Sugared almonds

 

Next project

Now we live in Norfolk, and I'm newly retired, I've been sorting out my sewing/craft room and I've been sorting my yarns into weight mostly double knit, but I also have Aran, Chunky and some really adorable 4 ply. and I've sorted the yarn into colours and now I can see exactly what I have I've decided to make a "Sugared Almond" collection.  

I have a lot of really pretty cardigan patterns and I'm going to made 1 of each colour, yellow, pink, blue, green and lilac.  

So the first item I made was a little 14" chest baby blue vee neck cardigan, using #JamesCBrett top value double knit, which is super soft, and super snazzy buttons.

Here's the second item a lovely lacey cardigan in #Stylecraft special double knit in soft peach but looks like very pale pink, and very pretty flower buttons.

This is the third item, its a super soft lemon and white striped cardigan, made in #Woolcraft baby care yellow and #The Women's Institute white

Number 3 is a lacy vee neck cardigan in baby mint by #Yarnfair Tootsy baby double knit

Last but not least number 4.  pretty lilac jumper in #JamesCBrett #Supersoft baby double knit, instead of the usual ribbing this pattern has a lacy band around the bottom, sleeves and neck and a lovely heart and hole patterned body.

 

                                   Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our #facebook                                     page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts and #instagram

#sunshinebabycrafts there will be lots of new items to buy.

#Buylocal #Supportsmallbusinesses

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Pram suits

                                                            New project

Many years ago when I had my first daughter,  as a leaving present I was brought a little red and white knitted pram suit, from one of the girls I worked with.

I did make a little set for my first grandson Edward using fisherman's rib and now I'm going to made one for my new grandson Matthew.

So I've been looking through my patterns some going back over 40 yrs and I selected a number of patterns I want to make, with various patterns on the jumpers, I'm going to mix and match jumpers to leggings from different patterns, I'm going to make 2 piece sets rather than onesies for ease of nappy changes.

 I think the smaller suits I'll do with feet, and from 6 months as trousers, but you'll see I made these two as trousers.

These will ideal for the autumn and winter months, and are also perfect for using in car seats when babies cant wear their coats, they can be lifted straight out of the car seats and into their prams without having to mess about putting coats on.

I'll start with a new born one first to see how they look and ask a few people what they think and then I'll make them in various sizes up to a year.

                                                        A selection of patterns

                                                        A selection of yarns

                                        Hoodie and leggings pictures

I made this set using white yarn specked with orange and green and white leggings with cuffs and waist band in contrasting yarn, this one fits a 16" chest 0-3 months 

And this one in yellow, green and white to fit 14" chest new born ideal for bringing your new baby home from hospital.

So I've made 2 so far I'm hoping to make a few more at a later date.

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy

Knit 1 purl 1 drop 1

 

What a week, first I make a real rookie error, whilst I was sewing on the front edges on to a cardigan when I realised that I'd completely forgotten to sew the shoulder seams 😕so then had to sew the seams and adjust the tops of the sleeves.  

On my next knit I cast on the wrong amount and after 25 rows I noticed 😄 so I had to undo it all and start again.

I'm hoping this will be the last of these lapses and I can get on knitting with out any mishaps.

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy 

Christmas jumpers

 

This time of year I always start making my Christmas jumpers, these range from 14" to 24" something for everyone.

These are all made from double knit super soft yarn so they are nice and warm.

I like making these as they are so cute.

I have also made a few Snowman mitts and I will be making a few hats

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy

Hoodies

Comfy hoodies

After visiting many craft fairs I've noticed that there are not many hoodies available so I've these two for my next craft fair.

I particularly like this striking yellow and grey one

 

Both of these are perfect for car seats and when its not quite cold enough for a coat but still chilly enough to a warm top.

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy

Back to craft fairs

 

Looking for craft fairs

Now we've moved and settled in, I'm looking at starting craft fairs again, its been a while since my last fair, so I'm going to completely re-vamp my stock and starting small, firstly I'm going to make bootees, mitts and hat sets, then jackets, jumpers and cardigans, and possibly knitted leggings in co-ordinating colours, that can be mixed and matched.  

To catch customers eyes I'm going to make lovely bright colours.

With this in mind I'm hoping the local craft fairs are going to  start to open up again soon and I can visit them and get some booked for next yr. I'm even thinking of re-opening our Etsy shop so I must get the needles out and get some stock made.

I've now book a table at #Posh Crafts, craft fair on the 30th April at The Coronation Hall in Mundesley 

Really looking forward to meet some new people and hopefully make some new friends.

So come along and see me and all my new knitwear and you might find something for the little person in your family

The #Posh Crafts craft fair at Mundesley went really well, I met a lot of local people and made a few new crafter friends, and I'm hoping to get another stall soon.

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy

Tiny Cardigans

For the smallest member of the family.

For many years at craft fairs I've been asked for small baby items for earlier born babies, so with this in mind I've been making a few little sets for my next craft fair.

These will fit a 12" chest which if roughly 6lb to 7lb in weight, all made in double knit so the are warm but not to bulky.

I'm also going to make a few 10" sets for even smaller babies weighing in at around 5lb to 6lb 

This set is made using #Womens Institute white with white striped buttons and matching hat and mitts.

This little matinee jacket is made using #Stylecraft special in Peach with orange spotted buttons with hat and mitts.

Here's a little blue and white combo is made with #James C Brett supersoft and navy buttons also with matching hat and mitts

This V neck set is made from  #Womens Institute pale blue and has spotted buttons and matching hat and mitts 

Theses are all super soft  so any new baby will not only be warm and cosy too. 

And 25% of all sales of these little items will be donated to the nearest NICU at the end of the year

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. there will be lots of new items to buy

Nautical themes

Hello sailor

Since moving to Norfolk, and living only minutes from the sea, I've decided to do a range of nautical clothing, I've designed a pattern with a boat motif on the front which I though I would make in white with a navy blue boat, and also navy blue with a white or even red boat, I've also got an anchor I've designed and I was also thinking of making matching cargo pants and pairing them up as a set !  

Sail Boat

Anchor

I've also got a crab design and fish 

All these will be made using #JamesCBrett super soft yarn and also #Stylecraft yarns #knitsirdar and #Patons in double knit.

All of these yarns were purchased from #Woolwarehouse and #Deramore


I was also thinking of making a few buggy/car seat blankets with the same sort of motifs with contrasting edges using 3 squares by 6 or 9 square with half motifs and half plain in different colours

I was also thinking of matching a jumper with white knitted trousers would make a lovely Christmas present

This of course got me thinking about summer dresses, shorts and tops but that's another blog 😊

All these hopefully will be available at Norfolk crafts fairs very soon watch this space !!!

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. as soon as I've settled in there will be lots of new items to buy.

A new start in Norfolk

A new life

In 1979  as a 17 yr old I decided with my friend Tina to go on an adventure, we left Essex for sunny Caister in Norfolk to work at Ladbrokes Holiday Centre, and what a summer that was, meeting lots of new friends and the holidaying public.

The work was hard and long hours but the social life was wonderful out each night drinking and dancing till late sleeping for a few hours and starting all over again.

Whilst we were there we both met our future husbands !  This year April 2021 we celebrated our 41st  wedding anniversary, over the last 11 yrs or so we've be going back to Norfolk on holiday, mostly with our 2 daughters and their husbands and an assortment of dogs.  Whilst on holiday we made the decision to retire and to move to Norfolk, hopefully this yr.

With this in mind I've been thinking about designing beach inspired sundresses, shorts, babies rompers and knitwear, to sell at craft fairs and I was also thinking of looking into local bespoke children's clothes shops to see if they would be willing to let me have a rail to sell my makes.

For the knit wear I was thinking of boat, anchor, fish and other seaside related motifs to knit onto the front of cardigans, jumpers and hoodies, also jaunty stripes.

For the sundresses and rompers I was thinking of adding appliqué suns, boats and anything to do with the seaside.  

At the moment I'm sourcing new fabric shops near to where we've moved to and I'm really looking forward to going out and buying new fabrics and haberdashery bits, and finding local craft fairs to attend.  

Don't forget you can keep up to date on our new items on our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SunshineBabyCrafts. as soon as I've settled in there will be lots of new items to buy.

New baby gift set

Baby shower

Now days with the advent of baby showers and reveal parties, I was think of a new all in one present.

My idea was a parcel of hand made items wrapped up in a muslin and tied with a ribbon, in two different sizes.

These will be make from double knit yard from #Woolwarehouse and #Dearmore and will be made from #JamesCBrett, #stylecraft, #Patons and #knitsirdar yarns.

I was going to add baby wipes, but with the government, trying to stop the usage of these I've decided to add cotton wool and baby lotion instead. 

Size one

buggy sized blanket either plain or patterned.

1 cardigan

1 pair of bootees

1 pair of mitts

1 hat

1 bib / bandana

1 teddy

1 taggy/knitted comforter 

1 muslin

2 nappies

Cotton wool and baby lotion

Size  two

buggy sized blanket either plain or patterned.

2 cardigans in different patterns

2 pairs of bootees

2 pairs of mitts 

2 hats

1 bib

1 bandana

1 teddy

1 taggy

1 comforter

1 muslin
4 nappies

Cotton wool and baby lotion

The colours I was thinking of were, white, pale blue, a darker blue, green, yellow, pink, lilac.

I was then thinking of selling these at craft fairs and I was also thinking of approaching bespoke baby and children's wear shops to see if I could rent a shelf or a portion of the shop to sell assorted and knitted baby items 

Sewing room

New sewing room

The  move to Norfolk I had 3 stipulation for our new house.

1)  a large kitchen as I love cooking and baking and intend to make all my own bread, cakes, pies and jams.

2) a large lounge for cosy nights by the fire

3)  a sewing room, so I didn't have to constantly pack everything away every night

So with this in mind I've been looking for ideas for the perfect sewing room

I need a large sturdy cutting table, a sewing machine table and comfy chair, lots of storage for materials and yarns, hanging space for dresses, trousers and knitwear, shelves for folders and books, racks for cotton reels and ribbons, and pin board for ideas and draws for scissors cutting blades and pens pencils and tapes.  Theses are a few ideas I found 

I love this organised cotton reel / tools board

I particularly like this idea to keep my materials nice and crease free

I will defiantly utilise some of these ideas into my sewing room. 

Knitted gifts for Australia

 

Gifts of Amelie

At the end of last summer my youngest niece had a baby girl out in Sydney Australia, but because of the lockdown  so I've been busy knitting a few little cardigans to post to her.  I made them all the same size 18" chest so they should fit her for quite a while.

Just need to add the buttons to the blue shrug and I will be able to post these off to her as a surprise.

Surprise request

last week I had a surprise request from a family member, to make 2 sets of snowman mitts and matching hats, these were made from super soft #stylecraft double knit and oddments of orange for the noses and black for the eyes.

I can't wait to see the new babies wearing these.

Classic cardigan

Classic white cardigan, I first made this cardigan back in 1983 and every baby since either family or friends has had at least one.

This one is made from #Stylecraft special double knit which is machine washable and tumble dryable on a low heat.