Winwick Mum sock pattern Schafpate Yarn socks

These are my new socks. They took a long time to knit but I got there eventually. They seem shorter to look at than all my previous socks but fit fine when worn. Maybe it's an optical illusion due to the colours. Anyway they fit really well so I am happy with these. I  think with socks I have to just accept they take me ages to knit. But I love my hand knitted socks so its something I want to carry on making despite they are all really a very basic pattern. I have just started a pair for my other half and have spent a long time working out the stitches for his much bigger feet. I do not as yet know if they wil fit him but more on that later.

The toes are possibly longer and narrower than my previous pairs but seem ok when on my feet.

Definitely not quite perfect toes!

I also realised I have been doing SSK wrong for my entire knitting career after watching a Youtube video so have slightly changed my method. If you need to see it there are loads of videos on Youtube for this so I won't point to any particular one because I found several that were very helpful. 

This yarn is surprisingly economical because I have probably got enough left for a second pair - maybe a little shorter or just do contrast heels and toes. I do not usually have so much left. 

And these are so colourful! 

Thanks for popping by my blog and have a great weekend

Bracken

Purple loungewear /PJs bottoms for hospital visit

I made these for a hospital visit like my blog title says. These are the first of two pairs I have planned in this fabric and I want a couple of tops too and hopefully some co-ordinating daywear for when the nurses want you to get dressed. That will mean it all matches and so dressing is easy. I have available a total of 6m of this fabric - a 2m piece and a 4m piece which I bought due to loving the first piece. 

A few years ago I had to have a total hip replacement in my right leg. It was very successful - for a while anyway until the left leg started to deteriorate. I could even sit cross legged on the floor with the kids. Then suddenly I had problems again. They fixed my right leg wonderfully. I hope they do as good a job on my left leg because now I am waiting for the op for that leg and it seems every week that passes I get more disabled. Not that I am really disabled because the surgeons will fix me. I have confidence they will, but having a problem does mean it starts to get in the way of what you want to do.

I went on the NHS list last August so hopefully by this August I will get done. For want of a better way to express this!

Last time I made a huge error though. I made two new pairs of PJs for the hospital visit but they were in a woven poly cotton fabric, But when I had had the op my leg swelled so much they wouldn't come off. Well they did eventually but it was difficult and painful. Its ok when you first come back from the op but a few hours later you swell so I could put them on fine but later they were restricting my now swollen leg. 

So this time I am being sensible ( and I know what to expect of course) so I am making stretch jersey PJs instead of woven cotton ones. That should do the job and make me comfy. I also want tops to match and some RP culottes because that way it will all match and be easier to change from bed wear to day wear cos they ( the nurses) like for you to do that. I intend these clothes to also be nice lounge wear for recovery too and since I also need a double partial knee replacement ( both knees!!!!) which is probably due around December I am hoping these will serve me well. Don't ask me why I have such joint issues. I have absolutely  no idea other than I used to be very into sport. They have yet to detect a reason and to be honest I don't really want to get too over analysed because who knows what the doctors might find. All tests have come back negative and so far they found nothing. 

The top I made last year. At halloween,  though it is an every day top not a halloween top despite being a bit spider webby. I wear it a lot and have been considering a second top. 

I lengthened the top of these to give me a looser fit by adding a  yoke. I know my body will swell after all and want comfy trousers for the op. I did this before with this pattern which is the free yoga pants pattern from  if only they would nap.  The yoke is just an elongated wasteband really but it works. This time I made the yoke shorter and perhaps really I do not need it so I may not do this on version 2 of these. I really wish I had more of this fabric because I love it despite its slippery to sew. I made my green tops from this, green dress and grey circle top. Last time I looked they had no new stock of this at Pound Fabrics but I am keeping an eye open so I can buy it if this comes back in. 

As for these ops, well I honestly think it's best to be cheerful about these kind of things. After all once these ops are done I should be able to cycle again. Running is frowned on cos it's high impact and so shortens the joint life but cycling is encouraged. I got given a bike the other day too. 

It's a Muddy Fox. It needs a bit of TLC but will be perfect for recovery so once these loungewear clothes are finished maybe I should consider some cycling gear? 

It's been a while since I made sportswear but I enjoy it and it will give me an incentive to fully recover because I know needing both knees and one hip operating on is going to be challenging for recovery of either because the one is a problem for the other. You need a good hip for knee recovery and pain free knees for hip recovery. I will not have this. But it can be done and really I am still quite young so it's do-able. Or so my consultants in both areas assure me. I believe them. It's probably my own active lifestyle caused the problems anyway so once they fix me I just need to get back on the bicycle and get going. Cycling is the best exercise for both knee and hip recovery so being gifted this bike which is much better than my ancient one is fantastic.

At least once the ops are done I should find life easier. I even find sewing difficult right now because you need control over the joints in knees and hips to do it. I actually sew far less than say 3 years ago due to the fact it hurts. I cannot wait to be able to get back up and sewing how I want to again. 

Hopefully over the next few weeks I should have a few other purple items to co-ordinate with these trousers to show. Thanks for popping by and have a lovely Easter holiday whatever your religion.

Take care

Bracken 

Hoody Jacob 116cm tall age 4 to 6 years

I know a 110cm is age 4 to 5 years so I am assuming a 116cm tall is 4 to 6 years. There is no 110cm in this pattern but then a larger hoody will work OK on most kids. I am as you probably guessed from what I wrote, after making some age 4 to 5 years clothing. The problem is the child the clothes I want to make that size for is in a 2 to 3 years at the momrnt. We plan ahead! 

We already have probably enough of 3 to 4 years clothing stored ready in a box. We will need some shorts and undies. 

That is we have enough winter clothes because small person will go up a size usually in September and assuming I can upcycle the current long trousers ( 2-3 years) into shorts and crops and the sweatshirts into short sleeved summer tops for next year.  Thats planned next spring cos right now he's still wearing 2 to 3s. 

H&M tracksuit cut down on sleeves and legs to summer clothing.

 By shortening trousers to shorts it does not matter the legs became too short or in tops sleeves too short because the waist and body actually still fits the size above .  This way you can get two seasons from the smaller size. So the above is 18-24m but by shortening it fits a 2-3 year old!

This is also working with Asda and Sainsbury's kids clothing though I do not yet know if Tesco or Morrisons will work because I have none to try but its certainly worth considering before you rush out and buy summer clothes in the next size up. Thats how we are doing it right now. I recently decided to take the linings out of winter trousers such as Next lined combats and h&m lined jeans giving summer combats/ jeans and if you cut carefully you can make a pair of loose fit trousers or pj bottoms made from the lining- just needs hem bands and a waist band. 

Next RTW winter lined combats with linng removed making them summer trousers and a lining that can become either comfy summer joggers/ shorts or a pair of PJ trousers - by adding cuffs and waistband. 

The below were me-made and I did alter the waistband to give wider elastic but otherwise just shortened. And hemmed. I am not completely sure but I think these were actually 12-18m. But they are bigger than much RTW and baggier. The red might even by 9-12m. They currently fit a 2 year old. May not get to the end of summer but they are fine and quite loose on small person at the moment. And he's a 90th centile so not a small kid!

Seems to me many RTW kids clothes are a con!

The dungarees I made last year become long enough with the elastic removed and hems let down. I will add a new narrow hem to these in the next few days. I do not think I blogged these one but I will be doing the same to the red flying saucer ones I made. I made these with 3 button straps. They will need the longest length but should still last for this summer, or most of it I think.

It seems most RTW kids clothes have similar waist sizes for 12 to 18m and 2 to 3 years so the trousers etc from last year easily upcycle to this years summer clothes meaning small person has huge amounts of clothing. And we save money and use the clothing much longer before we pass to charity.

Having loads of clothes though is going to be good for a holiday if he goes on any this year. I measured the 3 to 4 years RTW clothing against the 2 to 3 years and again the waist size is the same so it's just length is different meaning next summer I can simply upcycle the 2 to 3s again. Jeans become cut off shorts, no hem needed. Tracksuits become cute shorts suits or crops. Sweatshirts get short sleeves. 

The current winter long sleeved t- shirts that he is wearing right now will soon become short sleeved summer tops and later lose the sleeves completely to become winter vests next year. I am debating with myself whether to just shorted the 2-3Y sleeves right now or wait a bit. The thing is we have 3-4 years too which he could go into if it does turn cold and its really very tedious altering kids clothing like this so I need to get my act together before it gets hot - usually in May. Incidentally to make the same T shirts into vests last winter in some cases I had to remove the neck band as well but we went from 18 to 24m to 2 to 3 years and I think the head hole was bigger in a 2 to 3. There seems less, if any difference by 3-4y. 

So anyway that's what I have been doing. Loads of very boring, tedious upcycling of children's clothing and really because all I did was cut trousers/sweatshirts off, overlock and hem them it's really not worth a blog post. Though is worth a mention if it inspires people to save money and do the same.

So I have just made this sized 116cm Jacob hoody from the Made by Oranges B-Trendy patterns.

Due to lack of fabric the hem and wrists band are cut the opposite way. That's actually the direction of most stretch. Fabric was cheap which is probably why the stretch went the other way to that expected. It should work anyway. I made a top and trousers already and both have been nice to wear this winter. 

 It's a trial so made from scraps just to try out. I added thumb holes using the Feyr Trade pattern as a guide, just making the thumb hole piece much smaller. But that's the design I went with. I do not know if I made the wrists too big yet but will find out when small person grows. Since that's a couple of years I won't be making loads of these with thumb holes! 

I do want to get ahead though so i intend to make quite a few of these and needed to check the pattern seems about right size wise for a 4 to 5 or 6 year old. I think its about right going on the few things we have currently. So i shall make a few more sweatshirts in this size now.

 One thing I will change is either I need to have less hem on the hood edge or to make the hood itself slightly bigger cos as you can see it only just overlaps at CF and thats after resewing and stretching slightly to try and get it to fit. Its not brilliant but is wearable and after all its a muslin made from offcuts from my own top and trousers. 

Jacob is a nice pattern but I found in the smaller sizes its slightly short. Our small person is tall so could be that. Anyway I lengthened this size by 1.5cm. I think that should mean they get worn for a bit longer.

So my next task is to make a few of these to store for awhile till our small person gets to this size. I hate to be rushed when sewing so decided this is how to do it. When small person was born I had great ideas and he grew so fast I hardly finished anything. Now I am making several sizes up which not only means it will definitely be the correct size at some point but also it does not matter so much if the 4 to 5 or the 5 to 6 is what I actually make. It will be the right size. That's what matters. And I have time to do things right and not feel pressured.

 Possibly I may also make some trousers. Like cords or canvas. You know proper trousers.

Currently we have very little 4 to 5s so I am free to make whatever I want. That makes it fun for me. Otherwise it becomes a chore - like upcycling if last years clothes to get more from them. It's needed but its really not fun. And my sewing is meant to be for fun so it needs to be fun if you get me.

Have a lovely week

Bracken 

Upcycling and printing on old suede skirts

Unfortunately I never took a photo of this lilac suede skirt before I decided to start experimenting or only the back of it. It's a rather nice lined Topshop skirt I bought second hand a long time ago. It was in perfect condition and looked after for many years but then I stupidly left two of these skirts in a car travel top ox/ luggage box over winter and with gained these dark marks which I assume to be black mould. I am intending to do something with the second damaged skirt later but more if that works out.

Initially I wanted to kick myself over my own stupidity not taking photos of this at the beginning of this experiment. Its one worth recording but the back of the skirt should do for this.

This is the skirt back when it was untouched:

Then half printed:

 

I was very upset when these skirts got damaged. I don't really buy leather being a vegan diet wise but I decided long ago it was just hypocritical selling what I already owned from my youth. After all you are still profiting from the meat industry. Yes I could donate but I love them and to replace with synthetic leather is actually conning myself since PVC etc are possibly the worst synthetic products  environmentally ever produced so anyway I keep my old leathers. I also look for leather shoes because killing the planet is not on my agenda even though I choose not to eat animals. Its actually a difficult desicion but one I intend to stick with because the planet does matter and vegan leather is environmentally terrible. There's just no other way to put it. And these two skirts ( of which only one is shown here) are ruined so what next to do?

I stuck them in my boiler house for about a year to make sure any mould died and forgot them. Well I know they are there of course but there they just stayed stored until I found stencils for sale on Ebay. 

Well how could I resist. It was the perfect time to try using something like that so I paid just under £3.00 for one including postage. Its only small. You can get larger ones for wall stencils but this smaller size is better for my purpose. And interestingly I used this and bent it around the skirt and its still in tact for use again so the slight flexibility is enough not to break it very easily. I actually expected to only use the thing once, Its Mylar. They come in various designs. I just went for leopard spots because they should look on on my fabric. 

The stencil started an off white colour and went blue with my paint. Its acrylic so I just let it dry which helps stop me breaking it. 

Though I had intended on black paint but had none so used blue instead. 

I decided rather than suede dye which is probably too runny I would use acrylic paint. I didn't have many colours to play with and this is after all an experiment so I don't want to waste money until I know it is likely to work. Especially since I have other leather items I would like to update similarly if this looks OK. Not all we're damaged the same way. Some just have stains and cost too much to professionally clean. It's my dirt so I can live with that but I do want them to at least appear good looking. So anyway I went for ultramarine blue acrylic paint and after trying several paint brushes found a bigger house painting brush is the best. It deposits less paint than a smaller artists brushes.  The one I ended up using is a 1 inch (2.5cm?). 

The sort I like for painting skirting boards and door frames. Its even an old brush but its one I like. I never used water other than to clean the brush at the end so this is essentially dry brushed onto the suede. Its a bit patchy due to some bits having more or rather thicker pain than other bits. 

Well painting leather with acrylics is not new. Punks. Bikers. Hippies etc have done it since at least the 1950s. But other than a brief teenage thing for bands on the back of my biker jacket back on the 1980s I have not done this.

Acrylic works great too and me being naturally more an oil paint type of girl ( when actually being a painter)  I never used these paints and they have just sat there for years. Though I will be on the lookout for another set of acrylics next time I see an offer now. I could probably do a better job with the stencil next time but this skirt will be worn. I kind of like the amateurish arty crafty look it has gained but it's not perfect and with practice I think it could be better. I have a few damaged jackets I will be trying this out on in the next few months. I hate throwing stuff like leather out because its an animal gave its life. It takes about 30 years for some leather to decay in landfill so really its just wrong to chuck it so if you own it I honestly think it should be worn.

This is a bit uneven due to the different brushes I tried and my own lack of skill, but I think it's going to be wearable despite that. And its fun. 

In fact I wore it today to the opticians and did not feel uncomfortable in this with a black biker jacket and my boots. Its going to be a good skirt again and I think I actually like it better than before it got damaged so this is a great project. My main issue in fact will be I like this so much I will need to restrain myself so I do not upcycle my entire leather collection - which is reasonably large being an ex-punk ( and a hoarder!!!). Most of it is nice as it is and good basic clothing for cold weather so really I should resist and leave most of it as it is but I know I tend to go overboard when I discover some technique like this.

My "new" skirt is worn here with a nice but basic black top I made a long while ago. 

Thanks for popping by my blog, Have a great week won't you and hopefully see you again soon when I may have also upcycled my white leather skirt which I damaged ina  similar way. I don't want both skirts the same so have to decide what to do with that one so its completely different to this lilac suede one. If do you try this technique please do let me know how it goes and what you discover because it could help in my future projects too and I do love seeing this kind of thing. People are so inventive and it amazes me what someone else creates with a similar technique. Art can be so exciting.

Take care

Bracken