I am having a good think about my current craft magazine subscriptions and a lot I will not be renewing. The problem with craft magazines, knitting ones in particular is that one tends to hold onto them once you have flicked though them. I think it’s because they have the knitting patterns in them and there is that way of thinking that I might need this pattern one day. It’s ridiculous really. If I was to buy one of the glossies for the same price I would recycle it once I’ve flicked through so why can’t I do the same with my craft ones. Every year I go through them all and see which ones I really am unlikely to need and either give them to a group or friend or I recycle them.
This time around I thought I would go the digital route. This would mean I could have all my copies on my tablet or laptop to browse at my leisure and never have to throw a copy away again. I browsed the various formats and imagine my shock and disbelief when I saw the price. The digital copy of Knit Now is £20 more than the hard copy. What makes it even worse is that you don’t get the cover gifts or any free gift that is offered if you take out a subscription and you don’t get your magazine until release date. I’m not fussed about the free gifts but if I am not getting them I would expect the subscription cost to reflect that. I have looked at other magazines as well and they all appear to be the same. You pay the same price for digital or hard copy yet with some of the hard copies you get a free gift as well.
As you can imagine I have gone with the paper copy. Twenty pounds was too big a difference to pay.
New Year Craft Resolutions
I have a large stash. No that’s not right I have a few large stashes. Fabric, yarn, buttons, embroidery they are all there. 2014 is the year I get these stashes down. I know it’s been said before but if I can’t make your present you’re not getting one. I aim to make my Christmas presents early log them on Ravelry with a note about the secret safe place I have hidden them. If I see a project I want to make, if I haven’t got the materials needed I can’t make it. My Christmas list for 2014 is already written with the age children will be beside their name.
I also aim to sell a large amount of my stash off. I will be giving friends first option but the other bits I don’t like or am never likely to use will be sold. I have written a list of all the yarns I want to keep which is probably a little longer than it should be. I want to keep all my non acrylic lace, 4ply, DK and Aran weight balls and anything with Alpaca. I also want to keep a lot of my good quality sock yarns and all my Rowan Felted Tweed, Cotton Glace, Hand knit Cotton, Wool Cotton, Big Wool and Pure Wool. I will be selling all my acrylic, novelty yarns, bulky yarns and what I call stranded cottons. Ranges like Sirdar soft cotton or Rowan Milk Cotton which looks as if you could pull it apart for embroidery.
I plan to sew my way through at least one 35 litre box of fabric and will probably be making little girls dresses in sizes that are too big for them. Last year in Liberty I bought a knicker making kit which I am eager to try to make some for my daughter. The fabric that comes with it is quilting cotton and a little stiff for my liking but I will use this for the first pair and then use Liberty Tana Cotton for the rest.
Watch this space to see how I do.
Happy New Year one and all
Highs and Lows 2013
2013 has been an interesting year with lots of highs and lows.A constant high in my life is my wonderful grandson Harry and we had the news this year that he is to be joined by a baby brother or sister in June 2014. A low was having my surgery cancelled four times and then finally having it in November. I already feel better for it and once I am back to full strength in March will get back to my old self so in this respect it is both a high and a low.
Another high for 2013 was teaching my first knitting workshops. I’ve taught sewing ones for a while which I love but didn’t feel confident enough to teach a group of people knitting. I am fine teaching one or two people one on one but a group terrified me. I was soon put in my place by one of my managers who said and I quote “with the greatest of respect Jenny that’s hogwash”. I taught my first few and they went really well thank you for those who have supported me.
To round up I have to say that regardless of the bumps that come long the road I feel incredibly lucky. I have food in the cupboard, a roof over my head and a lovely family. I have enough yarn and fabric to last my lifetime and a well trained cat who knows not to touch any of it. I am relatively sane and fit and am looking forwarding to walking, knitting and sewing more in 2014,
Almost done
It’s nearly New Years Eve Eve! Thanks for sticking with me I can’t believe I’ve managed to post each day even if I did occasionally forget to press the publish button . A very short post this but a quick update on the Ciate nail polish. The red is the only one which has shown slight signs of wear. It is slightly chipped at the top but it is still in good condition for five days
RIP Nan
I can’t believe it is two years since my Nan died. It feels so much longer. She was a huge part of my life and if it hadn’t been for her and my granddad who was my rock, I am sure I would have gone off the rails. So as I did when you were alive I shall do now in your absence. Thanks Nan for all you did for us and for being there for me whenever I needed you. I love you XX
Christmas Nails
An update on my Ciate mini manicure advent calender. The nail polish came off easily with my boots nail polish remover. I am pleased to report that their sequin polish has fantastic staying power. Normally when I use glitter polish it only lasts a couple of days this time I have worn it for 6 days and it is still as the day I applied it. I really dislike removing glitter polishes so it will be interesting to see how easy this one is to remove . I’m not looking forward to it.
Best present yet.
Yesterday we visited my daughter for lunch. We are having our family Christmas on Saturday as my other daughter isn’t available until then. I’m looking forward to it. I think we rush Christmas. My grandson gets far too many presents, noisy presents and I think when they are spread apart he appreciates them a bit more. I’m the boring grandparent who gets him clothes and quiet toys that you have to interact with him to play. Ironically he likes these toys as well as books a lot.
My daughter wasn’t very happy that we had to wait until Saturday to exchange presents and insisted we opened our presents from our grandson. He’s really good at this shopping lark and he’s not yet two. I was very pleased with mine. I got a pair of Knitting needles with a Nana bead on the top. I don’t know how they knit yet but they are bamboo which is good and are a size 4.5mm which I will use for aran sweaters for Harry. I love being a nanna
2013 Decorations
Here are some of the decorations I made for family and friends for christmas 2013. Every year I have some tags made with Christmas 2013 by Jennifer S. Obviously I change the year but I sew these on to presents I make for the holidays
I decided to add some crochet trim to the bell
The hearts are made with Liberty fabric , felt and trimmed with beads and vintage lace that was made in England.
Christmas Blessings
Merry Christmas everyone.
I was sitting reading A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber when my mind wandered and I started to think about how lucky I am.
I wasn’t thinking about my family although I do consider myself extremely lucky to have to two wonderful daughters, an amazing grandson and a wonderful husband of twenty seven years. We’ve been together for thirty two years a fact I am very proud of.
I was thinking of my craft skills. I am so lucky to be able to knit and sew. As I’ve said previously I do believe that my crafting is in my DNA. I am lucky that I have the skills to make a whole wardrobe for myself , my daughters and my grandchildren. I don’t think when I’m knitting it’s second nature. If I’m stressed I can just do some mindless knitting or even some intricate stuff and soon without noticing I am calmer. When I sit at the sewing machine I actually feel a wave of calm come over me. I can lose my self for hours doing cross stitch or tapestry. I am also lucky in that I still see things almost through the eyes of a child and simple things please me. I take great pleasure when I see a project coming together and I will stop and look at the leaves on the tree, the clouds in the sky and any other of natures beauties I come across.
Life hasn’t always been easy but I’m still here , I am blessed and know how lucky I am.
Day 24 One Day to go
Christmas Eve today. Only one day to go until we meet the new doctor. Oh and it’s Christmas.
I shall miss Matt Smith, although I do feel some of the story lines were more Sarah Jane Adventures than Doctor Who. I like the fact that my predictive text automatically suggests who after Doctor. I managed to source some templates for various Christmas shapes including a star, stocking and bell. I started with the bell first but kept unpicking it as I wasn’t happy with my stitching. First I tried blanket stitch then satin stitch but neither looked right so I ended up with running stitch. I used one of my tags for the hanger and sewed a bow I made from ribbon and added some sequins to the top. I am pleased with the result although I feel a lighter felt would show the Liberty fabric off better.
The second one I decided to make was the heart, this time I cut an extra heart from interfacing to highlight the pattern on the Liberty fabric.
Jen Sews and Knits 