The Brown Skirt

Last Friday, was color day at my daughter's day care. And the color decided was brown. Brown!! I was thinking - Really?? I thought there would be some brown dress stashed in her cupboard, which probably was not being worn and was long forgotten. On Thursday, I pulled out all the dresses, but could not find one that was brown. Hubby said let's buy one or let's just forget it was Brown Day. Even I felt forgetting was better. I tried to forget it the whole day, it just didn't leave my mind. But I didn't want to buy one either. 

Thinking thinking thinking, I thought I should make something. But my sewing skills are bad. I pulled out the few old brown clothes we had. I could not decide what to make - a brown top? shirt dress? or what. I knew attempting any of these would need enough time to complete, which I didn't have. And it may not end up neat. I was worrying more than required.

Soon I thought - I can make an easy peasy skirt! Yes, I finalized on it. That was the easiest I could make in this short time. I browsed for some really simple, yet cute patterns. Summary of most of the patterns were - cloth twice the waist size and some wide elastic. I had both handy and started off.

Cut out the bottom portion of a brown kurta of mine. I really loved this but had not worn it for the past few years. So the fabric was ready.

Measured out the elastic and kept it ready.

Took out my sewing machine and started stitching. 

It really didn't take me much time. It was cute but too plain. And it was sleep time. So I thought let it be plain. 

Friday morning, my heart again wished that I add some cuteness to it. Before getting ready for office, I quickly pulled out my ribbons, decided on a very soft pink wide satin one, and stitched it to the skirt.

Let me show you the pic.

It may not be a perfect one. But it was quick, easy, and cute. And my daughter was also excited!

Something to make me happy again.

Crochet Hat and booties

I was asked to make a hat and pair of booties for a cute little girl. Though I kept pushing it and delaying the project, the lady was extremely understanding and waited. I finally got the determination, ordered the yarn, and completed the project in a few days times.

Picture Time!

I chose the colors. The blue is a Nako Pirlanta and Off white is an Acrylic Vardhaman Yarn.

I just cannot get enough of these rosettes. They are super cute and easy to make.

A hint of ribbon!

Booties... hmm... these were meant to be for the summer actually. But I made the delay! Again a baby pink cute ribbon to perfect the fit on the teeny tiny ankles. 

And how could I end the post without showing you these lovelies blooming on my balcony.

 Just look at these... Three-a-bunch. Hope my heart will allow me to cut and place them in a bottle in the living room.

Minnie Update

In my last post, I mentioned how I put together a quick Minnie mouse costume for my daughter. 

Here is the pic of how it looked on her.

We did not manage to get any good photos as she kept wriggling around and once she wears her shoes, then she does not want to wait a second to go to school. She was happy. Me too. 

What I think was the cutest was the headband. She wore it the whole day and insisted on wearing it when we went out the next day. So I had to pull out the bow and the pom poms :-(

Red, White, & Black

Wondering what the title is about?

Well, my daughter started going to the Day Care last week, and day before yesterday I was informed that they are conducting a Fancy Dress Competition for the kids to celebrate Children's Day that is today. I thought I will just dress her in some traditional skirt and blouse as I didn't have much time and my lil one does not co-operate well with dresses other than stretch pants and Tees.

But my crafty side and wanting to dress up my girl was not letting me sit idle. I was clear on two things - I will not buy any costumes nor will I spend too much time on the project, as I was not sure if she would wear it at all. I took a look at her dresses and finalized on a cute, red frock that she wore on her very first birthday. Then it was up till a little above her ankles. Now I knew it would be just till her knees or so. But it is a cute dress... will frills and tiny embellishments, satin and a tulle over it. Many thoughts crossed my mind - butterfly, angel, and even Red Riding Hood.

I had almost zeroed in on a Butterfly. But could not buy the supplies yesterday due to incessant rain. Then I thought I'll go with Red Riding Hood. I searched my stash and old clothes, but could not find a material to match the hood and I was very doubtful that she would wear it. Finally when I was putting her to bed, I browsed for ideas and saw some Minnie mouse costume. Yes! I finalized. As soon as she was asleep (11:45 PM) I told my hubby that it would be a Minnie. After finishing off a very very late dinner and other stuff I finally started to get the dress together.

Here is the pic for my idea and details.

The first thing was the black highlighted ears and the red bow.

- I wrapped black yarn over a headband and hot glued the yarn ends.

- I thought of cutting out felt ears but hubby suggested Pom Poms. He had seen me making some of those over the last few days. I opened my Pandora's box :-D (my yarn box). I was lucky enough to have some black yarn and quickly made two Pom Poms. I hot glued them to the headband and tied the strings also so that it doesn't come off.

- For the bow, I cut out a bow shape felt, gave it a little pinch in the center (vertically) and hand-stitched it onto the yarn layer on the band.

- Next, I cut out white small felt circles and stuck them to the bow.

And the headpiece was done.

The pics were taken on my phone, early in the morning and are not clear enough!

Now the polka dots for the dress. I thought of many things - paper circles, felt, fabric paint, etc. Felt won. But again fixing them to the dress was the next question. I knew hand stitching would be the best option, but I was out of time. It was already 2 AM. I quickly cut out some felt circles and stuck them onto the tulle layer with some clear tape. It was very clear to me that these would come off but I had no more energy and time to spent.

And how can you miss the yellow shoes Minnie wears. Felt was my option again. I just cut out a small half oval for the front of her pink shoes and stuck the pieces with clear tape.

I wanted to kick myself for not having bought her a pair of black stockings yet. The closest dark color stocking she has is a navy blue one and it didn't quite go with it. So I matched it up with a black stretch pant and red and black stripped socks. 

Done.

And how it went? Well, the little Minnie loved it and she is a little obsessed with her yellow crocs now. When one felt dot fell off from the dress, she starting picking the other dots and I had to keep fixing them back :-) The bow and ears looked too cute on her!

I skipped few things for the costume - gloves (no time), black full sleeved tee beneath the dress (it would be hot for her), and did not paint her nose black ;-)

My Minne mouse was all happy and I did click some pics while she kept wriggling out of the frame. Hopefully, I'll post those soon.

Eva Shawl-Shrug

Finished off with the Eva Shawl pattern I was working on. Made it into a cute shrug for my lil angel.

I could not get a better pic, thanks to her being wiggly and active always! I tried to get a decent picture and finally had to be content with the ones I got.

Pattern: Eva Shawl Pattern
Yarn: Nako Comfort Stretch
Hook: 5.5 mm
Edging: Shell Stitch

I made the pattern to a size that would fit my daughter. And then folded the ends down and sewed it together to create arm holes. Weaved in the tails and that's it. A cute shrug for my lil one.

Experimental

I have been browsing the web for a lacy crochet pattern for a project on my mind. I really never thought anything that suitable until I chanced upon the Eva Shawl pattern. I didn't have to waste any moment thinking. I just knew that was what I was searching for.

Started it off and it is on my hook now.

It has reached the required dimensions. Just some finishing stitches and weaving in the threads remaining. 

Finished item in my next post! Bye.

Sunhat

I tried yet another new project - a Sunhat for my cutie pie.

I saw some stitched versions of it on Pinterest and thought I should have one for my lil one (though she pulls it off). I did find some patterns, but did not find anything with the dimensions I wanted. So I figured out the math and finally made one.

Here it is.

I wanted to take few pics with my lil model wearing it. But unfortunately, she can't stay still for pics. I'll have t take some time out to do a proper photoshoot.

Now, coming to the yarn - it is Nako Comfort Stretch. Thanks to Ninu without whom I wouldn't have found it. It can be ordered from the Pony Craft Store. The yarn is really soft and as the name suggests, it really does stretch. And exactly is the reason I chose it for this project. 

Now the rosette. I enjoyed making the rosette a lot. It was super quick and addictive. Especially, when it comes to Shell stitches, I just love it. 

I am now have a Crocheter's block.... Thinking, thinking, thinking, what to make next!

Angel Wings

Since I started crochet, I have always wanted to make a dress or something of that sort. Making one for me means too much of yarn and time. And I may not wear it too. Luckily I have my cute lil angel now for that.

I came across this pattern and instantly wanted one for my angel. I crocheted for a few days and here is the result.

  

  

I was uncertain about the end result. Many a times, I thought I should stop it half way and roll back all those yarn. But still the urge to create one kept me going. 

Unlike the pattern, it is not a pinafore. It is a dress with two buttons at the back.

I modified the pattern heavily. Increased the number of stitches, rows, changed the style from pinafore to dress, and made it look like a bubble dress with a shell edging.

Here's a sneak peak into the inside of the dress. 

Excuse the poor quality pics. I did not have much time as somebody lil was tagging and pulling at my legs to be lifted up. Only while I was transferring the images did I realize that I had put it in the wrong setting. And no time for pics again now. 

One more pic of this dress... I am so much in love with it. 

Baby Booties

After my baby's birth, I never really had time for any good craft. I had made few shawls before the delivery, which she snuggles in at night. All I could make for her after that were booties. I had never tried booties before. But when we started taking my baby out and she needed something for her soft feet, I started hunting patterns for booties. I came across the Posh Crochet Baby Booties video by CrochetHooksYou and have made 4 booties for her since then.

I doesn't take much and gives instant satisfaction. I don't have pictures of the earlier 3 and now her feet has outgrown those. I made some tweekings to the sole and the overall design and created a new pair for her bigger (cuter :-)) feet. Time for some pictures.

Nothing fancy. Just to keep her feet protected. She has now completed 9 months and is often out of the house in the yarn either crawling or on her walker. Could not get a decent picture of her wearing the booties. She does not like being stationary now :-)

I put on the buttons so that I can pull them tight when the stitches get stretched. Overall she is happy in the booties and so am I :-)

Pattern: Posh Crochet Baby Booties

Yarn: Vardhaman Millenium

Skill: Easy

Hook: 4mm