Last of the summer sewing

A last couple of summery clothing makes were needed before we went to the Canaries last month. First up was a Deer and Doe Bruyere shirt. This fits like a wee glove right out of the packet and is so flattering. I have plans for a black one to wear with jeans.  I also figured out how to use snaps so I didn't have to make a dozen button holes! *g*

And then we had a Grainline alder dress. I bought this fabric with a voucher won in the finish along in the spring but (as you can tell from my expression) I wasn't feeling the shape at all. It feels nice - it's Cotton and Steel double gauze - but I just didn't think it looked that great.

But I belted it on holiday and changed my mind, it's not bad for holidays being looser. 

And that one on the left is a Kielo wrap dress which I DO NOT LIKE. The fabric and the pattern and everything is just not right for me. You win some and you lose some, right? 

Miss Frankie Mouse

There's a lovely German lady on Instagram who goes by the name Bettis_stitches who makes the most wonderful little creatures from felt. I watched and wished and one day in about August I bit the bullet and asked her to make me one. And last month she arrived. 

This is Miss Frankie (Spouse named her, it's short for Frankenfurter *rollseyes*) in her cosy parka with her paw muff since she had to journey Alltwen way from Germany to chilly Scotland. Isn't she adorable?

She wasn't long getting her outer clothes off and setting about exploring. She arrived at my work.

And here she is trying on some specs. The monkey. 

I absolutely love her - she has little frilly knickers with a teeny heart button on them and is fully jointed! Betti is a clever, clever lady. And there may be a little friend joining her around Christmas. *g*

Bags

So Chook's baritone playing has been changing lately. Changing as in, she's not enjoying it. Well, she wasn't enjoying her lessons - she was still quite keen on attending her band. So what we ended up doing was changing her teacher from the council run guy she sees at school to a private chap - it's been like night and day. We asked for 5 months for music for her to play for fun from the school guy - the week before the schools broke up for the summer holidays she was handed music from West Side Story. *blinks* She is not a stage musical girl. You'd think after 18 months he may have clocked this. In her first lesson with our new guy she was playing her favourite Panic! at the Disco tunes. Like I said, night and day. Anyhoo the upshot of this was we had to surrender her instrument to the council and lovely Tony (the new guy) lets her borrow his antique euphonium. But it had no case - mum to the rescue!

Black - obvs - with red piping. Her colours!

A pocket for mouthpieces and gubbins.

And a spotty lining. 

It's great for carrying but will also pop on her shoulder.

And her lessons? Well we've been with Tony since July and her baritone playing (even though technically she's playing a euphonium) has become even more distasteful to her. So she now gets a little horn playing and a LOT of piano! Which is coming along great guns. There's always a solution!

Also in the bag making stakes I had a request from Spouse for a holdall for when he's working away.  He never asks for anything, how could I refuse? His old faithful had about fallen to pieces so I took a pattern from it and ran with it.

Alright, eh?  Just simple but perfect for what he needed.

And hopefully that's the end of my utility bag creating for the considerable future!

Fuerteventura

We also had a holiday in my bloggy absense. Back to Fuerteventura bacuse we loved it so much last year. The hotel had only been finished 6 weeks and was absolutely beautiful!!

Ubiquitous cartwheels on the beach shot! A bad one since these are phone snaps - if I wait to get the decent ones off my big camera then I'll never do this!

A day spent dune buggying. Or as Spouse put it, spinal realignment.*g*

Really what we spent most time doing was this. Happy, happy days.

Chookie did do a little drawing.

She does make me laugh. 

I made a quilt!

Shocking, I know. But first a cushion! I've been doing a very gentle Christmas cushion-along with Helen when we found out we both lack festive pillows. Now this one isn't a Christmas one but it's the same style as one I am doing. This is Chook's, it's her favourite song quote and her colours.

My label and some skulls on the back.

More (sweary) song lyrics *g*

And the actual quilt. My boss of almost 23 years became a Grandad in October and his daughter likes textiles. I couldn't not, could I?

It wasn't easy, it's my first quilt in a year and I was very rusty. And I just didn't enjoy it. But I may still have one or two quilts in me before all my fat quarters get launched. Watch this space - just not too closely. *g*

Knitting

I finally bought a skein from Skein Queen back in the summer after a lot of flinging stuff in the basket, running to the checkout and not being quick enough to actually buy it. Her shop updates are frantic! *g* I ended up with this rather lovely Magnolia Days entwine 4 ply.

And it knitted up beautifully into this Asbury Park shawl. It did become a little tedious (all that garter stitch!) but it's lovely and I'm glad it's finished.

And with that finished I started another Pebble Beach shawl with this beautiful hand dyed yarn from Etsy.  It's finished but I can't show you any more as it's a Christmas present! And it's not blocked yet - must get on that. 

And now I'm on to a pair of socks! I'm keeping these ones, they're a 4 ply cable design and taking aaaaages!

Yikes! Disappearing Lynz...

Oops! No posts since August?! Well that won't do at all so for my record keeping there may be daily posts for the next week to catch up! Let's do garment sewing today.

This is my first Renfrew top with the cowl. I love it to bits (I'm wearing it right now at work!) and it washes like a wee hanky. And is cosy! I have 5 full work outfits now - haven't had RTW on for weeks!

Another work wardrobe item - a Briar in a pretty stripe. It's a very slinky viscose knit and actually a bit TOO slinky, it clings and rucks up a bit. But it's good enough to wear and is great under a long boyfriend cardy. And my space invaders Arielle skirt gets lots of wear to work now! 

And lastly a groovy Linden sweatshirt for my Chook. Dontcha love it when they ask you to make them stuff? This ponte roma print is so her and she was complaining the other night that it's gone bobbly so I'll need to shave it. Shows it's getting worn though, eh? *g*

I will in all probability be back tomorrow with more sewing. or maybe knitting. I've been busy just not online much!