summer stitches

Knitted with wool, these triangles and yellow shirts were created for the decoration of the Golden Ball during the summer's Tour de France celebratory events. 

They look great all laid out (on the billiard table!)

One of our members has been enthused by a trip to the Pitts River Museum in Oxford - here's a stitched piece inspired by body art from Papua New Guinea.

Some amazingly intricate lace work was rescued from a cupboard by another of our members. Fortunately the spider motif doesn't involve using the bodies of dead creatures who became trapped away for years!

mini mix

A colourful blanket square came into fruition during our meeting......











... and a pretty jacket was finished off.

A pair of fairy wings started to flutter - these have been in the mind of the creator for many a month!

Is it a bonnet? Is it a bag? No, it's a lampshade! Some silk Suffolk puffs and beads finish it off beautifully.

The blanket is coming along nicely, from one end.....

... to the other!

Onions, anyone? Maybe a string of French ones will be created? Watch this space....

in the pink

This delightful finished piece is a miniature kimono made from beads on its own little stand!










Another long-standing UFO came out of the closet recently - a quilt started up to 5 years ago and never finished. The hand-stitching will take some time, so watch this space.

Having received some help in a previous meeting, one of our new members has been able to progress with crocheting together the blanket squares.

The finished pink jacket was shown and admired by all.....

 ... and the pair of socks we saw at the previous meeting have been completed (and worn)!

And a scarf was very rapidly made during the course of the meeting - one of the quickest items to be completed.

Colourful creations

Lots of lovely wool made an appearance at the last meeting - here one pair of gloves need finishing....





... and here another pair of gloves! There was some lovely decorative, fine stitches on these.

 A little bird was coming to life from fabric and stitch....

... and some more Suffolk puffs were created - the quilt is now too big to photograph. But that's something to celebrate!

A new member brought along some knitted squares and was helped to learn how to crochet the pieces together. An unfinished object in the making!

A New Year - but old items!

One of our members was busy over the holidays, completing a series of machine stitched architectural pieces which have been created on rusted fabrics - is that a reflection of how long these pieces have been left unfinished?!

A lovely knitted scarf, in great jewel-like colours, was finished during our first meeting - that's a good start to the year! It looks good enough to eat....

The 'Grand Depart' inspired bunting has been finished and was strung up for all to admire. Members of the group are keen to have a go at this for themselves - let's hope it doesn't become another UFO hidden in the cupboard as we might have to travel to France to display it in future years!

A toadstool brooch made from vintage fabrics was hand-embroidered during the evening. Where's the gnome to sit on it?

Bunting bonanza

Stitching continued on these rather charming geese at the last meeting, ready to be 'laid' on Christmas cards.

Two other festive items were added to: some crocheted Christmas trees to make into cards; and Nordic inspired knitted bunting (very on trend!)

Preparations for the Grand Depart have not passed us by, and one member is playing with some other knitted bunting to celebrate the great race.

Meanwhile, the Suffolk puffs continue to grow and are looking rather colourful!

And a number of cosy mobile phone pouches were finished off ready for a craft stall.

What other festive delights will we see at the final meeting of 2013?

Decorative delights

It was a hive of activity last Tuesday evening with many different projects on the go. A fabric Christmas wreath was brought along to inspire us.....








and a Christmas stocking made from vintage fabrics was embroidered in preparation for a workshop.

Knitting needles were flying through the air - these blanket squares are part of a year long project!

 This lovely striped piece will be transformed, eventually, into a bed jacket....

... and another multi-coloured knit will become a warm snood.

The pile of patchwork pieces continue to grow - there are now over 350 ready to be transformed into what?

The cathedral window patchwork is nearly complete - it's still amazing to think that these coloured sections are actually old silk ties!