HAPPY 2019

On January 1st I spotted this post on a Facebook page that I follow

“Show us your best makes of 2018”

It was followed by lots of posts of some truly beautiful makes.

It dawned on me that although I had made many things and finished many more DIY projects, plus had several total disasters, I hadn’t actually recorded a single one and I hadn't taken any photographs.

This year I am going to attempt to take some photographs and record my achievements and disasters just so that at the end of 2019 I can look back and say 

"Here is one I made earlier!"

My first attempts at (Shrink) Felting.

Probably not really my first attempt because I used to shrink my son’s designer jumpers regularly!

Some time ago I purchased several balls of 100% wool to knit and then felt.

I had no idea what I was going to do with them but they were on ‘Sale’ and such a bargain that I couldn’t resist them.

Fast forward many months and I spotted some felted slippers on Pinterest. Good idea, I thought, my feet are always so cold when I sit down in the evenings, and felted slippers would be perfect. 

After a long search I managed to find the original posting of the felted slippers and the knitting pattern that accompanied it.

I purchased the pattern from Ravelry   https://www.ravelry.com/

and here is the link to the pattern for the slippers (which are called Duffers) if you too would like to make a pair https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/duffers---revisied

This is the wool that I used

I followed the pattern exactly, which is actually quite unusual for me.  

I always seem to alter patterns by adding a bit here or taking away a bit there, but this one I followed.

They looked a strange shape and rather large when finished.

I followed the instructions on the ball band when it came to the felting process.

I used new tennis balls - not the ones the dog chews, and I washed them first just in case they were going to bleed yellow all over my new slippers.

This is what they looked like when they came out of the washing machine. Quite a bit smaller!

I shaped them into a more recognisable slipper shape and left them to dry naturally and this is what they look like now.

One may be very slightly larger than the other and the shaping over the toes is slightly wonky.

But they are my first make of 2019 and I am rather proud of them. Even if they are slightly odd they will still keep my feet warm and that is the most important point of slippers!

With a Heavy Heart and .....

With a heavy heart and a thickening waistline I have to admit I am longer a size 12.


Very slowly over the years I have ‘grown’ from a size 8, to a 10, and then to a 12 and I don't remember being the slightest bit concerned.

The actual numbers are not important, it is the 'extra' bits that have arrived without an invitation. They have been coming for years but I have been ignoring them. At only 5' 2" these extra bits are now quite noticeable, especially to me.

I admit to having been extremely lucky, I have eaten whatever I wanted all my life. I eat chocolate like there is no tomorrow and still have 2 sugars in all my drinks.

When I stand on the scales I discover that I weigh less than the 'average' for my height, and yet my stomach is too big, my waistline has vanished and my bottom- that I have never really noticed before, has suddenly become quite noticeable!

I am not the shape I want to be!

 As I said the actual numbers are not important, it is the lumps and bumps that are important and all in the most ridiculous places, I mean who knew you could get ‘back fat’? I certainly didn't and what is more I don't want fat there or anywhere else either.

Can you remember that advert that said "If you can pinch more than an inch..."?

Well I can pinch far more than an inch!

I blame Joe Brown for all this.

I do love Joe Browns clothes, they are different and quirky and I just love them. I don't own many of them because they are not all suitable for someone of my age! However I spotted a couple of lovely tops in their Autumn collection but I thought they were too expensive so I waited and waited until their sale and just before Christmas the tops were reduced and I bought them. Naturally I ordered my normal size 12. When they arrived I was bitterly disappointed to find that they were far too tight for me!

I am going to have to do something about my ‘shape’ as I cannot afford to replace my entire wardrobe.

However in the meantime I have decided that I am going to 'alter' my tops  and I have found a lovely dress in the local charity shop which I am going to chop up and use to enlarge one of them. It may take me quite some time.....but I will post an image when it’s done!

Joe Browns have now sent me their Spring catalogue and once again I have found some lovely tops which I couldn't resist. This time I have bought them in a size 14 and they fit me! Soon they will be too big.........I hope!