Mini Archie’s May Furtle Around The Blogosphere

Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something

Hello! This month has seen a slight improvement in my arm (and I have a physio appointment for the end of next month) so I’ve not only managed a bit of knitting on the slowest socks ever, but I’ve also been doing some dressmaking. 

This is how the socks look now (I’m at the heel):

As I mentioned, I’ve slowly been making a very simple summer top to see if it’s possible to whip up a few for this summer. Yes, summer is virtually here but at least I’ve made a start! Since the only shop I’ve found which sells tops properly designed for tall people closed, I’ve not managed to buy any summer tops and the few I do have are well past their best. So this summer is the one where I actually make some tops rather than just plan to. 

The pattern I chose from my pattern box is the Lou Box Top. (I have the old version with just a few size bands which was a gift from a friend but decided I didn’t need to buy the updated version as I could spend that money (and the cost of having it printed) on jersey for more tops.) I chose this pattern as it’s really simple and so would be faster to make: fewer pieces to cut out (three if, like me, you don’t want the pocket) and no sleeves to set in (which I know isn’t hard but it all takes time and therefore more of my limited energy). Plus, it looked like it might need less altering to get a good fit and it can be made in either woven or jersey which is handy. (Sew DIY now focus on designing patterns for tall people, just in case you’re also tall or sew for someone who is.)

I need to hem the sleeve and body and then I can lay it on the pattern pieces to trace the alterations I’ve made so the next one will (hopefully) need less faffing. 

Please feel free to admire the neckband, which went on perfectly at the first attempt. And the twin needle behaved. And the overlocker needed no adjustment to either the threading up or the tension and I had four cones of the same colour thread. Truly, a miracle has occurred. (And they’re probably saving up all their mischief for the next top, I know that and will try to accept it with grace when it happens...)

Mini Archie has been keeping me out of mischief, here he is admiring the progress of Mouse with his chum Billy:

Mouse has beed verrrrrry busy, why isn’t you doing the same? *stern face*

Linking up to the May 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 you'd like to achieve in the next month (and then in next month's post you can reflect on that goal and set yourself another one - I find this particularly handy if I'm in the midst of a big project and finding the making of hundreds of blocks to be interminable), anything crafty you'd like to share. This isn't just for sewing or quilting, but is for all crafts so if you knit, make lace, make clothes, do anything which could come under the heading of 'craft', then please link up. Please visit the link immediately before and after you and leave an encouraging comment, and more if you can manage it - we all know that comments create joy, so let's spread some around. Also, please treat all the linked posts and their authors with respect - I want this to be an inclusive space for all crafters and crafts and all are welcome. If you're not sure if you're welcome or you belong, you do - this is by no means a closed space and if you want to join, then you are most welcome. If you need help linking up, please leave a comment and I will do my best to help. Please add the Furtling button to your blog post: copy the code below and paste it into your blog post - it should then magically appear when you publish your blog post (I'll do my best to help if you have any problems) and it will help people find the Furtling page with all the details of the link up.

<p style="text-align:center"><a href="https://archiethewonderdog.blogspot.com/p/furtling.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXDD7-BYr5nXJtGn7HIFUcDUZfLGBTpazWKP8TCUWdkA6zd2285lbJX4aoMug6QyKDdxtxA-njWnhvf0GugU-An4z5lTFcqmYnae0Gb68FR0ZmydWYETGSa2oF1NeQDMVNwZBnUHTpsD7/s200/textgram_1548790799.png" alt="Archie The Wonder Dog" /></a></p>

To link up, go to the link at the bottom of this page and click on 'link up' (it's a blue button) and then add your link (website URL), a title (this could be your blog name but could also be something interesting to draw people to it (keep it clean!) if you prefer), and your email. This last one doesn't appear on the link (I will have access to it - I won't use it unless there's a problem and I need to contact you) so don't worry that you're about to share your email address with the world (or the handful of people who find this link), you're not! The link will remain open until 17th June; if you're seeing this post after this date, I'm afraid you can't link up to the May Furtle, but you can link next month if you like.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter