Preparation

 Some Covid19 restrictions have been lifted, so we are able to run craft groups in retirement homes again, albeit outside under a gazebo, rather than indoors. Christmas is not very far away, so we thought we'd make a start on Christmassy things. 

This week we're making gift bags. I looked on Pinterest for inspiration, and used this tutorial.  I tried different weights of paper. The brown paper looks fine, but is really too flimsy to be useful. The red wrapping paper is a bit heavier and works better.  I've made a couple and prepared the paper for the rest, cutting to size and drawing lines where the paper needs to be folded. Once the bags are made, group members can decorate them as they choose - pictures from Christmas cards, stamps. ribbons and lace.....

A Touch Of Yellow

 

 On Sunday I decided I'd whip up a new dress for Summer. Foolish thought - I never whip up anything! By the time I'd fiddled with pattern pieces to get the best fit, neatened seams, adjusted gathers, et cetera et cetera, two days had gone. But a new summer dress I do have. It turns out to be surprisingly difficult to photograph, but here's my best shot:

When I'd finished, I thought it lacked a little something, so I added patch pockets. I sewed tatting to the bottom of the skirt and the top of the pockets. This is my handbag tatting that has been lurking since I finished it. There's a link to the pattern in that blog post. 

Slowly, slowly

 

 I'm making progress on my blanket. I'm working on a bobble row at the moment. I like the texture the bobbles give, but it's hard to get a rhythm going because making each bobble requires removing the hook and reinserting it four stitches back. What I do think is clever is the use of front post stitches on the following row that make the bobbles stand out. 

A Couple More

 

I've just finished the dinosaur and realised I forgot to put teeth in his bottom jaw! Ah well, I don't want him to be too fierce, so I'll leave him like that. I made Dolly yesterday after thinking that puppets don't necessarily have to be animals. 

This Little Piggy

 

This little piggy will go to market at the end of the month.  Here's the rest of the bath puppets gang so far:

Scrunchies

 

Someone suggested in a comment that I make hair scrunchies for markets. No, no, I said, I want to stick to a bathroom theme. But it seems there's a demand for scrunchies, in school colours, so scrunchies it is! I used  this tutorial. It says its claim to fame is that it avoids hand sewing, but to me a greater advantage is that you don't have to turn a tube of fabric. So they're quite quick to make. 

Monkey Three

 

I've made a start on replacing the bath puppets I sold. This is the third monkey I've made. He looks much like his siblings, though there's one technical difference. I used a straight stitch to attach the felt, rather than zig zag. It's quicker and takes advantage of the fact that felt doesn't fray.  

Running Short

 

 I didn't expect to run out of greeny turquoise yarn before I finished the second stripe. What to do, what to do? I couldn't just undo to the beginning of the round and leave it out because the previous row was half double crochet, which wouldn't work well with the back post double crochet of the next row. I'd have to undo two rows, and then redo the double crochet row. Hmmm. If I was making this for a competition, I'd do that, of course. But since I'm making this for me, I decided to fudge things and use the slightly darker turquoise of the previous stripe to finish the round:

The colour is not glaringly different and I think once I've done the next (pink) stripe, it shouldn't be too noticeable. I will leave out the half double crochet round on the next wide stripe, and hope to have enough to finish. 

The Week

 I'm not sure how the week disappeared so quickly. I have made a bit more progress on the crotcheted blanket. Today I must make strawberry jam and sew at least five masks. Yesterday I cooked four dozen doughnuts. On Wednesday morning we were able to go to the retirement home for the first time in months for a craft group. We didn't do any crafting because after a long lockdown there was some catching up to do. Hopefully we'll soon be back in our regular spot. In the afternoon, my small visitor came and I asked him to model the three towels that I didn't have pictures of:

He received a square or two of Louise cake in return! 

Oh, and I've just finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, in which I came across two references to tatting. 

Onward, onward

 

I've made progress on my blanket. It's now at the stage where I aim to get to a corner in a session, rather than complete a round. Actually, there's no earthly reason I should get to a corner or complete a round, it's fine to stop in the middle! Unlike knitting, where it is usually a good idea to finish a row. We were visiting my grandparents once and when Jack said it was time to go, I said sure, as soon as I've finished knitting this row. My grandfather did laugh, said that was the story of his life.