Archie The Wonder Dog

Well, it’s that time of year. Although, as someone who went through (and then worked in) the English education system, this is completely the wrong time of year to be getting or writing an end of year report* but I’ve always thought it made sense to tie the academic year to the calendar year so I’m embracing it.  *Fortunately, we don’t have to participate in sports day/end of year plays/school discos but there can be Toy Day and Big Toy Day if you fancy. Don’t bring anything with lots of small parts or which is very expensive or very new. You are entirely responsible for making sure you have all the correct toys and all the component parts with you at home time. I’ve been trying to decide how to write my report and have decided that I will stick with pictures, for the main. It’s at this point that I am making a note to 2023 me not to delete photos of finished objects until I’ve written my Fettle Those Finishes Report. In this instance, tidying as you go does not make life easier. S...

Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello! November feels like it’s lasted sixty days rather than thirty and, upon looking in my Furtling photo album (I add photos in across the month in an attempt to remember everything and make writing this post a little easier), I find I have squeezed in a lot of knitting and sewing so perhaps it really has been twice as long as usual? I finished the scrappy socks I started last month : Isn’t it amazing how you can take small balls of left over yarn  and turn them into a pair of socks which look deliberate?!  Speaking of deliberate, the fleece backing for my Winterkist quilt  continues to be deliberately (and impressively) obstreperous but I got it pieced into the right size and shape for the top towards the end of last month and then tacked down all the seams (so they didn’t flip over during layering) and have, with the help of the same friend who’s been helping me fleece wrestle throughout this ...

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello! It’s finally woolly sock weather, hooray! And it’s almost long sleeves weather, which is my favourite type. I’ve finished the two tops I’d started last month and have been able to wear them rather than them going in my wardrobe for next summer, which is nice. Again, both are the Lou Box top (with alterations): Fabric is from Pound Fabrics but it’s out of stock Fabric is from  ByGraziela I’ve also finished the socks I was knitting for a friend and they fit. Phew! Yarn is Opal Red (5180) And knitted a pair for another friend: Yarn is ‘Unicorn’ from  Made By Penguins  mystery skein sale In September, I drafted a long sleeve for the tops I’ve been making and I’ve made a wearable (and very warm) toile out of some sweatshirt fabric from The Cupboard Of Possibilities: And as the sleeves are fine, I can get started on these two now: Yes, I did cave and get the dachshunds in black ( from he...

  Furtle (v): to have a rummage or delve into the contents of something Hello! This month has been surprisingly busy (although I could have done with some of that busyness being in the garden and with the hoover/duster/mop) or perhaps surprisingly productive would be more accurate? I think part of it is the change in weather - it’s finally cooled down and I can spend time in the workroom without being mafted within a few minutes! I’ve finished the top I’d started last month: Fabric is this pink stripe from Empress Mills And finished the leftovers socks (a mix of an indie-dyed rainbow stripe and Opal navy (9930) I’d started last month; I think these might be my favourite so far.  I’ve knitted a pair for someone else’s feet Yarn is Opal Memories 11004 from The Sock Yarn Shop And immediately cast on another pair for a different someone else’s feet to knit while I caught up on three weeks of Bake Off Yarn is Opal Red (5180) I’ve also cut out my final short-sle...