Archie The Wonder Dog

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello! I’ve done some sewing this month! Unfortunately, I can’t share it just yet so instead I have this: That’s all the fabric washed and ironed (fortunately just the pink FQs and the panda LV) for my new project, my quilt stamp project bag (ink pads, stamps, apliquick scissors for cutting the pieces out (they have a tiny pinked blade which means the pieces fray less and are easier to cut out), etc.) downstairs, and waiting and a project tin established but I’ve a feeling I’ve forgotten something vital. Here’s a closer look at the project tin: Two pin cushions as I couldn’t decide which pins I’ll use (fine glass-headed or entomology) so brought both down; a needle minder (on the tin wall next to the mice) in case I need to park my needle for more than a few seconds (which has reminded me what I’ve forgotten: needles!); two pairs of embroidery scissors, one for cutting threads and another with a fine pinked bla...

Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something I’ve made some progress on my new project! After looking at all the LV backgrounds I had: and considering how I wanted the quilt to look, I decided to just use four backgrounds (rather than lots, as in the one which is on an indefinite pause) and, with the help of a friend, chose these and decided their placement in the blocks: This is where they’ll be placed in each block: So there’ll be much more of the top two which also happen to be the two I have most of but that wasn’t the main reason for the order. The bottom print (which has pandas on but I’m not sure many will feature (I may include one, maybe two)) will be fussy cut so that they curve round the pale pink corners of each block, like so: Fantastic work by me with Markup, I bet you thought a professional had done it. And I’ve washed (but not ironed) the pink FQs and the one background (pandas) which hadn’t been washed. I’m very glad past me washed and ironed t...

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Last month I was wondering what to do about the LV scrappy trip top on my Fettling List  and this month I’ve officially added a new project:  The pinks are AGF pure solids from  Sew and Quilt  who kindly provided each one as FQs rather than continuous length as it’ll be much easier for me I’m now, as you can see, pondering background fabric choices and contemplating not making it quite as scrappy as the other version. Hopefully I’ll have made a decision by the end of April, but don’t hold your breath! Mini Archie has, as always, kept an eye on things: I might need a pink jumper or a pink pair of dungas. Or pink trews and a pink jumper. Or all free.  Linking up to the March Furtle  If you're linking up, please add a link (one per person, please) to your blog post, which could contain: a mosaic of all you've made in the month, something you've made/started/worked on, a goal which yo...

Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello! This will be a very quick post because I have very little progress to report; in fact it’s so little that it’s invisible.  I decided to get the LV scrappy trip top out for a look to assess what to do to make it smaller. As a reminder (because it’s been so long since it was in an actual post), it currently looks like this: It’s too big (and I suspect will be too heavy for me once it’s got wadding and backing added) so needs to be made smaller. My plan was that I’d remove some of the outer rows and end blocks as I did with the Winterkist quilt last month and also swap some fabric from remaining blocks that I no longer like. (In truth, I wasn’t that struck when I was making the blocks so have no idea why I didn’t just not use them *rolls eyes at past me*) When I got it out to see what would look best (I’ve been scribbling on a screen up until now), I realised that rather than removing rows and end blocks, th...

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Before I start this post proper, I just wanted to remind you that the Fettle Those Finishes! 2025 end of year reports link will close tonight at 11pm and that the Fettle Those Finishes 2026 lists link is open until 28th February at 11pm.  January has been a month with unexpected progress (thanks to yet another course of medication which gives me insomnia) and the project which I chose (or, more accurately, which leapt into my arms and begged to be worked on) was my Winterkist quilt. As a reminder, this is how it looked at the start of the year: It has looked like this since December 2022 I decided in 2024 that it’s now too big and heavy (it’s got cotton fleece as a backing (no wadding, just a cotton bedsheet to provide stability to the fleece)) and that I also wasn’t going to be able to do the rest of the quilting myself. The plan had been that each gnome would be outlined in matching thread and that the...

A quick post to let you know that the link party for your Fettling lists is now open. You can link up below or on the  main post , it doesn’t matter which as it’s the same link party on both posts.  Hooray, it’s time to link up your lists! You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter

    Hello, and welcome to the fifth full year of  Fettle Those Finishes!   It lasts for the whole year so I’ll leave the link open until 28th February to give you chance to think about and assemble your list - it’s not something to rush into and can take quite a while unless you’re like me and there’s a tendency to be able to copy and paste from the previous list to populate the new one and only need minor tweaks *sighs*   Adding stuff to your list (or taking things off if you’ve changed your mind about a project) through the year is perfectly acceptable. Encouraged, in fact, as there’s no point in sticking with something you no longer love/need just out of habit. Just make sure anything added is added before you finish it, it’s up to you how you define that. There’ll be a progress link up on 1st July (which can also be an opportunity to write a new list, should you wish) and I’ll (try to) remind you in the June  Furtle . The rules Be kind. Be encouraging. ...

It’s that time again so let’s see what I’ve managed to do with this year’s Fettling List. Here’s my progress report  from July when my Fettling Points total was five. First up is not a finish but it is good progress with the Toglet theatre and it now “just” needs a back, fixings and putting on the wall: Read about it here I finished off the pair of socks for a friend that I didn’t quite get finished last year:  Fettling Points = 1 2025 was the year of “socks for me” and I knitted twelve pairs: Almost managed to remember to take the photos in a consistent format this year too! Next year I might manage that and  having them all facing the same way.  At the start of the year, I had 74 socks in waiting in the sock lucky dip and I’m pleased to say that I now have a mere 49. Yes, it’s still an awful lot but it’s down by almost a third and the number now starts with a four rather than a seven! Twelve have been taken out and made into socks , twelve scrappy sets have either ...

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello and welcome to the final furtle of the year! Just a quick one as I have my end of year fettling report to write and then my 2026 Fettling List to sort plus a post to accompany it. Fortunately (or otherwise), I’ve not managed much at all this month but I did finish the socks I started in September which is satisfying: Yarn is from Made By Penguins and was unnamed but has been named after their  newest team member, Bert.  As you can see, it’s knitted up beautifully and as it’s an extra fine merino and cashmere (plus nylon for the durability) mix, it’s even softer than their yarn usually is.  And I can confirm that the Advent trees are a lot better this year after their go in the washer and Mini Archie is much happier with them (as am I!): Look at them all standing up properly this year *beams*  Linking up to the December Furtle  If you're linking up, please add a link (one per perso...