Advent Stockings!

At the end of November I decided to make the children's advent calendars this year rather than buy the usual cardboard ones.  I soon realised that I should have had this bright idea back in October (or possibly January) when I worked out the amount of stockings I needed to make!!!  I also deliberated for far too many days about how to add numbers until it became a real stumbling block.  So eventually I decided to just go with making them; hoping no-one would mind there aren't any numbers attached... after all, the children can count... right?

50 little felt stockings cut out and ready for sewing.

After many nights of sewing in secret; I have to admit I've fallen in love with this project.  Simply put, it has filled me with such great joy to watch the children's excitement as they anticipate the next little chocolate stuffed stocking the magic elves bring for them over night. 

The magic elves are of course Mr Wonky Witch, who has also jumped on board this project and shared in the excitement.  Watching him as he sneaks into our slumbering children's rooms, desperately trying not to trip over anything or make too much noise has also been an unexpected joy.

Last, but by no means least, making each of the 50 stockings as individual as possible from my hoard of ribbons; buttons and sequins has been a challenge but a pleasurable one at that.  Some of the ribbons and buttons have a history going back a few generations and some of the bits and bobs have been given to me by lovely friends and family.

The sewing part of the project has all been done in secret to try and maintain some of the magic but my daughter keeps saying to me "I know it's you mummy!".... so much for secrecy!!

Happy Christmas Stitching
x

Nordic Reindeer Christmas Cross Stitch

The elves have been busy creating at the Wonky Witch farmhouse!  Not only have they been magically stitching up little advent stockings for 2 very over excited children (more to follow on that later!) but they've also been busy creating this little Nordic reindeer cross stitch christmas design which is available to download from our website.

Nordic Reindeer Cross Stitch

It's just large enough to stitch up as a card or you could attach it as a motif to a Christmassy bag or cushion and the wonderful thing is; it only takes a few hours to stitch.  I stitched mine on 14 count Aida from my stash (blanc is always a colour I seem to have an abundance of).

Right, time to take off the witch hat and don the elf hat again as there are still a few more stockings to make....I'm not leaving it all to the last minute.... Honest! :)

Happy Stitching x

The week with the crazy idea!

This week has seen a definite turn from autumn to Winter here as the temperature starts to drop.  I will be sad to see Autumn leave us as it is my favourite time of year and I feel really in tune with it as a season.  There's something about cosily sewing by the fire as the nights draw in; seeing the leaves falling from the trees laying their glorious carpet of colour and watching the munchkins delight in jumping in puddles that speaks to me.

With the delights of autumn turning to winter my thoughts are now firmly set on Christmas and that inevitably leads to "ooh what can I make?".  I had my lightbulb moment whilst doing my weekly shop and my daughter asked me if they were having advent calendars this year and I thought "I know; I'll make them!"  This was a completely crazy idea as not only is it being done as a surprise so I'm restricted to evenings but also I had this idea on the 22nd November which meant I only had a few days of November left to make two advent calendars!

So Friday morning whilst my littlest munchkin was at nursery, I spent a very happy 2 hours cutting out 100 little felt stockings to make into an advent calendar.  I will hopefully be decorating them using remnants of fabric, ribbons and buttons I've faithfully hoarded collected over the years!

I will keep you posted as to my progress as the week goes on!!

Happy Stitching
x

Rapunzel, Rapunzel.... let down your hair!!

I've battled through computer gremlins, hailstones, 2 small children and a shoulder injury to bring you this cross stitch chart that's been in my head for a while now.  The creative process in the Wonky Witch cavern is often a bit crazy and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there juggling work with family commitments and their desire to be creative.

Rapunzel's Tower Cross Stitch Chart for Download at Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Rapunzel's Tower is a cross stitch chart available for download from our website and is worked on a 14 count Aida fabric.  The chart is worked with cross stitch, back stitch, half stitch and some French knots and would be perfect as a book mark or card.

Happy Stitching

Zoe x

Thursday Stitching Fun....

This is so true!!!

Anyone else have calories in their closet? :)

Happy Stitching

Zoe

Wonky Witch Needlecraft!

Tapestry Herb Pillow Kits - Confessions of a cushion obsessive

I have a confession... I'm a little bit obsessed with making cushions!

I didn't realise this until Mr Wonky Witch pointed out that every time I get a bit of scrap fabric; come across a new knitting pattern or a tapestry kit I immediately think "oooh I could turn that into a cushion"!  Does anyone else do the same...... or is it just me?

I'm particularly in love with this herb tapestry kit by Cleopatra's needle.  I've had my eye on this for a while and even bought it for my mum a few years back.  She has yet to sew it and I'm itching to do it for her!!

Well we now have this lovely herb tapestry pillow in stock along with some other beautiful tapestry kits designed by Cleopatra's Needle and seeing the kit in the flesh has made me love it even more!   I think this kit is one that I've put on my "to do" list in the near future along with a few other cushion kits I have my eye on.... after all you can never have enough cushions! 

Happy Stitching

Zoe

Wonky Witch Needlecraft 

Kit Of The Week - Bunny Daze - Beginners Tapestry Kit

One of my favourite times of the year is Easter with all it's abundance of colour, eggs, rabbits and of course chocolate!  With that in mind, this week I just had to make our kit of the week "Bunny Daze" by The Bold Sheep.  This beginners tapestry kit is delightfully charming and easy to stitch so perfect for age 7 years and upwards and would look fabulous as a little card or cushion.  As usual, this kit will have 10% of the RRP for 1 week only starting today!  For more information about this kit, please go to our website.

Happy Bunny Easter Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Freebie Friday

Hooray it's Friday and an extra special one at that!  Happy Easter everyone!!

Also here's another reminder that we have this free Wonky Witch Needelcraft designed cross stitch chart available to download as a PDF from our website.

Happy Easter Stitching

Zoe

Wonky Witch Needlecraft

How to find your way around a sewing machine!

I saw this on facebook and had to share it with you!  It really made me laugh as I'm certain this is how my partner views my sewing machine.... my son certainly knows where the spinny thing is as I keep finding it on the floor usually with the arc reactor and the astromech droid! 

Happy Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Latest Sewing Projects - Cafetiere Cover

It's fair to say that my lovely partner puts up with a lot of my "creative" mess so when he asked me to make him a cafetiere cover I could hardly refuse.... his one request.... "can you make it manly!".  

Fast forward two years and VOILA!!!!

This was my second attempt at a cover as the first one I made I underestimated the shrinking effect the wadding would have on the material so it wouldn't close.  Luckily we were in need of a new "hot handle door opener thing-a-me" for the wood burner so the first attempt has been useful! :)

My partner is really pleased and he chose the material so I think it satisfies the "manly" criteria.  He can drink his coffee and enjoy another one at the same temperature later on. I love making practical things for the home; particularly when it's something someone has requested... hope he comes up with another idea soon! :)

Happy Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Cut Thru' Fairy House Cross Stitch - Progress So Far...

As mentioned previously in my blog, I am trying to finish the cross stitched Cut Thru' Fairy House by Bothy Threads for my daughter's new room.  My daughter's room has now been finished and she has since moved out of it as she didn't like it and back into her old room (but that's a whole other story).  I never did manage to get it finished for her new (now old) room but I have still made some progress which I'm pleased with! :)

 

I've managed to complete another "page" of the chart and done some more of the back stitching which really makes the picture come alive.  I've loved stitching the little mushrooms and cupcakes; and I've enjoyed working with the bright colours.  I also love the slightly quirky feel to the whole picture.

Quick question:  Does anyone else do their back stitching as they go along or do you wait until the end?

If you are stitching one of these charts I hope your progress is quicker than mine!

Happy Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft
www.wonkywitchneedlecraft.co.uk

Cross Stitch Kit Of The Week - Winter Friend - Gorjuss Kit

I'm eagerly anticipating Spring at the Wonky Witch cavern but as the snow is still with us I thought I'd share with you our cross stitch kit of the week to bring some cheer.   "Winter Friend" is part of the Gorjuss range of cross stitch kits by Bothy Threads and it's absolutely adorable. 

Stitched on 14 count Aida the kit contains full instructions, needle, pre-sorted special effect threads, ribbon and heart button.  For 1 week only this kit will have 10% off it's regular retail price; for more details visit our website.

Hope Spring finds its way to you soon.

Happy Stitching

Zoe

Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Knitted Patchwork Blanket

Happy New Year!!

Well the festive season went by in a whirl and it was extra busy in our household due to Mr WonkyWitch's 40th birthday and baby WonkyWitch turning 2!  During this time I'd hoped to make a few gifts for friends and family but only managed to complete one big project!

As mentioned in my previous blog I have fallen in love with knitting and decided to make my mum a patchwork blanket for Christmas.  I'm an experienced stitcher and can usually gauge how long a project will take but underestimated how long it would take to knit this blanket.  So for nearly 2 months, whilst the children were sleeping and the house finally tidied; the witching hour would be upon us and the knitting would  commence... and finally; I managed to finish it!  My mum absolutely loved it! (Yay!)

Knitted Patchwork Blanket

Did anyone make any crafty new year's resolutions?

My new year's resolution was to start (and finish) some of the Christmas gifts that I'd planned to make last Christmas earlier on in the year and another was to learn to crochet..... but more on that another time! :)

Happy Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft

Update:  I've been asked a few times where the pattern is from and it's the baby blanket from a book called "Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson".

Christmas Knitting / Cross Stitch Cheer!

Well I guess now that Halloween and Bonfire night are officially over it's time to start thinking about Christmas!!!  Yes, I know we're still in November but it's creeping up scarily fast!  I don't know if you're anything like me but I earmark lots of things I intend to make for friends and family and usually only get round to making 1 (if I'm lucky!!!!)..... note to self....must be more organised next year!!!

Knitted Patchwork Blanket

Where am I going with this?..... Well, this year I have fallen in love with knitting!  My lovely mum taught me to knit when I was a lot younger but I never really appreciated it as a craft and an art form until now and now I'm officially hooked! When I told my mum I'd taken up knitting again she gave me some of the wool from her substantial wool stash to get started with and I've decided that I'm going to knit her a blanket with it for Christmas.  Of course...now I've started it; I've realised what an undertaking it is and that the rest of the sewing and cross stitch projects that I have planned are going to have to take a back seat for the moment.  Still; it's a nice feeling to be able to make something practical for my mum with wool which I know she chose and loves!  Hopefully she'll like it... and hopefully she won't be reading this blog!!!! :)

As seen in CrossStitcher - Funky Stocking

Speaking of making things for Christmas; CrossStitcher have got some lovely cross stitch projects in this month's issue.  I'm particularly loving the festive bunting cards and the funky festive stocking.  I'm really loving the re-vamped CrossStitcher magazine and spend far too much time deciding on which projects to sew!  If you haven't read one for a while I'd recommend picking up a copy as the projects each month are lovely and there's always something lovely to stitch.

'Red The Reindeer' - Greetings

Last but by no means least; we have a new fun and festive range of  "Red the Reindeer" Christmas cross stitch kit cards by "The Bold Sheep" in stock.  Why not stop by our website and take a look at the full range.....I really hope you love them as much as I do!!! :)

 Christmas is often a busy time of year but I also think that this is the time when the crafty among us come into our own.  Hope that you get to enjoy some knitting /sewing /stitching during the festive season.

Best Festive Wishes

Zoe

Wonky Witch Needlecraft

FREE Wonky Witch Needlecraft Cross Stitch Design Download

Just in time for Halloween, Wonky Witch Needlecraft have designed a brand new "Spooky Castle" cross stitch chart that is FREE to download from our website www.wonkywitchneedlecraft.co.uk.

Spooky Castle

Stitched on 14 count grey Zweigart aida the design is 3.71 x 4.43 inches and contains full cross stitch and half stitches.

Happy Halloween Stitching

Zoe
Wonky Witch Needlecraft