Happy St. Patrick's Day

This year I decided to do some St. Patrick's day stitching with this Celtic knot design biscornu.

As for celebrating the day? Since I don't like Guinness it will be a glass of wine this evening to celebrate.

Celtic knot (top) - Designer unknown

Fabric: 28ct Cashel White linen

Thread: Carrie's Threads - Irish Kiss

Celtic knot (bottom) - Designer unknown

Fabric: 28ct Cashel White linen

Thread: Carrie's Threads - Irish Kiss

In time for next winter

Winter is nearly over and I've just finished knitting myself a bobble hat. It was my first time using double pointed needles. I found that they took a little getting used to; but I got there.

Before I started knitting I read a number of comments from other knitters who made this hat. They suggested making the rib as well as the body of the hat longer. Therefore I decided that my first knitting of this pattern would be a test version. So I bought some inexpensive wool from B&M (in the UK). I made the hat slightly larger than the pattern suggested and it took less than one 100g ball (250 metres) of wool. Next time I will follow the pattern dimensions as I think I would prefer a slightly smaller hat. Nevertheless it's lovely and comfortable to wear.

PondHopper Hat - Alicia Plummer

Variegated grey double knitting wool from B&M (1 x 100g ball)

Needles - 4.5mm and 5.0mm

PondHopper Hat - Alicia Plummer

Variegated grey double knitting wool from B&M (1 x 100g ball)

Needles - 4.5mm and 5.0mm

Smalls SAL - February 2018 and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

It's my first time taking part in the Smalls SAL 2018 hosted by Heather, Stitching Lotus. Having stitched a number of smalls in 2017, it seemed logical to take part in this year's SAL.

My smalls finish for this month fits both the Smalls SAL and Needlecraft Haven's (NH) monthly challenge*. Since this is February it will not be too big a surprise that my stitching has a love theme.

Love never fails - The Primitive Hare

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Vintage Country White linen

Thread: Le fil Atalie - Carmen

*If you are unfamiliar with NH's monthly challenge, it works like this. Christine, one of the members of Needlecraft Haven, runs our Monthly Challenge. At the start of the month she posts up a freebie chart she has found online for us all to stitch. We can use any thread, fabric and finishing. When completed, we send a photo to Christine and on the last Sunday of the month she reveals the Gallery showing all our different finishes. Until the Gallery is open, we cannot show our finished item anywhere else.

Gifted Gorgeousness - February 2018

My first gifted gorgeousness of 2018 is a recap of the gifts I've received and sent this month; as well as the ornament I used in the Secret Stitching Sweetheart blog hop.

From Julie my Needlecraft Haven friendship exchange gifts:

Needlecraft Haven Friendship Exchange 2018

from Julie

 The card and mug rug I sent to Christine (threads not photographed)

Un peu d'amour et d'amitié - Le Chalet des Pérelles

Fabric - 32ct Belfast white linen

Threads: Recommended DMC

Mug rug with the friendship quilt block

For me, a heart using a gifted design (now only available for purchase, here) from Abi Gurden of Bee's Needleworks. The fabric was gifted by Clare in a previous Needlecraft exchange. The heart was used in the Secret Stitching Sweet heart blog hop organised by Jo.

Heart of my heart - Abi Gurden (Bee's Needleworks)

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Threads: Caron Impressions 038 Morning Mist, DMC - 221, 223, 224, 3840

Embellishments: Mill Hill 00168 beads

A friendship exchange

Yesterday was opening day for Needlecraft Haven's Friendship exchange. The exchange was organised by Clare (Aimetu's Stitching).

I received my parcel from Julie of Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal. Her parcel had a purple theme as the flower for February is violet. This was ideal for me as purple is my favourite colour. In addition to some purple variegated threads and a friendship saying on slate, I am now the proud owner of Miss Violet, one of Julie's knitted rabbits.

Friendship exchange gifts from Julie

My partner was Christine. I stitched a friendship card, made a patchwork mug rug and included some threads. The chart for the card is a free design from Le Chalet des Pérelles and can be found here.

Un peu d'amour et d'amitié - Le Chalet des Pérelles

Fabric - 32ct Belfast white lined

Threads: Recommended DMC

Mug rug with using the friendship quilt block

Everyone made and received a lovely variety of gifts in this exchange.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to this year's Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop. This is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.

Here is my Valentine stitching from my secret stitcher. I hope my secret stitcher visits my blog soon so I can find out who you are.

Join me in visiting Jo's blog to follow the links to see what other bloggers have received. Of course, I will be looking to see who has received my stitching.

A birthday gift for me

It was my Birthday recently and I received this lovely blackwork bookmark from Clare of Aimetu's Stitching. I'm a keen reader so it will get used.

Birthday gift from Clare

Thread: Weeks Dye Works Deep Sea

Vibrant Vintage blanket is finished

Hurrah! I've finished my Vibrant Vintage blanket (see Cypress Textiles for full details of this free design). I worked pretty solidly on this for the past three months because; a) I loved it and b) I knew if I didn't finish it now it could end up lingering in a cupboard for at least a couple of years. I omitted the very final border of picot stitches because I liked it as it was.

Now I'll return to stitching for a while 😊

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

One half of the blanket

Vibrant Vintage blanket - Cypress Textiles

The other half of the blanket

More crochet blanket progress

I'm almost ready to crochet the border of my blanket. Yesterday morning, I had to finish adding the last row of granny squares and this is what it looked like then. This is the first time that I have used the cont

Vibrant Vintage Blanket - Cypress Textiles

Wool: Stylecraft Life DK

My local AVF (Accueil des Villes Françaises) is having an 'Open Doors' weekend on 20-21 January and this will be one of the items on display from our sewing and knitting group. The border won't be completely finished by then but it will look as if it is.

I'm really pleased with how this has come out. I found some of the squares challenging but I got there in the end. Full information on this 2016 free blanket CAL can be found on Cypress Textile's blog, here.

I've also found another blanket that I would like to crochet. To celebrate Finland's 100th anniversary, the Kalevala CAL (information here) will consist of 24 squares. Some of the designed squares look complex to me but it still appeals. If I decide to make one it will probably be in a single colour.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2018.

I'm beginning to show my age as we didn't sit up until midnight. I was tucked up in bed before then. Instead we went out for lunch yesterday and had a nice leisurely walk by the Canal du Midi afterwards.

Today I will catch up on some of my blog reading and will complete the edging on my crochet squares. As previously mentioned, I started on the 2016 Vibrant Vintage Blanket CAL from Cypress Textiles in late November and I have been busy with my crochet needle since. Here are some of my crochet squares. I thought that I could have it finished in time for Christmas but there was more work involved than I realised. At least I'm almost ready to join the squares together.

Vibrant Vintage Blanket - Cypress Textiles
Wool: Stylecraft Life DK

Final Gifted Gorgeousness of 2017

It's hard to believe that a year has almost gone by. It's been my first year to participate in Gifted Gorgeousness and I've enjoyed it. It's been fun seeing what other stitchers have gifted and received. Thank you, Jo for hosting this.

Well as this is December, it is no surprise that there is a theme in these photos. I received this lovely Hardanger Santa from Clare (Aimetu's Stitching).

 Hardanger Santa from Clare, Needlecraft Haven

 As previously posted, for our Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange I made this for Angi ...

Deck the halls - JBW Designs
Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Cashel light mocha
Threads: Suggested DMC threads

 and received this from Gill.

Needlecraft Haven gift from Gill

I also particpiated in the Friendly Stitchers Christmas exchange and I received this ornament, fabric and thread from Vivian in New Brunswick (no blog, I think). Unfortunately her card features its own watermarks as it got wet in my postbox. This bell finish is so well done. I want to try one.

Friendly Stitchers Christmas Exchange 2017 from Vivian

I forgot to take a photo of the ornament that I stitched for Christine at Friendly Stitchers. It was free design from Madame La Fee called Bouquet of December which can be found here.

Needlecraft Haven Christmas exchange

First of December was opening day for Needlecraft Haven's Christmas exchange.

I stitched 'Deck the Halls' from JBW Designs for Angi (no blog) and finished it as a hanging flat fold ornament. I also included some 'icy' blue/white fabric but forgot to take a photo of it.

Deck the halls - JBW Designs
Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Cashel light mocha
Threads: Suggested DMC threads
Embellishments: red beads substitued with French knots and
star charms were replaced with stitched silver stars.

I received this lovely ornament with a stitched card, thread and chocolate from Gill (no blog). Given my sweet tooth, you will not be surprised to read that the chocolate didn't last long.

Needlecraft Haven gift from Gill

Not much stitching has taken place recently as I'm busy crocheting Granny squares for my blanket. If I get a bright day soon, I'll take some photos to show my progress.