Making in March

Hello, how are you? I hope you're well and March has started off all right for you.
 For today's post, I'd like to share with you the progress I've made with my two
ongoing projects. First off, my tapestry crochet.

I was only a few rows in when I last showed you this but it has now grown
and I'm actually not far off from finishing. I'm really pleased with how it's going.
I still have a lot to learn about this technique but I now feel quite confident with
the basics, including crocheting in reverse, and I think I'm ready to try new
patterns and designs.

I had a peek at the latest issue of Simply Crochet magazine while I was at the
supermarket and interestingly, they're featuring various colourwork techniques
including tapestry crochet. I think it's a fun skill to learn and it's great that it's getting
some attention. Hopefully more people will try it, too.

My other project is my Spring-themed cross stitch sampler. I've had to unpick and

change my motif for the letter 'S' - the dustpan and brush were supposed to be for

'Spring clean' but I was told they looked more like a comb and an upside down mirror

and they were not at all colourful like the other motifs, so they had to be replaced

with a pretty snowdrop. My two critics are happier with this and I have to admit,

so am I. And now that's done there's just one tiny motif left to stitch and then,

fingers crossed, it will be at the framers at the end of the week.  

So those are my two projects and I'm looking forward to having them both finished soon.

I haven't been around here much lately, it's been a busy old week with one thing after
another. Hopefully the rest of the week - and month- will be a little bit calmer, with less
mishaps and dramas. I'll be catching up with your blogs in the next few days -
take care and see you soon!

Winter Stitching

Hello, how are you? I hope you're well and enjoying a bit of winter sunshine today.
It is sunny here this morning and it's actually not that cold which is a nice change
from the frosty and icy weather we've had this week. Anyway, today I'd like to
share with you my cross stitch project. I am making a spring-themed sampler
with motifs drawn from three different cross stitch books, most  of them from
Jo Verso's Cross Stitch Year.

This is a bit of a stitching adventure for me, actually. I've put together these
motifs to create my own little design which is new for me and I am also using linen
for the first time. I'm not sure how this will turn out, it might be a disaster,
but I am really enjoying myself and I am getting more and more used to working
on linen, so it's all good, so far.

The whole inspiration for this is Jo Verso's wonderful book, a Christmas present
from my parents in law. It's full of fun motifs and it encourages you to pick
your favourites and make your own design.  It's been a long awhile since I've done
any stitching or embroidery - I crochet a lot more these days especially in the
colder months - and this has been an inspiring way to get back to it and challenge
myself a bit too.

It is happily bringing back the simple joys of working with fabric, needle
and thread. Even in the gloomy daylight of January, I always still have a pleasant time
when I can sit down and do a bit of my cross stitch, especially when my radio
programmes are on and there's cake and a cup of tea next to me.

Hopefully all the motifs and colours I've chosen will come together nicely and
it will be finished and ready when Spring time comes around.

It's still sunny and bright at the moment so I'd better make the most of it and work
on this while I have the time. Thanks for stopping by here and for your comments
on my previous posts. Take care and have a warm, happy Wednesday!

Winter Projects

Two posts in as many days! This has never happened here before but I'm
posting this today because I'd like to join Jennifer's Winter Project Link Party
  for November. I really enjoyed joining in last year, getting to see what others
are making and seeing their progress through the weeks and months. I'd like
to take part again.

This is one of the projects I'm currently working on - Kazuko Aoki's
Gardening Sampler. I discovered her cross stitch book at the local library
last summer and just love all the beautiful motifs she had created combining
her love of gardening and embroidery. If you're a fan of those two things
you have to have a look at this wonderful book.

I started on this sampler sometime in July. It's a Christmas present for
my mother-in-law and I thought back then that I'll have plenty of time to
finish it before December. I suppose if I had been focused and worked on it
steadily, it would be finished and framed by now. Unfortunately, I got
distracted by so many other things - books, crochet, television, to name just a few -

and have only worked on it sporadically over the past months. So at the moment
it's still very much a work in progress. I don't think I'll get it done by Christmas.
It's not as portable as a crochet or knitting project and it's trickier to work on
now that we have darker and longer evenings. I really should have made hay
while the sun was shining more brightly last summer. Oh well, it will get finished

sometime this winter and it will be an Easter present instead. Good thing
I didn't make any promises on this one.

And here's on of those distractions I've been talking about. It's in the latest issue of
Mollie Makes and when I saw it I just had to make it. I decided I needed a really
warm, chunky scarf and I might not survive the winter without it! So here I am
busy with crochet and it's all about scarf making at the moment. There are also
plans to make hats for the girls as well as Christmas cards and decorations. I guess
my sampler will have to wait then.


Thanks to Jennifer for hosting this party. Thank you also to everyone who have
visited my blog lately. Thanks for welcoming me back- I'm really glad to be here!
Have a great weekend!

Getting Yarny

It's been three weeks since school started and we are now
firmly back to everyday life with school runs, homework, etc. Both
girls are settled and happy at school and I am beginning to really
enjoy the days when Lulu is at nursery and I'm on my own at home.
I'm usually busy pottering and catching up with various jobs and
of course, crafting. I've seldom had whole uninterrupted hours of
sewing or making before and having this free time now is just
fantastic. I have started two new projects, both crocheted and
both in preparation for colder days ahead: I'm making a blanket
for our living room sofa and a rug for the girls' bedroom.

I'm following a pattern from Inside Crochet for the blanket and so far
it's going well. I really like the clusters of trebles and the wavy lines
they make. It's working up fairly quickly too which is very good
and exciting.

The rug was also making up quickly but I've had to take a break
last week after running out of fabric yarn. It's going to be nicer and
 softer underfoot for the girls once this is made- and colourful too!
I've just bought some more yarn and hopefully I'll get this all
finished in the next few days.

Once the rug is made I'm planning to start on a cushion cover
I found in this old crochet book. It's round, with a big flower and
can be made with any DK yarn- perfect for these cotton lovelies
in my yarn stash.

Aside from these three, there are many other things I'd like
to make this autumn and winter, including another patchwork blanket
 and an embroidered picture for the girls' room. I think there's a better
chance of getting some of them made now that I have Mondays and
Fridays free. Plus the cooler days and darker evenings are also very conducive for making with yarn so I'm feeling very hopeful about
these projects. I just have to stop faffing about now and get cracking!

Hope you've had a great weekend. It was lovely and sunny here
both on Saturday and Sunday but we're back to grey, cold and wet
today. Anyway, have a good Monday everyone!

Markie's Scarf

This is Markie's finished scarf. I actually finished making it

weeks ago but just haven't had the chance to share it here.

It's similar to the scarf I made for her sister. It is knitted in

stocking stitch using Drops Merino Extra Fine (DK) yarn and 

to add a bit of colour I cross stitched these butterfly and
 star motifs.*

This was one of those projects that took longer to make
than expected. I was so pleased when it's finally finished.
I just wish I'd chosen a smaller butterfly motif but Markie
doesn't mind it which is good. It does feel nice and soft
 and she likes wearing it which makes me happy. Here she is
 at Yorkshire Sculpture Park wearing her Mummy-made scarf.

As always I'm glad and grateful to be able to make my girls

 even just little things that will help keep them cosy and warm

 especially in this wintry weather we're having this week.

It has suddenly gotten very cold these past few days - 

winter is really here now!

Hope you're all keeping nice and cosy at home tonight.

Have a lovely evening everyone!

*Both motifs are from Sweet Stitches from the Heart.

Little Stitches

I've finished my cross stitched picture for Markie.
It's only little but we like cute and we think it's
lovely and perfect for her bedroom wall.

The motif is from Sweet Stitches from the Heart

and we both chose it. I think the girl looks a bit like her.

She says the girl has plaits and she likes that.

I used 18-count Aida with a three inch embroidery

hoop. It's the first time I've used 18-count Aida and

I've learned that the slightly tighter weave of the fabric

requires slower, more careful stitching. Nevertheless

it was still enjoyable to work on and we're happy with
the result. Here's the finished picture on her bedroom wall.

I'd love to do more cross stitch and embroidery.
 I've just joined Pinterest and I've created a board
 for my favourite cross stitch projects. I'd like to try
making those stitched pendants and brooches.
Hopefully one of these days I'd get the chance to.

Wishing you all a fun Bonfire Night!

By the way, thanks for all the lovely things you said
about our autumn tree. We're glad you like it too.

Heart and Flower Scarf

I want to make my girls new scarves for this autumn and
winter and so I've been busy with my knitting needles whenever
I've had some free time this past week. I was spurred on by the cold
weather that came so suddenly last week--I want to finish both
scarves before it gets even colder! So far I've made one and
 it's for Lulu, and we're calling it the Heart and Flower Scarf.

I knitted it in simple stocking stitch using Drops Merino Extra Fine
(DK) in Turquoise. I really love this yarn. I bought two balls in this
colour and in Soft Pink from a wool shop in Whitby. Their prices
were reduced to £2.10 per ball and I just couldn't resist. It's so soft
 and lovely and has extra elasticity which makes it so easy and
 wonderful to work with. 

I initially planned to add the heart and flower motifs* with

duplicate stitches or Swiss darning. The idea came from an old

1970's craft magazine that I picked up from a charity shop. 

I thought it's a great way to add colourful designs to a knitted
garment and I wanted to try it. However it turned out to be much
 trickier than I had expected. After several frustrating tries I gave
up and decided to use cross stitch instead. It was a lot easier
and I got the same result I wanted: a bit of colour and fun to the
solid blue background so I'm still happy with it despite my
failed attempt at Swiss darning.

Here's Lulu wearing her new scarf. She insisted we go out for
a walk yesterday just so she can wear it. I'm so happy that
she likes it and I'm doubly pleased that I can make her something
nice and cozy to wear. I'm hoping to make a matching hat but first
I have to get started with Markie's scarf. It will be pink with
 butterflies and little flowers as requested--a little more detailed
than her sister's so I better get started soon!

I hope you've all had a good week. Thanks as always for stopping by.
Wishing you a lovely, sunshiny weekend!
See you soon!

*both heart and flower designs are from Sweet Stitches from the Heart 

Lenten Stitches

Every Lent parishioners in our church are invited to bring
a piece of cloth about 6 x 6 inches square, each piece representing
our worries and pains or those of loved ones. All the pieces are
then sewn together to form a patchwork panel, a 'Garment of Suffering',
and this is brought to the altar on Good Friday. Afterwards it is
draped over the cross where it will stay for the next few months.

Since joining the parish four years ago I've always wanted to take part
 in this but I always forget to bring our piece of fabric before the
 deadline and this has always annoyed me. This year however I've
made sure I remembered and I brought ours in weeks ago.

It was my husband who suggested that I 'decorate' our little square
of fabric. It is very simple but by adding these motifs* it has become
even more meaningful for me. Like every other family we have
our worries and we have so many things to pray for especially
this year. All of these will be laid on the altar tomorrow alongside
everyone else's in the parish, reminding us that we really can't
do this on our own. I find this very comforting and uplifting ,
and will give me great hope, which for me, is what Lent is all about.

Thank you for reading. We wish you all a blessed and
very happy Easter!





*All the crossstitch motifs were taken from Sweet Stitches from 
the Heart and Doodle Stitching: Embroidery and Beyond, except for
the Philippine flag which was my own little design.

Hello 2014

Happy New Year!

I hope you're all having a good start to 2014.
We took down all our Christmas decorations today.
It was a bit sad but the holiday season is now over and it's time
 to look forward to whatever this new year has in store for us.
I hope I'll be able to do more sewing and making for our home
and for us this year. At the moment I'm knitting myself a snood
and doing some crochet. I've also done a bit of embroidery with this
little cross stitch picture I made for my mother-in-law.

The motifs were copied from The Cross Stitch House
by Melinda Coss.

This was going to be part of her Christmas presents
but unfortunately I wasn't able to finish it on time. It turned out
to be a very late Christmas present, more like a New Year's gift,
which I'm glad to say, she was happy to receive.

I'm hoping to finish my knitting and crochet projects soon.
There's a christening present to make and more crochet.
Lots of fun crafting to look forward to!



Thank you for reading. Stay safe, warm and dry.

See you soon!