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Summer Craft Challenge 2024 Week 6 & a bit!

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Knitting on the beach on the west coast of Scotland on the last day of our holiday

Well here we are, after the start of the new school year. That summer whizzed in the blink of an eye!

My summer craft challenge for 2024 officially came to an end last Tuesday evening as school bags were packed and the last minute checks were done. This year was my 8th Summer Craft Challenge, it started back in 2016 when I lived a completely different life over in Gibraltar….

I was a stay-at-home Mum of 3 young men and was staring down the barrel of a 10-week-long holiday and thought a craft challenge to do something crafty every day during the school holiday might just help me keep my sanity. It worked. It forced me actually do something for myself in the midst of beach days, household chores & attempting to entertain 3 young men in a non-air conditioned flat in the Mediterranean!

Each summer since then, apart from in 2020 when we moved back to the UK during the summer holiday and mid Covid lockdown, I have set myself the challenge. A few times a handful of people have joined in here and there but this year, I have a had a merry band of crafters who have risen to the challenge and taken part with me. It’s been an unexpected delight! Thank you to everyone who has joined in, with embroidery, crochet, knitting, baking, resin flower making, jewelry making and other crafts too.

A few of the lovely daily crafts shared during Week 6 of this summer’s challenge

In the final full week of the challenge there was slow stitching, crocheting for multiple grandsons, sock knitting and most exciting of all, a new grand daughter for Carol @nanaseamakes – huge congratulations to your family Carol on the most amazing make of the summer! 💕☀️

Thank you to this week’s featured makers : Carol @nanaseamakes Alison @alisonswoolnwalks Sandra @wilddaffodilwild Zeli @yarnstorms Marisa @mariwish & Kristina @catsy_crochet & to everyone else who has joined in with the Summer Craft Challenge this year, it’s been the best one yet without a doubt! I’ve loved seeing all your makes & meeting new people through the challenge.

So here’s what I got up to in the final week and a bit of this summer’s challenge:

Day 36 : Saturday 24th August

Day 36 of my Summer Craft Challenge was mostly spent on the road & on a ferry to a lovely spot in the west coast of Scotland.

I took a huge bag of yarn with me so I was hoping to get loads of knitting & crochet done while I was away. I was a bit tired after the long drive so just did a spot of knitting before bed!

Day 37/38: Sunday 25th August

So, as you can see, my brain went into holiday mode and despite it only being day 37 of the challenge I decided to call it day 38! Whoops! From here on in, I lost a day in the challenge (I’ll stick with what I said it was to avoid confusion but it actually lasted 46 days in total not 47 – I was telling a fib!).

What bliss, crochet & a view – a perfect start to the day! This is how I started day 1 of my holiday – first one up and with the house to myself…

Gazing out at the Kyles of Bute with a coffee & a granny square or two.

Day 39: Monday 26th August

I managed a little bit of al fresco crochet overlooking the water after being out for a nice walk!

Day 40: Tuesday 27th August

A bit of granny square crochet & blue skies on day 40!

Day 41: Wednesday 28th August

So, I thought it would be pretty cool to climb up the hill to the Tighnabruaich Ark which lies above the little town of Tighnabruaich close to where we stayed in Argyll. The ark was built by a local artist using timber which had to be felled due to disease. It was created to make a statement about climate change.

I had a couple of young men with me on the trip and asked Eldest to record me knitting so I could make an arty post for social media. You will be able to hear the wind and beginning of the torrential downpour which ensued.

It was a bit windy!

By the time we got back down the hill, I was wet through to my underwear! So much for al fresco crafting that day!!

Day 42: Thursday 29th August

Thoroughly dried out, on Thursday we had a wonderful (dry) walk in a woodland – it was blissful compared to the day before! Before we left for the day, I found myself with yet another quiet early morning with the house to myself and nothing but my crochet & the view for company! What a joy!

Day 43: Friday 30th August

This was our last full day in Scotland and I have to admit I was feeling rather melancholy about saying goodbye to this view. It was so lovely, just sitting there joining my squares and wondering when I’d next have the opportunity for such long unadulterated crochet time!

I took my knitting out with me to a local beach (you can see it in the top photo). My Mum sent me the following photo of me knitting on the beach… I have no idea what went on in the background – it looks like I’m knitting in a galaxy far, far away!!

Day 44: Saturday 31st August

I couldn’t bear the thought of missing out on my last chance to have some early morning crochet in my Scottish crochet corner, so I set my alarm a little bit earlier on Saturday morning ahead of our trip back home just so I could hook for a teeny bit more.

It was worth it! The sun was out and the view was magnificent- the best day of the holiday weather wise by far (typical!). After a very tiring 8-hour-long journey home (terrible tailbacks on the motorway in Lancashire) we made it safely home.

After that drive, I was utterly zonked and incapable of adulting that evening beyond getting the car unpacked and cooking dinner for everyone so I just sat down and picked up where I left off that morning – same position but with a slightly different view – of my back garden this time!

Day 45: Sunday 1st September

Back at home on Sunday was a hectic day with shopping, unpacking, washing etc. but I did find a little window of opportunity to start sewing in some of my granny square ends.

Day 46: Monday 2nd September

Back to work for me, and there was just a little bit of time in the evening for some candy striped crochet.

Day 47 (actually Day 46): Tuesday 3rd September

My last day of the 2024 Summer Craft Challenge and my attention has turned already to Christmas. The striped crochet is a covering for a wreath idea I’ve been working on – I look forward to being able to share its progress with you in the coming weeks & months!

Thank you for joining along on my Summer Craft Challenge adventure and for stopping by to read my ramblings! Thank you again to everyone who joined me along the way too by finding a little (or not so little) moment of creativity during the summer!

Same time, same place next year?

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2024: Week Five

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Hello there! I hope the summer’s treating you well. I’m writing this sitting in an armchair overlooking the water and across to the Isle of Bute on the west coast of Scotland. The picture above shows how I started the week (on a walk in Cheshire) and how I ended it (on a ferry from Gourock to Dunoon). Just look at the colours in those two photos – they would make a fab blanket don’t you think?

Anyway, back to the challenge for this week…

Day 29 – Saturday 17th August

Day 29 meant just a little time for a bit of knitting & a beer after a fun day with friends including a visit to Manchester Art Gallery & one of the nicest pizzas I’ve ever eaten in Manchester city centre.

Day 30 – Sunday 18th August

Crochet while playing monopoly can be dangerous… like missing when someone lands on your property and they keep quiet about it…

Day 30 of my #SummerCraftChallenge2024 an evening of playing monopoly after a lovely day with friends including that walk in Cheshire I was telling you about before.

Day 31 – Monday 19th August

Back working on my #MagpieMAL this evening after work. Completed section 6 and attempted to begin section 7 but had too many people talking to me to be able to count stitches, so ended up frogging that bit. Shall wait for a quiet moment before trying again!

Day 32 – Tuesday 20th August

I realised as I was writing this post that although I did take this photo on Day 32 I forgot to post it on Instagram at the time – whoops! I did find that quiet moment I was seeking the day before and managed to restart that section I had to frog. Hurrah!

Day 33 – Wednesday 21st August

As of lunchtime on Wednesday, I was officially ‘on holiday’ hurrah!

I spent a very happy hour playing with my @stylecraftyarns Special DK stash in the afternoon, so I have a new WIP to play with while I’m away with my family on holiday.

I’m hoping this means I will be able to share a few more inspiring al fresco crochet and knitting photos while I’m away!

Day 33 of my #SummerCraftChallenge2024 completed in an array of colour! 🌈

Day 34 – Thursday 22nd August

Day 34 of my #SummerCraftChallenge2024 was mainly dominated by GCSE results in our house. I’m pleased to say it was good news – phew! Sending best wishes to everyone else who was involved in such things. It’s an emotional time whether they bring positive or negative news.

Aside from that there were Granny Squares a plenty and the start of a new WIP for my holiday project.

Day 35 – Friday 23rd August

I had a very happy half an hour knitting at the hairdressers getting my holiday hair cut and to hide the silver which keeps appearing.

Do you take your craft projects to the hairdressers? I always do. They’ve stopped asking if I want a magazine to read now as they know I always have something in my bag ready to whip out!

The Summer Craft Challenge 2024 at large!

My word what a creative week it’s been for those of you joining me with the Summer Craft Challenge this year. There’s been slow stitching, sock knitting, blankets and plenty and this stunning embroidery of summer 2024 memories!

I’m still so thrilled that I’ve got company on this creative wander through the summer and so it’s so inspiring to see such lovely work! Thank you all for joining in Marisa @mariwish, Sandra @wilddaffodilwild , Carol @nanaseamakes, Kristina @catsy_crochet, and Alison @alisonswoolnwalks.

If you’d like to join me with a little bit of creativity every day this summer, please do. Just take a photo of your moment of creative fun and upload it to Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2024 – there are no rules, just fun! Post once, occasionally or everyday – it’s up to you! 

That’s all for this week, I hope you’ e enjoyed my creative meander through the past seven days. I hope your week ahead is filled with fun & creativity!

Take care,

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2024 : Week Two

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Hello there and welcome to the second weekly round up of my 2024 Summer Craft Challenge.

It has been a very busy week for me doing the juggle of work, school holidays and podcasting too. It’s made me realise that maybe I’m doing a little bit too much. I’m going to have a look at what I can reduce to allow for a bit more down time!

As a consequence I haven’t had much concentration space to allow for much creativity as my creative juices have been consumed doing other things! There has been a lot of mindless knitting happening as a result so my photos this week aren’t the most inspiring – apologies for that.

Here goes…

Day 8

After the struggle I had last Friday getting in a tangle with my yarn winding for the Magpie MAL by Heather from Keep Calm & Crochet On UK (Yarn by Kitey of The Yarn Whisperer) I decided to take it nice and slow and really enjoyed sitting quietly winding yarn cakes with the rest of my yarn for this project on Saturday.

Day 9

The MAL began in earnest for me on Sunday morning accompanied by a cup of coffee enjoying the peace and quiet before the rest of the household woke up!

Day 10

Back to work and after a busy day I sat down to enjoy a few rounds of my long term project – a top down sweater by Tin Can Knits. I’m loving this section as you just go round and round and round and don’t need to think too much!

Day 11

Tuesday and more continuous rounds of knitting….

Day 12

On Wednesday I had to double up on the creativity – knitting while editing my podcast episode for Friday. (Normally I have my episodes edited further in advance but the juggle meant it was a bit last minute this week which doesn’t help with the stress levels). A lot of the editing process involves listening back to sections so I used my hands to knit while doing that.

You can catch my latest episode here, it features a chat I had with Jane Abraham, who is also known as The Cornish Knitter on YouTube. I found our chat fascinating as she talked about the challenges faced by more mature crafters – please do have a listen!

Remember these cushions I made in week 1? Well they went into a gift I was making for my good friend whom I saw on Wednesday evening – they were the stuffing for a….

…. Cuddly VW Camper Van. I can now share it as it’s been gifted and gone off to its new home up in the Lake District!

Day 13

Well Thursday was a day and a half. Full on, in person outdoors in the sun for 8 hours meeting and chatting to people all day long with work. My batteries were a little flat by Thursday evening so a teeny amount of knitting was all I could manage.

Day 14

A good night’s sleep was just the medicine to be able to get back to reading a pattern again and trying something more exciting for Friday’s crafty moment – back into the Magpie MAL and loving it!

Join in!

A few of the other Summer Craft Challenge Instagram posts this week!

This summer, more than on any of my previous Summer Craft Challenges (dating back to 2016) I’ve been joined by quite a few other crafters and it’s been fabulous to see so many other people enjoying a bit of creativity every day. It really helps me by encouraging me to dig out even a teeny bit of quiet and calm when I’m super busy, I hope it’s helping everyone else too.

There’s been quite a bit of variety of crafts too this week – did you know it was International Embroidery Day on Wednesday? I didn’t! There was quite a bit of slow stitching on the IG squares this week along with plenty of crochet, knitting, a fabulous doggie outfit ready for a Rock Choir event and a resin dipped flower!

If you’d like to join me with a little bit of creativity every day this summer, please do. Just take a photo of your moment of creative fun and post it on Instagram using the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2024 – there are no rules, just fun! Post once, occasionally or everyday – it’s up to you!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2024 : Week One

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Hello there, well that’s the first week of the school summer holidays done in our house and that means week one of my Summer Craft Challenge is done too.

It’s been a really rather special one for me – I’ve been doing this every summer since 2016 (except during 2020) and occasionally other people have joined in here and there. It was primarily a way to give me a focus during the long summer school break (10 weeks long back then when we lived in Gibraltar) with 3 young men to look after and entertain. It had the benefit of reminding me that being creative is good for my mental health and it’s so easy to become overwhelmed with all the things which need to be done at the cost of carving out a little time for yourself.

Back when I started, I invited people to join me and never before has it been so whole heartedly done – thank you so much to everyone who has tagged along with me!

Here’s a little look back at this week in craft..

Day One

This time last week, we were in beautiful Grasmere in the Lake District visiting our good friends who live up that way. School finished the day before and we headed straight up to Cumbria that afternoon. We woke up, had breakfast and headed to the Mere for a morning out on the water. We all took a turn kayaking and while I waited for mine, I sat on the shore hooking! We even had a visit from an inquisitive duck!

Crocheting by the water at Grasmere

Day Two

Still in the Lakes, we hiked to Elterwater for a wonderful Sunday lunch in a hotel – it was delicious and all the more tasty thanks to our walk to get it! I took my yarn and hook with me to get some more al fresco crochet in – it ended up being crochet on the move as we caught the bus from Elterwater to Ambleside after lunch.

Elterwater

Day Three

We traveled back home on Sunday and I took Monday off seeing as it was the first proper day of the holidays. There were lots of jobs to do, as is always the case after a trip away so the first chance I had to sit down and do something creative was after dark! I’m hoping to finish this Tin Can Knits top down jumper I’ve been working on since before Christmas at some point this summer. I’ll keep you posted!

Day Four

Another busy day. Back at work but did manage a bit of knitting while there was still light in the sky!

Day Five

I ditched the yarn this evening and blew the dust off my sewing machine to repurpose an old unwearable school shirt into something new – a couple of little cushions for a project I’m working on.

Day Six

That project I was making the cushions for is finished. It’s a gift so I can only share a sneak peak and this is it. Once it’s been gifted, I promise I’ll show you what it is!

Day Seven

Today, I thought I’d crack out a new project I’ve been saving for this very purpose – the Mischievous Magpie MAL (Yarn by Kitey from The Yarn Whisperer & pattern by Heather from Keep Calm & Crochet On).

I got over excited and went a bit hell for leather on the yarn winding and got myself into a bit of a pickle. I was unraveling hours later as I watched the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games! I’m pleased to say I got there in the end…

Join the challenge!

So, as I said before, quite a few people joined me this week. You can see some of that creativity above – what a thrill! Thank you to you all for tagging along.

If you fancy joining in, please do, there are no rules. Just take a photo of your moment of creativity and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #SummerCraftChallenge2024

Until next time, enjoy your summer crafting!

Lindsay x

A Postcard from April 2024

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Hello there, I hope May is treating you well! I was really meaning to get this post out at the start of the month, but somehow life got very busy and here we are half way through May already!

Well, better late than never, here’s a little look back at April in Making Stitches world!

A flower show

Last month, the first ever RHS Urban Show happened at the Mayfield Depot, close to Piccadilly Station in the centre of Manchester.

It was an interesting event – where we were greeted by a pair of very friendly pot plants!

One of the balcony gardens – this one was for an artist

There were many beautiful stalls from plants people, an exhibition of balcony gardening from a local group of students – there was even an indoor forest! (See below 👇).

It was a really beautiful use of a huge network of warehouses and tunnels. Inspiration was everywhere and it was nothing like anything I’ve experienced before!

There was even an art exhibition included…

… which included lovely felting…

… and punch needle work too.

And I came home with this beauty! 🪴

On my needles

I’m still knitting my Tin Can Knits top down basic sweater. It came out in a trip to the hairdressers with me last month, but hasn’t seen much action lately as I have been working on a rather large and all consuming crochet commission (which unfortunately I can’t share with you). I’m thrilled to say that went off in the post this week so I can get back to doing other things now – phew!

Podcast news

Well this was exciting – Making Stitches Podcast got a double page spread in Simply Crochet Magazine! What a thrill!! It sparked some really lovely messages from crafty friends who were surprised to spot me in their favourite magazine!

I’m pleased to say that work has begun on the next series of the podcast – I’m looking forward to being able to share that with you again soon.

Other news

I’m thrilled to say that last month, I started a new job! It’s a great role using my skills for a really important charity. I’m chuffed to bits. They’re a lovely bunch of colleagues and I’m looking forward to the future with them.

We also had a birthday in Making Stitches world, I am now the mother of a 20 year old… how did that happen?? And for Youngest, there was success for his football team as they won their league cup. 🏆

That’s all I’ve got for you this time I’m afraid other than some really pretty blossom which appeared in my back garden last month. I do love this time of year – it feels so full of promise for the summer ahead!

Until next time, take care of yourself.

Lindsay x

A postcard from December 2023

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Hello there, I hope this finds you well and doing ok. This year, more than most, I know that Christmas can be a tricky time for people, and if that’s been the case for you, I hope you are doing ok now. I have to admit that 2023 is a year I’d rather forget, but life doesn’t always take the easy path. I don’t have many plans for 2024 as we head into this new year – we aren’t always able to control what happens to us – but it’s a fresh start and time to look forward with positivity.

The first step in doing that is publishing this, it’s not been a hugely photogenic month for me to share with you, but here goes…

London in the run up to Christmas

My ‘day job’ took me down to London for the day in early December which was super because it meant I was able to meet up with Eldest for a couple of hours and get a much needed cuddle (I think I speak for both of us here)!

On our wanderings we ended up in St Pancras Station and I found myself face to face with this beautiful Christmas tree made of books. I’d seen it popping up on Instagram a few times and it was lovely to see it in real life. It was rather busy, so I didn’t get the opportunity to sit in one of the booths and listen to an audio book, but I’m glad I saw it.

On the road again…

Just one week after my trip to London, my job took me to Birmingham! In the run up to the trip my colleagues kept arranging to meet under ‘the bull’ before walking to the venue of our meeting. Unfortunately, my train got in me in after they had left, so I missed them and got to walk on my own.

It was fascinating to see the bull which had played a significant role in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. He’s called Ozzy after Ozzy Osborne and he was the centerpiece of the games’ opening ceremony. You can read all about his life after 2022 here.

My solo walk was really rather pleasant, taking me through large town squares filled with Christmas markets, an ice rink, fun fair and over one of the city’s famous canals to the building where we were meeting. Best of all was I arrived in time for coffee and mince pies!!

Yarny things

Little Jen

Last month I shared a photo of an amigurumi head, it was the head of ‘Little Jen’ a gift I was making for my lovely friend who graduated at the start of December as an Art Teacher. I’m so proud of her for going back to University later in life and fulfilling her dream. It’s just as well I only shared her head, because Jen read my last blog post and when she opened her gift said, “I saw that head on your blog and thought that looks a bit like me! But why would Lindsay be making my head??” Well now she knows! I believe Little Jen had a trip into school to meet Jen’s pupils!

In other little crochet people news…. Meet Birthday Boy! I have reached an age when my school friends and I have a BIG birthday looming. This week, it was the turn of Steve, someone I’ve known since infant school, life took us separate ways at secondary, but he joined our sixth form at 16 and is part of the wide circle of school friends I’m still in touch with thanks to the wonders of modern technology.

Steve lives with his family in Barcelona, but came home to Manchester for his birthday celebrations, and boy, they were good!

Birthday Boy

I’m thinking about publishing patterns for Little Jen & Birthday Boy. Do let me know if you would be interested in making a ‘mini me’?

In other yarny news, work is progressing on my rainbow jumper, although it has taken a back seat in the past week. I love the colours, they make me think of a rainbow against storm clouds. Very apt given the time we’ve been through.

New Year Plans

As I write, I have about 15 hours left of 2024 and although I’m not making an New Year‘s resolution as such, I want to get back into blogging regularly again next year. My current job is coming to an end soon (it was a maternity leave cover) and I am on the look out for a new job. I don’t know what that will entail, nor how much time it will allow for fun things like this, but all being well, I’d like to grow my blog, podcast and crochet business. If you would like to sign up to my email newsletter, I’ll be sharing any news about my adventures there first.

You can sign up for my newsletter here

All that’s left is for me is to wish you a very happy start to 2024, I do hope next year is kind to us all.

Lindsay X

**EDIT!**

I posted too soon this morning – just back from a lovely walk with my boys round the Cheshire town of Lymm and spotted this beauty – which simply had to be shared!

Crocheted Christmas tree 🎄 in Lymm, Cheshire
Leafy Lymm
Lymm Dam

A Postcard from November 2022 – no, make that 2023!

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The River Mersey

So, hello there… it’s been an awfully long time since I’ve been around here… I thought that as we head towards the end of this year, it was time to blow the cobwebs & dust off my blog and check in with you.

It’s been a year and a half – 2023 – you know … and as I dipped into my drafts folder to open a new blog post I found this – A Postcard from November 2022 a post which was started but not finished. My word, a year is a long time and an awful lot can happen in that time.

These three first photos were indeed from November 2022, beautiful sunny blue skies above the River Mersey. Little did I know when I took them that the rug would be ripped out from under our feet – it’s just as well we don’t know what lies ahead…

The River Mersey

It’s funny really that one of the things which sparked my desire to post was a photo I took while I was on the very same walk with Son number 2 last weekend!

Taken on the same path as the above photo 1 year apart!

This new photo is of the same path, although I may have been facing a different direction, I’m not sure. It’s funny that when big things happen, that we cling to the small routines to keep our heads above water.

If you haven’t been around this way for a while, I’ll put you in the picture. This year we lost a hugely important person in our family. It’s been an unfathomable loss for me and my 3 boys. Life has changed forever in so many ways, obvious ones and in many other ways too.

Aside from the emotional side of things, I have had to return to ‘formal’ work which has meant less time for fun creative things. I have continued to make when time allowed and after taking half a year off from Making Stitches Podcast, I managed to get back into the swing of things with that. Blogging though, fell off the end of the ‘To Do List’.

Life is so different in so many ways from how it was this time last year, I have found strength I didn’t know I had and I have found my friends and family to be amazing. People are so kind.

I’ve learned many things, but the two most important ones are to lean on friends when they offer help and to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

The River Mersey last weekend

So, the real reason for me blogging is that I had been meaning to get around to it. I miss my monthly updates – looking back through the back catalogue, they form a rather interesting diary for me.

Did you keep a diary as a child? Or maybe you still do now? I did as a child – I wasn’t that great at it but I have a 5 year diary from when I was young somewhere and it’s probably about half filled. I bought another one 5 years ago… this year has been the final year and, to be honest I didn’t feel like filling that in either very much.

One thing I had done pretty regularly, since starting this blog (as Postcard from Gibraltar) many moons ago, was post updates, so I shall attempt to do that again I think. Here goes….

A new project on my needles

A few weeks back I went to Black Sheep Wools to have a catch up with my sock knitting friend, Christine Perry aka Winwick Mum. It was our first catch up of 2023 (because of the reasons outlined above). It was so, so good to get together again and catch up on each other’s news.

I went armed with a planned purchase in mind – I wanted to have a go at knitting a jumper. I haven’t knitted a garment for myself (other than socks) since Eldest was a baby. That was a beige cardigan (with variegated flecks of brown) with a cable pattern up both sides of the front. It ended up being an ok fit, but a bit itchy and had a distinctly ‘homemade’ look to it.

I have been squishing this desire down for ages saying to myself : “you don’t need to buy more yarn”, “you’ll never finish it!”, “it’ll probably look rubbish if you ever do finish it”, “why not carry on with one of your *many* WIPs instead??” – you know the drill…

Anyway I gave myself a good talking to and bought the yarn anyway! I am making a Simple Sweater by Tin Can Knits and had planned to do a rainbow striped yoke, but when I priced up how much it would cost to buy all the different colours I wanted in order to make it (bearing in mind I might never finish it and it may look rubbish if I do) I decided to opt for this (much easier on the pocket) super rainbow yarn instead. It’s called Knit Me Crochet Me and is made by Stylecraft. There was a lovely jumper knitted up in the shop made in another colour way which caught my eye. So there you have it, a jumper in the making … eventually!

I did make really good progress to begin with then when I tried it over my head it was so tight it felt like I was being choked (my fault for using the wrong size needles). This meant I lost a week’s worth of progress, but I’m back on track.

On my hook…

A mini person in the making

I am in the midst of a gift for a special person… who may read this blog so I can’t show any more than this. I will, however share this little ‘mini me’ once it has been gifted. I was thinking of writing up the pattern if it gets a decent reception, so watch this space!

A trip to the theatre (and the spooky world of Uncanny)

Last month I was lucky enough to have the chance to see Danny Robins, Evelyn Hollow & Dr Ciaran O’Keefe in action at the Lowry in Salford. I have been a fan of the Uncanny podcast since it first started, having listened to The Battersea Poltergeist previously.

When the Uncanny tour was first launched very early on this year, I really wanted to go and see it. I had no one to go with – none of my friends are into the podcast so, seeing as it was a matinee performance, I decided to go it alone. My first time ever doing that!

It didn’t faze me at all and in fact I ended up sitting next to a lovely lady and her son who commented on the fact she would never be brave enough to go to the theatre alone and shared her sherbet lemons with me! I would highly recommend it! I had my first solo cinema trip last year and that went fine – once it’s dark no one can see you are alone anyway! And if anyone has any judgements about it, it’s their problem not yours!

I pre ordered a copy of the Uncanny book and was able to pick it up at the show too – signed!! It was a big fan girl moment!

Crochet & Podcast News

My latest episode of the podcast features Fran Darlington-Pollock, CEO of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity. The charity is joining forces with Black Sheep Wools in the run up to Christmas with their A Bed for the Night / Deck the Halls campaign. Money realised from selling wool packs and patterns for Christmas decorations will support the charity’s aim to provide 1,000 beds for rough sleepers over Christmas. It costs £30 for a bed for the night and the associated wrap around care. You can find out more information on the Black Sheep Wools website.

Also in Podcast news, at the end of October I went down to London to the Independent Podcast Awards. It was a fantastic night and I was able to meet up with some friends from my local podcasters club (yes they do exist – it’s our Christmas party tomorrow!). Making Stitches Podcast didn’t win but blimey the standard of the other podcasts was high so it was an honour to be considered alongside them!

You might spot Making Stitches on the shortlist (bottom right)!

Winter is here…

The temperature levels have fallen considerably in the last few weeks – this photo was taken on that walk by the Mersey a week ago – it was the end of the afternoon and the frost from the night before still lay on the fields. Yesterday it was -4 degrees when I scraped the ice off the car to drop the boys off for school!

Super cold days usually mean clear skies though so I’m not complaining – blue skies and sunsets are far preferable to damp greyness!

So that’s all from me, thank you for stopping by, it’s been nice to be back again!

Until next time…

Take care,

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2023 : Weeks 4, 5 & 6

~ Making Stitches ~ 2 Comments

Well, I didn’t do too well with keeping my Summer Craft Challenge posts up to date and consistent did I? Life got in the way and all of a sudden we’re over half way through September! So here is a whistle stop dash through the last 3 weeks of my summer craft challenge for 2023 because if I don’t post it, I’ll feel like I failed! I did, however post most days to Instagram so I’ll cut myself a bit of slack!

Here goes…

Week 4 : Saturday 12th August to Friday 18th August

This week began whilst still on holiday in Scotland (Glasgow to be precise) knitting socks, and after a long drive back home (without knitting or crochet that day) I ended up crocheting circles back at home in Manchester!

It was Granny Square Day on 15th August and I shared this Daisy Granny Square I designed while sitting next to some daisies beside the water in Argyll the previous week…

I hope to be sharing more about this square, along with some others I’ve come up with in the coming months.

Week 5 : Saturday 19th August to Friday 25th August

Work was nearing completion on my Potato Field Shawl this week including whilst watching the Lionesses in the World Cup Final. Plus I discovered this haul of Granny Squares when I opened a bag I hadn’t looked though for a while. I think I feel another project coming on!

Week 6 & a bit – Saturday 26th August to Tuesday 3rd September

And we made it! Schools went back for my youngest 2 on Wednesday 4th September – we survived the long summer break with creativity along the way. I also managed to completely finish my Potato Field Shawl. I’m really pleased with it. You can find the pattern details for it here my rainbow colours stripes were made with yarn bought at Yarndale last year from Cuddlebums Yarn.

By this point I had just turned the heel of the sock I was knitting – I’m pleased to say I got it finished in time for Eldest to take away to university with him. I used yarn by West Yorkshire Spinners in Peacock and followed Winwick Mum’s Basic Sock pattern. This is my third pair to date…. I know there will be more!

I’m not sure whether he’ll wear them in public but at least they’ll keep his feet warm in bed if he needs them!

Thanks for following me on my annual Summer Craft Challenge. It’s been fun and much needed respite in this my first summer ‘holiday’ back in structured employment. It’s been a juggle at times balancing work, children and sanity, but we just about got there. Creativity is almost always the answer for me when things get tricky – failing that there’s chocolate!

I hope to be back again soon!

Lindsay x

Summer Craft Challenge 2023 : Weeks 2 & 3

~ Making Stitches ~ 6 Comments

Hello there, this time last week I was driving north to Scotland so didn’t get round to posting before now… so here’s a look back at my last 2 weeks of crafting.

Day 8 : Saturday 29th July

It was Black Sheep Wools’ 40th birthday party yesterday & today, so I popped along to join the celebration.

Eek, there I am… I may have made one or two purchases while I was there…

It didn’t leave much time for making though…

Day 9 : Sunday 30th July

I just felt inspired to make a daisy, can’t say why – it just leapt off my hook!

Day 10 : Monday 31st July

I ended the month on a high, almost exactly a year after I started it, I finished my Dragonfly River MAL shawl by Heather at Keep Calm & Crochet On and Kitey The Yarn Whisperer. Isn’t it lovely? I have no idea why I left it almost finished for so long!

Day 11 : Tuesday 1st August

Sticking with the circular theme…

Day 12 : Wednesday 2nd August

A very uninspiring circle was all I managed today…

Day 13 : Thursday 3rd August

A very busy day today, work, housework and preparations for a family holiday (yay!) meant not much crochet time…

Day 14 : Friday 4th August

I’m trying and trying to square my circle but my brain won’t work and I’m not giving in and looking up a pattern. That’s enough for today.

Day 15 : Saturday 5th August

I didn’t manage much ‘craft’ today it was a long day of driving from Manchester to the west coast of Scotland. It was a day of firsts as I drove onto a car ferry for the first time!

Day 16 : Sunday 6th August

My crochet corner for the afternoon

I felt inspired by the Scottish sunshine in the garden of our holiday let to make a sunflower. What a fabulous spot! There’s a very good chance I won’t want to leave…

Day 17 : Monday 7th August

Sock knitting with a view today… our holiday let had the most amazing views.

Day 18 : Tuesday 8th August

It was such a beautiful day, I felt inspired by my surroundings and wanted to create a little crochet square to celebrate it. It also gave me the perfect excuse to visit a lovely yarn shop called Jinty & Baa in the village of Kirn near Dunoon to buy some yarn to make the water/loch section of my square.

If you ever find yourself in the area, I would highly recommend a visit. It’s really well stocked with yarn, fabric and other needlecraft supplies.

Day 19 : Wednesday 9th August

Sock knitting at Tarbet Castle

Nothing to see here… just an embarrassing mother sitting on a historical monument knitting socks 😂. A cruise on the Waverley Paddle Steamer brought us to Tarbet, and we climbed up to see the castle.

Tarbet Castle

Day 20 : Thursday 10th August

Sock knitting on the beach at Ostel Bay

Beach day meant sock knitting on the beach – ignore the grey sky – it was deceptively warm even the water was! It was beautiful.

Day 21 : Friday 11th August

Sock knitting at the Shinty pitch!

Our last full day in the Kyles of Bute before heading onwards to Glasgow. The boys decided to have a kick around on the neighbouring shinty pitch near to where we were staying (I managed a few rows before being roped in as goal keeper). I imagine this will be last of my spectacular backdrops for a while!

That’s it for this week, I look forward to sharing more summer craft adventures with you soon.

Lindsay x

A postcard from November & December 2022

~ Making Stitches ~ 4 Comments

Hello there, can you believe it’s the last day of 2022? I can hardly believe it and am shocked I’ve been away from my little blog for so long.

Life (as always) has been rather busy of late and blogging found itself at the very end of the to-do list. This time though, blogging felt quite unattainable – I didn’t have the words to write or anything interesting to say either. So here goes, the jolt of moving from one year into a new one might just be the impetus I need to get me going again!

When I looked back I was shocked to see I hadn’t posted for so long. When I changed from Postcard from Gibraltar to Making Stitches I assumed I’d be back again very quickly but hey ho, I’m here now. Here’s a little jaunt through the past two months in my world.

Paid Work!

The main headline I guess from the last two months is that I’ve managed to secure the impossible – paid work for my crochet. I have rather excitedly been commissioned to design some things for a craft magazine. This has taken up a LOT of my time. Solid crocheting from the moment the Little Postcards leave for school in the morning until they come home! I’ve loved it, but it has been a lot of hard work.

The old spectre of self doubt popped into my head on many occasions during this work but I’m pleased to say, the first commission was gratefully received and got a stamp of approval so I’m thrilled about that. I have 3 more projects to complete by mid January and I’m in the midst of those right now.

I wish I could tell you more and show you photos of what I’ve been working on but sadly I can’t for now – just some of the yarn I have used for one of the projects (above). I will investigate further on whether I can share them once they are published.

New article published

Within the last week the latest issue of Simply Crochet magazine popped through my letter box complete with my latest article for them. It was prompted by the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the outpouring of support I witnessed in the online craft community. The main photo is of Amoami bears. This amazing social enterprise helping Ukrainian refugees featured in one of my podcast episodes too. You can listen to it here.

Inspired by their work, I ordered my very own mini Christmas Amoami bears. They were made by Yuliia. They look gorgeous on our tree this year!

A trip to the Lakes

Easedale Tarn

A very dear friend of mine and her husband moved away from our home town earlier this year and settled in beautiful Grasmere in the Lake District. It’s been something they’d been talking about for years, and this year ended up being the right time for them.

I don’t know this part of the world very well, but I have a feeling I’ll be getting to know it a whole lot better from now on!

In November we were invited for a visit to their new home – and boy what a move they have made. They have lost their old decent sized back garden but blimey with this on your doorstep, they have all the greenery they need!!

We took a walk from their front door up to Easedale Tarn. There were butties and crisps at the top to give us the energy to walk back down… what a picturesque picnic spot!

The weather was so kind to us!

It was wonderful to be able to share this with the two Littlest Postcards – unfortunately Eldest missed out by being away at University but hopefully he will be able to join us another time. It was remarkable to see a real change in the youngest two though, from their usual slightly grumpy teenagerish (11 & 15) demeanor to being full of life and scrambling over rocks as we undertook our walk.

We had one whole day of sunshine before the weather turned a bit grey and damp. We were so lucky to be able to truly see the beauty of their surroundings. We most definitely will be back!

November in a nutshell

Throughout November I took part in an excellent daily photo challenge on Instagram run by The Yarn Whisperer and The Pigeon’s Nest. It was called ‘Yarnovember’ and was lots of fun. That kept me rather busy on social media and reminded me just how much crochet has been in my life for the past few years which was such fun.

Also in November I competed my second pair of knitted socks. I picked up the ‘Hope’ yarn from Yarndale in September and used the Winwick Mum basic sock pattern to knit them. I love the colours – they are so autumnal.

I also had a lovely morning walk with Eldest to see the deer at Dunham Massey National Trust park early in the month. He managed to get home for a few days during his University reading week, and we headed out for a walk one day, coffee cups in hand to enjoy the greenery.

The big painting challenge

At the start of December I set myself a tough challenge – to redecorate our lounge in time for a surprise birthday party just over a week later. It was a tough one, but I managed it, despite 4 coats of paint to kill the pattern of the patterned wallpaper on the feature wall.

Before the paint!

I’d been living with wallpaper I disliked for 2 years, and the surprise party was the kick up the behind I needed to get busy. I’m very pleased to say I managed it (with a bit of help from the unsuspecting party recipient). We were all ready in time to welcome party guests to my lovely Dad’s 80th birthday party!

The delicious cake made by my brother & sister-in-law

Cold weather

Whilst it’s been rather mild recently, earlier this month, it was decidedly nippy. We had a proper cold snap in mid December which made the early morning school runs a bit on the cold side. I believe it was minus 9 one morning when my friend’s husband left for work. I walked with Littlest to the bus stop that day to keep him company as his friend was ill and I can confirm it was COLD! It had warmed up slightly when I drove son Number 2 to school (see below)…. It’s so hard to comprehend that a few months ago, parts of the UK were burning in the heatwave!

Back at Old Trafford

I managed to get back to Old Trafford to watch the Manchester United Women’s team play against Aston Villa. I went with my youngest two and my Dad. It was brilliant – the atmosphere is so lovely in women’s football. As you can see, the sun shone and they got a win too – a perfect trip out!

Betwixtmas

This year I’m taking part in the Betwixtmas Makealong by Black Sheep Wools. I have had a skein of Yarn Whisperer hand dyed yarn waiting for the right project to come along and I think this is it. I took it along to Black Sheep wools and picked out two contrasting colours to make up this ‘knitted’ – yes – knitted shawl. It’s pushing my abilities and a bit of a challenge but I have enjoyed putting my hook down for a while over the last few days. I wonder if it will be finished before next Betwixtmas?!!

That’s all I have for you this time, but it’s been lovely to be back and sharing my comings and going’s with you. I hope you have had a restful Christmas – I know it’s very difficult for so many people. I wish you a new year filled with joy and creativity.

Until next time, take care!

Lindsay x

December 2022