This week’s theme over at The Monthly Stitch is WIPs. Now I may be guilty of a lot of sewing sins, but funnily enough this really isn’t one of them. I love finishing projects, because then you get to wear them! Anyhow, while I was mulling this over and thinking how I could contribute (one of my sewing resolutions was to join in more), I thought I’d tackle my rather large pile of fixing jobs which is kind of in the same spirit. I’ve been trying to fix one thing from the pile before I allow myself to start a new project, which I’ve mostly stuck to… Most of these jobs seriously only involve a few stitches.
In amongst the pile was this ancient, cashmere jumper. I’m really not sure what happened to this, but somewhere along the line it developed a series of small holes, which I’ve patched up again and again, but they keep coming. It’s too nice to chuck, so I’ve been wearing it over pjs at the weekends. But maybe something more radical was required? Flicking through a copy of Sew magazine, I found the pattern and templates above, so thought I’d give it a try.
While it’s not my proudest make by a long shot, I actually liked making these slowly inbetween bigger projects. Hand sewing is not my favourite activity, but working through each of these I really could feel myself improving each time. I forgot to split my silks on the first one (the rabbit), hence the face is too ‘heavy’ (and too dark). The stuffing isn’t great on it either. But the second one is much better (the cat). I realised that I could use up the off-cuts to stuff it with and therefore make it softer (and no waste). I’m really pleased with how the sleeve ribbing became his ‘trousers’. By right the third should have been the neatest, but I think the second is better. Oh well! This was essentially a totally free project, which is always nice. And my daughter is delighted with them, here they are in situ with some knitted cats in their bed 🙂
Pattern: Sew Magazine Cashmere Plushies
Adjustments: plenty of room for improvisation built into this project but I was pleased that I had some tiny, Liberty scraps to use as they recommended.
New Skills: plenty of hand sewing practice, which I clearly needed
Soundtrack: soundtracks from The Secret Garden & The Jungle Book (daughter in charge) and I dare anyone to listen to the latter without joining in and doing a daft dance or two 🙂
navybluethreads 
Those are a cute little project! I love the ribbing as trousers. That is a great way to repurpose your sweater!
🙂 May not be the neatest, but daughter loved them.
Yes, I can see how these are a joy to make in between bigger projects – perfect way to reuse an old jumper, too. I love the addition of the Liberty pieces, they really brighten them up!
I normally get rid of the tiny bits, but throwing any Liberty fabric away seems a real waste!
I know what you mean – I save the tiniest bits to make bunting which I sew onto card to make my own birthday cards:)
Great idea, will keep it in mind 🙂
Such lovely makes, and fantastic that they are upcycled too. Very sweet and tactile, I bet they have been played with a lot already 😊
🙂 They even watched Ninja Warrior with us tonight! Made a nice alternative to dressmaking too.
Well done for recycling the jumper, the rabbits are cute and your daughter obviously loves them. I love sew heats idea about Liberty bunting for cards! I’ve made lavender bags to use up scraps of Liberty and pretty cottons.
More great ideas. You can never have too many lavender bags 🙂
Grand makes, Teresa, and lovely ways of recycling – brava for tackling hand sewing practice, mending stash, scrap busting, and more all at once! ! ! xx
I was so pleased when I realised I coul use the smaller of-cuts for stuffing, zero waste! 🙂
These are so cute! What a good idea to refashion an old cardi into toya
Thank you! It was getting beyond rescuing, so this seemed a good option 🙂
*toys
Too cute! How many kids can say I have cashmere toys? Your daughter is one lucky girl. Since reading this King Louis’s “I wanna be just like you” is stuck in my head now😂
That’s the one I couldn’t resist the silly dance for 😉
What a lovely project to do between dressmaking. I think these sort of little projects, that are exercises in doing something a bit different, help build our general creativity too. Not surprised your daughter loves them.
Good job she’s just a little bit older though as I don’t think they’d withstand too much robust play…
The little holes are from a type of moth – they are drawn to cashmere. You have to keep your cashmere in protective little bags – I could send you a couple if you need them.
Really interesting, thanks Clarinda. I’d ruled out moths as nothing else seemed affected… Sure I read somewhere that you could stick it in a freezer to get rid? Might hav to try as don’t want it transferred to anything else! Are the bags meant just for when you put stuff away out of season, or as a permanent storage solution? Clearly I need to read up more on this…
Oh they are really cute! Now that I can’t really fit any clothes on me, I enjoy these type of projects for a change!
Practice makes perfect on the hand-seeing front for me at least! It was nice completing these one a week, in between other stuff. Thank you! 🙂
Love them! Clearly your daughter does too, and who wouldn’t love a soft cashmere stuffie? (With ribbed trousers, no less) Very clever way to recycle.
Daftly pleased with those ribbed trousers! 😉