February Progress

Nothing much has changed, the weather is still dismal and grey.  Sad to say but I still haven’t finished my lovely big crocheted throw.  Nearly there, 180 rows done, just the edging to do.  Getting quite excited now the end is in sight.  It has been quite nice spending a little time each evening on the sofa in front of the TV with my ever-growing blanket keeping me warm.  Spent the day out with my son and 10 other 14 year olds over the weekend paint balling.  Well they were paintballing, I sat in the car and crocheted, jumped out into the rain, fed them, sent them off again, jumped back in the car, crochet and repeat.  They all had a brilliant time and were exhausted by 4 o’clock.  I had a marvellous time being able to crochet without feeling guilty that I wasn’t doing housework/ironing/vacuuming etc etc.

 

I have however also been working on a couple of my many UFOs.  Just a few…

 

Having finished this lovely little piece, I have rediscovered my love of handwork, I started this stumpwork piece in a class with Kathy Laurel Sage about 18 months ago and I completed it last week. Just waiting for a frame now.  And of course, I’ll have to find a home for it.  It has reminded me how much I enjoy cross stitch and embroidery.   And goldwork… and tapestry… and jewellery making in its various guises.

I’ve joined a monthly group starting next month here at Tudor Rose Patchwork with our new tutor Sue Stallard and I’m very excited about the projects we’ll be doing in class.  The samples for each class are lovely and I’ve had a wonderful day ordering in the beads and crystals we’ll need.

The shipment of Czech delicas arrived on Thursday.  Huge amount of work involved getting them ready for you all but actually thrilled about new projects that are ahead of us.  Not to mention a couple of UFOs too… along with a bracelet and a necklace that need attention.

Help!  There’s just too much to do and not enough time.  Maybe if I didn’t sleep, eat, work or have to do anything with the children.  And I keep finding more to do.  I belong to a couple of Facebook groups and every day there’s a new pattern I’d like to make or new products I’d like to try.  A good job I don’t belong to any other social media.  It’s just madness.  How do you decide which project, piece you’re going to work on next?  Do you try and finish something a section a week whilst working on several others at the same time or just wing it, work on what you feel like that day?

 

 

FREE Angel Scarf Knitting Pattern

Once the new year starts, we all start to evaluate just how much fabric and yarn we have stashed around our house. This scarf is the ideal stash buster. Perfect for chilly spring mornings, it has pointed ends, and is nice and quick to knit. You can use any yarn and each scarf will be unique!

We recommend: 1 x 50g ball of Adriafil Sfumato

5mm needles.

Cast on loosely an even number of stitches depending on the width required – 50 stitches will produce a scarf approximately 25cm wide.
Knit 2 rows.
Pattern Row 1:
Knit 2 *Yarn over needle, knit 2 together, repeat from * until 2 stitches remain, knit 2.
Pattern Row 2:
Knit.
These 2 rows form the pattern. Repeat until the required length is achieved.
Knit 2 rows.
Cast off loosely.

Not Christmas Already?!

Well no, but panels and fabrics are arriving thick and fast so that we can all be ready in time. Gifts
created and decorations made.
Today, I’m at the sewing machine making Christmas Stockings.
It’s a bit of a chore, however, to find inspiration when the sun in beating down and the temperature
is topping 26 degrees C. Not that I’m complaining about the sun at all, just finding it hard to think in
terms of Christmas and the Winter season.
What embellishment will enhance the stockings? Do I go for glitz and sparkle or something more
subtle? It is a Christmas stocking after all so maybe sequins and seed beads. The panel I’m using has
a Scandi feel to it so perhaps embroidery with a bit of glitzy DMC. Watch this space.
Jon has already been busy putting together an incredibly simple “folded” advent calendar. We are
all amazed by how quick and it easy it was to make and customers are loving the end result. Proving
popular already.
Who else has started getting ready for the festive season? Tell us about the projects you’ve got in
mind. My mum is making bags for her friends this Christmas, it was cushions last year, and already
has 2 completed. Only 5 more to go!
Delighted with the finished result. Only took a couple of hours, computer had to be worked at and
customers had to be looked after in between!
I’ll be in touch with my next sewing challenge….Joy

DMC Big Pink Ribbon Project

Tudor Rose Patchwork is supporting DMC to make the World’s Biggest Pink Ribbon which will be on display at The Handmade Fair 2016. The ribbon will be made up of lots of little pink projects made by hundreds of crafters from across the country.
The project is to raise money and awareness for The Pink Ribbon Foundation which supports UK Breast Cancer charities.
It’s so easy to get involved, all you have to do it is pick up any pink DMC product and embroider, crochet, cross-stitch, tapestry or stitch a little something (10cm X 10cm max).
It can be any design or technique you like, as long as it’s pink! You can also make as many as you like! Even something as small as a Pom Pom or tassel will fit the bill, so now mater what your crafting ability is you can get involved!
We will be collecting all projects until the 26th August, then they will be sent as a group to The Handmade Fair. We will also include a card signed by everyone you donates a project (you can remain anonymous if you wish).
Thank you in advance for your support.
Happy stitching!

N.B DMC will not be able to return any of the donated projects.