Patchwork - the centre is together.

Finally made good headway with my ‘so called’ winter project!!!  I was going to keep the patchwork to do over the winter months but sadly it’s called to me too loudly so I’ve got on with it!!!  

The top picture is the finalised middle of the cloth whereas below is just me playing with ideas for the next round of florets.  Of course I still need to decide on the centres of these two and there’s another ‘round’ to go onto the top picture but planning ahead is essential.

Finished - well almost!!

The first scarf is finished - almost.  I just need to sew in the two ends.  

This is the yarn I used and this is just a day or so into doing it.

Don’t forget - I have another ball of the same so be prepared for more!!!

Patchwork progress too.

You’ll see here that I’ve laid the pieces out to ‘play’ with positioning. I’m really enjoying this task but I do keep changing my mind over ‘what to put where’!!!

Sewing them together is going to take quite a bit of time!!!

A book you can’t afford to miss

There are very few tatting books that really appeal to me.  There’s the odd doily in the odd book but over the sixty plus years of collecting there aren’t many doilies that I’d care to tat twice!!  Must admit there are one or two that I’ve done several times but those were back in my teenage years when patterns were few and far between.

There are designers whom I respect beyond all measure like Dora Young, Mary Konior, Elgiva Nichols to name but a few but sadly these people have all died so there will be no more books from them. 

BUT we have a ‘very much alive’ designer whose every book is a ‘must have’.  Who and why I hear you ask.  

It’s Martha Ess and the ‘why’ is because she ALWAYS comes up with the BEST ideas/designs.  I’ve had the pleasure (and believe me - it is a pleasure) to have test tatted a lot of her patterns over the years and she not only comes up with fantastic designs but she also tests my BC3 too.  She has the knack of putting in little tricks that you thing ‘what is she doing that for’ and a bit later on find yourself saying - ‘oh, that’s WHY - what a great idea’.  Not necessarily a new technique but a new way of doing something.  Martha ROCKS.

So her latest book (Whimsical Tatting) is full of the most appealing designs and you can order directly from Martha herself which she’ll sign for you too.  Here’s the link.

I’d suggest you look at her other books on that page too.  You never know what you’ll find.  I’m not showing you the cover of my copy as you can see that on Martha’s blog but I am going to show off a picture from the book and Martha’s thank you too.

Finally finished

The second sock is done!!!  

I’m now looking forward to starting another pair but this time using a different pattern that Sue sent me.  

Progress on the yellow/grey scarf is going well but not quite finished yet.   I’ve also got on a bit further with the patchwork cloth too.  More about that in a few days!!!

Decisions decisions.

All I know about this new project is that it’s going to be a cloth to go over a very, very old table in my bedroom AND that it’s going to be blue to match my bed linen!!!  

Unlike Diane (Lacelovin’ Librarian) I’m not that fond of blue.  BUT I’m slowly beginning to really love it.  I actually didn’t realise how much ‘blue’ I’d got in my stash until I decided to do this cloth.  So it’s now time to consider how to put them all together.  

Remember - this is the pattern I’ve decided to try and replicate.

This is where poor old BC3 struggles with so many choices.  I’m the same about everything in my life - I’m a real prevaricator!!!

A tentative start!

Here are a few paper pieces cut out and ready before Rose Anne kindly sent me some printable ones.  I have used a catalogue for these as the paper is just right for me.  However the paper printed ones are a lot quicker to cut out!!!

As you can see I’ve abandoned pins and am using these small quilter’s clippy things.  I really like them as pins are such a fiddle.  They were in some fabric that I picked up from freecycle otherwise I’d never have known about them!!!

A whole alien!

I’m afraid I’ve not got a lot to show this week as I’ve been plodding away at the patchwork and have been tatting new designs. 

However thanks to Maureen and her timely reminder I have finally got the whole alien rescued from the TIAS and now I just one place.  The TIAS links are still there although some of the links at the bottom left of each page (they take you back to the previous day) may not work.

After the TIAS is over I move all the links into one folder on the server which makes it much easier to manage on the server.  This means changing all the links on the TIAS blog too.  Unfortunately it does require a lot of attention so I’m hoping I’ve got it right!!!

If you want to find the new Alien page - it’s here!

Now for another progress report!!

The third scarf is coming on nicely.  The picture doesn't show the sparkle very well but I assure you it's there.  This was where it had got to last time I showed you.

I took it to the knitting group a week or so ago and one of my lovely friends said that they find that if a scarf (or any other garment) has some metallic in it it seems to be warmer.  I'm sure she's right too.  

It's really cozy too and isn't scratchy - before anybody asks!!!  I love this as an 'end of the evening' project when BC3 is almost ready for bed.   A few rows of crochet after an evening sorting out a tatting pattern really gives a sense of achievement and relaxation.  

Patchwork progress!!

A rare, rare thing happened back here in Chez Jane a week or two ago.  I ventured into Pinterest!!!  I do NOT use that platform if I can ever help it but I wanted some inspiration for my patchwork adventure.  

This is what I found which really has got my creative juices flowing.  

Remember, though, this is for my bedroom table and I want it all in blue!!!   Let's see what happens next.

One and a half!

Socks, that is!!!  Now I'm at the stage (well, 1½" to go) when I'll soon need to start putting on stitches for the calf of the second one (lower picture).  Liz wants them knee length which is fine by me but takes a tad longer and also needs to be 'moulded' round the calf. 

I did the first one as you'll see and that's fits fine and I'm really chuffed with it.  Thankfully for the second calf all I have to do is follow my notes - IF I can understand them, that is!!!  

This is the joy of knitting from toe to cuff - you can try them on and see EXACTLY where these little foibles have to be addressed.  All I did is say 'hello calf' and it was a case of 'job done'.  Well, not really - i did need a tape measure to help me!!!

I'm going to make her another pair and I know exactly which yarn she wants but have resisted buying it until the 'end is nigh'!!!  

Katie V’s alien

Today I've had permission to share this wonderful little bag that Katie V made for her granddaughter.  I'm going to HAVE to have a go at this bag sometime.  This is what Katie says.

"Hi, Jane, 

My granddaughter is "into" Stranger Things" and asked for a bag of this fabric--so what could be stranger than for a red alien to find a new home there!

Thank you!!!

Katie V in NC"

I asked about the pattern and Katie gave me this link which I've saved in my 'notes' ready for when I've got time!!!!

While I'm showing an alien - are there anymore 'out there' ready to go on the TIAS blog?

Finding an old friend again

Some years ago the library in Stratford decided to start up a craft group which I thought was a great idea.  I toddled along and quickly made new crafty friends.  Sadly one died since then but I still see one of them around the town from time to time.

Now in that group was an elderly (by that I mean EVEN older than me) lady who was a really, really avid crafter.  Sadly she doesn't get out much nowadays and I lost touch with her.  Often thought about her as she was so much into her craft work.  

A few weeks ago she got in touch with me which was GREAT.  She offered me the shuttles you can see below.  I went round to her place to pick them up and found her looking really well and surrounded by 'crafts in progress' including one that she was working on in the library!!!  

Sadly the craft group petered out - I think the time of the day it was meeting might've had something to do with that.  Who knows.  Most people want their lunch at 1 o'clock - not to go crafting!!!

I'm intrigued by the bone shuttle with the name on.  I think it says 'Walker'.  

Time for something new - patchwork.

I have a blue theme in my bedroom.  But I have a very bright cloth on the table and I’m now bored with it.  This is the one I’m talking about.

So I felt it was time to make a ‘simply blue’ one!!!  I’ve got a LOT of blue fabric but have never really wanted to use blue!!!  IF you can understand that.  

First of all I had to decide on a size.  I don’t ‘do’ big - I like fiddly!!!!  I sent for a new template as the one I’d got had only got the inside size I wanted and not the size for the fabric to fit round the papers.  I’m now ready to start!!!  Below is some of the blue fabric I’ve got.

A scarf started

I thought about what to do with the yarn I showed you yesterday and it really was a ‘no brainer’.  Another scarf.  Yes I know that a person only has ONE NECK but I thought that somebody would like a scarf somewhere.  

In the end I’ve decided that as I was ‘sort of’ given this yarn for free then I should make it up and give it back to either a suitable swop shop OR a charity like the food bank.  

A start has been made!!!  I’m pleased to say that the glittery metallic part of this yarn is easy to crochet with.  I’m using the same pattern as I used on this one.  

Oh dear!

Well after the scarves were finished I thought that that was the end of my scarf making episode!!!  

WRONG!!!

I was looking in my yarn stash and found this yarn.  It was a few months ago that I went to the local Repair Cafe to get my sewing scissors sharpened and found there was a swop shop going on downstairs.  I saw this yarn and picked up two balls of it as I really LOVE the colours.  

I feel another scarf coming on!!!

Hmmmmm

After spending time making the tunic/jacket I thought life was complete and that would be the end of the matter.

Then I went to Alcester on Friday, as usual, to join the ladies at Crafternoon.  

Alcester is a real English town which still retains a LOT of small useful shops but like most towns it does have quite a few charity shops.  I love browsing through them as there are sometimes bargains to be found.  They’re much better than the ones we have in town here.

Well, I spotted this which I simply HAD to buy.  Isn’t it great?

Finer details of the top

Now the fastening at the top of the tunic is something I’ve ‘invented’!!!!

Two buttons sewn onto the outside but underneath I’ve made a tab with a velcro fastening.  

As I’m not sure if I really want it to be closed at the top I’ve added a press stud to hold the tab back out of the way hidden behind the tunic.  I was quite pleased with BC£’s smart idea and hope it works as or when needed!!!

The tunic is FINISHED

Well it’s finished. This is where I’d got to last time.  

Now I don’t think this really shows it at its best as I should’ve worn a black top underneath it. I think it’ll look really ‘dressy’ when I scrub myself up and wear something more suitable. 

I’m very pleased with it and now need an excuse to wear it!!!

Comparing the two scarves

Ah, I thought it might be a good idea to compare the two scarves.  The one on the left is knitted and the one on the right is crocheted.  

The yarn below is the leftovers from the knitted one which shows that the yarn goes further if you knit this yarn.  Well in ‘Jane theory’, that is.  I still think I prefer the crochet one and it’s certainly a lot faster to make.  Not that I really care about that!!!

Another scarf finished

Here's the other scarf that I was crocheting.  I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed this once I'd got into the swing of the pattern!  There are loads of chevron patterns ‘out there’ and particularly on Ravelry.  Lots of free ones too.  

I think it's going to be a really cozy scarf and that's another present for Christmas done!!!

Monday Moan - blogs

I love my blog as you've probably gathered!!!  Keeps me up to speed and is a way I can say what I feel and keep track of what I'm doing.  Some weeks I don’t have time but (like this coming week) I’ve got lots to show.

Sadly other bloggers seem to have moved over to Facebook, Instagram and other places which means I rarely see what people are doing.  I get posts in the tatting groups from Facebook but most of those are from people selling patterns which I never look at.  I reckon I must get up to fifty a day of those selling posts.  The way I use Facebook is simple.  I join a tatting group and then have email notifications of people’s posts coming into my inbox. This means I can delete all the selling posts from my inbox without ever going to the platform itself.  Simple - but ‘50 a day keeps Jane away’ from Facebook.  

Now because everybody seems to be leaving the ‘sinking ship’ (Blog Land) I’m having problems keeping an up to date resume on the right side of the blog.  I like to help other bloggers by showing those who blog regularly on the side of my page.  I amended this list yesterday and have taken one or two off (beware, Sally, you’re next!) and added one who appears to have returned to blogging.  

What I’d like to do is add those who aren’t showing on my blog but are currently blogging so please, if you know of anybody, send me their link.  Let’s keep blogging!!!

An empty Monday moan!

Empty because I’ve run out of time.  Last week was so busy I didn’t have time for photo taking but crafting continued in fits and starts.  I’ll try and catch up with myself this week and meantime apologise for lack of entertainment on my entertainment channel - this blog!!!

BUT there may be the odd post in the meantime!!!!

A butterfly in my garden on Saturday.

Now how is the sewing getting on?

Well here's the progress so far.  

I'm hopeless at making decisions too far ahead but having decided on what I finally want from this fabric here's where I'm 'at' now!  BUT what do I really want from this adventure?  I think the closest thing I can tell you is that I want something I can wear!!!

Scarf number 2 - progress

Progress is being made on the crochet scarf.  Not a lot as I'm in tatting designing 'mode' at the moment.  

Goodness knows if this will be another 'long lost' design which will lurk forgotten and unloved somewhere either on the iCloud or on the iMac!!!!!  Time and BC3's patience will tell!!!

Sock it to me!!!

Still working on the first sock and somewhat panicking that I’ll have enough yarn to make the pair. The person I’m making this for wants the sock to be knee length which I’m fretting about because I’m not sure I’m going to have enough yarn for the pair.

The ‘gals’ at knitting group assure me that I should be able to get the pair out of a 100 gram ball but time will tell!!!

Each time I’ve finished a session of knitting I weigh the yarn left on the ball. It’s a bit of a tense situation here for my BC3!!!

Monday moan

A week or so ago somebody contacted me to say there was a problem with one of my web pages.  This one, in fact.   

I quickly found out what the problem was and thought it might be a good idea to explain how things had gone wrong.  

Originally the page was done using LibreOffice which is free open source software and is similar to Microsoft Office.  When I used to build pages using this I had to ‘set’ images in a table to keep them in the place I wanted them to be.  

A few years on and I moved over to using Pages (IOS software) and it was really easy to open the doc versions done in LibreOffice in Pages and just carry on.  I found, however that it was better to remove the tables I’d set the images in as Pages allows you so much more flexibility in moving images around.  BUT when it came to the butterfly doily I appear to have forgotten to remove the tables and the one part got ‘buried under’ the other!!!  I managed to put it right straightaway.  As ever I’m always grateful to people who ‘tip me the wink’ when they find a problem.

On another occasion during the past few weeks I was also told that a technique page that I did was wrong too.  When I looked at it I could see nothing wrong so asked two more expert tatters to look it over too.  They couldn’t see a problem either so as the page has been floating around for twelve years I’ve left it.  I think the person who reported the problem to me was ‘over thinking’ what the page was all about!!!

A picture to cheer you up!! Taken yesterday on the rec.

Sock progress

Meanwhile 'back in sock land' progress is slowly being made there too!!! 

Here's where I was last time I showed you. It'll soon be time to tackle the heel which should be an interesting experience since it's many years since I last did a heel and that was with a top down sock. This time it's the toe up way of working. 

Surprise, surprise

A BIG thank you to Judy who sent in her alien. It's never too late to be an alien on the TIAS blog!!! Here's a link to see it.

Fabric and playtime!!

Now what do you think of this fabric? Isn't it - well, ummm, errrr, bright? I was given it in a free cycle pickup and fell in love with it straightaway. 

This was at least a year ago and it was thought about, put away, brought out to 'deal with', put away again and finally a week or two ago I got it out again!!! 

Originally I was going to make a 'floaty' kimono sort of long jacket thingy for myself but realised that the fabric doesn't drape enough for that.

Also one has to consider that I'm short, dumpy (one 'could' say fat) and don't really 'do' that sort of garment. So out came BC3 and the pattern you see below.  

That's NOT what I'm aiming for but it's a start. I'm going to place the front and backs on the fabric but allowing for a cut down the centre of the front (so it will become a jacket). There will need to be allowances for it to fit over other garments and so sleeves will have to be made larger under the arm and also to compliment that - in the fronts and backs too. Lots of input from BC3 will be needed but I think it's going to be fun. 

I am much braver with this sort of project when I know I haven't had to lay out loads of money on the fabric in the first place!!! 

Right - here we go!!!

Martha's Dragon

This is another of the  test tats for Martha's new book.  I really need to do this again as I'm afraid I didn't get the wings as well as they should and ARE in the pattern.  

There's absolutely no problem with the pattern but it's my fingers and brain which were at fault.  I was trying to get it finished before bedtime and (you all know how it is) I wasn't concentrating well when it came to pressing it.  He's a really lovely tat and I'll certainly be making one for Jayne along the road.  She's from Wales and her husband is really into dragons.