January FNSI

 Wendy has decided to continue hosting the monthly Friday Night Sew-In, so I will continue joining in as often as I can.

I've made a good start by joining in last night with other crafter round the world and I had a very enjoyable evening. 

I started off before dinner with a row or two of my Jumping Dots wrap. 

I'm not a particularly fast crocheted so this is my big yarny project for the moment. It uses tapestry crochet to combine the two colors and will be purple and grey on one side, and grey and purple on the other. If you've ever used a Scheepjes whirl the next bit will make sense - I'm waiting impatiently for my first fuzzbuzz - the point in the purple yarn where a new coloured strand in incorporated. I'm also hoping that a better contrast between the colours will mean easier crocheting in evening lamplight. Jumping Dots is designed by Jellina Verhoeff (jellina-creations.nl)

I then bit the bullet and made some good progress on the Alice EPP cushion.

Top and bottom borders added (by machine) and the whole piece basted and ready for hand quilting. Figuring out how the borders should be attached had left this languishing for too long. It wasn't as bad as I'd feared in the end, although I'm very thankful that I've got the hang on consistent seam allowances! (I have a patchwork I made when I was around 12 and the original 4 inch patches end up anywhere as small as 2.5 inches in places! I know that was a long time ago but until very recently I'd still been massively reliant on my 1/4 inch foot for accuracy). I didn't start the quilting but I know what I want to do. The evening ended with a little more crochet.

Whilst crafting I also watched and listened to crafty things. 

I've recently come across the Fruity Knitting podcast (fruityknitting.com) so I dipped into a couple of episodes of that and one of the episodes led me to the Wool Work audio podcast from knitbritish.net. I only listened to the first episode (from 2014) so plenty to go but seems interesting so far. Does anyone have any recommendations for crafty podcasts? I've only recently come across them and would love to watch and listen to more.

So that's all from me, if you want to see what everyone else got up to pop along to Wendy's blog Sugarlane Designs

2021 Plan

Having a plan for crafting in 2020 seemed to help keep me focused so I'm going to try the same again. Although having put my list together I seem to have made a 21 in 21 type of thing unintentionally, I have no aim to complete all the items on it.

My list is as follows:

1 Aran squares x 3 (WIP) 

2 Xmas Stars (WIP) 

3 Wedding quilt (WIP) 

4 Jessa trousers

5 Grace 2/ Marguerite 

6 Lovenote sweater (WIP) 

7 Jonie

8 Xmas mini

9 Socks x 7 (WIP) 

10 Jessa shorts

11 Snowflake quilt

12 Billie dress

13 Billie top

14 Hitofude

15 Bird quilt 

16 Cross stitch bookmark (MIA) 

17 Rainbow quilt (WIP) 

18 Xmas Lucy's Terrace

19 Cat quilt 

20 Jumping dots

21 Bag

Some are already started, some are from last year's list and one is playing hide and seek!

I also hope to get some handmade gifts made throughout the year, but I'm not including these on the list.

I will try to remember to provide progress updates through the year. 

The Plan - The Outcome

 At the start of the year I set myself a fairly loose list of projects that I wanted to work on which I called my Plan. The aim wasn't to finish everything, I didn't want the stress of feeling I was failing to hit a target, more to give me a focus and try and stop me buying lots of new materials and stashing them away.

I think it has been mostly successful, here's the latest update:

UFOs were as follows:

1 Hue Shift Afghan        
2 Floozy                        
3 Sparkle Punch Quilt
4 Alice cushion              EPP complete, borders and quilting left
5 Aran squares              One complete plenty more to go!
6 Pumpkin mini

7 Xmas stars                 Still a WIP
8 Wedding quilt            Still going
9 Opal socks                 Replaced by other socks

10 Jessa shorts            Toile complete now going to be trousers

The 'Ready to Gos' were as follows:

1 Highland cushions       To be started
2 Colourwork stocking
3 Scheepjes hat
4 Scheepjes shrug          Change of plan to a wrap (not started)
5 Hitofude                     To be started
6 Blythes Spirit 
7 Lottie and Albert Blanket   Removed
8 WM quilt
9 Bird quilt                    One EPP project at a time
10 Xmas mini                Needs to be started soon!
11 Socks
12 Cross stitch bookmark    Playing hide and seek

Not much change since October although the biggest change is that the Sparkle Punch Quilt is complete and gifted. I also decided that I don't need a Lottie and Albert Blanket and I can't think of a recipient for one so it's off the list.

As well as the items above I have also completed a Grace dress, Slipstravaganza shawl (still to be blocked), a Billie sweater, two Xmas stockings and five pairs of socks.

I like the use of a list, or lists, to keep me aware of what I have already got materials for. It also has worked as a place to list all the new projects that catch my eye and then I can decide whether to do them or just keep them as possibilities. I have definitely stressed myself out less this year by not planning to try and do everything, although I have slipped a little with sock yarn - though I'm working through it and variety is nice! My stash has gone down this year, although that has been helped by a couple of ruthless clear outs.

I'm going to adopt the same list approach next year, trying to balance out the crafts and project sizes so I don't get bored. I will refine it over the next few days and share it here as it has been fun to look back. 

December FNSI

 In preparing to write this blog I've realised that before photos would've been useful - but I was keen to maximise my crafting time.

First project was a bit if reworking on my Billie sweatshirt. As you may expect it's a Jersey top and as it was the first time I'd ever worked with jersey there were a couple of points where I'd created unintentional pleats. After a bit of unpicking and restitching I had a much smoother waistband.

The rest of the evening was then devoted to working on a pair of socks that will become a Xmas present for my partner's mum. 

A focused effort means that I only have a few inches left to knit. 

A very productive and enjoyable FNSI. 

If you want to see what everyone else got up to head over Wendy's blog:FNSI

Instant gratification and a slow burner

In an unusual turn of events I have achieved two sewing finishes this weekend.

The first was an Xmas Stocking which I started Friday late afternoon and had completely finished and pressed before midnight. 

I followed a tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew and it turned out really well; I did find that clipping the seams helped the stocking look more snooth. This could have been finished earlier in the evening but I also worked on a second stocking.

This one's taking a little longer for what is hopefully obvious reasons. I only have a fat quarter of each of the three fabrics which isn't quite enough for the size of stocking I want so this is the more time consuming solution I've come up with. 

Before starting the stockings I finished stitching the binding and sewing in the ends on a quilt that has been a WIP for about 8 years. 

Pattern is Sparkle Punch Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman. I couldn't even begin to say what the fabrics are, I think most of them were purchased from an online US store. 

I do know its backed in a Tula Pink extra wide backing fabric from Sew Hot. 

This quilt is destined for my, very patient, sister and her husband. 

Slipstravaganza - The Mystery So Far

Before you read any further I must warn you that this post contains spoilers for the WestKnits Slipstravaganza MKAL

 It also contains several examples of photographs taken on a phone in poor lighting conditions (this is not really spoiling anything but prevents me having to apologise repeatedly)

Okay, you have been warned. Continue reading at you own peril...

So after all that build up you may have guessed that as of the release of the second clue, of four, for this MKAL I'm still knitting along, I'm having fun and can actually see myself wanting to wear the finishaed article.

I'm loving the yarn from Dusty Dimples (UK Indy Dyer). And am picking up new skills all the time. It all started with an i-cord and then picking up the stitches from each i-cord row.

We've then moved onto honeycombs... 

And then, so far for me the most challenging part so far, rather large holes... 

I'm looking forward to finding out what the next 3 sections bring and hopefully picking up a few more new skills. 

Does "The Plan" Still Exist?

I'm pleased to say yes it does and yes I'm still working from it ... to a certain extent!

So a first a quick reminder of the two main lists that were the basis of the plan with updates as to progress:

The UFOs are as follows:

1 Hue Shift Afghan        
2 Floozy                        
3 Sparkle Punch Quilt    Binding to go
4 Alice cushion              Still in progress
5 Aran squares              One complete plenty more to go!
6 Pumpkin mini

7 Xmas stars                 Still a WIP
8 Wedding quilt            Still going
9 Opal socks                 Replaced by other socks

10 Jessa shorts             Toile complete now going to be trousers

Hmm I'm sure I've completed more than that!

The 'Ready to Gos' are as follows:

1 Highland cushions       To be started
2 Colourwork stocking
3 Scheepjes hat
4 Scheepjes shrug          Change of plan to a wrap (not started)
5 Hitofude                     To be started
6 Blythes Spirit 
7 Lottie and Albert Blanket   And again
8 WM quilt
9 Bird quilt                    One EPP project at a time
10 Xmas mini                Needs to be started soon!
11 Socks
12 Cross stitch bookmark    Playing hide and seek

So 9 items off the list so far, and apart from face masks I think only one item has been completed that wasn't on either list - a Grace dress.

As may be assumed from my last post I am planning to swerve away from the lists, but not just for the Slipstravaganza Shawl but also with a Lovenote sweater that I am planning to knit in my upcoming week off which means it's also likely I'll have two big knitting projects on the go at the same time. 

Ah well some plans are made to be deviated from! 

Slipstravaganza MKAL - Nerves

 Probably due to the strangeness of the times I have decided to do something crafty I thought I'd never do again - take part in a mystery knitalong.

I took part in a blanket mystery knitalong in 2012, based on the fact the wasn't a previous blanket of the designer's I didn't like (I even h as d several of their books). Unfortunately even with the money invested in the kit and the many hours spent knitting the blanket squares I've never really liked the blanket and it's ended up unfinished as I don't know anyone personally who would like it. So I decided that taking part in a mystery anything was not for me. 

Until now when I quickly bought the pattern and the necessary yarn for the Slipstravaganza MKAL by Stephen West. 

I've never knitted a WestKnits design but I have been considering them this year. I'd also been following a couple of other MKALs. Other than that I can't really explain my change of heart.

Maybe it was the lovely yarn kits? I had looked at the official kits but with postage and exchange rate they were a little expensive. Luckily the dyer of 4 of the kits - Dusty Dimples - was UK based and so it was possible to get the same yarn direct from her (just without the MKAL goodies).

I have to say I love this yarn and if I don't enjoy the MKAL I'm sure I can put it to good use. As is the case I have had my head turned by other yarn kits that keep popping up but I'm keeping true to my first choice. I'm now nervously/excitedly waiting for the mystery to start on 9 Oct.

Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated. 

August FNSI - Multi Crafting

 Not having a definite plan as to what to work on this FNSI I was pleasantly surprised how productive I ended up being.

In the continuing plan of working through WIPs I decided to continue with the toile for a pair of Tilly and the Buttons Jessa shorts (these have been a WIP for a year so far and if I was a betting person I'd say the finished article won't be ready for this summer!) I thought I'd just get the zip fly in. 

But I was wrong... 

... and actually got the toile to a stage where I could try it on for size. It fit. I have decided to stop making the toile at this point, without as waistband and cuffs, as the fabric is horrible to work with (cheap, thin, with a tendency to shrink if ironed), some of my pieces seem poorly cut (or could've been affected by the iron), and I need to re-use the zip from the toile for the actual shorts. Also if I stop here there's a better chance of the actual shorts being finished in 2020!

I then went on to a bit of baking prep. 

 Pasties are the plan for lunch this weekend and the recipe suggested that the pastry was best if left to rest overnight. 

And after all that excitement I even had timeto squeeze in a bit of sock knitting before bed. 

Hope everyone else had a successful and enjoyable FNSI. 

Fearless Fair Isle - After Seven Years!

 I'm getting through my crafting projects pretty well at the moment, I guess I'm being assisted by all the current Coronavirus restrictions meaning more timd to craft. For example as I'm working from home I can do a bit of knitting during my lunch break (I could've done that at my office and I may do in future) and rather than spending an hour in the car at the end of the working day I get another hour to myself as my partner finishes work an hour after me (he does start an hour later in the morning). I'm also avoiding adding too many new projects to the list or pre-emptively buying materials for projects that are a long way off. 

Sock yarn doesn't count.

I thought pre-emptive buying was a habit I'd got into last year. When sorting out the yarn for my next knitting project I found this wasn't the case.

Price hidden intentionally.

Luckily I still want to make the project as much as I did if not more.

Hard to tell from the photo but this will be the Reindeer Romp Xmas Stocking from Fearless Fair Isle Knitting by Kathleen Taylor. Started well but turns out 7 years ago the shop was out of stock of one of the colours, after umming and ahhing I've now ordered a ball of the correct colour from what may be the same shop I bought it from originally (same name other end of the UK). This is a daylight project due to needing to read the chart so it may take a while, hopefully not another 7 years! 

Feeling the fear and doing it anyway...

...or maybe a more accurate title would be "Having to quilt the quilt on my frame because the central heating engineer needs space to work!".

The Sparkle Punch Quilt was attached to my quilting frame in late March.

In the normal course of things I would have started quilting it shortly after but whilst setting it up I found that, due to being clever when purchasing the fabric and the forgetting that I had been clever, the backing fabric was too short for the quilt. Loading up the frame had been quite an effort so I wasn't massively keen on starting again having bought new backing, likewise the alternative of makinvbthd top shorter also didn't fill me with joy.

This dilemma took me ages to resolve.

Eventually I decided that the better of the two options was to buy a new backing, which actually was quite easy to swap onto the frame. I actuallynalso prefer this second backing and I know the recipient does too.

A couple more weeks of procrastination passed, I enjoy using me frame and once I get going all is fine but this is a big quilt and the machine a use tends to play up a bit in the early stages requiring unpacking.

Eventually confirming that our central heating replacement was going to take place at the end of July spurred me into action as th frame takesmip a lot of space and would make lifting floorboards in the room tricky.

After all my procrastination the quilting went well, no unpicking required.  I also tried out glide thread which had been recommended in various places and it was brilliant and didn't break once. My free motion quilting it still a big wonky but overall I'm pleased with the effect and am thrilled that this quilt that's been on the go on and off since 2013 is almost finished.

July FNSI

My second FNSI in a row, although due to the current circumstances I do tend to spend most Friday nights sewing.

As I guess might be the case for a lot of crafters I had a long list of things to do but that was never going to be doable in the time.

I started the evening with a few post-dinner rows of sweater knitting and then I moved on to some sewing. 

On an impulse I started a Charmed Cushion last Friday, which I continued with. 

I didn't take many photos but I sewed together a pile of HSTs to make QST blocks. Then I spent much longer than I expected squaring up the blocks. Luckily the layout was pretty easy to do, I just didn't think about it too much!

Pleasingly by the end of my FNSI I had both the back and front panels sewn together in rows. Hopefully I'll have a finished cushion to show soon. 

Blythe's Spirit

One of the items in my Plan is the Blythe's Spirit sweater designed by High Fibre Shop. I bought a kit for this sweater in October but only started knitting it at the beginning of June.

The sweater is knitted in baa ram ewe's pip colourwork. The wool has a beautiful halo but there are quite a lot of weak points in it.

I also found out very quickly that the colourwork was not the best thing to work on when distracted (we've been playing a legend of zelda game a lot recently). 

 

I think I've knitted most of the colourwork twice over. 

Looks almost as good on the inside. 

I'm now on the body which is growing faster than I expected given it's 4 ply wool. 

I've really enjoyed the colourwork in this, which is lucky considering there's at least one colourwork item in my Plan.