it is a wrap....trimming it again

i had the idea for these brewing and pieces languishing in basket for months, nothing like a deadline to give you a push.  i needed that push and i am so pleased with the result.  many thanks for these amazing pictures go to my lovely and uber talented friend susan.

here is where we started, originally i had not planned on using the green fan flowers (it is fair to say i love a neutral and muted colour pallet) but miss pitter can carry off any colour so it was back in the mix and allowed me enough fabric to squeak out two bands of colour on each scarf.  the blue tulipish pattern was a much lighter cotton and was whipped into tags, as everything is much better with a tag.

 

my trimming pieces along with crochet panels of alpaca, cotton and thick linen have been pulled together to make a family of loop scarves.  the wool is reassuringly wintery smelling and the cotton backing means no crys of itchyness from the littles.  the linen was destashed from my mother on a recent trip and is thick and soft. for all outings these will be a go to for most of the year and i am hoping to have these in use for many years yet.
 

voting opens on the pinterest board on the 1st of june and runs until the 5th, do check it out and give your favourite a repin. i highly recommend looking over the past years at some amazing work.  this has been another challenge i am so glad to have joined, i have such lovely things from it and will find more amazing crafters no doubt.

 and this is me enney pitter......hi (many of you will know the rare feeling of a photo of yourself you like....this is one for me)

trimming it

well all these little bits have come together for a car park/construction/street map inspired play mat.

n.b. always park your giraffe thoughtfully.  i really like the open ended play a simple mat like this provides, aside from the car/animal farm combination it has been a local map for outings and piled high with block for city building and pulled up over a chilly lap and investigated.  and so much nicer left laying out on the floor than some cartoony, busy riot of colour plastic shop bought thing (rant over)

.........

this mat came together simply in a few hours and would be a great project for a beginner sewist or if you needed to whip up  a quick baby shower or first birthday gift.  in saying that it is the 3 year old miss pitter playing away in the photos (without the normal promoting and/or bribing required) she happily pottered away for over an hour. win/win.

i began with this lofty brush cotton drill (i think it would be equally pleasing on a piece of denim).  my piece is 28 inches by 25 inches and seems about prefect for play and folded for transporting.

after squaring up my trimming pieces i played with the layout taking photos with my camera phone so i could look over them and pick out a favourite.

i then pinned, trimmed and stitched, 

if you were a beginner or perfectionist you could fuse your materials in place

 stitch the cotton tape first then a zigzag around your trimmings fabrics.

then bind , i could not help myself mixing up the black binding with some royal blue and white. i had to have white, as my adult self had to provide clear points of entry onto the mat and there had to be two to minimise the chance of disputes.

(if anyone would like a more complete tutorial let me know in the comments and i'll get to it)

and in the end this is what is left on the table....i am very happy and the mat is an everyday play item already, chocolate stained and fought over.

well and truly trimmed i would say!

if you have got this far and would like to vote for your favourite trimmings project (wink, wink), the voting is conducted via pinterest follow this link to pin your favourite/s between the 1st and 5th of June.

fabric a go go ..

as i am already go on the hand printed fabric swap the second go is the umbrella prints trimming competition.

the trimmings competition started on the first of march and after mulling over my pack for a few months a little crisp breeze blew in the other day and suggested an idea to me.  now i do not think this little plan had a hope of winning big, but i do know if i can make it a reality there will be three possibly four snuggly pitters in this home.

there will be some creamy linen and %100 alpaca wool along with most of the trimmings pack.  the other two trimmings pieces will likely end up as a spiffing pin cushion.

and i can say i am more than i little tempted to get a second pack and see what pops into my head.

i will be making the most of the 31 of may deadline.  if you want to join in please do, you can find the details here.  you may note that voting is done via pinterest so do pop over and follow me here and the voting board here.

a little challenge on the side...

the postman delivered a little treat today, my umbrella prints trimming pack. 

each year they run a little competition using there sweet packs.  this year the competition period runs from march to june with entrants posting their wares onto a pinterest board.  i am a lot excited but it is a competition so you will not see my plans until i am done.

this year i'm in and i have my best friend joining me, will anyone join us? do let me know in the comments.