How to make a fabric book cover.

The PTA at the kid's school have bought 6 sewing machines for the kids to learn how to sew.

One of the teachers is doing an after school club. I am there to pick the kids up that day as the boys have clubs, so I have offered to help if she needed it.

She asked me for any ideas for the kids to make things that they would enjoy, so I have been thinking about different things, and checking with Alexander and Cameron to see of they would enjoy making and using the projects.

I remember having a book cover like this when I was younger. I can't remember where it came from, but I remember the fabric was batik greens and blacks, and I loved it. So, I have tried to replicate it from memory.

As I attempted to make one of my own, I took photos of each stage. Alexander is a wizz at Power Point Presentations, so he did the slides for me. The classroom has an interactive white board, so we can put the slides up on there for everyone to see.

I sent my friend Steph, (a new addicted sewing fan), the file, and she made 3 in 1 1/2 hours, and was really pleased with the results.

The measurements for a book I covered was 13cm wide, 20cm high and 2 1/2cm thick. When I went through the kids bookshelves this was the standard size of most of their books. If you want to cover a different size book, measuure the width (double it for front and back), height and spine, and add seam allowances. For the inner flaps, measure width of cover and subtract 3cm from width.

(above photo...issues with my sewing machine tension, reason for double stitching...no need for 2 stitching lines)

Phil's Neck Warmer

Pattern: "Hubby Approved Scarf" by Danielle Landes Wool: Rico Design Baby Classic DK Needles: 4mm After seeing Alexander and Cameron's scarves, Phil wanted one as well. I had blue wool for Phil. This one took longer than the boys scarves for 2 reasons. 1. It was wider and longer than the kids scarves (took longer to make) 2. I was bored of the pattern 1/2 way though, and got sidetracked with my citron, handschuhe, and my doublemassa hat!

Alexander's Neck Warmer

Pattern: "Hubby Approved Scarf" by Danielle Landes
Wool: Rico Design Baby Classic DK
Needles: 4mm



Alexander is really happy with his scarf. It's his favourite shade of red. Cameron chose the buttons for it, he did a great job choosing these ones, a perfect match.

Knitting Bags for Knitting Club

I run a knitting club at school every Tuesday. The knitting is put back in a box, and every week it is a bit of a mess when they try and find their knitting. We have tried putting their knitting in plastic pockets, and labels on knitting needles, and still they can't find their knitting quickly. I have made these little knitting bags with a drawstring. Each bag is made from different novelty fabric. The kids chose which bag they wanted, and now their knitting is kept safe.....well, we will see what happens next week!

Doublemassa Hat

Doublemassa by Charlene Schurch, from "Hats On" book.

Wollmeise wool,
3.5mm needles.

Started this when the Olympic Flame was ignited for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Finished a few hours before the Flame was extinguished...
Just in Time!

GOLD MEDAL for me! :)

I thought I was pushing my luck in getting this finished, (with a week skiing in Zermatt) and thought I was heading for a DNF (did not finish).

I love this hat!

Pity I didn't start this one before Xmas for those -15 degree days.
This hat is fully lined, so when the cuff is turned over, it has 4 layers..really warm.

Now that the snow has melted, and the tempreture is over 5 degrees..I am not sure when I will wear this hat, but it won't stop me making another one!

Citron Shawette

Here is the shawl I finished on my Wollmeise trip.. My Wollmeise "Pillar of Fire" Citron Shawlette, designed by Hilary Smith Callis.

A trip to Wollmeise

Every last Friday of the month I meet up with a group of Berlin knitters at Starbucks and we spend a few hours talking and knitting together. Our conversatons swap from English to German, and sometimes French and Italian if we have visitors from other countries join us. We all met through Ravelry, a fantastic online knitting community. Some of us decided to go on a trip to Pfaffenhofen, Bayern, in South Germany to visit the Wollmeise. Our 6 hour train trip meant there was lots of knitting done and the time went fast. We had booked an apartment for us all, and it was a lovely place with a bedroom for each of us. On Friday we had a "typische Deutsche Frühstück" with Suzan a fellow Raveller, and fantastic knitter,

After breakfast we drove to the Wollmeise Shop..

A lesson in how to be overwhelmed.... The window display... Shelves of fantastic colours Shelves of "Not Quite Perfect" Skeins

I was overwhelmed with the choices of colour, so for awhile I just sat on the sofa and knitted and looked and thought about the colours I wanted to buy, and what I would do with the wool I would purchase. I had a few ideas for some lacy tops, shawls and socks. Then I picked out colours, sat them on a sofa for awhile to look at them, before I bought the ones I wanted. Andrea, Winnie and Julie, my fellow Berlin knitting friends. While we were buying our wool, we were able to sit on the sofa's in the shop, talk to other knitters and knit all afternoon. It was fantastic! The wall of the toilet was fun to read, especially when you see familiar Raveller names who have visited before.

Waiting for the train...10 minutes, sure, time to knit a few more rows! Saturday we went back to the shop and bought a little bit more, and met some other Ravellers and knitted the afternoon away. Julie can't decide which colours she wants, while Suzan sits and knits, she can come here anytime, she lives so close to the shop. ;) What a great way to spend an afternoon My Wollmeise "Pillar of Fire" (red) Citron Shawlette, designed by Hilary Smith Callis, started on the train on Thursday morning, finished Saturday night! Winnie's blue and pink shawl and Julie's green shawl, draped over the sofa All of our purchases...I am not admitting to how much of this is mine... Sunday we had to come back to Berlin, it was a bit of a tight squeeze for some of us to put all the wool in our bags, but we all managed. Then it was another 6 hour trip on the train back to Berlin, where I worked on a pair of socks. On our way home, Julie couldn't resist starting a new pair of socks for a friend with her new wool It was a fantastic weekend. I really enjoyed myself, got to know 3 knitters a lot better, a lot of laughs and fun to be had. I am so glad I went!

Cameron's "not itchy" scarf

Pattern: "Hubby Approved Scarf" by Danielle Landes Wool: Rico Design Baby Classic DK Needles: 4mm Cameron loved the scarf I made for his teacher, and really wanted one for himself. Cameron complains that every wool is itchy, but this baby wool is divine! Buttons have "0" & "9" on them He loves it!

Tea Cosy Hat

using : Tausendschön Handgefärbte Sockenwolle
Colour: Himbeerschokolade
on 3mm needles
variation on the Wurm Hat

Sockhead Hat

Wool :Tausendschön Handgefärbte Sockenwolle
Colour:Krokus
Needles: 3mm
Patterns:

Lacy Autumnal Baktus

Wool : Tausendschön Handgefärbte Sockenwolle
Colour : Herbstaster
Needles: 2.5mm needles
Pattern: Lacy Baktus by Terhi Montonen

Ambitious Xmas holiday knitting

With little time this year to knit, I am hoping to get some quick projects done over the Xmas holiday period. Items have been cast on, let's see how much I can do in a 3 week period.... socks from Toe Up... more socks from Toe Up technique (these have been frogged twice now) Scarf hat

hat.

Cameron and I went to Idee on Saturday and bought some soft wool for a hat and scarf for both boys. Hopefully get these done as well.

Xmas presents for Teachers

A Baktus scarf for Miss Beves from Alexander. Pattern is "Baktus scarf" by Strikkelise 5.5mm needles Wool: Fibreworks Kid Mohair Brushed A scarf for Mr Shillitoe from Cameron. Pattern is "Hubby Approved Neck Warmer" by Danielle Landes 3mm needles Trekking Sock wool, unsure of actual colour...tag has gone walkabout. The patterns were lovely to knit. I am now making myself a Baktas scarf. With the -13 degree weather we have been having, the kids both want a scarf like Mr Shillitoe's to wear under their jackets on these cold days!

Uptown Boot Socks

These socks have been picked up, then put down so many times over the past 12 months.

I didn't make any mistakes that needed to be frogged, but life this year has been busy with my first year of Uni.  All craft has had to take a back seat so I can get all the assessments submitted in time!

Finally finished, and I am really happy with them!

The pattern is from "Favourite Socks", from Interweave Knits.

Uptown Boot Socks, by Jennifer Appleby. 2.5mm needles. Wool: Tausendschön Handgefärbte Sockenwolle Colour: Klingglocken

Josefine's Quilt

Our neighbours, Antje and Thorsten had an adorable baby girl, Josefine. This quilt is for her.

Teacher Gifts

Not much sewing happening lately, with so much study to do.
However I managed a few things before the end of the school year.

This one is for Cameron's teacher.


This one is for one of Alexander's teachers.


This cot quilt is for Alexander's other teacher who became a Dad for the first time a few weeks ago, Arthur.

Clapotis

My second Clapotis.I love this pattern!

Clapotis Pattern by Kate Gilbert

wool Evilla Artyarn 8/2 on 5mm needles

(a reluctant model)

Knitting

Danish wool, with a Norwegian pattern in Switzerland!

I started this top on our skiing holiday...so far so good.

My friend Karen, is translating this pattern for me.