Machine Knitted Socks

I got my socks all finished on the knitting machine

Excuse my lily white legs,

I used some Stylecraft 4ply that I had sitting there, it was a good practise project for me to try having had a few years break from the machine, they were done using both beds giving me a seamless circular knitted sock

I did make a few mistakes but was able to rectify it before it turned into a disaster.

the pattern I used was from here

Machine Knitted Socks

The next ones I do I will make the leg longer.

I have been flicking through some of my back issues of knitting machine magazines and found a pattern for a fisherman's rib jumper so that is going to be my next project.

Revisiting Some Crafts

With terrible weather I have spent the past couple of days  playing around revisiting some crafts that's I haven't touch for a couple of years.

First up was Tatting

I like tatting, you don't need lots of stuff, just a shuttle and some thread, I spent years trying to learn tatting but just couldn't get it, then one year at a craft show I came across a group of ladies called the Ring of Tatters, I was admiring there work and explained that I just couldn't get the knack of tatting, so they set me a challenge if I couldn't get the hang of it with there kit and instructions they would give me a double refund, I bought the kit it was £5 that evening I sat down with it and followed the instructions to the letter and miracles of miracles I could do it, within days I was reading patterns and tatting like there was no tomorrow, yesterday I came across a simple pattern for trees and fancied giving it a go, I needed to refresh myself with the techniques it all came flooding back.

Its not perfect but its a tree. I shall add some more to it to make a small woodland.

The next craft I dipped back into was

my knitting machine it hadn't been unpacked since the move, I came across a blog yesterday that inspired me to get it out and set up again, I haven't used it for a couple of years, it works like a dream, I have had my Toyota 901 from new 1985, 30 years Martin bought it for me and a couple of years later he bought me the ribber attachment, I used to take orders for knitwear I also did outwork for a knitwear company and I have designed some patterns myself, 

I use to enjoy doing Intarsia (picture knitting) I still have all my books and knitting machine magazines, it all seems in good working order and it was lovely sitting in the cabin playing with my old friend, I have dug out a pattern for some socks, I spent the afternoon doing a refresher on it so I am ready to go. I do also have a chunky knit machine that I bought new a couple of years ago but much prefer my Toyota.

Unpacking Memories

I have been unpacking some of the boxes from the shop that contained samples that I had either made for workshops or just on display, some I have binned and some I have put into my cabin.

Here is a selection of them

Some of these are years old the ones from workshops I can still remember who came to the workshops, I dont know know if that is good or bad, There is another 4 or 5 boxes of samples to unpack, I will have to decide what to happen to them all at some point.

A Bit Of Cardmaking

I took a day off from working in the garden today so I could do a bit of crafting, after having a bit of a tidy up in the cabin I fancied doing some card making.

This a really old card blank that has been sitting in my stash for some time, I have a few different design of this type of card, there is an aperture that has a mesh behind it and you infill the mesh with Pontura Paint, it leaves a raised beaded design.

A simple stamped card coloured in sepia and die cut greeting.

Another very simple black and white card, it was cut out with my cameo I don't like this one and it may end up in the trash.

So that's was it for today 3 cards made.

Book Folding Art

While my daughter has been down visiting, we had a go at a new craft for the two of us,

Book Folding Art, it is something I have admired for some time.

This is the one I did

This is the one my daughter did.

Both the same we have spent the last couple of evenings doing them.

At first we both made a big mistake and measured from the wrong place and didn't discover until we were half way through it so had to start again, not a mistake we will make again.

We both want to go on and make some other designs now, the books are yet to be decorated to finish them off.

Easter Crafting With The Girls

I have some of my granddaughter down visiting for Easter, yesterday they were set the task of making some chicks with polystyrene eggs.

they had a great time crafting in the cabin, were making a mess didn't matter

As you can see we had a wonderful selection

a flock of fantasy chicks to grace the Easter table 

Unfinished Projects Finished

I know I haven't posted much about crafting but I have been nibbling away at a couple of unfinished projects, I want to clear the decks and I am resisting starting anything new until I have finished off a few things.

I have finished this, its a small rag rug, it now lives in the downstairs toilet. Rag rugging is a great way of using up those little scraps of fabrics.

I also finished this crochet blanket, its made out of oddments of yarn left over from past projects and is just a made as a giant granny square.

I wanted to get it finished to be used on the travel cot, all ready for my visitors tomorrow.

So that's two projects finished out of the way, still several to go.