Getting things finished

I started this post 2 weeks ago….

 I’ve been feeling overwhelmed recently, some due to David’s health and he’s getting much better now. Some of it has been due to having a lot of projects in progress and slowly these are getting completed.  I’ve had a large quilt ongoing since I picked up the quilt kit in August. Last month  I also picked up a couple of kits for Project Linus West Dorset. So let’s start with those.

I had a SCBU quilt, a small one given to those in the unit at Dorset County Hospital (I’m guessing some may go to Bournemouth Hospital too) and their size (about 30” square) makes then easy to put together and finish. Sweet, is it? It’s now been passed on to go to Dorchester this week.

Last week I put together a larger quilt and on Saturday layered up and quilted.  Adding the binding I stitched this down and it was also finished. So that can go too. I had to trim off top and bottom as the backing fabric was literally the size of the top (the pack did say to trim if needed). 

Both quilts have now gone to my friend who took them to Dorchester on my behalf, but I’m not getting another kit at present. So that’s 2 done and a quilt top put together and layered up.

I started knitting socks for David as he had difficulty to get normal socks on and had a few pairs of knitted socks which were easier to put on. I made the socks in just 5 days with just enough of the main yarn!

Like me he has small feet so I used the West Yorkshire Spinners self striping yarn that I’d used to make him some fingerless gloves. It’s called Brenda, a Yarndale exclusive wool named after one of the mascot sheep in 2024 and I combined with plain WYS yarn in Nutmeg for heels and toes.  I had just a tiny smidge of the yarn left.  I made a 64 stitch plain socks using 2.5mm needles (so a slightly larger needle than I would use for my socks) but I refer to one of the Bakery Bears patterns for heels and toes and toe shaping. 

Now today’s update…..

This week has been a busy one so not much chance of sewing, so knitting had been on the agenda as it’s easy to pick up.  I have been working on a cardigan for my youngest granddaughter. I’ve used a King Cole pattern but I’ve found that I made the back too short so I’ve made the fronts and undone the back to the armhole shaping.

I’m making progress on a Quilt for Care Leavers from a kit picked up back in August.  It is sandwiched together and I’ve started machine quilting.  Being bigger than the Linus Quilts I had to put the layers together working on one half of the quilt, then shifting along the table to work on the other half.  I use spring clamps to keep the layers taut while pinning together. This is how it looks at present. I’m hoping for a bit of time to get in with more quilting next week.

I’m pleased that I’m clearing things and a chance to ‘breathe’ and tidy up a bit.

Yesterday (Friday 28th) was my birthday and I am now 70 so officially old, though I don’t feel it. David reached the same milestone 2 weeks ago.  We have been spoiled with various events and look forward to a family get together this weekend.   David’s health is a lot better since his recent operation and is walking well, so all is good.

We now have the spectre that is Christmas approaching and made a start on that already. Have you?