FNSI Results - September

I was actually free to join in with FNSI, kindly hosted by Wendy of Sugarlane Designs and  I had the perfect project to work on - my second Xmas quilt.

I had left it as a collection of various sized component blocks so my first aim for the evening was to get them all sewn into big squares and plan a layout.

As I started my FNSI in the late afternoon I finished the block sewing quite early and so onto the layout. 

Which is where the 'fun' started, the picture above shows just some of the combos I tried. It took at least 2 hours to find one I was okay with. It wasn't just a case of matching the colours as the fabric also has mini Xmas characters on it. The quilt only uses 36 strips of a jelly roll, and if I went back in time I think I would have removed a different 4 strips!

Any after driving myself almost to distraction with the layout the top flew together. 

A surprising number of the seams matched up, a real shock as I didn't nest seams or use pins. I even had a little time for crocheting before bed!

Now off to find out what everyone else got up to on Friday Night. 

12 Things in 2019 - August Progess

I should really try and write these updates on the last day of the month, I always find myself trying to put the wrong month in the title. 

I wasn't expecting much progress to be made in August due to long weekends away and general summer stuff. But looking back I'm quite pleased.

A small start was made on Xmas quilt no. 2... 

 I continued doing bits and pieces on the Hue Shift Afghan...

Second quarter underway even though I said I'd stop and focus on some other projects. A square takes me just over an hour so it's too tempting to try and do one a night. 

And finally my Floozy cardigan went from skeins of yarn to... 

This is the colourwork pretty much complete so I'm not sure if the sleeves and body will drag now or whether the desire to wear it (and start something else) will drive me on. 

So far 2 projects completed and 5 underway,  which includes two quilt tops awaiting quilting. The stats still have time to improve! 

Racing the Train

In mid August I took part in a slightly unusual running race - Race the Train in Tywyn.

It's a trail run in mid Wales with varying distances available. I opted for the 10k as I can't run 14 miles on roads let alone over Welsh hills.

A narrow gauge train, liked the one photoed, sets off at the same time as the runners and the aim is to beat it. 

With a predicted train arrival time of 55 minutes I didn't think I'd have a chance to beat it and I was right, finishing almost 25 minutes after the train. So I'm running it again next year to see if I can get closer! There are definitely areas where I could have gone quicker or at least got through the crowd faster and with a bit more training (!) who knows. 

View over a small piece of the mid Wales coastline just because. 

Beginnings of a Floozy

Don't panic I haven't changed the purpose of this blog - Floozy is a cute cardigan designed by Truly Myrtle Designs. 

I got fascinated by it towards the end of last year but have waited a while to start it as I have been losing weight and didn't want to knit it and then find it was too baggy. 

The cardigan is knitted in 4 ply, the recommended yarn was something beautiful from Nez Zealand but as I haven't knitted an item of clothing (excluding socks) in forever I thought I'd go for something a bit cheaper. I could always try again in a more luxurious yarn if it all went well, you can't have too many cardis! Almost forgot, the yarn I'm using is Cascade Heritage.

After being very good and making a swatch, and after tracking down the right sized needles (Knit Pro Zings, if you're wondering) I cast on.  The cardigan is knit top down so the photo above is of the yoke. 

After two weeks this is what I have. In reality this is probably about 5 evenings of knitting as its my weekday project and I've been away during the last fortnight. The true colour is probably closer to this photo. I did have a wobble about my colour choices as the dark purple is supposed to be a pop of colour, but I think they work. The next one can be in more poppy colours! 

12 Things in 2019 - July Progress

Yet more steady, though not particularly quick progress in July on my 12 Things.

The CBTL shawl has been successfully blocked, at least to my mind. I need to get an action photo but otherwise it is complete.

The first quarter of the Hue Shift Afghan is complete. I wasn't sure about it when I started but now I'm enjoying it and love the way it looks. A really simple technique but so effective.

The afghan is taking longer than I thought so I've decided to do another 12 Things yarn project alongside it. So my final achievement for the month is hand winding the yarn for my Floozy.

The photo's a bit washed out but it's a nice sage green.

In an ideal world 7 months through the year I should be over halfway through my list, I'm not. Having said that, in an ideal world I wouldn't keep on doing other projects alongside, I am! Maybe next year I'll be more strict about sticking to the list, more likely I won't. 

And if you'd like a reminder of the original list it's HERE.

Crafty Saturday

After a highly enjoyable Friday evening watching Joseph and his Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Sheridan Smith and Jason Donovan at the London Palladium, me and my sisters of what to do with a Saturday spent together.

It didn't take much figuring out and we all settled down to our various craft projects. 

In what turned out to be a bit of a mistake later on I started off by getting a bit more of my Alice in Wonderland EPP done. 

I had been using the flat back stitch on the Christmas Stars EPP but for this one I've gon with the whip stitch which I am definitely finding faster and less fiddly. Though that's probably because it was the only stitch I knew when I last did EPP. 

My sisters decided to work on some time critical ish projects. 

R wants to get two of these cowls finished by November, I think she's got a good chance seeing how this one's growing. I really like this pattern and the baa ram ewe yarn is so soft. 

B decided to get another item of clothing made for a dress up doll destined for her friend's children. Hopefully she'll get it done before they out grow the doll, it's been a WIP for 3 years so far. 

After a bit of EPP I gathered my nerve and made a start on my Jessa shorts. If I'd had any idea how long tracing a pattern and cutting out fabric takes me I'd have skipped the morning EPP session!

But the pieces for my practice pair are all cut out now and ready for me to underestimate how long the sewing will take!

All in all a highly productive Saturday. 

And in case you were wondering, Joseph was excellent. I've seen it once before but forgotten how much fun it is. 

Even more crafting

I've set myself the challenge of completing 12 crafty projects in 2019 and they are by no means all small projects, so that should be enough to keep me busy and focused. 

Of course not!

As well as the 12 Things here are some other bits I've been working on in the last few weeks...

A baby quilt that's taken way too long to finish!... 

Some insanely bright socks... 

Another CBTL for a Xmas present... 

The start of a small EPP project to use some long term stash. 

You could say I've got to many WIPs or you could say I like variety in my crafting options. I'm not saying anything! 

12 Things in 2019 - June Progress

It felt like I got heaps of crafting done this month but when I review my actual progress on the 12 Things it doesn't seem so much!

Blocks were finished and layout finalised for the first Xmas quilt. 

A few blocks were knitted fot the Hue Shift Afghan... 

I am getting quicker at these so hopefully it won't take forever, although with 100 blocks and a border who am I kidding? 

I also finished the CBTL, but I haven't blocked it yet so no photos. I definitely think I'll get more wear out of it than the knitted version. 

July's plans are the Hue Shift Afghan and another Xmas top, if I can remain focused on specific projects! 

FNSI Results - June

It looks like last night was my first FNSI since June, I think I made the most of it but don't have many photos.

I spent the whole evening working on my first Xmas quilt. First steps was to get the blocks arranged in a pleasing way and remove the dog ears. 

From there on in it was chain piecing interspersed with pressing to eventually achieve 18 blocks. 

I'm really pleased with how they've come together. Now all I have to do is arrange 16 of the blocks ready for making the top. Not much actual sewing left but plenty of head scratching first!

FNSI is kindly hosted monthly by Wendy of Sugarlane Designs, pop over to her blog to see what everyone else got up to and, if you're free the third Friday of the month join in with the virtual quilt along. 

12 Things in 2019 - May Progress

I can't believe I haven't blogged in over a month. Luckily in between work, gardening and sporting events I feel I have managed a fair amount of crafting. 

The end is in sight for what is starting to feel like the never ending shawl. 

The sewn together strips of my first Xmas quilt have now all become blocks... 

...and I think I have a suitable layout planned... 

This, of course, won't cause any headaches during sewing together. 

I haven't started the second quilt yet. Although I did decide that I would use a different pattern (is that the right word) from the one I'd intended to use. Luckily I didn't get to the point where I wanted to start cutting the fabric as I've since realised I'd be left with a very small quilt, so I've gone back to Plan A, at least until Plan C makes an appearance!

I've even made a teeny start on my Hue Shift Afghan. 

All in all I think progress is good, although realistically I don't think all 12 planned projects will be done in 2019. Doesn't help that I keep on getting distracted by other things and ideas for Xmas.  More of those in another post. 

12 Things in 2019 - April Progress

Some more definite progress has been made towards the 12 Things challenge this month. 

415 rows out of something like 455 have been completed of the CBTL shawl. So far it's only taken me 70 days, which is quicker than the knitted version but I have more time in the evenings to dedicate to it.

I love the colours that are appearing a TV the moment, definitely motivating me to continue. 

I've also made a start on the first of the two Xmas quilts. I'm toying with trying to do the two tops together but not sure that will actually speed things up. Next step on this one is a pressing marathon.

I also have the yarn ready for the Floozy cardigan, Hue Shift Afghan and Hat. 

You can find my original 12 Things post Here, I will get round to linking these monthly updates to it. 

Bright Feet

The sensible thing would be just sticking to my 12 in 2019 projects and any WIPs from before 2019, but after knitting a few pairs of socks towards the end of last year I've been bitten by the sock knitting bug again. I also enjoyed learning a new technique, the afterthought heel. So the sensible thing to do with various other projects underwater and my 12 in 2019 list was to start a pair of socks using a "two at a time technique satisfying both my urge to knit socks and to continue learning new things. 

And I had the perfect yarn in my stash for these socks. 

Two 50g skeins of Coop Knits Socks Yeah 4 ply in what I am fairly sure are both neon colours, bought with the intention of making mismatching socks. 

It took a little getting my head round but I'm enjoying this method so far, although I keep on trying to counts the rows for some reason! I'll keep you updated on my progress. One thing is certain they're not going to be a subtle pair of socks! 

Busy Night

From about 9pm on Friday night I had some time free for crafting. Quite often when I have time free on a Friday evening I'm too tired to make the most of it but last night I was raring to go. 

I finally worked out what design to make with this jelly roll; it's been causing me difficulties as it doesn't divide evenly into lights and darks and there's not the same number of strips in each colour.

I then safety pin basted a baby quilt. It's the first time I've used safety pins to baste but it seems to have been successful. 

I then did a bit more than intended and got my big sewing machine out to have a go at FMQing the baby quilt.  After a couple of set up problems (should have read the manual) I was good to go. 

It was a little wobbly, but the stars went well. I also found out why you avoid sewing over the safety pins. 

All in all I'm pleased with the results and, even though the picture above looks otherwise, I didn't sew any pleats into the back. 

I achieved all this and was tucked up in bed before midnight!