One for the phone nerds :)

Life has been dominated by Le Bebe and Le Sewing Machine lately! Was working like mad for all of April to get ready for the Martinborough Fair, where I had a great day selling my sewn wares (bibs, baby shoes, cushions and handbags).

So finally I'm back to doing a few things for me and mine at last, along with trying out new patterns and filling a few custom orders from friends and people I met at Martinborough Fair. Currently I'm doing some smartphone sleeves - top one fits a Galaxy Nexus phone (prezzy for the Monseiur) and is made from a recycled suit jacket, and bottom one fits my iPhone nicely (canvas and cotton fabric).

Phone covers - Samsung Galaxy Nexus on top, iPhone on bottom

Phone covers - iPhone on left, Samsung Galaxy Nexus on right

Nothing too fancy, just a basic sleeve. Not 100% happy with the finishing at the top of the cases, so looking out for good patterns with different methods to what I've been doing. Would love to put a pull tab in to help with ejecting the phone, and a closure tab of some kind that doesn't add too much extra bulk/height - that's the next pattern to conquer!

Some of the tutorials I've spotted which have some good ideas:

• Felt lined sleeve, leaves seams visible inside: http://www.squidoo.com/shanasiphonecovers
• Nice lined sleeve, but has seams on edges adding a bit extra bulk - love the tab and keyring inclusion tho, great idea! http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-easy-iphone-sleeve/2011/06/08/
• Closure tab and earphone/credit card holder pocket: http://sewcraftyfox.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/iphone-new-tech-still-loves-good-old-sewing/

First foray into Crochet

(hey, that almost rhymes!)

Crochet is one of those things you try as a child and throw away as too hard. Well, 20 years (or more?!) latter I've tried again, and am finding it pretty enjoyable!

After a few false starts, and totally undoing these twice, I've finished a pair of baby boots using a pattern available on Etsy from Yarn Blossom Boutique. Also have another pattern for adult fingerless gloves from the same seller which I'm pretty keen to try out!

Love them! I can see all the mistakes still, but wanted to get something actually finished. Hope le bebe agrees :)

Nap time project: quilted cushion

Decided to up the difficulty on today's cushion, and quilted a comfy pillow top on a cushion.

Also used an invisible zipper foot, and that zipper is totally invisible! Almost want to rip out the earlier cushion zips and redo them now...

Love this fabric, and want more but can't find it anywhere. Any ideas? Bought it from a fabric stall at Battle Hill market a few months ago, the car boot sale I think.

Cost: $5 for front fabric, about $2 for back (homespun cotton, also used on back of quilting), about $0.50 of batting and a $2(?) invisible zip. Thread no idea! Insert is usually $5.99 at Spotlight, think I got this one during the storewide 30% off sale.

Time: about 1.5 hours, mostly working out the quilting as I've never done it before, and fiddling with the invisible zip.

Top tip: use a cushion insert that's slightly too big for the cover for that 'overstuffed' plump look :) happened by accident but I like it! The cover came out at 39cm in the end after quilting (whoops!) and the cushion insert is 41cm.