Monthly Round Up-May

Each month I like to keep a record of what I have been reading, watching, making and places I have been so that I can look back and see what I achieved and even how quickly time is going by. I normally.record it on my planner as a list but on here I can also put photos on.

Places I have been

At the beginning of the month I went with Craig and Emma to see Mary Poppins. There were a few changes to the original story but it was still very enjoyable and the cast were amazing.

As it was the school holidays and Craig took a week off as well we went for a few days out to The British Ironworks Centre

Erdigg Hall near Wrexham

and into Manchester to see amongst other things the John Rylands Library 

What I have watched

What I have Read

I listened to this book and it was the abridged version so a lot shorter than the book itself. I might get round to actually reading the full story as I did enjoy what I read.

This was the last book in the series. They were all large books and took a long time to get through. Interesting mix of fact and fiction.

I needed something light and easy to read and I just love the whole Agatha Raisin series. Busy Body was a re-read as I read it out of sequence and As the Pig Turns was the most gruesome of the stories so far.

What I have made.

I seem to have lost my crafting mojo a bit this year but I have also been working on some big projects that are taking a long time to complete. I have been wanting to make something to cover the shelves. I had to remove the doors to the cupboard as when we bought a new gas oven, the pipe was at a different angle which meant it was not flush with the cupboards and it was very difficult to get into this corner unit as I could not open the doors fully enough to reach inside easily. The Alice in Wonderland fabris was left over from a dress I have made.

My First Finished Craft Project of 2021

 

As well as the long-term projects I have already mentioned I also like to do some quick projects that I can achieve in a weekend. This helps to keep my crafting motivation going whilst tackling the bigger ones.

I have had this Cath Kidston book for a few years and it came with the items needed to make a pocket sewing kit. I am on a decluttering mission this year and this book was one of the ones I had targeted to donate. I decided that I wanted to make the kit before I made the final decision and looking at the other projects included.

I have never done anything that needed bias binding so thought it would be good practice for when I have the quilt binding to do. I found it okay to do though it is not even all the way round and the instructions as a complete beginner for going around the curved edges needed further investigation with regards to easing and stretching (thank goodness for Youtube).

The finished object isn’t perfect. I was distracted when I was making the pockets and just used the same colour thread as the binding rather than white so it does stand out. The binding isn’t even and I did have issues going around the bends.

One thing that is not my fault is the pattern on the fabric. When folded the pattern is upside down, unlike the photos in the book. The bottom pocket even when opened is still upside down. The illustrations in the book do reflect this but it looks like the fabric in the photos have been cut differently. If it was a plain fabric or did not have a directional pattern then it would be fine.

I also decided to use press stud fastening rather than the loop and button purely because for something like this item I prefer this.

It is made as a pocket sewing kit but I won’t be using it for that purpose. I think initially I will be putting a face mask and hand sanitiser in the pockets and keeping it in my handbag so that the masks can be kept tidy and ‘clean’.

I don’t think I will keep the book as there are only a couple of projects that I would want to make so I will photocopy the ones I would make and then donate the book to charity.

My Knitting and Sewing WIP's

 Last year whilst I was furloughed I taught myself how to knit as I read and watch a lot of people who seem to like to knit and sew. My sewing skills are pretty basic but I did manage to make 3 dresses that were by no means perfect but I could wear them. I had attended a beginners dressmaking course several years ago but never really made the time to do any dressmaking after that until last year. I will go more into that in another post. I have never knitted but one of the WI's a attend has a regular knit and Natter group which I decided to attend just before we went into lockdown last year and all sessions were cancelled. Thank goodness for Youtube is all I can say when I needed help.

I don't like to have lots of projects that I am working on at the same time as generally I prefer to focus on one project at a time. However, as I am such a slow knitter I have two on the go to prevent me from getting bored. 

I am currently working on a baby cardigan for my niece whi is expecting a baby girl in June. It is the second time I have knitted this pattern and it is pretty basic and perfect for a beginner like me.

The pattern is from Sirdar and I found it free on Hobbycraft's website. It should be knitted in Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK but following advice from my Mum I am just using Baby 100% acrylic as it is much more practical especially knowing my niece. 

My second knitting project I saw on Create and Craft. It is the Courthouse Steps blanket by Deramores. You buy the whole kit so all you have to provide is the knitting and yarn needles. I chose this project as I have never changed colour or picked up stitches and again it is perfect for a beginner. The colours aren't necessarily all ones I would chose myself but I am looking forward to being able to snuggle down  whilst watching TV at night.

I will need to block all the separate pieces to ensure they are all the same size before sewing together, again something I have never really done.

For several years at the WI quilting club I have been working on a hand stitched English Paper Piecing quilt and I had reached the stage where I was putting all the hexagon flowers I had made together separated by white hexagons. Lockdown then happened and it was the one project I could not be bothered to work on. However this year is a different matter, I am determined to get the whole quilt finished by the end of the year. My aim is to have all the heaxagons sewn together before the WI are hopefully allowed to re-open in the summer so that I can get the help I need to even the sides up and with the binding. This will then go on my bed for evenings when it is too warm to have a duvet on but I would need more than a sheet.

( I must apologise for the way it looks as it has been folded up in a small bag for nearly a year)

I am hoping to get both my knitting projects completed by Easter as I do have other things I wish to work on and by the end of the year I want to learn how to knit socks.

How many WIP's do people generally have and if you have a large amount what are your reasons? I would love to know.