It's Been A While. again

But I'm still keeping busy. I’ve not been doing much sewing and managing a little bit of knitting (when not too hot) and crochet (ditto).

I’ve got two blocks done for the Siblings Together block mama and these are heart blocks.

I followed the instructions instead of cutting the bottom half square triangles a bit bigger to get 2 for one blocks, so I was left with 4 half square triangles of a smaller size.  So I joined them together for my orpahan blocks, which one day will become and odds and sods quilt.

From the makings above I had some fabric to make some small scissor cases.

As for knitting and crochet there seems to be a lot of projects on the go. I think I ought to do less starts and some finishes done.  I’ll list these here.

1. The Flora’s Fauna blanket - it’s progressing well as I’m near the end of the fourth section, so there will soon be squirrels.  I’m a week behind on the CAL, but that’s ok as some people has just started on it. This is a pic of the end of part 3.

As an addendum to this I've now got more done.  I've finished part 4 with the squirrels and working on part 5.

2. Cecily’s cardigan. Same design as Flo’s,  but with the addition of 2 rows of ribbing which doesn’t curl as much at the bottom.  I've got the back done as far as putting the stitches on hold for the yoke. (Pattern Sirdar 5217, yarn is King Cole Smarty in Cobalt).

Next is a dishcloth (I think better as a washcloth) from Garlene of The Kitchen Sink Shop, inspired by the Agatha Christie novel of The Mysterious Affair at Styles.  I'm knitting this in Hobbycraft's Its Only Natural cotton blend yarn in pale blue and it looks pretty in the lace pattern. Sign up to her newsletters and the dishcloth patterns are free and there's been some really nice ones.

Another knit in my bag is some donated yarn which I'm knitting into a cardigan for the local baby bank.

The pattern I've used is the fuss free baby cardigan by Louise Tilbrook, which I've used before and thought the colours of the yarn neutral enough to suit either sex. The yarn is James C Brett's Stonewash DK in rather unimaginative SW1 colour way.  The pattern is knitted top down and I've reached the point of putting the sleeve stitches onto waste yarn to knit the body. Its really knitting up lovely and the feel of the yarn is quite good too.

If that wasn't enough knitting I also have some corner to corner knitting in my room if I'm watching You Tube!  Another lot of donated yarn was 3 balls of chenille type yarn in pale pink from which I'm making a blanket suitable for pushchair/car seat.  It'll be rectangular, so I've started decreasing on one row, while increasing on the alternate row.  When I think the lord sides are long enough I'll started decreasing at the beginning of all rows.  (Hope that makes sense).  I have no idea what make the yarn is but it is really lovely and soft and lightweight too, so will make baby snug without adding any weight.  The stitch marker is denoting the side on which I'm making the decreases.  With increasing I'm knitting front and back of the second stitch at the beginning of the row. Decreasing is knit 2 together at the beginning of the row, which makes the ridges at the row ends.  

And I surprised myself by sewing a top.  I took a sewing pattern which I've had for ages which is a New Look one which is in sizes up to size 22.  I am a dress size 16, but when I made skirts a few years ago I made size 18.  Anyway I cut out size 22 with the theory that I can cut down but can't add on!! I did cut down to 20 but found the neck line too big.  So I made a design feature.

I crossed over the fabric at the top, sewed a short tuck and added a button!  The fabric was a Robert Kauffman one that I bought several years ago at the fabric sale at Farnham Maltings.  I decided it had its hibernation time and had to be made into something and I'm pleased its worked out.  If I make the pattern again I will make the adjustments down the fold line instead of the seam lines which will bring in the neck.  But I'm pleased nonetheless.

That's why I've had no time to blog!!