READY FOR BINDING

 

I have just crunched and limped my way up off the floor after trimming the borders of my quilt ready for binding. Now I am scratching my head trying to remember where I put the fabrics from this quilt so I can prepare the binding. 

My yummy yarn for Attic 24's annual CAL arrived from the U.K last week. The CAL begins early in January and I am looking forward to crocheting again. Hmmm, will it be hot by then requiring air con or shall we need heating? The weather has been quite unpredictable lately. 

May the season bring you joy, love and good health. Perhaps some elves may miraculously complete all my UFOs. 

BACK TO THE UFO

 

After a week of pondering which project to do I decided to get back to the hand quilting I was doing . The main section of the quilt had been finished with just the borders left to quilt. During the week I completed 1 row of straight line hand quilting around each border and have finished the 2nd row on the top border. If all goes to plan I shall finish the other 3 borders today. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Fiona McIntosh book. She writes another genre of books, crime,  which I haven't read and I think she has combined both her genres in this book. I think this is the best book of hers I have read. It is also her 1st story set in Australia.

WHAT TO DO NOW

 

 The Eastern Jewels journey has been a little challenging but I am so pleased I persevered and finally nailed it! Yey! I added the final border 2 nights ago and this is the end result...

It is a bit scrunchy as I haven't done anything to straighten it out. My daughter took the next pic of me holding it up and it looks a but stretchy in this one.

                  So, that is my scrunchy stretchy blankie.

I haven't been reading as much lately due to catching a bug from my grandson. I was laid low for a couple of days ( but still had to keep the household running) and it  has been 10 days and I am still not 100% . My throat was so sore I couldn't talk much or eat a lot and I developed a bit of a cough and the throat is still a bit sore.  My daughter still has it after 2 weeks , her mother in law now has it and so does my hubby who is hacking quite loudly day and night. He has it worse than I did ( ??????) I usually get over things in a couple of days but this bug sure wants to hang on. Anyhoo, I did finish a book I borrowed from mum.

Now I am feeling at a loss not having any crochet to do. Looks like I had best get back to finishing the hand quilting I put aside.

BORDER TIME

 

A few years ago I put my Eastern Jewels blanket away in the too hard basket thinking it may never resurface . Now I am so pleased that I took the plunge and restarted it. Despite a little creative improvisation here and there to get the octagons right, it has all pieced together nicely.  

I apologise for the blurred parts on the right side of the photo and the curled half triangles on each corner. Now more fun begins....the border. I thought this would be the easiest part but I am having some difficulty with the instructions.  Maybe I should think about it later after I have had some sleep. 

I was already pondering what crochet project to do next and was considering a few things when I found that Lucy at Attic 24 has announced a new CAL. It is called Springfrost and shall be starting early January. So, I hopped onto my lappy and ordered the yarn kit which shall wing its way here in 7 to 14 days. I have ordered a few Attic 24 kits from Wool Warehouse over the years and made a few of Lucy's blankets which I love. Hmmm, I wonder if I will ever get back to stitching? Yeah! Too many UFOs waiting for me.

CROCHET UPDATE

 

I haven't crocheted the past few days but I did complete the 3rd row earlier. 

                             That's all from me this week. 

                                          Happy crafting. 

TAKING SHAPE

 

                         I only have one photo today.

          

                                               TA DAH! 

Sorry about my toes peeping  lol. So, the 1st 2 rows are nearly completed. I have been trying to work out how to piece it together, rather like a quilt,and think I shall add the triangles along the sides last. The corner triangle and 1st triangle on the top may need to be re attached more accurately but I shall worry about that later.

                                   Thankyou for visiting.

         

LAST ONE

 

After putting this crochet project in the "too hard" basket a few years ago I thought it would never get finished until I decided to try again a while ago. Now I am on the final octagon.  Yey! 

                                   Here is Octagon # 13

                                                 # 14

                                                  #15

                                                 

These have been sprayed with a light mist to block them I hope it works. They are the 4 corner triangles and the 1st octagon.

Hubby found this purple spray bottle for me in the supermarket as my plastic one doesn't work. Guess what? Neither does this new one! Grrrrrr. So, I am using one that hubby had. Why does something so simple end up being so hard? I now have a nice colourful pile of octagons ready to block.

The hard part begins.....crocheting it all together. As I have fudged a little with the pattern I just hope it all fits together nicely. As this will take time waiting for pieces to dry before I can join them I am seeking out a new crochet project. I know I still have some hand quilting to finish and a few UFOs to keep me going but crochet relaxes me more.

                                        Wish me luck!