Slow Stitch – Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art – Claire Wellesley-Smith

slow_stitch_cover

This book was a christmas present – I was quite keen to read it, so I dropped a few hints.

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It is split into four sections; Slow, Materials and Techniques, Cross-Cultural Activity and Contemplative.

First, this is a beautiful book. The images are spectacular and the cover is fluffy! There are a lot of amazing ideas about mindful stitching practice – I particularly like the section on walking and community activities.

I am quite keen to try thread dying and the daily walking practice (where you observe the seasonal changes).

Dying threads - I find this  appealing and something that I could actually do

Dying threads – I find this appealing and something that I could actually do

This is part of her daily walk - how beautiful is it?

This is part of her daily walk – how beautiful is it?

My only concern (as usual) is what to do with the finished pieces? The pieces in the book are beautiful, but do you frame them? Make a quilt out of them?

Although this is a book about slow stitching, it is really about a slow and sustainable life. Getting in touch with nature (through gardening and walking), sustainability (using things you already have) and community involvement. I’m a sucker for anything pretty and I certainly don’t ‘make do’. I have piles of yarn, embroidery threads, fabric and books, but I would like to live a slower and more meditative life.

More reviews …

http://www.textileartist.org/book-review-slow-stitch-2015-by-claire-wellesley-smith/

http://englishgirlathome.com/2015/10/16/slow-stitch-a-book-review/

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Socks are finished

Finished

Finished

I finished the socks – first project completed for 2016. It is the Basic Ribbed Sock from Kate Atherley’s sock book. The yarn is Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock in shade Queen.

These socks came together pretty easily – I know one looks longer in the image but I think Miss P just pulled one up more. Next up a hat for Miss A (this one). The swatch is currently being blocked.

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Field Bag

My new (army green) field bag

My new (army green) field bag

My field bag from Fringe Association Supply Co has arrived – in the much coveted army green (Australians call it khaki). It is fabulous – it stays upright when you put it on a table or the floor, it is a nice solid canvas, it has a pocket inside for my note book and spots for needles.

This was a decadent purchase – it was $85 US (including shipping), which means it was $120 AUD. I loved it and can see myself using it all of the time – it is a really stylish knitting bag not like the frumpy, quilted, flowery things you normally find.

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2015 – In Review

My small collection of finished objects!

My small collection of finished objects!

It is a strange feeling to look back and see how little I finished this year. Just one pair of socks, a pin cushion, canvas work sampler, canvas work pendant and one quilt block. I have taken on longer projects – with the my weekly embroidery course plus I have taken on extra (maths) students this year, which does eat into my time.

One of the highlights of my year was the Canvas Work class – for three hours a week I sit down with like-minded souls and stitch. Every week I would think ‘no I don’t have the time for this’, but after ten minutes the calmness seeped in and at the end of the session I was ready to face my hectic life again.

This year it is all about finishing things off :- Miss P’s socks, Miss A’s hat, fingerless mitts, sampler quilt, embroidery and a tapestry cushion kit I bought in Sydney.

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Sampler Quilt

Another block is quilted

Another block is quilted

I am back to trying to finish my sampler quilt. I am trying to spend a bit of time on each of my three main crafts – knitting, canvas work and this.

I discovered today (in the manual) that my sewing maching has a setting for free motion quilting – how good is that? And it worked well.

I have never tried ‘quilt as you go‘ before and I am interested to see how it comes together. It has definitely been easier to pin the quilt sandwich together and to quilt the squares.

I have been thinking about my goals for next year and the big one is to finish my ongoing projects – this quilt was started in May of 2013! The other goal is ‘no more craft supplies!’ – always hard.

 

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Moving Forward

Miss P's Socks

Miss P’s Socks

I’m continuing to knit these socks – I’m pretty much using The Basic Ribbed Sock pattern from Kate Atherley’s book.

We are introducing the girls to Star Wars (4, 5 and 6) not the awful first three, so we can all go and see the new one. This means I have had a bit of knitting time – each round goes quite quickly. I have just found a counter app for my pebble watch, so now I can keep track without having to stop, find my notebook, and do a tally.

Sorry about the quality. It's a bit hard to take a photo of your own wrist

Sorry about the quality. It’s a bit hard to take a photo of your own wrist

See – brilliant!

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More Knitting (On the Plane …)

I went here for the weekend,

Sydney from Mosman

Sydney from Mosman

which involves a plane trip. So I did this

Tension Square

Tension Square

on the plane. It is my tension swatch for Gibson Fingerless Mitts. I was a bit concerned that my knitting needles would be confiscated by security, so I didn’t take my fancy signature arts dpns  as seen here

Second Hermione Sock

Second Hermione Sock

but took some bamboo ones instead (it still would have been sad to lose them, but I don’t think there would have been tears). I knitted while watching season 5 of Downton Abbey – such beautiful costumes.

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Canvas Work Progress

Canvas Work Progress

Canvas Work Progress

I have continued with my canvas work class. This term I am working on a journal cover.  This term I have been very busy – extra students for tutoring and I have joined a running group, so I can improve my times (well it is really so I can stay fit and eat more!). All this means is that there is not a lot of extra time for embroidery, so I wanted something simple to do. This design only has cushion stitch and I find I can get into a rhythm and time just vanishes.

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While working on this I have been watching series 6 of Downton Abbey (I pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk and it arrived unexpectedly one day). The costumes are spectacular – well worth watching just for that.

 

 

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Finished Socks!

Finished Socks

Finished Socks

I finished my Hermione Socks – I’m not all that happy with how the heel flap went (it’s almost like I was knitting inside out?)

I’ve started a new pair of socks for Miss P – using Kate Atherley’s Custom Socks book…

Swatch for next pair of socks

Swatch for next pair of socks

I have never knitted a swatch in the round.

The yarn is Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock in shade Queen. I really like how the colours are working together.

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More Canvas Work Embroidery

Threads from the DMC Whimsical Collection

Threads from the DMC Whimsical Collection

New Project

New Project

My Canvas Work embroidery class has re-started and I needed a new project (after finishing this one).

As much as I find the process of embroidering wonderful, I am never sure what to do with the finished project. Just how many framed pieces, bags and covered boxes does one person need?

This piece is destined to be a journal cover, which should get a bit of use. I currently use an A5 notebook (along with my google calendar) to keep myself organised.

I’m just using the one stitch – cushion stitch (but it is elongated). I wanted to stitch something simple that didn’t require too much concentration so I can use it to relax or when watching T.V.

 

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