Work in Progress

Exhibit A - un-finished objects (ufo) basket

So what a weird October huh? So unseasonally warm I was almost relieved to finally dig out my woolly tights and fuck-off big boots this week. So what have I been up to? I've been offered extra hours at work during term-time, which is great in some ways, but does mean I have less time for creative stuff - boo!

Just before half term we made a magnificent family effort and created a Anglo Saxon warrior outfit for my 8 year old for a school 'wow' day. If he's not too embarrassed I will post some pics, as he did look pretty cool (although his main interest was the weaponry - he's normally a very gentle soul, honest...). Then during half term we had a big family wedding, which involved lots of travelling but was so much fun, and we now have an Official Auntie C. Managed to squeeze in a visit from my parents too, which even meant a bit of babysitting so that husband and I could go out at the weekend and watch 1930s horror films.

Eldest child (he of the Saxon warrior fame) then celebrated his exciting half term break by suddenly vomiting late on Sunday evening, just as we were all due back at school and our respective workplaces after a week off - timing could have been better. So another day off on Monday then, oh well, better use the time to tidy up the craft stuff, in between providing weak glasses of squash and dry toast of course.

Exhibit B - frog it don't slog it

I discovered quite a few unfinished projects, which I've now gathered together in one place (Exhibit A), in the hope that I might get on and finish them. There's a couple of things that are virtually finished already, so no excuse really. But one thing I've learnt about creative work, sometimes it's better to rip it up and start again, no point slogging away on putting work into something that you don't even like. Which brings me to Exhibit B, which was half a baby blanket that I just lost enthusiasm for, and then ran out of yarn, and then the baby graduated from university (sort of kidding). You know the story... So I frogged it, and now the yarn has the chance to be something lovely.

Or maybe sit in my stash for a while longer, let's not do anything hasty ;-)

Patchwork Cushion

Just a quick post today as the sun is shining and it's too nice a day to be hunched over a laptop. This patchwork cushion has been on my ufo list for a while, and I'm really pleased with how it's turned out (and just to have finished something at last!).

This was a kit given to me by a friend, bought from the Sally Army shop for a quid. Now, I know what you're thinking, somebody mugged Laura Ashley circa 1983, but although the fabric isn't my usual kind of style, I still think there's a value in this kind of kit.

For a start, the kit had everything in it that I needed to complete the project (bar thread and a cushion pad). It also had full instructions, and I learnt some new techniques while doing it. The patchwork went together fairly quickly as it was all straight seams.

For the quilting I just followed the seams, making concentric squares. I started from the centre and worked out to keep things even.

The back is one piece of a rather surgical limb pink fabric. I hand stitched all the binding which goes round the edge of the cushion, which didn't take as long as I expected, and has given a lovely neat finish.

Now I can give myself permission to throw myself into some new projects. Currently on the go are some rainbow socks for my son and developing some new stock for Christmas craft fairs...

UFOs...

I seem to have a bit of a block about making things at the moment, so to try and counter it, I thought I'd have a bit of a tidy up in the spare room (which I refer to in my head as my craft room). No matter how hard I try I can't seem to keep it tidy, possibly because I know I can bolt the door on it when it gets too bad. I con myself that with the right storage I would, but I'm just kidding myself...

Anyway, in the course of tidying up I discovered an embarrassingly large number of Un-Finished Objects (that's where the UFO thing comes in, geddit?).

Some of the things I discovered, in no particular order:

• Most of a navy blue sweater for a three year old boy - it just needs a button band, collar and making up. Just a shame that the three year old boy I was knitting it for will turn six in July...
• A dismembered knitted dolly, with dress, just needs stuffing and sewing up
• A knitting bag - needs a lining and just two more seams to attach the handles, plus tidying up of ends.
• A denim handbag that I was half way through and lost enthusiasm for last year, that and I realised that I really should have used some interfacing as it's a bit floppy - can these things be retrofit?
• A lamp-base awaiting a new shade
• Patchwork cushion kit - not even started, but purchased for £1 from the Sally Army shop
• Several tapestry kits, one technically 'in progress', two others that are actually finished but are languishing in a cupboard as I haven't had them framed or made into cushion covers

That's before I started counting the things that my children want me to make (a pair of rainbow socks and a dachshund draft excluder), my secret knitting project that has stalled due to chronic miscalculation on the yarn purchasing front, oh and any number of foetal blog posts that are hanging about in the ether, just waiting for a slide down the metaphorical birth canal.

So what have I done about it? Well to start with I decided that, fuck it, the knitting bag doesn't need a lining, and immediately took to my machine and sewed two enthusiastic if slightly wonky seams to attach the handles. I shall sit in front of The Apprentice later and tidy up any loose ends.

So that's my list of shame shared - what UFOs are lurking in your house?

p.s. thanks to wikipedia for the 'purported' UFO pic