I’m back again

I’ve not much stitching progress to report really. Following the successful replacement of pacemaker and its associated wiring my right arm/shoulder is sore and stiff.   Not helped by the fact that when I was out on my walk at the beginning of the week I took a tumble and my upper right arm was the cushion in the fall.  Slowly I am coming right but it was a shock.   The cardiology technician checked me out and everything is still in place and I’m ticking away.

However the DBEM has been assiduously knitting and I have been doing my part in sewing up the garments and ensuring that they are completed ready to put away in ‘the box’.   I feel hugely successful in having assisted in reducing her yarn stash to one small plastic bag, thereby ensuring that any unwanted knitting inheritance will be minimal:)

I was not allowed to drive at all for a couple of weeks so was grateful for dry days that I can get out and walk.   Frosty mornings are not so welcome but I have jonquils, freesias and daffodils blooming in the garden so Spring can’t be too far away.   The roses are still flowering generously but in a couple of weeks when my arm is better I will prune them back.  Surely by the end of July any danger of frost will be past.

And I am bored with the Kogin and not really yet hooked on the fine cross stitch so I’m thinking of what I can do next.  This seems unreasonable given I have four projects currently in progress so I’m trying to keep calm and continue with what I’m doing. 

Anyway, one Kogin luncheon mat is completed and the other about half done.   When I am next out I will look for suitable fabric to back these and we can begin using them.

The cross stitch bag is very fine work and progress is slow but I like the DMC930 on this vintaged beige/cream linen and really want to make this bag so will persist, however slowly.

And now I'm off to pick up a dropped stitch for the DBEM and then add a few crosses to mine.

Kogin and Cross Stitch

 It’s about time for another catch up - at least to record progress on my stitching.   Currently I am obsessed with Kogin and with some of what’s left of the red Lugana I am making two tray mats.   The DBEM and I usually have our evening meal on a tray in front of the television so we will appreciate a new cloth each for that.   There are many stitches in these so this is a long term project and we will continue to use our old ones meanwhile :) I am stitching one "diamond" on each mat first as the book needs to go back to the library and I can then copy my stitching to complete the mats.

Many years ago I found the instructions for a folding etui on a French blog and carefully kept the instructions.   

Then more recently I burrowed down a Pinterest hole and found this.   

So I have started a new sewing/stitching/project bag.   In DMC930 I am stitching over one thread of fabric on 28 count Cashel linen so this too will not be a quick finish.

And the weather has turned bitterly cold and my head and ears get really cold on my daily walk so I am knitting myself a beret in left over yarn.   I’m not a fan of knitting in the round and as this is definitely a “ needs must” project I’m going to knit it flat and put a seam up the back.  

Today was sunny (but still bitterly cold) and I managed to get my lawns mowed and also a quick pulling of weeds in the vegetable garden.   There are carrots ready and broccoli and silverbeet coming on apace.   The leeks are doing well but it is a slower race with those!   In the flower garden I still have roses blooming at the same time as the daffodils are in bud.   Our weather has certainly been strange this year.   Next week I am scheduled for my pacemaker lead replacement (finally I hope) and so won't be mowing lawns or doing gardening for a couple of weeks.   I'm working my way through a "must do before the 30th" list of jobs.   Tomorrow the weatherman has promised fine but cold so I may be outdoors again and the baking and other indoor jobs can wait until the wet weekend.

Progress on all fronts

 First up a confession -  I have not fallen in love with Deruta Sfilato :-)   However I am delighted to have managed to decipher the instructions and to translate the drawings into linen and thread. There are four solitary 'blossom' to go in each corner and then the filling stitch to complete this piece.   An antique hemstitch border completes the piece which I think will just live in my drawer.   But all in all I am pleased and after sufficient break I may try another piece or even another style of drawn thread work. There are several more pieces of fine linen in my stash which are very suitable for this type of stitching.

And I have started a set of Kogin coasters for a Christmas Gift.   The recipient doesn't know I have a blog so I'm quite safe showing you this.   All five will be the same design and will be stitched into squares although I have yet to decide on a backing fabric.   In Japan there are usually five in any set of kitchen or house wares so I will make five despite the fact that New Zealand generally has sets of six or twelve.  Japanese stitching needs to adhere to Japanese convention I think.

I have the fabric and threads ready for an Acorn Needlework Etui -  the chart for this was in four successive issues of Fine Lines back in 2003!!  Does anyone else remember this magazine?    I was so sorry when it went extinct.    For all these years I have kept the chart and suitable linen so at long last I am about to push the start button on this project.   The first piece is 27" by 9" on honeycomb stitch which forms the bag and creates the Acorn Cap for the top of the etui.   Confused?  I promise to show progress photos once I begin.   I don't intend to put the HNG in the branches of the tree either -  more branches would be better I think.

The instructions prescribe Gloriana threads but in the end the cost of obtaining those was prohibitive and The Ribbon Rose was able to provide a Threadworx alternative that I am happy with so I'm almost organised enough to begin.   I'm looking forward to this one -  but the Deruta needs to get finished first otherwise I will have too many projects on at one time.   Currently I have three in my basket and that is really two too many for my peace of mind :-)

Fiasco

What do they say? Measure twice cut once?  When I started the login for the pencil case I only eyeballed the width and in true Kiwi fashion "she'll be right".   But she wasn't!  Far too wide for a pencil case.

Nothing daunted I carried on, as if further depth would somehow negate the width problem.   It didn't!

So a quick trip to OfficeMax for a notebook and the pencil case will become the book cover.

Next I measured and tacked on a new base layout for a pencil case and made a start.   This WILL be a success - I hope.
And you know what - pattern darning such as this kogin has resurrected my old shoulder problems and I have a very painful right shoulder.   Don't tell the DBEM as I have to help her with her knitting quite often too😀
But I had a very enjoyable time with Ian Rankin last night - well worth the walk into the city and the student-filled bus home.

And off we go...

Yesterday I made a start on the Kogin and am quite pleased with the way this is turning out.  The black thread looks a great contrast on the ecru linen
The front, or what I have determined as front is darker

But Kogin is great that the back looks as good as the front.

This is highly addictive.  I'm off to do some more now.

The next "adventure"

Some years ago I received an embroidered pencil case from my boss' wife.   It has been in regular use in my handbag ever since.   But alas!  The inside has a plastic-feel fused lining which now is rather sticky to touch.   Time for a new one.

I dug through my stash knowing that I had no navy fabric suitable but this ecru lugana should serve the purpose.  

DMC perle #8 in black should give a suitable contrast.  And if I cannot imitate the embroidery from the case itself, this book of Kogin patterns should surely provide something :-)
I have microsuede for lining and a zip and matching binding so this little project will cost me nothing but time.
So when my hardanger is finished....off I go on Japanese kogin adventure.

Kogin and Sashiko

I have finished my July page for the NMMSAL and it is now sewn into the book.  
Kogin is Japanese darning and provides a beautifully neat reverse side as well but of course I had to stitch it in before I photographed it ;-)  You will have to take my word for that.

And a close up.   I stitched this piece on a scrap of beige Binca fabric bought in Japan over 20 years ago and used navy sashiko thread also from Japan.  

The Sashiko piece is stitched and prepped for me to quilt this.   I intend to trace concentric circles on this and quilt lightly- hopefully emulating a piece of work I saw on the internet some time ago.   Quilting and I have an unhappy relationship so this plan may not work -  we shall see.

And tonight I pulled together a few bits and pieces from stash for yet another Christmas Ornament. 

I am truly joyful to use up bits and pieces!   And tonight while I watch New Tricks and my favourite Amanda Redman I will be plying the "needles without eyes" for a new summer sweater.   It is cold and mid-winter here but I can dream can't I?