29 December 2017

17 in 2017 - the final update

Way back at the beginning of this year, Meredith over at Pomegranate and Chintz issued a challenge for 2017, the idea was to choose 17 UFOs and to work on each of them throughout 2017.

I often almost never feel guilty about my UFOs but I did think that it would be good for me to focus on some of them throughout the year, so I joined in.

I am really happy that I managed to blog my progress each month, I think it really helped me to focus!

These are the projects I  picked

1. The Mellerstain Firescreen before and after...


not a lot of progress, my hands have been playing up this year making embroidery difficult but I will persevere!

2. Handquiting the Welsh Quilt - again very little progress due to my hands :(


3. Remember When - I worked on this a little, I am still not sure if I will finish this or not, so back into the wip box

 


4. Estonian Lace Scarf

too many mistakes and I didn't like the pattern, frogged and yarn stashed for another project.


5. Love Entwined

No progress! I love this piece and I am thinking of using it as the centre for a new quilt - still in the planning stage!

6. Embroidery Angel - nothing to report! this one didn't make it out of the box



7. Stonefields - still thinking of a way to use these sampler squares - I have a plan!


8. Berry Cardigan - almost a finish! I just need to finish sewing it together and knit the button band


9. Happy Days - Having great fun hand quilting this one with 'big stitch quilting' I find it doesn't put so much pressure on my hands





10. Wedding Quilt - still not sure if they want another quilt or not!

11. Baby Cardigan - Finished :)


12. English Paper Piecing - No idea where this one is headed - needs a planning session before I can continue.



13. Goldfinch Silk Shading Embroidery - Finished :)



14. Rowdy Flat Library Quilt - Love this design, but I need to plan a colour scheme properly before I continue, these were all cut from my scrap box 





15. Down the Rabbit Hole - I love this quilt - so close to finishing !




16. Fan Mandala Embroidery - Really didn't like how this was turning out, so abandoned and materials back in stash.



17. Quilting Hoop Bag - Don't like my fabric choices so this one is also abandoned 


No brilliant progress, but it did focus my attention on abandoned projects, I need to do something similar in 2018

28 December 2017

2017 The Finishes!

First finish of the year, a simple embroidered drawstring bag for my knitting...


A beautiful baby cardigan for the gorgeous Ivy


A Canvaswork embroidery turned into a project bag



The Goldfinch Embroidery is finished and framed!


An EPP Hexagon Kindle pocket


A cosy Gansey

Hmmm I see a distinct lack of quilt finishes this year! I will have to remedy that in 2018 :)

18 December 2017

Down the Rabbit Hole

Sarah has just released the final part of this year's BOM, I have really enjoyed working on this quilt throughout the year.  I have all the appliqué prepped so I can hopefully get a little stitching done while chatting with family and 'watching' TV over the holidays. I have signed up for next year which starts at the end of January so I would really like this top completed before then.


a lot of appliqué prep has been going on around here!







I am so happy I managed to fit a Golden Retriever or two 😃


and several bees ...


The final border is pieced squares on point, I think I will use all my leftover pinks/purples and orange/yellows maybe with a green centre?




01 December 2017

17 in 2017 November Update

Not much to show for this month I'm afraid, that annoying thing called work has kept me very busy!

I have been working on my borders for Down the Rabbit Hole and have finished stitching the bunnies. I was determined to get this handsome boy in there somehow


Not really sure if I succeeded or not, we will see when it's all stitched down 😃


I may have also started another sweater ...


and be planning a new quilt ...


22 November 2017

Fisherman's Gansey

Just in time for the winter (it was a chilly -1C first thing this morning) I have finished knitting my Fisherman's Gansey.  I have loved knitting this pattern, very clear instructions with no mistakes, apart for the one I spotted as I was blocking (!) totally my fault I cabled left instead of right, or was that right instead of left 😱 No matter, this is intended as a warm, dog walking, gardening, fetching logs sort of sweater and I don't mind.

The pattern is the 'St Elmo's Fisherman Guernsey Pullover' by Marci Richardson for The Elegant Ewe, you can find it on Ravelry here:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/st-elmos-fisherman-guernsey-pullover

I used almost exactly 6 skeins (1290 yds) of Berroco Ultra Alpaca a gorgeous blend of 50% wool and 50% Alpaca in colour 3201 'Winter White'

Can I just say for the record, how important it is to block garments made of natural fibres?
yes it smells a bit of...



But it makes a huge difference to the look of the finished article!


I let my sweater soak for about 15mins in the sink, in hand hot water, then gently spin it in the machine until damp; I give it a good shake and then carefully spread it out on a towel; using the schematic on the last page of the pattern I flatten and push and pull until the sweater is exactly the correct size; I then leave it alone for at least 24 hours until it is dry.  Blocking really helps to even out your stitches and you can manipulate the size a little too if your gauge was a bit off.






02 November 2017

17 in 2017 October Progress

I'm a few days late this month, but I do have a little progress...

I will link up with Meredith if she can get her internet working again!

I am still slowly appliquéing the borders for my Down the Rabbit hole Quilt


I have been working on my Crewelwork Embroidery - The Mellerstain Firescreen


I have spent most of my time this month knitting a Guernsey Sweater for myself, only one arm to go!


and cutting pieces for 'Lucy's River Terrace'







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