Christmas in August?

Judging by the amount of traffic to my Patchwork Stocking post, there's a hell of a lot of people already thinking about Christmas. Now this may seem like a crazy time to think about Christmas, especially as I write this at the end of a day that has earned the right to be called a 'summer' day. All ice-creams and long clinky drinks... <sigh>

But if you're planning to make stuff by hand, either for gifts or for sale, now is actually a pretty good time to start planning. In a couple of weeks it will be all 'back to school' shenanigans in this house, then time seems to gallop away as the nights draw in.

I'm hoping to have a stall at a craft fair or two in the run up to Christmas, so I need to come up with some fresh designs, buy more festive fabric and get stitching. I'd also like to knit a few presents, and I'm not a particularly speedy knitter, so starting in August doesn't seem so daft.

And if you fancy feeling all virtuous and store-cupboardy, you always could go ahead and make a Christmas Cake, as they're said to improve with age...

Mini Stockings Again

Day 10 of my advent blog challenge and it's a full moon <insert wolf howl noise here> I managed to get a couple of hours sewing in this afternoon and started work on a batch of mini stockings. This is the first one completed and ready to be filled with sweeties.

The top hem is stitched with a zig-zag stitch just because I think it looks nice. Once I'd sewn the rest of the seams in straight stitch I trimmed the edges with pinking shears before turning the stocking inside out. Pinking shears help to reduce fraying of raw edges and I've also found it helps to reduce bulk in the seams and makes for a smoother curve. The stocking is finished off with a loop of gold ribbon and a button.

I did all the machine stitching this afternoon, and hope to handstitch the rest of the ribbon loops in front of the TV tonight.

See you tomorrow...

Mini stockings... (maybe)

I thought I'd try for a second post today to make up for yesterday. Of course, the problem with posting everyday is that I have to find something interesting to say everyday. Preferably something about something crafty I've made...

Today I started having a muse about preparing for my stall at Redfestive. As it's the weekend before Christmas I think little bits and pieces would be best. I'm planning to make some more felt puds and robins and also thought I'd have a go at a mini stocking decoration. I thought I could fill them with chocolate coins or other appropriately festive sugar bombs.

I'm not entirely happy with the prototype but I'll work on it and post a better picture soon. I also want to get back to the 12 Days of Christmas bunting and am working on some sketches for the next flag. At this rate I may have it finished by about 2022... Oh and I'm supposed to be knitting some socks for a present in early January. Better get off the internet and start doing some work!

Patchwork Christmas Stocking

This is a prototype patchwork Christmas stocking that I made last night. I had some bits of festive fabric left over from making bunting last year and just did up a simple patchwork with squares. I made myself a stocking shape template out of stiff card so that I can make more of these.

The stocking is lined with an unbleached calico - I thought that I could embroider a name on the strip at the top to personalise it. The back of the stocking is more of the tartan fabric as I had a larger piece of this one.

The patchwork is a little wonky in places, but this just adds to the handmade charm (keep saying it enough and it might be true!).

I went down to the really inappropriately named Nylon Shop today - they sell loads of fabric, it's a complete Aladdin's cave type place, cluttered but lovely. And it's within 15 minutes walk of my house.  Much of what they sell is not nylon, so why the name I don't know... I found some more of the red/green tartan plus a small green/gold holly print and a red cotton with snowflakes and baubles.  I am however very much coveting the one of the Scandi-style Christmas bundles from Fabric Rehab.