Procrastination and Sewing

Remember me being full of motivation and ideas for my fabric purchases? Well, if you don't...I don't blame you. I'm trying to get over the all talk, no action thing. The fabric sat on the day bed for a month (or two...) gathering dust while I mulled over what to do with it. I would look at it, feel guilty and then flake out on the computer. I'm sure none of you know what I am talking about with that one.

So today, I spent a considerable amount of time going through my various patterns, asking for advice from both my sweetie and my son...getting the fabric out, putting it back down, looking at my patterns again. Finally...I took a deep breath and made a decision. I hope its the right one. Seriously.

Here it is at present, pinned down, ready for cutting. It was a tight squeeze but doable.

Beautiful fabric, lets hope it washes well.

One view of fabric pinned down, ready for the chop

Another view, note things waiting to be pinned.
 

My biggest worry is how it will fit me. Silly things like: Will it fit me in the shoulders? Will it fit around the expansive hips? Will the buttonholes look crap? I always have issues with fabric that way. Wondering if I was careful enough with the cutting of pieces, doing my tucks and hems...making sure I match things correctly...oh you get the idea. The biggest challenge will be the button holes. I have never done them before on my sewing machine...my old one yes...this one no. Thankfully I have enough fabric to test first and get a feel for things. It should be an interesting process. A huge learning curve potentially. Wish me luck.

Knitting Therapy

I've been making a conscious effort to get more involved with my knitting. Last night, I finished the first sleeve of my cardigan so I have now completed the back, sides and one sleeve...which leaves one sleeve left, blocking and then the ribbing. I can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel.

The positive thing about knitting as it does require some of my attention so it stops me for fixating on crap like work issues, applications for Graduate School and future plans. I obviously still have to write a personal statement and that will happen in due course. The truth is I need a clear head and lately, work has been draining and I'm not in the right mind set for that this week. Next week will be different, no work and time to just focus on that. 

Of course, like most knitters, I'm already thinking about what I would like to do next when I complete this project. Last week, I went to Purl and Jane in Skipton and got this lovely pattern. 

From Purl and Jane, available on her website

 
Jane makes such wonderful patterns, so easy to follow and yet so beautiful. She is also incredibly helpful and very friendly! It requires 3 ply wool and I know I will have to do a tension square next. It leads to all sorts of problem solving for me as I tend to be a “loose knitter” and generally have to go down a size in needles. I don't really intend on knitting on much smaller needles than I already have and since its in children's size...I might have to experiment with that. The fun part will be deciding what wool I would like to use. Yup...first world problems.

Say it with me, just two more days of work then a whole week off. There, it doesn't sound that bad now, does it?

Moving Forward Inch by Inch

I made the mistake of returning to work last Monday when I still felt unwell. The days just dragged by with me feeling like I'd been dragged through a bush backwards and then had barbed wire pulled up through my throat. Not to mention the never ending feeling of overwhelming tiredness. I was beginning to think that recovery was just NOT going to happen.

Thankfully this week, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The throat is only a little scratchy, the headache is still lingering a bit but that's mainly due to a long and noisy day at work and I no longer ache all over. Lesson learned. Next time, I get this brilliant idea of returning to work before I'm truly on the mend...hit me hard folks.

In the meantime, very little has happened. My concentration was shot to pieces...even watching television for any length of time proved difficult. But, on the plus, I somehow managed to look at some information with regards to Graduate School. Yes, I have made a decision to go onto Graduate School and do something else with my life. I can't begin the process until 1 of November but I got my references, bookmarked appropriate links and I'm ready to apply. Wish me luck...its going to be another change in my life.

Fit Nor Nothing

You know how you think it would be wonderful to have some quiet time at home and then you get ill and think NOT this way?!!! Well, that is what happened.

On Tuesday, I came home from work feeling a little bit grotty so I had a shower. I thought it will pass.  Silly me. By the time it was 10pm, my throat felt like it had been ripped apart by barbed wire, every joint in my body ached and my nose was completely blocked. Oh the joys of being unwell.

Wednesday, I pretty much spent cat napping on the bed on and off for the entire day...finally, I just went to bed at 7pm and slept and slept and slept. Today, the throat is feeling marginally better and I'm still fatigued and achy. Clearly, no work for me for the rest of the week. So, yet again, life is put on hold. It happens.

Today, I've been losing myself in blog land. Reading some of my favourite blogs and admiring some people's approach to life. I don't ever remember country life being this appealing when I was young! Soulemama and Small Measure are worth reading. I've also been looking at Brooklyn Tweed and this cardigan is just gorgeous! However, I made a promise to myself...finish what you are doing first! I'm waiting for my concentration to return and with that, energy levels.

 

The other half has not been updating the shop with stock yet as we have car issues and we are awaiting parts for him to carry out a repair job.  Also, he is in the progress of completing cushion covers for dining room set.  Two more to go!

Cable borders

I'm not really a huge fan of television. There is a lot of stuff on telly now that does not interest me at all. However, last night there was a film on telly that I quite enjoyed. It was a golden opportunity for me to sit feeling calm and focus on my knitting.

Remember the cardigan I wanted to knit a lace panel into and then decided against it? Well, in the end I decided on a cable pattern going down the sides. I've finished a bit, sleeves still need to be done. It needs to be blocked and pieced together. But here is a picture of the cable pattern so you can get some idea of what it might look like:

Remember it hasn't been blocked yet...
 

The weather today is gorgeous. Bright, clear, crisp day. I spent a few hours gardening today. It might be the last time before the tedious job of pruning things back, raking endless leaves and removing the old flowers in the flower bed. I feel refreshed. Last night I slept very well...where has the weekend gone?

The Maker's Fair!

The past two weekends have been spent enjoying the Saltaire Festival. Last weekend was the Maker's Fair. Its probably one of my favourite events of the year in this year. There was lots of beautiful prints, cushion covers, ceramic pots and other lovingly handmade crafts. It was exciting to meet the makers themselves and appreciate their work.

One of the women I was impressed with was a weaver, Chrissie Freeth. I loved the colours of her beautiful cloth and I fully intend to buy some buttons from her in the foreseeable future! I always like the idea of having a loom and being able to make my own fabric. I remember years and years ago, I worked in a summer camp in Vermont and they had looms and I was thinking how great it would be to learn to use a loom and then how disappointed I was when I found out the person that ran that craft was absent that one year! 

Rachel Johns had some incredible quirky art as well. I love the boobs on things! I got a Christmas card that I know I will have trouble posting off as I love the art on it. Maybe it will find its way into a frame for all to appreciate in my house.

The Print Project also had some quirky post cards and wonderful designs. I bought a collection of postcards to add to my collection. I have some albums of postcards I collected over the years. Some from family and friends, some I just love and others to mark significant moments in my life. However, since the Internet, I seldom collect or receive postcards any more. What a shame!

If you ever have the chance, I would recommend a visit to the Maker's Fair!

A more little time please

Its only Tuesday and I'm exhausted. Work has taken more out of me than expected. I would like my blog to be upbeat and positive and inspiring and all those good things but today, nah, that can't happen. I'm tired, the sky is overcast and I have no energy. Life happens, I'm human...that's how it rolls sometimes.

I have a list of things I would like to do in the forthcoming weeks. Realistically, things might not happen immediately. I would like to sew a tunic dress with my new fabric. The fabric is beautiful and when I look at it, I sigh...to sew this tunic dress would take some time and patience. Patience is in short supply today. Maybe tomorrow if I pace myself, I might begin tracing out the pattern from the book, another day for cutting pieces out and then leave the sewing for the weekend. We'll see...

Anyone else get back to work blues? This too will pass but for today...I'm just going to flake out.