Back to the crafts

 Hi,

I've been taking a bit of a break from my usual crafting, I had started to get pains in my hands when knitting so stopped, put down the pins and picked up a sewing needle, I later found a similar problem when spinning so I have been on a self imposed break from that as well.

Things seem to be fine now so I have stared sorting through my stash of washed fleece from last year and processing it ready to spin on our next long road trip. Several bags of oddments have been lurking for some time, some simply were the odd and sods left after spinning most of the fleece and not worth bothering with, These will get recycled as stuffing etc, Others have had enough decent fleece to make it worth combing or carding ready to spin.

suffolk x bfl

I have also picked up my lace making again and even found a latch hook kit in a charity shop so I am also playing with that from time to time.

My sampler has grown slightly, I've added my initial using cross stitch patterns from my great Grandmothers sampler together with a chain stitch sample.

I've also picked up the Fox and Rabbit 2023 SAL that I started last year but gave up on after a couple of months.

Some more Shetland fleece is on order from Ullapool, due to arrive next week so that will probably be my spring time spinning project.

Thats about it for now, we have a quick night away planned then maybe a break in the van,Watch this space. x

Stitch n Dye

 hi

This just about sums up my week, I now have five skeins to label up, two Texel cross and three spun from oddments.

The only other thing I've been working on is my band sampler, I've now decided to incorporate Take a Stitch Tuesday into it so there in a patch of running stitch (week one) and pattern darning, butterflies in back stitch ( week two)

Band sampler patterns are Fox and rabbit sal 2017, Algerian stitch, Blackwork from The Gift of Stitch Magazine, Traditional Russian pattern from early 1800's, running stitch and pattern darning, cross stitch from TGOS, blackwork butterflies from TGOS and alphabet also from TGOS.

For anyone wondering, The Gift of Stitch was an Australian magazine that started in 2007 and ran for 70ish issues. I bought the full collection download a couple of years ago for around £25, maybe a little less and it proving to be a great resource.

In other accomplishments, a good friend came over and between us we managed to reduce the contents of my wardrobe by around half, filling the car with black bags of donations to the charity shop. The house clearance continues.

Speak soon xx

Happy New Year, crafty plans for 2024

 Hi, just a quick post to wish everyone a happy New Year and to remind myself what I really want to complete next year out of the projects lying around.

Spinning update, I've now spun the remainder of the mixed breed batts and these should be plyed today ready for the dye bath later this week, I also have a couple of skeins on Texel to dunk as well.

Again the big red thing.....this has to be finished soon before I get fed up with it,

I have washed all my finished headbands and blocked the scarf so they are out of the way now. I still have some hats to wash though.

I also reskeinned and labelled 800gm of yarn yesterday so that is up to date.

2024 band project now has a second band on it. I have planned the next one based on a historical Russian? design. The first design is by Fox and Rabbit SAL 2017, the small bit of blackwork is from a Gift of Stitching magazine. My plan is to stitch things that catch my eye as we go through the year using mainly threads purchased from charity shops.

My black sampler could also do with being finished.

Other than the usual spin/knit/lace/etc that's about it for crafting plans.

Our travels will continue with three short trips by car on the agenda as well as a longer trip or two in the van. Two Ukulele festivals are booked so we can meet up with our Uke friends.

The house destash will also continue as we want to reduce our belongs by around half and I even have a friend coming round to help me be ruthless with my wardrobe !

workroom update

 Remember the workroom? well 4 black bags of rubbish, one box for the charity shop and a bag of bits for the local craft club later.....

You can even see the rag rug now.

Not perfect but a lot better plus I now have enough space to reskein and label the yarn.

Some progress on the sampler band, I'm just looking around for a nice font for the starting date (2024)

That's about it for now, If you celebrate Christmas have a good one and if you just take a break , relax , as that is exactly what we will be doing :-)  xx