Revisiting older projects

It was lovely to come in from the cold and sit and do some relaxing stitching.  I haven't worked on this cross stitch for months and it was feeling neglected by the side of the settee.  I only spent a couple of hours on it, but managed to get the S and T finished.

There is still a little way to go, but it's been put aside again, as the yarn arrived to finish a cardigan.  Hopefully, that will be done today, and buttons can be purchased tomorrow.

Small is quicker

The intention was to do the last paper pieced block.  However, my printer has decided it doesn't want to play anymore until I buy some more ink.  How inconsiderate is that!  As I couldn't print off the templates for the quilt block, I went back to the knitting and managed to get the child's socks finished.

These are definitely quicker and more delicate than the huge monstrosities I was doing earlier.  I'm not planning on doing anymore socks at the moment, so there will be some new projects under way, and some older ones resurrected.

More Paper Piecing

A little delayed in the making, but the next paper pieced block has been done.

This is call Starry Night.  The paper piecing was a little easier after the practise the other day, but for me, the other block went together better.  There is still one more paper pieced block for me to do.

Forgotten These?

The extra balls arrived in the week, so I was able to get the next two pairs of socks finished.

 These are shorter socks, but still big to fit size 11 feet

And these are the longer ribbed socks, still to fit big feet.  Where have my little boys gone?  Jonathan will be 15 this week and I sincerely hope that his feet won't be getting any bigger!

Minnesota Block

I had been wondering if I was going to continue with the blocks in the "We can do it" sampler quilt, I'd lost a bit of enthusiasm along the way, getting distracted with other things.  However, I thought I had done so many of them, and they had been good for using up fabric left over in my stash, it might be as well to continue.  Maybe the paper piecing will grow on me.

I had three blocks to catch up on, this is the first, Minnesota.

It took a little while to get the hang of the placement of the fabric for the diamonds, but by the third one, I had got it into my brain.  The hourglass blocks were just normal piecing, so not a problem. 

If I get the time, it's another paper pieced block today.

At Last

A day when I could finish what I started!

I'd been keeping all my buttons protected in a bag since the end of the Buttons and More Classes, but I wanted them to be somewhere I could see them and be inspired by them.  They can remind me of what can be done and to incorporated other buttons in future projects.

The background is silk, to go with the main fabric in the buttons and the buttons are tied on.  I've now to find a suitable spot on my wall to hang it, and then I need to think of a project for the remaining silk.

One of those weeks

It's definitely one of those weeks this week.  Lots of good intentions to get things done, thwarted at the last minute by running out of supplies.

 There's the child's sock missing a toe,

 A great size 11 missing a top of a foot, so while waiting for new yarn to arrive, it was back to the quilting.  There were a couple of tops that needed backs piecing and putting together.

 First, it was this one, but I didn't have enough black.  I need to order some more, but in the meantime, fabric I had ordered was back in stock and arrived this week.

 So out came this quilt and I pieced the back.  I ironed the back and top ready for sandwiching, only to find, I didn't have enough batting!  Do you ever feel things are conspiring against you?

The one good thing to come from the day, I think I have a layout for my button wallhanging.  All I need now is a day at home to put it altogether.

Black and White

The next purse was slightly more of a challenge as I had to draw the pattern myself.  In the end it didn't turn out too badly, although personally, I prefer the shape of the first one.

 I used some fabric from my stash and coupled it with some white for the inside.

The end result isn't too bad.  Now I need to stock up on some more clasps and try some more, maybe a little one with a curved clasp.

Something Very Different

The purple wool has all gone now, I am sure you'll be pleased to know, so now it's time for something different.  The knitting is still going, but in a different colour, but I did have time to do something different.  After the small purse I did a little while ago, I thought I'd like to try them again, but on a bigger scale.

 I bought a kit from U-Handbag, and I must say, their instructions are fantastic.  They are very clear and concise, with plenty of photos.  It is a fiddly process getting the fabric body and clasp together, but once it's done, the results make it worthwhile.

I also bought a purse clasp, so the next stage is to draw up a pattern to fit the clasp.  If I can work that one out successfully, there may be a few more purses in the making.

Last of the Purple

After what seems to be an age, the purple wool has come to an end.  I now have a pair of mitts, to fit age 4-6, to match the hat and socks.

It was surprising to see how far these ten balls went, but I am now glad to be knitting with a different colour.  I'm even hoping I might get some sewing time in too.

Little Socks

Little socks are definitely more fun to knit than for size 11 big boys feet!  Now I have little socks to go with the little hat, now to work on the mitts.

In Miniature

Try as I might, I just can't get to the end of the purple wool.  After knitting a complete adult set, I've now started on a little child's set.  This is for approx age four and up

Here is the hat, and yes, there is still more.  This was definitely a good sale buy!

Mitts to match

I now have the complete set in a woman's size=hat, wristwarmers, socks and mitts.  There is still a few balls of the wool left, so now, I'm starting on a toddler set. 

Purple Socks

 I'm enjoying this pattern, it is so easy and quick to knit.   These socks didn't take long to knit up at all.

As there is still plenty of this wool left over, there will be a few more purple items appearing.

Wrist warmers to Match

 It's quite nice to be able to get stuck into knitting a matching set of items, first the hat, and now the wrist warmers.

Actually, these are long enough to keep more than the wrists warm.  The garter stitch forms the rib and the scalloped edge is lovely on the hand edge.  Next in line, are matching socks.

Yet another one

 The bags are still in production, though they have been very good in using up my stash.  It's now getting difficult to find enough for the inside and tops of the bags.  If I can find enough suitable fabric, there should be two more.

This theme is purple/blue and makes a change from the browns of the first couple I made.

Pretty in Purple

 This was such a quick one to knit, a ladies hat.  The true colour is somewhere between the two.  For some reason, my camera doesn't like purple, it makes it too blue, but with a white background, it makes it too pink.

This is the first item in a set, wrist warmers are next

Shorter Socks

Another pair of socks are off the needles.  These were a lot quicker being shorter, and just plain stocking stitch.

Pretty wool is now on the needles while I decide what to do with the remainder of the brown and grey.

And another one

 These are getting addictive.  The green of the lining picks up the green flecks in the flowers of the blue fabric.

Don't worry, there is something different for tomorrow

I liked it so much.....

..... I made another, again using mostly brown tones.

I've even sorted the rest of my squares and have enough to make another four or five bags.  These will be different colours to the last two, but you'd better get used to seeing these for a little while.  Then I'll have to think about what to put in them.

Draw String bag

I saw these bags here and thought I'd have to make some, they were so pretty.  I used some of the 21/2" squares I have from other projects and made them up for the front and backs.

 I used some fabric from my stash for the lining, and a ribbon I'd saved

I was really pleased with how it turned out, I think I'm going to look out some more of my squares and make some more.

This can also go towards my Rainbow Scrap Challenge for this month, which I haven't been able to participate in for a few months.  This month's colour is brown, and it's variations, and I seem to have a bit of that in this bag. 

Socks, anyone?

After enjoying knitting the last pair of socks, I fully intended to do more.  A few weeks ago, I managed to get some of the yarn in the sale, so there is going to be bulk knitting of socks over the next few weeks.  These would have been quicker to knit if I hadn't been ill, the first sock, had to be undone a couple of times as the foot was coming out the wrong side of the leg!

 Second time around, everything was the right way and went without a hitch.  These are a men's size, to fit up to a size 11.  Yes, my boys have big feet!

And they're long.  The next pair are ankle socks, so it shouldn't be too long before they're off the needles.

Buttons

These are the last of the buttons made for the Buttons and More class, although it doesn't mean the end of button making.  I am sure some of these will surface again in the future.

 Singleton button made in silk

 Half and half, lace and silk with cross stitch, web stitch, whipped back stitch and bullion knots

Half and half, silk with lace, with lazy daisy, french knots and cross stitch

I've thoroughly enjoy the course, partaking and seeing the results from the other ladies taking part, I shall certainly be on the lookout to do more of Karen's classes in the future if the opportunity arises.  Thanks, Karen, these two classes have been wonderful

Pendibules

I love the shape of pendibules, so decided I would make some myself.

 I've made them from contrasting fabric.  The fronts use patterned fabric and the backs are co-ordinating plain fabric, then finished off with a ribbon bow.  They are filled with lavender, so are perfect for tucking into drawers or hanging in wardrobes.

Perfect for little gifts