Week 51 of 2024

This week I finished a cross stitch -

The pattern is All Creatures Great and Small by Barbara Ana.

I stitched it on 40 count linen, with DMC floss (1 strand of floss over 2 fabric threads, so 20 stitches per inch). It is 12"x15". I thought it would be a three year project but I finished it in just over two and a half years (May 2022 to December 2024).It was really enjoyable to stitch because all the little motifs made for many satisfying finishes along the way. I added my maternal grandmother's initials and her date of birth, because her work inspired my love of embroidery. 

Here she is on the left, aged about 15 years around 1908, along with an older sister and her mother (I was surprised to realize that I am about the same age as my great grandmother in this photo - late fifties).

This is a sampler that my grandmother made at school (probably around the same time as the above photo), it includes different embroidery stitches, quilting, mending, patching, and crochet.

My next cross stitch is all ready (this will be a 2025 project).

I also made a couple of little "kicker" cat toys (with winter just starting someone is inside a lot more and needs ways to burn off energy that don't involve eating plants and climbing in the basement ceiling joists!). Simple squares of leftover thick fabric, sewn into rectangles, stuffed with scraps of wool batting, with some little braids of crochet cotton on the corners for added fun.

Very entertaining!

Weaving number four of the six tea towels on the loom.

Hard to believe only one and a half weeks left!

Photos from Around - 

Nose freckles.

GingerSnap blends well with the quilt.

There are so many photos of GingerSnap because he is always close by (he is the most affectionate of all the pets).

Everyone waiting for treats (someone more excited than the others).

The hens get their treats too (still laying lots of eggs).

Beautiful winter walks.

All the best!♥︎

Week 50 of 2024

This week I made a quick, simple knot bag -

This is a bag pattern I make all the time with handles that are the same length, but for a knot bag I made one of the handles shorter.

I made it out of fabric from a sample book (it is a polyester, home furnishings fabric).

I pieced fabric to make a larger piece.

I used an overlocker to piece the fabric,

then topstitched all the seams so that they would be flat and not catch on the inside of the bag (really so I wouldn't have to line the bag).

I also dyed some fibre for socks (a BFL/nylon blend).

Another set of tea towels is on the loom, almost the same as the last ones.

Works In Progress - 

Cross Stitch - maybe I will be finished by the end of the year?

I started the front of the knitted vest (this is the project bag that I wanted a knot bag for - I am alternating two balls of yarn for this since it is hand dyed, and the balls kept rolling all over the place. As you can imagine someone was pretty excited about this - GingerSnap!, so I needed a solution).

Temperature blanket - a few very cold days this week.

We were without power for a couple of hours this week, but luckily I have a treadle sewing machine so sewed a bit on a scrappy thimble quilt.

Photos from Around - 

The hens are doing fine with the cold, some had a bit of frostbite on their combs (they do have a heated house inside the grain bin, but don't always use it).

GingerSnap knows how to stay warm.

All the best!♥︎

Week 49 of 2024

This week I wove a set of tea towels -

The pattern is from Jane Stafford's School of Weaving, Season 5, episode 1 - Turned Twill Towels on 8 Shaft. Woven in 8/2 cotton.

The warp was fairly neutral, so it played well with various weft colours, and they all look so different.

I wove these on a time crunch (4 days from start to finish, they are sold), so I now have another set on the go because they were so nice to weave.

Works in Progress - 

Second Story Tee - the back is almost finished.

Cross Stitch - another row finished.

Temperature Blanket - just a few weeks left.

Photos from Around - 

Christmas cactus in full bloom.

The chickens are still laying lots of eggs!

The rink is really nice this year, and all the pets joined us for a skate.

I don't know what GingerSnap thought of being knocked over by Molly sliding into him.

Some cool bubble chains in the ice.

GingerSnap!

Today was a snowy day.

All the best!♥︎

Week 48 of 2024

This week I made a Smart Sofa Station by Arabesque Scissors -

This was a great pattern, so well explained with lots of videos to help. I shortened mine a bit to work with my sofa and to make use of the supplies I had on hand.

I also added a couple bands of fabric to hold spools of thread (something I saw on Instagram). There are magnets to hold scissors and some beeswax in the tin (I am using it for an English paper piecing project).

Winter hit hard this week.

Photos from Around - 

Looks like there is lots of room for GingerSnap on the bench, but Miss Maggie still won't let him come too close.

Santa watching over a sleeping cat.

It was -20ºC inside the grain bin and around freezing inside the heated, insulated wooden coop (the nesting boxes are inside along with plenty of perches), but they still spent the night on the top.

I am glad they don't seem to mind the cold (Molly keeping an eye on them).

All the best!♥︎

Week 47 of 2024

Last week I bought a 1924 Singer 127 treadle sewing machine-

I had been looking for one for a while, and this one had been for sale for a while. 

It had all the parts, the decals were in good shape, the cabinet had been refinished with an oil finish (probably in the 70's), the base didn't need to be repainted, and it was a fair price - I couldn't resist.

This one was made in St Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, in 1924, at a time when electric machines were an option (this model has a spot for a motor).

It just needed a good clean - 100 years of hardened oil and grime. It hadn't been used in many years.

I was amazed how well it sewed after a clean and an oiling. Even when I machine quilted with a heavy hand quilting thread, I didn't need to adjust anything.

My first project was a little (9"x12") quilt, pieced, straight line machine quilted, and the binding, all on the treadle sewing machine.

I was so much fun to make - definitely a different skill than sewing on an electric machine (Janome makes a treadle sewing machine for people without electricity).

Millions of these machines were made, and they were built to last, so there are still lots around (the Sphinx/Memphis decal ones seem to be the most common around here). I can't imagine anyone will be sewing on my new/plastic/computerized machine in 100 years. Also, when something does one thing, it tends to do it well.

My Mom (who is an amazing sewist) learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine and now sews on a fancy computerized machine, I was impressed, but she told me it was because she was old (she did just turn 90).

Works in Progress - 

Still on track with my three year cross stitch project.

About 150 blocks, so about half way there on a Broken Dishes quilt.

Back to cold temperatures.

I started knitting a vest with some yarn that I dyed. The pattern is the Second Story Tee by Debbie O'Neill.

The yarn is Bare Capra Dk from Knit Picks (a soft Merino/Cashmere blend).

I am alternating skeins since the yarn is handdyed.

Photos from Around - 

Hopefully they are becoming friends! Sadly not yet!

Playing on a frosty morning.

They don't seem to mind the snow.

First time growing hydroponic cucumbers!

Beautiful sunrise.

All the best!♥︎