Thursday, June 27, 2024

Comfort Zones

 


Say the word 'decoupage' and I run a mile. But eventually I was going to find myself sticking pieces of paper napkin to a bottle or box. Yesterday was it. This is the project for tomorrow's craft group meeting. It's not my project, but I got to make the sample. The idea will be to put a tea candle inside the bottle.

I'd much rather be filling bottles with piccalilli! Jack has cauliflowers in the garden, so it's piccalilli time again.




For once, I measured the spices and used exactly what the River Cottage recipe calls for. I think I got a better colour than usual. I'm too heavy handed with the darker spices, when I use my guesstimation method. 


Monday, June 24, 2024

More Bags

 


I'm sewing jewelry bags again. I usually make 30 during the last week of the month, but last week Anne, the jeweler, messaged to say she'd run short of bags. So I whizzed up another batch, in between other tasks, and delivered them on Friday. She still needs the regular order though, so I'm working on that. 

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Applique

 


A friend asked me what I was doing. "Sewing an applique picture of the Taj Mahal". I bet she didn't expect that answer! This is another project for the teacher I did the weather chart and three billy goats gruff for. She's making a display to show iconic images of India. I can't draw for toffee, but I found a tutorial via Pinterest that shows how to draw the Taj Mahal using a grid, so simple that even I could do it. I used a water soluble pen to draw the windows and doors so that I could stitch them. I did a sample and it worked perfectly. On the final picture it turned out to be more difficult to get rid of the blue ink. I eventually had to really wet the picture and be thankful the day was sunny and it dried quickly.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Grafted


 I've been knitting diligently and have finished the twice-around cowl. One of the reasons I chose this stitch pattern is that it has a row of all-knit stitches, which made it easy to graft:


I've left the cast on thread to mark where the graft is. Once I hide that, the cowl should, I hope, have no beginning or end. 


Thursday, June 13, 2024

Tomorrow's Project

 


At the craft group I run on Fridays in a local retirement home, we generally aim to make things that are practical and useful. Last week we made beaded spectacle cords. But I think that sometimes it's fine to be frivolous. Tomorrow's flower fairies are purely decorative and completely useless. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Knit And Purl

 


I'm enjoying knitting this pattern. I like the effect and it's easy but requires a bit of attention - the knits and purls need to be correct to create the pattern. 

Monday, June 10, 2024

Working On Second Order

 


I've spun and dyed wool for a long cowl. I was generous because I have no idea how much yarn will be needed. It's much easier to use up leftovers than match if I'm short! I ummed and arred about what stitch to use. Eventually I decided on a 'basketweave' created with knits and purls. I started knitting, with a provisional cast on, but my stitch count is off so I'll have to start again. 

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

One Order Done

 


This was a quick project because I used yarn that I had on hand. And, of course, fingerless mitts don't take long to knit, especially plain ones like these. The customer is coming today to collect them. 

Monday, June 3, 2024

Evolving

 


I did say my waffle square was experimental.  My original plan was to use the three balls of blue/grey cotton, but that would make a very oddly sized square. So I've decided to turn it into a stash buster project and use up oddments until it's big enough for a lap blanket. I've used two balls of the blue and kept the other one to use near the edge, to tie it all together. 

I had a good market morning on Saturday. I sold the balls of wool shown in the previous post, as well as another. I sold all the fingerless gloves and have orders for two more pairs. A pair of socks went, and two puppets. There was interest in cowls, but the preference was for longer ones. I have an order for a longer, lacy cowl. The produce side of the table did well too - I sold fresh bell peppers and bottled ones, as well as marmalade and honey. Now I must get on with orders and restocking.