Flat Bottomed Girls

Hee hee - couldn't resist that as a title for this post! I had an absolutely brilliant morning yesterday, perfecting my ideas for the drawstring bags. Here, for your delectation, is the larger version, with a flat bottom and inside pockets:













So, now I know how many bags of both sizes I can get out of a certain piece of fabric, how long it takes me to make them - ooooooh, my brain is just buzzing with ideas!

Happy Days

So, I am not making much progress on the job front....but, instead of moping around, I have been filling my days with (for me) the most amazing creativity. Each morning, after spending the obligatory hour or so looking at job sites, I top up my coffee mug and head off to 'my room'. I open up the doors to let in the wonderful sunshine (it's lasted all week - how blissful?) and set to work.

This week has been super varied. I have made good progress on the Mystery Socks and my Monkeys are looking just far too pretty - sugar coated yumminess. And they are sooo snuggly - the sun might be shining during the day, but it's still a bit chilly at night, so will definitely be wearing these.

Knitting these has also confirmed that I am much more comfortable with toe-up socks - so that's all I will be doing from now on!

Then there is the 'Knitting for Joy' project - the amazing Knitting Goddess (aka Joy) asked for some volunteers to knit up samples of her wools so she could display them at the various events she's doing this summer. I chose to knit a skein of her Lavender Fields into a Ground Flower Hat I'm really liking how this is coming out so far - might have to add it to my wish list for future purchase.

However, the absolute best bit about this project is that the volunteers are being paid in wool! I chose a skein of Joy's Heather Trio
- I just can't find the right superlative for this, it is sooo gorgeous. Desperately looking for suggestions for the right pattern that will do justice to the colours.


I've also made some more stitch markers for the shop(s) - really enjoying making these, especially now I have found a good, mini-sized wire cutter!!

















And now for the really big news - in fact, it needs a proper, official announcement: Look Ma, I Can Sew!!!! Now, what you might not know is that, historically, me and sewing machines have been sworn enemies (I have bad memories of the summer Mum decided I was going to learn to sew and I ended up in tears more days than not.....). My darling Mr A bought me a mini Janome for my birthday last year, but that (initially) was only for adding embellishments to my cards and layouts......and then I started to think - "well, why don't I give it a try and see?" A few months back I made a roll for my double-pointed knitting needles and crochet hooks - it came out all right, but my stitching was definitely not straight 100% of the time.

With my recent discovery of sock knitting, I found myself wanting something pretty in which to store / transport my current projects. Thanks to this great tutorial from Happy Things (she's also got some really good quilt tutorials, which I intend to explore at a later date), I dug out some bits of fabric I had lying around - and I made this! I cannot express strongly enough the sense of totally thrilling achievement I am feeling about this - I have made a proper, sturdy, drawstring bag, that has straight (!!) seams and which looks cute on top of it all!

Yes, those are the Monkeys hiding inside.....

















So, what's on for next week? More bags - this time with a flat bottom and inside pocket. Then I really have to make a start on the famous wedding album - I've got the materials assembled, just have to start working on it. I have also been commissioned to make a baby memory box for a friend - I've started on it and should have it finished by mid-week. Will post pictures when it's done......

Have a lovely weekend everyone - enjoy the sunshine (no, I don't believe the forecast!)

Too cool for Skool?

Just had to share this picture. What are they like? I know the sunny, warmer days seem to have finally arrived for good (touch wood) but this is ridiculous! And yes, Miss A is still insisting on Mr A carrying her most of the way to nursery each morning......

Updated 30 June to show the layout I made with this picture, and using the wonderful kit I got in the Kit Swap on UKScrappers

Time for a merger......

....some of you will no doubt be wondering what has happened to me? Yes, I have been a naughty blogger -at least, on this blog. This is partly to do with the fact that, despite the large quantities of free/spare time I now have on my hands, I haven't been even remotely inclined to do any scrapping. I'm very puzzled by this - and am determined to do something about it! Mr A has given me strict instructions to not only start - but finish! - our wedding album in time for our 6th anniversary in May. I have all the bits and pieces collected together in the appropriate colour scheme (gold, beige and cream in case you're wondering!) and I'm going to work my way through my backlog of Scrap Like You Mean It at the same time......keep your eyes peeled!

At the same time, while I haven't been scrapping, I have been having great fun with all sorts of textile stuff - I've made a crochet afghan baby blanket for the baby son of some friends, finished my first ever pair of socks and am rapidly approaching the end of the 2nd pair. I have also spent far too much time in recent weeks on Ravelry, the most amazing knitting/crochet online community, where I have made lots of new friends - you could call it my new addiction. I have also spent more time blogging on my other blog. Initially, I set it up to keep the paper and the textile crafts separate. Now, however, I think it's time for a merger - after all, each of my creations, be they made from card and paper or cloth and wool, are a reflection of my personality and crafty inclinations. So, today will be devoted to transferring the knitting posts over here so everyone, knitters and scrappers, can enjoy the results!

The Sock Saga continues.......

Yes, I've started another pair of socks - these are Blackrose in the cherry Wendy Mode 4 ply that I mentioned in my previous post. There is soooo much yardage in this wool, I have ended up doing ELEVEN pattern repeats down the leg! Wow! I'm not overly impressed with the wool to be honest - it's very fluffy and a bit splitty, but I'll get there in the end. And it's definitely made me realise that I much prefer doing toe-up socks.....

The really interesting news however, is that the making of these socks led me down a completely new 'creative path' - namely, the design of some co-ordinated stitch markers:





Cute no?

This in turn has led to a period of mad wire winding and I have made several more sets - you can see them for sale in my Folksy shop here or my Etsy shop here

Sock crazy!

It's official - for someone who had never even contemplated knitting a pair of socks (let alone knitting on dpns) before the beginning of the year, I am now officially sock crazy! Not only do I now have a ludicrously large pile of sock yarn in my stash, but the projects are coming thick and fast.

Today, I actually finished my very first pair - for my dearly beloved! Toe-up, with short row heels, so custom fit - and he likes them! :-)

Pattern: Express Lane by Diane Mulholland
Yarn: 'Donna's Favourite' from Claudia Handpainted (I LOVE this yarn - so soft and squishy)
Needles: 2.75mm and 3.25mm for cast-off

Next up, I have finished the first sock of the March 2009 Mystery Sock Pattern - I'm doing these in Cygnet DK and they are coming out super comfy so far. They will be gifted to the daughter of a very good friend of mine who suffers from Juvenile Arthritis. She's having a major operation in a few weeks' time and will need something to cheer her up / keep her feet warm while she recovers.














So, you know I mentioned my ever-growing pile of sock yarn? Here are the latest additions - some absolutely gorgeous squishiness from The Knitting Goddess - all are from her 4ply BFL Sock Wool range:

From top to bottom we have:

Meadow (destined for Saimaa)

Copper Desert (will be turned into Sprung Socks)

Bollywood (for some Falling Leaves)

Then a skein of Sensational Sock 2 Merino in 'Chocolate Covered Cherry' from the lovely Knitted to a T - there's 500 whole yards of this yummy stuff, so they will be perfect for some extra long Shur'tagals


And (finally!), 3 skeins of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in 'Sage' - I think these will be just perfect for some knee-length Marlenes by the amazing Cookie A

Springtime - part deux

It's done - all sewn together, washed, and blocked! I am really, really pleased with it - the colours have worked together so well. It was delivered to the little boy's daddy on Thursday - and both he and his wife were over the moon - so much so, it's being used to wrap their precious bundle on his first trip to church this morning - that is all the 'payment' I could possibly have wanted!