DO YOU FIND....

... that for a few hours AFTER your computer/laptop.. whatever!.. updates everything seems to take longer ? ! It drives me crazy!

Hey-Ho !! Its a third world moan/problem .. and I am sure there are far worse things to moan about xx lol x

My mum has started a new "treatment" for her cancer .. I say treatment because there is no cure for her. It is now all about keeping the symptoms under control for as long as possible. She has had the first session .. and so far so good x ... we go back in two weeks .. and see from there x

SO... as there was to be a fair amount of "waiting" time for me a new project was needed..... this one caught my eye..

......it is by a New Zealand designer and I thought I would give it a go. NOW.. saying I am making this does NOT mean that the pattern is being followed exactly... mmm why would it!! lol x

It is designed for double knit with one colour .. SO I am using 4ply. with 2 colours....

LOOK designers give us the blue print to then follow OR use as a springboard to our own ideas xx lol x 

It is a lovely easy knit and is flowing off the needles ... I used up to this much..

... of the first 100 g. then started looking at the knit on edge pattern... I decided I want a deeper border .. and so I have changed it to a Van Dyke style ...

..not showing to  well as yet.. needs to be washed and blocked and then it will show nicely x

The wool is another of my birthday presents from last year, it is named Granny Weatherwax ... who is one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE Terry Pratchett characters... EVER... I identify with her on so many levels lol x.. I am loving it for so many reasons x

On my side I have been discharged from the fracture clinic HURRAY.. but still have to attend Physio... cant have it all x... I know ..KEEP THAT ARM STRAIGHT!!

Hope your week has been productive x

Diane x

I HAVE...

.. been busy with ... yes SEWING.. this week x lol x

I have completed the projects and the samples for the session I will be teaching at Sandbach Sew-and-Sews next meeting..

.. NO !! I cannot show you until AFTER the ladies have had their chance.. however the bag at the front is one I have made for the session x 

I also finished the first shawl from the 2018 club...

.. it was an interesting make ... 2 techniques that were new to me .. so that always makes it interesting. It is not one I would have made without it being part of the club... so good start I would say x 

Some of the wool got a wee bit close ..

...but it worked out just right ...mmm wonder if I should have done a gauge swatch?... naaaaa !! lol x 

Hope you are all having a good week

Diane x

I GOT ....

... organised this morning and made the 2 blocks for the Congleton charity raffle. You may remember I was sent the fabric and pattern last week..

It was a quick make ...

... I do have a moan though (!).. I KNOW when making charity quilts fabric is at a premium ... BUT .. gosh this was tight.. I used a scant quarter inch seam .. and just made the 8 1/2 inch block requested. When blocks are being made by multiple sewers .. and some of them not very experienced then I feel they are going to get MANY that don't make the requested size... SO.. if you are in this position .. give a bit more fabric and you will get back MORE blocks that can actually be used.

We had a birthday in the family this weekend...

.. my dad was 88. OF COURSE ......there was a cake..

when you have a BIG birthday you need a BIG candle!!!!! lol x

Feels good to have done some sewing x

Diane x

SANDBACH....

... Quilt group had their first meeting of  2018 It was the presentation of the cheque for all the fundraising we did last year. The charity last year was the Christie Hospital .. (world famous cancer centre).. that we are fortunate to have in our area x

.. it has been a crazy time and resulted in the group raising FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS !!! When you consider the group has 43 members.... !! YES we had help .. but that is a fabulous achievement xx This year is a year off from fund raising to give every-one a chance to breath xx

OH! There was cake as well..

.. of course !! lol xx 

It was great to see everyone and to have an outing with a group x Congleton Quilt group also started up this last week .. but its a loner journey and a bigger group .. so I gave it a miss .. will go next time x HOWEVER I did not get away with it ....

..they sent me fabric and pattern to make 2 blocks for a raffle quilt!! lol x They ALSO sent me a card to cheer on the recovery..

.. that was lovely x Its the little things like that that lift the mood when you are feeling "fragile" xx ... well for me anyway xx

I have to get on and make the blocks now xx

I finished the shawl that was already partly done...

.. I am glad I did .There was some muscle loss in my arm and the tension was definatly affected. It came out looser and bigger than the last one... it evened out with blocking OK.... so now I am going to start the one with the January club wool and pattern.... 

I have some sewing to do for the next meeting at Sandbach ... but cannot show it until AFTER the meeting x ... good job the physioTERRORISTS have given me exercises to get me going xx

Hope it has been a good week for every one of you x

Diane x

OFF I WENT..

.. to the fracture clinic .. not really knowing what the next step was to be .. but hopeful it would be a positive one !!  PHEW ! I am pleased to report that the consultant is happy with my progress x

The back-slab is gone ... I have to say ...while I was glad to see it go .. I was nervous when they cut it off .. it has been my companion and protector for a while now!! lol x... I now have to .....GET THAT ARM STRAIGHT!! which is easier said than done . .. let me tell you ! When it has not moved for over 3 weeks that elbow does not want to comply!!!!! However I am doing my exercises and waiting to start THREE WEEKS of physiotherapy !! 

Getting into bed was fun! WHAT did I do with my arm before I had a back-slab? I could not remember !. I don't think I ever noticed!! NO back-slab to protect me if I rolled over onto it!! lol x I did sort my self out .. eventually ..but it was tricky there for a moment or two !! lol x

My friend (who is a physio.) took me out to dinner today ... and I told her if she said...STRAIGHTEN THAT ARM... one more time ... I was going to clock her with it!! However she is right.. and I need to get on with it xx lol x

She brought me some beautiful flowers..

.. she knows me well x

I have decided that before I start on the new shawl with the beautiful wool.. I will finish off the one I already have on the needles..

.. that way if my tension is affected then I can get it corrected BEFORE I start the new one x That's the plan for to-day anyway! lol x I need to build up the muscles in my arm again also x 

Hope you all have something to be positive about to-day x

Diane x

IN 2017....

...I tried really hard to use up fabric and wool from my stash ... SO because of this when I saw a club from  THE KNITTING GODDESS  that was a collection of wool/yarn with a shawl pattern from 6 different designers .... come on ! It had my name on it .. and I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good in 2017!! lol 

So I jumped in ... the first instalment came yesterday..

OH! I soo want to start! HOWEVER I am not back to fracture clinic until tomorrow ......

I  HAD to wind them .. just to be ready you understand!! lol x I have printed the pattern .. and found the needles... just to be ready you understand!!

My grandson..came to spend a day and a night ...

..sadly (for us) he will be returning to Australia on Friday .. gosh the time has just flown away x I don't know when he will be back .. and with the "trip/slip/ggrr" I have not seen so much of him as I would have wished .. Hey-Ho it has been wonderful to have him here x

To-day I had this wonderful delivery..

......from the committee and ladies of Sandbach Quilt group .. SO beautiful x Flowers really lift the spirits .. don't they? 

Off for a brew and to stroke my wool!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol x

Have a fun day

Diane x