I know, I know I’m mad.  Starting yet another knitting project when I haven’t finished my current one. 

I couldn’t resist when I saw a KAL on the Phoenix knitters forum.  The travelling woman shawl looks  quite straightforward.  I had the perfect yarn in my stash –  Estelle Arequipa in a lovely blue, green, mauve colourway.  I have had this yarn since my visit to Vancouver where I bought it from a fab yarn store called Birkeland Bros.   So, I started on Sunday and last night completed my first two rows of lace!    I really hope I can keep up this enthusiasm and that in a few weeks I can post a picture of my very first shawl.

I really loved this book. The blurb on the back of the book tells of Alyss who is destined to be Queen of Wonderland. She flees to our world when her parents are murdered and then returns to Wonderland as an adult. The characters are described very well, the authors paints a very different Wonderland to the one we know and love.

I particularly like the new characters of the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat. The Mad Hatter is turned into Hatter Madigan aligned to the White Queen –  Alyss’ mother, he is a palace bodyguard. The Cheshire Cat is changed into ‘the cat’, a silent assassian who is renowned for his murderous skill.

The author does a good job of creating the new Wonderland which is much more technically advanced than the Victorian world that Alyss seeks refuge in until she is an adult.

I would recommend this book highly, it would suit a reader between the ages of 11 and 16 boy and girl alike.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday tacking up the dress for the first fitting today.  First I had to tack the chiffon to the blouse taffeta silk and then piece it together. 

My darling mum fitted it today for me, (first I had to re-tack the sleeves).  We decided to take in the skirt quite a bit so it is more like a pencil skirt.  The length will be just below the knee.  She added some more shaping to the blouse, which I will have to change on the pattern blocks.  We have decided to keep a central panel of the taffeta in the front, more than you can see on my dummy.  This looks very flattering and the extra gathers in the chiffon at the back allows you to see the shape of the skirt underneath.  I am very excited about this dress and can’t wait to work some more on it.

Half done, half more to knit. Decided to knit both sleeves before starting on the back. So far I am pleased with what I have done.

With all the sewing I have told you about in recent weeks, you may think that I have stopped knitting.  Knitting continues – mostly in the evening when I am watching telly.  Currently on the needles is a summer sweater in a cream and navy cotton.  I have had this cotton for two years, I finally found an excellent use for it.  The pattern is from a Rowan pattern book and is called Nixon.  It is quite a boring knit as there is a lot of stocking and rib for the sleeves.  However, the yarn knits up really smoothly and I hope to finish this in the next two weeks.

I have decided to make a 1950’s style dress for a friend’s wedding in May. 

The material is a fab olive taffeta and flower printed chiffon in the same tone.  I was incredibly fortunate to find the material in a wonderful fabric shop near to home. 

To cut out, I used my blouse block and with my lovely mum’s help made a princess line blouse.  I used my skirt block to cut a simple A line in the olive taffeta.  The chiffon was cut using my half circle block, this will be attached at the waist and be left open in the front.  The look I am going for is similar to a dress that may have been worn by Grace Kelly.

Here are some pictures of the pattern placement on the chiffon and taffeta.  Another project which will take time and cannot be rushed.

Recently, I went to the Selvedge talk on Patchwork quilts at the Phoenix cinema.  The curator from the V&A, was there to talk about a major new exhibition which will feature British quilts from the 1700 to now.  The exhibition opened on 20th March, I hope to visit over the Easter break.  After the talk, I was inspired to make a quilt of my own and decided to launch a project in the school where I work.  At school all the children will be invited to decorate a square for a school quilt or possibly if we have too many, a class blanket for the book corner. 

For my own quilt I have decided to use an eclectic  range of fabric.  I have been drawn to a simple stylised flower pattern which you can see on some of the squares.  I also want the quilt or possibly throw to be in a colour pattern of grey, fuchsia, cream, turquoise and yellow. 

Finally finished my blue check skirt which I can’t wait to wear.  The colours are really spring like and will help lift my wardrobe.  I’ve got to the time of the year when it is too cold for summer clothes but really feel the need for brighter colours to reflect the colours seen in the spring flowers outside.

I can wear this with lots and lots in my wardrobe, you can see it here with a blue tank and black cardigan.  The look will change completely if I wear it with ice blue or alternatively light grey. 

I’m really pleased as today I finished the jacket lining.  I had lots of help from my darling mother who told me how to sew the lining onto the facing using the sewing machine and not by hand!  That saved lots of time and effort and gave it a better finish.  My mum also gave me expert advice on placing and making new shoulder pads, hand sewing the hems of the sleeves and jacket and checking my placing of the sleeves.   I think it looks fab, so much better than the original torn lining.  The final thing I have to do is to sew the original label onto the lining on the bottom left front.

I am really pleased with the beds which were finished on Saturday.  The beds have been left to settle, with more soil waiting to go on top.   At the moment I want one bed for purple sprouting broccoli, one for salad vegetables and one for marrows and pumpkins.   Can’t wait to start planting seeds at Easter.