Works in Progress

I've been a busy little bee recently - yes, even on the stitching front - but some of my recent finishes I can't share with you yet, as they've not reached their destinations.

However, I thought I'd show some of the things that are currently in my workbag.

First up is my current commuting project, which will be a sock when it grows up! I'm knitting it on 2.5mm needles, from a pattern in Charlene Schurch's excellent book. The book looks scary at first, all figures and tables, but it really is a joy to knit from.

I wish I could say the same about the yarn though. It's Wendy Happy (colourway: Taurus) and it's not making me very happy. It is 75% bamboo, 25% nylon, and it feels fabulous, don't get me wrong, all soft and smooth and squooshy and silky, but it splits and untwists, and I don't like how the colours repeat, even though I like the colours. I'm also not convinced - despite being sold as sock yarn - that it will prove to make comfortable socks that don't slouch. Anyway, I should have this sock done by the end of the week, and that will be the pair done, so I will wear them and report back!

The dodgy photo isn't the fault of my new camera, it's the fault of the old photographer!

This is going to be the latest addition to my every growing baskets of smalls. It is based on Shepherd's Bush's Antique Heart Needleroll but stitched on my own choice of linen and using beads, charms and lace from my stash. It's coming along nicely, but since the picture was taken, I've already changed the charm!

I don't normally start something as soon as the chart is posted, but this design just spoke to me - I think it was seeing it on Vonna's blog which did it!

The design is a Blackbird Designs freebie, and I've chosen to stitch it on cream 28 count jobelan, with a Stef Francis fine mercerised cotton. I used this hand dyed fibre for an exchange piece last year, and I've been itching to make something for myself with it ever since, and this sampler seemed the perfect thing!

The designer suggests using a family name for the 'signature' and as the sampler is called Petites Lettres Rouges, I'm using the name of my very petite great grandmother. My 'little great gran' was always tickled by her title, and at well under five feet, was just the right size for a cuddle when we were little.

Here she is on the right hand side. The baby that is being admired is my own good self ... the curly hair was yet to grow in :o)

By coincidence, LGG's maiden surname is the same as my partners, so it also fits.

As my Ma has traced back eight maternal generations from my own, I could do quite a few samplers ...

Thank you for dropping by, I hope your day is as sunny and bright as mine is!