A Couple More Rounds

I've done rounds 10 and 11. I gather there are only a couple more rounds to go.

Tweaked

I wore the paint splash blouse and decided I liked it, so I bought some more fabric for a second one. I tweaked the pattern slightly - I brought the side seams in a smidgeon, lowered the front neckline a tiny bit and cut the sleeves in a bigger size so they're less fitted. Once upon a time I wouldn't have dared tweak a Burda pattern, but I'm more blase now - surely the point of sewing your own clothes is that you can make them to suit yourself?

Round 9 Is Done

The doily is ruffling a bit. I blocked it, which flattens it but perhaps distorts some of the arches. Hopefully the next round will bring everything into line. Worked in size 40 thread, it now measures 23 cm across.

Shweshwe

I've just finished another bag, to be given as a gift. I came across an interesting article about shweshwe, the fabric I've been using to line the bags. Here's a link to follow if you're interested. The fabric should be blue and white to be absolutely traditional, but I rather like the idea of traditions evolving and being updated.

Pondering

I was recently given a pile of craft magazines by a friend who is moving house. Most of them are about quilting, which is not my field - I admire and move on! But a few of them are crochet magazines. This one, called Simply Crochet, has this fabulous shawl. I just had to try the motif out. I don't think this thread is suited to a shawl, but it might work for an idea I saw in another Simply Crochet - a fabric blouse with crochet sleeves. I'll ponder the idea as I work on my tatting and knitting projects.

Knitting Progress

The cardigan is knitted in one piece up to the armholes, so rows are very long, and working on it only in the evenings means progress is slow. There's no hurry though, so that's fine.

Wayuu And An Unusual Visitor

I had an e-mail from the Wayuu pattern team in Colombia, asking if I would put a link to their website on my blog. I didn't hesitate for long. I think the Wayuu bags are really impressive and I'm a big fan of using crafts to create employment while making something beautiful. So here's the link.  Have a good look at the website to find out more about Wayuu bags. By the way, I had a go at doing the tapestry crochet used to make the bags and gave up, which makes me even more impressed by their work!

I was sitting knitting a few days ago when I heard Mex the pup give a very surprised yelp. I went out to see what had startled him. There was a leguaan on the lawn. Wikipedia calls it a Nile monitor, here's a link to their description.

Mex gave the leguaan a wide berth. It stayed amongst the garden furniture for a quarter of an hour or so and then wandered off.  This is a small specimen. Jack saw a much bigger one yesterday in the veld. It whizzed up a tree when it saw the dogs, but I don't think Mex would've tackled it anyway.