Odds 'N' Ends Challenge!

I promised I would post this years challenge and here it is. The purpose of the challenge was that everyone should use only left over craft supplies to produce something. As always there were two categories, adapted and original. We also had a junior category for the first time. Here are all the entries;

Margaret called this Beach party. She used up lots of left over yarn and stuffing to create these lovely bunnies. The surf board and the thongs where a favourite among the judges. The pattern is by Alan Dart and Margaret has been meaning to knit some of these bunnies for a long time now.

This was Isabel's entry who is currently visiting her grandkids in LA. To make this scarf she used only donated yarn. Most of it was handed in by the group with some from her sister. She was inspired by scarves she saw on holiday which were beautiful but pricey. The yarn she used was lace weight so she combined the yarns to give the scarf a lovely soft texture. She then added the border from a crochet book.

This entry was by myself. I have knitted more socks than I can count over the years and I had  been left with a lot of scraps that I didn't want to throw away. So I used them to make granny squares. The white border was also 4 ply yarn but this came from various baby projects which failed miserably. I had wanted to make a blanket but in the end I only had enough which to do the cushion.

Stephanie is famous for her little dolls so it came as no surprise when they made an appearance for this challenge. She used up left overs to create three fantastic outfits. She also knitted the entire bassinet. Her children are all fighting over who gets to keep it and you can't blame them.

Roberta put her granny square skills to work to make this lovely blanket. Everyone was impressed by the use of different square sizes to make up the blanket. Then of course the addition of the border just sets the whole thing off. I personally love all the colours that went into it.

This beautiful bag was Magdalena's entry. She used lots of bright colours which was left over from various projects. She used crochet too and made these lovely squares which came together to form a bag. The strap was also done in crochet. Love the black used as a border which sets the whole thing off.

It took encouragement from her daughter for Rhona to put this entry in. She made this bag for Freya so that she can keep her room tidy. She stitched it herself and added the lovely embroidered, Scottish motifs.

Zuzanna was part of our junior category. She has been wanting to learn to crochet and her mum suggested that she practice her chain stitch until they are tidy. She did and she used leftover yarn to do it. In the end she decided to make this picture with all the chains that she had made. She added beads for the flowers in the tree. Definitely original.

Freya also put an entry into our junior category. She got this gold ornament and then decorated it using leftover confetti. This photo really doesn't do it justice and I can imagine it shining away when the sunlight catches it.

All of the challenge entries.

Judges Donna and Helen reading everyone's piece about their entries.

For the original entry first prize went to Magdalena for her beautiful bag. Her daughter has already claimed the bag and so Magdalena is going to shorten the straps for her.

For adapted first prize went to Stephanie. The detail in those dolls was loved by the judges.

On her sheet Stephanie had said feel free to strip the dolls down. Here you can see all the work that went into the Bassinet.

1st prize junior went to Zuzanna for her very original picture. The judges were impressed by the imagination that went into it.

2nd prize junior went to Freya for her beautiful ornament. The judges loved the originality in her entry too and the prettiness of the ornament.

We usually have an overall runner up too. Sadly Isabel wasn't there to claim her prize. I can imagine her reaction. I promise a photo of that when she comes back in two weeks. The judges loved the combination of skills that went into the scarf and the fact that the yarn was not just leftover but donated. I have to say I had to rescue the scarf as there were a number of people who would have liked to have run off with it.

Well done everyone. Once again I am glad that I wasn't judging. Our Magdalena has come up with a fantastic idea for next years challenge which will take place during out 5th anniversary celebrations. Watch this space.

First, the Finishes!

Well we had our challenge on Tuesday. We also had some finishes though and I thought I would post those first. Not quite save the best until last since these finishes are amazing (as always). However, I didn't want to post both together in case something got missed.

First off Helen has been quilting again. How lovely is this quilt? You can't see but in the corner she has stitched 'wish upon a star..'. If I could have I would have pinched it when she wasn't looking. Helen was our judge for the challenge. When she wasn't doing that though she was knitting some socks.

Jill has also been busy. She stitched this lovely apple for her mum. Anyone else thinking that this could be the prettiest pin cushion? Love the pinks and greens. She is now working on an owl cross stitch design which I also love.

A week or so ago Izzi had shown Lyn how to crochet onto bangles in order to knit a bag. This is her finish. I love the rainbow colours. A little girl is going to love this bag. Lyn then spent the evening working on hats for the Big Knit.

This scarf was knitted by myself and for myself. Do you recognise it? I fell in love with the scarf Helen knitted a few months ago and voila. My sister also liked it so I spent Tuesday working on one for her (in the hopes that it would prevent her from pinching mine).

We also had a lot of hats given in for the Big knit. I'm afraid I haven't added them up yet but we have breached the 300 mark. I promise to have them added up by the next get together. Just as well I have been keeping note of how many everyone has handed in otherwise I would be there all do. Have filled a box with them already. These particular hats were handed in (in order) by Janice, Margaret, Lyn and Rhona.

Watch out for the challenge post which I will have up in a couple of days!

Welcome!

A couple of weeks we had a new member along. Her name is Janice and she is currently knitting for premature babies. She's also knitted for the Big Knit in the past. Last week she brought along her first finish. These cute little dolls. She isn't sure what she is going to do with them but everyone loved them. Welcome Janice!

Roberta also had a finish. She crocheted this baby blanket of Linda's shoe box charity. The pale shade of blue in the middle was a happy accident. Roberta hadn't realised that she had picked up the wrong shade. It looks lovely though and sets off the blanket.

Margaret, Stephanie and Isabel also handed in more hats for the Big Knit. We are over the 200 mark just now. Stephanie is in the lead with the most knitted so far. It's close though between herself and Margaret.

This post may seem like a quiet one however, we have our challenge night tomorrow so prepare for a busier entry. As usual there will be a lot of photo's and this year we have a junior category for our younger members. The challenge this time is Odds n Ends. Look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

Lessons in Pom Poms!

Our Freya had a finish with some of her famous decoupage. We all admired the colours used on this little pig.

Anthea liked the bag Izzi made so much that she made a larger version and decorated it. I love the blue ruffles.

I think this is the first time we have shown a finish from Grace (not to say that she hasn't had any but they are usually given as gifts). This is a Wedding present. I love the camper van.

Caroline made these sparkly strawberries for the Strawberry Tea held by hobbycraft (run by Lyn). Each of these little strawberries contained a chocolate.

Lyne has also been busy for the tea. She made these tissue and soap covers. You might recognise the lace as she used it to knit her hedgehogs which I posted a while back.

Isabel has been busy knitting for her granddaughter. She is going off to see her next week and knitted this dogs jacket for her.

She has also been knitting for the Big Knit charity. I love the alien and the bumble bees.

Margaret, Stephanie and Helen have also handed in quite a few hats. I think we have now breached the 200 mark. These hats have to be handed in by the 1st October. So I am making our deadline 18th September which will give me time to send them off.

Stephanie has been making lots of hats with pom poms and her secret is a pom pom maker which everyone has been fascinated by. I took some photo's as she demonstrated how to use it.

Voila one finished pom pom.

Isabel liked it so much she borrowed it and made three during the evening.

I have also begun taking names for next years Gartmore. We have quite a few this time round. So I think it will be a good one.

Strawberry Tea!

Last week I showed pictures of purses stitched by Izzi. It's for the Strawberry Tea hosted by Hobbycraft that she got the sewing machine out for. It's this Friday at the times above and there will be other goodies to purchase. It will raise money for Breast Cancer so it's for a good cause. Just from our group buying some of those purses £50 has been raised. I will be there so hopefully will see you there.

The Big Knit is still going strong. We have one or two people racing ahead in the novelty and quantity competition. These are some of Helen's lovely hats.

Stephanie has also been busy again. Some of those beaded hats are among my favourite.

Roberta has joined in too. She has a few with buttons on top rather than pom poms.

Lyn has also started knitting for it. The banana is one of my favourites.

It's not just been about the charity. Caroline knitted this lovely Chef for Elaine's birthday. I'm afraid though that it gives away the birthday celebration (sorry Elaine).

We had Donna along with little Abigail last week. I had attempted to knit for the baby back when we had the baby shower. It went horribly wrong and ended up using the yarn to knit this shawl for Donna instead.

The sewing machines have also been busy. Roberta has got back to the quilting again and made this beautiful spread for her bed. I love the colours.

How nifty is this? This is a quilted burping napkin which Izzi made for Donna. Stops all her tops from being ruined from the baby being sick. I can see a market for these.