Last day of November 2018, oh my. That means it is only…. a few weeks till the days start getting longer hurrah.
Wild Daffodil asked to see my attempt at boro patchwork at the Knitting and Stitching Show last week. It is not pretty.
We were each given a packet of instructions, fabric scraps and instructions. The tutor said she had some brooch backs if we wanted to make a brooch and were done by the end of the workshop. She said we could make boro into cushions, cards etc.
I am not the fastest of workers, too much day dreaming, so I set about cutting my fabric and stitching.
And very quickly I realised that sewing running stitches in a straight line was harder than one would think, so I kind of stopped and did some random seeding stitches for a while. My lovely chatty neighbour was doing much better at straight lines till she pointed out that she actually had a piece of Aida (cross stitch ) fabric, with holes in straight lines. Then I got distracted by the brown piece of fabric, top left which I had cut from a larger but small piece of whatever it is. The scrap leftover looks like a sailing boat I thought. So I stopped doing what I was supposed to be doing and constructed this.
I just can’t do abstract. Of course looking at it today it looks like a church window. I think the blue piece is actually from knickers.
And these are the left over pieces of fabric.
Not daunted by my inauspicious beginning once home I decided I would fix a hole in an autumn leaf cushion I made once. I had a hole due to dreadful machine sewing of border to main panel. I found a piece of green fabric which looks nothing like the original fabric which I had made all by myself, but boro is supposed to be visible so hey it should look different. And set about mending the cushion boro style. I cut a leafish shape and set off. Oh Dear.
I was trying to stitch leaf veins. Never mind the cushion no longer has a hole, and the photo is mercifully blurred.
Not quite got to grips with boro yet.
There has been a little knitting occurring this week, half way up the black and white yarn jacket sleeve for Baby J, who should now be known as Toddler J, having found his legs in the last fortnight.
And some crochet. Jane from Rainbow Junkie Corner had very kindly sent me a copy of her pattern for African Violets and some yarn, as she so liked the bookmark she had won in my giveaway, and I had admired her African Violets in her giveaway.
Jane possibly unwisely, said email her if I got stuck, which I did a bit on the flowers, but she quickly replied, Jane is a chart person I am very much a written instruction totally panic at the sight of charts person. All was resolved with ease.
Anyway I am delighted with my woolly African Violets. Thank you so much Jane.
Sitting very nicely in a little white bucket.
From the top, and on the kitchen window cill for some Winter Colour.
Which you may recall was one of the things I decided to do in winter. Thank you so much Jane.
Today we are off to York and hopefully the Christmas Market.
Next week I plan to make my Boxing Day Chutney which I shall simply call spicy chutney on the jar because I got tired of telling people last year that it wasn’t compulsory to eat it all on Boxing Day. Honestly, sons…
So what is everyone’s plans for the weekend? Christmas lights in our towns and villages all seem to be turned on, on Saturday Night at 5pm! At least in our neck of the woods, hoping for a dry mild evening.
Take care and
Be Happy,
Cathyx
nanacathy2
nanacathydotcom 
Comments on: "Knit and Natter Friday" (29)
I shall have to look into Boro, I’ve not heard about it, it does sound interesting! Your knitted African violets look brilliant! A lovely way to bring a bit of colour in during the long days of winter.
I think to make boro look good is harder than just doing simple running stitch sounds.
I won’t even try that boro technique, so not me!! Our family has some of those interesting traditions…things I didn’t know were Must Dos until the girls went off to college. They came home and informed me that we MUST DO certain things!! This weekend was nuts…2 recitals, a snow storm, church and choir practice, AND we got the Christmas tree, though it is still undecorated!
Goodness , a very busy weekend. Hurrah for family traditions.
Hi there! Love your energy and optimism. We got our tree today and I made the first batch of Christmas cookies. Since Boro is a make do approach and all about imperfection, it surprises me that it causes you consternation. Wish I cd think of sthg to say that would free you up. But maybe patching another hole would get you going.
Thank you so much for boro encouragement, just what I needed to hear. And as a hole has now appeared in my jeans, I shall have another bash.
I bet those cookies were delicious.
Well the Boro looks very interesting. Have not seen that here but wouldn’t recognize it if I had. I’ll have to look it up and get more directions. Love the African Violets. I’d be all over the Christmas Market. What fun that will be. Looking forward to the solstice as well and days getting longer.
I hope the Christmas market was fun. I got to one on Friday and it was very busy but a super atmosphere.
You are busy as always. Love the african violets!
Thank you. I always meant to make some but had previously failed to make a start, delighted with the results.
Christmas lights up here in Scotland tomorrow following the parade headed by Three Wise men on Camels – can’t miss this treat!
The boro is really interesting – looks so easy but I bet it isn’t. Love the violets in the pot.
Real Camels? That would be quite something. Sounds like an excellent day.
Yes very real – they left a mess on the ground to prove it! We had wondered if they might be stuffed ones on wheels or pantomime style so was delighted to find they were the real thing. I wouldn’t mind one myself for Christmas.
Bemused by Boro, A Fan of African Violets.
I’m making a secret shirt for Mr. T. for Christmas. I have cut it out but must now put it away until he disappears again on Tuesday. I will be buying an extra present in case my shirt goes t**s up. In the meantime, I will alternate between two potential Christmas gifts – an infinity cowl/scarf using size 9 crochet hook and a shawl using a size 3 crochet hook – one is in U.S. crochet terms, the other in U.K. terms. I love a challenge, me.
Madness two different types of crochet on the go, don’t get confused. I am sure Mr T’s shirt will be perfection. Have a great weekend.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that struggles with abstract or random, some people make it sound so easy!! Love your African Violets, they look very complicated! Hope York was good, I used to take the kids when they were pram size every Christmas, look at the Advent ring in the Minster, visit the Christmas shop and have lunch in Mulberry’s 🙂
Now that sounds like a super day out in York. We did get to the market today and I have consumed mulled wine, I took some pics as you do .
The Boro patchwork looks interesting. Maybe that’s what I need to do with the knees of my old jeans? Great to see your African Violets, I was wondering how they were coming on.
The African violets look great, thank you so much. Hope you like how I did them.
Your jeans could certainly be boro-ed
I thought it was interesting how you gave them a different look by having some under the leaves. Although I gave detailed instructions on how to make them exactly like mine the idea was to provide something that left room for creativity. No two pots of violets would be the same.
I was trying hard to remember what African Violets looked like, and to make them the same. Also the soil part sat very neatly within the pot so I stitched the outside leaves first to cover the join and then worked towards the centre. Also because it’s a bucket I had to make space for the handles.
I am glad you liked that they were a bit different, as you say no two pots should be the same.
Thank you for sharing your Boro-ed Bits, I think you were given some pretty challenging pieces of fabric there. I like your creative approach to turn it into a picture. I agree with Mrs Snail about more being, in this case, more.
The African Violets look great – I’ve managed to kill my real ones, so they seem like a good option.
I will be trying to write a new knitting pattern tomorrow and Sunday I’m meeting a friend I haven’t seen for ages, for a walk and a pub lunch – although it has rained so much around here recently I might have to take flippers and a snorkel.
Might I suggest you avoid the Dorset beef wraps! Still not got over the Yorkshire version.
Good luck with the knitting pattern which is harder than it sounds it ever could be. I have not finished with the boro, but maybe not with these bits- the biggest piece was the pale blue and was very flimsy I think I would manage better with some nice sturdy calico.
That business of eating all the chutney on Boxing Day gave me my first good laugh of the day! I do love these knit and natter posts–no one natters like you do! The African violets are perfect–and they don’t need to be watered! I have a couple free days ahead of me–hoping to accomplish big things (or maybe just nap . . .)
A little nap would enable you to accomplish the big things afterwards. I am all for little sleeps.
Good thing the African violets don’t need watering, I expect I would over or under water the real thing.
I like that I gave you the first laugh of the day.x
your comment about Boxing Day chutney made me laugh ^^
I love how each family makes up little xmas traditions, which are carried on even when the children are grown up and have children of their own.
I’m still busily crocheting xmas gifts, but should be finished by this weekend – yay!
Then it’ll be time to set to my own little tradition of making up a batch of fabric/felt tree décorations to post with seasonal greetings!
That sounds like my kind of tradition! Have a happy and restful weekend.
Hope you have good weather for your Christmas lights.
I think boro looks better when there is more of it. Mr Snail has a pair of jeans that are becoming increasingly boroed (?) and I think they look more intended now there are more mends, if you see what I mean.
I’m still working on the crochet dog bed… apparently I may be spoiling my pooches!
I like the idea that I need more boro… I have a pair of jeans myself wearing very thin on one leg.
I think you have very happy and contented and not at all spoilt woofs.