When I started blogging, I never really thought about covering my failures….well up until now!
I love the idea of marrying thriftiness with craft. So when Liz from Me and my Shadow set down a challenge to ‘take one jumper’, I really wanted to give it a go. I also wanted to give myself an additional task of not spending any more money on materials.
So my first problem was finding a jumper and felting it. I have a few that I no longer use in the attic, they have shrunk a little or slightly bobbled, but I kept them thinking I would one day do something with them. It took me three attempts to find one that seemed suitable and then three washes at 90 degrees for it to actually felt!! However, eventually I managed it, phew!
I then set about making a case for my new camera. Might seem like a strange thing, but I got the camera for Christmas from Tall Dad and the girls. I carry it around everywhere with me. I am doing a 366 photography project, where I take a photograph everyday for a year. I really wanted something that would protect my camera as I carried it around. So I started off by using one of the arms of the jumper for the body of the bag, and made it in double thickness for added protection.
I have kept the inside open though, So I can put a small power cable in there as well when we go away, and hopefully it won’t therefore scratch the camera.
So the body of the case is made from jumper. The fabric at the top, I am particularly attached to as my Christmas present from my great friend Molly (Molly and the Princess) was wrapped up in it. It’s a beautiful chocolate-brown colour with blue and red details on it. So I used some of my many buttons in red and some red ric-rac to trim it with. Overall I am really pleased with the result. It fits nicely in my bag, and it’s easy to get my camera out of it in a hurry.
OK, so my next and final project (as I write this I am pretending not to be sulking) was a pair of mittens for Miss A.
I used her hand as a template to draw around on a piece of paper, making sure it was slightly larger. Then used this paper as a pattern to make the mittens.
Here they are all ready to rumble!
I thought a zig-zag stitch would be stronger, and I also wanted them to be worn inside out as I thought this would look much cooler. So I set about joining the two halves together.
Well, this didn’t quite work out how I imagined, I did wonder if I could get away the crinkled flipper look….but once I saw Tall Dad’s suppressed laughter I realised I had no chance.
*please note* Mittens have been placed on top of the camera bag to try to dilute the awfulness.
I should also let you know Miss A, loves them so she’s going to wear them anyway, so long as Tall Dad’s not around!
So that was my takes one jumper challenge….
I am linking up this post to @mummiafelice’s
Thank you for reading
This blog post is part of the Thrifty families blog carnival over at Family Budgeting http://family-budgeting.co.uk/2012/02/07/thrifty-families-blog-carnival/
Love your camera case and the mittens were a valiant attempt. I too made mittens for my Take One Jumper Challenge entry but I knew how unruly the material was on the sewing machine having made two cushions previously so I opted to hand sew mine or mine too may have looked like flippers, so long as your daughter likes them then who cares, mine are so thin they are of practically no use whatsoever anyway. x
Thank you! Honestly, I thought I was cursed! I think handsewing anything else I make is the best option next time!
Great girly camera cse, which are hard to find, so great ti make it yourself.. and never mind about the mittens, they will be great as part of a Little mermaid outfit for the bnext dress up patrty.. no only kidding.. I like the idea, especially how you were using the cuff or the jumper for th mitten part!! Must say after three hot washes and the time.. these are definately luxury rather than thrifty!!
Haha, I know! I took the stance of, I don’t usually do hot washes, so I was giving the washing machine a bit of a clean! 😉 it’ll save on repairs! Lol x
Love it! How clever! Your mittens look better than anything I could of made – maybe you could start a trend?!
hehe…maybe so Tracy!
YAY!!! Thanks so much for joining in the challenge.
The camera case is brilliant and so practical for you. I love all the details on it, and the fact that it’s so personal.
But I’m sorry, I’m trying not to laugh at the mittens. I wouldn’t have laughed, but for your description! But good on your daughter for wearing them with pride. x
Laugh away….I think its funny too!
Thanks for linking up to Handmade Thursday 😀 Love Liz’s challenge too 🙂
You are very welcome x
The camera case is great and I love the choice of colours and trims. Cute mittens too, I’m sure they will do the job!
This is such a good idea of Liz’s – I really want to enter but can’t find the right jumper.
PS Love the new blog banner!!
Thank you, yes I agree it’s a great idea. Thank you, the whole blog is brand new and shiny self hosted one 😉
Wow the camera case is fab i love the colours you’ve used 🙂 as for the mittens well im pretty sure weve all attempted to make something that hasn’t quiet turned out right but thats all part of the fun of crafting 😉
Thanks Jane, you are right, that is all part of the fun!
love the colour mix you used! i love using felting for little bits and pieces too.
Thank you, really pleased with the colours in the end x
This is very cool! Love the colour and pattern combo!
The mittens- Little Ones can make even our sewing disasters look cute don’t you reckon? Bless ’em
Made me checkle!! Loving the camera case will you teach me to use a basic swewing machine Amanda is it hard? Thank s for linking to thrifty carnival :-0)
Glad I made you laugh! 🙂
To use it basically it’s really easy, of course I will teach you!! Thanks for the comment Becky x