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Friday 4 August 2017

Things.

After several weeks of removing things that I no longer use the house is slowly emerging from it's filled to the gunwales  condition.
 It has been (and still is) a big help that I have a sister who knits (far better than I could aspire to) and would like to try patchwork and quilting.

Several packs of yarn have gone her way and as I said yesterday I have a parcel of the necessary things ready to send to get her started. I am glad of the space and she will be able to try a new craft without any cost. That is more or less how I started quilting, a friend showed me some of her handiwork and when I expressed an interest she stocked me up with all the basics. I am so glad to be able to pass it forward.

I have built up a far too large a selection of quilting notions and it irks me that I am no longer using them. I have used them all at different times but inevitably I have doubles, people have given me various items as presents. 
Along with the rest of the house my goal is to reduce the amount of things here to possibly half. 

I do have an ulterior motive.

There is a list of jobs that I want to get done within the house and once they have been done there is a crafty itch to be dealt with. 

I would love to spin, I have someone who will give me a few lessons. If I find that it is for me then I will need space to house the equipment. The only way that I can generate that space is by letting go of all the things that I no longer use. My mother was a bit of a hoarder but my Granny was of the "if you don't use it get rid of it" type, I need to let that side of me dominate. I do it with the rest of the house and need to apply it to the crafting supplies.

The SO has laid claim to one of my, now emptied, storage units, a very nice hand painted double door cupboard that was designed to hold home office supplies. This now holds some of his more precious drills and tools, these are the ones that are used in the house. All the really heavy duty gear has a home at the top of the garden.

His hand is healing very well, which is a good thing as there is a fairly large job that needs starting ASAP. I will be taking him to see it later. Yes, he could go by himself but I like a nose round the odd house or three, and if there is any cleaning to do I will be doing it. There generally is, some tenants leave the properties in a dreadful state. They don't seem to care that they lose their bond and deposit.

And now for something that is making me very happy.

We spent an hour getting this lot reskeined, well the SO did, I was the tea girl.


These are 2 x 50 gram skeins of what I hope will be self striping, my first attempt at dying stripes, time will tell if I was successful.


These quads are as near as possible identical, there will be some variations but if the skeins are alternated would make a gorgeous sweater.There is more yellow in them than shows and I have called them Dorothy's Dream. The next batch might be linked to the Munchkins or perhaps the Ruby Slippers. On the other hand I may be inspired by something altogether different.

I have skeined up some sock sets and just need to decide what colours to paint them. I love contrasting heels and toes, sometimes I like them to clash. If they are to be a gift then I want a solid that picks up on one of the main colours.

I did not touch my knitting at all and my shoulders and neck are feeling the benefit, my hands are also not at all stiff and achy.
I did manage to sew most of the little quilt binding down and will get that finished today. Then there is just the bag to make and perhaps a soft toy, I haven't made a candy square dog for ages.

Then there are just 3 knitting projects to get finished, the SO has promised to dye me some yarn as a reward for clearing the WIPs. That sounds like a good deal to me. I will have to decide on a pattern and a colour scheme.

Surprisingly we have rain again this morning, I do hope that we have not seen the last of summer. I am hoping to gather as many blackberries as possible and then the elderberries. Hedgerow jelly has been in my mind for a while now and I am hoping to get some in my tum.

I am still on the lookout for a supply of Damsons, they make glorious jam and jelly and add a rich base note to chutney. I should have a few weeks yet but the seasons seem to be rushing along and there is a strong sense of Autumn in the air.
I may have to find room for a tree of my own, I am sure that I can squeeze one in somewhere.

Now I suppose that I ought to get a move on, there is lots to do today.

The cauliflower steaks were absolutely fantastic last night, I served them with mushrooms stuffed with garlic and baby plum tomatoes and cooked on a bed of red onions and more tomatoes. 

Now I really am off to get busy.

                       TTFN                                     Pam











13 comments:

  1. Yes, definitely try spinning! Take a beginners class..in the US they will usually loan you a wheel for the duration. Great fun..and soothing. And once you get a few fleeces, you have an endless supply of yarn!

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    1. I am so looking forward to it but need to get cracking on the house first.

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  2. You're a whirlwind Pam. The dyeing is very successful-I'm thinking shawls as well as socks. If you are selling quilting stuff, could you tell me where it might be advertised. I have never managed to buy one the gadgets for joining the binding on quilts and usually chicken out and just do corner to corner. Hope you know the thing I mean-I think you bought it at a quilt show? Keep resting the shoulders a bit and I'll look forwrd to reading about your spinning. Catriona

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    1. I know just what you mean, to my shame I have never used it. I will hunt it out and pop it in the post. Don't hold your breath as I have just found something that has been missing in action for a month.

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    2. Thank you-may I make a donation to charity for you when it comes? C

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    3. Of course you may, it is at the post office so should be on it's way tomorrow. It will go through the letter box and ought to arrive Tuesday.

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  3. I love seeing your dyed yarns. Those top two are just divine and I can't wait to seem them knit up.
    Also looking forward to your adventures in spinning....how exciting-x-

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    1. They will be socks,not sure whether I will be knitting them myself though.

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  4. What FAB sock wool you have conjured up. Clever gal.

    Most years I could have given you masses of Damsons, but the tree got cut virtually down to half size when the builders were here and so it is sulking this year.

    It sounds like you've been really busy and are Full of Plans!

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    1. That's the way the cookie crumbles, I will have to get myself to a few markets when the time is right.

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  5. You are busy, busy, busy as usual. Love your new yarn. Can't wait to see your adventures in spinning!

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    1. Much as it irks me I have a list of jobs to complete before I dare go near a spinning wheel.

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  6. Glad there wasn't too much to do at the house. Is that the SO's new job?

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