Round and round we go...

So the jeans were mended, the blah, blah secret plan finished and a new project started (and yes there are a whole bunch of wips that still need finishing... back onto the black cloud list for them...).

The new project is a top for me. In dark red cotton from stash, I'm hoping I have enough - it's a sleeveless top, I should just make it, though the back up plan is leaving out the ribbing around the armholes (though I might do this anyway and just crochet the edge) and using 1 strand for the ruffle (I'm working the top with 2 strands to get the feel & tension correct).

It's the Chaise top from Jo Sharp's Summer holiday book and I'm knitting it in the round to avoid seaming up to the armholes. There are only 2 disadvantages to that:
1. working the new thread in is a cow, especially as the cotton seems to have a number of knots in it
2. You start off with 228 stitches, and though it decreases a bit, it still takes quite a bit of time to make it around 1 round of stitches. I probably should have used the 80cm long circular needle rather than the 60cm one too.

It's coming along though, fingers crossed it gets finished in time for summer!

So knitting still to finish:
purple garter stitch scarf
green throw rug
cotton jumper
sew up mittens

Sewing still to finish:
Blue & white cotton top
Teal shirt
Quilt

Stuff not yet started:
another work skirt for me
SCA frocks

I'm sure that there is more on the list... I can't remember - I'll have to add it in later.

Series of Sunbeams

Quick update on the completed jobs...

• The grown up PJs x2 - tick
• The pinafore - tick
• One skirt - tick
• One pair'o'mittens finally sewn together - tick
• One Barbie dress mended - tick
• One flanny wrap & 3 mini-blankies for smallest niece - tick
• One pair of school mittens - found - hoorah!

In progress:

• Another skirt - cut out ready for sewing
• Green throw blankie
• Basketweave scarf
• Pink scarf x2 (do you sense a theme here?)
• Lacy wrap cardi
• Mending my faux silk chinese style handbaggy
• Velveteen piggle

On the to do list, but not yet started:

• bedsocks x3
• hemming a pair of work pants
• kids dresses x2
• blah blah secret knitting project
• fingerless mittens with fluffy edge - in pink of course
• another cushion cover - with cables
• cot sheets for niece
• tablecloth

Languishing in the too hard basket:

• pretty much all of the ancient knitting (ie: anything I started prior to 2006)
• and add the old unfinished sewing in here as well really...

The guilt list for today

Knitting currently in progress (piccies above):

• pink scarf (started May 07)
• white cardi for N (started Jan 07)
• bedsocks for N (started around 2005, won't fit them now even if I finish, but could give them to another)
• black aran jumper (started 1991)
  

Embroidery currently in progress:

• Large sampler (started around 1990) - x-stitch finished, need to back stitch & bead
• Pressie (started 05) can't say more - it's secret, but probably needs a good month of evenings to finish
• really, truly ancient stuff from when I was about 10yrs old - do I bother?
  

Other stuff:

• Felt weather board for M (started 03)
• Quilt for P (started 01)
• N's queen frock (started Jun 07) but needed for the party...
• Tabards for party (started Jun 07)
• Mending... a few trousers that need shortening, skirt that needs mending and shorts that need the button sewn back on

And that's what started... will leave the cunning plans, material & wool stash etc for later.

The first post

Thought I'd give the blogging thing a try... more to keep useful but unrelated info together and share useful stuff that doesn't fall into other categories. And most importantly to nag myself to get my craft projects (ranging over the last 30 years) finished and done with and off the black cloud list. Intend to have a bit of a play about with templates and settings and stuff - won't be posting many pics apart from the crafty stuff. If you want what I'm up to etc - you'll need to head to Flickr.