frayed at the edge

A little tutorial

As promised, a little tutorial for the fun technique that I shared with the ladies on Saturday.  I hadn't done this for a while, and it was only after I had made up the samples I realised that I had made a small mistake (I'll tell you later what it was)!  The technique is called faux chenille - so lets get started.  I chose this piece of  "picture" fabric from the scrap basket, and added three more fabrics,  cutting squares

 

I chose a thread to blend in with the main fabric, but as it doesn't matter what colour is used in the bobbin, I used up some odds and ends

 

next, I drew a line across the diagonal

 

I stitched along the line, then stitched parallel lines half an inch apart

 

the next stage is scary - you have to cut through the top three fabrics, along the centre of each channel.  You can use very sharp scissors ........

 

........ or you can get this packet out

 

I threaded the cutting strip through the centre channel

 

I positioned the ruler, and carefully cut along the channel, using my small rotary cutter

 

it didn't take long to complete the cutting

 

I put that piece aside and started on the second sample.  I cut three squares from calico

 

then cut out a flower from the leftovers from the first piece

 

to keep the pieces in place while I stitched, I used a basting spray.  I put the pieces in a cardboard box to spray them, to prevent the spray from getting on the surrounding area

 

again, it didn't take long to stitch and cut the sample

 

it was about now that I realised that I had made that little mistake.  The bottom fabric should have been cut half an inch bigger all round.  This makes it easier to use the scissors/cutting strip.  The next stage was to wash the samples, along with some old towels, then tumble dry them, again with the old towels.  This fluffs up the edges, and creates the chenille effect

 

it's important that you stitch on the diagonal to get the effect - if you stitched on the straight grain, the edges would fray right away.  If you are stitching a rectangular piece, you have to draw your line on the true bias, not from corner to corner

 

on Sunday  I layered up two more quilts for Linus

 

and made some more squares

 

so what did I buy yesterday in the little wool shop in Berwick?  This fabulous book

 

I think the cardigan on the cover will be going on the "to-knit" list, along with this one

 

but I think I will pass on these socks!

Only for you, dear readers ........

........ would I go out into the garden at 7.15 on a rathjer chilly morning!  I was hoping to capture the full moon, but between camera shake from the long exposure time, and shiver shake because it was so cold, the photos are a bit blurry!

 

I do like getting post, so I was delighted witth today's delivery! 

 

the red envelope contained a Christmas card, the Australian one was a present from Meredithe, which is now under the tree ........ and the pink one was another kit from the wonderful Kate.  The handsome dog is Bruce

 

out in the studio, I was listening to some seasonal music

 

I was given these lovely poppy fabrics by Margaret, as a thank you for lending her some patterns and some books.  I will probably make a runner for the kitchen table with them

 

while Malcolm was out, I wrapped his presents and put them under the tree.  I had a litle bit of present sewing to finish, then I was able to make a start on the laundry bag, using these fun fabrics that I bought at Stitchin' Heaven

 

after cutting the fabrics to size, I stitched the peg fabric to the top of both sides

 

then stitched the iron fabric to the bottom

 

next, I needed some laundry!  I drew some shapes, and looked out some odds and ends of fusible web

 

as I have just put a new cover on the ironing board, I used a piece of baking parchment to protect it while I ironed the fusible web on to the wrong side of the fabrics

 

it's amazing what you can find in your stash ...... pretty coloured strings to use as the washing lines

 

I've been making more fudge!  However this isn't for us (well, we might just have to eat a square or two for quality control), it's for presents

plump, slightly sour, cherries

 

seasonal cranberries

 

I have a special day out tomorrow - do come back to find out all about it!

Show and tell

It's Abbey Quilters' Christmas party this evening, and of course there will be a show and tell.  This is what I am taking

cream flowers

 

New Zealand vineyard

 

the little landscape I started at last month's meeting

 

the Top Secret project - I'll show you more photos tomorrow

 

two fat quarters for the silly games we play

 

I was so busy sewing this afternoon I forgot to take photos of the other Gail Lawther piece that I completed - the Japanese shrine - and the handstitching that I have done on my Sheena Norquay sampler piece.  I also have two things that I can't show you yet, as they are Christmas presents.

Yesterday I got two nice things in the post - my Landscape magazine (I took out a subscription last year, so it escaped this year's embargo) and something very special in a snazzy pink envelope

 

last week I saw this on Kate's blog, and immediately wanted one ........ but the first lot had already sold out!  So I had to contain my impatience until Kate re-stocked the shop ...... but it was worth the wait (ok, it was only a few days!)

 

so, if you haven't yet clicked on the link ...... look what I got, my very own toatie hottie (translation - small hot water bottle!)

 

when I went over to Kate's blog to get the link, I saw that she has published another wonderful pattern - I think I will have to go back for a look when I finish this!  Buying this kit has reminded me that I haven't told you what my aim is for next year.  This year, of course, has been the year of using it up.  I have just asked Malcolm how he thinks I have done in my quest to use up my stash, and he says that I have done quite well (that's high praise!).  So next year is going to be ....... (fanfare, drumroll)

the year of the kit

I have so many kits of all kinds, patchwork, embroidery, knitting, felting, toys, dolls ........ the list is rather long!  Many of them were bought on holidays, so are reminders of happy times.  So my challenge to myself is to make as many of these kits as I can in the coming year - and of course now that I have told you, I will have to do it!

 

 

It's getting closer!

Yesterday was grey, dreary and damp, so yet again we weren't able to go for a walk.  So we went off to The Old Melrose Furniture Showroom (that's their Facebook page, it's the only link I could find).  There was a Christmas Fair, but again we didn't buy anything.  However, we had the consolation of sharing a toasted teacake ......

 

....... and a cheese scone

 

on the way in to the Furniture Showroom, we saw this enormouse tree, which probably came down during Thursday night's storm.  The second and third photos were taken through the side windows of the car, which were wet

 

back home, I put up the Christmas tree(s) and decorations, but I had to wait until today to take photos, when it was brighter

the big tree

 

the driftwood tree

 

the minimalist tree - and the new bunting above it

 

the tiny mittens garland

 

the Gnome brothers and sisters as usual squabbled over which cushions and stockings were to be put on their chairs  ...... I had to remind them that only good Gnomes get presents from Santa!

 

the elves are counting down the days in the kitchen

 

the little wallhangings brighten the doors

 

in the dining room, I turned the table runner over, to reveal the Christmas side

 

and decorated the deep windowsill

to finish, I hope thhe owls play nicely with the robin, which has popped in to visit for Christmas

 

 

An assortment of birds

First, we have the birdy bunting, which is now up in the kitchen

 

then we had the feathered variety on the feeder

 

I have finished my scarf, which will look good with my "best" navy coat (please excuse my scruffy housework-doing t-shirt)

 

Annette hasn't been well this week, so didn't bake a cake for us ........ but as she knows how much we love our Friday cake, she popped into Border Meringues and bought a delicious gingerbread, and a local delight, a Border tart

 

I have lots of sewing to do this weekend, and hopefully will also put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house.  Do you like to decorate your house now, or do you prefer to do it all on Christmas eve?  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Beautiful!

After such a dull, grey day yesterday, we were delighted to have a much brighter day for our trip over to Duns.  And of course I was deighted when we encountered not one, but two, tractors (the spots on the left of the photo are on the car windscreen, not the camera lens!)

 

as always the Waterloo Monument stood out against the blue sky

 

after a potter round the shops in Duns, we headed to the garden centre for a bowl of soup for lunch.  While Malcolm was at the counter placing our order, I had a look at my magazine.  I have done quite well cutting down on the amount of magazines that I buy, but this one caught my eye this morning

 

Malcolm chose two different rolls to have with the soup, and as is our custom, we had half each

 

the soup was mixed vegetable, and we decided the strongest flavours were leeks and celery

 

on the way home, this big beastie stopped to let us squeeze past ....... but the car waiting on the right thought he had stopped to let him out - oops, a scary moment as he started to drive into our path

 

we came back through Kelso, and popped into the shop and garden centre at Floors Castle.  You can picture my delight when I saw that they had dozens of beautiful orchids ........ and of course one of them had to come home with me (and it must be a good one, as Malcolm didn't object!)

 

I have been working on two tiny cross stitch kits that Malcolm gave me for my birthday - isn't it amazing how the smaller the stitching, the longer it takes!

 

I looked out this scarf yesterday.  I started knitting it months ago, but then it got put aside. I have lost the ballband, so can't tell you what the yarn is.  Hopefully I will finish it tonight

 

Not one, not two ......

........ but three finishes!!  First we have the stripey socks

 

then the socks knitted on two needles (sorry, my apprentice photographer let me down and the photo is slightly out of focus)

 

the line down the middle of the cable panel is where I crocheted the edges together

 

the third finish involved these little wooden birds and owls which I found in a shop in Hawick this morning, and the bunting kit which was a freebie with a magazine

 

it didn't take long to make the bunting.  I hung it up on the design wall to take a photo, but because there wasn't room to hang it level, the poor little birds are hanging off the side flags at drunken angles!

 

I started work on  a new project this afternoon.  I can show you what it is, but I can't yet tell you what it is for!  (how mysterious).  It is a sewing set which will comprise a needle case, a pincushion, a scissor holder and a bag to keep them in.  I chose these pretty fabrics

 

the pincushion will look like this one, made with hexagons using the English paper piecing method

 

I played with some paper, working out how to fold a square to make pockets for two pairs of scissors

 

to finish, more food!  Malcolm made this for dinner - haddock and spinach in a half-fat creme fraiche sauce, topped with an egg.  It looked so good I had to take a photo!!

 

 

Sock it to me*

I learned to knit socks when I was at primary school - I was probably about nine.  But I didn't knit any for years, until I knitted some kilt socks for Stuart and Malcolm - although Malcolm doesn't wear this pair with a kilt, he wears them with his work boots

 

then, when we moved here seven years ago, I bought a kit which included this free pattern.  It also had the wool for the pair on the right, and since then I have knitted countless pairs using this pattern, including the pair in the centre for me, and the pair on the left for Malcolm

 

I rapidly discovered that sock knitting is addictive - and so is buying sock knitting books!

 

two-at-a-time socks on the left, and vintage ones on the right

 

I think the first photo I put on the blog was of this pair of socks - and they are still going strong all these years later!

 

it might look as if the toes don't match on this pair

 

but that's the heel on the one on the left.  It's a pattern called the afterthought heel, and although it is easy to knit, I don't find them a good fit to wear.  The stitches for the heel are knitted with waste yarn, then the heel is knitted after the main part of the sock is worked

 

 

so now to the current pair.  This doesn't look much like a sock!

 

the seam is closed using a crochet hook

 

starting to look like a sock now!

 

I was getting worried as the ball of wool got smaller and smaller that I would run out - but there is a little bit left

 

I am going back to the free pattern for the next pair, as this yarn is so colourful, any pattern would be lost

 

do you think I might have said a naughty word when I dropped this pin box, in which I keep the pins and needles for sewing up my knitting

 

I will be very busy over the weekend at the workshops with Sheena, so I should have lots to share with you on Monday.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

*do you remember this tv programme, where "sock it to me" was a running joke?

In a hurry!

It's Abbey Quilters' monthly meeting tonight, and right now I should be cooking the dinner!  So what did I decide to knit?  I had a look through my books and pulled out this one

 

this is what I knitted over the weekend

 

it may look a bit strange now, but eventually it should look like this, once the tube is stuffed - a spiral woollen rug!

 

Malcolm gave me this bag for Christmas - it stops the ball of wool from rolling about the floor

 

I needed a new notebook to record my knitting in, so this lovely owl book, free with a magazine, is perfect!

 

when we were out and about on my birthday, I spotted this tin.  Of course it had to come home with me!  It had biscuits in it, which I have transferred to Malcolm's biscuit barrel  It is so pretty, I will have to put a very special project in it

 

I had a long chat with Anne on the phone last week about Nice people, Nice Things.  We have decided that it is much too big a project to continue with, as she would end up paying me more for making it than she would recoup from selling the patterrns!  So I am going to make up the twelve blocks that I have finished into  samples for the shop - I'll show you the progress on them tomorrow.

I filled the bird feeders this morning for the first time this autumn.  Instead of clustering round the feeders nearest to the window, the sparrows decided to eat the peanuts in the feeder at the back of the garden, and as the shrub in front of the bird table has grown rather a lot over the summer, it made taking photos tricky

 

so Malcolm was despatched with the secateurs to give the shrub a trim - much better!

 

when I came back into the house from the studio this afternoon, the sparrows were out in force - click on the photo to enlarge it, to see them sitting on the stones

 

with a robin keeping an eye on them

 

I can now give you the link to Will's photography website.  Stuart thoroughly enjoyed his lesson, and says he would recommend the walking tour of Edinburgh .... you not only get to see the sights, but you get the best of advice for taking your photos (and, if you like whisky, I believe a dram or two can be included along the way!). 

I missed my big lens when I was taking photos of the birds, but I won't mind too much that I haven't yet got it back, if Stuart continues to send me photos like this one, which he took yesterday, when he and Alison were out and about on a day off (I don't think you need me to tell you that this is a boy!)

 

to finish - my breakfast looked so pretty this morning, I had to take a photo!  Toasted brioche with half-fat creme fraiche, strawberries and blueberries ...... and maple syrup!

 

 

Somewhat disappointing!

Oh dear, what can I say?  I found this year's Woolfest to be a bit of a disappointment.  We got there early, so we had breakfast before it opened, and being among the first in the door, I was able to take photos without having someone getting in the way

 

some of the stalls which have been there in past years were absent, and some of the new ones just didn't have anything really exciting on offer!  One major improvement on previous years was that the gents toilet had been temporarily designated as a ladies so there wasn't the usual horrendous queue (there was a temporary toilet outside for the men).  But as always, for me, these were the highlight of the morning

 

yes, I did say of the morning, because we left just before lunchtime. We were going to go for a cuppa, but couldn't get a seat in the main restaurant, or out in the marquee, and when we went to the stall in the main hall, we were told we would have to wait ten minutes to get a cup of tea!  So what did I buy ....... I didn't buy any wool, as I kept thinking of all the wool that I have bought in previous years and haven't yet used (I can't believe I was so sensible!) ...... so all that came home with me was this set of exceedingly cute stitch markers

 

we headed off to Cockermouth for a bite of lunch and a stroll round the town, then took the scenic route to Keswick where we had booked a B&B for the night

 

we were delighted to find that the B&B matched up to the images on its website (if you click on bedrooms, then look at bedroom 1, that's ours)

 

we went out for dinner to a small Italian restaurant.  We were so hungry we had aready eaten some of the garlic pizza bread which we shared for a starter, before I thought to take a photo!

 

for his main course Malcolm had a very spicy pasta dish

 

and I had chicken and bacon risotto

 

both meals were delicious ....... and we were so full, we didn't have room for dessert.  We went for a stroll round the town, and I was able to take some photos which I couldn't in the afternoon because it was so busy!

 

we had a busy day on Sunday before heading back home ....... I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

But to finish ........ fanfare and roll of the drums ......... the winner of the little givaway.  Or, winners, because there are two!  They both forgot the same thing, and when you read what it was they forgot, you may think that they should be punished not given a prize!!  Sarah admitted that while under pressure sitting exams, she forgot her mother's birthday, and Meredithe admitted that when planning their first overseas trip, she didn't just forget her mother's birthday, but her 70th birthday!  I have decided to share the Herdie stitchmarkers with them, and there just might be a little something else in the parcels!