The Saunio Cardigan was a success.  This pattern was the second in the Sew-My-Style challenge.  It was also my first attempt at using NAMED PATTERNS.


My favorite part of this pattern would have to be an accidental detail - as I put together the shoulders,  I only had gold grosgrain ribbon in my sewing bag. Now there are little golden seams hidden on the inside.


The pattern is generally loose fitting, but the arms are quite snug.  I added and extra 2 inches to the width of the sleeves, but wish I had added a little more.

I may have overthought some of the steps, but my key lesson is READ the instructions.  This is something that I relish doing, but it appears I start reading and then just skim over the details looking at the pictures.  I read in depth all the details about adding a seam allowance to each piece.  However, that little step 2, that has no pictures, but says "interface the facings" - you want to pay attention to that one.

The jacket fits, is versatile and certainly fills a gap in my wardrobe.  While it's not what I would usually wear, there might be another on in the works some time soon.

I had the pleasure of meeting Abi from Home Heart Happiness today. It was such a surprise. There was an email late last night saying she was likely to be in town, and before I knew it we were sharing coffee and babbling away. It was great fun and so nice when you get on just as well in real life as you do online.


We are together in both the ANZAC and Australasian Bees. So of course I had to get my latest blocks off in the post too.

I have been catching up on my bees recently. If you look to the left side bar there is an updated list of the bees and links to all the lovely ladies sewing along. 3 Bees just kind of crept up on me. I’m really enjoying running the Anzac Bee. I feel honoured to be an international member of the U.S. Stash Busting Bee and the Australasian Bee is just up and running. If you are following along in reader, take some time to have a look. There are some new friends waiting to be met there.


This one above is for Abi at Home Heart Happiness as part of the ANZAC Bee. I had great fun experimenting with the hearts. Watch out for a tutorial as the experiments grow and grow.


Christine R. has requested houses of any size for her ANZAC month, resulting in a fine wobbly neighbourhood of little houses. The larger one needs something in it's garden so I will think a little more on this one.

To add to the catching up fun, we have been learning about posting letters in our house. Little E is my helper at the post office on regular occasions. One nice thing about sending parcels is getting to use different stamps. We choose dinosaurs where ever possible.

Sometimes I am so sensible it is stupid. I fell in love with Gwen Marston’s Liberated Quiltmaking when I first started quilting. I was so proud of myself for resisting the urge to buy it. How was I to know it was going to go out of print?

When I heard that there was a Part II, I was in giddy liberated love. I called the ladies at Minerva and they had it in my mail box the next day. The book is fantastic and I am already scrambling for every chance to try something new out of it.


Here is Peg’s block for the Stash Busting Bee – my attempt to try the saw-tooth boarders from my newest love.

I have been indulging in string piecing again. This time it was for Vintage Fern's block as part of the Stash busting bee. The aim was to make enough string fabric for a disappearing 9-patch block. As I got a little carried away, the remainder was framed up for a second block.


Some reminders also -

Louise of 20 Cent Mixture is hosting the NZ Christmas decoration swap again. Have a look over here for the details. I'm jumping in with both feet this year.

There is only a day left to enter the wonderbundle give away. Read here for more details