September

Can it really be almost the end of September?  This has been a very strange year and, like many of you, I will be glad to see the back of it.

I’ve hardly posted on my blog in months and my total posts for 2020 only amount to about the number of posts I would normally write in a month.

I have been busy, for the most part, studying by distance learning, which kept me fully occupied for the better part of five months.  I set myself a goal and I’m well on the way to achieving it.  This all started before lockdown, but it certainly helped to pass the time productively.

We have been very fortunate here, as there have hardly been any cases of Covid-19 and all those who were affected had travelled internationally, didn’t require hospital treatment, and all are fully recovered.   For this, we can be very thankful.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you stay safe and well.

Knitting Yarns

This has been a stressful year for many reasons, so knitting has helped me to maintain my sanity.  My big project was this aran cardigan, which I finished in the summer, but it took me a long time to find buttons to match.  I ended up ordering vintage Italian buttons from Etsy and they were the perfect choice.

I like to have a Christmas project in mind and work on it during the summer, to avoid additional stress of trying to complete it in December.  This year’s choice was a shawl, in seasonal colours, which I will be able to wear throughout the winter.  I’m delighted with the results.

 

In the Sewing Room

One of the sewing projects on my list was a sewing machine cover.  I bought the lining fabric in a sale more than two years ago and already had the Amy Butler fabric earmarked for this purpose.

I’m pleased to say that I finally found the time to complete this and I’m delighted with the result.  Now, I can cover my machine when I pause during other sewing projects, rather than having to put it away with its hard case.

Summer Harvest

One of the joys of early summer is the arrival of fresh, locally-grown strawberries and rhubarb.  Yes, they come into season at the same time in this part of the world, so I’m able to make my favourite rhubarb and strawberry jam.

There is something quite therapeutic about chopping fruit and stirring it as it simmers gently.

The end result is a beautiful red jam, capturing the flavours of early summer.

It is lovely to have a few jars put aside for later in the year, though they may not last that long, as I’ve already finished one jar.

However you are spending your time this summer, I hope you stay safe and well.

Another Sewing Project

My sewing machine has seen quite a lot of use lately.  I had a request for bike stem bags, which I had no idea how to make.  A pattern was found online and the required fabric and notions were purchased some weeks prior to lockdown.

They were challenging to make, as the directions were written by someone who clearly wasn’t a sewer, but I eventually managed to work out how to assemble them.  My machine didn’t like the nylon thread I had to use - it is required because it doesn’t rot if exposed to moisture - but I managed to get it all sewn together.

It has been hinted that additional bike bags would be useful, but I’m not in a hurry to make any more at the moment.

Spring

It has been a strange few weeks, not least because of the lockdown, but also because spring seems to have kept us waiting.  It isn’t much more than a week since we were having sleet yet again, so the opportunity to get out for some fresh air last week was very welcome.

There are some new additions to the bird house collection down on the boardwalk.

It was a very windy day and the white caps of breakers could be seen a long way offshore.  The wave action stirred up the PEI red mud, making the water look a strange colour.

We saw a few birds, but most of them were too fast for me to get a photo.  This Blue Jay came down for peanuts, which had been left for them.

A red squirrel was perched up there, but wouldn’t come down for nuts, as it already had more than a mouth full.  

In the Sewing Room

I started this project a few weeks ago, so it has taken me a while to get it completed.

The first stage was the cutting out of all the different pieces.

Then, I had to quilt the three main pieces - back, front and pocket,.

After this, the pocket was stitched in place on the front panel.

The zipper was particularly challenging because it had to curve at the corners, which they don’t normally do.

After this, I stitched the bag together along the sides, then made quilted handles. 

This afternoon, I finally finished stitching the handles in place and I now have a bag for my laptop.  I’m really pleased with the results and it was worth the effort, especially as this fabric was leftover from a bag lining of a knitting project.