The knitting bug bites

Knitted bag
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After all the talk about knitting on all the BBs lately, I thought I should tackle something more complicated than a scarf. I learnt to knit as a child but was very bad at it and couldn't do purl. There's a new knitting magazine thats been on sale over here (Simply knitting) and it caught my eye when the first issue was published. I finally took the plunge last week and bought some needles and yarn to make this bag and at last my brain seems to get how to knit.

Unseasonal stitching

Chatelaine Christmas
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I've finished Chatelaine Christmas which isn't a really logical finish whilst the UK is going through a heat wave but at least it will be finished for this Christmas. Its been a fairly jinxed project. I started it originally on what was supposed to be 32 ct Lambswool linen but after stitching it for a few hours, I realised that it wasn't 32ct and was probably 36 ct or something. So I restarted on 32ct Belfast linen and all went well until I finished the stitching on the tree and started on the box around the Christmas ribbon. I had a moment of misreading and instead of going down 3 centimetres, I went down 3 inches and I didn't realise until the box stitching was finished. I've decided I am not changing though. The other annoyance was beading the garlands. The red mill hill beads that are suggested have central holes that are too big and let the gold beads slip inside them. Luckily I had some 7/0 red beads that were suitable so thank goodness I have a bit of a stash of beads now.

Not much happening around here apart from this afternoon when there seemed to be someone important being driven down the street. I'm guessing because I couldn't see who was in the car but the 4 police motorcycle outriders and 2 police cars accompanying the car suggested that it might be someone important.

Still on holiday

I'm still off work for my holidays. 5 days left till I go back. I was in work on Wednesday as one of the other nurses is leaving to go travelling for the next year and we had a leaving tea party for her. A couple of the staff brought in their children and I got to meet my collegues new baby for the first time as he is only 7 weeks old. He's absolutely gorgeous and his mum seems to have adapted to motherhood really well inspite of her pre birth doubts.

I've not been doing a great deal this past week. Tuesday my dad and I put up some shelves in my spare room and I spent Tuesday night arranging stuff on them. The spare room is really a spare room/stitching room and its looking pretty good. I've got a few more framed cross stitch pictures to put up and some stitching books to get from my parents house still but its nearly organised. This weekend I'm going to try and get the bathroom painted and go around patching up the bits that are needing done elsewhere in the flat.

The thing I am most looking forward to this weekend is the final episode of Doctor Who. I have really loved watching it since it came back. Christopher Ecclestone has been fabulous in the part and I will miss him in it when hes gone but David Tennant is from here in Paisley and that will be very cool. He's also a fab actor and rather attractive. Last weeks reality TV theme episode was the best especially the Trinny and Susannah bit with Captain Jack. The DVD box set is definately going on my wish list.

Stitching wise I have almost finished Chatelaine Christmas. I've made a mistake though and instead of a 3cm gap between the tree and the ribbon section, there is a 2 inch gap. I got my inches and centimetres mixed up. I'm not frogging it though as it looks okay. My fairy roses chart and the 3 dimples charts I ordered, have arrived and I've started Fairy roses on a piece of SMF dyed blue metallic lugana that I bought on ebay. I'm hoping to finish Christmas tonight or tomorrow so I'm off to stitch now.

Stitching progress

Mystery 7 finished
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Mystery 7 is done. I finished it earlier in the week but I've only just got around to posting a picture. I struggled stitching it for quite a while as I really lost interest after part 2. Now its finished, I'm pretty happy with it. I need to find the right bell pull hanger which might take a while.
Recently I've also been trying to do some finishing off as the pile of stitched stuff waiting to be framed or finished was getting huge. The mini mysteries have now been turned into bell pulls and hanging on some of my doors in the flat. I've also finished off a pile of Christmas ornaments, some of which had been waiting for 2 years. I had a bit of a stitching slump last month and finishing off the ornaments has really helped to get my stitching juices flowing again.

This month aim is to finish at least 2 more WIPs. As well as mystery 7, I've finished a Winnie the pooh cover kit from a magazine. Chatelaine Christmas is probably near to finishing and I have another couple of things that if I don't let myself get distracted, I might finish this month. I've got lots of stitching time because of my holidays which should mean a few more finishes. However I've ordered the new Nora Corbett/Mirabilia chart Fairy Roses and its on its way. I think I might have to start it once it gets here...

2 weeks of freedom

2 weeks without having to go to work began today. The past weekend has been pretty busy with a big party at my parents' for my dad's 60th birthday. It was a great but very long day. My sister and her DBF stayed at my house which made them my first overnight guests. It was good to see lots of relatives who I haven't seen for a while and took some lovely photographs. Later this summer, my aunt and uncle from Ontario are coming over for a visit. I haven't seen them for 10 years so it will be good catching up.

Stitching wise, I'm almost done with Mystery 7. I think I will finish tonight. Last month I did the finishing for a load of ornaments. I stll need to get some photographs of them. I also stitched and framed some of the country companions cover kits from the recent stitching magazines. I had previously searched for some cheap frames for these cover kits design without success. Finally I was in Ikea about 2 weeks ago and they have frames that are £2 for a pack of two which fit perfectly. They only sell them in dark blue and white but fortunately that suited me.

I'm away to try and finish mystery 7 now. The chatelaine WIPs are a bit out of control at present so I need to get some of them done.