Cakescakescakes

I have done nothing else this week but knit cakes, and enjoyed every minute, the pattern came from cakescakescakes on Esty. Wonderfully simple and quick, and used up some of the stash (added to it as well!!!!!!!)

Have managed to frame up some calico for my next embroidery project, I just need to be able to get the idea that's in my head on to the fabric.

Busy Summer Break

So long time no blog, but have been busy doing stuff, to start with a lovely holiday on The Isle of Wight, lots of buckets and spades, castles, painting pottery, trips on boats to see the needles up close.

Then a little Knitting, first time lacy knitting,

Then P.W. goes all War and Peace for two weeks, rubbing shoulders in Waitrose with people dressed up in full army gear, and parking next to armoured cars in the car park.

Then a little cross stitch.

Then recycled the kids in the new plastic and tin box.

Then Fred wants to learn to knit.

Still working on my cardigan, now working on first sleeve.

Break up the boring knitting with exciting knitting, tart pattern from cakescakescakes on etsy

Had a little time left for lawn laying, and large planter filling.

And at the end of all that, sat down a spent five minutes thinking about next embroidery project, which as you see is still in the ideas stage, and i still have some more cakes to knit.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adding Insects

I have at last sewn down the flower and leaves of the stump work. The kit shows the flower on a little piece of ground, i was worried that i would not be able to finish the bottoms neatly, but it went a lot better then i thought and was able to finish of the bottom edge with buttonhole stitch to match the sides, and no hunk of ground needed to cover it up! I am so pleased that i used the silk, it makes it look so much better. I decided to add a butterfly, and having looked at the colours i had in my thread box, i could not resist the blue, so roughly copied a common blue butterfly. I firstly split stitched the darker lines in, and then using long and short, filled in the other areas.

The butterfly was finished of with a bullion knot and a couple of the smallest french knot i could manage!

Having enjoyed making the butterfly, i wondered whether i could add anything else, and as i have just treated myself to a set of clip on magnifiers, in an attempt to see as i did before the cataracts something small was in order, and what better than a ladybird, worked in four colour. black, two shades of red and a little light gray. But having worked him, I decided not to work one on the picture, and to turn this sample bug into a brooch!!!

Knitting seasons over!!!!!

Knitting season is over, I think that I am all knitted out for the moment, as you see from the photos, the little bear is bear no more! She is modeling a fine set of cream and pink Pj's in cotton 4ply, and with the help of Alister the duck, is also showing of her dressing gown.

She also has a lovely hat with pom pom and a little pair of slippers, great fun to make. There is also, on the pattern, even more clothes to make, but the first thing that India did when i gave her the bear was to take the clothes off!, so no more yet!

Long live Embroidery

Here is the stumpwork all ready for me to get started on again, I have not used the fabric that the kit come with, it is a mid blue colour, and the fabric quality is poor. I found in the cupboard a lovely ivory silk, and i have sewn it on to some calico as a backing. I know it will take me ages to get the leaves and flower sewn down as they do need to placed just right. As yet i am still undecided about what else will go in the picture, i may have a little play on another piece of fabric and use what works.

What lovely weather we had last week, Muttley loves to sit out in the sun shine, look at his wonderful coat! Shiny boy!!

As well as spending all that week decorating India's bedroom, i have been making a teddy bear, the pattern is from an old Woman's Weekly, and designed by Debbie Bliss.

There is so many parts, more than any Alan Dart pattern I have done, and i was worried how teddy would go together, but after a little head scratching he went together very well! [Now cant wait for Debbie Bliss Knitted Toy book to come]

Smile teddy ready for your close up.

Cute

Time to Stop

I think that's quiet enough eggs now!!!!!!

I have really enjoyed doing them, my thanks to Little Cotton Rabbits for the pattern.

Knit, Knit, Knit, Knitting

More knitting, this time some lovely free knitting patterns. One from Alan Dart, the little chick in the open egg, knitted in DK, already in the hands of my son. Next and my favorite is the Easter eggs from Little Cotton Rabbits. They are knitted in 4ply, the first 4 are all in Sirdar Snuggly. But for the next 4 I have treated myself to some cotton 4ply in darker colours.
Look at this lovely lady in her Clothkits frock, 10 out of 10 to Clothkits. Really enjoyed making it and now spend lots of time looking at Clothkits website wanting everything I see!!!! (no time to make more to busy knitting!)

What No Embroidery!!!

That's right not a single bit of embroidery is being done at the moment, its knitting all the way. I think I have suddenly found a new love.

Above is the Sheep and Donkey that I knitted for the kids, using the wonderful Alan Dart knitting pattern.

Happy New Year

Coming in to Christmas nothing got done on the embroidery front, not because of an endless round of party's, but because we all had the sickness bugs that were, and still are, going round. But before that, and just using the time during the day when the kids are asleep, I started the stump work kit, below is the flower half done, there is still the trumpet to do, I have really enjoyed doing it, and its been very quick to do so far, I did think that the wire that came with the kit was very thick, i used it anyway, but for a item that does not need any shaping or support, you could have use a slimmer wire and the the edge could of been much smaller. The background fabric that came with the kit is horrid, and i will use some silk backed with calico.