Flibbertygibbet

All over, creation*

There's been much making going on around here lately.  When I am supposed to be doing something [writing] I find it only works when I can also procrastinate doing other stuff. Thankfully this time around, mostly creative stuff rather than watching TV.

In the midst of Nano, I decided that my daddy is too lovely and indeed too good to me to not get socks for Christmas.  Here's hoping he actually does like the ones he's had in the past because he's getting another pair. I asked lovely Jon of Easyknits some very silly questions about yardage trying to work out how to do my normal top-downs before finally giving in and going for toe ups.  I'm trying the Sherman heel - really, Lucy, I'm trying, I promise. Hating it.  Having lousy problems with the k enc and p enc stitches, I think I'll need a live tutorial.  The good thing is that I'm being a supercheat and these have gone up really quickly on 3.5mm needles.  Here's Dad's chocolate lime socks.

I'm casting on a second pair - in plums and custard - for the present pile.  Maybe a present to me.

I stayed up far too late on Friday night trying to work out the heel.  The next morning I was probably a bit distracted when I was packing up for the long awaited quilting course. I'd thought the sewing machine would fit in my wheelie bag, but no. So a big blue bag from the nation's favourite Swedish retailer came to the rescue.  I repacked everything and jumped on a train around to Kew Gardens.  Tikki Patchwork is a lovely little shop, worth the hour long train trip each way even if I spent the journey there screwing up the crochet cast on for the the Plums and Custard sock, just too tired. 

So I arrived on time, even after getting a little lost out the wrong side of the station.  Started unpacking and realised I'd forgotten something rather important - yup, you guessed it.  The bloody quilt top.  The tutor suggested I get my husband to run it over and it took quite the limit of my self-restraint to politely say "that's not an option". 
As for the class itself,  I had used most of the techniques before but it was a nice group of girls with some lovely projects to look at and would be great for beginners.   You can probably find most of the stuff on the internet but sometimes you need someone to show you in person (see Sherman heel above).   I don't think I picked up very much that I didn't know before but the whole point was that I spent some time on the quilt and feel inspired to do the next steps.

I trimmed, cut and basted it when I came home.  I'll give machine quilting another go.

Tiina helped me to cut the binding.  I think it's going to be very cute.

In the background of the first photo, you might see the fabric that's for another baby quilt.  I'm thrilled to say that four more beautiful bouuncing bambinos have arrived this week.  Hello to JR and Kelly (same day, in Munich and Blackpool), Mia and Sophie! All here safe now after some difficult births. Can't wait to meet them.

The other thing that sprang to life this month?  I won Nano.  My fingers are sore. But I'm happy.

*Almost the title of a novel by one of my favourite authors, Ruth Ozeki.  (she seems to have lost the middle initial between her first and second books)

Sleep-in Sunday

I kind of wish it was a sleep in day, but there's so much to do. Though it's a nasty, windy day so I'm most glad I food-shopped yesterday and don't have to go out today, even though I'd like to get a cinema trip in with Claire...

My Nano mojo sort of disappeared.  Back at work this week and was trying to settle back into it.  Also got out to see the girls on Wednesdays. On Thursday I was told that a job change/promotion that's been under discussion since June is now definitively on hold as there's a headcount freeze across the company. While I'm telling myself that I'm lucky to have a job and need to hold on to it, it irks me that they will also use this as a rationale to refuse a deserved payrise.  By now I expected as much but am still extremely disappointed and wish they'd never started discussing the promotion with me in the first place. However it has brought some clarity - I'm not saying it'll be work to rule but the beyond-the-call stuff is certainly out the window now.  Using my lunchbreak to write is a strong possibility too, so is actually taking a lunchbreak.   

Yesterday I picked up my machine (cotton caught underneath the hook race, all better) and got into the quilting ahead of next week.  I'm about halfway through the top now.  The section on the left is sewn, and the right side has been rearranged yet again since the photo was taken.  As you can tell it has been put together randomly and I think I've probably subconsciously placed the same fabrics beside each other in the strips. Would a plan have been better?  Probably.  Would that have been me?  Almost certainly not.  I'm reasonably pleased with it, as much as I ever am with something I'm making for myself. Of course the quilting, binding etc makes a big difference too.

 

There's been some knitting. 

Socks that have been on the needles for ever are just about done.  Just some Kitchener stitch required. I'd decided to give these to my grandmother for Christmas as she was thrilled with the last pair and she hasn't been very well of late. I've decided to send them on early because tiny granny feet are just as cold in early December as later on that month. 

There are other WIPs on the needles.

A:  Kusha Kusha scarf, and thanks to Thimbleanna for procuring the Habu Superfine Merino from Purl for me.

B:  Secret for the moment

C:  Those bloody bootees

This creation is still underway, I won't get it finished this term... more photos of the process when it's all done:

It's quite a small size and there's a lot of work yet to do but the process is fascinating. 

Now, I have a question for all of you.  When Thimbleanna and I met up, we were talking about the Fabric Swap, as that was how we 'met' (though I think it was Round 1) and she wondered if I was going to do it again.  So - is there anyone interested?  Details are in the link above but it would involve sending three fabric strips to two separate partners, often shipping internationally.  I'd envisage it taking place in January again, because of upcoming holidays and holiday post.  One additional rule - you have to have a blog that is regularly updated to participate.  I was burned by someone relatively well known on the last swap who turned out to be quite notorious and so I'd use my discretion this time.

Ok, almost 10:30.  Time to get typing. On nano. 

Just one more...

...week off would be lovely, thanks.  I can't quite understand how two weeks have flown past already.  I took off to Lewes for the bonfire celebrations and if I could find the UBS cable for my camera I’d show you tons of photos.  It’s calculated lunacy, complete with the random tossing of fireworks into the crowd (rook scarers thrown at your feet) and burning of the pope.  Well, not the pope.

The next few days were my start of Nanowrimo, interrupted by a weekend spent at a hen weekend (ice-skating; ice bar, dinner and a cheesy club that’s allegedly quite posh) and the commensurate hangover the next day. 

Since then it’s been a little crafting, slightly less housework, loads of writing.  I made some progress on my quilt, as long as I could work around the cat:

Frustratingly my sewing machine has developed a little hiccup and it’s pulling the main thread in around the bobbin race when the needle descends – I think it’s going to have to go away which is a bit of a pain.  I’ll have to run it over tomorrow so that it can be fixed in time for the quilting course on the 29th – of course the quilt top has to be done by then, as, largely does Nano.  Fun!

I'm making the lightning trip to Cardiff tomorrow, literally in time for the party and away home early the next morning.  I don't expect to know many people there at all, apart from the birthday boy and his wife - who are lovely -  so it's somewhat of an adventure.  But sometimes I need to get outside of my comfort zone.  All the way to Wales, it seems.

There are some knitting projects on the go too, some of which are thanks to ThimbleAnna for procuring supplies, and there are a couple of surprise things too.  It’s also time to start thinking about Christmas presents though I’m not sure there will be time for anything handmade this year, certainly not handknitted.  Any other suggestions?

An institution that might need to change

The old joke goes, marriage is an institution, and who wants to be in an institution.  Gah, hold my sides for me. It's not that I have anything against marriage, but I'm not so sure about the Knitting and Stitching Show, aka Ally Pally any more. If I hadn't been generally having a giggle with lovely Lucy, I think I might not have lasted so long - and we did manage to get around all of the halls.  We chose to take a day off work and head there on the Friday - and it was still relatively busy.  Were Saturday and Sunday mental?  I read some posts on Ravelry from vendors who said that they would be discounting on Sunday which makes me think that footfall was down. But at least we could get to stalls to browse.

After spending £12 to get in, I was a little disappointed  with the range of vendors.  Yes, there were some bargains to be had, such as grab bags of Jitterbug from Colinette and Koigu for a fiver from Get Knitted.  You know, yarn.  Stuff you use for knitting. Alongside it there was to be a preponderance of - well, complete crap, basically.  Nasty clothing.  Handbags that embodied the antithesis of 'handmade'.  I was utterly underwhelmed by the fabric offerings and didn't buy anything.

You could still find the odd gem, such as the Interior Anarchist cross stitch from Random Monkey Designs.  We'd been to an event he [Phil?] ran at 93 Feet East in Brick Lane a couple of Sundays ago, which was an afternoon of cupcakes, cross-stitch and cocktails.  Bless them, when we found the stall at Ally Pally, it was being manned by his lovely parents who had come over for the event (sidebar: I shudder to think how much it must be for a stall at AP) and they also reported that Phil had made all the cupcakes for the Sunday himself too.  Now that's talent.

Apparently they are hoping that Cross-stitch, Cupcakes and Cocktails will become a regular event on the first Sunday of the month. It was packed and such fun.  I have my eye on one of his kits that is about to be released - featuring a flight of ducks with one in a sniper's sight.  As we didn't fancy any of the other kits, we decided to ape his 'Bollocks' design and either go for mild profanities or epithets such as 'I'd rather be knitting'.  That was Lotta's contribution and she  had almost finished it in the time it took me to stitch out C-R-A (you can see where I was going with that) and Lucy went for a multicoloured BITCH.  There was a photographer there and when we got to AP, they had framed some of the coverage... can you see in the corner?

Lucy's work is famous! 

So it was worth it for that alone.  Plus Lucy got the perfect yarn for a very special project so that was a success.

In other news I'm trying to sort out stuff at work, get promoted and a payrise. Easy to type, slightly more to it IRL. The corsetry class continues apace and the next decision is whether to use steel boning or just Rigilene  - I think I'll probably try the former even though it's just a sample.  It's a sample because everyone in the class is making the same size, learning the techniques and I may as well learn to insert steel boning. The tutor alledges that it fitted women from sizes 8 to 14 last year but I can't see it adorning anything other than my dress form.  But it's fun.

I finished the Debonnaire beret in Posh Yarns cashmere which is fabulously elusive stuff. It's slouchy to the extreme but I'm actually really pleased with it. I'm also wearing the wrong side out because I like the pattern better.  Real knitters may shudder.  Don't look too closely.

Make it

A list of things to do yesterday morning en route to Islington meant an early start, before heading to the Make Lounge for their Leather Cinch Belt course.  But it was worth it...

Wow - it was such fun! Merle O'Grady, the tutor is a total sweetie, and so calm while six women wielded rubber mallets and splashed it-will-never-ever-come-off dye with abandon all around her. We all put a slightly personal twist on the belts - some of us used contrasting colours for the main part and the strap, others used rivets instead of buckles, and some of us just made the damn thing a little wonky.  'Don't worry,'  Merle told me comfortingly, 'nobody will see that bit because it's underneath'.  Therapy too!

There was a really nice group of people on the course (with another dozen upstairs making tea cup candles) and a lot of chat revolved around other crafts that people dabble in - jewellery making, stone sculpture, decoupage, japanese silk painting, cross stitch, etc. and Merle promised to send on a list of leather suppliers.  We were comparing notes on where to shop and most people were surprised at just how many names were bandied about - it makes me more surprised to think that anyone might not know some of these shops because hey, craft shopping takes up a considerable portion of my time, energy and salary, and I do know that the list I know is just scratching the surface. Most of my friends are crafty.  We are also complete enablers. So here's a start at putting together a London Craft Map - I've been to most of these places myself but would love to hear your suggestions for more, just email them to me.  I'll investigate and add!

Measure twice...

I started off with big blocks.

 

I was attempting to cut one big block from each strip, and then random sizes.  See above for proof of how random I'm not.  Am fearing the same thing will happen with colour placing.

So got to a nice stepped collection of strips.

And then started to sew them together without any plan which rapidly turned into red-colourful-neutral-red-colourful-neutral.  

They got stuck to the 'design wall'.

 

And edited.

Do the large blocks work?  I think I'm happy with them, just not in the very pale neutrals. Think they could be broken up more.  Next step is to place all the strips on the bed to see just so much coverage there is, and try to work out how to subtract the seam allowances whilst eyeballing it.  Already I am rapidly concluding that I won't have anywhere near enough fabric for the size of quilt that I was contemplating.  I have picked out another eight Katie Jump Rope FQs to add in.  To be sliced up and interspersed, naturally.  Randomly.  Oh god.

[I am under a deadline of sorts for this quilt :: I signed up for a 'Finishing your quilt' course which covers basting, backing and binding.  Now I just have to have a quilt top ready to bring along on 11th October...]

How it comes together

Recently I mentioned cutting: for ages I've been contemplating making a quilt for myself.  (For "contemplating" read "accumulating lots of fabric and supplies") One of the most useful things I bought was long quilter's pins - though I wouldn't recommend the online supplier I used as they only tell you after you've completed your purchase that they take 3-5 business days to ship, and in fact they take two weeks.  Harumph.

It starts here.

 

With some supervision.

I think it was Manda at Tree Fall who suggested using a fleece blanket as a 'design wall'.  I pinned folded half yards and fat quarters of fabric up there initially using the long pins, but it also works brilliantly for free form design when you have cut strips or pieces; as the fabric adheres to the fleece and you can reposition it easily (who else had Fuzzy Felt as a kid?)

This is trying to factor in neutrals.

And then I sort of abandoned that.  Now it seems like 1.5 inch strips will be the way to go.  Somehow it always comes together on the ironing board.  I realised the missing element was my most favouritest fabric ever, the Denyse Schmidt Flea Market Fancy that's hiding at the back.

Tomorrow we cut - assuming that I can repossess the cutting mat.

Whatcha been up to?

Culture with Abi

I didn't say 'high culture' as of course 'high camp' is more normally associated with the Wizard.   The production  has attracted a little controversy,  and I can't say I disagree with a lot of the criticisms but yes, the dog is great and more seriously it's worth going for the music alone which is utterly spellbinding.

Baking cupcakes with friends.  Finding Laura Marling's marrow and being bemused at and amused by Les Savy Favs at Field Day.  Sadly missing other lovely people's social occasions, from knitting operas to engagement parties.  Doing London Walks with my uncle and old colleagues, catching up on gossip - gossip was quality; walk was sadly not as interesting as previous outings. Plotting my first quilt for me; and starting to think about baby presents for the entire kindergarten class that's arriving Nov-Jan.  Eating really well and doing a ton of exercise.  Intending to blog more.  Preparing to buy lots of things from here for my new pursuit this autumn. Being excited about my new local, a resurrected pub which looks very promising.  Planning for Green Man.  Obsessively checking the weather forecast to see whether I need these.  Probably  more useful than ruby slippers.

Being made {{extremely happy}} by:

Thank you so much Kirsty, you immensely talented woman.

And by Dan Hillier:

 

Oh I do like to be...

beside the seaside, in a uncommonly blue-skied Whitby, for a dear friend's wedding.  An extremely stylish, personal, thoughtful day.

Her perfect pillbox hat was created especially for her by a wonderful milliner called Jessie Clifford.  The dress came from a vintage fair and she was stunned to get it for a bargain price (£40 I think) and it was fabulous - princess line ivory satin, and she was completely tickled by the pockets.  Utility designer wear. 

The reception took place in a semi-ruined castle in the middle of the moors.  I've never been so struck by colours in nature before but driving there through vast swathes of heather made me want to rush home and buy lots of Kidsilk aura in what I will now think of as Yorkshire colours.

The next day there was time to be a tourist, with a new friend I met at the bride's hen-day.  We were the two bold divorcees together and it was wonderful to have a partner in crime.  Also substantially cheaper to be able to share a room and fun to travel together.  You get a lot of knitting done on a four hour coach and train trip - more on that later.

And the trains there and back even ran on time.  Apart from perhaps this one:

There has been a little crafting...

The Clapotis in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk.  Cross one Christmas present off the list.  I've gone back to the angora one and it's coming along nicely.

Had a fit today with the kitchen fitter (I thought he was coming to the flat, he thought I was coming to the office) and I've pretty much decided to go down the Ikea route.  Helen gave me a good recommendation but I think I can't afford the designer options.  But I am feeling quite optimistic about the plans...it's off to Ikea for me on Saturday morning. Wish me luck...

 

For Emile

A little more modern than some of the other quilts I've done but I'm really pleased with it.  Lots and lots going on at Flib Towers, all pretty much good news - more on that later.  Definitely by Friday, I'm slightly sworn to secrecy on some of it....