A Bit of Sewing

Hello Folks!

This week, I have mostly been making face coverings, as in the UK we are now required to wear them in shops.  The one with foxes on is for Miss Clicky and the penguins for me.

For the men, I popped into town and bought some dark navy, although I couldn't resist lining them with some prints.  Who knows they might reverse them and be bright!  The flowery one on the bottom is my Mum's.

Lastly these two coverings are to go to America for Mister Clicky and one of his (female) English colleagues.  They have to cover up in the communal areas of the office now and he requested Union Jacks.

I've been working on my summer Craftpod.

I love receiving Craftpods.   

They are beautifully packaged.

The colours of the threads made me want to start straight away, so I did!

I finished the Summer Meadow hoop off last week, sitting in the sun in the garden, listening to England playing West Indies on Test Match Special.

Lavender, ferns, Cornflowers, Wild Carrot, Chamomile.

As always, this his been a pleasure to stitch.  I learnt a new stitch, a Bullion Knot, sort of a long French Knot, for the lavender.  I got better after a few!  The fern took a few evenings to complete but worth the time spent I think.

There are two projects in each box and the other one is a zip pouch with the Camomile embroidered on.  I haven't decided whether to make this, or just use the fabric to embroider some more small hoops.

Also included was a Chamomile Tea Bag and a botanical print, which I am going to frame and put up in our spare room.

I've also finished off some Lavender Houses from a Corinne Lapierre Kit that I bought a while ago.

Again, everything was included in this kit, stuffing, lavender, felt, thread and needle.  I have enough pieces of felt left to make another house too I think.

My M-I-L passed a birthday milestone the other week so I made her a card.  I've still not cracked freestyle machine embroidery, something on the list to learn.

Master Clicky has at last, been able to play cricket for his club.   He has been like a caged animal over the last few months but thankfully he is now released.

I am visiting a friend for a cuppa this week, I'm not sure whether we will be inside or outside, of indeed what the rules are any more, but I'm sure we'll muddle through.  

Going into shops still isn't particularly pleasant but it's getting better, I might try it next week.

See you soon..........Clicky Needles.

What I've Been Up To Lately

Hello there.

As I mentioned in my last post I have some finished things to show you.  

I have been really enjoying sewing and embroidery lately.  I popped this kit into my suitcase when I came out here in August as it didn't take up much room.  I have had this kit for years ~ I think it may be 25 (!) 

It is called Hedgebank, with Buttercups, Nettles, Campion and Bluebells in a blue wool.

The kit was designed to be put in a rectangular frame but I used a hoop and embroidered the edges of the scene instead.

After that I found this set of three on Amazon.  The kits came with everything that was needed including the hoop.  There were three long needles included but they could've been a bit sharper, I bent one of the needles trying to get six strands of thread through a French Knot.   I've not come across using all the strands of thread before.

The hoop is large ~ 8" and it only took two days to complete.  Despite the needle bending I really enjoyed the stitching.

The embroideries are displayed together on our apartment wall giving a much needed bit of colour.  I'll complete the other two in the spring when I'm back again.

I finally got round to sorting out a new motor for my lovely 1916 Singer 66 Redeye.  Despite penetrating oil and elbow grease we were unable to remove the screws from the old motor so I bit the bullet and bought a new one.   It was easy to fit and she was up and sewing within a few minutes.  Of course, she is a joy to use.  

I decided to make a grocery bag using this this Walmart one as a pattern.

I snapped up a bargain sheet set in Walmart and used the fabric.  I wanted the bag to be able to stand up, so it could fit onto the carousel that they use at the checkouts, so I added batting that I already had, quilted all the pieces and added a lining.  I realise that this is probably over engineered but it gave me a chance to do some wavy quilting for the first time on my machine.  The result?  Well, I'm pleased with it, and after finishing I realised it is insulated as well.  When it gets dirty, just chuck it in the washing machine.

Whilst I was falling down the black hole that is Pinterest the other day I came across some rather nice fabric boxes.  As I was lacking in something to keep my necklaces and earrings this was the perfect solution.

I took the 5 minute walk to Hobby Lobby and found some pretty grey fabric.  There was such a wide range I wanted it all.

I used this pattern.  There was a little bit of swearing and they are far from perfect but things are looking neater.

I'm back to the UK in one and a bit weeks so I am trying to finish the quilt I started with the blue jelly roll. 

We have been invited to a Halloween Party on Saturday, so I am sewing a costume for that.  That sounds rather grand, actually it's a net skirt.  I am really looking forward to it, as Halloween isn't quite the same back home and I am keen to experience it US style.

Finally, a tree in Fall colours with a beautiful blue sky.  As much as I love summer, I love Autumn too.

Have a good week.............Clicky Needles.

A Bit of Needlework

Hello there!

I am writing this Stateside my home for the next few months.  There was the usual faff at O’Hare immigration which doesn’t get any easier, even with a visa.  I have settled into life at the apartment in Chicagoland well.  Mr Clicky goes off to work and I get up to whatever I fancy.  There are days by the pool, which I have mostly to myself especially now the kids have gone back to school, I read, knit, crochet and sometimes just sit.  It has been very hot, which also means thunderstorms so on those days I craft and watch box sets.

Back in in the UK I completed this little embroidery which was free in the May edition of Molly Makes.  I hadn’t done embroidery for quite some time and found that I really enjoyed it.  It’s less than perfect, I found cutting the felt tricky but I’m pleased, all the same.

I thought I would have a try at a Craftpod, a quarterly creative subscription box.  Details here.

Craftpod

I was very excited to see what it contained when it dropped through the letter box. 

It was beautifully packaged.

It was bee themed.  Inside it contained; DMC embroidery threads, fabric and hoop for a bee embroidery, such a cute bee pin, a notebook, a recipe for honey and ricotta cheesecake and a fruit teabag.

I put it away what with having a wedding to organise and packed it into my suitcase.  It was apparent that the stunning stitching in this kit was going to stretch me.

I need to do this with no contact lenses in, as the stitches are very tiny and my lenses are no good for really close work, so I do it in the evening or first thing in the morning before my lenses go in.  Here is my progress so far.  I have learnt that you need to stitch over the pencil lines not up to them as they will show, so I might be going over the outlines of the flowers at the end.  Progress is slow, but I am enjoying it, I listen to podcasts and before I know it, an hour will have passed.

Tomorrow Mr Clicky has a one night business trip to Grand Haven, in Michigan which is 5 hours away by car, so I am going along for the ride.  It will be my first time in Michigan, I am planning on heading to the beach.

See you soon........Clicky Needles.

P.S.  I think I have, at last, found an app to allow you the blog from an iPad, so this is a bit of a test.  Let’s hope it works!