Runner by another name

I continued my starting spree all the way to Friday and at the same time I really wanted to finish something. No logic in that really, the projects I am working on are all too big.

As my car had an appointment with the mechanic Friday morning I packed a new small project and set off. Leaving the car with the men to work their magic I found a quiet and comfortable spot in the local library and set to work, as it was rainy outside. There was an interested librarian who chatted with me about crochet generally and my project specifically, she really wanted me to finish before I left, but that wasn't to be.

I did make a good start though so she could see where it was heading.

Only the beginning

I'm still using threads that were gifted to me, this one had no tags but it is a beautiful soft cotton and was just lovely to work with.

 

There were two of these white cotton balls with about the same amount left on them, not any more.

I stayed up late with the FNSI ladies and kept my hook busy, one end of the doily was completed by the time I called it a night.

Really like the way the pineapple pattern is so simple and versatile.

I finished the crocheting with my morning coffee on Saturday. Now all I need to do is weave in the tail, give it a bath and block it so it sits properly flat.

Oval Pineapple Doily by Michelle Starkie

Oh, I know I should find something other than the skirt I was ironing to show you how lovely this is but the table underneath is white, meaning all the detail is lost when I put it on there, and I needed to get a picture before I rushed out the door. I have the perfect recipient in mind and she has the perfect oval table to use it on.

There has been progress on the green shawl but it is going very slowly now that there are a LOT of stitches on the needle, even more slowly when one isn't concentrating and follow the wrong row of the chart and then another before undoing it! That yarn is not only skinny, but it likes to slip-slide off the needles whenever it feels like it so not helpful in the unknitting process.

It will be finished and soon (or it will be allocated to the bin).

Thanks to Wendy for hosting FNSI and to all the participants for sharing their gorgeous projects.

Happy Australia Day to all.

See you in your creative space again soon.

 

Yarning on Friday

So I was busy with hook and needles in the corner last night while some of the other ladies were busy stitching up a storm at the Sew in.

Trying to get ready for summer - working on this Sun hat which looks a little more sophisticated than  a cap but is quite a basic pattern. Using unidentified cream cotton yarn with a strand of cotton pearl 12 in natural for the main part of the hat and Cleckheaton Cotton Slub, which is a cotton rayon mix with the cotton pearl for the brim.

Cotton sun hat

Playing with colours and charts for a new project. 

Oh, and the special effects on my new phone camera, I like this fish bowl look, cheeky kitty!  

Playing with colours

Not following any specific pattern is fun and allows me to use some of the leftovers.

Today I've been at a community event and generally wandering around a neighbouring suburb. It's been a while, I really did enjoy walking on a different pier for another perspective of the bay and having a poke around in the stores there. No craft stores unfortunately.

Hope the sun is shining in your creative space today.

Casting on for FNSI

More socks - I did finish the stripey pair with just a scrap of yarn leftover.

The vintage pattern and yarn, this gorgeous burgundy Patonyle 3 ply knits up so soft.

For the blue socks I am using another of the patterns from the book 'Knitting socks from around the World', this time the Lithuanian colorwork socks designed by Donna Druchunas. I cast on the largest size and knit this bit last night. They are too big at this gauge and I don't believe I have enough of that darker blue, so I am starting over - going down one size and swapping to the navy yarn at the front of the picture.

I'll be around later to see what lovelies everyone else was working on last night.

Thanks to Wendy for hosting.

May your weekend be filled with happy creations.

Hopping along

to FNSI with Heidi.

I'll be the one with the bag full of yarn.

The hooks have been given a work out this week. 

I'm still working on the border of the blanket when I'm not being distracted by other projects, like the pretty blocks from the Granny squares book or

a little rabbit or two getting ready for Easter.

These are great for using little bits of yarn and are very quick to make.

The super tutorial for this can be found over at The Green Drangonfly. I embroidered the eyes and nose with a charcoal grey yarn rather than floss for the nose and safety eyes.

He is a little 'stuck up' but I like him just the same.

Hope your weekend includes a little colourful fun.

Finishing FNSI

I used FNSI to complete the projects that I worked on this week.

A little hand stitching here and then I put the pieces together, I'll show all when it arrives at its new home.

Then I finished the handles on my new bag - just lots of ends to weave in now.

The Angel is still trying to be helpful, hope she works as hard in her new home.

 It was not my original intention to continue with these, but to work on something completely different, that was before I got called to work for the next week!

It feels good to have these projects finished or at least much closer.
Hope you all had a productive FNSI whether starting or finishing.

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday.

Productive FNSI

Making the fabric choices was the most difficult part of the night... Oops that really was day.

I took the preparation part seriously as I had no commitments during the day.

These were the fabrics I chose to work with.

Lots of cutting and ironing.

Layout one,

and layout two.

Two blocks all sewn up.

To be finished into Cushion covers before next Saturday night.

There was even a little time for some knitting. 

The blue sock is now up to the heel and the red sock is lucky to be still on the needles after some unravelling!

I'll be around to check what other participants achieved on their Friday Night.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Springtime in the mail

When I went to the post box yesterday there was a squishy package, literally squished in there.

I did wonder for a bit what this might be as I was not expecting anything before the end of the month.

Nothing on the envelope to give me any clues. I was out walking so I thought about who or why I might be getting something and waited until I was back home to open my package.

My OASS for spring was inside. This being a secret swap meant I had no clue where it would come from.

Lucky me - my package is from the talented Fiona over at BubzRugz.

Nice wrapping in a paper pattern with pretty yellow and orange ribbon and one of Fiona's patchwork cards - too cute.

Just look at what she made for me!

An amazing raw edge applique Lemon tree wall hanging in the prettiest colours and she stitched a couple of lines from the lemon tree song.

She included a little chocolate sustenance for me too.

Not quite straight but hanging in my kitchen waiting for spring.

Relieving my Easter wall hanging, also a swap gift made by the talented Helena, of its double duty.

Thanks to Cheryll as the swap hostess and Fiona for my wonderful present.

Lots of yellow flowers in the neighbourhood at the moment - so maybe spring is not too far away?

I will be sewing along with the FNSI ladies tonight - I have some cushion cover gifts to make.

Hope your weekend includes sunshine and sewing.

Sleep In!!

I mean Sew In -

Last night was Friday Night Sew In hosted by Heidi and Bobbi - but as my title suggests there was way more sleeping than sewing. In fact not one stitch was sewn. 

There was a little cutting for some new projects - yes, that is plural. More than one project started with the Melbourne and Sydney prints. I really wanted to sew but  knew that would have ended in disaster or at least  a lot of unsewing last night.

I did manage to knit a couple of stripes on the latest project, taking things nice and slow on this one.

Hope there was some sewing action at your place.

Productive FNSI

There was a little knitting with this pretty yarn - as it came from the donated bag of yarn the exact fibre content is unknown but it is definitely wool and something - my guess is alpaca as it is very soft. It is knitting  up quickly so there should be something more interesting to show soon.

I finished this candle mat - it has only been waiting for binding for two weeks, not a big job just a tad fiddly.

Then there was some cutting of these pretty pinks and greens.

I even sewed them together - Look

Not finished but most certainly well on their way - yes another sprocket cushion top and a box.

Hope your Friday night was productive.

Enjoy the weekend with some stitches.

Spots won

I know I said I was going to complete my top for FNSI but I got distracted by the spots. After two days of commuter craft, which was assisted tremendously by a late train and computer down time at the office, I had almost enough spots by the time I got home on Friday night, so I started doing the brown borders and didn't stop until they were all done.

A very successful FNSI.

Now it is Saturday afternoon and I have two projects ready for sewing together - so that is what I will be doing just as soon as I get off here.

It is possible I may have a finish or two by the end of the weekend unless I get sidetracked again.

Hope your Saturday is a pleasant one.

FNSI -

let me make enough progress on my projects that I was able to complete them after work today.

The jewellery pouches were not pictured yesterday as they were all sewn up just waiting for their ribbons.

A Christmas centrepiece made using the blocks I sewed earlier in the week.

Two more biscornu pin cushions now that I know how easy they are to make.

Four finished jewellery pouches, I even purchased a little something to put in each one.

So the snowman and Santa are incomplete but they now have stuffing and should be done in no time.

Wishing you all some time in your creative space between the celebrations.

Are you joining in?

Friday night sew in for the last time in 2011.

I am looking to make some progress on these projects -

some finishes would be nice.

So nice to sew in company. I look forward to seeing what projects every one else is working on tonight.

Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Cutting (and sewing)

My Friday night sew in was all about cutting - some mathematical challenges meant that there was no actual sewing.

Lots of little squares and some purse parts.

Fast forward to Saturday and the sewing machine got to work!

Four Mosaic blocks joined to make a 13" square destined to become a cushion.

Four nine patch blocks waiting for their next move!

With rain falling down outside - playing with fabric has been the perfect way to spend my Saturday afternoon.

Thanks to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting FNSI.

Hope your Saturday was spent doing the things you like best.

Random numbers

So the Polka dot blocks became a bag - just like the pattern in my Interweave Crochet magazine. Instead of lining it with another set of polka dots I am going to make a sewn lining - hasn't happened yet but soon, real soon, so here she is just showing off her outer shell.

And there has been a little stitching this past week - some Random Numbers are popping up.

Love this red!

October's Friday Night Sew In is tomorrow night and I really need to kick start my Christmas stitching - I'm going to be there, are you?.

Have a wonderful Friday.

A little stitching...

I started out by gathering some supplies.

A girl's gotta have a little sustenance for serious creative activities - Right.

I finished off the little cat stitchery and,

gathered some fabrics for a little bag making.

Then I curled up on the couch and indulged in a little hooky activity.

Green hat started at Tuesday craft group and worked on at NCB is now finished.

More of the red crochet. I started the second piece on Thursday, it is growing really quickly.

I used some leftover white yarn to try out a pattern and today I went to Spotlight for some yarn to make the real thing. I could have a big whine about not being able to find the colour that I thought I needed, but I got something pretty anyway. May just have to replan my outfit around the new colour.

Thanks to Heidi for hosting Friday night Sew in even if I did get distracted from my sewing projects by the crochet ones.

Hope your Saturday is filled with creative moments.