Tigermum's EARLY Wipocalypse update October

Evening everyone!

It's getting colder here, and with the news of price rises from our energy companies I've finally brought out the jumpers rather than turning the heating up a few degrees! Have to save the pennies now we're both officially pensioners you know!

What have I been up to? Well - read on -

Egypt - it's actually beginning to feel like I might get this one done by my self-imposed deadline of my birthday in November - TWO years after I started it. Here's the photo I took last night as I finished the mini hieroglyphs above the last two figures.

Now I just have the final hieroglyph band above them to do - so I'm looking to do that during the afternoons - before the light gets too bad each day.

I've started with some of the wool I bought at the show. I'm trying out a pattern for fingerless gloves - I followed blindly, and if I was to knit them again there are some changes I'd make to it. For a start I think the 4 garter stitches at either end of the row should be cut to 2 stitches. After the rib rows the pattern tells you to make 3 rows of garter stitch - why? It doesn't make sense to have that just below the cable pattern. But as long as I knit the second mitt the same as the first it won't really matter! But the wool is lovely and soft - it's called Sublime - a bamboo and pearls dk - something I haven't used before. It would be perfect for baby and toddler clothes too.

All the rest of the items I had on my original WIPocalypse list are still there - glaring at me as I type! But AFTER Egypt I'll pick one to get going on again. How are you doing with your UFO's?? Drop me a line and let me know?

Here's my contribution for Hallowe'en -

This is a Pocket Dragon figurine I collected a few years ago. They were produced by someone called Real Musgrave, but are no longer available. I think they are really cute!

Dinner calls - and I need to get settled in with those gloves for the evening!

Sandie

Nights are drawing in

Evening all!

Well, half way through October and although the days here have been quite bright (and even warm some days), those nights are beginning to get darker earlier. By the time I sit down to stitch in front of the tv, it's often difficult to see colour changes. I do have a daylight lamp, but that's upstairs on my sewing desk, which is where I also do my card-making. I suppose I could buy another, but it's an expense I don't really want right now.

Last weekend I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Alexandra Palace, London. My local needlecraft shop usually runs a coach trip down there on the Sunday. This year I left it late to go and ask about places, so when I went and asked - their coach was full. However they did have places on the coach which left from their Dovercourt shop, so I booked a place. This meant that I had to leave home at 7am, in order to drive there and park. Then walked to the shop for an 8am pickup. As the coach drove past my home I gave a sigh! The day was absolutely beautiful - brilliant sunshine all day, and I walked round in shirt-sleeves. I lived and worked in the area where Ally Pally is (as it's affectionately known). So I came out early and walked round for a while before getting back on the coach to come home. I got home at 6.30pm eventually and all I could do was eat and stretch out in front of the tv again! My feet ached so much - I'd forgotten how hard it can be just strolling round and spending money!

Here are the piles of goodies I came home with! This year I spent most on knitting wools, so maybe I will knit more in the evenings and do my stitching in the daytime. Being retired I can choose if I want to do housework or stitch. And I don't need to tell you that I live by the old motto "Cross Stitch for ever - Housework whenever!"

I was quite surprised how few companies who sell cross stitch were there. I went with a couple of patterns in mind that I would buy if I saw them - no-one had them! It seems that knitting stands had taken over the place - especially those selling luxury yarns. And I was severely tempted by the new 700 series of Bernina machines that were on display. If I win the lottery I know what I'll be buying!!

I've managed to put a few more stitches into egypt - have a look at what it looks like now!

The female figure is done apart from the backstitch. The male figure is almost half done, then there are just a couple of heiroglyphs above them and the final border above that. So still just about on target to finish for my birthday at the end of November.

Oh well, dinner calls - can't decide what to have tonight. I'll have to look in the fridge for inspiration!

Till the next time
Take care
Sandie