More building than stitching.

 The last couple of weeks have been crazy. First we finished building the garden shed, then the sections for the new workshop arrived. All 5.6m by 3m of it! So there has been very little time left for stitching or even knitting. so unusual for me. Yes, I was fully involved in the building, wielding a hammer or electric drill rather than my usual tools.......

So instead, here is an update for the items I was working on last time I posted here. First the penny rug now looks like this. The backing is a green felt. It is hard work to stitch, but satisfying. I shall be glad when I can get rid of all the pins. I don't mind the stems being a bit wobbly, after all most flower stems are not exactly straight, but I do need the flowers to stay in the positions they have been pinned into.

The knitting did get started and then got ripped back. I started off with a cabled pattern, but found that it made the body far too tight. Having ripped back and started again with a stocking stitch body as per the original design, I am now very bored and have dumped this jumper into a corner. It needs a rethink.

Thanks to a lovely friend at Sew Cool, the sewing group I go to in Chester, I have now got my toile for the cargo pants sorted out. The pattern has been altered too and I just need to complete these ready for dyeing a more sensible colour. Perhaps grey to match the zip? It would be a useful colour and I don't possess any trousers that are grey.

Whilst in Chester, I bought a gorgeous length of cobalt blue cotton ready to make my first pair of cargo pants now that the pattern has been altered to fit. The fabric has been washed and is sitting on my worktable ready to be cut out.

At the Sew Cool meeting, there was a pile of patterns which needed a new home. I got these two. Yes, I know the sizing is too small for me. The Style pattern is dated 1980 and the Butterick probably dates from the late 1970s. I was thinking of sizing up both patterns to fit. The shape of the Butterick pattern is really interesting and would be lovely in a soft crepe de chine.......

 A couple of days ago, I also managed to start work on this next pattern. This is the pattern I showed last time. Deciding that the shirt is really a bit short and needing an additional two or three inches in length. I completed a tissue fit rather than a toile since this isn't a fitted design. I will probably make the tunic length with the rolled up sleeves and the round neck rather than a collar.

This length of crepe de chine from my stash will be used for the tunic. It will be interesting to try to match the dye colour of the wearable toile cargo pants..... Again, this fabric sits on my worktable waiting to be cut out ready to start sewing.

I had to hand back the Pinfold challenge book today before even starting my pages for it. There just hasn't been enough time to start anything for the "Round and round" theme. I will have to get that ready for the next Pinfold meeting in four weeks time, taking some glue or double sided tape with me to stick it in. The photo above is the next theme, "Flowers". I am hoping there will be much more time available now that the garden shed is finished and the new workshop just needs the roofing felt before that too is complete. I'm itching to get on with some sewing projects, especially since there hasn't been much time over the past couple of weeks.

At Pinfold today we learnt about chalk paint and "gold" leaf. This was my sample. Not sure if I will use these techniques any time soon, but it made for an interesting workshop.

If you were wondering, that newly built workshop is for my husband. It will house his woodworking lathe and associated tools. I won't be having another workspace since I know very well that if I do, I will very quickly fill it. The workroom I have at present will do very well. I just need to reorganise and get rid of some of the bits and pieces I know I will never use.

Working to meet deadlines, but not always succeeding

Completed Owlish adult size fingerless mittens

The first of my completed challenges - this one was two days overdue. These were finished today when they should have been completed on Saturday. Ooops. I have apologised to the designer. I had got it stuck in my head that they were supposed to be ready for this coming Friday.

One lesson learned - remember to write the deadlines down, adding them to my to do list.

Teddies for tragedies - completed

I have also finished four teddies and their bags ready to be handed over for the Teddies for Tragedies charity. My copy of the pattern has been taken by my younger daughter who fancies making some of these herself.

Free machine embroidery in progress

This next deadline is another one which I fear I am destined not to meet. The MEG Colour Challenge is due to be shown at our next meeting this coming Friday. (I wonder if that is why I was convinced the mittens had to be completed on the same day.)

MEG Colour challenge in progress

It has all become rather more complex than I originally intended. The free machined piece is hidden on the bottom right hand corner. It took me three days to complete. The tree to the left is only pinned in place and needs to be ironed on and then free machine embroidered to add texture. Those three rings are embroidery hoops holding pieces which have yet to be embroidered. There is a further, larger element on the bottom left which also needs work to start. It will have to wait until the tree is in place. Unfortunately, my two larger embroidery hoops already have pieces waiting. I really could do with extra hands and a more realistic attitude to what can be achieved in the time available.  Actually, no. I really don't believe that last statement. I think I'm better just making whatever it is I want to make, even if it does sometimes end up taking longer than it should.

These next two photos show the goodies I bought at the World Textile Day event in Frodsham on Saturday. The fabrics are destined for a bag (or even two) which I have in mind. The buttons were so nice I really couldn't leave without them. The wooden print blocks too. That sheep image will have pride of place in my Pinfold book once that challenge is complete.

The musical polar fleece was found in Abakhan last week when I went to Sew Cool, the sewing group which meets twice a month in Chester. It is a lovely group, very supportive, which caters for my interest in dressmaking. I couldn't decide which pattern to use. I really think that the shape of the Cotton and Chalk design - The Waterfall Jacket with a hood, would be an interesting design to make. It is lined, and I do have some interlock cotton which would be suitable if I have enough of it.

Unfortunately, I really don't think I have enough time left in my life for a knitting group. Though sharing my passion for yarn would be nice.....

My next knitted project will be a cardigan. This yarn, an acrylic, was found in Aldi and should make a really cosy garment. I haven't quite decided on the design yet. Though, that said, I really like "Mercy" by Drops Design.

I'd better get back to the sewing machine.