.

You won’t remember but the cardigan is a sort of steely grey colour so I ordered these metal buttons online and, while I was there, added this ribbon to my basket too.  Oh, and a teensy bit of fabric.  Well, you have to justify the cost of shipping don’t you?

How about you? Do you give a stuff about stuffing?

 

 

 

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Christmas Knits and Cute Kits

I have finished another big blanket and, this time, it is for my Mum’s Christmas present.  Sssh!!  I don’t quite know how she’s going to get it back on the plane but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

It has actually got a lilac fleck in it – to go with her soft lilac sofa – but it is very subtle and hasn’t come out in the photos where it looks creamy beige which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Despite having the wool for several more of these, I’m continuing with my Kim Hargreaves boyfriend cardigan ‘Drew’ from her ‘Storm’ book.  I’m really liking how it’s knitting up a sort of steely grey and it is sooo soft I can’t wait for it to be finished so I can wear it, although I’m not holding my breath.

Last Saturday night saw two of my baby kittens off to their new homes.  I was sad to see them go but very grateful that I managed to get them adopted as France is positively seething with unwanted cats and kittens.

Yuki is making great progress.  She still looks a little like a guinea pig crossed with a gremlin but now she is a fat one.  Being left alone with just one sibling, far from getting her bullied, is making her more playful and very strong.

I think she’s going to be a diva though.

Her brother – temporarily called Mac (short for mackerel because of his fur markings) may henceforth be called Mog.  If you live in the U.K. you will no doubt be aware of the T.V. advert Sainsbury’s has produced for Christmas.  A mini story featuring Mog the cat that has taken the viewing public by storm (usually it’s the John Lewis ad).   My daughters grew up with Mog books  – delightful stories by Judith Kerr – so despite the fact the real Mog is a girl and has a white chest and paws,  they think we should call Mac, Mog.

This is what he thinks of that idea.

For those of you who haven’t seen it (can there be anyone left in the U.K. who hasn’t) have a look.  It’s very cute and Christmassy and has a lovely message – plus the cat is hilarious.