SAL update – Cirque des Triangles #11

Avis and I are having a happy dance with this update.  Our “Cirque des Triangles”, by Tracey Horner, of Ink Circles, is finished – yay!

I stitched, over two, on a Lugana “Forest Green” 25 count evenweave, using Threadworx “Wild Poppies”.  Now I need to do some framing, as I plan on framing this piece, along with the matching “Cirque des Cercles” to have them both hanging in my sewing room.

Avis and I have already chosen our project to continue the SAL.  But we’re going to keep it a surprise until next time lol.

Don’t forget to stop by and admire progress of other SAL members.  Avis,  Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Mary Margaret, Timothy ,  Heidi , Connie and Jackie.

Next update on 8th October.

Advertisements

feathers & sugar skulls

Photo of my latest tunic, which will be going straight in the wardrobe, and won’t be worn until next year.

Made using NewLook 6086 (again) because I needed a pattern with the front piece cut on the fold, so I didn’t have to worry about pattern matching.  A very simple tunic, with slits up both sides.  Only 3 pattern pieces and then binding for neck and armholes.  I’ve still got loads of feather fabric left . . . but never fear, it won’t go to waste!

And, just so my cross stitching followers don’t think I’ve given up on cross stitch of late . . .

This is the small project I’m currently working on.  “Sugar Skull” a Design Works Craft Inc kit.  It came with 14 count aida, but I’m stitching on 20 count, still in 2 threads, to keep colours very vibrant and have the design stitch up a lot smaller.  On 20 count, skull is going to measure 3.5” x 4.5” (as opposed to 5” x 7”). I’m not really sure what I’m going to do with it when it’s finished . . . I just like the design, which is why I bought it!

“sweet peas” happy dancing

I sometimes wonder if I have my head screwed on properly.  There I was, a few months ago,  knitting when temperatures were high enough to melt ice-cream in seconds . . . and now summer seems to have been and gone, I’m doing some summer sewing!

I pulled out NewLook 6889, which I used last year to make a long cotton dress (the model on the left) and a smallish piece of lovely floral fabric I bought a while back.  I’m no flower expert, but I think they’re sweet peas.  I didn’t have enough to make a second long dress, and I don’t have the legs to wear a shorter or mini dress . . . so I shortened a little more and have made a long tunic.

With pockets!

No attempts at pattern matching I’m afraid, as the floral print is rather busy.  But they’re rather nice, and very roomy and I do like the shaping at the top.

You can’t see very well in the photo, but I did French seams, so the inside is lovely and neat.  And I did 2 rows of top stitching around neckline, armholes and on hem line.  I think this is the neatest piece of clothes sewing I’ve ever done.

Gibbs seems to approve . . . or maybe he’s hoping there’s something (other than hands) in my pockets?

Anyway, even though the weather forecast for the coming days is cool and wet, I’m really pleased I made this tunic.  Autumn is almost here, so it’ll be going in the wardrobe, to wait for next summer.  And . . . I’ve cut pattern pieces in the feather fabric, so another (summer) tunic is in the making.

some monkey business and horsing around

Sorry, couldn’t resist the title to accompany a couple of update crochet photos of amigurumi.  More specifically, of zoomigurumi, since both projects are from the first Zoomigurumi book.

Johnny the monkey, who is now a pile of body parts, waiting to be assembled.  I think I over-stuffed the body and head somewhat as stuffing is visible through the dark brown yarn, despite having used a 3mm hook (which is a couple of sizes smaller than recommended for this yarn).  However, I’m hoping to wangle things so that this lower body part is less noticeable when assembled.  Anyway in photo there is 1 head, 1 body, 2 arms, 2 legs, 1 tail, 1 face piece and 2 ears.

I’ve also been working on Leila the pony

So far she looks a little freaky.  I have made and stuffed the body, head and white eye pieces.  And head is already attached to the body.  I still need to crochet up four legs which will have grey hooves.  She also needs ears and a facial expression.   Those 2 bright yarns in the box are two 50g balls of scheepjes “piccolo”  that I snapped up in our local Noz the other week.  One or the other will be used for Leila’s mane and tail.  Haven’t decided which one yet but I’m leaning slightly towards the purple.  Problem is . . . I’m planning on giving Leila to a certain 7 year old neighbour, and we all know what her favourite colour is lol.  Maybe I’ll give Leila pink & purple streaks?

Other bright colours in my life at the moment

On my feet . . . I treated myself to a couple of new pairs of plastic “clogs” (which I realise are commonly called crocs these days, but these are not genuine “crocs”.  They’re genuine “hipps” – designed in France). I literally wear these all the time, and find them so comfortable.  I reassure you, I don’t go around with odd clogs, I do have matching feet!  This first one to show you two of the pretty pairs I bought

And I also bought a pair of plain turquoise too.

Not only are my feet colourful . . . tonight’s dinner started off full of colour too.

A harvest of chards from the veggie patch where we seem to have several varieties growing.  Sadly the leaves were all full of holes or really dry, so I wasn’t able to use them like I usually do.  And a second sadly, once cooked, for some reason, all the pretty pinks and oranges seem to disappear, so all veggies look the same colour.  Still, they look pretty growing in the veggie patch!

cats, “Yarn Cats” and some surprise mail

Couldn’t resist sharing this photo with you of a peaceful moment . . . that’s Ducky to the left, and Abby to the right (our brother & sister act) having a cuddly snooze in one of their favourite spots.  Aww, don’t they look cute?

Unlike this trio who have got themselves in a right tangle.

This is “Yarn Cats”, a kit by Design Works that I snapped up in the xmas sales on sewandso last year.  A nice little stitching project, even though I didn’t much enjoy all the backstitch at the end.  Anyway, a small happy dance going on with that . . . and thinking cap on already to actually make this into something rather than just stuffing it in a drawer.

And not only was I happy dancing because of a finished xstitch . . . I was also prancing around with glee because I received some surprise mail (ie I had another unbirthday).  This little stash from Kate of by the babbling brooke.  A lovely hand-made “tag” with some pretty yoyo flowers; a bookmark cross stitch kit, and a quilting pattern. A big thank you to Kate!

best layer of the month # August

Another month has whooshed by and our three hens have all been quite industrious in the shade of the old apple trees.

Miss Moneypenny is the Queen of the coop for the second month in a row.  Completely making up for her broody months in May and June.  In August she laid 26 eggs . . . Miranda in second place with 18 and Miss Marple a runner up with 15.   A total of 59 eggs therefore for August . . . more than enough for us, and neighbours have been enjoying our hens’ freshly laid eggs too.

pencil cases for the new school year

It’s that time of year again . . . summer holidays are coming to an end.  Kids are having to get back into a proper bed-time routine, so they’ll be bright-eyed and bushy tailed when the new school year starts up.  And they’re busily preparing their school bags  making sure they’ve got everything they’ll need in their pencil case.

Which very conveniently brings me to the subject

Lookee here!  Cléo (7 year old neighbour) came round for another sewing session and this is what she made.  As with our first session, Cléo was allowed to rifle through my stash and choose fabric.  She found a chunky pink zip, so wanted to use that.  We therefore set to work making a pencil case.  I did all the cutting of fabric (this zany print for the outside, wadding and plain white for the lining, and I attached the zip.  But apart from that, Cléo did all the work.  She did some straight-line quilting . . . and then sewed the pencil case front & back together.    I think she did a terrific job, and she can’t wait to go back to school to show this off to her friends and new teacher.

That little sewing session then gave me the incentive, to make a couple more pencil cases the following day.  On this one,  I placed the zip dead centre, but on hind-sight I’m not sure this is such a good idea for a pencil case.

And one for my 5 year old great nephew . . . with spiders and spider webs.

I should probably learn to make different styles, rather than just the flat case . . . that’ll be something for me to google and think about for next time.  The advantage of a flat pencil case though is, it’s very easy to send by post.