Christmas Kitty

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Heather

Ugh, why do I have no will power at all? I’ve managed to fall into another SAL, this time for Brooke’s Book’s Advent Animals. (Charts here, Facebook group here) Thankfully, keeping in mind my stitch from stash goals, I was able to find a piece of fabric in my stash. Here is my progress so far.

Katie Kitty, designed by Brooke's Books (WIP)

Katie Kitty, designed by Brooke’s Books (WIP)

The fabric is a Meadow from Enchanting Lair, and I’ve decided to use DMC for the fibres. Again, I’m trying to stick to my stitch from stash goals, so buying a bunch of lovely silk threads just isn’t in the cards.

She isn’t done yet because I got interrupted by the next sock pattern for Sock Madness. Once that is done, I’ll finish her up and then wait patiently for the next pattern, which is due to be released on April 8th.

Is anyone else stitching this cute little charts?

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Finishing Things – Royalty ABC

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Heather

Sometimes it takes me a while to get around to doing the final finishing on a piece. For example, I finished stitching Jeanette Douglas’ Royalty ABC in August 2011, and then I sewed it into a bellpull last summer. But, I didn’t make the tassels, cord, and wrap the bellpull hardware finials until just last week. (I made a lot of changes to the design, most of which are noted in the post I linked to above. Basically, I didn’t stitch any of the rows with crosses, and I moved a couple of things around to keep it balanced.)

 

Royalty ABCs, finally hanging on my wall.

Royalty ABCs, finally hanging on my wall.

Not too bad, I think. I didn’t follow her directions, since I see no need to finish the back and roll it up and tie it with a ribbon. It is hanging on my wall. And I don’t mind having my stitching visible on the back.

abcsIt is actually quite a lovely design, even though it isn’t my usual style. You know, I say that an awful lot. Maybe things like this are my style? You know the saying “You aren’t what you say, but rather what you do.” Perhaps for stitching we should say “You aren’t what you say, but rather what you stitch.”

Do many of you think you have one particular style, but find yourself stitching things that aren’t your style often? I’d love to hear about it.

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WIPocalypse – March 2014

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Heather

Well, it was a much busier week than I expected. The weather is (sort of) improving, so I’ve spent this week running errands like getting the little man new boots. So, time has flown and I’ve forgotten to post.

WIPocalypse 2014 largeI’m also late for this month’s WIPocalypse post. March’s topic is our favourite place to stitch. This is mine:

My stitching spot

My stitching spot

I nearly always stitch on the sofa. Usually I’m listening to podcasts (Stuff You Should Know; Stuff You Missed in History Class; and Revolutions are my current favourites), and once in a while I’ll watch TV (Doctor Who, Sherlock, or BBC Documentaries).

Soon, my favourite stitching spot will be changing. We have decided to move, and will be starting to view houses next week. Hopefully, by early July I’ll be stitching in my new home. Probably on the same comfy sofa. 😉

SmallsSAL2014

Don’t forget: The smalls SAL check-in for March is on the 26th. I’ve had my piece done for a little while now, and I’m looking forward to sharing it. I think it is right on theme for this time of year.

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Brucie

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Heather

It is Sock Madness time, which means I’m back to knitting socks. How’s this for a start?

Brucie and friends

Brucie and friends

The pattern is Brucie, the qualifying pattern for Sock Madness 8. It is knit to very specific specifications, which is why the leg is much taller than what I normally knit. When you are a hair over 5’1″, a sock leg of about 7″ is more than halfway to being a knee sock! The yarn is on of my favourites: On Your Toes Bamboo, in the colour Tropical Dusk. It is a very light purple grey, and is some ways it reminds me of a shark’s skin colour.

Oh no! A shark!! But I'm always happy.

Oh no! A shark!! But I’m always happy.

The textures within the sock represent shark related things. The triangles near the cuff are shark finds. The curves below are scales from the shark’s fish dinner. The heel flap looks a bit like a giant shark tooth pointed to the side (trust me on this), and the front of the sock is actually supposed to look like a Gansey sweater, like fishermen wear.

This pattern needed to be knit within two weeks for the knitter to be placed on a team. I’ve managed to make the deadline with several days to spare. (The first people to finish the sock had it done in about a day. I know there is no way I can win Sock Madness when I am going up against speed and skill like that, but I still enjoy the ride.)

Soon it will be on to round two, where I am competing against my own team for a chance to move on to the next round. If my hand behaves, I should be able to make it at least a couple more rounds. Wish me luck! 😉

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Turtle Trot – March Check-In

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Heather

It is Turtle Trot time again. This month I only made a few stitches on one of my original Turtle Trot pieces: Down the Garden Path by Lynn Nicoletti.

Down the Garden Path, designed by Lynn Nicoletti (WIP)

Down the Garden Path, designed by Lynn Nicoletti (WIP)

I stitched the tops of two of the eggplants and then I put it down and took a good look at it.

Eggplants (I think...)

Eggplants (I think…)

Then I folded it up, took the floss out of the bag, put the floss away, and filed the pattern away for good. I’ve decided that I don’t want to stitch is anymore. My son is much older now than when I began it (why do they grow up so fast?!), and I also don’t really care for my fabric choice. So, away it goes. (If you think you might like this pattern, send me an email. Maybe we can work something out.)

So, my Turtle Trot list now looks like this:

  1. Torah Stitch By Stitch – finished
  2. Santa’s Journey Stocking by Dimensions
  3. 12 Days of Christmas by Victoria Sampler
  4. Tradewinds by Teresa Wentzler
  5. Down the Garden Path by Lynn Nicoletti – abandoned
  6. Chinese Dragon by Pinn Stitch
  7. Namaste by Ink Circles
  8. Jim Shore Monogram birth sampler from Mill Hill
  9. Into the Deep by Passione Ricamo
  10. You Add Magic… by Dragon Dreams
  11. La Pens̩e Positive by Les Marottes de Nathalie Рstarted in February

I thought about adding another pattern to the list to bring me back up to 10 active projects. Goodness knows I have enough WIPs, but I’ve decided against it for the time being. I want to focus on the patterns I’ve picked, and I’m also planning on stitching up LHN’s My Needle’s Work next month as part of a SAL. I figure that is more than enough to keep me busy. 😉

If you’d like to know more about Turtle Trot, please check out Claudette’s blog BAP Attack.

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Beaded Stawberries

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Heather

I adore strawberries. They are my absolute favourite fruit. Although, I am always very annoyed by how quickly they go bad. But this one will always stay fresh:

Strawberry Sewing Emery Pincushion

Strawberry Sewing Emery Pincushion

The pattern is Strawberry Sewing Emery Pincushion from Naomi Smith of Black Tulip Designs. I bought it nearly two years ago at the last Needleworker’s Marketplace, which took place just outside of Toronto in Port Credit.

I put off working on it, because, to be honest, I wanted the red version of the kit. (See the picture below.) She taught it as a class at the retreat that accompanied the marketplace, but I wasn’t able to attend. The finished pieces were so beautiful, and I really wanted one just like them. But, you know what, the blue version is just as lovely. I’m so pleased with it, and I’m a bit surprised by how easy it was. I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up making some more of these.

Strawberry Emery Pincushion from Black Tulip Designs

Strawberry Emery Pincushion from Black Tulip Designs

And that is one more project that I have been putting off working on. I need to poke around a bit more and see what else I need to finish up.

Spring Giveaway- Kim over at Wisdom with Needle and Thread is having a giveaway for a wooden thread keeper and a beaded scissor fob. Head over here for all the details. And, if you enter the giveaway, don’t forget to mention that I sent you. 😉

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Five Year Socks

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Heather

Have you ever had a very small project that you kept putting off because you knew it wouldn’t take you very long to do it? Well, guess how long I put off knitting this tiny sock.

Mini Sock Blocker Sock

Mini Sock Blocker Sock

Almost five years! I bought the kit in April of 2009, and finally knit it last week. And, it took me all of 30 minutes from start to finish.

So, you know that small thing you’ve been putting off doing? Take my word for it, today is the day to tackle it.

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