My parcel has arrived at its destination, so I can now show you the surprise present I made for my favourite (and only 😉 ) aunt:

Click for full size image

A little zippered pouch, loosely based on Splityarn’s zippered wristlet tutorial. I made a ribbon from the lining fabric to embellish the outside of the pouch. I love the tiny flower print fabric!

My new sewing machine is a dream to work with. I’m sure I made the right decision in buying it. If anyone else is in the market, from what I’ve seen, Husqvarna Vikings are a quality choice. Now I just need to get myself a good book so I can learn more about what I can do with my new toy.

Sorry for the blog silence – I’ve been sick for a couple of weeks, but I’m back now. Here’s the latest AmiDogs design: my Jack Russell Terrier pup. Look at those ears!

In memory of Fraggle

Jack Russell and Boston Terrier are ready; that’s two down, one to go for AmiDogs Set 2! (Remember to sign up for the mailing list if you’d like to know when the patterns are released.)

Keep the dog breed suggestions coming! I love designing these dog patterns 🙂

UPDATE: Looking for the pattern? You can find the AmiDogs Jack Russell Terrier crochet pattern in my shop.

I have to share some of the gorgeous pincushions being made from my tutorial:

by Empty Elizabeth

by Hashiworks

by Creative Quilt Girl

by Florence

Great job, ladies – I love the variety of fabrics and ribbons/tape you all used.

I’d love to see any other projects based on my tutorials – please send them over to me 🙂

Lest you think I only crochet these days, I’ve been working on a commission for some polymer clay fruits and vegetables, and now they are ready to be harvested:

Vegetable magnets and berry pins. The magnets are embedded invisibly in the backs of the avocadoes and aubergines so they stick to the fridge as if by magic. The pins are baked into the backs of the berries for strength – no glue involved 🙂

Oh, and that’s one of my pincushions in the background with most of the berry pins stuck into it – it’s not part of the order!

Look what I’ve got! It’s a shiny new Husqvarna Viking Emerald 116 sewing machine!

It’s the basic model, but it still has 16 stitches and 8 (!) different feet. It even threads the needle for me! And, most importantly, it purrs away, stitching cleanly and easily through ANYTHING. This machine has some serious power behind it.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on which machine to buy. I hope people will continue to leave comments about their sewing machine experiences so that others in the same situation can google it and share the knowledge.

This is my first quick project to test it out – I made some ‘thumb support gloves’ (for want of a better word) for my poor thumbs which seem to have some arthritic tendencies at the basal joint. I made the gloves from two layers of a smooth and stretchy spandex knit jersey fabric that’s thin enough to let me drive, type and crochet without impediment. I’m in my second day of wearing them now, and it seems to be helping my sore thumbs.

(This is just my first prototype – I’m planning to try making a pair with some stretchy interfacing between the 2 layers, to add even more support to the gloves.)

I’m really looking forward to putting my new machine through its paces. I have plenty of project ideas, now to try to find some time to actually make some of them…

Thanks for all the requests for the poinsettia pattern! I’m happy it’s so popular. I’ve finished writing it up now, and I’m making it available with a new concept: pay what you think it’s worth… The pattern is available for free, but if you like it you can send me a donation as a thank you 🙂 Full details are available on the pattern page.

Crochet a large poinsettia flower for Christmas – perfect as a table centrepiece or as a decoration. Or make a smaller one in fine yarn or thread to wear as a pin on your coat, a Christmas tree decoration, or anything else you can think of!

>> Continue to the Poinsettia free pattern instructions >>

Welcome to all Sew,Mama,Sew! readers who are stopping by today!

Sew,Mama,Sew! Handmade Holidays: 30 Days of Gifts to Sew! is going to be a great resource – every day in November they will have a different theme with ideas and inspiration for holiday gifts you can sew.

And watch out for a few of my tutorials in there too!