Wardrobe Malfunction

I heard a funny noise the other morning, but didn't think too much about it, perhaps it was the traffic on the road out the back.  But later in the morning when I went to hang some freshly ironed clothes  away, I saw what it was.  The wardrobe shelf and clothes rail had parted company with the wall, and was hanging by a screw!  Oh dear, what to do now?

Ooops, it gave way

I had an electrician around the following day, Callum, a nice young man just starting out in business on his own,  to replace the light fitting in the front porch.  Perhaps he would be able to recommend someone who could help.  Yes he could, there was another tradesman who he knew and had worked with, so passed on his phone number to me.  I must admit that I find this recent spate of home maintenance  a bit of a trial to organise, it's not something I have had to do before.  Something else went wrong recently too, which completely overwhelmed me, but that's another story.

So the day that Brent was coming to look at both wardrobe fittings, the other one in the sewing room had collapsed earlier and looked in danger of doing it again, I spent hours removing everything.  Various items were taken off the top shelf, shoes were bundled into a big bag, and clothes were stacked on the bedroom chair and on top of the bed.

That wasn't so bad, but the wardrobe in the sewing room was much more of a challenge.  I had a basket full of project bags sitting on the floor at the wardrobe door, which had to be moved, and umpteen RSC projects in bags piled up beside the basket, waiting to be completed.

This is just part of it

Inside the wardrobe were our winter clothes, they all came out.  Who knew that Robin had so many jackets hanging up including two sets of bright yellow vinyl wet weather trousers and jackets?  The hangers were cleared, then I had to deal with what was on the wardrobe floor.  Four large plastic crates chock full, and  bags containing unfinished projects, or materials gathered for new ones. And quite a few fleecy backings too, I noticed, and batting.

How did it all fit in the wardrobe?

I couldn't resist peeking inside this one - string pieced blocks, sashing cut ready to go, chickens to stitch, and several lengths of fabric for backings.  I'd completely forgotten all about these.  There was even another bag of neutral strings hidden away.  Everything was piled up - so much stuff I had put away and forgotten about.

I'd forgotten all about this bag

Tradesman Brent called around, we discussed what needed doing, and he will also trim back a tree for me which has a branch growing over the top of the clothesline.  He will come back bright and early on Friday morning he told me.  Oh dear, that means I have to move that big pile of clothes on hangers for the following two nights so that I can get into bed.  

The wardrobe fittings are now fixed, Brent added an extra piece of timber behind them for added strength.  I was a bit mortified when he asked for a soft broom so he could brush a few spider webs away!  But as someone told  me, a few whispy spider webs means that the home is warm and dry, according to a real estate agent.  So that has to be good, just sloppy housekeeping I guess.

Arrived bright and early on a cold wet morning

So now things have to be put away.  The bedroom is almost back to normal, and it is a chance to sort through Robin's clothes as well.  But the sewing room is another story.  I really need to go through those crates and umpteen bags before they get placed back.  And sort out all those rain jackets which Robin had tucked away.

With so many RSC block sets discovered, don't let me start any new ones next year!  I knew I had a few, but there really are a lot more that I realised.  Plus several assembled RSC quilts piled up on the chair waiting to be layered, pinned and quilted.    Oh dear, wish me luck with all this!

Chookshed Challenge completed

I'm so pleased that I have my Chookshed challenge for June completed - especially as  May was a non event for me.  I started with this, all the little blocks embroidered and ready to go.  I really enjoyed stitching these little beauties.

Starting point

This kit also provided a pattern to make a wall hanging, so that is what I decided on.  So I added some red/green/gold sashing and started assembling the blocks.  This was a little tricky as the middle row was a bit too long compared to the outer rows.  So it was unpicked and just a smidgeon cut off the middle row blocks.  Whew, luckily they now fitted together nicely.

Next was the outer border, and I decided to keep it simple with a green and gold patterned fabric.  I contemplated hand quilting but no, although this was small, it would still take me a while to complete.  And I wanted it finished in June.  So, a little while quilting on the sewing machine, adding the binding, and I was almost there.  Then it was just a matter of hand stitching the binding down, adding a hanging sleeve and a label, and this little project was finally complete.  This is the first time I had worked with felt applique.

By assembling the blocks together as a wall hanging, there were two blocks left over.  So I used one as a label on the back.

This kit was a gift from my pen friend Carol from Dakota several years ago, thanks so much Carol.  The little blocks were stitched a while ago, and I'm pleased this project is finally completed.  It will now be ready to come out and be displayed at Christmas.

A Big Bag of Scraps

I have a big bag full of scraps, lots of trimmings  and little leftovers from various projects. Occasionally I would tip everything out on the floor, looking for some particular colour, but really, it was a mess, and I was getting sick of it.  

Full to overflowing

So one fine day, I took the bag out to the patio table, and tipped it all out, it was high time for a sort out.  The colours were all separated, and it was easy to tell that the neutrals were by far the largest pile.  My aim was to see how many 2.5in strips I had, so that I can start making some baby jelly roll quilts.  Sadly most of the strips were less than 2.5in, maybe I can make string blocks instead.  

All those neutral strips can  be put to good use making some more of these cream coloured string blocks I'm using in another recent donation quilt.  This will be a good leader and ender project.

There are plenty of strips to make more of these

The neutrals were put back into the big bag, and the other scraps were bagged into colour groups, ready to be utilised.  I was amazed at just how much fabric there was, all those bits and pieces certainly add up, don't they.  As I used to tell Robin, I'll never run out of things to do!

All bagged in colour groups

A Touch of Orange

 I have more UFOs around than I really want to admit to.  However, one of them incorporated a touch of orange, so I decided to try and move it forward this month as much as I can.  After all,  orange is the colour of the month for those of us taking part in Rainbow Scrap Challenge, RSC.  The project started like this, a bunch of neutral string pieced blocks I had stitched together back in 2023.  I was using up the never ending supply of strips and strings which were gathered in a bag.  There are still enough to make yet another set of neutral blocks sometime.

Neutral string blocks

I know I've mentioned my former neighbour Dorothy many times, and the fabrics passed on to me by her daughter are still going strong.  Included in the box of fabrics was a half yard of this blue children's fabrics featuring strange little machine bugs, which looked quite fun.  Last week I paired this fabric with my string blocks.  

When the blocks were assembled, it was time to think about borders.  How about an orange border first to pick out the orange in the print?

First border

Yes, Gemma likes it too

I decided on a navy border next, I had enough of that fabric to do the job.  Its good to use up what you find in the stash isn't it - no need to go racing off to the shops to buy even more fabric.

That's the top finished

I'm quite pleased with my progress so far.  The backing and batting is ready to go, so I hope to get this pinned up shortly.  No promises if I can get it quilted this month, but I have prepared the binding.  That's always a bonus, I find, having it ready and waiting.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 I was looking forward to Sew Wot Tuesday, as I was unable to attend the previous get-together.  But first I had to wrap up a couple of birthday gifts to take, both Mary and Helen had recently celebrated their birthdays.

For the birthday girls

There was a full house at Carol's home, it was so nice that everyone could attend.  Sadly these days as we are getting older, medical appointments and issues seem to pop up regularly.  But we all made it, so that was great.  It was such fun watching both Mary and Helen open their gifts, I'm sure we got just as much pleasure seeing it happen as the birthday girls did opening their parcels.  

Socks certainly featured in show and tell, they were all laid out for a photo opportunity.   Some completed, and some just needed stitching up the side seam, another pair on the needles, plus a pair displayed on feet!  Winter certainly is sock knitting time, and Helen had also knitted a couple of wooly hats.

Cozy and warm for winter

Carol had completed her knitting commission from Heather to knit some garments for Heather's upcoming twin great-grandbabies.  So pretty.

For the twins

And Carol had another lot of baby donations to show, before they are whisked away to the hospital.

Knitted by Carol

In fact, I think Carol qualifies for a Gold Star as she had yet another finish to show us.  She had just completed this pretty embroidered wall hanging.  I love seeing embroidered blocks used in quilts.

Carol's pretty embroidered wall hanging

All of us were industrially knitting  even more socks, except for Jude who was busy with her crochet hook.  She was working on this lovely blanket, so pretty in these shades.

Jude's pretty crochet

Then it was morning tea time, always the highlight of our get-togethers, we always look forward to this.  I know we don't really need such a beautiful spread each time, but as we are known as The Eat-alots, we certainly enjoy it, and appreciate the work that goes into it.  Thanks to Carol for a lovely morning hosting the Sew Wots.

Morning Tea

Sock Knitting

I'm pleased I have a sock finish, this pair seems to have taken ages.  But only because I don't work on them all the time, I tend to flick from one project to another.   These are for my daughter, I asked if she would like another pair for Christmas.  "Yes please" she said, "I'd like pale blue this time".  So they are done well ahead of time, which is good.

  Socks for my daughter

I knit my socks flat, two at a time then sew up the side seam.  You can't feel the seam and it doesn't go under the sole, but up the side.  None of those tiny double pointed needles for me!  This pair was  made using Tootsies 4ply Merino sock yarn.

But wait, there's more, I'm working on two more pair as well, both up to different stages.  These are thick 12ply socks, using double knit together with left over sock yarn, and will be for me.  The heels are done on the dark pair, and the pale ones have more growing to do to reach the heel stage.  I prefer wearing these thicker socks, especially in the winter.

Two more pair on the go

Our winter weather has been very changeable, cool but sunny some days, and heavy rain on other days.  There was a sprinkling of snow on the hills last week, which always looks pretty in the sunshine, but I'm pleased we don't live in an area with snow on the ground. 

Snow on the Tararua Ranges

Colder weather means more soup making, so I made a batch of French Onion soup in my Crockpot.  It was delicious served with some cheesy toast on the top of my bowl of soup.  Nothing beats hot soup for lunch on a cold winter's day.

French Onion soup

Selvedge sewing again

It was time to make another double handed oven mitt with my selvedges.  I had a bunch of brown ones, as I thought, but some were autumn toned with a touch of orange, so that worked well. I always stitch the pockets first, just to see how many selvedges I have to work with.  That done, I had enough  over for the body of the mitt, and used plain orange fabric for under the pockets.  Just as well I have a walking foot as stitching the binding on the mitt through all those layers is quite a job.

Stitching slowly through multiple layers

My nifty little clips are great to use while I hand stitch the binding through the hessian at the back.  I always used to stick myself with pins, no matter how careful I was.

Stitching the binding down on the back through the hessian

Finished, an orange one for June.  This is number six, and I have a few black selvedges left to use for the last one.  

Orange mitt for June

It was nice to attend the Social Sewing Day today (Saturday) with some quilt club ladies.  Just a casual day, where everyone does their own thing.  There was machine piecing and machine quilting taking place, plus hand stitching, embroidery, bindings, and even one of the ladies sewing buttons on jumpers knitted for charity.  I don't bother taking my sewing machine as it is much too heavy for me to cope with these days.  We take our own lunch, and there is always plenty of chatting going on, and checking out everyone's projects.  Many thanks to the two ladies who baked some muffins for our morning tea.

Nine happy quilters today