Flibbertygibbet

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!

Lost weekend

With the exception of trying on beeyoutiful corsets (inspiration for my new course starting tomorrow) and wandering Brick Lane a little with Lotta, I didn't do very much over the weekend. Except knit.  Here's the current progress:

This beret pattern from Debonnaire is on the needles at the moment,  I bought it at I Knit day.  Now I'm sort of wondering whether I should have gone for this one because I did want something flippier, floppier I think.  I'm knitting it in Posh Yarns cashmere from last year - I meant to try to log on at 6pm on Sunday to score some more of  either the Sophia 4ply sock weight cashmere or the Eva 4ply sock weight which is a silk and cashmere mix because damn it, on this first day of autumn, my feet are bloody cold.  Mother, if you're still tuning in here, consider that my Christmas list. Pretty Polly and Pillar Box - yum. I'll persevere with the beret. I have learned to embrace frogging.  It will be ok. 

After frogging the purl soho socks I picked up the airplane socks again and they are coming along nicely.  Ironically enough they may be flying off to someone else when they are done.

Anyone else got a new iPod? Genius really is very clever.  And it's super cute.  Though shaking it to shuffle is a little counter-intuitive because that is normally what you do when this-stupid-thing-doesn't-work-any-more and I'm hoping that won't be the case for a while. 

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...]

Gratuitous photo of cute dog

Dusty Dog
Originally uploaded by Flibbertygibbet

Hi Mum.

Just sayin'...

x

Loving London

Abi and I went to the Thames Festival yesterday, to watch swing dancers and burlesque artists, and admire shimmying sailors and homemade period frocks.  Squinting in the sunshine, drinking complimentary hot chocolate (though we queried the environmental impact of giving each person a one-use only plastic card to redeem their free drink).  Loving all that London has to offer.  The music made me want to take dance classes - but I do know my limitations. 

Toady socks

Despite their brush with fame I just couldn't do it.  Couldn't bear to look at these fugly socks any longer.  They've been on the needles such a very long time and they were the first project I cast on after the RSI calmed.  I persecuted myself about the colour bleed and convinced myself I could live with it - after all, we all need bedsocks, right? (Helen understands).

Kate at Foyles said that they would probably act as a talisman, as soon as I started wearing them to bed I'd be bound to meet a lovely man and negate the need for them - the 'get lucky' socks, as it were.  

That just wasn't enough. Out at Ottolenghi for melt-in-the-mouth tuna, caramelised squash and delish baked cheesecake, I was looking at Lucy and Lotta's very pretty socks and thought: life is too short for fugly handknits.  Never mind that the yarn came from NY.  Never mind that you have been knitting them for m-o-n-t-h-s. Never mind that they've been touched by the Harlot.  The bleed, the differences across two skeins from the same dye lot, the general why didn't I just stick with good old stocking stitch bleughness - too much.

After ripping one back I did the other thing I should have done months ago - I emailed Purl and asked them about it.  I got an instant response to say that yes there had been a problem with a batch of Lorna's Laces in Blackberry last year and they thought they'd caught them all.  They offered store credit to spend in person (oh, how I wish) or online.  Now why didn't I sort this out before?  Never mind.

What to cast on now?  Socks?  Hat?  Scarf?

Or just get on with the quilt...

Whoops I did it again, again

So you know how I said I'm not venturing into any more new crafts, because I have too much stuff and not enough time?

But-but-but-but-but-but...I've always wanted to try Kool-Aid dyeing.

And I think that learning Photoshop would really help me for work.

There could be some other uses for those skills too.  Ahem <SpoonflowerBetaTester> cough.  

 

Honey, I spent the housekeeping

It's lucky that the cats don't cost too much to feed as I completely smashed, decimated, obliterated the budget at I Knit Day 2008.  It's ok, they like yarn (I know this because each day when I come home they have dragged something else out of the WIP basket to play with) so they'll forgive me - besides, I buy the cat food (ten minutes before Tesco closes, practically wearing my pyjamas, because I got so stuck into socks this morning) and so therefore I retain some measure of authority around here.  In that vein, I think I shocked a fellow Raveller yesterday when I said something along the lines of it was worth getting divorced to get a craft room.  Anywaaaaaaaaaaaay...

The queue.  At 10:45.  Apparently within an hour it was around the block, and around the block again.

A soft murmur filled the air - the sound of silk being revered, lace being admired, sock yarn being pawed, and Claire spontaneously shrieking 'There he is!' when we saw Jon EasyKnitter.  I bought three skeins from him:  lushness (stored on Ravelry)

We took time out to make pom poms for peace.  And for a seat, I admit it.  Tiring, this spending a fortune and yarn-pimping lark. 

As this particular adventure was a last-minute decision, my only option had been an 'exhibition only' ticket.  I had a good feeling though - so I asked at the front desk whether there had been any cancellations. And what do you know... I also scored a Ravelry badge as one of the girls at dinner the night before said that Alice Socktopus had ordered a huge bag and she was giving them away with purchases - so one set of Pattern Tamers later...

Cassandra knits furiously to get the dishcloth finished.  While everyone else sits in anticipation.  Whilst knitting, naturally.

She was priceless.  Really, really funny and with some serious points to make.  Partly about not committing felonies by assaulting people who don't 'get' knitting (I'm paraphrasing and condensing here - paradensing) but also about how in fact we're actually doing something that benefits our brains, enhances creativity, engenders patience, and provides us with a supply of superb gifts when we get the gauge wrong. She had a strong message about how the muggles just don't get it, and that's ok.  Because as we could see and feel, as we sat as a group listening, laughing, knitting and empathising, we know that we're right and they're off fishing and that's just standing in water.  Sod the people who don't understand it. Despite what a Cambridge study may say, we know that there is such a thing as emergency knitting, and yes it does fit in your bag.

  

ETA: was listening to Craft Sanity and in her interview, Cat Bordhi alludes to the more scientific side of Stephanie's talk and it may be the subject of a future podcast.  I think it's something she normally talks about when she does one of these big events, but for anyone who's not going to make it to one soon, look out for it.

Out on the town

Last night I was invited to a corporate hospitality do at the Open Air Theatre, to see a production of Gigi.  It was suitably atmospheric, with a backdrop of trees bathed in pastel light in the darkness, and fairylights strung through the bushes (unlike the sunshine of the press photos above).  The occasional drunk who could be heard shouting in Regent's Park didn't detract...much.  From our position up in the gods it was difficult to see the performers' faces clearly, but gradually the identity of the actor  with the distinctive voice playing the uncle revealed itself - Topol, who was wonderful, as were Millicent Martin and Linda Thorson.  I found myself suffering from severe milinery envy for most of the ensemble's fabulous hats.

We all agreed that the pair playing Gigi and Gaston were somewhat irritating and everyone in the audience had a rueful chuckle at 'Thank Heaven For Little Girls'.  Can't imagine something similar coming up in the next Disney flick. 

Tonight I joined a group of Ravellers, mostly from out of town for a dinner organised by Claire, ahead of tomorrow's I Knit Day.  Great tapas, great chat.  A relatively early night to get ready for tomorrow...lots to do.  Sewing machine shop (just returning a DVD. Definitely, not buying anything...No.) Off to Victoria and then more culture tomorrow night.  And puppets...

Git me some learnin' with my guilty pleasures

It's always a case of 'in for a penny, in for a large quantity of money'* with me.  I've signed up for three courses for the autumn (shudder - where did summer go? I feel gypped).

Two casual encounters** with The Make Lounge - morning or evening courses - how to make the 'Naughty Knickers' pictured above; and making a leather cinch belt which solves the issue of trying to find the perfect one in the shops (oh lordy, ICouldMakeThatitis strikes again.  Just this time it's with a qualified teacher and all the materials provided, woo-hoo).  I realise I even have some of the wide lace above, found a couple of years ago in a dead end/end of bolt store at the sketchier end of Broadway, though now secreted in some box somewhere.  Somewhere in the recently tidied craftroom.  Somewhere. 

You know, just don't do it kids.  You tidy your workspace and ok, you get neatly packed boxes of crafty potential, stacked in an orderly fashion that allows you easy access to all those rediscovered treasures. But you also get Stash Guilt.  Guilt akin to Carrie Manolo v's apartment moment at the eye-popping amount of $$$ tied up in twinkle-of-my-eye projects, and the unfulfilled promise contained in glitter, sparkles, textiles and yarn accumulated over weeks, months, years across neighbourhoods and continents, on road-trips, foraging in bricks and mortar shops the old fashioned way, lurking on Etsy and trawling blogs for inspiration. 

Soon you gleefully  - desperately? - grasp any occasion to bust the stash by 0.002% to justify an entire room full of craft supplies.  And you replace the used supplies with four new items, usually completely different ones.  Possibly even for different crafts. But don't you just love the feeling when you can definitively say "Oh, I'm pretty sure I have some fold over elastic/vintage bakelite buttons/a medium purse frame/a packet of origami paper/Swarovski crystals in Palace Green Opal/a letterpress/silk ribbon at home that would be perfect".  I can't be alone in that, surely.  Nor would I change it.  I am the definition of 'all the gear no idea' and it's fabulous.  Yeah, I'm a material girl, or in fact a fabric girl who's spending too much time knitting at the moment. Or lying on the sofa, blogging***.  I'm guilty of too many knitting WIPs right now, more anon.  So tell me, what is the most obscure or prized item in your stash - inspire me to use some of mine?

And a slightly longer relationship with the possibly less glamorous Hackney Community College  is also in the offing - on a well-regarded course in Corset Making.  Sweet friends think that I will be taking custom orders - ah, how lovely for people to have confidence in you!  Mind you, I did see a wonderful red top hat today - perhaps I need to make a matching corset and create an occasion to wear it to - might even be willing to dress all the party-goers!  Could also be stored up for the Wedding Event of the Year 2009...

*ok, these courses aren't so spendy - but that's without factoring in the supplies.  I probably have the silk but not the busks, boning, laces, eyelets... more shopping!  There should be some spare silk from this dress lurking around somewhere...

**  I could have said brief encounter.. but I held myself back, I did

*** Typepad is behaving slightly better.  I'm trying to do my part and blog more often again.  I thought I didn't have much to report lately but this outpouring seems to suggest otherwise.  If you're new, (you're brave) say hello.  Or 'hellp', as I just typed.