Must be the end of the Q4 Finishalong ('cos I've written a blog post!)

Way back in  October I produced a ridiculously long list (because I'm indecisive), and though I have actually finished 3 things, they've only popped up on Instagram.

So I proudly present my first finish (which was also item no 1 on my hopeful list in October) - my lovely soft and squishy Adriafil socks:

I'm being quite cautious about wearing them though as they're 100% merino - which means they will wear out quicker than my 75% wool socks.

Dk yarn does knit up quickly for socks though (even at my slow and steady speed)

Disappearing nine patch quilt

This was item 9 on my Q4 FAL list  and I was pretty sure it was even going to be started before the end of the quarter - given that I had only got as far as washing and pressing the fabrics by 23rd December.

Circumstances in the family though, meant that both my husband and I really wanted this to be a Christmas present for Mother in Law this year. I started cutting - and then sewing - mid afternoon on the 23rd. More cutting and sewing continued through the day and the following morning. Fortunately I's chosen to back the quilt with plush (so no wadding) and this meant that I could do very simple quilting following the outlines of the blogs. I finished hand sewing down the binding (whilst watching "White Christmas" for the first time ever!) just before midnight on Christmas Eve.

Thankfully, my Mother In Law loved it - and my gamble on matching the colours was repaid - it looks as though I took swatches from the furniture and curtains to the fabric shop with me!

Finish no 2.

I showed a photo of my poor ball winding on my FAL list in October.

I did though finish my wonderfully stripy socks. The pattern is available on Ravelry as Hermiones Everyday socks - I just reversed it to knit toe up instead. I also knitted a Fish Lips Kiss Heel on them to try and preserve the stripe pattern as much as possible (it would have got quite narrow if I'd knittted a heel flap and gusset.

This is the second pair of FLK heels I've knitted for me, and I think that overall I actually prefer the fit and feel of a gusset and heel flap. Just personal choice and I know it's a brilliant heel pattern for lots of people (and I have knitted it on a couple of other pairs)

2016 Finish-a-long - Quarter 4 List

I'll confess now I'm listing everything that I may  work on - just in case I get the bit between the teeth and something I didn't anticipate becomes a finish. I only managed 3 finishes last quarter, 1 the quarter before (which I totally forgot to link up!) and I think 2 in the first quarter. I am both optomistic and realistice - I'll be ecstatic if I get 4 finishes out of this lot!

Now the weather has turned, I'm on a bit of a sock knitting kick, so I'll list those first:

1) A pair of Dk Adriafil Knitcol socks for me. I've turnedthe heels on both socks now, so I'm hoping these will be a speedy finish.

2) Another pair of socks for me - this time in Mothy and the Squid's Midnight Pumpkin Colourway ( please excuse my terrible yarn caking - as you may have guessed, it's the first time I've done this and I *might not* have set the ball winder up quite right....) - time is pressing as ideally I'd like to have these ready to wear before Halloween this year.

3) Christmassy socks for DS2 and
4) Christmassy socks for me - there's enough yarn here to comfortable knit both of us at least one pair each with contrasting heels and toes. (one pair each is what I'm aiming for)

5) Finishing my Oakshott City Lights Quilt - the binding is cut and pressed - no I have absolutely no idea what is stopping me finishing it either.

6) Disappearing 9 patch for my Mother in Law for Christmas. It's a surprise, so if I don't get it finished in time, I can make it a birthday gift instead.

7) The twin baby Quilts

8) Space Quilt for DS2 - hoping I can finish it in time for Christmas

9) Having survived making me Deer and Doe Plaintain T Shirt, I'm actually quite keen to get on and make this shirt. I'll definitely need to try find some time from somewhere for this - it's not going to be a project I can spend 5 minutes here and there on.

10) My Japanese Boxes cushion kit - I'm feeling the need for more cushions in the living room

11) DS1's curtains - maybe these should be item 1 on the list (except I can't sew curtains on the train)



12) DS2's advent calendar

13) A knitted jacket for my Mum.

Last Minute Finish!

It's too late to say anything other than I managed a very last minute finish!

It's my Deer and Doe Plantain T shirt with a complicated FBA!

On my 3rd qtr list Here

Last Minute Finish!

It's too late to say anything other than I managed a very last minute finish!

It's my Deer and Doe Plantain T shirt with a complicated FBA!

On my 3rd qtr list Here

Stripy Seaside Fun

A few years ago, whilst on holiday oin Cornwall, DH and I found an extra long Beach screen for sale. Brilliant! We thought - now we only need to take one to the beach. How wonderful! How much more efficient! And promptly bought it on the spot.

All was well until later that day we headed, tired and sandy, back to the car - and discovered that the beach screen poles were, in fact, too long to fit in said car. Some jiggling (and perhaps some cursing), and some squashed up children later we fitted in it and headed home. Not wanting to waste the screen, the decision was taken to make a new canvas for it and cut down the poles. We found a fantastic stripy canvas fabric at Ikea - bought metres of  it and planned a super duper deluxe screen.

I did part stitch it some while ago - but my sewing machine really didn't like the canvas and heavy duty thread so it languished unfinished and unloved in a heap.

So I added it to my  3rd Qtr FAL list (item 12 to be exact) and dug it out again just before our holiday to Cornwall, and decided to try out my new (to me) Singer featherweight on it.It coped admirably (thankfully)

One finished beach screen later!