The Great UK Adventure #1

 Dreams of this first began when I was about 13 and I wrote in a notebook the things I wanted to do and see when I visited the UK.   Mostly gleaned from my avid reading,  the first item on the list was "kippers for breakfast".   I opened a bank account for this when I had my first holiday job and saved carefully since so now I can indulge.

In four weeks Little Sister and I will be leaving on the great adventure and I will be enjoying spending my savings on an itinerary that ticks off so many items and places.   I plan on having a travel diary up on this blog.   In the remaining days before departure there will be the boring parts like packing, cleaning the house, arranging for the neighbour to do my lawns and all the other life admin.   But excitement levels are rising sky high.

This was Not The Plan.

 I’ve been knitting socks.   I needed a replacement for one pair knitted years ago by the DBEM so off I go. But disappointment.   They didn’t come out identical despite my care. 

So away to the store, another ball of yarn and another start.   And again, these are not quite identical.

After yet another trip to the store and a different brand of sock yarn, these look to be satisfying.  Not identical but almost.  

And any way I’ve decided I don’t need any more woollen socks.  After all it is supposed to be Global Warming!!

So now it is back to embroidery and a determined effort to finish my current projects.

And a finish!

 Voila!   

I took the class for this last September and am very pleased to have it complete.   There was some reverse stitching as the blue DMC floss required a second skein and was a different batch number so I had to unpick and ensure that the full bandwidth was the same batch.   Can you notice the difference?   Probably it’s only me who can tell!

The local quilting shop lady insisted that a plan weave linen would be a good lining fabric.   I’m not totally convinced but as this piece is only going to be stored in my cabinet and not in use it was a price decision in the end.  And all is well.

So now I have something ready for the March Show and Tell stitch group I attend.  Happy happy.

Progress Report - I am doomed !

 Two panels on my Wessex Drawstring Bag are now complete and instead of stitching, unpicking and re-stitching I have decided to do the mathematical calculations and stitch tacking threads first.   But given the obstacles to date I am still pleased with progress.

So I did calculate, measure and count but still.  Can you see the error?   So tonight I will be “unstitching “  I am so annoyed with myself!  This project is doomed!

Again, it is another fine day here if a little windy, so I am going to sit outside and get a good dose of Vitamin D.  But first I must “slip slop slap” with the sunscreen.

Finally….

 Well, persistence has paid off and finally panel one of the bag is finished.   That’s it for tonight! 

There are four panels to this bag so I’m hoping for more control and less reversing for the next panel.

Meanwhile my evening chores call so I’ll sign off and be back again it’s another report soon.

Yes! Again!

 I’m beginning to wonder why I even started this dratted project!   This time I did read the instructions and I closely inspected the photographs I’ve taken of my friends finished piece.   But still, every stitch on this panel has been unstitched and redone!   I’m fed up with the whole thing and it’s gone into the naughty corner for the night and I will read a book before bed.  And tomorrow I will pull out all the cut incorrect threads and start this band again.

From this to this….

 My good friend Fiona always used to remind me to “read the instructions”.  She was correct!   I have had to undo every last stitch of this piece and will start again.   One thread of floss on 32 count linen taxed my eyesight but the “reversing” is now done.

From this

To this

So now to begin again and this time follow the instructions!