Choc Leopard Baby Shoes

Well I had a nice day, it was busy, but not too hectic :-)

I made this little pair of Leopard Print baby shoes for a special order that was on it's way to Germany. I made them using one of my original patterns that is available in my JoliBebe store HERE and HERE. The pattern uses such a small amount of fabric that it is perfect for using up those little scraps of your favourite vintage fabric, that you have been saving up for a special piece. It's also a great pattern to make using fabric you have selvaged from a fabulous garment from the op shop/thrift store. Perhaps you found something that is made from great fabric, but the item itself is a bit ugly, or the wrong size etc… Chop it up and make something else with it... like a little pair of shoes for your favourite little person :-)

I knew it was going to rain today, so it was a race against time to get these finished, so I could ride my bicycle to the Post Office to mail them before I got drenched. I wasn't worried so much about me getting wet, but I was worried about my mail getting wet. You'll be pleased to read that the mail and I both survived :-)

I'm not sure why, but these shoes seem to be particularly popular with my German customers. Just like I have one particular hat in my range that is very popular, but has only ever sold to folks in Poland. I know? Odd.

I have a REALLY busy day ahead of me tomorrow. With any luck I'll find a moment to post my recipe for gluten free, fructose friendly rum balls! Here's the link to the recipe:

http://sharalambethdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/02/gluten-free-fructose-friendly-rumballs.html

xox Shara

Hello 2010!

Hello friends :-)

Yes, I know, it's been quite a while since my last Post. Life got busy last year with the business, organising an overseas trip and all the other things that happen in-between.

At the end of last year I went to New Zealand for a holiday and for my cousin's wedding at the gorgeous Craggy Range WInery, near Napier.

I got a lot of shopping done in Napier and here are links to two of my favourite stores KILT and AROHA LAMOUR . I also couldn't help myself and brought home several gorgeous vintage pieces from the multitude of fantastic Antique and secondhand stores around Napier.

And I had a really amazing time, spending New Years Eve at a beach house, watching the fireworks over the bay from our balcony, whilst sipping some fabulous local wines.

After my return from New Zealand I was lucky enough to go camping at Wilsons Promontory with some good friends. Although the weather was a little inclement for the first two days (we all snuggled up in our tents reading, writing and drawing) the weather was perfect for the rest of our stay.

As much as I loved lazing around in the hammock reading, jotting down ideas and working on new designs, I also loved venturing out over the hills and rocks and waves to discover so many new places at the Prom that I hadn't seen before.

I came across two tiger snakes, lots of wombats, a few possums and lots of amazing birdlife, as well as kayaking up a perfectly still tidal river and going to the outdoor cinema. It was brilliant! :-)

I'm back, feeling well rested from two amazing holidays, and I'm ready to get back to work.

I have been working on a whole range of new designs and ideas (it was hard not to be inspired in such amazing surroundings!) and I just wish I had a few more hours in each day to bring them all to fruition.

So, stayed tuned for what's to come in my stores HERE and HERE with a new range of hats & more clothing using upcycled, recycled and repurposed materials. As well as a whole new range of babies and kids clothing and shoes HERE and HERE using the same ecologically sound materials.

It's going to be a big year and I'm going to love every minute of it!

New Embroidery Kits

After many weeks of planning, designing, drawing, testing and printing my new Embroidery Kits are available!
The two themes that are currently available are "Girl Trouble" and "A Skulk of Foxes".
"Girl Trouble" includes several girls of varying size and style, as well as other such "girlie" things as diamonds and bows. And "A Skulk of Foxes" includes lots of different foxes, in various styles, and sizes, as well as rain drops and leaves.
The kits include an A4 sheet of designs, special Transfer Paper so you can easily transfer the images onto your fabric/garment etc, embroidery thread in various colours and easy to follow instructions.
All paper used in the kit is recycled from 100% Post-Consumer waste.

The kits can be found HERE and HERE and HERE

Girl Trouble Sample

A Skulk of Foxes Sample

Handmade Underwear!

I have been working very hard to come up with a few different underwear patterns of my own since buying a Knicker making kit from PainterGirl.etsy.com last year.
After several days of trial and error I have finally developed 4 different styles.
Here are a few pictures of the first style... I'm yet to come up with witty names for all of them. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :-)
They are extremely comfortable, and luxurious to wear :-)
Hopefully I'll be able to add a few more pictures in the not too distant future of the other designs :-)
Soon the underwear will be available in my Etsy and DaWanda stores in Australian sizes ranging from 8 to 16. There will also be some MENS styles coming soon!! :-)

New Hat Pattern AND Kit!

I have just added one of my original hat sewing patterns to my Etsy, DaWanda, and Felt stores. This pattern, for a 100% reversible Mod Cap, is available on it's own or as part of a Kit. The kit includes all the fabric and interfacing you need, along with instructions and the full sized pattern.
You can use the pattern over and over again to make many wonderful hats using all your favourite fabrics. You don't need much fabric to complete the hat so it's a great way to use up all those little scraps of that special fabric you have been saving.
Making small projects like this is also a great excuse to go for a treasure hunt in your local second hand store to find some vintage fabric, or you could rescue the fabric from an old shirt or a suit for a winter hat. Add a few buttons, or a badge. The possibilites are endless :-)
With the kits you have several fabric combinations to choose from. Below are just a few examples:

Cherry Cola

Black Strawberries

Chocolate Leaves

Black & White Cat

New Baby Shoe Patterns

After many requests from fellow craftsters I have been busy writing patterns for the baby shoes I sell in my JoliBebe stores which can be found HERE and HERE
So far there are two different designs available: The Slipper style and the Maryjane Style.



The patterns are in an email format so you can have them straight away, which means you can get started on them immediately (this is good if you're stuck for a last minute gift :-)
Each pattern includes full size pattern pieces for multiple sizes from 3-18 months, easy to follow instructions as well as step-by-step photos to make it even easier :-)

I highly recommend using a non-slip sole when you make your baby shoes, especially for babies over the age of about 9 months, for safety.
I will soon be listing the special non-slip fabric that I use for my baby shoes in my JoliBebe store under "Supplies" in small quantities, as this can be hard to find.


What you will need to make your little Maryjanes:
Small amount of fabric for exterior, and for lining
Matching thread
Scissors
Sewing machine
2 small buttons (or press studs or velcro if you prefer)
Sewing needle

What you will need to make your Slipper shoes:
Small amount of fabric for exterior and lining
5mm Elastic (approx 30cm length)
Matching thread
Scissors
Sewing machine
Sewing needleYou can find these patterns in my JoliBebe store on Etsy HERE and my JoliBebe store on DaWanda HERE.

4 Ply Sideways Gloves Knitting Pattern

Hello everyone :-)
After such a good response to the 8-ply Sideways Gloves I decided to post the pattern for the 4 ply (fingering weight, sock yarn, baby wool) version here for free for everyone else to use. The gloves pictured are made in Noro Self Striping Sock Yarn.
So here it is:

4 Ply Sideways Gloves

Sizes: S (M, L)

Materials:
1 pair 3.25mm (U.S. size 3, U.K. size 10)
Approx. 50 grams 4-ply, fingering weight or sock yarn. (Note this project looks really great when made in variegated or self-striping yarns)
Yarn needle to sew pieces together.
Scissors.

Tension:
25 stitches over 10cm (4") in garter stitch. If you have more stitches, use a larger size needle. If you have less stitches, use a smaller size needle.
It is a good idea to check your tension again with each different type of yarn that you choose to make a pair of gloves from.

Abbreviations:
Cc/0 (Cable Cast On): Insert your right hand needle between first and second stitches on your left hand needle and knit 1, placing the new stitch on the left hand needle. Continue working between the last 2 stitches on the left hand needle until you have the desired amount of stitches.
Inc (Increase): Knit into the front and back of the stitch, making an extra stitch.
Ssk: Slip first stitch on left hand needle onto right hand needle purl wise, k1, pass the first stitch back over. Therefore decreasing a stitch.
K2tog: Knit 2 together.
R (Reinforce): Bring yarn to the front as if to purl the next stitch. Slip the next stitch purl wise to right hand needle, take yarn to the back of work. Return the slipped stitch back to the left hand needle without working it, bring yarn to the front again.

You will begin at the little finger edge and work across to the thumb.

Make 2 the same:
Cast on 48 (50, 52) sts (using Cable Cast on method).
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Inc in first st, knit to end.
Row 3: Knit to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
Row 4: Knit to last 16 (17, 17) sts, R, turn.
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Knit to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Row 8: Ssk, knit to end.
Row 9: Knit.
Row 10: Cast off 12 (13, 15) sts, R, turn, k1. Cc/o 19 (20, 22) sts. Knit across all sts.
Row 11-19: As for Rows 1-9.
Row 20: Cast off 16 (17, 19) sts, R, turn, k1. Cc/o 19 (20, 22) sts. Knit across all sts.
Rows 21-29: As for Rows 1-9.
Row 30: Cast off 20 (21, 23) R, turn. Cc/o 15 (16, 18) sts. Knit across all sts.
Rows 31-39: As for Rows 1-9.
Row 40: Cast off 25 (26,27) sts, R, turn, k1. Cc/o 12 (13, 14) sts. Knit cast on sts, k2 R, turn.
Row 41: Knit.
Row 42: Inc in first st, k16 (17, 18) , R, turn.
Row 43: Knit to last 2 sts, inc in next st, k1.
Row 44: K21 (22, 23), R, turn.
Row 45: Knit.
Row 46: K23 (24, 25), R, turn.
Row 47: Knit to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Row 48: Ssk, k23 (24, 25), R, turn.
Row 49: Knit.
Row 50: Cast off all sts.

Finishing: Place 2 pieces together, matching the thumb and fingers up, and using a flat seam, sew your 2 pieces together to make one glove. Repeat with remaining 2 pieces to make 2nd glove.
Don't rush sewing up your glove pieces. Steady, even stitches will really enhance the look and comfort of your finished gloves.

If you have any questions, queries, need assistance to complete your gloves or find an error, please don't hesitate to leave a comment and I'll gladly help where I can :-)

Copyright is held by the author (SharaLambethDesigns). Copyright remains that of the author at all times. The pattern is for personal use only. Reproduction of this pattern in anyway (electronic, email, photocopying, transcribing etc) is strictly prohibited, except with the explicit permission of the author. Please do not sell the pattern or the finished product that is made using this pattern without permission of the author, as this is a direct infringement of the copyright laws protecting this pattern.
If you do want to sell the gloves you make using this pattern at a market, craft fair or in your online store please do ask, as in most cases I will give permission :-)
And please feel free to make as many pairs of gloves as you can, to donate to your local charities.
Happy knitting!