November Stitching Round Up

Another month has whizzed by and it is time to see what I managed to get done on the stitching front and how I went with my goals.

ONE MONTHLY GOAL

As previously mentioned, I did get my Table Runner completed, and for once, not at the last minute.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

Yes, I know that I had said I would have a little break until the start of next year, but I think the crumb pieced blocks I made will probably be used in the RSC in 2024. Does that count?

KNITTING OR CROCHET PROJECT

I have knitted two more lacy covers for coat hangers, but have not got around to padding the coathangers and finishing them off.  I really need to get stuck in and finish them soon.

This seems to be a month of fiddle fiddling and not necessarily finishing things.  Which, in other words, means that I have started yet another project, this time some crochet.

I went to a garage sale recently and came home with this basket of 8 ply acrylic oddments for the princely sum of $2, including the basket.  The colours are nice and bright and I wanted to have a play.  

I have decided to make a granny rug and use the treble spike stitch in some parts of the squares.  There is only enough for a small rug. Most of the acrylic I have in my stash is darker or more muted colours, so I may have to keep my eye out for some more oddments…….just what I need.  Anyway, it will be a good project to just pick up when I want something to work on without too much thinking.

This is what I have done so far.  Each square seems to take just under an hour to make.  I have quite a bit of cream yarn in my stash, so I may do a final round in that and use it to join the squares together…..or I might change my mind completely.  Who knows?

HAND STITCHING

I have already shared the little cross stitch that I stitched on the spur of the moment.

When I purchased the red holly Sashiko panel I also bought a Celtic inspired Christmas tree panel, which I have now stitched.  This needs to be turned into a wall hanging before Christmas.  I have found a suitable hanger stashed away, so just need to get in a get it done.  Once again, I think that the KISS principle will be best.  Let’s keep it simple.

As I was at a bit of a loose end as to what to take to my stitching mornings I picked up a project that has been languishing in my sewing room for far too long.

This little stitchery has done many miles on our holidays, but I never seemed to feel enthused to work on it.  I think the problem has been that I traced in on dark linen and it is hard to see.

The pattern is one by Jenny of Elefantz.  She designed it in 2017 from a quote I told her about.  The story goes that the high school I went to was the school that all the deaf kids in the district went to.  Their teacher was a keen photographer and they had a dark room and did quite a bit.  When I was in Year 12, they took a portrait photo of each of us and at our graduation there were posters around the wall of the venue with our portrait and a quote about us underneath.  This was the quote under mine.  It suited the theme that Jenny was exploring that year.

I still can’t say that I am enjoying  the process of stitching it, but will persevere, as the end result will be worth it.

USE MONIQUE

Yes, finally I have quilted another quilt.  This time it was the little Minnie Mouse quilt that I pieced last month.  I still have several more to do, but at least it is something.

The backing is a soft pink with a paisley design in white.  Once again I have just used the swirly pantograph.  It seems to work on most quilts.

DONATION PROJECTS

The Minnie Mouse quilt will be donated.

WIP/UFO

The Minnie Mouse quilt would count as a WIP and the “Quiet Life” stitchery very definitely falls into the UFO category.  Let’s hope we can move it to the completed list before too long.

FINISH SOMETHING

I didn’t do too badly on this, despite the new start.

I had already shared the new ironing board cover. So, that in addition to the Sashiko runner, the little cross stitch picture and the Minnie Mouse quilt isn’t too bad an effort.  Mind you, it is less than I had hoped for, but that doesn’t matter.

15 MINUTES A DAY

I thought this month was going to be a bit quieter than the last couple, but it didn’t end up panning out that way, so I am really pleased that I managed at least a little bit of stitching every day, except for one.  Considering that on that day we travelled to Sydney and back and then had unexpected visitors arrive to stay, I think I will excuse myself.

So, to my stats:

15 minutes day/November = 29/30

15 minutes/2023 = 314/334

Success Rate = 94.01%.   I’m happy with that.

I’m rather surprised at how many little bits and bobs I have work on this month.  It is good to have a few finishes in there too.  What has been missing is progressing the larger ongoing projects.  I will get back to them, but need to be able to set aside a block of time to get set up for the next stages.  I doubt that will happen until the start of the new year.  In the meantime, I am enjoying playing with smaller projects, just for fun.