Sawtooth Star Quilt

 

I have no idea why I decided to make a kingsize quilt. It's a beast. No wonder I put it away. I really should have completed this when I had a big warehouse floor to lay it out on. I have made 2/3 of it. I just need to finish the last bit. It's all made up into 10" blocks, they just need sewing together. I am going to drop the border as I never cut the fabric for the half stars and now it's all packed away somewhere. It will just be too huge. I can't even face basting it!

I wasn't even sure I still liked it. It's very flowery and twee. But the white sheeting fabric is so soft. I think it will be lovely. 

What I bought

So I have been shopping. Terrible. Sigh. But I now have my wadding! Ta-da! Quilter's dream puff! First impression. It seems far thinner than I was expecting. It feels very soft and puffy though. It's much lighter than the 100% cotton Warm and Natural I am used to and far less scratchy than the Hobbs 80/20. So we'll see how it pans out. I just wanted something warm and slightly bulkier so I have a nice squashy, wrinkly quilt. I bought it all from The Cotton Patch. 

I need to hoover the floor first to remove any stray crushed raisons and rice cake crumbs. I know I shouldn't really feed Penelope in the sitting room, but we have been having dinner picnics on the carpet together to avoid evening highchair meltdown. When she is 12 I am going to enjoy ripping up the carpet and throwing it away! That's far easier than cleaning. 

So what did I buy other than that? Geez. I couldn't stop myself. I bought a spare blade for my new huge rotary cutter. I decided that was just a must. After using a blunt blade all through Christmas, I realise what a pain it can be and how it can really mess up good cutting. I also bought some Peltex 71F Single Sided Fusible Ultra Slim Stabilizer. And do you know why? Neither do I. I just liked its name. I've never really thought about interfacing. I just thought it was either thin, medium or heavy. Then I ambled into the Interfacing section of The Cotton Patch and thought 'wowzers'. 

I've been creating my 'Small projects' Pinterest board and I realised that they all seemed to use interfacing, well mostly the bags. I don't really know much about it so as it was cheap, I just bought a little bit. I didn't have a plan though. It's pretty thick. It would be great for a credit card holder. I'd also like to make Penelope some more clothes as I really enjoyed the dress I made her. I want to use my new blind hem foot mumple bought me for Christmas and learn to do a button hole. So those are my tasks for 2014 

1. Make a bag or something with interfacing 

2. Make a dress or something for Penelope 

3. Learn to do buttonholes 

4. Learn more about interfacing I might start by reading this. 

I also bought a fat quarter of fabric I didn't need, but I get depressed if there is no fabric in my shopping. It's only small, honest! I thought it could be a lining for something. I hate using nice fabric as linings because you might never really get to see it.

Progress

So I spent the last few days trying to finish this quilt off. I put some ramshackle extra bits on the sides of the single girl blocks as they were too small. I don't know how I messed that up. I purposefully made them a bit bigger so I could trim them down to fit, but they ended up being too small. Stupid maths. You can see the tiny strip I have added on the right hand side of the block. I decided they were just going to be a feature.



Then it was onto the sashing. I've been sewing a bit in the evenings of late just so I can get it done. It's been really nice picking out favourite scraps and sewing them together. I haven't been hugely accurate with my cutting by I am okay with that. I like the hodge podge nature of it. It feels warm and welcoming already. Sorry the pictures are so dark but it was evening. The mankey green carpet doesn't help. We'll all laugh about this carpet and the blue walls one day when it's all been fixed up white and pretty.




I'm really pleased with some of the details. I loved Amanda's quilt so much that I really tried to emulate as many details as I could, even though the fabrics are different. I feel that everything fits really well together, even though I used a lot of different fabrics, many of which I wasn't too sure about. Basically the ones with lettering in them and some of the creams and whites together. But I am really pleased with how it all looks.

 

I wasn't sure how much I should make things line up. I didn't want to make it over accurate as Amanda's has a lovely free flowing nature to it, so I let it slide. It was quite difficult to let go, but I did and I am really pleased with it as a result. I wasn't that into the butterfly print but I feel it's worked pretty well. It was pretty wasteful though as I only cut out the bits I liked.

The finished quilt top is 52x61" which is not the same as Amanda's but thepn my maths is terrible. I'm going to try a new wadding with this quilt. Mum is against this idea. She uses Warm and Natural for everything. I need something a bit cheaper really. I've used Hobbs 80/20 a few times which is great. It can be a bit uneven in thickness but I can't say I've ever noticed on the finished quilt before. So I might try Quilter's Dream Puff as I want this to be scrunchy. I haven't prewashed any of the fabric specially so it will scrunch. I've never done this before. It could go horribly wrong as many of the older fabric scraps have been prewashed. I even used to wash wadding. Experiment time!

So now I just need to create the backing and baste it. I have bought some more Pearl Bracelets for the backing. Basting is my least favourite part of the process so we'll see how long it takes me. I'm tempted to buy some 505 and give it a try again. 

This Year

So I have been thinking about what projects I have in mind for this year. I don't really have any firm ideas as I have so little time these days, but it's good to have goals right? So...
 

I really need to finish off the sawtooth star quilt. It's all in strips waiting for me to sew it together. I am putting it off because then I will have to buy wadding and backing which is expensive and then I will have to lay it out somewhere to baste it and the house is so full of boxes and junk that I just can't imagine where. But. I still want to finish it.


I also really want to finish my postage stamp quilt because I need the fabric for other projects afterwards. I am only half way through though and it's fiddly exacting work. I would reeeeeaaaaly like to do more of it though. I know exactly where the project bag lives so I have no excuse not to set it all up. It's just such a lot of work! I really want to do it right. I tried to do one block and nothing matched up because I was rushing it too much.

 

After I finish the postage stamp then I'd really like to start my Posie improv quilt, using all my favourite flowery fabrics. I've been squirrelling bits of fabric away for it for a long time. It's going to be a real stash buster and I really want to be able to sit and think about each and every fabric. Again, though, it's another big quilt. All these quilts are big. Realistically I am far better off doing smaller projects as they come together quicker in the time I have and to be honest, I have none of the small things which I love like a bag or wool pouch.

I do have my MapleO quilt to finish which I recently started. I'm really enjoying this. I just have to do a fiddly bit as my blocks came out different sizes but I am going to try and do this next as it's so nearly done and I'm really into it at the moment. Thangles are ace. I am going to be putting thangles in a lot of new projects. I'd quite like to do a mini bear's paw quilt at some point just because thangles are so much fun, but we'll see. Penelope will be out of sleeping bags at some point next year so a quilt for her cot would be good. Not that she doesn't already have one, but it's rather delicate. I think something a bit more machine made is in order. Bear's paw could be the answer!

So this is the year of the small project. The above might all get shelved until Penelope is a bit older, we'll see. So I need some small project ideas. So I am sniffing some out to make a list of. Pinterest and me have a date.

I managed to totally break my rotary cutter this christmas. Heaven knows what happened to it, but it's busticated. I was gutted. It has served me well though. Mumple gave it to me at the very beginning of all this quilting lark. So my new one arrived from The Quilted Bear today. A Christmas present to myself. A sign that I need to get going again!

I had a dream

Bizarrely, I dreamt I made a needle case. Not the most thrilling thing to dream, but weird to create something so random in your head without meaning to. It was so vivid that when I woke up I decided to actually make it. The dream has faded a bit now but I think this is pretty much it. I decided to do it all by hand as I wanted to be able to do it in front of the TV. No rulers either. It's given it the rustic feel I often feel is missing from things I make. I am very happy with it. All made from scraps so no cost involved.



Above is the front. Or the back I suppose. I need to remove the white pen I used to mark the lines. I also now know that I have no idea how to do a French knot.



Here's the back, with a bit of extra stitching where the whole thing started to come apart! Bad sewing on my part there.

The whole thingis basically just random log cabin which I am really into at the moment, but all in the same colour except for a few bits. That was the dream. It came out really well. I thought you might not really see it and it would be a waste of time, but I like it. I did some very basic embroidery on the front, which makes me wish I knew more about it. I have some of mum's old embroidery books in a box, one of them is full of Danish designs from the seventies, but, well, they are in a box somewhere so I just make some stuff up. It makes it look a bit like a child made it, but I quite like that.



I decided to make it into a Christmas present for Rachel. We have been talking about knitting socks so I bought some knitting notions: Some big safety pins for cabling on the go. Some big stitch markers in the shape of tear drops Some small stitch markers in the shape of hearts Some hingeless safety pins. Some needles in various sizes. I was going to sew some measuring tape ribbon we bought into it so you could measure your gauge on the go. We bought some together I think years a go, but the ribbon is all packed away in boxes somewhere. Sigh. Another time.

I'd really like to make one for myself now

The Year Review

This year has been more prolific than I thought. I really thought I had only made two things but it's interesting how the little things all add up. Compared with last year it seems a lot but it's all mostly little projects.

1. Cardy. I was really pleased with this. I wish I had knitted more this year. I might make another cardigan now that I have been given a book of patterns for xmas. I am just so slow.
2. A baby quilt. I enjoyed making this tiny quilt. I wish I had more of the fabric. I love it. I wish I hadn't backed it with pink though. I feel it's a little loud.
3. Tripp Trapp seat. This has been used and abused I can tell you. I think we are finally nearing the end of its use. It has been great though and I have enjoyed its jollyness. Now I just need to recycle it into something else somehow.
4. iPad holder. This was so useful. Our white noise days are over now though and so it's been out of commission for a while. I'd like to make it into something which hangs off the sofa in some way but I haven't worked it out yet.
5. Sewing machine cover. It looks a bit silly as it's short, but it works perfectly. I am annoyed I didn't quilt it properly though. I'd like to make the whole thing again, but properly. And I have since found the special foot you use for piping, that makes everything so much easier!
6. Crochet roll. I love making these. I can't believe I haven't made one for myself yet. It was a good stash buster too. I was never going to use the old Amy Butler fabric otherwise. I am just not into it any more.
7. Taggie. It's hour was short lived, but it was dribbled on for that short time. I should really pass it on to another baby but I can't. I have put it in a small box of Penelope things to remember some of those early days by.
8. Bunting. Ah ha! The bunting that never got used in the end. Hopefully this birthday it will be out in all its glory. I'm still really pleased with the quality and all the bright colours.
9. Dribble bib. Penelope stopped dribbling as soon as I made this. I put it on her anyway though.
10. Behold! The Sally Dress. This has to be my greatest achievement of 2013. I learnt a lot and I am well impressed with myself. I wish she would hurry up and walk though as it's too impractical for her to wear whilst she is crawling, I fear it will be too small by the time she starts walking. Part of me would like to make the whole thing again though, so I can make it better.
11. Teeny Quilt. A great project for a few hours work and a nice use of liberty fabric.
12. Sewing kit. I love this. It's so wonky, but I love it.
13. Cat winter. This coat was so easy to make, a really great pattern.
14. Spring. The bow tie was Simon's idea. Showman cat! I'd love to make some of the trousers for Penelope, but perhaps baggier and without the turnups... and not it gold.
15. Summer. A bit of a cheat but at least I made the cloak.
16. Bike blanket I forgot about this! I made a bike blanket for Penny. It's one of the best things I have made her! We use it everyday and it works brilliantly. It keeps off the rain and protects her in the wind and cold. One of my better ideas.

Oh I totally missed off the car quilt which really does take the top spot in useful things. It's just a bit of Simon's cashmere jumpers sewn together. It's really soft and a perfect size to wrap round her in the car or the buggy. It gets taken everywhere.

Jeez. That's it!

I'd like to keep up with the small projects this year but maybe do a bit more quilting. I'd like to make a bag and do more knitting this year. I am trying to make a quilt at the moment but it's quite hard to fit any progress into the odd hour or two I get. I didn't finish any of last year's unfinished projects so they're all still to do. Courses Those days are just over. Let's face it. I did go to Birmingham though and I'd like to go every year!

Resolutions for 2014 
To use up scraps
To not buy new fabric unless it's for something specific
To make time for sewing
To do more knitting specially a pair of socks!

Resolutions from last year 
To continue finishing things off instead of starting big new projects - didn't do so well on that but I haven't started anything huge. I nearly have, but luckily I couldn't even manage that!

To not buy new fabric - I didn't do too well with that, specially at Birmingham. D'oh. But I think I have cut down.

To get back into sewing now that Penelope is a bit more independent. I think I have done really well!

To do more knitting and crochet so I don't forget. Not so good on that point.

Cat Clothes

My Neighbour petitioned me to make her daughter's cat some 'all seasons' clothing. I am not really a seamstress but I have tried my best. We went to the cheap fabric shop and she picked out some really bright fabric. As a result taste fell by the wayside a bit. It's more of a mismatch of things, but I think that makes it more exciting. I have really enjoyed this project!

Spring

A stripy pink dress with tutu and stripy scarf. This is a bit of a cheat, as the dress is one of Penelope's which I have just taken in at the sides and the bottom hem. The tutu was from a babygrow. I also included some baby booties to give it a hi top 80's look. This is a Pretty in Pink alternative prom outfit I reckon. The only thing I really made was the scarf and even that was half hearted. I wanted to make a long Doctor Who type scarf and it was all going brilliantly but I ran out of time to sew in all the ends so I had to just back it with some fluro fleece scraps I had. I'm a bit sad really as I had wanted it to have tassles and be an ace scarf, whereas I feel it's a bit lumpy now. Oh well. Time waits for no man.


The bow on the tutu is a nice element though, I am sure a six year old will like that. The elastic is a bit baggy as I didn't do it very well. It was a learning curve.

Summer

A red gingham dress. This is a bit of a cheat again. This is one of Penelope's first dresses she was given which is still brand new with tags on. It was just too cold when she was that little. Plus we didn't get out of babygrows until she was 6 months really. Anyway I took in the sides, the top and the bottom and hey presto, cat has a summery dress.


It ended up looking quite fitted in the end which I was pleased with. I left it long because it looks like a Red Riding Hood outfit. Something to wade through sticky buds and damp ferns with. The cloak I did make! Horrah. I am pleased with the gold trim. I have never done that before.


I am quite pleased with the drape here. Very regal. br />
It has a nice big button to do it up which also worked out well.

Autumn
Gold lamé waistcoat and bow tie, gold flecked jersey trousers with gold lamé turnups.


As for the trousers. They were supposed to be baggy, MC Hammer style trousers but my measurements were all off. I'd quite like to make them again to the right size without the turnups. There is something a bit Shawoddywoddy about the turnups.

The waistcoat it really badly made. I could have done the seams so much better if I had thought more about it. I was following this great pattern, but I failed to do the last bit right by being in a rush and not reading it through properly. I like the pocket though. I couldn't do her posh pockets. One day I will read up how to do them properly. I will also learn how to do button holes so it can be done up nicely. I might have also made a chain and pocketwatch or pair of wire spectacles. One day...

Winter
A red felt coat and hat. The coat is my favourite thing. I made it from an enlarged version of this pattern.



I really like the detailing on the back and the pocket on the front.

I have to slightly change the neckline and the collar but otherwise it's pretty much as the pattern. I feel if I were to do it again I could tailor it slightly better over the shoulders. Although I have no idea how you do this. The hat is made from the sleeve of my old flatmate's jumper he gave me years a go when he accidentally felted it. I have had it in a box for yonks! I made the red bobble and sewed some ear holes into it. A perfect fit.

Sylvanian baby quilt

My neighbours are 6. Twins. Twins who love Sylvanian families. So I have bought them each a baby animal for Christmas and thought they each needed a baby quilt. Time to crack open the thangles mini pack! Mum's scraps of Liberty fabric were perfect. They're slightly too big, but I just went with the smallest thangles I had and hoped for the best. Completed whilst watching Gardener's World and feeling guilty I haven't touched it since the summer!



The bottom corner of one of them is wet where Penelope decided to chew it. It was her seal of approval. I think the one on the left is my favourite, although the join on the binding is neater on the second.

Christmas Wrapping

2013 is a huge improvement on 2012 but still not up to my usual standard. I don't even remember last year's attempt. I probably didn't buy anybody anything. I was still in such a zonked out baby haze. I am pretty pleased with my comeback fat robins from Paperchase though. Three for two which was not a bad offer. I have done robins before but these ones are better as they have scarves! At least it's all done now and I can sit back and relax. Just got to write all these xmas cards now...

Single Girl Progress

So I have finished making my blocks to go with the single girl blocks. They were great fun to make. I really want to carry on making them. It's such a great idea to combine them with the tiny blocks. I might try making up my own version after this one. I am quite excited about it. I did a bit of a test with myself by making one leaf block just like I saw this great Amanda's and one a bit more freestyle. Needless to say, I think I prefer Amanda's, I'm not sure why though.

 

I really like the Penants Waving in Ivory fabric on the bottom left by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud 9. I am itching to buy some more as I will have used my entire fat quarter by the end of this project. I also feel the same about the Lizzy House bracelets, but my problem is that I hoard fabric then I fall out of love with it. I have been so good at using my stash that now I agonise over buying new stuff. The small brown sprig fabric has lasted me such a long time. It is one of the first fabrics I bought with mum when I first got into quilting. I am a bit worried that the fabrics don't match as I have used browns and purples, but I wanted the quilt to be vibrant and not too 'me' if that makes sense.



I made a few mistakes with my half square triangles so I had to add some bits, but I am really happy with the text fabric I bought. I agonised over it as I am not a text of fabric person. In the end mum gave me some scraps she had and I bought two fat quarters. One of dictionary pages which I wasn't 100% about and one of script samples all laid over each other. I wasn't totally into that either so I have done some pretty wasteful fussy cutting, but I am glad with the results. The bottom left square uses a really nice bit.


Mum's scraps were easy to use as they were free! You can see them in the strip above the pink leaf.

Unfortunately, true to style, I mucked up my measurements and my maple leaf blocks are bigger than my single girl ones so I will have to add borders to those before I do the sashing. It might all look like a train wreck, oh dear. Oh well, I think it will add to its charm. I might put it off a bit and just play around with more thangles. It's great for really using those tiny scraps.

Dribble Bib

I made Penelope a dribble bib out of an old Tatty Devine T-shirt which was 50p from a seconds bin years a go. I had no idea what to do with it as I just couldn't imagine walking around with a neon orange tshirt on. But I love neon! Suddenly it had a perfect use, what? 10 years later. I am such a hoarder.



I always put a little ribbon as something to play with.



It's the perfect use for Kam Snaps. They're pretty stiff to open and close though so next time I might leave a bit more fabric around them so I have more to grab hold of when I try and open them.

Single girl

I dug out the Single Girl instructions and have started to give it another go. Last time I didn't find sewing on the bias that straightforwards so this time I have cut my background fabric wider and it's made things work out much better. I am really enjoying it! It's taken ages to choose the background fabrics but I am really pleased with the Lizzy House fabric.




Lots of pinning is also helping this time.




Now I just need to choose my other 'low volume' background fabrics.

Thangle time

So the measles is abating and I knew today could well be the end of the mammoth five hour day time nap we have all been enjoying. So I decided to hunt around for new little projects. I saw this great quilt by Amanda and thought it brilliantly combines a couple of things I have been thinking about.

I really enjoyed making my latest iPad case out of scraps in a free form, wonky log cabin sort of way. I'd really like to try my hand at a bit more of this sort of thing but I am not sure what to make, how to do it, what to use.

I also wanted to revisit the Single Girl quilt, as although I found it a bit of a pain to make, I'd really like one for myself. I just remember how long it took. The idea of only having to make two blocks is great and the scrappy maple leaf block would be cool to make. I love the mini blocks hidden within the bigger leaf. After doing the Swoon quilt, I have been steering clear of huge blocks, but, well, I am always tempted to change my mind.

So I thought I'd start off small and not think too much about the bigger picture. I only really had a day. So I got out my Thangles and had a go!

I was a bit skeptical about them as they seemed a bit gimmicky, but for £4.50 I thought I'd give them a go. It's such a small size to work with. I just couldn't imagine working with such tiny elements. They were great! No thinking needed. I did watch the video tutorial first though. I was pretty mesmerised by the guys sleeves though. That's one serious patchwork jacket out of shot there.

I can't say I was really exact, but I am still pretty impressed with it. Now I just need to sift through the scrap bag and dig out some autumnal orange and browns. I'll have to put pink in too I think. I have some favourite Fleamarket Fancy scraps I have been saving which will be perfect. I don't have many pale fabrics as I tend to just use white. I also avoid fabric with type on it as it brings out my dayjob. Now I wish I was more relaxed about it as I think they look really good here. I think it is the fact that there is actually a lot of variety in the lights and darks which makes the project so attractive. I am not sure I can achieve that with my scraps.

I used a Liberty print that mum gave me from a pack of fat 16ths she didn't want anymore. There's not a lot of material in a 16th so a block this kind of size is perfect. The background is some misc Kona solid in some sort of colour. I also have a few more lined up, but it would mean showing you the state of my ironing board. Sigh. Don't shriek in terror. Now do you see why I want a new one? Mum gave me this mini board when I left home for university. It has done its time. I changed the padding and was ready to recover it when I discovered that the whole thing is warped and not flat anymore which makes ironing anything challenging as it had dips in the metal. I do have a little flat pad somewhere that mum bought me but, well, its in a box somewhere, along with my Single Girl templates. Sigh.

Anyway tomorrow I might try and make some of these into the block that goes in the big maple. I need to do the math though which is my weak point. Let me see, the small block is 1 1/2", the large block is 21-22". Time to get planning.

At last

Not a single post last month, I am not very productive these days. I still haven't even put the binding on my ipad case. There is just no time, it is very frustrating. I just decided that I need to be a bit slacker on my mothering duties and make more time for sewing. Luckily this has combined with a bout of Measles which has meant lots of napping, which equals lots of sewing time. So I decided to make Penelope a dress!

I am no seamstress. I couldn't even make my own MC hammer trousers when I was 15, I had to get Rachel to make them. But I decided to just take it nice and slow.
  I realised I couldn't use any of my quilting fabric as I love it so much and it's all destined to be quilted, so instead I splurged out on some Petite Street fat quarters by Dashwood Studios from The Village Haberdashery. Not wanting to sound like an Anglophile or anything, but it's very refreshing to have some UK designed fabric. It's always such a pain seeing lovely fabrics which aren't available in the UK. The way people just nip onto their massive JoAnn or Micheals really makes me feel like I live in the Outer Hebrides sometimes. I'm really into these fabrics and I look forwards to future collections. The pincord is from myfabrics. Or as they call it: Feincord 18. It's lovely and soft and drapes well. I should have enough to make two which makes the shipping cost from Germany a little easier to bear.

I saw Kristin's Nordika Sally Dress and thought it was ace. I love the colours and the bright pockets. Perfect for Penelope! She's going to love me putting toys in those pockets... or food. Yes, food will be better. All those crumbs. It also looked not too hard. Considering I am a beginner. I mean I quilt, but I find it very different from all those dressmaking terms and tricks.


So off I went to find Shannon's pattern. What can I tell you about this pattern? Well it was really easy to follow. I read through it all and got a bit scared as I didn't understand a thing! I am such a sewing novice. So I just did one but at a time. I made the top bit yesterday and the bottom bit today.

I was a bit shell shocked when I was suddenly finished. So quick! I am definitely going to make another in the next size up. If you look closely it's a bit shabby. There are some things I need to swot up on and try harder at. I haven't tied my loose threads yet, but I was just too eager to photograph it.


Things I would change next time: Umm... perhaps wait till I've sewn off the ends before I photograph it? Also just try and make it neater. You can see close up that it has all manner of wonky bits.

I might change round the fabrics. I didn't use the triangles or flowers so I might use them instead of the dots and clouds. I might also make each pocket a different pattern.

I might measure my daughter like you are advised to. She was so red and spotty though. She has lived in her pyjamas for three days. There was just no way. So I hope it fits! I hope it goes over her head. I will be well gutted if it doesn't. Oh well I will just have to sew an opening at the back of the next one.

I would do the gathering as the pattern advised. For some reason I did it a bit wrong. It is not the best.

I would rethink the hem. I think I did something wrong there as quite a lot of my pocket went in it which makes it quite bulky. I am sure that is just me being stupid. I am particularly stupid these days.

I might buy a blind hem foot or a double needle foot if I feel this might be something I do more of. I could put them on my Christmas list. I am trying to spend less money not more.

I would look up how to be neater at piping. I sort of ballsed that bit up. It wasn't in the pattern and I've only ever done it once. I meant to look up how to join it at the end but Penelope woke up! I couldn't bear not to finish it so I just did what I thought looked ok. I am sure I will now read some rad tutorial with some easy solution.
  I might pin a bit more. Or just be a better pinner. I am not up on dressmaking pinning to be honest. I just winged it. I am sure it would help to be a bit neater. That's it!

Overall I am pretty amazed with myself. I like to think that if I can do this then anyone with no dressmaking experience can do it. Now time for something else. I am liking these small projects. Maybe a bag. I haven't made a bag since I made that union jack ruck sack when I was 17. Ouch.

Right time to sew all those loose ends in and see if the sick patient is well enough to be dressed like a doll. I have some grey stripy tights and a grey babygro from Hennes all at a giant cost of £6. Thank heavens for H&M! I'll post up a picture if she doesn't look like she's going to keel over. I am so BORED of measles.