Definitely a month of trying to finish things off.
I've finished binding both my fruit and veg table runners, now I just need to decide who they're for! I've also finished my first Xmas things, if I can keep going at a rate of one a month there might be some hand crafted Xmas gifts this year.
I have started, well at least done a gauge swatch (first time ever), the Read Between the Lines shawl; the yarn seems very fine to me and I'm used to knitting with sock wool.
I have also made what feels like good progress with the Sparkle Punch Quilt. With a sneaky bit of sewing after work yesterday I'm now at the point that every white square now has at least one coloured triangle attached. Still need to do something about the pile of mis-sewn blocks.
And to add to the list of things achieved I've finished all the squares for my mystery blanket and hemmed a pair of work trousers.
It feels like January has been pretty productive, roll on February!
I have completed the final square in my 2012 Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket.
In the time it has taken me to knit these squares I have bought and sold two homes, two of my siblings have got married and one has gone to university. This has definitely been a long term project.
Unfortunately finishing the squares does not mean I've finished the blanket - I still have to block, sew up and knit a border. I reckon a full finish by 2020.
There is a slight issue in that I'm not sure if I still like the blanket! But I am going to sew together the strips and see how I feel then. Plenty of mattress stitch in my future; I also have to sew up the first Xmas things.
Being somewhat persuaded by the power of the internet I have decided to join in with the Scheepjes 'Read Between the Lines' make along starting 31st January. It's a make along (MAL) rather than a knit or crochet along (KAL/CAL) because the shawl pattern is available for both knitting and crochet.
I'm going to knit mine, but if it goes well I might also make a crochet one.
The yarn we're using is Scheepjes Whirl and it's gorgeous colours definitely strengthened my decision to do the MAL.
I've chosen Strawberries and Scream and Lavenderlicious. I was surprised by how big they are, but I guess they would be with a 1000m of yarn in each one.
First decision is whether to start from the insides or outsides and which colour I want most prominent. Decisions, decisions!
I'd been doing so well avoiding the January sales, several times I have deleted the carefully constructed cart of sale bargains destined for a future project.
Then I decided I needed a thickish backing fabric for some cushions I have planned and it all went slightly wrong!
The top left cream fabric is velvet for cushion backing, all good so far. The green and cream are for an EPP project which I am collecting bits for...fairly acceptable. And the bottom three fabrics are Lewis and Irene fabrics which I thought would fussy cut well or make cute somethings!
Ah well, the fabrics are gorgeous, and I have a half formed plan for their use...I just need some coordinating fabric!!
I really enjoyed sewing along with everyone yesterday and I feel like I had a very productive FNSI.
Friday night is the ideal time to use my sewing machine as there is no one around to disturb. That being the case I continued working on the Sparkle Punch Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman.
This is how my evening started...
And this is how it ended...
You have to sew two HSTs onto each white square, trimming down and pressing the seams in between. The big pile is a mixture of blocks in the various stages (not focused enough to work logically through the block stages). On the left are the blocks which just need final squaring up and towards the back is my too impatient pile where I sewed all the triangles on without trimming and pressing in between, these need some unpicking.
I'm really enjoying making up these blocks although I'm not too sure about the final stage of sewing together the 500+ squares!
I also managed to binge watch several episodes of Scandal while sewing, I'd forgotten how much I like that show.
If you want to see what everyone else got up to during FNSI pop over to our wonderful host Wendy's blog.
Sitting on the train on my way to work this morning, I realised it's the third Friday of the month which means only one thing...
Friday Night Sew In!
This virtual get together of quilters round the world is hosted by Wendy of Sugarlane Designs. We all sit and see (or similar) on Friday Night and then our work the next day via blogs.
If you want to join in this month's sign up is HERE
Quite a lot is the answer, which is surprising considering we were away until Tuesday and I didn't take any crafty stuff with me, and then this week has been busy with post Xmas return to normality.
Anyway, I've finished my first Xmas thing (although not sewn it up) and cast on the next ... don't worry I'm not going to post any more blurry photos!
I've finished the binding on my first table runner
which is lucky as I'd like to give it to my mum this weekend.
I've also completed another square of the blanket (47/49 probably).
And I've put a bit more of a dent in the blocks for my sister's quilt.
From this
to this
with another good few just needing squaring up.
The not so good news is the sizeable pile (just visible at the top of the photo above) I sewed together without reminding myself of the method (this became obvious when I found a pile of "in progress at various stages" blocks).
I need to have a good look at them but I'm hoping I'll only have to undo part of a seam, worse case is one whole seam but they shouldn't take too long to put back together.
Unfortunately not the game. I'm busy working on the first of the Xmas things and it seems to be a project where if something can go wrong it has. Does anyone else have projects like that?
The cast on wouldn't work, the tension seems off, my colourwork has gone wonky...
...I kept on using the wrong size needles, the white yarn had a shredded section...
...I dropped a needle and even this blog post is playing up.
Luckily even with all the problems they seem to be knitting up quickly.
(By the way the odd pictures aren't caused by another gremlin, it's intentional as these are intended for someone...although I may knit another less glitchy version!)
Rather than setting any crafty resolutions, such as doing a certain amount of craft a week or not starting things until others are finished, or even setting myself a target to complete a number of items I have decided to set myself some crafty aims to improve my skills and challenge myself.
After a lot of thinking here is my list:
1. Foundation paper piecing - actually doing this one could be easy as I have a recent magazine with templates .
2. Curved piecing - luckily I got plenty of pins for Xmas!
3. Crocheting something useful - will have to relearn how to crochet first.
4. Make some chocolates - I bought all the required equipment years ago.
I feel there should be a fifth one, so may add to the list later. Either way, this list, my UFOs and my stashes should keep me well entertained!
