Stitching Sundays 13

 I think I have finally decided on my next Stitching Sunday project (although I do need to make some winter decorations for my seasonal tree as well).  It all started with the photo above which I thought would make a good felt piece with some embroidered grasses and seed heads.

 I made the felted background, incorporating lots of interesting bits and pieces to add texture and depth, including silk, tweed, yarn and randomly placed threads.  So far, so good, I thought.

 Then, as the tutor from my art course had taught me (she'd be pleased with me!), I started to jot down ideas and make little drawings to find the right design for the embroidery.

I carried on doodling and sketching and couldn't quite decide what I wanted to do.

I made notes when I saw images in shops or in adverts.  Then, I started to get nervous.  My embroidery skills weren't terribly advanced and I was worried I would ruin the felt. How could I get the image to look right?  Perhaps I should just think about it a bit more.  That was in 2010!  I did think about it, in 2011 and 2012, but somehow, no progress was made. So, I am feeling brave and now I think I must get it done.  I am more confident about my skills and if it doesn't look right, I can always unpick it and have another go.  So, this is going to be my next project and it may take me a few weeks to get it done (it has waited this long, so I don't think it will matter if it takes me a few weeks!)
Wish me luck and I'll post my progress.

New crafts

 I had my very first attempt at spinning last week, on a taster session at our new Heritage Skills Centre.  We (there were two of us, so were able to get lots of attention from the tutor) learnt how to make rolags (wool 'sausages' ready for spinning) from washed fleece, using carders.  I was fine with that part of the process, as I am used to using carders for my felting.  However, the spinning was a whole new thing!  I hadn't appreciated that your hands should be constantly moving the fleece - teasing with the back hand and feeding with the front. If I left my fingers holding the wool too long, 'over spinning' happened, where the yarn twists back on itself and then won't go onto the bobbin properly. I became very good at 'over spinning'!

 Now and then, I thought I had got it and for a few brief moments, I was spinning a nice thin yarn.  Then I forgot to move my fingers quickly enough and I got large lumpy bits as can be seen above - oops!

Here is my first attempt which the tutor plyed into 2 ply yarn.  I think I shall use it as embellishments on my felt.  The tutor was really nice and said we had done really well for beginners!  My mum has a spinning wheel, so I may have another go next time I visit.

After two crochet sessions, here is as far as I got with the hat.  I ended up having to undo quite a bit as I had gone wrong, but never mind.  I am not sure I shall complete the hat as I am not a hat person and this would be a close fitting cloche type hat.  Probably not a good look! However, now that I can do chains and trebles, (well, sort of), I may have a try at a simpler pattern.