Sunday, 3 August 2025

August Stitching Wishes

My plans for stitching have been somewhat curtailed, by me not being allowed to use a rotary cutter for the month.  However, as you can guess, I still have plenty of options to go on with.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

The colour this month is AQUA.  The plan is to make two more split nine patch blocks, but they will have to wait until next month.  They won’t take long to catch up.

CHOOKSHED STITCHERS CHALLENGE 

The number selected by Deana this month is NUMBER 7.  Well, for me that was to stitch the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks into a quilt top.  I always knew that it would be shuffled around until the end of the year, when I had all the blocks made.  Therefore, for the second time, that project is being swapped.

As there are only three month’s worth of projects remaining, I had to swap it out with the only one that was mainly hand work.  That is the Natalie Bird Pincushion.  This was another stitchery that I traced to take to the Isle of Man last year.  

I stitched the wording, but it looked rather too chunky.  Once I looked at the pattern, when we returned home, I realised why, as I had stitched it with two strands rather than just one.  Therefore, I have to restitch the wording.  

There are four panels on the pincushion.  One consists of half inch hexies, which I have already stitched.  One is just a feature piece of fabric, and the final one is a tiny needle turned applique house with some embroidery.  That will be the fiddly part to make, as needle turned applique is not something I tend to do.  Wish me luck.  Overall, it shouldn’t be too large a job to get it done.  

I’m not allowed to iron either, so I will have to have Mick press any fabric I need.  That will be interesting, as he hasn’t done any ironing since I met him 40 years ago. Don’t judge, he does plenty of other things around the house.  I will do any cutting using scissors, as he reckons he is terrified of a rotary cutter.  This coming from a man that is a welder and works with hot and sharp metal, angle grinders and all other manner of what I consider to be dangerous equipment. Too funny.

So what else will I endeavour to work on?

I have my Corner to Corner crochet rug.  I will keep playing with it until it gets too large and unwieldy.

My slow stitching pouch is also something that will work well.

These will both be good to take along to my stitching days.

Waiting in the wings is my jumper with the lace yoke that I started last winter.  I still have ten rows of lace to knit before it starts to get a bit easier.  Now is a good time to sit quietly and get that section done.

Also waiting in the wings is the little granny square baby rug I started at the end of 2023.  I had the blocks crocheted together, but they weren’t sitting flat.  I unpicked the joins and they are currently sitting as a pile of squares.  Maybe, I can get them out and sew them together, rather than crochet them.  It sounds like slow work, which is why I haven’t done it.  Let’s see if this is the month.  It would be rather good to tick it off the list.

At the end of the month I will be once again travelling to Baradine for a mini retreat.  I have no idea what I will take to work on, but it will be hand stitching of some description.  I’m looking forward to it very much.

That little lot should keep me busy, but I will add my usual disclaimer that if I achieve half of what I want I will be doing well.

Of course, I may also go down another rabbit hole, remembering I seem to be a serial starter this year.

9 comments:

loulee said...

I'm sure you will find something to keep those fingers and that mind of yours busy while you heal. Take care and rest.

Fiona said...

You have lots of choices for things to do ... wish I lived closer, I would pop over and do any cutting that needs doing..... Like Mick, Dave is not keen on rotary cutters....
Hugz

Jennifer said...

Hand work is always a good fall-back plan. I have found that one strand of stranded thread looks good on lettering, I stitch my quilt labels that way.

Maria said...

You have many nice hand work projects to work on .
Hope you heal soon and can get back to cutting and op ironing.
I don’t think you’d use a welder / grinders etc so I think Mick and you are even… 👍

Lin said...

Plenty of choice there so you should be able to swap around to keep things interesting. Nice things to play with. xx

Karen's Korner said...

You certainly have a lot of handwork to keep you busy. Speedy recovery from your surgery.

Jenny said...

Oh dear, you must have hurt your wrists. Do hope it all comes right soon. Luckily you can still do handwork.

ButterZ said...

Perfect time to get those slow, put off jobs done. The sewing your crochet squares is a good one to pick up and do a few at a time.

Susan Smith said...

Love all your slow stitching & it is just the thing you need to keep busy but not overdoing it. I've been keeping up with everyone's posts, but couldn't comment while away. Wish we'd been in Bathurst to see the makeshift ice rink. 😢 Take care & hugs.