Crafting Update 1

The  vlog notes are below the video.

Rushing in from chasing the young calves round the field so we could get them inside the barn for the night, I had a short time to post a video while Lester was busy with milking Bonny and Lissie, which is why I was short of breath and soggy. (It was raining)

So this was my first crafting update:

Knitting: 

Introducing the green jumper using Stylecraft Life DK in the colour Mint. This my own design, just a simple raglan jumper with a pattern across the raglan shaping which I have not invented yet. 

Socks, and the need to sort myself out with getting them finished off. I have been knitting socks in the flat, using two needles instead of the usual dpns or circular needles, which is alright when knitting an individual sock, but come the time to sew it up (it has three seams) I hit a blank about doing so, preferring to 'leave it until later', which we all know is just another excuse not to ever to it. And so I end up with a pile of unfinished socks and having to borrow my partner's socks because I have none to wear.

Now this will not do. So I have crossed over to the magic loop method of sock knitting, and have just finished my first sock using this method. I shall use this method in the future. The flat method makes for a neater looking sock, while the magic loop method looks scruffier, but this might be because I am still a novice at that method.

Crochet:

I have finished my first shawl.  

It is the Victoria Shawl designed by Sandra Paul:

 https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/victoria-shawl-4

I used: Scheepjes Cotton 8 yarn, and used 5 of the 6 balls bought. The colour was blue/grey.

This was a good make, and easy to do. It was a four row pattern, with two of those rows using double crochet (USA) / treble crochet (UK). The only fiddly parts are the last few rows, but they are still relatively easy. This was my first shawl pattern, and it was very enjoyable. 

Sewing:

Drip Mat: 

I was left with a heap of off cuts after finishing Lester's fleece jacket recently, so what to do with them...... 'make a mat to catch the water drips when we come our of the shower'  posted itself into my mind. This I have been doing, using the random patchwork method. It is not in the colour which I was wanting for the bathroom, but my 'interior designer self ' will make it work. It is only a temporary mat anyway, and will find its forever home eventually.

Gate Ties:

We have several outside gates which have lost or broken locks to them, so they are held shut by string. This string is recycled from the hay bales, and frays and splits itself up, which is annoying and time consuming and looks horrid. 

So Angie from YarnNYarns:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cHHoQmYDvg suggested making some crochet ties. An excellent idea, I thought, but to make them in fabric instead as wool would not be strong enough. And the fabric? Lester's old shirt, waiting for repair which was never going to happen because it was not worth the effort of doing. This is work in progress. 

Pinnies (Aprons):

These are also works in progress, being four in the queue waiting for completion. 

These are 'proper' pinnies, being roomy of skirt, with a large top to protect me from splashes, and are made from the fabric stash. 

Garden Apron:

I need a large straight apron with roomy pockets for when I am out in the garden, in particular for when I am cutting the brambles down. 

I am using a pattern: Simplicity 8816, and using denim from the stash for the fabric. 

That's all for now. 

Thanks for sharing time with me, 

In love and light,

Vx