SAL January 2017

Well the first month of 2017 disappeared in a wink but the one good thing was the summer weather wasn't too hot. January is a lovely time to slow down and a time I always enjoy and especially being out of routine - it doesn't take long though to get back into the swing of things again and the diary entries tell me that a busy time is ahead.   I have enjoyed some stitching over the last weeks and especially working on a couple of  rather old WIP. My first SAL finish was a Blackbird design 'Bird in Hand' which I have made up (at long last) into a small needlebook to carry with me as it will be big enough for a few threads and a pair of scissors.   I felt the design was a little large for a pincushion plus I really do not need to add another one to my collection. 

SAL December 2016

I have enjoyed the Smalls SAL during 2016 and my thanks to Heather for organising it for us. As usual a quick blog so I can just get this post in before the close. No promises that I will be earlier with posting this year !!!  The photo shows 2 Mill Hill Treasured Diamonds that I stitched as part of Christmas gifts for 2 special friends. Always happy how these turn out and they do look lovely on the tree - just enough beads to catch the light. Not the best of photos but as I have given them away now it will have to do.

SAL November

It just seems the months are disappearing quicker than ever - or is it I am just working slower. I can now see with only a few weeks until the end of the year that my PHD (projects half done !!) will certainly be on going.  The little needlebook finished in November is a design by Betsy Morgan of Willing Hands Needlework Designs. It is part of a kit I purchased when I attended a wonderful class with Betsy at Beating Around the Bush Seminar. The kit is called Edinburgh Reticule and was inspired by Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse Palace and Mary Queen of Scots.  Betsy has lovely and interesting ways of finishing her articles and the spine of this little needlebook was laced together with silk ribbon.

SAL October

Just a quick note to get this photo in before close off in a few hours for the October SAL. Yes, another piece of stitching to add to a pair of scissors.  Maybe I will have to purchase some more scissors - one can never have too many !!??
This is a Sue Hawkins canvas work pattern using DMC thread.  Really enjoy working her designs and love her choice of colours and the humbug design works so well. Not the best of photos but too late to take better photos outside.

SAL August

I seem to have lost days and naturally they have gone never to be reclaimed.  My little finish for August was ready ages ago and now I am posting so late that is may even be too late to count in the SAL.  The pattern of this little bookmark designed by Sue Hawkins was fun to stitch using DMC thread on canvas.  The worst part was the making up but I am fairly happy with the end result.  The two biscornus with scissor pillows are now complete and I love the colours and the way they turned out. My favourite one is the bright jewel colours and I think I will be using this thread again.  Not very good photos but all done in a bit of a hurry

Smalls SAL June

Looking back over the month of June makes me feel that it was quite a productive month both for knitting and stitching. I couldn't help but start another Zig-Zag Canvaswork pincushion - same design as the one shown last month but the different colourway make it look quite different. It also has a matching scissor keeper so that is my finish for the Smalls SAL for June as I run out of time to  make up of the pincushion. Naturally this means I will have to make another scissor keeper in the bright colour so two set are completed.
 The large wrap I completed during the month was made in a beautiful 4ply Baby Alpaca yarn from Peru and was a joy to work with and so soft. Quite an easy pattern with a lovely edge.  The other knitting of baby items was completed for the shop so only managed a couple of beanie for charity and I sent them off before taking a photograph.

 

SAL May

Well winter has finally arrived after a very warm autumn. Some of the plants in the garden seem to be rather confused by the warmer days and the autumn colours did not seem as intense  this year.

May was a very social month catching up with friends over long lunches - the joys of retirement - visiting friends who have downsized for their retirement and enjoying some fun outings. The charity knitting continues between other projects and it is surprising just how much can be achieved by just knitting a couple of rows whenever a spare minutes is available.  The baby ugg boots are for the shop and are always popular.  It is my 'relaxing knitting' as a do have a couple of lace knitting projects on the go that can only be worked on in quieter times.  

My small SAL finish for May is a biscornu from an English designer Sue Hawkins. I love Sue's work and she has a wonderful way with colours.  This canvas work project is worked in stranded cotton and hard to believe but only 2 different shades of Anchor multicolour thread were used. No.1375 which is the brighter jewel colours and 1335 the paler shades. By using more of the brighter colour on one side and more of the paler on the other has resulted in an interesting use of the these threads. The stitching did take a lot longer than I had anticipated but I was very happy with the finished work.  There is a small scissor pillow to match so that might just be the next project to start. I think I will forget the promise I made to myself not to start any new projects until I have finished some of the UFO's in the cupboard.