grumpy shopkeeper

Keep right on to the end of the road…

2011-11-21T10:17:00.001Z

Walking is my all absorbing passion these days. I would say old lady style walking but the 80 year old ladies I have walked with can run rings round me. Beginner walking perhaps? Meaning if a slope is any steeper than the disable ramp into the library I will be descending it on my bottom. (The bottom shuffle was a technique I perfected as a child.)

Like most pastimes it is advisable to dress appropriately. Definition of appropriate dress depends on with whom you are walking. To sensible people it means comfortable, wind and weather proof. to the Jones it means the correct labels. Fortunately I am never able to keep up with the Jones so they can’t read my labels from a distance.

My good buddy The Limping Cyclist posts a view from her bike on her Twitter feed. I am a reluctant photographer but I intend to give anyone who is interested a view from my walk……starting soon. Not soon enough unfortunately because yesterday’s walk took me through magical, dripping green fairy dells on the Island of Bute. Next time I’ll have my Hasselblad with me.

Ooops, pardon me for label dropping.

Turning my fingers green

2011-08-08T08:13:00.001Z

I've been Rambling up many a hill since I spoke to you last and even made myself a water bottle holder. That's been my only sewing project although the workroom had been tidied with a bit of a dress making spree in mind.

What has been taking up most of my time is my new allotment. All raised beds so no digging. People plant very picturesquely in anything that will hold some soil. All manner of bags and totes. I planted in my knitted plastic bag last night. Plenty of holes for drainage.

I took over an existing bed of tomatoes, courgettes, beetroot and onion and have added some leeks and lettuce and planted out my tatties (Scottish potatoes) for Christmas in patio bags. I was bemoaning the fact that wooden fish boxes no longer exist and a kind friend made me one. I planted some herbs in it although it as very shallow, this being the nature of a fish box.

I am a complete novice to this lark but the joy of allotment gardening is the community and the shared knowledge. I’m down there every night at the moment, hoovering up as much knowledge as I can. My dear, sweet partner keeps pointing out to me that it’s not brain surgery, nobody dies if you get it wrong.

Tell that to the courgettes!

You are old, Father William,”

2011-07-23T07:18:00.001Z

You are old, Father William,” the young man said,
“And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head –
Do you think, at your age, it is right?”

I’ve been tidying my workroom in preparation for making this jacket. I can almost see my work table now. It will happen soon.

The design doesn't make you gasp at it's fabulousness but it's the construction I'm interested in. You can wear it upside down. I've just made a cardigan like that out my head. Thought if I had these pattern pieces I could raid my scrap box and maybe combine with knitting and make all manner of weird gear. Going to make the straightforward version first with some fabric I 'acquired'. Very lovely light wool. Must have cost a fortune! Found it in the scrap box at a quilting group I went to briefly.

It has exposed, bound seams which is something I’ve never attempted before. Lots of Utube help available of course. I also have a fabulous old sewing manual, Singer Illustrated Dressmaking Guide. It has line drawings of elegant ladies in day dresses and says things like ‘….ragged edges are inexcusable.’

But mon Dieu! Today ragged edges are de rigueur!

Not half the woman

2011-06-16T19:46:00.001Z

I was rummaging about in my collage box and I found these photocopies of the back of a stitched piece I made and sold years ago. An arrangement where they are not perfectly matched spoke to me about the situation I now find myself in, a member of the chronic pain gang.

Not complaining, just saying is all.

The photocopies are pretty tattered. I’m going to see if I can re-copy them to clean them up.

Every brick in the walk

2011-06-15T10:54:00.001Z

My little mono chrome children are sitting high on a brick wall. Arguably it might have been a smart idea to prepare the background first but don’t you just hate smart ideas?

I tried to Bondaweb everything except their legs. That didn’t work. So I Bondawebbed the leg free bit and laid down some ripped fabrics. Then I Bondawebbed the fabric I was applying rather than the background and am engaged in cutting it free hand a fitting it around the legs. Seems to be working after a fashion.

Next step is to place a sheer fabric over the wall, stitch it down and burn it back. Plenty of scope for disaster yet!

Welcome to my cabin

2011-06-09T09:50:00.002Z

Been having a patchwork moment as a gift for my sister in law. My good buddy Sandy may recognise some of these fabrics as she generously donated them to my stash.

This little exercise has made me go read some of my quilting books again. My two current favourites are about stitching to dye and painting quilts. This is where I would like to be heading.

Danger Woman at Work

2011-06-08T15:37:00.001Z

I’ve been stitching this afternoon. (Swoons in amazement!). I must have started this last year. You’ll recognise the first two kids from the blog header. There is an exhibition which happens every year. It’s like Christmas. You'll find me running about the week before as if the fact it falls on 25th December was news to me.

Same deal with this exhibition . It falls on the same date every year the precursor to which is my headless chicken routine. Perhaps I need to the sound of deadline whooshing by to inspire me?

If, like me, you were a child of the 60’s in the UK, please tell me what was the name of those brown sandals with the thick crepe soles all the children are wearing in the photo I’m working from. Ah,those were the days, when you had a choice of one shoe (or rather two shoes, one brand). I think they were Clark’s Sun-i-pat sandals, or something along these lines. If anyone can confirm I'd be obliged

Hot Buttered Seaglass

2011-06-07T08:57:00.002Z

Pancakes loomed large at the recent sea glass workshop.Earrings were the focus of the day. We made necklaces last time and most people were wearing theirs. Nice to complete the set with a pair or earrings.

The pair thing was a bit of a challenge. Every tried to find two bits of identical broken bottle randomly abraded by the sea over many years?

Personally I’ve always been a fan of odd earrings.

My favourite canal

2011-06-04T07:22:00.001Z

I’ve been having root canal work done on my teeth. I hate dentists but I love MY dentist. Hhhhhmmm, Freudian!

Off to teach a seaglass jewellery workshop this morning. Should be okay. No chewing involved. Not unless someone has forgotten their scissors.

Saw a great tip for cutting wire the other day. Think it was the Crochet Crowd vidcast The tip was to cut your wire with your nail clippers. Saves trashing your scissors. In fact I believe this could be the self same implement my dentist used on me yesterday. Maybe he left them in there?

Open wide.

Beads!

2011-05-31T17:32:00.001Z

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You don’t need me to tell you times is tough right now. I’ve taken to making a lot more of my own jewellery for my little shoppee and I do love buying gemstones. My good buddies took me to the Edinburgh Bead Fair for the first time recently where I spied some irresistible Picasso Jasper. Large beads as a rule are too heavy to form a necklace in the normal way but one stone on its own can look stunning. Each one of these looks like a little landscape or seascape………to me, but obviously not to the person who drilled them. The result is I have quite a few landscapes and seascapes rotated at a 45 degree angle. Horizon vertical instead of horizontal. Guess that it makes it the verrison?

Was wondering what to do about my gemstone dilemma when this book came to my attention. I’m teaching myself how to attach a silver bail to the stone, bringing the horizon back to a less dizzying angle.

I run workshops about how to wrap sea glass with silver wire. I have one happening this Saturday. So far I haven’t offered any of my wire wrapped jewellery for sale. I’ll be interested to see if it takes anyone’s fancy.

2011-05-10T09:03:00.001Z

I’ve finally managed to get Livewriter to work properly and insert photos for me. Maybe this will revitalise my blogging life which has faded to a shadow of it’s former self. Unlike me, I’m pleased to say. I’m fit as a flea, or at least a flea with a sore bum. After investigating the world of chronic pain I realise I am extremely fortunate and much blessing counting is called for. Red or grey? Whatcha reckon?

Never enough tea

2011-05-10T08:47:00.001Z

Don’t you find? Never a tea cup big enough for your requirements? I like one I can bathe in. Even if it is only up to my waist. Cheers!

Here come the girls

2010-12-02T19:03:00.000Z

Hot Stuff!

2010-11-28T19:01:00.002Z

Okay, I promised you the down on capsaisin cream. In the UK it's a prescription drug but I see you can buy it from Amazon.com and other places I guess. I thought the Amazon site was interesting because, as with books and the like you can scroll down and read the reviews. They range from best cream I ever tried to the work of the devil which should be banned.

It certainly has a sting in the tail, or my tail anyway. It comes in two strengths and you only need the tiniest amount. It seems to be doing nothing at first bit it's a gradual build up. If you overdo it, watchout!

The other evening I was lying in bed having liberally applied the cream. The whole area was on fire and despite my best efforts to ignore it, I finally had to get up at midnight and have a bath to get rid of it.

I'm persevering though. Something is working for me and I feel better every day. Can't swear it's the Capsaicin. I think it has a lot to do with the idea of taking back responsibility for your own health.

I do realise how hugely blessed I am to be in a position to be able to do that.

A bit rusty

2010-11-20T09:57:00.001Z

I'm trying to establish a mindfulness practice. Trying not to go through the day on auto pilot. To be aware of my thoughts. To be aware of my posture. To be aware of my breathing. But I have so much to do, how can adding to my burden help? Believe me, it can.

My fly's eye is trying to capture all I have to do in one glance, making it seem impossible. Instead
I'm going to consciously breath my way through washing the dishes. Until that task is completely finished, nothing else exists.

I can lazer focus in on my knitting to the exclusion of all else. Five hours to knit a glove seems like pretty good going. Five hours of focusing on chores would release me from the mess currently blocking my creativity.

I know it's do-able, one breath at a time.

Maiden Voyage

2010-11-14T19:28:00.003Z

A chilly but beautiful sail from Largs to Portavadie on the west coast of Scotland.

Bring on the straw

2010-11-09T08:17:00.002Z

I've became foster mummy to a spinning wheel this week. All I know about spinning wheels is that they enable men of small stature to turn dried grass into precious metal. Thought that might be a plan, given the current economic climate. Only problem is, it's broken.

Well not really broken. Just slightly wounded. Its real mum uses it for decorative purposes only and lends it out to amateur dramatic groups (!). Therefore a few bits have fallen off over the years.

Frank Herring to the rescue. The wheel is a basic Ashford single drive. I learned this by watching a series of Utube spinning videos until I found one that looked like mine. Frank Herring, gawd bless him, provides a maintenance kit containing all the missing bits and I have sent for one. It costs £11 odds and contains a new drive belt (piece of string) and guides (cup hooks). See? The gold from dross thing is happening already! It's just happening for Frank Herring. But that's only because he has more spinning wheels than me....at the moment.....

I also had some girlies round for messy play. We mono printed with acrylics and wallpaper paste on calico. Great fun! You spread the gloopy mess on a sheet of acetate (or similar), scrape patterns into it and lift then off with the calico. When dry, you can mask areas off and repeat the process with another colour or pattern.
Its the 'when dry' bit I'm not so good at. Hence mine looks a little more oganic than planned. One girlie described it as 'very sixties'. Yes, well, so am I.

Taking my hat off to Laura Reavis

2010-11-03T00:43:00.002Z

We had a great knit night tonight. Two new ladies showed up and we crocheted preemie hats. How cute does this look sitting on my swift? Look a lot better sitting on a baby's head I guess. This is from an original design by Laura Reavis. You're welcome to use it for charity crafting. It's called Creative Preemie Hat

Did I mention I'm in the process of kicking my painkillers? It goes well but sleep goes completely. All I want to do is eat and part-aey! (and crochet-aey). Looking forward to the days when I happily slide off to bed at 9pm. Won't be long now!

The Road to Hell

2010-10-31T20:19:00.006Z

The road to hell, as they say, is paved with good intentions. I've been ill. I won't bore you. Suffice to say I finally had a diagnosis of chronic pain. Much better than it might have been. I won't mention it again unless to tell you of helpful or interesting things. After all, I have a big family out there now. My new chronic pain brothers and sisters.

So far my new magic words are Tens Machine. My pain is neurological. So instead of thinking sore, sore, depressing, distressing..............my easily fooled brain things............tingly.....not depressing, not distressing. Really amazing.

I'm also learning to relax, distract, and exercise appropriately.

The most useful and sensible thing I have learned is that it is not a war, it's an ongoing negotiation. If you fight pain with grim determination and gritted teeth, pain will win, every time. She'll bring you to your knees. If on the other hand you negotiate with pain, that's a whole different ball game. These guys can explain it much better than I can http://www.painconcern.org.uk/blog/

Their excellent podcast Airing Pain is well worth a listen. The third episode is up now. Subscribe on Itunes.

If on the other hand you like your disability with a large helping of irreverence and you are not easily offended, catch Ouch, a BBC podcast bringing an ironically humorous slant to the seriously unfunny subject of disability.http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/

One of the other truly amazing things I have learned is that making/ artist endeavour/mucking about whatever you want to call it keeps me sane. I know for a fact I'm not along in this either.

I hope that creating will be the main thrust of my jottings from now on with just the odd seasoning of pain matters where relevant.

I'm having some chums round for a wet play session. Tonight I've been trying to remember some techniques. The trying to remember bit is relevant as I hope to be exhibiting in an exhibition to raise money for Alzheimer's. I have a family member who suffers.

Anyway, I began monoprinting and it starterd to speak to me of memory fading and coming back into the foreground. I would like to develop this idea.

The Road to Hell

2010-10-31T20:19:00.001Z

The Road to Hell

2010-10-31T20:19:00.000Z

test

2010-10-31T19:36:00.001Z

test

2010-08-08T19:30:00.001Z

2010-07-20T09:05:00.002Z

This is my first foray into quilt making. Pretty trad at the moment but I hope to become more experimental .

Here is a most excellent book I can thoroughly recommend if you hanker after a walk on the quilting wild side.

I enjoy making quilts but I hate finishing them. But then, I was bound to say that! (quilting joke)

Another fine mess!

2010-04-23T18:26:00.002Z

If life is too short to shrink hats, life is definitely too short to knit lace. People rave about knitting lace. I tried, I really did but then I needed the pins for something else (oh, THAT old excuse). I was about to squash my 9,8652 stitches onto a safety pin for completing at a later date when I thought, who am I kidding? Just cast the blinking thing off and cut your losses, not to mention your lovely Shetland yarn.

I had heard tell that you fall back in love with your lace once it’s blocked and yes, simple though it is, a can see it as thing of beauty. But the joy for me is knowing that I will never have to knit lace again.

Bring on the super bulky.

Shrunken Head

2010-04-23T18:20:00.002Z

Of course my hat is the right size. It’s my head that’s shrunk.

I did indeed wear it in the shower whilst violently rubbing my head with old vegetable net. I boiled it,

(the hat, not my head),I plunged it into cold water, I threw it about the place and it still flatly refused to shrink.

Life is too short to fight with it any more. I gave it to it’s lucky recipient who will just have to grow a new head. I have other plans. A bit of housework might be a good idea, judging by this shot…

That shrinking feeling

2010-04-17T20:20:00.003Z

I have been trying my hand at a shrink to fit Noro hat from Debbie Stroller’s Happy Hooker. My front loader just isn’t man enough for the job I suspect perhaps it washes at a cool temperature. The machine is so old all the instructions have worn off. I’m not quite up to felting by hand at the moment but I did think I’d put some bubble wrap and the reluctant hat in the bottom of the shower stall tomorrow.

Now who can I get to take the picture? Before felting….very attractive

After two goes in my rotten washing machine. Would make a lovely cake cosy or a hat for the elephant man.

2010-03-14T19:20:00.002Z

It's that time again! Once a year Eileandour (highland water) comes out of the sea to have it's bottom cleaned and anti fouled and polished.

Fortunately I have a slave to do this for me while I sit alongside doing the aforementioned knitting in public.

There are all kinds of fantastic rusty oil drums kicking around offering instant landscapes and seascapes.

Roll on the relaunch.

Creaking joints

2010-03-14T18:52:00.004Z

My knitting swift has had a hard old life as you'll see. This is the implement which enables you turn your hanks of yarn into balls. There is something hugely satisfying about watching it twirling round as your hank decreases and your ball increases.

It already had its injuries when it came my way via a house clearance. But with a metal pin in its leg and a lota loving it manages just fine. I love to fantasise about the person (people?) who used it before me.

The beautiful Noro was gifted to me and this is one of the many things I've managed to create. The pattern is now in my head which is always a much better place to have it if you're planning to knit in public. It looks so much more impressive than scrabbling about for your rain splattered, wind blown pattern which you eventually have to sit on in the end to stop it for disappearing altogether.

Shrinking elephants

2010-03-12T17:04:00.003Z

I finished the bag I was crocheting for a friend. I used nylon and hadn't reckoned with the fact that the bag itself is heavy, before you put anything in it! I've make these before with string and they work like a charm. You can fling them in the washing machine but watch out for shrinkage. My bag that would have held an elephant shrunk to one that would hold a mouse.

I decided I would quilt all the Liberty peacock feather in the quilt I'm making. The fact that had have 40 of these squares had slipped my mind. Oh well. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And once you have taken a few bites, maybe it'll fit in your shrunken string bag!

still standing

2010-03-06T16:11:00.005Z

I've been having a few health challenges but I'm still creating.

Small landscapes and seascapes

Crocheting a string bag for a friend,

and having my first foray into the world of quilting.

Homage to Ronald Searle

2010-01-23T19:28:00.002Z

I'm thinking of going back to my roots. Looking at these stitched samples in old sketchbooks, this is really what I like doing, drawing with my sewing machine.

The sharp eyed might notice my homage to the St Trinians schoolgirls and the delicious black humour of Ronald Searle.

The Jeelie Piece Song

2010-01-23T19:07:00.004Z

A while ago I found this photograph. I don't know where it came from but it speaks to me of my childhood, growing up in a Glasgow tenement.

I made this collage but I always wanted to do something more with it.

Joan Eardley is favourite Glasgow artist who painted a lot of tenement children in a very loose, mixed media style.

This cartoon from an old sketchbook collection appealed to me. Part coloured, part black and white, it spoke of the fact that the original photograph is a hand colored black and white print.

I have no idea where it's going - or even if it's going - but I'm liking it so far.

Burial at sea

2009-12-21T16:01:00.005Z

Decided to day that it was time to give the king and queen of beach combing a decent burial at sea.

I used to take these along to jewellery from junk workshops and the haul included the odd wire wrapped reject.

Three basins full of hand picked gems.....quite an emotional burial.

....but also very cathartic. Making space. Ashes to ashes and a'w that.

.....and sea glass returned to the sea.

Hot stuff!!

2009-11-14T04:15:00.002Z

I whipped up a cover for my baby hot water bottle with some leftover Noro yarn. The little devil is in there for life, there is no means of escape. I'm tempted to felt it now, complete with bottle inside. There is not much room for manoeuvre. Would be interesting to see if the felting is powerful enough to crumple the rubber of the hot water bottle. Suspect this kind of felting may be the stuff of Superman comics but I'll fill the bottle first, just in case.

Hand in glove

2009-11-10T19:44:00.002Z

Finished the cotton gloves for my friend. There is actually a prefferd space through which the thumb should exit. Decided to send them hand in glove to indicate this fact.

Doon the Watter

2009-11-10T16:50:00.005Z

Off on another craft cruise...

This is my current knitting container. It's a sample for a workshop I did once for International Women's Day. The title was how to turn yourself into an old bag.

Cotton gloves for my vegan chum. No-one has actually road tested these yet. I suspect they might catch in everything. Think they'll just be for glamming about in, not for any practical purpose.

These huge cargo ships often sit offshore. They are like floating cities.

Arriving in lovely Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Used to be the height of sophistication to holiday here in the Victorian era.

It was a beautifully calm day

Sailboats everywhere you looked.

Oooops!

2009-11-05T08:20:00.002Z

I learned a valuable yarn lesson today. When someone says they can't wear wool, it's a good idea to ask why. I know it seems a little intrusive but trust me, it will be worth it in the long run.

Wool allergy, I assumed when my friend let me into her secret. Nasty, itchy, scratchy. So I replaced it with lovley indie dyed silk from stash. Smooth, sensual, sensational!

Errrrrrrrrrrrrr, only my friend doesn't have a wool allergy. She's a vegan.

Now she's a good friend and knew she was a vegan. I've even fed her on accassion. I know vegans don't wear leather shoes and I understand why. It's perfectly logical. Now that I think about it I can even see why no silk. But why no wool? No sheep are harmed in the process. Maybe it's just the whole thing of animals being the slaves of man. Whatever. I have my idiocincracies too. I can't abide two pence pieces.

Luckily another good friend brought me a present of this grand ecological cotton. I'm even going to make some changes to the pattern. Perhaps the new hitch hiker's gloves will be better than ever.

Lets hope the third time is the trick.

silky!

2009-10-29T07:29:00.002Z

I'm making a pair of silk hitch hiker's gloves for my friend who can't wear wool. This is indie dyed silk, quite bulky. I picked it up a while ago and it's been crocheted and frogged a few times before it found it's calling. Goes particularly well with my pyjamas I thought.

Harris Haystacks (it's my wrestling name)

2009-10-19T09:20:00.004Z

I'm making a jacket from the big dod of felt I created a while ago. I just went at it with the scissors. Well, you can't make an omelet without cutting chunks out of eggs, can you?

I was playing with Harris Tweed to see if I could make jewellery. These look like mini haystacks, don't they? They might have a part of play in the finished garment.

Felted flowers

2009-10-19T05:24:00.003Z

Not a huge difference between felted and unfelted, in fact, almost indiscernible to the naked eye. This is Lamb's Pride. Thought it was supposed to felt at the drop of a tap? It certainly splices beautifully.

I only learned how to splice recently and in case, like me, you've lived to this age without the knowledge......

You unravel the two ends of yarn you wish to join always presuming it is of a suitable felty type. Then, the instructions I originally found said, you spit on it. Now I'm anti spitting. Violently anti spitting. If there are any spitting related incident on the TV I have to leave the room. I was explaining this hindrance to successful splicing to a colleague who does a lot of knitting in public and she explained the alternative. You enmesh the two unravelled end with each other and run then between your lips in a lady like manner. This particular pal makes her own roll ups so it's kind of like licking your Rizzlers. Much more ladylike than actually gobbing in your hand.

So..............having covered the wetting down aspect of splicing in more detail that strictly necessary, you rub the two wet ends briskly between the palms of your two hands and they miraculously felt together! It's my favourite party trick at the moment although obviously it doesn't work with super wash or yarns with a low wool content.

Still, I think I prefer the slightly more matt felted flower in contrast with the very openwork scrarf. I may chuck the flowers in the washing machine a second time or even give them a quick going over with the sander. Now there's an idea!

Spring is bursting out all over..............

2009-10-18T05:08:00.001Z

Well not spring exactly...this is part of my Christmas knitting. I'm going to chuck these in the washing machine and see what happens to them. The plan is to use them to embellish a scarf.

Autumn

2009-10-10T05:34:00.003Z

I'm having a bit of trouble walking at the moment which certainly makes me appreciate the beauty of the outdoors when I finally get there.

There are lots of crunchy things around.............

...and fluffy things.

Here's a ready made seascape I found growing on a bench. They do say this kind of lichen only grown in area where the air quality is good. I'm very lucky to have all this beauty on my doorstep.

Swaning around

2009-10-06T04:57:00.004Z

There is some fabulous wrought iron in and around Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute. On the top of this lampost you can see the town crest.

Imaging building this house then going to the trouble of having all this ornate ironwork installed. Some of the poshest seagulls on the west coast of Scotland must live up there.

I love the colours in and around the harbour. Always lots of orange in marinas, isn't there?

Contrast the state of the art new ferry walkway in the background with the old fishing boats.

Mind you, must be hard for the locals to have us tourist gawping at them as they go about their ablutions.

Rothesay here we come!

2009-10-05T09:13:00.007Z

We were off on our travels again yesterday.
I love the use of rope in and around the sea. Thought this was a particularly brilliant intervention.
There as lots of this going on...

Elizabeth Zimmerman's February baby sweater. Don't ya just love it?

Fortunatey I had the deckhand with me for the heavy lifting!

I think I'm going to collect images of ropey things found in marinas. My good buddy Digital Gran has been doing a wonderful series on circles. Check it out.

Out with the old

2009-09-27T13:49:00.002Z

I'm having a clear up. Blocking things that need blocking and chucking things that need chucked. Or rather trying to find the right home for the right stuff.

There is just a possibility spinning might be making an entree into my life and something has to give. It does worry me that the same things applies to my head. As I stuff it full of the required new spinning knowledge, something has to fall out the other ear. Like where my car keys are. Nope, too late, that's gone already...........

Thumbs up - part three

2009-09-24T08:42:00.002Z

When you've finished your caterpillars, s/c into the top of your turning chain to join and you're off for the final few rounds of single crochet. I started taking it down a stitch or two to narrow it for the fingers. Decrease one stitch in the next couple of rows.

Try the glove on and see where you would like it to finish. I quite often make the mistake of making them come up too far. Very awkward when you're trying to use your fingers. Probably just past the base of your fingers is far enough.

You could just cast off here but I chose to finish it with a row of crab stitch (backwards crochet). Darn in your ends and you're away!

Thumbs up - part 2

2009-09-22T09:40:00.002Z

You can make as many rows of caterpillars as you like on your hitch hiker's gloves. I made three and in each row I decreased one by missing the first stitch in order to take the diameter down to fit snugly around my wrist. If it's not appropriate for your hand, leave it out.

Once you're all caterpillared out and have finished roughly above your original cast on tail, change to single crochet. If you are snuggling it into your wrist, keep decreasing in the first two single crochet rows. I took it down to 16 st.

Work 5 single crochet rows in total then begin increasing (single crochet into the first st twice) for the palm of your hand.

Row 6: s/c increase in first stitch
Row 7: s/c no increase
Row 8: s/c increase first stitch
Row 9: s/c no increase
Row 10 s/c no increase
...or as many increases you you require. Continue single crochet until in the glove comes to the base of your thumb. Then the fun begins!

You could experiment with wrapping the yarn round the hook 3 or even four times and crocheting into each stitch. This time though, before you begin, you are going to make a turning chain, although you are not turning your work. This 'turning chain' makes your caterpillars stand up straight instead of bending over. So if you're having three yarn overs make a turning chain of 4ch before you begin. Four yarn overs, a five stitch turning chain first.

When you've done a few caterpillars, try on the glove and stick your thumb through one of the spaces between them and see if it's comfortable. (I know these should technically be called (quadruple half double something-or-others but to me they are forever caterpillars.)

More later...

Thumbs up

2009-09-21T15:28:00.003Z

Glad you liked the glove pattern folks. Here are the loopy stitch instructions.

Make a chain that will go round your wrist and over your hand. In the bulky yarn it was ch 20 for me but I have been told I have wrists like sparrows legs.

Join your chain with a slip stitch and single crochet round it once. I hate marking the end of rows so I just used my cast on tail as an indicator of where I should be finishing.

This is the loopy stitch :

Wrap the yarn round the hook 7 times, hook through first chain in your circle, yarn over hook as usual then start taking the 7 yarn overs off the hook in pairs (sets of two stitches). The yarn goes over the hook again between each pair of stitches. The results is a thing like a humped back caterpillar. Single crochet back into it's roots, the same chain as you used to start it. Ignore all holes and odd looking things. They are called texture. Move onto the next chain and repeat.

You should end up with one caterpillar in each of your stitches. Your circle will now consist of very big stitches and it is into these that you single crochet for the next round.

Then you're off making caterpillars again.

See how that goes and I'll tell you more later. If it's as clear as mud I can post pics.

Hitch Hiker's gloves

2009-09-20T07:12:00.005Z

Guess what this is? It's my new prototype fingerless glove.

There is a row of treble crochet round about where the thumb should appear. You just stick your thumb between any two stitches takes your fancy

I want each glove to use exactly one ball of Lamb's Pride yarn - I don't really know why - so I'm going to add more ruffles. I'm also going to turn it at the end of each row instead of crocheting in the round for a neater finish.

I now declare this panel finished

2009-09-16T09:45:00.003Z

Palm tree! Yes, you do get them on the west coast of Scotland. A roll of painted calico fringed at the top and caught down with........hmmmmm, goodness knows what. One of those must have things you buy at stitching day out that lies in your workroom for the next fifteen years until you see it sticking out for under something some day and thing, wow, that looks just like the bark of a palm tree.

Unless of course, unlike me, you file your fabrics by colour, size, texture and in alphabetical order.

Anyway, here it is, finished. Really enjoyed it. Off to hand it in this afternoon. Please don't let me come back with another one to do. As Forrest Gump would say, a box of chocolates may be nice but two boxes of chocolates will probably make you sick.

I would think it'll be seen more from this angle once it's hanging up in which case the cow's fringe and the palm fronds will hide a multitude.

Big Mess

2009-09-12T19:44:00.001Z

Big Draw was a huge sucess but tidying up will now have to take place before any more creativity happens.

Blaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

The castle and the coo

2009-09-08T09:53:00.002Z

Highland cow smoking a fag

Rather drunk too I would say, and so is the castle he's standing on.

Land ahoy

2009-09-07T18:11:00.002Z

I decided to stuff my porpoise from the back. I think it's official name is trapunto quilting. The porpoise fabric is left over from a long and laborious project where I kept trying technique upon technique to make it work. This little scrap worked first time!

I'm particularly pleased with my land. It's a hand painted silk scarf complete with Celtic design I found wrapped around a rose bush one wet and windy day. I bet the owner was sorry to loose it. I was using it in my recent nuno felting experiments, hence the nice crinkle. Makes a great land mass with the felt giving it just the little bit of height.

Spot the deliberate mistake - shouldn't have stitched between top of bird's head and star. Oh well, a bit of fudging will happen later.

This is the castle and the coo auditioning for their big part. I really want to use this piece of knitting for the castle, even though it's more impressionist than realism. I think I'll get away with it.

The star and the flying trousers

2009-09-07T06:31:00.003Z

The Rothesay panel begins. The gold and pink star represents Mount Stuart House, our very own Gothic revival rebuilt by the 3rd Marquess of Bute after it was destroyed by fire.

The bird in progress is made from a bizarre pair of evening trousers I coveted many years ago. I convinced myself they were too expensive and impractical. Someone obviously agreed with me because I stumbled across them in a charity shop some months later. I probably only wore them twice before they hit the rag bag where they have languished for the past some years. Nice to see them involved in a new flight of fancy.

Rothesay beings...

2009-09-05T08:49:00.002Z

Pattern transferred to calico with dressmakers carbon. I've decided to use reverse applique for most of this. The first thing I'm going to do is stitch along all these lines so I can still see the pattern from the back when I have fabric stitched on top.

' Wouldn't it have been simpler to transfer a mirror image of the pattern to reverse of the fabric? ' says you.............nice weather for the time of year..........I have to go over here now.

Old knitting never dies...

2009-09-04T06:53:00.003Z

I rejoined the Embroiderers' Guild recently just in time to take part in a group project. We are making hanging to commemorate the 10th anniversary of our branch. The panels represent the surrounding towns and villages. I chose Rothesay, situated on the Isle of Bute where I go play when I get the chance.

In my scrap bag I have already found, the sea, the land a highland cow and the castle

The 'castle' is a piece of abandoned knitting donated to our sales table. As a would-be chess player, I'm going to keep it alive by castling it!

Just a little 'armless knitting

2009-08-31T07:48:00.002Z

I think this little number may be destined to spend it's life as a sleeveless shrug.

Whadda ya mean I've made a mistake picking up the sleeves AGAIN!

Real shame because I like it so far. The creator of the pattern is very generous with her email assistance as is one of my kind Ravelry buddies so we may get there yet. I sure hope so. Winter is coming.

Playing with colour

2009-08-30T07:47:00.005Z

I'm at the exciting stage of choosing roving to felt back into my deconstructed textile. I choose to use Wingham Wool Work who, if you live in the UK, lend you their colour chart for free provided you return it within two weeks.

This project really excites me because I have not the faintest idea what I'm going to do. Projects where there is the possibility of going 'wrong' discourage me and I loose heart. But no plan = no possibility for error, only fabulous discoveries.

2009-08-29T07:56:00.002Z

Wow - I've made a giant thing! I don't know what on earth it is, but it's almost eight feet long. It's a bit like an animal's pelt. I guess I was thinking if I could make yardage, maybe I could make garments.

I love the reverse of it where you can see the colours and textures of the bandage I felted it onto.

I deliberately left these gaps every now and then that are just bandage.

It's a bit heavier than I would have liked but as the last one fell apart I was kind of piling on the roving. A good experiment though. Very pleased with it. The learning continues...

magnum feltus

2009-08-28T11:16:00.003Z

Here it is. My latest magnum felt opus dripping over the bath. I've covered all three metres of my dyed bandage with a grid of tops and given it a quick initial sand with the sander. Loosing patience is my downfall with felt making so I'm just doing a little each day. It's taken me two days just of lay it down and wet it out.

Trying to avoid the Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr......scrumble it all up and fling it in a corner - alas too soon stage.

unravelling

2009-08-28T07:38:00.002Z

I'm pleased with the way the unravelling is breaking up the pattern. I'm keen to preserve the still knitted strips and am thinking about stitching down then or felting that little strip very specifically to make it stand proud.

Rip it, rip it

2009-08-27T08:01:00.004Z

The deconstruction of the dyed car polishing cloth begins to make a suitable base for my next nuno felt experiment.

success and learning experiences

2009-08-26T18:03:00.004Z

I had a nuno felt experiment today, laying out out a variety of scraps for my base
I teased out my merino tops and rolled it onto some foam pipe insulation before unrolling it over my selected fabrics.
I had envisaged a fabulous, floaty felt wrap....duh..............! I didn't use enough tops to 'grab' the fabric and many of the fabrics were to heavy to be grabbed with tops on one side only.
Cotton lawn, haboti silk, silk chiffon and scrim were the successful fabrics.
Can you imagine this is the shoulder of a fabulous jacket with a fascinating textured lining...can you?

Taking on board the lessons I'd learned I dyed some more base fabrics. I used some reactive fiber dyes that I'd had hanging about for years, literally. They were left over from a schools project. Although they were stored in solution, I always believed if they didn't have they salt added to then, they would survive with no limit of time. I guess not. The colours are very ethereal but I'm just not an ethereal kind of gal.
So I over dyed using information generously shared by my online bud Helen Cowans. Helen introduced me to the idea of replacing the salt with urea with lovely strong results. Much more my kind of thing. Thanks Helen!

Weird and wonderful

2009-08-25T07:28:00.002Z

Did some more crochet on my weird experimental thing using the sock yard I dyed with Lilith.

I actually like it best when it's all twisted up like a maypole. Going to see if crocheting straight down the outside of the twist will hold it in this shape.

Good vibrations

2009-08-23T15:58:00.006Z

For the felting with a sander experience, replace the sandpaper with some bubble wrap. Please take great care with any activity which combines water and electricity.
It is sooooo much faster. I do believe my holey felt has garment potential.

Are you a crafty saver of net bags? At last, a use for them! These fetching fingerless gloves are an adjunct to any felting day out.

I've been preparing for my next felting adventure by dyeing some bandage and some polishing cloth. From Boots the Chemist you can by bandage a meter wide by three metres long. That would be some colourful wound!

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A thing of beauty

2009-08-23T07:55:00.003Z

What on earth is this thing of beauty that has appeared adjacent to my favourite knitting area? Is it a pole for a very skinny pole dancer? No. It's a water feature. An unwanted water feature and definitely not a joy forever.
I live in a building with a flat roof. Not sensible architecture for a country gripped by its very own global warming induced monsoon season. There is no way I could sit here night after night listening to drip, drip, drip so I stitched a piece of thread into my now peeling ceiling and left a tail long enough to reach the bucket below. The drip now obligingly and silently rolls down the thread an into the bucket. It would be quite beautiful and fascinating anywhere other than in my flat! For the pragmatic amongst you who ask 'why don't you just get the blinking thing fixed?' I have had a man up. 'We'll do it when it's dry,' says he. But by then it won't be problem..............because hell will have frozen over.

You have to hand it to them...

2009-08-22T09:44:00.002Z

Take off your fish and get out the face paints. Wouldn't this be a fabulous art project for children?

Rumple who skin?

2009-08-20T09:12:00.002Z

A few doors down from the workshop of belonging to the lady who taught me to dye yarn meets a knitting group. I joined a few weeks ago and this week two of my new buds, Knotty Artisan and Knit1girl1 on Ravelry, taught me how to use a drop spindle in a Rapunzel like fashion to turn my dyed merino straw into gold. Well, into lumpy, bumpy yarn at this stage.

I made myself a spindle by gluing a wooden knitting needle with a cup hook screwed into its top onto an old cd. I was copying KA's design only she had used a jam jar lid. They both seem to work like a charm. Any minute now I'll be able to let down my hair and escape. Or am I mixing my fairy tales? Either way, better put some clothes on first.

finished projects and WIP

2009-08-16T05:19:00.002Z

Yes, this is a picture of my chest. This cardigan drove me nuts but it's finished and I actually wear it. The yarn was a donation of cotton ribbon. Would not be my material of choice again. Does not hug you in a warm embrace. Instead, kinda pokes you with it's jaggy edges.

The vast aran becomes more vast with each passing day. Almost ready for the armhole experience.

First felt experiement

2009-08-14T07:25:00.003Z

A bit of embellishment on the sander scarf. Not totally convinced yet but will experiement with the sock and laceweight yarn I dyed at a workshop with Old Maiden Aunt.

Felt without tears

2009-08-14T07:09:00.004Z

This is felt making for people who hate making felt....like me. Gone is the effort, in comes the sander! The picture shows my friend who can felt beautifully with and without the help of modern technology. I need all the help I can get was delighted at the results the sander achieved combining some deconstructed fabric and merino roving dyed at a workshop with Old Maiden Aunt

Acid dyeing

2009-08-10T19:13:00.004Z

I recently went to a great dyeing workshop where I had the opportunity to play with acid dyes. These are required to dye wool or roving and silk, if you so choose. It was in my mind this was a complicated method but it's wasn't at all. Dye, water, vinegar and heat is all that is required.

The shawl-like object is a piece of tubular knitted car polishing cloth I dyed with Procion on my recent crafty holiday with my internet chums. The dyeing was facilitated by this talented lady. I chopped my tube up when I came home and had a clapotis moment, deliberately ripping out columns of stitches at intervals. I'm going to experiementally knit/crochet back into it with my lovley hand dyed yarn samples.

Is anything worn under the kilt?

2009-08-07T13:36:00.001Z

....No, it's all in perfect working order, or so the old joke goes. Sadly I didn't manage to find out on a recent visit to a fab tea room in Luss with very tasty serving staff.

Button it

2009-07-30T08:28:00.002Z

I wanted to make Dorset buttons the other day and could I remember how to do it? I went to a workshop eons ago and entering the mess that is my workroom I was able instantly able to put my hands on the instructions. This cheered me mightily proving beyond doubt that once I was organised. However, the camera batteries still elude me. If a Dorset button moment comes upon you in meantime, here's Sister Diane to the rescue.

The Websters

2009-07-25T06:49:00.004Z

My brother Dave and I are planning a joint exhibition. Here's a taster of some of his new paintings.

There were ten in the bed...

2009-07-24T07:18:00.003Z

There are seagulls nesting on the roof opposite me. We've watched them since they were balls of fluff and have become quite protective towards them. Imagine then how horrified we were when one fell off the roof! It didn't fall very far fortunately, landing in the neglected balcony of the flat below. It now appears pathetically behind glass (in the bottom corner of the brown balcony). If you click to enlarge you'll see. It's parents are still feeding and protecting it so I'm hoping it'll fledge eventually as it's sibling has long since done.

Mood indigo.

2009-07-22T19:41:00.002Z

Sitting on the boat today in perfect peace and quiet doing a little light reading when I noticed two boats with the same name sitting side by side. What are the chances of that happening?

Rust if you must....................

2009-07-21T20:47:00.003Z

Reminds me of that wonderful poem...

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Holidays

2009-07-19T09:30:00.006Z

Just been on my holidays with some lovely people to a lovely place called Urchfont Manor where much art and craft was made. The group across the courtyard were making Windsor chairs with which I was vastly impressed.

Sideways Aran Wrap

2009-07-19T09:18:00.002Z

Work beings on the sideways Aran wrap. When I say work I mean much frogging, highlighting, stitch marking, row tally clicking and swearing. Think I finally have the pattern in my head now. It was certainly in my dreams.

Knitting

2009-07-18T09:20:00.002Z

This has been on the pins for a while but has now been safely delivered to my brother who models it here.

North Ayrshire Open Art

2009-07-18T09:14:00.001Z

Here are some pieces of work I have in a local art exhibition at the moment. One of then casts a lovely shadow given half a chance.

Big Read

2009-07-06T07:39:00.003Z

I've been reading a few books (not like me) in preparation for Big Draw and this is a cracker. If you have young people to inspire - and that includes your inner child - go get it.

What a nit

2009-07-06T07:25:00.002Z

This is what has been exercising my tiny mind for some time know. It's from the Vogue Knitting Mag...only it's now allowed to be called the Vogue Knitting Mag in the UK anymore. What is THAT all about? They change the front cover and call it Designer Knitting, but it has the same content. Obviously one of these mad things that makes Jif change it's name to Cif.....................or is that because Jif is a swearword in some other country? Well Jif that for game of soldiers!

Anyway, having enjoyed the pain and frustration of this cardi so much, I'm moving swiftly along to another swear maker. This could take some time. Jif, jif, jif, jif, jif.......

2009-05-26T07:47:00.002Z

This is an idea I was revisiting whilst thinking about Big Draw. These are facial features collaged onto sheets of acetate. As you lay the sheets on top of each other, the face begins to built. The idea was to introduce primary school children to location of the various facial features. If you have different features ready made you can change expressions and deliberately misplace them. Kind of like these books with the split pages where you mix one person's body with someone else's legs.

Cut and shunt

2009-05-26T07:33:00.002Z

Whenever I made anything it tends to hang about for a LONG time before it has it's public debut. Sometimes it never does. I'm a big fan of outsider art and they do say the definition of a true outsider is for their art to be discovered posthumously. Trying to ensure I don't qualify.

Anyway, these were four bits, two drawn and two stitched that I decided to combine. The top one is called The Blues and the bottom one is called Electric Woman.

Mood swings? What mood swings?

Drawing without line

2009-05-25T07:13:00.002Z

These are two printing techniques. The figure is printed with the side of a square of cardboard and black ink. The idea is to draw without drawing a line if you see what I mean. Okay, I did cheat a bit but I didn't drag it to make the lines, I did print them. The nose is a kind of pointillist technique of hundreds of little monochrome daubs. Think it's my favourite.

Big Draw 2009

2009-05-25T07:07:00.003Z

I'm going to be providing in-service training for primary school teachers in order that Big Draw can be rolled out across schools in my area come October. For inspiration I've been looking back at some experimental drawing methods I've tried in the past. This drawing was done with glue initially and then I dumpted some leaf mold on top of it. The close up is of the hair. I did this years ago and don't treat it with any reverence. I must say I'm very impressed with the way the leaf mold has survived the 'under the bed' experience.

Hurrah and huzzah!!!!!!

2009-05-25T06:19:00.001Z

Blogger has locked me out for months but I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yoooooooooooooooo! off to take some photos so I can tell you what I'm up to.

Closure

2009-01-24T15:51:00.004Z

I crochet things sometimes. Usually things without button holes. And then I decided I would like to button them. I've invented (?) a solution for this problem. It's a little piece of chain, maybe 2" long with a nice big lobster clasp at either end. Now you need is two buttons with a shank into which you can fasten the lobster clasp. The buttons can be as big as you like because it's only the clasp that passes through some convenience space in your crochet - then you attach the buttons. It also means the buttons are interchangeable.

I've made other fastenings in this style by attaching the shank of the button to the chain with a jump ring. This makes a kind of giant cuff link. The downside of this is you need a hole large enough for the button to pass through and the buttons are attached for keeps, not interchangeable.

A difficult thing to describe in words but a very useful invention - or unvention as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say!

An awfully big adventure

2009-01-21T18:34:00.006Z

We had a lovely adventure in the Scottish heritage village Luss today where the Scottish soap opera 'Take the High Road' was filmed. Here's my take on Luss.

Cast off

2009-01-20T16:11:00.000Z

The finished product. I enjoyed it so much, I have another pair on the pins already.

The finishing touches

2009-01-20T14:16:00.005Z

I've finished my latest pair of fingerless gloves. The recipient of these likes a bit of pzazz so I decided to fancy them up with a crocheted flower on the back of the wrist. The flower shown without a button is the more realistic but it stands quite proud and I would be afraid that it might catch in sleeves and be a pest.

The flower with the button is simpler and can be unbuttoned and taken off if the need arises. I'll go with that one.

Ohhhh goody! A new project looms!

Dressed for the occassion

2009-01-18T19:25:00.001Z

Thought I'd share with you some more of my vintage crochet patterns. I think it's amazing how contemporary the handbag models look and how I have survived so long without one of these aprons I will never know.

Edgy

2009-01-17T18:58:00.004Z

A neighbour kindly shared with me her crochet inheritance when her Aunt recently passed over. Fabulous crochet pattern from the States circa 1947. The first one I'm desperate to play with is all about edgings. It cost 10 cents way back then and suggests we make crochet edging for our handkerchiefs, towels, linen and lingerie, not to mention the shelves on which they sit. Some of these guys reproduced in wire would make awesome jewellery. Can't wait to get started.

Two right hands

2009-01-16T16:12:00.005Z

Spotted the 'deliberate' mistake yet? Apart from this slight thumb misplacement blip this, my first foray into magic loop knitting has been a big success. I always thought a magic loop was a piece of equipment. Did wonder why I never say them for sale anywhere. But no, its a technique for knitting small diameter circular items on b-i-i-i-g (as in distance apart) circular needles.

I had asked for a set of interchangeable circs for my Christmas and they are so beautiful I was desperate to use them. I found this lovely lady on Utube and the mysteries of magic loop were revealed. I'm definitely a convert. I do suffer from needle dropsy and am forever rummaging under car seats and down the sides of couches. I often come up with some interesting and stick finds - but no more! My undroppable circular needle has made a new woman of me and with a little bit of frogging, I'll soon be magic looping again. Great free pattern by the way.

hook up

2009-01-15T10:28:00.001Z

I was doing a bit of nocturnal reading last night and all that was to hand was The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. It's a how to crochet book. I always look for the minimum time possible at the photos of hooks and hands and then jump straight to the patterns. Reading it last night was very interesting and suddenly crochet makes a lot more sense to me. Would recommend it to any crocheters who like me still have their L plates on.

When talking about the history of crochet she says that sometimes the employers of these poorly paid crocheters would require them the supplement their income in the age old fashion. Hence the name hookers, she suggests.

Spoke too soon!

2009-01-13T08:41:00.005Z

My good buddy Gill recently suggested I download Picasa 3 when I asked for her advice about photo editing software. Little did I dream what exciting possibilities it would offer! Thanks Gill.

2009-01-13T08:26:00.000Z

Why is playing with your webcam so fascinating? It'll be video next. Oh no, too scary. Anyway, here are my crochet chart reading attempts so far. I finished my current jewellery making schools project yesterday. A possible puppet making venture looms. Will let you know if it comes to fruition.