August Goals Wrap Up and Stitching Progress

I just had a little read of my August goals to see how I went.

My One Monthly Goal was smashed, which I was really pleased about.

My Rainbow Scrap Challenge was also achieved early in the month.

I mentioned that I had some hand stitching option and needed to start some knitting or crochet.  Nothing else was set as a goal, seeing as we would be travelling.  I prepped quite a few things to take away with me.  There would be nothing worse than running out of projects while travelling…….as if.

Well, I have done better than I expected.

Firstly, I made a knitted eyelet lace covered coat hanger. How this came about, was that I was looking for some plastic tubing to cover coathanger hooks, which is getting hard to find and I came across some in the little craft shop in Coolah.  However, in the bag of bits and bobs was also quite a bit of the eyelet lace.  I’ve never tried knitting with the lace, so why not give it a try.  This was a very low cost project, as the wool was in Mum’s stash, I have oodles of timber coat hangers from when Mum use to make fabric covered coat hangers for a craft shop in the past and I have no shortage of batting off cuts to pad them.

What next?

I had seen that several ladies had added one more hexy flower to the centre of their Laundry Basket Quilts Mystery Quilt, so I thought I would too.  It didn’t take too long while sitting in our camp site at Mundi Mundi.

Next…. The Sashiko would be fairly simple to work on.  However, I wasn’t really enjoying it as the needle wasn’t working smoothly.  I had bought some special sashiko needles and when I ran my finger over the tip there was a burr.  Blast!  I got another out of the packet.  Every single one of them had a burr on the tip!  Not happy!  Fortunately, I had a chenille needle with me that was a suitable size.  Problem solved.  Now it was easy to stitch.

On the Thursday, when we sat down at the concert I noticed a young girl a few seat up from us working on a crochet giant granny square and another lady a few rows in front knitting a rug, so I went and got mum Sashiko.  A rather pleasant way to watch the concert.

I was going so well that I actually completed the panel that evening, once we were back at the van.  I’ve no idea what I will do with it, but I really enjoyed working on it.  Now, I’m itching to start the other panels I have at home.  What a pity I didn’t bring them with me.

Friday, being so cold, made me think of beanies.  I had the pattern and making for a beanie in my crafting basket.

I made a start while sitting in the queue, waiting for the gates to the concert area to open.  Yes, it really was freezing.

I didn’t get much done that day, it was just too cold.  More was done after the concert, back in the warmth of the van.

Saturday, saw me working madly on it.  I wanted to get to the crown shaping.

I didn’t get it finished that day, but it was all done and dusted on Sunday.

Mick has declared he likes the colour and it is nice and soft, so it is now his.  It is probably a bit too big on me.  I do like the way the crown decreases work.

I’m glad I didn’t have to pay him to be my model, seeing he is so cheeky.

I hadn’t expected to achieve nearly this much, but not having internet connection is rather good for productivity.

Now what?  I was starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel, or craft basket as the case may be.

I had popped in a couple of redwork Christmas stitcheries that were already traced.  That would do.  I must say I did slow down, as it took me several days to complete.  I miss having my really good LED light with me.

Now I was really struggling to find inspiration.  

I had popped in some sock wool and a started sock that I found in Mum’s stash, so have done a tension swatch, while sitting by the sea, ready to knit some socks…….and that is as far as I have got with them.  I’m not really enthused at the moment, so have packed them away for another day.

I’ve done nothing for the past three days.  This evening I have started another redwork Christmas stitchery, after I remembered that I had indeed packed my small LED lamp.  I’ll plug away slowly at it.

How am I going with my 15 minutes a day?

15 minutes a day/week = 4/7

15 minutes a day/August = 28/31

15 minutes a day/2023 = 228/242

Success rate = 94.42%. Down a bit, but still not too bad.

On the non stitching front, I have read 2 books and listened to an audio book.

I found this in a street library yesterday and read it yesterday.  A cozy crime story.  I also picked up another in the series and look forward to reading it too.

I found this 1931 book in a street library and absolutely loved it, especially as it was set in the area we were travelling in.  I will read it again, slowly, when we return home.  It’s a keeper.

I mentioned the audio book earlier and, as I said, it was a bit gruesome at the start.  We started to listen to the next in the series and I turned it off.  Too gruesome for me, although Mick likes them.

And that is a wrap for August. Now to plan for September, which will take a bit of thinking about.

I’ll just also mention another lady I met at the Mundi Mundi concert doing some crafting.  Isn’t it beautiful.  I wouldn’t be game to try and concentrate on such detailed colour work while sitting at a concert.  She even kindly gave me the pattern.