Evie, Author at Purl and Seam

Blindz for boyz – FO 7/2010

March 28, 2010

The boy’s room has been looking more than a little Spartan of late.

This week Mr S put the cot bed and chest of drawers into the room. We won’t mention the Mystery of the Missing Cot Bolts.

Today I’ve ordered the mattress and bed linen. And hung a blind:

There is a toning pair of curtains to be made (the last pair for the house…huzzah!), but until I find a pole that matches the furniture, they are on hold. I can’t say I’m sorry not to be sewing them at the moment. I’m beyond bored of making window treatments.

The fabric is from John Lewis (of course) and I love its cheerfulness. However I never cease to be amazed at the difference 1.5 m of fabric and a little stitching can make to a room.

Lucy in the Sky – FO 6/2010

March 28, 2010

Lucy had her first outing today, so we grabbed a quick snap before dashing off to the garden centre.

Sorry for the picture quality at the moment. My little camera has been in the wars and it shows. One of these days I’ll have a digital SLR, but the garden needs landscaping first!

Anyway, back to Lucy. As you know the pattern is by cosmicpluto knits and is knitting in Phildar Oxygene in Flanelle that was in my stash.

I really like this pattern. If I’d had a little more yarn I would have added a couple of inches to the length as I’m taller than the average bear at 5 ft 8, and I like to wear my knits a weeny bit longer. But as it was I only just managed to eke the cardigan as it is out of the yarn that I had.

And whilst there are a bajillion other patterns I’m itching to knit, this is one that I can see myself coming back to as it’s a great basic shape. It also lends itself to playing around with other stitch patterns…maybe a cable or two or a bit of a lacy panel. Who knows? I’ve got socks to finish first!

What’s wrong with this photo?

March 24, 2010

Are you scratching your head?

Do you think maybe it’s that the sun is shining in Lancashire?

Perhaps you’re wondering what happened to the new fringe? (This photo was taken pre do!)

Still not getting it?

Ok. I’ll help you out. If you look to the right of Button…just between her and her Daddy…do you see the gap?

No?

Really…that small gap the size of …ooooh, I don’t know….say…a 13 month old little boy.

Do you see it yet?

Ah…there it is….:-)

Well, that gap is soon to be filled. The social worker meeting we had today was Panel for Button’s brother and they said yes! We’re just waiting for the ratification (and you’ll remember how long that took last time), but if all goes to plan he’ll be home in about 3 or 4 weeks.

We’d hoped to bring him home last year but there were paperwork issues that meant that couldn’t happen. But he’ll be home soon and our family will be complete.

We are overjoyed.

Comfy Cables scarf – FO 5/2010

March 14, 2010

Pattern: Comfy Cables by Gina Bonomo on Ravelry

Yarn: Teeswater Yarn from Higher Gills Farm knit two strands together

This has just been a lovely simple knit. The yarn is soft and cosy. I’d definitely recommend both yarn and pattern.

Finished project – blinds

March 14, 2010

That squeaking noise you can hear is me.

The blinds for the hall and landing are finished.

The one in the picture is the hall…it’s twin is at the landing window.

The fabric is from John Lewis. The blinds are lined and interlined.

I only have one small blind for the small bedroom and a matching pair of curtains, then I’m done. Done, I tell you! All the windows in the house will have curtains and/or blinds. There’ll be tiny blind to do in the loft when we remodel up there, but that’s going to be later in the year so I don’t even have to think about that now.

Squeeeeeeeeak!!!!

What I’m working on now

February 28, 2010

With apologies for the fuzzy pictures…all were taken in artificial light and I don’t (yet) have an SLR camera.

First up is the blind for the hallway.

I really rather enjoy making Roman blinds. These are an easy size to manage and even with the interlining and the trim, this is coming together rather quickly. Hurrah. Especially as I have another one to make in the same fabric and trim for the window at the top of the stairs.

Next is the Lucy cardigan.Just a teeny bit more of the yoke and the band to do here. It’s flying off the needles now I’m on the yoke. And about time too as this has taken far to long. My fault, not the pattern. A bad attack of ennui that has now been shaken off.

And last but by no means least:The yarn is a lace-weight from Teeswater Wools in Clitheroe with two strands knit together. It’s spun from rare breed sheep and is absolutely glorious. Whilst the photo above shows the cable pattern, Comfy Cables, free on Ravelry, it doesn’t show the colour. This is more like it:Just lovely. And a super easy pattern.

New do

February 27, 2010

It’s been a while since I’ve had a hair cut, dear reader.

When I say “a while” I mean several months.

When I say “several” I’m probably talking more like six or seven.

I was convinced that Alice Who is a Cat had been nibbling whilst I slept, but maybe the lack of acquaintance with the hairdressers scissors may have something to do with the tatty lack of style that topped my head.

Button was in a similar predicament. We’ve been growing out her baby hair but it had reached the stage where we were holding her fringe out of her eyes for only an hour a day until she pulled the clip out.

It would seem to be an easily resolvable issue. Get. A. Haircut.

But, dear reader, we live in Backwater Central. And whilst there seems to be eleventy million hairdressers in our small town, there isn’t one of them I really trust with my hair. One of the local ones is renowned for taking the tips off your ears at no extra charge.

But our gym has a rather nice looking salon and I’ve never seen anyone leave there in tears. So we bit the bullet and made an appointment.

At this point I should let you know that Button has only had her hair cut with Mummy’s embroidery scissors to date. So as we arrived at the salon I was slightly nervous. She’s howled like a banshee at the dentist and I was hoping we wouldn’t have a repeat performance.

I needn’t have worried.She loved the hustle and bustle of the salon. And having her hair washed.She hardly wriggled at all and we love the end result:And I got a new do too:

Blessings

February 7, 2010

I have much to be grateful for

ooooooooooooooooh warmth!

February 5, 2010

Well, it’s been an absolute bear of a project, but finally the kitchen door curtain is finished.The hand-made pole is nothing short of wonderful.

I’m so thrilled with it. Pete at Siddington Smithy is a craftsman and I found him a delight to do business with. Amazingly, the pole cost less than a mass-produced one would have done. It really shows that we should support independent craftsmen when we can.

So, the kitchen is all but done. We need pictures and to do something with the dining table (paint or replace…not sure which), but neither of those are urgent.

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Our next project is to clear some space in the loft. I’m planning to cull books and fabric and yarn. Anything I can’immediately assign to a project, or which has sat there for years, is going to be either sold or gifted. I don’t have the room and time has moved on, as have my requirements and taste. It’s time the be ruthless.

The reason for this determined approach is that Mr Stitch is moving up into the loft to share my space with his home office space. Hmmmmm!!! Not sure how that will work, but if he’s naughty I have lots of sharp implements to poke him with!!

And the reason Mr Stitch is invading my space moving up to the loft, is so we can revert what is now his office back into a bedroom.

More painting, blinds and curtains, then!

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And finally a knitting update. Miss Maddy is almost done. I’m on the last sleeve. I haven’t knitted a stitch on the Lucy cardigan at all this year, despite the lovely new needles. Just focusing on getting projects finished one at a time. Hopefully Miss Maddy will be done soon.

Have a great weekend. I’ll be the one hidden under a pile of rubbish yarn/fabric/books/packing boxes.

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PS…as of this morning the weight tracker is accurate again. My post Christmas/snow fever/jeepers-I-hate-this-wretched-door-curtain-so-I’m-off-to-eat-chocolate extra pounds have gone.

It’s oh so quiet…shhhhh! shhhhh!

January 14, 2010

It’s quiet here.

Too damned quiet if you ask me.

The dog is asleep in front of the fire.

The cat is asleep behind the filing cabinet.

The baby is asleep with her arms around her favourite toy puppy.

Mr S is in a hotel room in Wimbledon, working.

I hate it when he’s away. I’m not frightened in the house without him. I’ve lived on my own for too many years to be frightened in a house on my own. And I have a big soft dog who does a great impression of Kujo and a very grumpy cat.

No. It’s just the quiet. A little too much of it.

No rubbish TV programmes. No kisses on my cheek as I cook dinner. No stupid jokes. No conversation. No hugs.

No snoring.

Ah…I knew there had to be an upside!

That, and finally getting up into the workroom and finishing the last seam on the face fabric of the kitchen door curtain!

: Ready for stitching!

I do miss him, but I do get stuff done! Tomorrow night it’s hems until he gets home. And he’s away 3 nights next week. So you never know. I might actually finish this sooner rather than later.

Now. Where’s that glass of wine I promised myself……..

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