Miette madness

I tried, I tried really hard, to make the Miette cardigan by Andi Satterlund. I started it from scratch no less than eight times and couldn't get past row 26. There is nothing wrong with the pattern, I just couldn't concentrate on the hole pattern and this border wasn't for bodging!

I tried it at home watching TV, at home on my own with no distractions, at Knitting group, with my mum by my side reading it out but no joy. I just love this cardigan and I REALLY wanted one. I bought the wool specially for this pattern, I never normally do that so I was doubly disappointed.

My mum took it to start it off again for a ninth time and then she said, "Shall I just finish it for you?" Music to my miette madness ears.

She used four out of the five balls of Rowan Creative Focus worsted I bought in a petrol colour. It was a bargain and came in at under £12 for the cardigan. There is enormous yardage on these balls: 100g contains 200m (220yrds). The content is 75% and 25% Alpaca so the washing machine is out of the question.

A Huge thank you to my mum. I love my new cardigan. 

Little donations

I don't buy many craft supplies, it means I don't really have a style as such but no matter, as long as I am making things I don't mind. People know I have this obsession so I am often donated things - one families junk is another woman's treasure. This week...

I was given two and a bit balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton Denim Aran AND the junior Knits book! Whooo!

I made a little crochet handbag for the daughter of the person who gave me the book. Whoops, forgot to take a photo before I posted it.

Then I had one ball left so I made a headband ear warmer thingy. I don't need one but I think they will be a great little project for my beginner crocheters in the new year. A sample is always useful and I wrote down the pattern as I went along. I made it during one entire episode of Strictly come dancing which my girls love.

Big Sis chose to make a project from the book. She was quite serious about it so in half term week we went to the wool shop. I completely stood back and watched a 7 year old choose a ball of yarn, it had to be her project completely for her to have any chance of completing it. Not my choice but here goes....

James C Brett Flutterby in pale blue. I was lucky really because there was a really nasty pink! She held it up to her face and then her sister's face and said, "I love it, it is sooooooo soft."

She is doing well but the 17 stitches sometimes turn into 16 so I either pick them up with a crochet hook or.... shhhh don't tell, I unravel it when she has gone to bed and knit it back to where she was. Don't judge me! This is her picture inspiration from the book.

Keep your ears warm folks. Now where are my pom pom makers.... 

Jo xxx

A picture says a thousand words

A picture tells a thousand words...

St John's church where my great-grandad, grandad, dad and I were christened along with other family milestones of death, birth and marriage.  The Caradoc and Lawley hills of South Shropshire, watching sunsets, foxgloves and primroses, sheep and wildlife, hazel trees, a campfire for marshmallows and of course our cabin built in 2014.

But I think it says even more that I took the time to make the memory in naive stitches and I am really rather proud of that. I took inspiration on this crafty journey from Gillian's holiday image at Tales from a Happy House blog where I love to go every Friday for happy vibes.

This weekend we went to the cabin, lit the logburner, shared the evening with friends, ate hot potatoes and chilli, then we watched the children enjoy sparklers.

I'm feeling rather whimsical..... Jo xxxx

Remembrance day

Tomorrow is Remembrance Sunday in the UK. Do remember to wear a poppy with your leaf pointing to 11 O'clock. A kindly pensioner stopped me and told me so with fervour last week. Especially if you have made a crochet one, don't get told off like me!!!

As part of my Heritage Scrapbook I have a page about my Great-great- uncle Edward Roberts (My fathers namesake) who died at Ypres. His gravestone is used as the memorial focal point for the church service every year. Our cabin is in the field behind the church.

Jo

Friday Fantasy quilt progress

Just checking in with my Half Square Triangle (HST) count. I have 186 out of the 270 I need.

They are looking good and a great way to teach Big Sis counting in 20's which she has needed to do for school.

I have not bought any fabric yet so I am doing quite well. I have used a Tilda Charm pack (100 squares) which I won from the Simply Homemade magazine for star letter on the letters page a few months ago. These quality prints sure lifted my scraps pile to a higher level.

But...

...Some didn't make the cut. When I went to square them up after sewing, some were not quite big enough so I cut out a smaller square template 9cm x 9cm and made these slightly smaller ones for a practise before I start sewing the quilt together some time. I am really enjoying the journey and don't feel in any rush (at the moment!)

I am following a lovely quilt-a-long to get some tips here I am not doing exactly the instructions (as if I would) but I like finding out about the new techniques which I might need.

Thanks for stopping by. Jo xxx

All done #5 October

Here is a round up of this fabric stash. It all started with a gifted length of fabric - A Liberty Tana Lawn called Florence. A neighbour of a friend had become a widower and asked if I would like first dibs of his wife's fabric chest. That was five years ago.

I made the Mathilde Blouse but had to top stitch the pleats down just over my bust as they flared out and made me look ridiculous.

Here is what else I made using this fabric. There was about 4-5 metres of it.

A pocketed skirt from Sew Serendipity by Kay Whitt last year.

I made four mouse door stops two have been gifted and one is mine.

A girls dress which Big Sis wore three years ago and now is handed down to Little M. It is made from a vintage pattern that used to be my grandma's. My mum said she had one of these. Button shoulders, tie at the back, gathered waist - they stand the test of time don't they?

The watch strap revamp from earlier this year.

Finally, it's the turn of the left overs.

More recently my all time favourite skirt made a few weeks ago.

Another easy peasy peasant blouse over the weekend from this pattern which has been worth every penny, I highly recommend it. 45 mins work!!

A quilted tablet case on which I made a label out of a bit of the selvedge edge to remind me of this beautiful fabric's origins.

a pin cushion, then as the bits get smaller...

 ...more squares for my fantasy quilt in half square triangles. 

I have enjoyed every inch of this fabric and although it has all gone now, I can still enjoy it in all it's various guises. 

All done Number 5 - Liberty Tana Lawn Florence.

Which was your favourite?

Ps. This is a mosaic of projects.These are my makes over the last five years with this fabric, not all this week. There has been confusion in the past with these themed posts. During October I have made the skirt, blouse, pin cushion and tablet case.

Just because....

...I spend so much of my time going off piste with all kinds of crafting patterns;knitting, crochet and sewing that I have to check in with myself every now and again that I can actually read crochet patterns.

Phew I still can. Pineapple doily from Vintage and Retro. Now I really MUST give this book back to my neighbour.

Jo xxx