Having had a play with my new machine, I though perhaps it would be a good idea to read the instructions ....... and not just read them, but also watch the instructional DVD that came with the machine. So first I sat and watched the DVD (I even made notes!) and then read (most of) the manual. I looked out a folder and cut some calico to fit the pockets, then I made a start on trying out the 'utility' stitches, making notes on the fabric as I went .....
The first six were straightforward .......
........ but you may notice that stitch 8 is missing. That's because to do it, I have to put on a very scary looking foot and alter the thread tension and the presser foot setting ....... so I thought I would leave that to another day!
We had a browse in our favourite charity shop on Saturday, and as soon as I saw this book, I grabbed it and ran to pay for it before anyone else realised what a treasure it is!
There are clear instructions
Lots of wonderful stitches
and beautiful patterns, like this Christening dress
I have finished my first sock (apart from the Kitchener stitch)
and have knitted the cuff and picked up the stitches for the main part on the second one (I need to finish off the first one, so that I can transfer the stitches to the double pointed needles!)
I have also been working on Maia. I had been knitting it on the circular needle that came with the kit, but no matter how oftern I use a circular needle, I just can't knit very quickly, so yesterday I transferred the stitches to straight needles, and things are going a bit faster! I pinned this bit out, so you can see the pattern
If you look at the top of the left-hand sidebar, you will see that I have added an e-mail link ....... and if you look at the right-hand one, you might see another additon - yes, I've been given an award!! It was given to me by the lovely Lee of Just Like Martha - it's hard to believe that it is almost a year since I met Lee in Sydney when we were on holiday! I now have to nominate ten people I would like to pass the award on to and then tell you ten things about myself. So first the nominees - I have passed on an award before, so this time I thought I would choose blogs that I maybe only recently started reading ....
http://chasingpurpledreams.blogspot.com/
http://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com/
http://sweetmarynz.blogspot.com/
http://cathyholtomdustylane.blogspot.com/
http://bumblebearies.blogspot.com/
http://www.rattlingon.typepad.com/
http://www.attica-slowlife.blogspot.com/
http://kristenmakes.wordpress.com/
If you would like to accept the award - just pass it on to ten other blogs that you love and list ten things about yourself. I haven't been able to put the award into the body of the post, so if you can't take it from the sidebar, email me and I will send it to you.
Now, the hard part, ten things about me
1. I learned to knit and sew when I was seven
2. I'm allergic to prawns
3. I once (over the course of a month) travelled round the world
4. I have had a scar on my left knee since I was five
5. I fractured a knuckle on my ring finger when I hit myself with a badminton racquet
6. I passed my driving test first time
7. I'm scared of heights
8. I suffer from seasickness
9. I prefer a starter to dessert
10. I always wanted to be tall