Happy New Year! As I thought, my non-crafting project is taking much of my time and energy. (It's going well, though). So the sewing machine is only coming out occasionally. Betty (the Betty Foster master pattern mashed up with Burda 8957) has been put away till I can give it proper attention.
The somewhat tested Successful Sewing 8 SS8 joggers pattern was tweaked again and make up in red fleece as Tai chi spares.The test wear was a success, the pattern retraced, and they have been worn often. So comfy in these winter evenings. To be made again in better fabric in the spring.
Quite a lot of knitting, as it can come out and about with me. Bigger projects come out in the evenings, and at knit and natter. Small handbag size projects are for trains, lunch breaks, whenever I have a few spare minutes sitting.
Teal Hermia summer cardi. Couldn't get a yarn order with the same colour, instead added more of the light stripes. Used every inch and it's still shorter than my preference. But it's done, my best fit at shoulders yet, and will be lovely with dresses next summer.
Finchdale jumper. This wasn't as far from finished as I'd thought . Cuffs and 2.5" hip ribbing with side slit were (re)done this quarter. Also reknit neck ribbing with fewer stitches and smaller needles. Have set the sleeves in and sewed in all the ends this afternoon, so it counts as a 2023 finish, right? As usual, it's way better at waist, high hip and over bust on me than anything I can buy, but I can quibble with neckline, shoulder width and lower ribbing width. Only quibbling - I'm looking forward to wearing it.
Lots of small portable projects. I'm finally confident to use real wool for me, for family and for close friends who will care about the difference...
Blue merino legwarmers for a September birthday.
Kandinsky sock wool wristwarmers - for me.
Reknit rainbow sock yarn mittens with less ease - for me.
Cherry tam for me. Ancient stash yarn, high percentage of wool. So cosy. As a bonus J gave me a Robin brooch, which perches beautifully on the fold line.
Matching cherry legwarmers - needed to add green stripes to eke out the length. By chance, H gave me a cowl a few months ago which goes well with hat and legs.
Attempted tiny wristbands with the last of pale blue merino. Bother, they kept coming off with coat or jumper, so unpicked them and used the yarn to extend similar-coloured wristwarmers - for me.
And for donation, mostly acrylic ...
Blue baby hat.
Coffee and white preemie hat.
Playfood egg salad - an unexpected group project at knit and natter. A thank you to the lovely cafe owners who plan a teddy bear picnic display.
Crochet baby booties in pink/salmon/purple. 2 classic pairs done, and one toe up. Purple pair started, classic construction but some details which are new-to-me. Another rabbit hole to fall down while I see which construction works best - for me making them and my best guess at good for the baby and parent.
Rainbow crochet baby hat made with rainbow mitten leftovers. This was sock yarn, unlikely to felt, so I've risked donating it to the baby bank.
Repairs
2021 green joggers needed cuffs or similar. These had shrunk about 2" in length, and were a little draughty to start with. They're so much warmer now. Comfier to sleep in too, because they don't creep up to my knees. Bonus, the green and blue trial tee, Freya v5, looks and feels good with this.
2023 Petrol blue cords - taken in a bit more.
My shrunken rainbow legwarmers, 2018?, have had a few rounds added in Terracotta chunky wool. Bother, one hid in a trouser leg and got tumble dried. The Terracotta is necessarily the ankle end now.
Fixed popped seams on cycle shorts (worn as an under layer in this weather)
My non-crafty project probably goes on till Easter. So, while I fully intend to keep making things, I probably won't blog about them for ages.
All the best for 2024,
Mouselet.
