Patchwork – Another baby blanket

January 21, 2018 by nadel&gabel

Another newborn – another baby blanket. This time the idea I had in my mind was a clear, yet colourful blanket out of geometric shapes, patched together. So I went through my stash of fabrics, layed out different options, rearranged them again … until I was satisfied. I worked in blocks that I – step by step – put together. I also added some topstiching in corresponding colours. The patchworked front then was complemented with a light, but cuddly cotton […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, children • Tags: baby, blanket, color, elefant, geometric, gift, handmade, molleton, mustard, newborn, patchwork, present, quilting cotton, scrap, sewing, topstiching

Preparations – Beanie mania

December 1, 2017 by nadel&gabel

During the last months the clacking of my knitting needles has become the background music of our autumn evenings. Some finished knitting project always lay out for blocking, and the pile of small handmade presents grew. Now, at the beginning of December the last piece has been bound off. A wooly handmade Christmas lays ahead when it comes to my gifts. Already all gifts prepared? For some, this may sound perhaps a bit overambitious. But this year is a special […]

Categories: craft & DIY, knitting • Tags: beanie, broken seed stitch, christmas, colorwork, fingering, gift, hat, knitting, present, ravelry, scallop pattern, sport, yarn

Sunny yellow – Pickled turmeric eggs

April 9, 2017 by nadel&gabel

Right for the Easter holidays the sun is coming out, bringing the nature to sprout and blossom. The warming sun goes straight into our heart after the long winter cold. The landscape is covered in green, white and yellow. And what would the Easter holidays be without coloured eggs that have to be searched for in the fresh grass? These pickled eggs aren’t hard to find, the bright yellow colour guides the way! But the turmeric doesn’t give them only […]

Categories: breakfast, dairy-free, gluten-free, In the kitchen, pantry, snacks & small dishes, spread, sauce & spice, vegetarian • Tags: brine, colour, easter, eggs, flavour, gift, kurkuma, marinate, pantry, pickled, present, preserving, sour, spice, turmeric, vinegarn

Balance – Felt ball mobile

January 14, 2017 by nadel&gabel

It’s already midst of January, the blog break obviously took longer than intended. Anyway, I hope you all had relaxed holidays and a good start into the new year. Mine started with a lot of work, but I don’t complain. Proudness that I managed not to fall into too much procrastination prevails! (One of my big goals for 2017). This project actually was one of my Christmas presents. But as it is not very christmasy and because I had wanted […]

Categories: craft & DIY, interior • Tags: baby, ball, children, colour, colourful, Craft, decoration, DIY, easy, embroidery hoop, felt, felt ball, gift, kids, mobile, natural, toddler, tutorial

Flavour horizons – Homemade spice blends

December 15, 2016 by nadel&gabel

 This year, my Christmas presents – yes, almost done – are a bit more on the (online) store bought side than on team DIY. Not by concept, it just happened. Nevertheless you won’t find a gift guide on this blog. I don’t think anyone needs another one. What you’ll find here – like every year – is some inspiration for homemade Christmas presents. One of my homemade presents is this set of spice blends. I chose three of my favourite […]

Categories: around the world, craft & DIY, dairy-free, digital design, freebies, gluten-free, In the kitchen, paper, spread, sauce & spice, vegan, vegetarian • Tags: african, arab, Asian, blend, coriander, cumin, dukkah, exotic, flavour, furikake, gift, glass tube, hawaij, hazelnut, homemade, japanese, jewish, kitchen, label, mix, oriental, present, recipe, seasoning, sesame, spice, taste

One for all – Easy baby blankets

May 1, 2016 by nadel&gabel

Kids are born around us in a quite high frequency these days… of course, it’s the age. When it comes to newborn gifts I always turn back to a handmade blanket. Why? Usually young parents don’t lack of clothes for their baby. So, why giving the 101st romper which will be too small within weeks, anyway? Instead I like the (potential) durability and versatility of a blanket. It can warm the newborn in the house and outside in the buggy. It can […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, children • Tags: baby, blanket, blankie, children, dots, duvet, easy, frottee, gift, indigo, lap, newborn, patchwork, Purl Soho, sewing, toddler, towel, tutorial

Handy – Reversible knitters project bag

November 22, 2015 by nadel&gabel

Already yesterday there was this smell in the air. Yes, I insist on this: You can smell upcoming snow! And when I got up this morning, over night the surrounding had magically transformed. As a daily commuter by car, I am aware of all the discomforts snow and cold temperatures bring with them. But every year, when I see for the first time again rooftops and trees covered in white, when I recognize the silence that snow creates, I forget about […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, wallets & pouches • Tags: accesory, bag, carry, Craft, crafter, gift, knitter, knitting, lotta jansdotter, pattern, pouch, project, reversible, sewing, travel, tutorial, winter, wristlet, yarn

The taming of the shrew – Quince juice

October 31, 2015 by nadel&gabel

Somehow the words seem to have left me at the moment. Words did break too many things during the last days, words weren`t anything more than words … some words sadly haven’t be said. Emptiness stands beside confusion, anger alternates with sadness, all coated by disillusionment. But although it’s hard these days for the sun to find her way through the fog, I’ve learned that much: She always will. Until then: Concentrate on the close things, the small pleasures that are easy to […]

Categories: autumn, dairy-free, drinks, gluten-free, In the kitchen, Uncategorized, vegan, vegetarian, winter • Tags: autumn, floral, fruit, fruit leather, gift, juice, labelling, present, quince, recipe, sticker

So practical – Carry-all pincushion from “Handmade Style”

July 31, 2015 by nadel&gabel

 When I first flipped through the pages of Anna Grahams sewing book “Handmade Style” I had a hard time to decide with which project I would like to start: A tunic for me, another bag or perhaps a quilting project after I’ve mastered my first steps? I’ve decided to start small … and practical! A pincushion that carries everything a sewer always needs at hand? – What a brilliant idea! I gathered a few scraps in black, grey and white […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, supplies • Tags: anna graham, black&white, easy, equipment, gift, graphic, Homemade Style, monochrome, noodlehead, pattern, pincushion, present, sewer, sewing, storage, stuffing