29th July 2023

 It's 10.10pm and am now listening to the clock ticking,  the day winding down and almost ready for bed.   We went Stratford Shopping Centre this morning and was home by midday... got so busy and noisy so we came home.  I wanted to get some yarn from John Lewis Store for a pair of socks i wanted to start but they have such little stock.   They had Rowan yarn but I'm not willing to pay over £10 a ball. 

So we came home and what did i do,  i fell asleep for an hour.  Then i did some chores and started working on another page of my slow stitch embroidery book...

I stitched a pretty piece of fabric that reminds me of spring with blanket stitch on the edges and then had a go at stitching around some little mirrors onto fabric.  I then used blanket stitch to put in position.   I also had some laser cut birds and stitched them on too using DMC thread over the branches.   I've left the birds blank cause i felt they can be a mystery bird.  I'm now thinking of how i can stitch some raindrops on but not 100% sure if i want to. 

Tomorrow i intend to do a little more crafting once the chores are done.   

17th July 2023

 I said I would be back and here are a few photos of what I have been up to.  The socks to the left are called Grannies-In-A-Row and I got the pattern from Ravelry.  The cuff is partly crochet and it is a good idea.  They were not difficult to do but I would like to emphasise the fact that make sure you cast off the cuff with a stretchy bind off.  If you don't then you will not get the socks on over your feet.

I used Signature 4ply and the multi coloured was a Drops Fabel Print which is also a 4 ply.

I will never tire of knitting socks...especially now that I have a new pattern book that came in the post today.

The next photo to the right is of a crochet hat that I started yesterday using a 3 mm crochet hoot and some DK yarn called King Cole Big Value. 

I crocheted a brim which stretches to roughly 21 inches and then sewed the ends together.  I then crocheted around, designing as I go and am very pleased with it.  

I know that my Grand Daughter Aria will like it, she loves pink.

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

My new book came today, I started following a designer on Instagram called Charlotte Stone who is the creator of Stone Knits.  Her socks are amazing colour work and I am hoping to improve my colour work very slowly but I have not picked out a sock yet that I want to have a go at.  

I am pondering whether to use DPN's or a circular knitting needle.  I am not sure because of the tension that you have to get with knitting colour work socks.

I did make a pair of long colour work socks for Christmas a few years ago and they were a bit tight.  I do know now that you should go up a needle size but this time I am going to do a gauge swatch to see how I go with it.

There is such a good amount of choice in this book.  You can knit as little colour work or really get your teeth into a very detailed sock pattern.  

I bought the book from World of Books which was a bit cheaper plus you get free postage if you register with them.  Bargain!

I wonder if anyone else has had a go at very detailed colour work socks!

I think I have bored you enough.  I am going to go and start searching through the sock book to see what I can create..have a good evening and be back soon.  

Im back

 Well there's a novelty... its only been since Nov 2021.  So much has been made, gifted and frogged.

Im currently at the bus stop waiting for my second bus to work and thought to myself 'i will have a look at blogger and i cannot believe i still have people looking at my blog.  Infact, 440 people this month.

I have now got to remember how to post a photo on here. 

I have made quite a few pairs of socks and am currently workinf on Grannies in a row socks as a Christmas gift.

I have cross stitched 2 full coverages which i will post later. I created a public instagram account called Craftingbranch which has a photo of my work mates feet wearing Paint Pan socks i made her.

I will be back again very soon and am sorry its been so long.