Furtling in May

 This month has been a month of almost finishes, nearly but not quite there yet. But I have one least which I finished on the 30th. I found some pinwheel blocks which I sewed together and I kept with the nautical theme with another boat fabric for top and sides and a red fabric for base, casing and drawstrings.  This will make a larger project bag which will comfortably house a cardigan or jumper.

I got out some patchwork blocks that I made last year and added two more which I will send to one of the Siblings Together coordinators, once I get a large envelope to send off.

I think my sewing mojo is slowly returning.

As for knitting, David’s cardigan is progressing well as I’ve just finished the second sleeve, another ‘nearly there’. Now the sewing up and knitting the bands. The cardigan is a pattern by King Cole, no. 4273 and the yarn is Hayfield Soft Twist DK.

Some sock knitting with both socks getting to the toe shaping and again a ‘nearly there’. I’m knitting the Hobbity socks in Funny Feet self striping yarn. The first sock is not completed and there was a join in the yarn, so getting the second sock to the same point as the first to rejoin the yarn in the same place for both socks.

I actually bought some yarn this month in support of @flowerpowerfund and was dyed by Ducky Darlings and called Once and Floral and I bought the set with 3 mini skeins.  I haven’t any plans for these yarns yet.

This month I have found some long languishing UFO’s.  A redwork project which I think was to celebrate a significant anniversary or birthday, long since forgotten.  This was a design by Mandy Shaw which I bought as a complete pattern, though it was once a Block of the Month. There a nine completed squares, one half done and two yet to be done. 

Another has been a cross stitch picture, which was a kit. I used two strands of thread instead of one so I quickly ran out of thread.  Having gained some thread from my Mum’s stash I am going to try to get this done, but it will be slow going as my sight can only take a small amount of time doing cross stitch.  There doesn’t appear to be a designer’s name although the copyright year is 2001.

I bought the Granny Go Round crochet pattern by Iron Lamb, and used some Hayfield  Bonus yarn (that I think I bought in local Hobbycraft) that I’ve made a start on so next month I would like to progress beyond the shoulder shaping, but it’s taking a fair bit of concentration so far. As we will be on holiday next month to I’m going to look at a bit of travel knitting to take with me.

Lastly I’ve made an ATC for the online swap in he theme of Coronation Celebrations and just snuck in time with this one. I chose royal purple, with the inscription from the anointment screen and the gold branch, leaves and acorn from the embroidery detail on the King’s shirt (although his was a bit more delicate than my attempt here) and of course, bunting, which was everywhere. I fitted in a lot in a 3.5 x 2.5 inch card.

So I hope your May has gone well and seeing good progress with finishes. I’m joining in with Mini Archie’s May Furtle Around the Blogosphere.

May

 I first started this post at the beginning of May ……

It’s the beginning of May and the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla has happened yesterday. A second bank holiday in the UK to come tomorrow.

The Monthly Marker is a bit of a cheat as I’ve folded up a cushion cover made to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee back in 2002! It’s was a challenge when I was a member of Quarterjack Quilters. I didn’t win and it has never been used, so stores away in my cupboard. I was really pleased with these Suffolk Puffs into which I poked a bit of gold fabric in the middles. 

We didn’t celebrate with a party but quietly watched the ceremony, which was amazing. Using the old traditions

of coronations past and incorporating modern features which reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom of today was really well thought out. 

Last week I had been practicing on a fairly new to me craft of Iris folding and making a card. 

It doesn’t have anything to do with Iris flowers, but the Iris of an eye. It’s really like foundation piecing but in paper instead of fabric and working from the outside in. There is a paper pattern underneath the cut out to show the placing of the papers. The kit showed one shade of yellow for the top wing and another shad for the bottom, but I decided to add this patterned yellow instead (as butterflies have patterns on their wings). The kit I bought at the Craft 4 Crafters show last month and is by Pretty in Paper by B . The card above is off cuts of paper strips which were woven together (but yet to put a greeting on.

May has its ups and downs and each days has had different weather, but I managed to get out in the garden and pick a few flowers on Sunday. Finding a small vase wasn’t easy so I used a small wine glass, this one is on display in our cabinet and was to celebrate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee (gosh, that was a long time ago).

Today is now 20 May - over half of this month gone! I don’t appear to have made much, and done no sewing at all!  I will have to get my digit out soon (next week) and start making blocks for Siblings Together again.  One lady has asked for some cross  blocks like these, below, which I made last year. I can make some more to fill the large envelope.

I’ve done a bit more paper crafting with another butterfly card and a front for another card. The butterflies are from the same kit, but I cut out the red card so I can keep the last template.  I’ve enjoyed the Iris folding, it is a little like foundation piecing in patchwork.  Perhaps I could learn to like FPP a bit more.

I have dug out an old UFO.  This is a redwork calendar designed by Mandy Shaw from 2002. This was when the late Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee, over 20 years ago!  I started this to celebrate a significant event (birthdays, anniversary?) but that time has long since gone! I completed most of the redwork embroidery bar 2 blocks and have backed with red and white gingham fabrics.

The blocks in question are November, David’s and my birthday month (and didn’t fancy Guy Fawkes as suggested in the pattern). June was replaced with August, August’s was another design (not sure of the source). September is another one I’ve not made and December is only part done.  I thought of doing autumn leaves for September instead of the US flag, and it has been suggested to sew a birthday cake for November.  Then the blocks are backed with the edges folded round to the front and slip stitched. That’s not been too easy given that the gingham is poly cotton.  What I will do with it when it’s finished I’m not really sure, but it will be good to get this done.

It is great to see the days are getting warmer and drier, and we’ve been trying to sort out the garden. There has been a splash of colour with the little azalea plant

And a rose peeping out through the foliage

Really lovely to see.