Hello!
Well, I'm pleased to say that I am so much better than the last time I wrote. I am still having to take things slowly, as my body soon lets me know when I've done too much, but these past few days have been a distinct improvement!
So I have taken to pottering. The Cambridge Dictionary definition of the verb 'to potter' is 'to move around without hurrying, in a a relaxed and pleasant way'. I would say that just about sums up my days at the moment :)
I pottered over to Cooper's in Skipton on Friday for a lovely morning with friends, learning how to knit 'jogless' colour stripes on four needles. This was an informal workshop, taught by the very fabulous Fiona. Fiona was so patient and I really learned so much. I'm looking forward to some more lessons on colourwork as it something I have always wanted to do but didn't think I could ever achieve. Fiona makes it all seem very achievable indeed!
I also treated myself to a naughty extra cast on (I really should be focusing fully on DH's socks!) Just before Christmas I treated myself to a skein of my friend's hand spun and hand dyed yarn. Tracy's business is Hand Dyed Over Yonder and the yarn she produces is just incredible. She uses all natural dyes and everything is produced as naturally as possible. I bought this skein of BFL (which came packaged in it's own project bag) and squished it every time I saw it in my sewing room. On Saturday I decided the time had come to wind it into a ball and create something wearable with it.
I settled on making another shawlette from The Crochet Project, 'Your Mileage May Vary', designed by Joanne Scrace. I love the one I made in 2017 and wear it often. I also made several for gifts. The pattern is in the booklet 'The Shawl Project - Book One' and all the patterns are so wearable and a joy to make. I'm making it slightly longer, as I did last time. I love the way the colours are working together; it almost has an 'antique look'.
Speaking of antiques, I do like a truffle around charity shops, as you never know what you will find. On Friday I spotted a beautiful carving set, from Joseph Rodgers. I collect bone handled cutlery, a collection that began with the canteen of cutlery that used to belong to my parents. Over the years I have added a second canteen, as well as butter knives, serving pieces etc. We used them on high days and holidays and I get such pleasure from them.
Anyway, for the princely sum of £7.95 I have a fabulous quality set, that will give us a lifetime of good service, I'm sure. Although I don't eat meat, the rest of my family do, so this weekend I bought a joint of beef and DH tried it out yesterday. His verdict was it cut like butter!
I am trying to date the set, but it's proving a little difficult. It is stamped 'Cutlers to His Majesty' and 'GR'. Joseph Rodgers were appointed to both George IV and George V, and I suspect this set is more likely George V.
I'm currently pottering in my sewing room, making another block for my son's quilt.
I shall potter into the kitchen next and make a start on dinner :)
Donna x
Hello! Well, it is certainly good to be back at my laptop talking to you all. I apologise for my absence but I've been unwell for two weeks. Different things, that culminated in a kidney infection. I don't recall ever having had a kidney infection before but I certainly don't want another one! I have never given my kidneys a lot of thought until now, but I will honour them with more respect from now on. Kidneys. I salute you.
The symptoms and pain meant I couldn't concentrate enough to sew, knit, write or stand and cook. The first time I ventured out was last Friday, to Cooper's Creative in Skipton for a very special morning...
One of my absolute creative heroes, Emma Varnham, author of the fabulous book Cute Crocheted Animals was going to be there and there was no way I was going to miss that! I had to work the last occasion she visited, but early retirement fixed that problem. ;)
Emily Rabbit (one of her creations) and I shuffled slowly to Skipton and Emily had the time of her life, with lots of kisses and hugs from Emma and Lucy Attic 24. I had also taken my copy of Emma's book for signing! What an exciting morning! I spent the rest of the weekend in bed pretty much, but it was so worth it.
Once I started to feel better I picked up my knitting again, the Noelle Capelet by Martin Storey - a very easy knit on a circular needle using Rowan Lima. I finished this on Monday and have worn it pretty much ever since as it is so warm and snugly but doesn't make me feel too 'bundled up'.
Now that is finished I have turned my attention but to DH's Christmas socks, that I had vowed to finish over the Christmas holidays, but didn't! I am on the foot of sock one, again using the wonderful sockalong pattern by Winwick Mum. I am determined to get them finished for him as soon as possible. DH has become very knitworthy as he pretty much only wears the socks I knit for him now, as he does suffer from cold feet. I shall keep supplying him regularly with new pairs, like a Good Wife :)
It's great to be back. Time now for an afternoon rest. I'll leave you with a very cheerful photo of the gorgeous flowers my dear friend sent me. We met on our first day of infant school, which was, ooh, a Very Long Time ago. Despite living over 200 miles apart we remain in almost daily contact and I love her to bits. Don't they just make your heart leap a little, thinking of the joys of springtime to come?
Donna x
Hello!
As it says in my profile I am teaching myself quilting and it's been quite a slow learning experience, as other things keep getting in the way! Anyway, over the last few months I have had a go at piecing together some simple blocks, practiced machine quilting on some simple placemats, and then decided all of a sudden this was all well and good but I really needed to go for it, and attempt a bed quilt!
I thought I would start with my son's bed, as it is only slightly bigger than a single (or 'twin' for our American friends). DS has a custom made bed, a bit longer than normal, as he is very tall!
DS is very much into Japanese culture so we decided on using this as a loose theme. The wallpaper in his room is a Laura Ashley stripe, in shades of blue, cream and taupe, and the other walls are seaspray blue, so I took a swatch of the paper to the fabric shops to see what I could find. I purchased four fabrics and also had three pieces in my sewing room that I could use (yay! stashbusting!!)
Here is a terrible photo of the wallpaper by shadowy electric light...
As I am a newbie at this, and because I absolutely love (with a passion) machine embroidery, I am making all embroidered blocks in the 'quilt as you go' method. All the blocks have a finished size of 7" (plus seam allowances). Twelve of them will be heavily embroidered using this design package by Anita Goodesign.
I love the almost 'Willow Pattern' effect of using different shades of blue. Here is the first one I made:
EDIT: Did anyone notice I inserted the above photo upside down?! The hummingbirds are the wrong way up!
The more I looked at the block the more the wrinkle in the middle bothered me, so I decided to do it again but this time float a square of cutaway stabiliser behind the 'plate', which I will trim afterwards. I also changed a couple of the colours to match the other fabrics a bit better, resulting in the block below, which I think I prefer. It's definitely flatter and the colours harmonise better. (It has been photographed by artificial light though, and not daylight, so looks different from the rest of the blocks on here! Ah well, never mind; you can get the idea. :)
Each of the twelve will be different , and all twelve of these will be on the same cream background, to show the colours to the best effect.
The other blocks are embroidered in a Sashiko effect, using patterns from Designs by Juju I am using a range of different patterns on the fabrics:
These are so fun to make and I am thoroughly enjoying the process. It does require an embroidery sewing machine, with hoop attachments, but from there they are created entirely in the hoop, entirely by machine! How clever is that?!
The wadding (batting) is incorporated into the block as each is stitched. The white fabric you can see in these photos is embroidery stabiliser - 'no show mesh' from Lord's Sewing. The wadding I am using is 'Stitch it 80/20' from Empress Mills.
The quilt fabric is then placed on top of the wadding and the whole 'sandwich' quilted with the embroidery pattern:
These are proving to be a little bit addictive to make and I keep thinking I can make 'just one more' before I have to go and do other things. Like make dinner. Clean the house. Walk the dog...
These are some I have made so far:
I have worked out I am going to probably need sixty, but I shall make a few spares so I have a bit of flexibility arranging them. As you can tell, this is all slightly haphazard, but I am really enjoying it, so that's the main thing.
Then they all have to be joined, using the outer stitched square as a guide and then the backing applied. I will then 'stitch in the ditch' between the blocks to hold the whole quilt together, and lastly apply the binding. I've not quite worked out how to do that yet, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!
I really am a beginner at this, but having such a great time! I shall update you how it's going, and in the meantime, if anyone has any hints or tips, I would love to hear them!
Donna x
