Whilst I am at home

I am going to try and do a few sewing projects especially some of the UFOs. However in the run up to Christmas just gone I picked up a couple of reduced kits from John Lewis. Both are Christmas orientated and I thought I would start early for Christmas 2017. If any of you would like the instructions please pm me with your email address and I will forward to you a copy. I traced the pattern then scanned it. This particular kit is for a Poinsettia decorated felt stocking.  You can then start making your own versions for friends and family members utilising felt and fabric that you already have. I already have ideas for varying the same.

Anyway I have been going stir crazy and have spent a good part of my time sleeping but I wanted something relatively straight forward and simple to do whilst also creating something personal for my own Christmas decoration stash.

Well have started it and quite quick and simple to make up.  The pattern says to sew stocking up and then turn it through so i have pieced it together with a running stitch and also attached the stocking holder by this method as well.

I still have done a running stitch in a red cotton all the way round the outside of the stocking but you could also blanket stitch it.  I have to sew the Poinsettias on and then work a panel of beadwork below the Poinsettias and then the stocking will be finished.  The kit was reduced to £6 from £10 but i intend to make a few more yet throughout the year.

I also came up with an alternative placement for the Poinsettias.

The beading is more or less done.  There is a placement chart on the instruction sheet which I have transferred to the stocking via greaseproof paper or freezer paper and then sewed the beads onto the stocking through the paper.  I have then carefully torn the paper away leaving a neat panel of beadwork.

All I have to do now is sew on the Poinsettias.  I am chuffed with the result and it has only taken a couple of hiurs work.  Best of all though thats the first project completed for Christmas 2017.  Apart from two beads which have gone walkabout.

This is the beading and Poinsettias in place and once i have the two beads i will show the stocking completely finished.

This year more than ever i want to make Christmas as home made as i can on all fronts. Crafts, presents where I can, food for Christmas, preserves of all descriptions including Charcuterie, winemaking, liqueurs, ciders and beers etc etc.

I also bought from the Charity shop some Christmas tree baubles and I intend to decorate them with beads to really make some lovely tree decorations.

I had intended this year to do my own greenery garlands and wreaths but with the operation and me being hampered with what I could or could not do that just did not happen.  It was more than I had anticipated not being able to do.  With hindsight it was too close to Christmas for the operation but i just wanted it out of the way and done with so that i could get on with things in the New Year.

Once the missing beads are sewn on i will start the mistletoe wreath kit that i also bought from John Lewis reduced to £6 again.  More on that later but all the projects i am making are all home made which is the important bit for me in the greater scheme of things.  I am certainly going to be making more Christmas stockings for my family's use but also to give as a pressie or two.

By the way I am still having problems with the internet. Cannot gain access on main computer and preparing posts on the phone which this post is very tedious time consuming and far too slow.  Hopefully normal posts will resume soon i am finding it very frustrating but at least on this occasion it will let me post.


Catch you soon.

• Pattypan xx