Cooling down

Yes, temperatures have dropped here to reasonable/normal levels and we have even had rain! But nothing significant enough to help the garden although there is more forecast for later next week. We had tickets for the cricket yesterday - our annual meet up with friends - and have had fingers crossed all week that the rain would hold off. Which it did fortunately. It was a cloudy day with sunny spells and perfect for cricket. Even better Somerset had a good day with both bat and then ball so we were all very happy. Great to catch up with our friends too.

Here is my Stitch Journal for the week - cricket suitably commemorated.

I finished the socks earlier in the week.

A perfectly matching pair which is a first!

A finish means a start so I had a new project in mind. I needed to use up some sock wool scraps and spotted a pattern online that I though would be perfect. First though I pulled out all my scraps and selected a pile that would work with a skein of co-ordinating yarn.

I had ordered the circular needle recommended in the pattern - a ProKnit Zing and made a start. Fairly soon I realised that me and the needles were not getting along - the straight bit you hold to knit with seemed too short. So I ordered a pair of 10" Zing needles in the same size. When they arrived I swapped over and soon realised 1. that they were much nicer than the circular and 2. that they felt thicker. So I got out my trusty needle guage and sure enough the circular needle slipped easily through the guage where as the straight needle had to be pushed through. Not sure if you can see the difference in my photo but I can 'in the flesh'.

Anyway I have written to ProKnit and await their thoughts.

So I carried on knitting even though feeling that this would all be coming out as I could tell the tension was going to be out. Plus of course I had not taken into account that not all 4 ply's are the same thickeness.

Anyway, here I am so far and on the point of pulling it apart.

Quite apart from the tension issue I can see that I have not got my 'sashing' even and need to work out precisely how many rows to work and from which side to pick up. Unfortunately the pattern is not helpful on this point. Plus the pattern is all worked in garter stitch and I have decided to use stocking stitch for the centre of the squares. Maybe I will put it to one side and get out my granny square jumper lol.

Meanwhile I have been working on my Chookshed Challenge and have finished my teasel.

I am now working on this cone flower.

Only just over a week to the end of the month so I need to get cracking, fortunately the last flower will be a cowslip which should be quick.

Now, I must mention my Book of the Year So Far! It is this one and I can not reccomend it more highly.

Such a delicious read about friendship, love and loss. Absolutely brilliant and I give it 10 out of 5 stars.

So that is my update for the week. Happy stitching.

Saturday catch up on Sunday

Had a busy day yesterday with a visit from my niece and great niece which was lovely. Over a year since I last saw them at a family wedding so lots to catch up on.

I have been working on my Stitch Journal of course and here is this weeks work.

And made a good start on my Chookshed Challenge embroideres. The first one I worked on was a small flowerlet from my Agapanthus - see header picture. The plant deigned to flower for the first time this year - it's fourth summer and following a stern 'this is your last chance' talking to. So worth commemorating I thought in case it is the only time.

I started by drawing with inktense pencils onto my fabric which I then moistened with a water and fabric medium mix. I thought straight away that the colours were too dark but carried on anyway just for the practise. Just as well as at one point I added too much water and the colour spread outside the petal. Having left it to dry and then ironed I wondered if the fabric medium would prevent any watery background colour encroaching into the petals but discovered not. Here is my failure.

After that I tried another with normal watercolour pencils and almost neat fabric medium which has worked very well. I decided against background colour. Here is the finished embroidery over the painted colour.

And with it's frame. I plan to stretch it over card and a double layer of batting which I am sure will be another learning experience!

I have started on the next piece. We grew teasels for the first time this year - well last year from seed and they flowered this year. This is it so far. You can see where I have used the pencils and fabric medium again to go behind the stitching.

And my reference photo. Strange how they flower in bands.

So that is it from me this week - I have been knitting and have a nearly finish so will show next week. Also a new knitting project - the needles arrive tomorrow so hopefully will share my start with you next week too.

Have a great week everyone.

FOQ part four

 And definitely my last post from this years Festival

I am always attracted to crazy quilts and this one was stunning.

Just so many beautiful details.

This quilt is part of the Quilters Guild collection, just beautiful.

This is also part of the QG collection. I have wanted to see this 'in the flesh' (excuse pun) for such a long time. Annabel's work is stunning - do check out her website and the Windrush quilt series. She also writes the oocasional Substack newsletter which is free and a good read.

There was a large gallery full of work by Sachiko Yoshida. Some of her quilts were huge and all just so beautiful.

Anf finally the Cherrywood fabrics gallery. Another large gallery full of these beautiful poppy themed panels which were made a couple of years ago for a competition.

Could have spent hours in this gallery, so many different designs and styles, just amazing.

Many thanks for all your appreciative comments, I hope you have enjoyed this last trip to Festival.

FOQ part three

 Here are a selection of the winning quilts - the ones I liked most and so photographed - by no means all of them.

I loved the design of this and the workmanship was brilliant.

I really don't know how the judges chose the winner of the miniature categorie as there were so many stunners. All aprox one foot square and this was the winner.

This was lovely and the piecing amazing.

Sorry about the lighting on this next one. It was gorgeous.

Love the edging on this next one.

One for Lou.

Another miniature - not sure if this was a winner or just one I loved!

I am thinking there is going to be a part four as there are still some lovely quilts I want to share from around the galleries - so I shall be back!