tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26448399899286150712024-03-14T15:22:07.669+00:00Not FoundI try to blog. May contain photos, sewing, crochet, food and prettiness.Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-21378635078521522702021-05-08T14:53:00.000+01:002021-05-08T14:53:15.741+01:00Making Lists<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81lWJVYPo1Qy5RiODAilQ70O9rSYgHtcAT12HUIor9CIAfjliYTNuLSpSeDMztNIe7O8u2JqIjYiFVEzWCqfug2op0Td0Vyn765pw-kQR4c7TZKGJiFV9FfFPIg56GHjtKTt_fyou4pQN/s4618/IMG_20210508_123811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="4618" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81lWJVYPo1Qy5RiODAilQ70O9rSYgHtcAT12HUIor9CIAfjliYTNuLSpSeDMztNIe7O8u2JqIjYiFVEzWCqfug2op0Td0Vyn765pw-kQR4c7TZKGJiFV9FfFPIg56GHjtKTt_fyou4pQN/w640-h480/IMG_20210508_123811.jpg" title="Notebook with a list entitled "Making" in it, loose piece of squared paper with a similar list" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p>...lists for making and the making of the lists.</p><p><br />Lists are good, they hold information so I don't have to rely on my brain to do it. I make lists at work so I can context switch without losing the idea of what I'm doing, and so I can tell myself I have in some sense Done The Thing and it is ok to put it up for review now.<br />Sometimes the lists make me feel like I don't do enough/fast enough, but that often is a sign that the list isn't varied enough or the things on it aren't broken down enough to be ticked off in a timely fashion. I think it also helps to have the lists to hand but not right in front of me - so I can consult them when I want or need to, but they're not staring me down all the time, reminding me that I have All Of The Things To Do.</p>
<p>Last year, while I was on furlough and faced with a big empty expanse of time during which I felt I should Do Good Things I made myself a sort of Kanban board with post-its. There were To Do, Blocked, In Progress and Done columns (and later a Rejected section) and the post-its were coloured according to whether they were admin-y, creative, household/life, or work-y. That made me feel like I had a structure, but I'm not sure I really effectively did the things - I didn't have the constriction of being in the office for x hours a day and having to do _something_ from the board like I would at work. Things were able to lurk in the To Do column indefinitely, and some things moved back across (especially household and exercise related ones). There's a reason we have sprints and the attendant ceremonies in software engineering - just Kanban-ing forever with no retrospectives means you don't reflect on what you've achieved at all and your sense of time passing stays mushy.<br />I'm not going to start doing sprints for my hobbies with reviews or anything - I think my 20-something before 20-something posts on here are the closest I'll get to that - I don't want to turn all of life into work. So, if my sense of time is mushy then maybe my lists can be too.<br /><br />I have a list I made some time in the latter half of 2020 that is essentially a "what should I make next" list containing all the things I felt I should make next at some point in time, and I have almost completed it without explicitly trying. I like that. It lives on the shelf next to my overlocker and I occasionally remember it exists and have a look.<br />I also have a (Ryan Gosling) notebook which I have used as a general notebook on and off for a while that gets general to-do lists, bits of information, packing lists, recipe notes, birthday/christmas gift ideas etc written down in it. I'd like to get back into the habit of using that, and the making list probably belongs in it.<br />Making a making list is basically a way of sitting down and turning some swirling ideas, needs, and inspiration into more concrete ones that I can actually act on. Refinement, to borrow another software term. Some people criticise refinement and planning as pointless talking rather than doing, but if you don't sit down and comb through your ideas you might steam ahead and realise they don't make sense halfway through. Or, even worse, in a team environment you might find that everyone has made different assumptions and all your "just getting on with it" has meant you've built a big mess that could have been avoided if you'd just talked through it beforehand.</p>
<p>Other lists I have used include:<br />- Bits of paper with project ideas (and sketches) pinned to my noticeboard<br />- Lists and sketches of project ideas on loose bits of paper - these get the ideas out of my head but usually get lost<br />- Lists of what's in the food cupboards and freezer and their use-by dates to remind me of the more buried things. These are stuck to the fridge & inside the cupboards.<br />- Lists of non-staple foods that I should get around to using (e.g. buckwheat bulgur, interesting spices), and ideas for what to make<br />- A sort of matrix of what we have in the categories of fruit/veg, protein, and carbs, split into short, medium, and long life so that I can see possible combinations to use up and tick-off the most urgent things<br />
</p>Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-30076049756064897772017-01-27T23:54:00.001+00:002017-01-27T23:54:11.645+00:00Treasure<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nUlulHUx6DnAx4v9T-dwWOrJkbc-nk0TZUQZmpf_kKPmN7Cy20XGh5D8bjPtUUpBiAiWVF4IWVuyVhboEqFVtKQ_b0SEyMcDb-bdoCgyhkGULcNHCZZieL0_kRiowh-i24emWFxmjYut/s1600/2017-01-14+17.25.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nUlulHUx6DnAx4v9T-dwWOrJkbc-nk0TZUQZmpf_kKPmN7Cy20XGh5D8bjPtUUpBiAiWVF4IWVuyVhboEqFVtKQ_b0SEyMcDb-bdoCgyhkGULcNHCZZieL0_kRiowh-i24emWFxmjYut/s640/2017-01-14+17.25.13.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporary desk set-up pretending to be a bookshelf</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ignoring the general state of the world and sticking my head in some kind of fluffy glittery sand (which I'm sure is partly composed of privilege), I had some post-Christmas thoughts about possessions. While I was trying to summon up the will to write thankyou cards - I want to thank people but hate doing it - I was considering what my & the Boy's family had given me. Their presents were all just right - things that I can enjoy having and using. There's a book of knitting patterns that I'd previously been intrigued by on Roobeedoo's blog. There's a book of recipes the same as one we had as children. There's a Nigel Slater book which I plan to read all of - he's someone who can inspire me to cook interesting things with words. So many recipe books are all shiny pictures and then lists of ingredients, but NS manages to evoke an atmosphere in each recipe. I'm already imagining cosy weeknight evenings making some cunning concoction following an aspirational visit to The Better Food Company. (current reality has me staring at a CostCo multipack of pancetta cubes after a cold 9.5km cycle ending in a steep hill).<br />But what I really mean to say is - each of these presents represents a bit of something I'll enjoy doing and encouragement to do it. The givers have thought about what I like to do and given me almost an excuse to do it. I say excuse because there's the ongoing saga of The House. What one <i>should</i> be doing at any given time is something, anything, towards decorating. (we hadn't anticipated not having unpacked after a year of ownership and 10 months of living here) Purposefully doing anything enjoyable with one's time at the moment feels like a great luxury, and a bit naughty - I need excuses to indulge myself, despite knowing that not doing so will only lead to stress and mental disarray (and I actively encourage Boy to do things he enjoys).<br />Anyway, one of the feelings that all these nice things evokes is the feeling that they are <i>treasure</i> to be cherished; this got me thinking that it'd be nice if I felt like that about more of my things. I am someone who buys the cheap option or waits for a sale, who doesn't buy herself big fancy things if she doesn't need them, who used to have real trouble indulging herself. I've got a bit better at that, but I would like to develop a filter.<br />Yesterday I took a set mixing bowls back to Debenhams. I'd bought them in a fit of excitement shortly after Christmas, and then realised that they were not dishwasher safe. Given that we regularly have a weeks' worth of dirty wooden spoons sitting on the side in the kitchen I thought that this was not desirable. (I kept the set of small bowls with tupperware-style lids that I bought at the same time and it's just occurred to me that one of them went through the dishwasher this evening and seemed fine. Oh. Oh well) But the point is - I was excited and bought myself something - which is good given I don't excite easily - but it wasn't something I was properly smitten with (not so good) and it wasn't quite right. There's a place for things I'm not super-passionate about - especially if they are useful - but so as to not fill up my physical place I'd prefer to, ahem, curate* a special selection. And really, I barely ever <i>need</i> anything so this is not any kind of deprivation.<br />
And then I'd also like to <i>use</i> my nice things - make things with the wool and fabric I have stashed away, wear my nice clothes, have baths with bath bombs, serve food on our nice plates, drink my birthday gin. <i>Fulfil their potential</i>. Or something.<br />Back to good old William Morris:<br />
<br />"Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"<br /><br />Right, back to the grim real world. Sometimes when I feel paralysed
by everything being terrible I make a donation to Shelter, Refuge, the
British Humanist Association, the Red Cross or whatever charity seems
pertinent - at least that way I'm somehow being useful.<br />
<br />* possibly knobby lifestyle word of the decade<br />Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-45043701817422891462016-01-05T11:29:00.001+00:002016-01-05T11:29:50.784+00:00Things To Do In 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/4846103802/" title="En Route"><img alt="En Route" height="425" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4149/4846103802_b569415dc7_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></b><b><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></b></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Write more letters & cards - at least one a month</b>. I used to write so many but I'm completely out of the habit. My younger sister has been really into sending post recently and it's lovely. It also makes me feel more connected with my late Granny who was a prolific letter-writer.</li>
<li><b>Feel at home & in charge</b>. I don't <i>do</i> stuff in the evenings and at weekends. My instinct is to wait to see what boy is doing & react to that. If I'm going to enjoy myself I need to get out/on & do things more and reclaim some of my independence. I also need to remember that this is as much my house as it is his! </li>
<li><b>Get over my dislike of cutting out pattern pieces</b>. I think the height of our coffee table is a big contributing factor in this but it's definitely partly mental too.</li>
<li>
<b>See the world!</b> Go somewhere. Anywhere. Get away for a bit & enjoy it. Mexico was good but it was all about family. This ties back into independence and getting on with things. I should book myself a weekend somewhere and explore. </li>
<li><b>Learn</b>. I have a terrible habit of making do when I don't understand something & making a mental placeholder to keep up with what's going on, but I never go back & replace that with proper knowledge. E.g. I have heard of something and heard opinions about it and possibly know enough to ask the right questions when someone mentions it. But I don't necessarily know what I'm talking about. Films are probably the easiest example of this. Star Wars - I know who Luke's father is & that that's a big deal, but I don't know anything else about who Luke is or why that would be a big deal. With the new film having come out I feel more & more like I should catch up with the rest of the world - I do enjoy watching films, I just don't get round to it.</li>
<li><b>Sew from my stash</b>. Every sewer on the internet and their dog is making this resolution, but it's always a good one. I won't punish myself for not doing so or pass up irresistible new fabrics, but I will try to get my pretty things buzz from doing the creating rather than buying things to create with. There are plenty of things I'd like to make but I need to squeeze out the time and space to do it.</li>
<li><b>Eat well, gym often</b>. Avoiding cake at work and going to the gym even when I don't feel like it are the keys to this. Time at the gym is never time wasted and makes me feel good, and I always regret eating extra, so this is just sticking to what I already want. That doesn't make it easy but it does mean I can feel smug when I manage it. Plus boy is now a gym member and is keen to eat less naughtily so we can try to keep each other on track better. So far we're unofficially doing dry January.</li>
<li><b>Go on days out</b>. Before we moved in together boy & I definitely went on more adventures to National Trust properties, the seaside, nice bits of countryside. We should do more of this, use weekends properly, and take photos. I bought myself a nice new camera just before Christmas and it could do with a proper outing.</li>
<li><b>Move house & make home</b>. This will make some of the above harder and some easier, but in the end I'll have a more solid, reliable, and adaptable basis to be living my life from. There will be more working on projects with boy and less frustration at unchangeable aspects of rented housing. There'll be new responsibilities too and a stronger tie to working full time, but we're trying to meet those things head on and think about the implications.<br />
</li>
</ul>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-81683788146087927662015-06-01T22:12:00.001+01:002015-06-01T22:12:50.666+01:00Me Made May 2015 Part IIHere's part two of my Me Made May round-up & some wearing notes<br />
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<b>16</b>. Shapely boyfriend cardi at the Moor Brewery - still goes with everything!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17546162168" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 16 - shapely boyfriend cardi & RTW dress for an afternoon of beer & @berthaspizza at Moor Beer by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 16 - shapely boyfriend cardi & RTW dress for an afternoon of beer & @berthaspizza at Moor Beer" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5342/17546162168_f284be0d9f_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>17</b>.Green Simplicity 2451 skirt - I think I need to make a smaller version of the longer view with a bum adjustment - there's more to this pattern than I'm getting. And this is the wrong fabric!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17578149048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 17 - my first Simplicity 2451 for a Sunday morning cat-feeding mission by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 17 - my first Simplicity 2451 for a Sunday morning cat-feeding mission" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8882/17578149048_63680c57a2_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>18</b>. Drapy cowl-neck Renfrew. Good for hiding on a rainy day. Not so good for telling if the pattern fits as this fabric is so stretchy and heavy!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17824947805" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 18 - the UK went back to winter this morning so I wore my cosy cowl neck Renfrew & a very old skirt & stompy boots by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 18 - the UK went back to winter this morning so I wore my cosy cowl neck Renfrew & a very old skirt & stompy boots" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8761/17824947805_83e8825845_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>19</b>. NL6154 - Comfy and spotty! Shame the fabric isn't great quality but at £6/m I can't complain much<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17822459976" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 19 - spotty NL6154 skirt with pockets by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 19 - spotty NL6154 skirt with pockets" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8802/17822459976_189d1b4b24_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>20</b>. Sparkly short-sleeved Plantain tee. Bit snug in the chest - I think I underestimated the importance of stretch percentages<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17700338949" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 20 - sparkly grey plantain T-shirt, RTW skirt & cardigan by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 20 - sparkly grey plantain T-shirt, RTW skirt & cardigan" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5347/17700338949_c33be6b4c9_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>21</b>. Purply boyfriend & Paisley Pastille - A good basic cardi but could do with higher buttons and/or more chest width. Dress is alright but armholes have ripped a little - I think I have a broad rib cage!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17934824902" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 21 - purply boyfriend & A-line-ed Pastille by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 21 - purply boyfriend & A-line-ed Pastille" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8785/17934824902_820a9b8851_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>22</b>. Cord NL6154 skirt - realizing that this is nicer to wear than I thought. Feels a bit homemade-in-a-bad-way but I don't think my colleagues notice or care.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17946256696" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 22 - corduroy NL6154 skirt & the jumper N got me for Christmas by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 22 - corduroy NL6154 skirt & the jumper N got me for Christmas" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5447/17946256696_bcf7184da5_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>23</b>. Scoop/a-line Pastille mod - still feels like Wearing A Nice Dress, which is good. Should figure out front darts/width and make another. Facings are an arse, maybe bias binding next time?<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17380241934" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 23 - off cheese shopping with N in my modified pastille by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 23 - off cheese shopping with N in my modified pastille" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8794/17380241934_21962ddc41_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>24</b>. Cheaty day - I made the zippy pouch for my knitting accessories & it turned out just the right size. I ought to make a giant one or two for carrying projects in - A4 size maybe? They're from the <a href="http://flossieteacakes.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/lined-zippered-pouch-make-up-bag.html">Flossie Teacakes tutorial</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17848566870" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 24 - cheatily not wearing me-made but making socks and using my zippy pouch of knitting accessories by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 24 - cheatily not wearing me-made but making socks and using my zippy pouch of knitting accessories" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8802/17848566870_2905efb782_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>25</b>. Miette cardigan - the more dresses I make the more this will go with... I rather like the length with a dress<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17890033478" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 25 - #andisatterlund Miette cardigan & RTW dress by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 25 - #andisatterlund Miette cardigan & RTW dress" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8847/17890033478_a7f0f433f5_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>26</b>. Purply boyfriend & red NL6154 skirt. The skirt is great apart from the zip that likes to come undone and the hem trim that flips out because I stretched it the wrong way while sewing it... lesson learned.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/18135761035" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 26 - wore my red NL6154 to work then my purply boyfriend cardigan for post-gym cooking & lounging by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 26 - wore my red NL6154 to work then my purply boyfriend cardigan for post-gym cooking & lounging" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8813/18135761035_7a0fa844a7_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>27</b>. Shapely boyfriend yet again :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17977192298" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 27 - shapely boyfriend cardigan + RTW T-shirt & skirt by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 27 - shapely boyfriend cardigan + RTW T-shirt & skirt" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8864/17977192298_e2023c2397_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>28</b>. Spotty NL6154 again. Photo effort minimal<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/18203052772" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 28 - spotty NL6154, Sherlock & pizza by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 28 - spotty NL6154, Sherlock & pizza" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7783/18203052772_41b7fbf8d1_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>29</b>. Stripy Coco top in Ikea. Fabric is surprisingly nice and thick and drapey for a Fabricland number<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/18238304281" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 29 - stripy Coco top and a visit to IKEA on my way home by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 29 - stripy Coco top and a visit to IKEA on my way home" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8897/18238304281_c4bcce1362_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>30</b>. Lacey flower brooch - made from gathered trim - at a barbecue with proper rustic cider :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17654253663" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 30 - Lacey flower brooch at a friend's birthday barbecue with proper cider :-D by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 30 - Lacey flower brooch at a friend's birthday barbecue with proper cider :-D" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7793/17654253663_a8dd2c29d5_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>31</b>. My <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/basic-ribbed-socks">basic ribbed socks</a> & purply boyfriend cardi for a day at home doing tidying, hoovering, & sewing.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/18310198371" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 31 - lounging & hoovering in my knitted socks & purply boyfriend cardigan. Not a leaving the house sort of day by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 31 - lounging & hoovering in my knitted socks & purply boyfriend cardigan. Not a leaving the house sort of day" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7758/18310198371_827f3d193c_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So... there's been a lot of cardigan wearing, despite the weather being pretty nice recently. A good, slightly woolly, cardi is a very useful thing to have in the UK when you're going out somewhere and don't know if it'll cool off or get windy later.<br />Most of the me-made garments I've worn this month have been made with fabric from Fabricland or Goldhawk Road, or with wool from eBay. My second Pastille-hack is made with more expensive fabric from the lovely local shop called Flo-Jo (stockists of Liberty and Alexander Henry fabric, Colette, Sewaholic, & Anna Maria Horner patterns, and holders of knicker-making workshops!) which perhaps indicates a bit more confidence? However all my recent purchases have been from Regency Rags on eBay who are really *really* bargain basement-y.<br />I finished the purply boyfriend (adding buttons), finished my first knitted socks, re-hung some earrings, and made most of a Colette Hawthorn. Unfortunately the Hawthorn in its current form is not terribly flattering and the long, long hem is somewhat daunting. Hopefully I'll try it on again and find it's magically got better? I think I need to shorten the shoulders somehow - not easy with lots of facing in there :s<br />
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If any of this catches your interest, have a peek at my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/dichohecho/fabric-stash/">Fabric Stash</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/dichohecho/fabric-stash-used/">Fabric Stash Used</a> (where pins go when the project is finished), and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/dichohecho/things-ive-made/">Things I've Made</a> boards on Pinterest.<br />
<br />Right, enough of that. Today is June and I've worn my red NL skirt & another Plantain t-shirt that I made yesterday. I might do some sort of t-shirt round-up post as I've made a few different patterns now.<br />The weather here is atrocious today - lots of wind and rain - and Boy and I have had a cheeky curry for supper and are going to get an early night. Ciao!<br />
<br />Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-63092729913116425592015-05-15T23:18:00.000+01:002015-05-15T23:18:13.502+01:00Me Made May2015 Part IThis year I went in boldly with my pledge:<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><i>'I, Sarah of http://52weeksof.blogspot.com, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '15. I endeavour to wear at least one handmade item each day for the duration of May 2015'</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><br /></span></span>...and then I went to Spain and forgot to consider Me Made May while packing. I only missed out two days in the end, but it felt like more at the time. If I had remembered then they'd probably both have been pictures of my Shapely Boyfriend cardi.<br />My packing strategy was all dresses all the time to keep things easy and minimize wasted packing (Easyjet handluggage-only). I think that worked out pretty well as there were only two things I didn't wear - a jumper and a long-sleeved t-shirt.<br />
Anyway, Me Made May seems to be going alright thus far. Some days I've found it almost too easy - I gravitate towards a couple of me-made skirts for work anyway - and some days I've felt the restriction. I've had two days counting only on jewelry but they coincided with a particularly loungey Sunday and dreaded ladytime, and where's the fun in getting dressed up when I don't want to? The loungey day would have been more Me Made if I had been able to find my £1/m jersey dress. I think I put it away in a fit of optimism during the warm latter part of April.<br />
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On to the pictures!<br />I'm afraid this is coming in list format because balls to HTML...<br />
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1. At the alcázar in Segovia in my scoopified, A-lineified Pastille/Truffle dress. Photo by my sister.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/16876371303" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmmay15 Día uno: Colette handbook mash-up dress - bodice based on pastille, skirt on truffle - at the alcázar in Segovia by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay15 Día uno: Colette handbook mash-up dress - bodice based on pastille, skirt on truffle - at the alcázar in Segovia" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5467/16876371303_9069b2ddda_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Up the tower of Segovia's cathedral in my drapey black first Plantain t-shirt<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17669331292" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmmay15 día 2 - up the tower of Segovia cathedral wearing my first plaintain t-shirt over a RTW dress by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay15 día 2 - up the tower of Segovia cathedral wearing my first plaintain t-shirt over a RTW dress" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7767/17669331292_274a1afaab_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. By the acqueduct in my first Pastille/Truffle dress, photo by my sister again<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17484206990" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmmay15 día 3 - Colette Pastille with full-behind-adjusted Truffle skirt y el acueducto de Segovia by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay15 día 3 - Colette Pastille with full-behind-adjusted Truffle skirt y el acueducto de Segovia" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8806/17484206990_d513164ed7_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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4 - In Spain, run out of me-mades<br />
5 - In Spain & travelling back<br />
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6. Red stretch-cotton New Look 6154 with Simplicity 2451 pockets<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17671779355" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 6 - back home in my New Look 6154 skirt by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 6 - back home in my New Look 6154 skirt" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5454/17671779355_4c088e02c0_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Tilly & The Buttons Coco t-shirt in what Fabricland calls "pirate stripe"<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17671774135" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 7 - off to vote in my pirate stripe Coco top by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 7 - off to vote in my pirate stripe Coco top" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7698/17671774135_3f27023ec1_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. Floppy teal cord skirt - this was the proof of concept for the red one above<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17698327345" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 7 - photo hampered by my phone camera refusing to work but here's the gist of it. Teal cord New Look 6154 with pockets, rtw t-shirt & cardigan by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 7 - photo hampered by my phone camera refusing to work but here's the gist of it. Teal cord New Look 6154 with pockets, rtw t-shirt & cardigan" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8713/17698327345_ab5ec05926_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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9. Newly finished <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend-2">purply boyfriend cardigan</a> - I shouldn't have procrastinated so long with the buttons! The placement is a bit iffy but they're on there now.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17671764975" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 9 - purply boyfriend cardigan & RTW dress for an afternoon of dumpling-making by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 9 - purply boyfriend cardigan & RTW dress for an afternoon of dumpling-making" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7760/17671764975_7ef4343193_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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10. Plastic bead earrings, plus newly-finished <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/his-or-hers-bobble-hats">Rugby Fan's Bobble Hat</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17308884808" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 10 - modelling a hat I've made for someone I'm pretty sure isn't on Instagram and some earrings I made a few years ago by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 10 - modelling a hat I've made for someone I'm pretty sure isn't on Instagram and some earrings I made a few years ago" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7786/17308884808_f5ba306562_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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11. Navy polycotton Mimi blouse from Love At First Stitch. Polycotton is definitely sweaty & the fit on this is not great.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17483921798" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 11 - a terrible photo of my first #loveatfirststitch Mimi Blouse with a RTW skirt. Cheap polycotton is not a good blouse fabric and I am not Tilly-shaped - needs more chest & sleeves and less waist & lower back. Shoulders are alright but don't by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 11 - a terrible photo of my first #loveatfirststitch Mimi Blouse with a RTW skirt. Cheap polycotton is not a good blouse fabric and I am not Tilly-shaped - needs more chest & sleeves and less waist & lower back. Shoulders are alright but don't" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5459/17483921798_4e27c60623_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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12. Navy truffle & <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/miette">Miette cardigan</a> - got a bit hidden by free company t-shirt but was comfy all day<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17364773939" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 12 - all blue in my Miette cardi & Truffle dress for a certain large Finnish tech company's 150th birthday by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 12 - all blue in my Miette cardi & Truffle dress for a certain large Finnish tech company's 150th birthday" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5444/17364773939_2a58ff3f8b_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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13. Black mystery remnant Lilou/Truffle dress. Too tight above the bust, bum darts wrong, zip undoes itself.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17589566361" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 13 - black Lilouffle + RTW cardigan by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 13 - black Lilouffle + RTW cardigan" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7688/17589566361_18174ecbd9_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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14. Ceramic bead earrings redeem a "secret pajamas" outfit<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17020454514" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 14 - bit of a low effort day with homemade earrings & RTW clothes but it's a grey & rainy Thursday and comfort was called for by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 14 - bit of a low effort day with homemade earrings & RTW clothes but it's a grey & rainy Thursday and comfort was called for" height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5331/17020454514_17513f36ab_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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15. Loud floral rectangle t-shirt reverse-engineered from Pattern Runway Harvest Top. Will make more, possibly with smaller/narrower backs & different neckline (this one may just be stretched).<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/17687403681" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmm15 day 15 - rectangle T-shirt reverse engineered from the Pattern Runway Harvest Top. Could have drafted my own but this gave me the armband size. by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmm15 day 15 - rectangle T-shirt reverse engineered from the Pattern Runway Harvest Top. Could have drafted my own but this gave me the armband size." height="320" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7734/17687403681_f7ca4a4014_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's about half the month down and another half left to go. I feel as though I've got plenty of me-made items I haven't worn yet and I may finish a couple of knitting projects and a couple of sewing ones before the month is out. I'm posting these to instagram as I go and Flickr when I remember - you can click through on these photos to see the original captions from Instagram imported into Flickr.<br />
<br />So far Fabricland is the most represented source of fabric. This isn't terribly surprising as they're local, cheap, and I don't feel the urge to save things I've bought there or fear ruining them. The frontrunner for wool is eBay, which is also unsurprising as my skillz are not well-developed yet & the cheapskate instinct is strong.<br />
<br />Happy remai(y)ning May!Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-43460425355844106602015-01-18T10:45:00.002+00:002015-01-18T10:45:54.516+00:00Becoming A Competent Knitter (in a year!)Lest I lose track of what great progress I've made in my knitting I'm going to document some of it here.<br />At the beginning of December 2013 I could knit only wonky rectangles. I asked for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/learn-to-knit-love-to-knit">Learn To Knit Love To Knit</a> for Christmas and had bought <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/how-to-knit-debbie-bliss">Debbie Bliss's How To Kni</a>t after borrowing it from the library. Over Christmas - my first one without coursework in four years - I spent lots of time curled up in chairs and sofas, teaching myself to knit in the round and to increase and decrease. After Christmas itself I embarked on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib">a pair of the armwarmers</a> from Learn To Knit Love To Knit, and two more pairs quickly followed for friends with January birthdays. (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib">Ravelry pattern page</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib-2">pair two</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib-3">pair three</a>)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpfpFPNWG1g5XYWenRXjYyj51eOXKR8mZxvvyneoqf6D_NhfZHSMTalzeH0L3OT8uXL_cvIJbenST64j_qbVMlHcjpQ3MnbaPjtuKVoe-7J-JCllKvCE5JDZfpK4l6Yu4ARv9jCetUZ7F/s1600/2014-01-02+20.27.15c.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="316" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pair #1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjzESfdbhYgU6PkaHcosCqGXXw_DGHXHMpNppY1MSgC4xVlVlU9Clo6B3caww-zOFCEQvMqNPbRyYBQQLEDpYEafVW58-WHvSL2D5KVaoWWsnsPdXI8k8T2SGC_ufFXPY4pVbioZSa55u/s1600/2014-01-27+22.10.13r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjzESfdbhYgU6PkaHcosCqGXXw_DGHXHMpNppY1MSgC4xVlVlU9Clo6B3caww-zOFCEQvMqNPbRyYBQQLEDpYEafVW58-WHvSL2D5KVaoWWsnsPdXI8k8T2SGC_ufFXPY4pVbioZSa55u/s1600/2014-01-27+22.10.13r.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pairs #2 & #3</td></tr>
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After this I was more confident that "real knitting" was just lots of little techniques joined up (like many apparently complex things). I had seen lots of Miette cardigans about on the internet (including <a href="http://lladybird.com/2012/07/10/completed-the-miette-cardigan/">Lladybird</a> and <a href="http://gksagenda.blogspot.co.uk/p/miette-knitalong.html">GKs Agenda's KAL</a>) but lacework seemed a bit much still - I wanted something plain but not a baggy, shapeless thing or a tiny shrug I'd never wear. Kristina of Little House By Hand posted about <a href="https://littlehomebyhand.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/why-buy-when-you-can-make-shapely-boyfriend-cardigan/">her Shapely Boyfriend cardigan</a> - her first knitted cardigan - and it was exactly what I wanted. The pattern is free and is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shapely-boyfriend">on Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEdf11/PATTboyfriend.php">on the Knitty website</a>.<br />
I bought my circular needles in Lidl (and they work fine for now, maybe I'll go deluxe and get interchangeable ones one day) and got to work on a tension swatch. I extended my tension swatch and tried out the increases and decreases plus a few practice buttonholes. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">My Ravelry notes</a> have more detail, but suffice to say I got gauge with my cheap 30% wool yarn (via eBay) and set off. The cardigan is knit top-down in the round so I was able to see it taking shape and try it on once the arms were off the rigid stitch holders.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14311804475" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="#mmmay14 Day 31: Going for broke on the last day of #memademay . Waitrose won't know what's hit it. by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 31: Going for broke on the last day of #memademay . Waitrose won't know what's hit it." height="400" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14311804475_3324697174_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I finished Shapely Boyfriend in mid-April and wore it *loads* during Me Made May - it was definitely a big factor in my being able to exceed my Me Made May target - this blue-grey really goes with everything. There are a couple of cons to this cardigan - the bust could do with being a little wider and the back drapes over my bum in an unflattering way - but it's still very wearable and I had an idea of how to deal with these in future makes.</div>
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After Shapely Boyfriend I still had an absolute tonne of the yarn I used so I thought I could safely try out Miette and not be wasting anything if it went wrong (there's my can't-have-nice-things instinct again). Again I swatched and practiced the increases and decreases (different ones) and got going very soon after finishing Shapely Boyfriend. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/miette">My Ravelry notes</a> document some of the difficulty I had forming the neckline (new technique) and counting right on the sleeves. I finished it on a rainy day in Cornwall. I was a little sick of it by that stage but I made a point of finishing it and it looked pretty cute with my navy truffle (now semi-retired due to fading).</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/miette" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Ruffle-less truffle & Miette"><img alt="Ruffle-less truffle & Miette" height="400" src="https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Camera%20Uploads/2014-07-30%2007.36.01.jpg?_subject_uid=21056659&w=AAAZOGpPBfTUBHvj6wp8J8rChOe-AbwyxLAW9Lfv4NTjQg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This Miette re-confirmed that cropped cardigans aren't a thing I wear a lot - they look really odd & unflattering with hip-level skirts, so this is reserved for wearing with dresses. My next Miette - and there will be more, the stitch pattern is lovely and the bust fit is great - will be a longer version with longer sleeves. The advantage of knitting such a popular pattern is that there are heaps of helpful Ravelry notes, tips, tutorials, and instructions on how to lengthen and adapt it. It's also convinced me that I ought to buy another Andi Satterlund pattern -the difficulty is deciding which!</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/miette" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Miette"><img alt="Miette" height="400" src="https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Camera%20Uploads/2014-07-20%2011.16.42.jpg?_subject_uid=21056659&w=AACQGEW_heDBJLfPx35p4AUquJMvR-f0sJQLYS3udturVg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I then embarked on a second Shapely Boyfriend, a shorter version. This version suffered a bit from lack of inspiration - I was more excited about sewing and socks - , the need to make Christmas and birthday presents, and my newfound gym habit. Shamefully <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend-2">I started the poor thing in July</a> and have not actually completed it yet. It's been awaiting buttons since mid-November but I don't have any that are quite right - I need to take it shopping with me! I used some very very cheap wool from a local Draper's and could have been more excited about the colour so I think that hasn't helped me get up the motivation to finish it.</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15873396291" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Three of my most recent complete projects - if you ignore the yarn tails & lack of buttons... #bpsewvember by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Three of my most recent complete projects - if you ignore the yarn tails & lack of buttons... #bpsewvember" height="400" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8616/15873396291_0187dc69a5_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The length is just about ok - I think I could have gone slightly longer. Once the buttons are on I'll be able to tell if it rolls up when done up - the ribbing might be a bit much for such a slopey part of my body. I don't think it looks toooo much like an overgrown bolero...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15612363678" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="4/5 days of black and white photos - knitting in low light. Tagging @llewsah if she'd like to join in by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="4/5 days of black and white photos - knitting in low light. Tagging @llewsah if she'd like to join in" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7483/15612363678_6ede069554_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raglan increases on the Shapely Boyfriend</td></tr>
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Next it was Christmas knitting time! This year, giftwise, I knitted one and sewed a few. This was probably about right in the end although I could have started the knitting earlier - I might have managed to get a completed photo of my sister's cowl that way! I made her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/gap-tastic-cowl">a variation</a> on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gap-tastic-cowl">the famous GAP-tastic cowl</a>. I searched all over for the right shade of H&M mustard, had a false start with some cotton DK from eBay, and eventually struck warm-toned gold in Wool in Bath. Wool is a nice little shop full of the kind of good quality wool that makes you want to buy it all and roll around in a big pile of yarn all day (as opposed to the apathy-inducing neon or pastel acrylic that does for yarn in some shops). Anyway, I bought King Cole Merino-blend aran and it's lovely. There was a slight *cough* design feature *cough* in the finished cowl - it ended up twisted round twice, but by the time I'd noticed it was too far along to go back and the whole thing is long enough that the twist just adds cose.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/gap-tastic-cowl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Mustard Cowl"><img alt="Mustard Cowl" height="400" src="https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Camera%20Uploads/2014-11-29%2022.33.04.jpg?_subject_uid=21056659&w=AABm_YnRXlOFBJxVEciiepkbQbknot1mpnVtHO6vChXfEw" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cose in the making, cose in the wearing</td></tr>
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So - that's all the knitted items I've completed. My current ongoing project (ignoring some crochet blankets that are languishing slightly) is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/basic-ribbed-socks">my first pair of socks</a>! I've been excited about these since I bought the yarn at Tiger in August but I only let myself cast on after the purply boyfriend was finished. They're Wise Hilda's Basic Ribbed Sock pattern - available <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-ribbed-socks">on Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://wisehilda.blogspot.com/2007/12/by-popular-demand-basic-ribbed-sock.html">on her website</a>.<br />I started off while sitting in bed with ice on my sprained ankle, got a good chunk done waiting for my x-ray, and started turning the heel over Christmas. I hate picking up stitches along edges so I've stalled a bit currently. I'm starting sharing lifts again this week so I should get some more knitting in soon. I don't know yet if they'll actually fit but since I don't really like wearing socks this was always more of an academic exercise. I just love the colourway of this yarn - maybe I should get some more and make a shawl? Not when I have a huge stash!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/basic-ribbed-socks" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="First sock!"><img alt="First sock!" height="400" src="https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Camera%20Uploads/2014-12-24%2023.22.38.jpg?_subject_uid=21056659&w=AADKY4Hj8i5q_VYrPSs1Qru4QGkfyHURpi8dq71HPj2f1Q" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark, but you get the idea</td></tr>
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Speaking of that stash I think I'll have a look at it and try to come up with some projects - I have a few in mind already, both for myself and for presents.<br /><br />Here's to another year of self-taught new skills, steady progress, lovely knitted things, and enjoyable knitting!Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-43291289665588871372015-01-10T12:28:00.000+00:002015-01-10T12:28:09.885+00:00Top 5s of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/22576189@N00/15343108663" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Top 5 2014 #sewingtop5 by Gillian Whitcombe, on Flickr"><img alt="Top 5 2014 #sewingtop5" height="320" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8599/15343108663_0fbe099154_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Oh yes! I'm very belatedly jumping on the bandwagon with <a href="https://craftingarainbow.wordpress.com/2014/12/06/announcing-the-top-5-of-2014-series/">Gillian's Sewing Top 5s</a> so I'm going to put everything into one post.</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15708236449" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My best make - no surprise. Its my TNT, my most worn work skirt - and my most instagrammed - and I need to make more in other colours. I had a very definite vision when I made this and I bought the fabric especially. I didn't expect to buy stretch cotton by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="My best make - no surprise. Its my TNT, my most worn work skirt - and my most instagrammed - and I need to make more in other colours. I had a very definite vision when I made this and I bought the fabric especially. I didn't expect to buy stretch cotton" height="400" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8679/15708236449_35e76c068d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Top 5 Hits:</b> What have you worn or loved the most? <br />
I'm going to put these into chronological order since my sewing really has moved on in leaps and things that were hits earlier in the year are no longer. I'm including knitting as well because I can.<br />
<b>1.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14354348964/">Navy truffle</a> - my first completed wearable dress, the fit wasn't perfect and the fabric is crappy but I wore it to work quite a few times<br />
<b>2.</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">Shapely boyfriend</a> - my first completed knitted garment. It's been worn a LOT thanks to the simple shape and versatile colour. Since the yarn is nothing fancy it's looking a bit worn and bobbly but apart from that it's stood up to washing pretty well.<br />
<b>3.</b> Red stretch cotton skirt - has become a go-to garment. Slight stretch makes it super comfy - more so than my later black & white spotty skirt. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted and I made it. With pockets :-)<br />
<b>4.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14831232795/">Purple bird dress</a> - Fitting effort met forgiving fabric, resulting in a fun and comfy swooshy party dress.<br />
<b>5.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15667315301/">Black plantain</a> - First knit bands, flattering shape, soft fabric. Yes - I can make t-shirts!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15643993918" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Truffle, Truff, Truffou, Lilouffle - the road to decent fit is paved with muslins #bpsewvember by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Truffle, Truff, Truffou, Lilouffle - the road to decent fit is paved with muslins #bpsewvember" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5611/15643993918_d4efdef833_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Top 5 Misses:</b> What went wrong or never got worn?<br />
<b>1.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14311804475/">Coral truffle #1</a> - too big, too see-through but a good exercise and a high note to end Me Made May on<br />
<b>2.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14190505693/">Teal corduroy skirt </a>- fabric from hell was stretchy, slippy, moulty and the resulting skirt was strangely floppy. Worn a couple of times for MeMadeMay but barely ever since.<br />
<b>3.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14982873263/">Black & white spot skirt</a> - Cute but I really do need a full bum adjustment - the CB seam is stretching out. The fabric is fading a little too but at £6/m I can't really complain.<br />
<b>4.</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/miette">Miette cardigan</a> - really cute but I don't wear cropped cardigans, at least not in winter. I'll give it another chance this year and have plans to make a longer version.<br />
<b>5.</b> Dress muslins - so many odd ones. Wearable muslin of Lilou was a mess - it went through a stage of having strange fabric n*pples!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15637393430" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Fun - meeting other sewists at #NYlon2014 and being happy & comfy wearing things I made to friends' weddings #bpsewvember by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Fun - meeting other sewists at #NYlon2014 and being happy & comfy wearing things I made to friends' weddings #bpsewvember" height="400" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15637393430_53f181e0c3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Top 5 Highlights:</b> Tell us about 5 non-sewing highlights of your year!<br />
My sewing highlights are all my firsts - knits, dress, etc - , <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/me-made-may14-sign-up-here.html">Me Made May</a> (<a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/me-made-may-2014-part-1.html">part1</a>, <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/me-made-may-2014-part-2.html">part 2</a>), the <a href="http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/nylon2014-round-up.html">#NYLon2014</a> meet-up, and <a href="http://www.bimbleandpimble.com/everyone-vs-sewing-photo-a-day-challenge/">#bpSewvember</a>. I'm much better at <a href="http://instagram.com/dicho_hecho">Instagramming</a> than blogging...<br />
<b>1. </b>Celebrating friends getting married - two lovely couples had two lovely (and very different) weddings and I wore my purple bird dress to both. I also got to go on accompanying hen and stag weekends which were both experiences to remember. I fulfilled my goal of visiting a pop-up restaurant, learned to make fascinators, met friends-of-friends I'd heard so much about, and discovered the delights of padron peppers.<br />
<b>2. </b>Boy got a new job! One that means we're not planning to leave Bristol any time soon, mostly to our relief - I like the idea of living somewhere else for a bit but the reality scares me a bit. Hopefully having this more settled and the new job being more strictly 9-5 will mean we manage more adventures next year. He'll have some work trips which I probably can't/won't tag along with for the most part as they're more serious than academic conferences.<br />
<b>3.</b> We didn't know at the time, but we had what is probably our last Cornwall holiday in the cottage we usually go to. We felt like we'd "done" Cornwall pretty thoroughly but there's always more! We finally tracked down Botallack mines and the image of St Agnes from all the postcards. Our plans for this year aren't formed yet but we've thrown around ideas including: find another Cornwall cottage to rent, try Norfolk, drive around Scotland, go somewhere warm.<br />
<b>4.</b> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15112673234/">Stockholm</a> & Norfolk - two rather different but exciting holidays with friends. A weekend walking around Stockholm, enjoying being somewhere new and different. I'd like to go back to Stockholm, probably in the summer. A weekend boating on the Norfolk Broads with a lovely group of friends. We somehow packed a lot into one weekend but also felt super-relaxed, <a href="http://riccywings.wordpress.com/">Erica</a> is an excellent hostess.<br />
<b>5.</b> Owning a car - This has made a lot of the above possible. I have been sharing lifts to the office and gained almost 2 hours a day by doing so. We took my car to Cornwall. I've been able to take off home/to Southampton/to Bath/to Norfolk/to London and be on my own terms. Christmas at home was much easier knowing I could escape when I wanted!<br />
<b>6.</b> Cheeky bonus which kind of incorporates number 5 - I did grown up things. I finally got registered at the dentist and had fillings done, I had an eye test and bought new glasses, I bought a car, I signed up to and went to the gym (though a sprained ankle has stopped me for a while). Now I need to make that smear test appointment... (all women in the UK are invited for one when they turn 25)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15829486635" title="Re-trying-on I conclude that this might be OK if I add width to the front. A good 4" but I hadn't FBA'd and have a big rib cage. Interestingly front length is almost right. Guessing I can widen the gathered edge, waistband, and skirt fairly simply... Mayb by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Re-trying-on I conclude that this might be OK if I add width to the front. A good 4" but I hadn't FBA'd and have a big rib cage. Interestingly front length is almost right. Guessing I can widen the gathered edge, waistband, and skirt fairly simply... Mayb" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15829486635_6d1972b803_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Top 5 Reflections:</b> Looking back, what have you learned about sewing or yourself?<br />
<b>1.</b> I already knew it, but I'm a self-impeding perfectionist. I definitely need a few fitting adjustments from standard-shaped patterns but I also need to let myself settle for "good enough". I don't want to waste/ruin my nice fabric by making something that won't be great from it so I'm in muslin limbo, forever thinking I need to make more muslins to get the fit better before I cut into good fabric.<br />
<b>2.</b> I've tried to give away stashed things that I won't realistically use for myself and have enjoyed doing so. I think that I maybe have a fear of things being wasted - it's much easier to give things (all things - clothes, mugs) to someone who I know needs them and/or genuinely is excited about using them than to just send them away to a charity shop or put them in the bin. I feel like if I don't know what's happening to something then it's being wasted and that is somehow very scary. At least I've found a way out of this.<br />
<b>3.</b> I'm not great at finishing stuff, but I've got better. Finding that balance between giving up in frustration and killing the fun by slogging on too long on something that isn't working is tricky. I've got a few UFOs and half-fitted patterns that need sorting out but for at least one of them (above) time and distance (and improved skill in the meanwhile) has showed me that it's not as bad as I thought.<br />
<b>4.</b> I'm not fearless, I just expect a lot of myself. I will merrily start trying to do a new technique and be annoyed with myself for not doing it well. This is stupid. I am not some kind of wonder seamstress. Some part of my brain expects me to be able to do everything I've heard of and I retain information well. I can give you tips on all sorts of things that stem from reading, not from experience. This is the wrong way around. I should go slowly and highlight new techniques to myself and practice them rather than steaming ahead and then getting frustrated when it doesn't work. Princess seams are a good illustration of this - I just tried to go for it. Nope.<br />
This is probably the reason for number 3 - if I've half ruined things it feels worse to fully ruin them than to just do nothing. This is also nonsensical.<br />
Gosh. That all got a bit heavy and psychological.<br />
<b>5.</b> My best projects have been the ones I've been excited about. I've stuck at them and enjoyed wearing them. If I'm not so bothered I lose interest while sewing and am more likely to give up when stuff goes wrong. If I have a clear vision and am excited about wearing an item I'm more likely to end up with something that I love. The red skirt is an example of this - I had a very clear idea, I went to Fabricland and bought specific fabric, and I've worn it loads despite the zip coming undone all the time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15692650881" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Technique: stabilising knit seams with ribbon for #bpsewvember #plantaintee instructions have you incorporate the ribbon in the seam (which I didn't get on with last time), Tilly's #sewingcoco has you apply the ribbon before sewing the seam, and Sewaholi by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Technique: stabilising knit seams with ribbon for #bpsewvember #plantaintee instructions have you incorporate the ribbon in the seam (which I didn't get on with last time), Tilly's #sewingcoco has you apply the ribbon before sewing the seam, and Sewaholi" height="400" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/15692650881_35eef15dd4_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Top 5 Goals:</b> What do you hope to achieve in 2015? <br />
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<b>1.</b> A <strike>nicely</strike> decently fitting bodice and skirt - possibly a block to compare to new patterns</div>
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<b>2.</b> Better stitching on knits. At the moment everything is stretching out a lot when I sew - maybe a walking foot would help? For now I'm just going very slowly.</div>
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<b>3.</b> Finish items, reduce UFO heap, reduce mending pile.</div>
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<b>4.</b> Use time well. I have lots of little pockets of time - 30mins or so - and I tend to slump on the sofa with crochet/knitting/internet rather than making concrete progress on a project. This should change.</div>
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<b>5.</b> Make things I'm excited about and enjoy the process. Stop setting myself mental deadlines. Boy always says I sound so unhappy when I'm sewing and it seems like it's always going wrong. This is supposed to be a hobby! I need to stop expecting perfection from myself and just make progress.</div>
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Thanks Gillian - this has been really interesting. I didn't know what I was going to write beforehand but it's really spilled out and I've learnt things :) I've also realised, as always, that I've done far more this year than I thought. Hurrah for that!</div>
I've really enjoyed reading everyone else's Top 5s over the past week or two.<br />
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<b>Happy 2015 and happy sewing!</b></div>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-71043039419852079052014-12-13T11:32:00.002+00:002014-12-13T11:32:37.958+00:00Wellington Pattern Pyramid Giveaway - winnerCongratulations <a href="https://disqus.com/by/elenaknits/">Elena Knits</a> - the random number generator picked you :-)<br />
Drop me an e-mail to dichohecho at gmail dot com with your postal address and I'll get them on their way!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ_ZNKNzpzHlt7wlHwnZY4Q5CVVsRgeYIXhaidFXDM5IOSic0dJe3C6-XA_LpkR4PifbyKAWCHWWuOd3IsKFFpPLJOk8kwJJ1cJo_uAXVlPrpNEDe6ku5Rg0aH7SRAcDx8tCk5yV-jc9m/s1600/Screenshot_2014-12-13-11-13-46~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZ_ZNKNzpzHlt7wlHwnZY4Q5CVVsRgeYIXhaidFXDM5IOSic0dJe3C6-XA_LpkR4PifbyKAWCHWWuOd3IsKFFpPLJOk8kwJJ1cJo_uAXVlPrpNEDe6ku5Rg0aH7SRAcDx8tCk5yV-jc9m/s1600/Screenshot_2014-12-13-11-13-46~2.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></a></div>
<br />Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-72314824962210211852014-11-30T21:38:00.001+00:002014-11-30T21:38:23.085+00:00Giveaway - Wellington Sewing Bloggers Pattern Pyramid<div dir="ltr">
A long long time ago I won a giveaway on <a href="http://macskakat.wordpress.com/">Kat's blog</a> which resulted in the <a href="http://macskakat.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/wellington-pattern-pyramids-go-live/">Wellington Pattern Pyramid</a> coming to the UK. What happened next wasn't so good -
I put up a giveaway post and no-one entered.</div>
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I still have those patterns and they really ought to go to a good home. Now we've reached the end of <a href="http://www.bimbleandpimble.com/everyone-vs-sewing-photo-a-day-challenge/">#bpsewvember</a>, the second anniversary of the Wellington Sewing Bloggers' Network, and the second anniversary of that giveaway fail it seems like the right time to try again. I've really enjoyed taking part in Sewvember - both thinking up my own interpretation of the daily themes, and seeing everyone else's. It's a lovely warm fuzzy feeling being part of something worldwide that's driven by enthusiasm for a shared hobby, and I'd like to think I contribute to this a bit.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDatJ9lnQvw1vFVZWQaDe51FtYMLDMjzT_w-jfR3SjL7PKHUk_by8votSuf3IULPyDrAefUSRBPHbYYrUPhIb49mnf0dwWF-rCtDNY2zxPokdE7sv75zO59GJ07DH-H1DLfAI8PkFwUxin/s1600/IMG_0901s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDatJ9lnQvw1vFVZWQaDe51FtYMLDMjzT_w-jfR3SjL7PKHUk_by8votSuf3IULPyDrAefUSRBPHbYYrUPhIb49mnf0dwWF-rCtDNY2zxPokdE7sv75zO59GJ07DH-H1DLfAI8PkFwUxin/s1600/IMG_0901s.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The patterns, as I recieved them (note I kept the top one)</td></tr>
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In case you're wondering what a pattern pyramid is - well - it's a sort of postal pass-the-parcel. The person at the top of the pyramid (Kat & the WBSN in this case) gives away a collection of vintage/second-hand patterns to one lucky winner, who gets to keep one and pass the rest on in the same manner. Scroll down to see details of the patterns I'm giving away. </div>
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The Pattern Pyramid rules (<a href="http://didyoumakethat.com/2012/06/22/pattern-pyramid-giveaway-launch-2/">after those devised by Karen of Didyoumakethat</a>):</div>
<ul>
<li>Anyone, anywhere in the world, can enter by <b>leaving a comment</b> on
this post by<b> midnight GMT on Sunday 7th December</b> but you must have
an active blog.</li>
<li>I will randomly select a winner, Person A, and post them the collection of 6 patterns.<br />
Person A will then pick one pattern to keep for themselves, then host
their own give-away They will randomly select a winner, post the
remaining patterns to Person B.</li>
<li>Person B will pick a pattern for themselves and promptly host their
own give-away and post the remaining patterns to the winner, Person C.
Person C will do the same and so on until there is a last pattern
winner…you get the idea.</li>
</ul>
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I've kept a pattern from the selection I received and, in penitence for my sins, I have replaced it with one from my stash. So - in celebration of Antipodean Sewcial Loveliness - if you'd like to receive this lovely bunch of patterns then just leave me a comment below.</div>
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Please give some way of contacting you in case you win. You don't need to follow me on any form of social media but the original pattern pyramid rules require that you have an active blog or site (anything with open-access commenting will do, I reckon).<br />
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Here are the goods - click through to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02">my Flickr</a> to see the envelope backs (I didn't want to swamp this post with photos!)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15916417015" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Simplicity 7219 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Simplicity 7219" height="640" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15916417015_4cbfb98886_c.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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Simplicity 7219 - perhaps you could showcase some special fabric and make something like <a href="http://sewaholic.net/behind-the-scenes-november-2014-including-preview-of-new-patterns/">Tasia's holiday top</a>? </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15730416859" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Butterick 3740 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Butterick 3740" height="640" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8667/15730416859_a7584caae8_c.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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Butterick 3740 - this has to be good value for (no) money. You too could have a jazzy vest, shirt, & slacks. </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15294189284" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Butterick 5693 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Butterick 5693" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7478/15294189284_74bb8989e8_c.jpg" width="600" /> </a></div>
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Butterick 4693 - 60s lovers, stop right here. Not just your usual A-line - we have pleats!</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15914479821" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Vogue 8654 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Vogue 8654" height="800" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8643/15914479821_70031f7510_c.jpg" width="600" /> </a></div>
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Vogue 8654 - A smart but cosy knit jacket, shame it's about 10" too small for me!</div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15729149740" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Simplicity 7433 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Simplicity 7433" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15729149740_9697b138b4_c.jpg" width="600" /> </a></div>
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Simplicity 7433 - seventies willowy glamour (<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/02/08/article-1354770-0033BAEA00000258-574_468x286.jpg">Margot from The Good Life?</a>) </div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/15729255798" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Butterick 3495 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="Butterick 3495" height="800" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7496/15729255798_dd4735a4f5_c.jpg" width="600" /> </a></div>
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Butterick 3495 (Nicole Miller) - I bought this for the hair. And the seaming. But mostly the hair. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Good luck! </span></div>
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Because <strike>Flickr is a pile of crap</strike> I can't log into my Flickr account on my laptop right now, I can't fix the rotation on the envelope backs :( Anyone else had trouble logging in recently? I'm fairly sure I've changed my password the last 4 times I logged in via a browser (app seems fine).</div>
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Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-91210679499953836082014-09-25T23:03:00.001+01:002014-09-30T21:46:32.014+01:0024 and a Half<p dir="ltr">I realised recently that although I haven't been doing a 25 Before 25 I have achieved a couple of things leftover from my 25 Before 23 & 24 and continued with lots of the things I did do.<br>
Some things I've really turned around - I'm looking after my teeth & exercising - but others I still struggle with e.g. reading books and cycling to Bath!<br>
I've also done extra things - buying a car being the most obvious :-)<br>
It's my half birthday around now so this seems like a good time to take stock.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b><i><u>25 Things</u></i></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Cycle to Bath </b>- Bicycle is in the garage awaiting repair<br>
<b>Visit</b><b> </b><b>K</b><b> </b><b>at</b><b> </b><b>RHUL</b> - I did this again<br>
<b>Make 5 items of clothing -</b> Since my birthday I've sewn three dresses, a skirt, a T-shirt, and a blouse which are wearable! I should really blog some of that.<br>
<b>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere </b><b>warm</b> - we went to Cornwall again and I've booked a weekend in Stockholm, which won't be warm.<br>
<b>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL </b>- Started some C++ courses at work<br>
<b>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month</b> - I'm calling my Pinterest food board the list and I've definitely been cooking more interestingly<br>
<b>Read twelve or more </b><b>books</b> - I finished The File but have yet to start anything new<br>
<b>Cut down my photo-uploading backlog</b> - needs more attention. And I need a new laptop!<br>
<b>Scrapbook</b> - Nope. Still.<br>
<b>Visit 5 new towns or </b><b>cities</b> - I went to Southampton, various bits of Norfolk, drove around Surrey, visited Kent...<br>
<b>Keep job/get good/become independent</b> - Still employed, feedback is good, and I'm pretty independent beyond liking company<br>
<b>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper </b><b>club</b> - just done and in style - my friend's stag do involved The Basement Galley serving us dinner in a tube carriage<br>
<b>Finish things</b> - Have seen projects to completion before starting new ones but what gets me stuck is when I don't know what I want to do. I need a clear vision.<br>
<b>Mend/</b><b>alter</b> - sewed button back on the duvet cover... Not really enough!<br>
<b>See </b><b>cousins</b> - there's been a family gathering<br>
<b>Go to a gig/film/... every </b><b>month</b> - not sure about every month but I've seen She Makes War twice and This Is The Kit and Jonathan Fuller<br>
<b>Walk lots</b> - Nope<br>
<b>Visit new cafés/things</b> - Discovered BaoWow, finally visited Friska at the Science Park, finally ate at Falafel King. <br>
<b>Do something creative every week</b> - Lots of knitting on the way to work, efforts to make clothes<br>
<b>Make an effort to go to things</b> - I have tried. Have driven many miles to do so<br>
<b>Learn to knit properly</b> - Finished Shapely Boyfriend, knitted Miette, started second shorter SB<br>
<b>Listen to the radio regularly</b> - Still lots of 6music, plus Radio 2 during lifts to work, JackFM for evening driving<br>
<b>Use stashes</b> - Have bought fabric but also made a fair few things. Brought beading and paper craft things from home so I can use them<br>
<b>Find a dentist & get teeth </b><b>fixed</b> - Done! Finally! Actually managed to find an NHS dentist so paid £50 for everything that needed doing (had been quoted £500 = half price privately last year). Didn't enjoy numb face & chewing ban, and added dentistry to the list of things that make me feel shakey and faint.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b><i>Before</i></b><b><i> 23</i></b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><u>25 </u><u>Things</u></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Finish my final project</b><br>
<b>Get a job</b> <br>
<b>Move to Bristol</b><br>
<b>Sew a dress</b><br>
<b>Make 10 of my recipe bookmarks / pins</b><br>
<b>Send parcels to far-away friends</b> - I sent a parcel to Southampton<br>
<b>Go to Southwold at least once</b><br>
<b>Get rid of my Flickr backlog</b><br>
<b>Get a grip on my finances </b>- this still needs to happen<br>
<b>S</b><b>ell my eBay pile, swap my swap </b><b>pile</b> - it's still here :-(<br>
<b>Mend & alter my mending & altering piles</b><br>
<b>Read a newspaper </b><b>regularly</b> - we live near Waitrose now so we get lots of free Guardians. I mostly read the G2 content online and tear recipes out of Cook<br>
<b>Weekend away by </b><b>train</b> - one just done, <u>one</u> in the near future<br>
<b>Buy good </b><b>shoes</b> - still need proper good ones<br>
<b>Crochet 3 items from stashed </b><b>wool</b> - haven't crocheted in a little while but made housewarming cat for a colleague<br>
<b>Get a new phone</b><br>
<b>Read 3 good/classic books</b><br>
<b>Print more photos</b><br>
<b>Watch 3 good/classic films</b><br>
<b>Exercise </b><b>regularly</b> - I've started going to the gym! I wasn't swimming often enough as the times didn't fit enough with life so I joined the gym. I've been 3-5 times a week for the past 3 weeks.<br>
<b>Scrapbook</b><br>
<b>Have a picnic</b> <br>
<b>Visit a city farm</b><br>
<b>Visit my sister at university</b><br>
<b>Cycle from Bristol to Bath</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">And then there are all the extra things I've done this year. Some are very ordinary but feel like milestones and great achievements in adulting:<br>
- bought a car, took car to garage for wheel bearing, got new tyres for car. Paid tax on car (no disc!)<br>
- took friends on road trips - drove to Norfolk and London<br>
- gave a training presentation<br>
- cooked fillet steak<br>
- Started going to the gym, run on purpose, enjoyed it, bought gym kit (including trainers I don't hate)<br>
- won the work bake-off outright for the first time<br>
- Knit whole cardigans<br>
- Sewed a blouse with buttons and buttonholes and a collar and gathering<br>
- seen schoolfriends I'd not seen in ages<br>
- helped build a kitchen for my friend's new business<br>
- been on my first hen do & celebrated friends' wedding. Camped in a garden with chickens and peacocks.<br>
- sewn bunting, a pincushion, and zippy pouches<br>
- weeded our garden<br>
- booked a holiday abroad<br>
- had an eye test & got new glasses<br>
- been on a stag do and eaten dinner on a tube train<br>
- had two mini university reunions<br>
- had more proper conversations on Twitter and met some more internet people IRL</p>
<p dir="ltr">It feels good to write all this down :-)</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd1i6SLvnVNHMDD7dl1HCrxwMBOxl0-yRKUhYa1Grb2hItf1ucbunrcdL459bcPuP0qXYKSsGjWanp4XLhxEJoSJaeMw4jy90YUQfwOd1jEj_ZTt6Zi0mnLqQjnc9ogTj2x00ZdsQFdEA/s1600/IMG_20140810_160827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd1i6SLvnVNHMDD7dl1HCrxwMBOxl0-yRKUhYa1Grb2hItf1ucbunrcdL459bcPuP0qXYKSsGjWanp4XLhxEJoSJaeMw4jy90YUQfwOd1jEj_ZTt6Zi0mnLqQjnc9ogTj2x00ZdsQFdEA/s640/IMG_20140810_160827.jpg"> </a> </div>Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-11236715860337495742014-06-12T22:57:00.001+01:002014-06-12T22:59:37.519+01:00Me Made May 2014 - Part 2It's (finally) time for installment two of Me Made May!<br />
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I'm glad I somehow talked myself into joining in with <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/me-made-may14-sign-up-here.html">Me Made May</a> this year - I thought I didn't have enough me-mades to do it at all properly but I really surprised myself. I also negatively surprised myself by only having two pairs of me-made earrings with me in Bristol and no non-broken necklaces. Next time I visit my parents I'll be bringing some back for sure.<br />
I pledged to wear handmade clothing at least once a week and I think it's fair to say I smashed that target. I tried to wear something - including accessories - as many days as I could. The challenge definitely made me wear more accessories - I don't normally think to put a brooch on (especially since my office is so informal) but I turned to them a few times during the month. No-one commented on my change of wardrobe so I think my fears of being obviously handmade (in the scruffy, negative sense) were proved unnecessary.<br />
Over all I really enjoyed having that little extra challenge in choosing what to wear, and the sense that I was part of something so big but so low profile (<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/01/me-made-may-meet-the-bloggers-who-sew-their-own-wardrobe">Guardian article</a> aside). It's like a very friendly secret club :)<br />
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Right, here's some more photos:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14207791985" title="#mmmay14 Day 17: Rosey Simplicity 9175 & tired post- fabric shopping face. Thankyou @houseofpinheiro for #NYlon2014 by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 17: Rosey Simplicity 9175 & tired post- fabric shopping face. Thankyou @houseofpinheiro for #NYlon2014" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2926/14207791985_4174f7a77c.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14029134660" title="#mmmay14 Day 18: Yellow felt flower at Ham House by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 18: Yellow felt flower at Ham House" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14029134660_5f24ae8c9d.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 17 & 18: What I wore for the epic day that was <a href="http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/nylon2014-round-up.html">#NYLon2014</a> - sadly I packed on a grey morning and was boiling in my navy cord skirt, opaque tights, & boots! Day 18 was spent exploring and picnic-ing at Ham House with my sister. The little yellow felt flower is a handmade brooch. The skirt is from a charity shop & I was considering refashioning it as it's all gathered at the front.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14199911916" title="#mmmay14 Day 19: Simplicity 2451 after a day at work - cotton sheeting is not a good skirt fabric by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 19: Simplicity 2451 after a day at work - cotton sheeting is not a good skirt fabric" height="320" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5275/14199911916_550cd1c35c.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14044620230" title="#mmmay14 Day 20: dinner at a friend's house in aid of charity with shapely boyfriend (and real boyfriend) by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 20: dinner at a friend's house in aid of charity with shapely boyfriend (and real boyfriend)" height="320" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14044620230_831d00ea07.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 19 & 20: The bloggers' favourite Simplicity 2451 skirt (cotton sheeting is not a good skirt fabric) and my good old <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">shapely boyfriend cardigan</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14065597668" title="#mmmay14 Day 23: shapely boyfriend again & another dress I'd like to copy by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 23: shapely boyfriend again & another dress I'd like to copy" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/14065597668_49572561a0.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14257389454" title="#mmmay14 Day 24: pocket hack NL 6154 skirt for rainy day domesticity by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 24: pocket hack NL 6154 skirt for rainy day domesticity" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14257389454_b2f2a0f2d4.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 23 & 24: Shapely boyfriend goes to work and NL6154-with-Simplicity-2451's-pockets for a day of domesticity<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14089968988" title="#mmmay14 Day 26: shapely boyfriend visits The American Museum by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 26: shapely boyfriend visits The American Museum" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2933/14089968988_6e0ba22ff5.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14099749590" title="#mmmay14 Day 27: Blue bead earrings for a sleepy work day & evening on the sofa installing a zip by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 27: Blue bead earrings for a sleepy work day & evening on the sofa installing a zip" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2934/14099749590_f3bdaee032.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 26 & 27: Shapely boyfriend visits <a href="http://americanmuseum.org/about-the-museum/current-exhibitions/kaffe-2014-the-colourful-world-of-kaffe-fassett/">The American Museum in Bath</a> to see <a href="http://becca-knithappens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/kaffe-fassett-does-colour-and-then-some.html">The Colourful World of Kaffe Fassett</a> and blue china bead earrings worn to work and for an evening sewing the lining down in my truffle wearable muslin.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14312475403" title="#mmmay14 Day 28: rosy top goes back to winter. It's a 40 denier kind of day :-( by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 28: rosy top goes back to winter. It's a 40 denier kind of day :-(" height="320" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/14312475403_dfd2648177.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14298843424" title="#mmmay14 Day 29: An uninspired outfit for an uninspiring day. New Look 6154 / Simplicity 2451 skirt by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 29: An uninspired outfit for an uninspiring day. New Look 6154 / Simplicity 2451 skirt" height="320" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/14298843424_cded51d2e4.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 28 & 29: Simplicity 9175 top and 6154/2451 hack skirt. Sleepy work days with dull weather. I think I used all my nice outfit brain on the first of these two days.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14326527653" title="#mmmay14 Day 30: purple feather earrings & my alma mater by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 30: purple feather earrings & my alma mater" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14326527653_5c6048c501.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14311804475" title="#mmmay14 Day 31: Going for broke on the last day of #memademay . Waitrose won't know what's hit it. by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 31: Going for broke on the last day of #memademay . Waitrose won't know what's hit it." height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2914/14311804475_3324697174.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 30 & 31: Purple feather earrings visit the Wills Memorial Building and my truffle muslin, shapely boyfriend, and lacy flower brooch visit Waitrose to send off Me Made May in style.<br />
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It looks like I managed 22 days out of 31 and wore 11 different items. I don't think I need to count to say that my shapely boyfriend cardi was my most worn item. Good thing I've got another cardigan in the works.<br />
The glaring (to me) omission is my navy <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/finished-new-look-6154.html">NL 6154</a> skirt which - due to a combination of it shrinking and me putting on weight - doesn't currently fit. Boohiss. I have taken up swimming though so hopefully that will help make up for the fact that I'm no longer getting the exercise of dashing between buses or walking to The Boy's house (now that we live in the same house :)).<br />
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The first installment can be found <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/me-made-may-2014-part-1.html">here</a> and on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/">my sewing Flickr account</a>.Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-24441868657959552472014-05-24T11:49:00.002+01:002014-05-24T11:50:44.927+01:00Me Made May 2014 - Part 1<br />
<i>"I, Sarah a.k.a. dichohecho, sign up as a participant of Me-Made-May '14. I
endeavour to wear clothing handmade by me at least one day every week
for the duration of May 2014.<br />I want to use and enjoy all my handmade items and will record progress on my blog and Instagram"</i><br />
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I signed up for <a href="http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/me-made-may14-sign-up-here.html">Me Made May</a>!<br />
I'd thought I didn't have enough Me-Made clothes to participate but then I decided that accessories can count - and I can commit to one day a week without stressing myself out. So far I've been way ahead of my target :)<br />
I must admit that I have had days where choosing what to wear has been difficult - but I have those anyway and it's very much a first world problem. Picking outfits based on a particular Me-Made item makes it easier in a way - it's easier to be creative within rules than be faced with infinite possibilities. I've also been accessorising with older me-made brooches and scarves that I haven't worn for a while. Early starts & rushing to make my lift means that accessories fall by the wayside so it's been nice to make a point of putting on a brooch or nice earrings.<br />
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Here's a round-up of the first half of the month in Instagram photos. You can see them in real time either on there - username dicho_hecho - or on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/">my sewing Flickr</a>. Both have proper captions.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14079167172" title="#memademay14 Day 1: Simplicity 9175 top by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#memademay14 Day 1: Simplicity 9175 top" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/14079167172_26ce21205c.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14086926082" title="#mmmay14 Day 2: Shapely boyfriend cardigan & rtw skirt I'd like to recreate by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 2: Shapely boyfriend cardigan & rtw skirt I'd like to recreate" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7180/14086926082_97bcdee15a.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 1 & 2 - starting with my most wearable items - rosy top from Simplicity 9175, a 70s dress pattern & my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">shapely boyfriend cardigan</a>. The top needs an FBA really.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14102089901" title="#mmmay14 Day 4: Rocket launch chic with paisley brooch by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 4: Rocket launch chic with paisley brooch" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/14102089901_023484e296.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14109544682" title="#mmmay14 Days 3 & 5: purply earrings by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Days 3 & 5: purply earrings" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2915/14109544682_a3cb6440f9.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 4 and 3 & 5 - paisley felt brooch and purple-y feather earrings. I was spurred into putting the earrings on new ear wires by the need for more wearable me-made items (the old ones had tarnished)<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/13941776997" title="#mmmay14 Day 7: Lace flower brooch, back in the office by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 7: Lace flower brooch, back in the office" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/13941776997_28730925a8.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/13953072299" title="#mmmay14 Day 8: Shapely boyfriend & a messy hall by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 8: Shapely boyfriend & a messy hall" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/13953072299_b5ef497935.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<br />
Days 7 & 8 - lacy flower brooch and shapely boyfriend again. The flower brooch is just a loop of lacy trim gathered into the middle. The scalloped edge looks conveniently like petals.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/13956579078" title="#mmmay14 Day 9: crocheted chevron cowl, sleepy face by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 9: crocheted chevron cowl, sleepy face" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/13956579078_d2b869d579.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14190505693" title="#mmmay14 Day 12: Simplicity 2451/New Look 6154 mash-up by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 12: Simplicity 2451/New Look 6154 mash-up" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14190505693_a6335b8b07.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 9 & 12 - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/grey-chevron-cowl">crochet chevron cowl</a> and teal cord New Look 6154 with Simplicity 2451 pockets. The skirt making was a bit of an ordeal involving poor fabric choice and cutting fail. I may blog it if I can bring myself to!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/13992248358" title="#mmmay14 Day 13: blue bead earrings by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 13: blue bead earrings" height="320" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/13992248358_0448e4448d.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/52630812@N02/14185930105" title="#mmmay14 Day 14: Shapely boyfriend & best charity shop finds by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="#mmmay14 Day 14: Shapely boyfriend & best charity shop finds" height="320" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7446/14185930105_b3547bf3c2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Days 13 & 14 - Blue bead earrings & shapely boyfriend. These earrings also got re-made which makes them feel a little less cheaty - they're just about as simple a make as you can get and still claim credit for :) <br />
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Right - that's enough for one post. I'm going to go and lurk the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/groups/2565815@N25/">Me Made May Flickr group</a>, see you there?Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-50410159433308598202014-03-30T17:37:00.002+01:002014-03-30T17:37:38.732+01:0025 Before 24 - Post-birthday Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/12977781555" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=". by Sarah, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="414" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3444/12977781555_7d468ed57b_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ut we've mostly been tired & eaten simple things. Getting reflective?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
March has brought sunshine and warm enough weather for breakfast in the garden at weekends. We've been enjoying seeing what's coming up - the previous tenants made an effort with the garden so we've had lots of daffodils, snowdrops and others already and there are plenty more things sprouting. We're still failing to win over our neighbours' cats - some run away, one just looks disinterested. I finally got around to shortening the curtains we bought a month or two ago and we've found some more pre-existing holes in the walls to hang things from so the sitting room is looking a bit more homely.<br />
I've done a bit of sewing and managed to watch The Great British Sewing Bee every week, but not made all that much progress on sewing things. We've both been quite tired and I've not cooked anywhere near as much as last month I think. We spent a couple of weekends mostly at home recovering from the week and straightening the house out, though we also escaped to <a href="http://instagram.com/p/lmtTehOU0C/">Tyntesfield</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/p/lS_neiuUxa/">Chew Valley Lake</a> for a change of scenery. Spending last weekend with my parents has left us struggling through mountains of washing up and laundry this week. Glamourous stuff.<br />I took the day off on my birthday and went off to Bath with vague ideas about drinking good coffee, visiting The Makery, and the magnolia trees in <a href="http://instagram.com/p/l-mcu-OU0w/">Queen Square</a> looking nice. I had a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/l-EHiBuU07/">very good flat white and some tasty cake</a> at Colonna & Small's but found that The Makery was closed for relocation. However I also found a quilting shop called Country Threads which was absolutely lined with lovely quilting cottons, including the mad Kaffe Fassett vegetable ones. I later found out that The American Museum in Bath has an exhibition about him on - good excuse for a return trip I reckon. I had a nice day of wandering around looking at things & came home in the evening to dinner cooked for me by Boy.<br />I think I'll post a proper finish up of my 25 Before 24 when I'm feeling a bit more awake.<br />
<br />
<b><u>25 Things</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Cycle to Bath </b>- Bicycle is now in Bristol! Need a helmet & lights.</li>
<li><b><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Make 5 items of clothing -</b> halfway through a modified <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/patterns/56333">New Look 6154</a><b> </b>skirt<b><br /></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL </b>- Knowledge of Perl & C++ slowly increasing</li>
<li><b>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month</b> - <a href="http://instagram.com/p/lm8AnKOU60/">Banana, oat, & chocolate muffins</a>, potato farls, chicken & ham pie</li>
<li><b>Read twelve or more books</b></li>
<li><b>Cut down my photo-uploading backlog</b> - Onto A35F roll 1</li>
<li><b>Scrapbook</b> - Nope</li>
<li><b>Visit 5 new towns or cities</b></li>
<li><b>Keep job/get good/become independent</b> - Enjoying being back in my normal problem solving role. Set an objective I'm actually interested in doing</li>
<li><b>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</b></li>
<li><b>Finish things</b> - Started & finished several new things</li>
<li><b>Mend/alter</b><b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>See cousins</b> </li>
<li><b>Go to a gig/film/... every month</b> -Saw Ellen & The Escapades and Stanley Brinks & The Wave Pictures + Freschard - both very good. Saw The Grand Budapest Hotel.</li>
<li><b>Walk lots</b> - Few evening excursions on foot, lots of rain</li>
<li><b>Visit new cafés/things</b> - had coffee at Colonna & Smalls in Bath, visited Small Bar and Turtle Bay on work outing, ate Thai at The Old Fishmarket, visited <a href="http://instagram.com/p/mD_p0KOU5-/">The Gallimaufry</a></li>
<li><b>Do something creative every week</b> - Lots of knitting on the way to work, bursts of sewing in evenings</li>
<li><b>Make an effort to go to things</b> - Plenty of evenings out with friends, a couple with work, and one with my parents, excursion to Weston-S-M despite train problems</li>
<li><b>Learn to knit properly</b> - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">Shapely Boyfriend cardigan</a> has one and a half arms</li>
<li><b>Listen to the radio regularly</b> - Still lots of 6music, plus Radio 2 during lifts to work</li>
<li><b>Use stashes</b> - Bought fabric on my birthday! Acquired more stash from my Great Aunt. Using up some on skirt & made a<a href="http://instagram.com/p/mLBEr4OU83/"> little zippy pouch</a> from stash.</li>
<li><b>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed </b></li>
</ol>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-39201014981142140162014-03-01T19:00:00.000+00:002014-03-01T21:51:06.434+00:0025 Before 24 - March Update<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/12754419563/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/12754419563_7f6576336c_c.jpg" height="428" width="640"></a>
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<br>
January merged dully into February and February slipped past slyly. It was definitely a busier month but with the same feeling of fighting the weather to get up the necessary oomph to get out and do things. I don't think I did too badly though. On the craft front at least it's been a productive month, with several projects making decent chunks of progress or being completed. There's also been a shift culinarily - not doing big shops has meant that I've instigated or brought together many more dinners, including ones that are less boy-style meat-veg-carb, and more adventurous concoctions and bits and pieces.<br>
Writing this post so soon after finishing off the last (very late one) has made it clear to me that I don't have much of a sense of how February has been. I could perhaps do with more slow thinking time. I think I've also been taking fewer phone photos. In some ways that's good - I've been less distracted by it - but also there are things I've already semi-forgotten or misplaced in my mental timeline. When did I have brunch with A&C? Was it late January or early February? I didn't take any photos or send the postcards I had meant to send that day. The physical act of writing the date might have cemented the mental connection.<br>I've generally not written to people as much as I should. I've managed to keep up with birthdays, I think, but I have at least one long letter to reply to. I no longer have several hours of bus time in which to think of these things. I'm getting through my RSS feeds much slower, and I'm not talking to my bus-riding colleagues so much (though one is away anyway). The flipside of all that is the increased time for craft and cooking and being at home with boy. I'm basically less social and thoughtful but creating more.<br>With some effort (in the direction of not just slumping on the sofa with my knitting) I'm sure I can even this back out. Knitting & cooking are the kinds of thing that I will always find time for - I have to eat anyway and knitting is very easy to pick up & put down - so it's the thinking more that needs some work. I think that working out how much free time I have when deciding what to do with it will lead to more variety and the more complex things getting done - less just starting knitting by instinct. That said, both <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pvmf6">Death In Paradise</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0165nj8">The Great British Sewing Bee</a> are on at the moment...<br>
<br>
<b><u>25 Things</u></b><br>
<br>
<ol>
<li><b>Cycle to Bath</b></li>
<li><b><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Make 5 items of clothing -</b> made a top from Simplicity 9175 (1970)<b><br></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL </b>- Had a presentation about Perl & reviewed some C++<b><br></b></li>
<li><b>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month</b> - Chocolate & blueberry scones, beef rendang, cornbread, pea & ham soup, chocolate tarts, cucumber and lime G&T</li>
<li><b>Read twelve or more books</b></li>
<li><b>Cut down my photo-uploading backlog</b> - On K1000 roll 6 now</li>
<li><b>Scrapbook</b> - Nope.</li>
<li><b>Visit 5 new towns or cities</b></li>
<li><b>Keep job/get good/become independent</b> - Changed the format of part of a big meeting & got more people talking which is a win :) Got very good annual feedback</li>
<li><b>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</b></li>
<li><b>Finish things</b> - Sewed up last pair of Learn To Knit Love To Knit wristwarmers. Made top from Simplicity 9175.</li>
<li><b>Mend/alter</b><b> </b>- added *more* things to my mending pile!<b><br></b></li>
<li><b>See cousins</b> </li>
<li><b>Go to a gig/film/... every month</b> -Saw Cate Le Bon at The Lantern. Very good and very loud!</li>
<li><b>Walk lots</b> - 9.5 mile walk round the downs, down through Clifton, round the harbour, to Sunday lunch at The Bank, then all the way home </li>
<li><b>Visit new cafés/things</b> -Went to Obento with friends, experienced the extended upstairs at Boston Tea Party on Park St</li>
<li><b>Do something creative every week</b> - So much knitting! And a bit of sewing too.</li>
<li><b>Make an effort to go to things</b> - Coffee with friends, colleague's birthday party, two weekend lunches, a pub visit, impromptu dinner with old old flatmate.</li>
<li><b>Learn to knit properly</b> - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/shapely-boyfriend">Shapely Boyfriend cardigan</a> is coming along nicely</li>
<li><b>Listen to the radio regularly</b> - Still lots of 6music, plus Radio 2 during lifts to work</li>
<li><b>Use stashes</b> - Bought wool for shapely boyfriend and red thread for curtains. Used stash fabric for top & made a couple of plans</li>
<li><b>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed </b></li>
</ol>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-18426930424515541252014-02-24T20:09:00.001+00:002014-02-24T20:41:13.046+00:0025 Before 24 - February Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/12444811753/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3690/12444811753_dbdfb6c777_c.jpg" height="421" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon there will be cherry blossom again, soon!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Laaaate. So very late. I think I'll blame the weather. We're nowhere near flooded up here on our hill, though Bristol harbour did overflow and necessitate a temporary flood defence down by the river. Mostly the weather meant spending most of the weekends indoors. After a fairly indulgent Christmas & new year, the boy and I have been feeling a bit fat and being cooped up inside hasn't helped with that!<br />
<br />
<b><u>25 Things</u></b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Cycle to Bath</b></li>
<li><b><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Make 5 items of clothing</b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL</b></li>
<li><b>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month</b> - Rocky road, teriyaki salmon, <a href="http://agirlcalledjack.com/2014/01/25/peanut-butter-hot-chocolate/">peanut butter hot chocolate</a>, taleggio risotto, pilau rice </li>
<li><b>Read twelve or more books</b></li>
<li><b>Cut down my photo-uploading backlog</b> - On K1000 roll 6 now</li>
<li><b>Scrapbook</b> - Nope. Session needed.</li>
<li><b>Visit 5 new towns or cities</b></li>
<li><b>Keep job/get good/become independent</b> - Changed the format of our daily meeting</li>
<li><b>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</b></li>
<li><b>Finish things</b> - 3 pairs of Learn To Knit Love To Knit wristwarmers. Sorted out muslin for Simplicity 9175</li>
<li><b>Mend/alter</b><b><br /></b></li>
<li><b>See cousins</b> </li>
<li><b>Go to a gig/film/... every month</b> - Saw Inside Llewyn Davis</li>
<li><b>Walk lots</b> - Couple of little wanderings at weekends but not much. </li>
<li><b>Visit new cafés/things</b> - </li>
<li><b>Do something creative every week</b> - Lots of knitting!</li>
<li><b>Make an effort to go to things</b> -Photo brunch, cinema trip, old flatmate's birthday party, had coffee with a friend</li>
<li><b>Learn to knit properly</b> - Going swimmingly, started warming up for a Shapely Boyfriend cardigan</li>
<li><b>Listen to the radio regularly</b> -Lots of 6music, plus Radio 2 during lifts to work</li>
<li><b>Use stashes</b> - Bought spotty chambray but made a few plans. </li>
<li><b>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed </b></li>
</ol>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-78669510764837014532014-01-30T23:25:00.004+00:002014-01-30T23:26:50.184+00:00Recently, Craftily<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlWZHlNjFDCJH2bjK3K9FsLODhVQ7AZ-iQFbn7fHCTZufsVcNNDFxTNhxTGNhLh-ODTVUVpdel46WAPVF9_t5zqKVivO4C0zKfmAS5fz6uQGu9-5lKcvALZ952yghJwbvv2Jek-zVOD4-/s1600/2013-12-07+20.32.10.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlWZHlNjFDCJH2bjK3K9FsLODhVQ7AZ-iQFbn7fHCTZufsVcNNDFxTNhxTGNhLh-ODTVUVpdel46WAPVF9_t5zqKVivO4C0zKfmAS5fz6uQGu9-5lKcvALZ952yghJwbvv2Jek-zVOD4-/s1600/2013-12-07+20.32.10.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Felt star Christmas decorations for friends - I'd left all my beads and sequins at home so I
had to improvise some embroidery. I still can't do french knots. I stuffed these with polyester stuffing & hung them on ribbon loops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzco19yon9z6SdHxeLw0fSdG6J5MH0UhTHtHkeNceUY5r3yaO9KClNAqe9vVQ0c-pf2XNo7aO2QdmWk7dIR4HzGzIjHEgDDAAntSRNZIzFd0SYXMWc6KSHZ75PRSmqjnP-3KHcJdUa8ldy/s1600/2013-12-10+22.51.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzco19yon9z6SdHxeLw0fSdG6J5MH0UhTHtHkeNceUY5r3yaO9KClNAqe9vVQ0c-pf2XNo7aO2QdmWk7dIR4HzGzIjHEgDDAAntSRNZIzFd0SYXMWc6KSHZ75PRSmqjnP-3KHcJdUa8ldy/s1600/2013-12-10+22.51.51.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I made a baby blanket for a colleague. I had it almost finished for ages but only got round to weaving the ends in and blocking it after the early arrival of said baby! It's lying on a bath-sheet-sized towel folded in half here. I wanted it to stay useable for a good few years so made it quite large.<br />
I started off with stash wool and purchased a few balls of white to make the blanket up to the size I wanted. I think the Peter Pan by Wendy was the nicest I used, the Hobbycraft bargain baby wool was nowhere near as soft and lovely. The whole thing is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/blanket-for-bean">on Ravelry here</a>. I'm not one for cooing over babies but I must admit that he looked very cute wrapped up & sleeping.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFBYrFGv5mDlZGtPhBoDZ8J0TcXwmLOW7aIBSCNiAT539BW2aIOdcwLHNDC-oDWmzfl-ITPEeGPEyYcedYCoSra2CtgHP5aBtae5IYtSpruD-s_pmAuRsN44wYjV6dFNpPpxCHehwWt0s/s1600/2013-12-13+08.10.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFBYrFGv5mDlZGtPhBoDZ8J0TcXwmLOW7aIBSCNiAT539BW2aIOdcwLHNDC-oDWmzfl-ITPEeGPEyYcedYCoSra2CtgHP5aBtae5IYtSpruD-s_pmAuRsN44wYjV6dFNpPpxCHehwWt0s/s1600/2013-12-13+08.10.47.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I started making a collection of little crochet stars out of scrap wool. Eventually I may have enough for some sort of garland.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOoHqc0GdAHz-v5nDfxqRzEdnaar88Ciz63CK_BUSzv1Mt7lM7AGpWkQC6ip3M18d_WQMgjQk9wkpP2NyekSvOE4PFiPhWLHQScmPy_Yvxo-lcNclf99zR1ebm_C-px1cXLOz6Rm0k7ud/s1600/2013-12-25+09.35.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOoHqc0GdAHz-v5nDfxqRzEdnaar88Ciz63CK_BUSzv1Mt7lM7AGpWkQC6ip3M18d_WQMgjQk9wkpP2NyekSvOE4PFiPhWLHQScmPy_Yvxo-lcNclf99zR1ebm_C-px1cXLOz6Rm0k7ud/s1600/2013-12-25+09.35.16.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
I was lucky enough to receive this beautifully presented parcel in the Sewists' Secret Santa... The card was only signed from Secret Santa so I don't know who was responsible! All I know is the postmark.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5kT95RUrM3J2SO7cGhC2bNAcku9K_lbafjBExSm5kycNQoyZGsSzSX-VzSVqfT6vEp0A70pfxRPNg33KwDLlPDAuXyuIJ3h_Trvgkl4Moc3iSxnF66rKGfVaWg3UqviKDp5SU0KPUed1/s1600/2013-12-25+09.38.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5kT95RUrM3J2SO7cGhC2bNAcku9K_lbafjBExSm5kycNQoyZGsSzSX-VzSVqfT6vEp0A70pfxRPNg33KwDLlPDAuXyuIJ3h_Trvgkl4Moc3iSxnF66rKGfVaWg3UqviKDp5SU0KPUed1/s1600/2013-12-25+09.38.10.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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And this is what was inside! Bravo Santa, such well chosen bits - I really love when someone unexpectedly gets it so right - not that I help much with my rather sparse blog.<br />
I'd been admiring Fashionarys from afar for a while so it was lovely to be indulged - I think it'll help me get my ideas down when I'm having a fit of inspiration as I tend to completely forget all my ideas completely. I wasn't sure what the giant button was at first and had an abortive attempt at using it as a kind of window sticker! Then I had a flash of inspiration and googled button coaster. If this isn't what it's meant to be, I'm very sorry but it does a good job :)</div>
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I'd like to thank <a href="http://www.akraftykat.co.uk/">Kat</a> very very much for organising this swap - I'm looking forward to being involved in more, and hopefully being far better at my part of the bargain. I have not seen yet if my Santee has received her parcel - it was going right round the world and I sent it shamefully late :-(</div>
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On Christmas day I decided to teach myself to knit in the round using dpns. The perfect willfully lazy winter afternoon activity. This was my first attempt and it only bloody worked! </div>
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I followed instructions in How To Knit by Debbie Bliss which I find to be a pretty good book for learning knitting generally. I kept going and eventually decided to experiment with decreasing every 4th & 5th stitch, resulting in an interestingly pointy little hat. Currently it belongs to a toy dog as I don't know any children of the right sort of age.</div>
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This is my first pair of Wristwarmers from Learn To Knit Love To Knit, as recommended by <a href="http://magpiemimi.blogspot.co.uk/">Magpie Mimi</a>. For this first pair I naughtily used the same sized needles throughout so my rib is a little *too* stretchy. My mattress stitch is not the prettiest either but practice will help. They're <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib">on Ravelry here</a>.<br />
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Speaking of which, I'm already on my third pair of LTKLTK wrist warmers. I obeyed the needle instructions for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib-2">second minty pair</a> and also changed colours for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dichohecho/wristwarmers-with-contrast-rib-3">the third</a>. These two sets are presents. The pink & brown ones are waiting to be sewn up (and washed after an unfortunate beer incident).</div>
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I've been enjoying spending cold wet weekend afternoons (and some evenings) in my craft room(!) arranging things and making plans. I found that this little cabinet - which came from a jam gift set - is the perfect size for holding reels of cotton. I've recently inherited quite a few from a friend's aunt. Some of it is labelled quilting cotton so I need to look that up - I imagine it might be stronger and thicker than normal thread and possibly too thick for dressmaking?<br />
I've also been through my whole (far too large) collection of crochet hooks selected the sizes I didn't have from among the inherited lot. Now I'm in the process of giving away the rest & have had quite a bit of interest from friends.</div>
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And this is what I've been doing on the sewing front. Simplicity 9175 is an A-line shift dress pattern from 1970. I picked up the pattern at the <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/raiding-rag-market.html">sewists' meet in Birmingham back in June</a>, right at the end of the swap after having initially thought that there was no way a vintage single sized pattern would be big enough. But it is! To my inexperienced eyes the bust on my toile is nigh on perfect.<br />
The hips were another story (as you'd see if you follow me on Instagram) and I thought I'd have to do some drastic re-drafting to make it work. However I tried taking out the side and centre back seams by 1/4", curving out gently from below the ends of the french darts, et voilá! Suddenly all was well. I was amazed by how much difference this made. I have a slight suspicion I may have stretched the fabric when trying it on, but I intend for my first real version to be made of the leftover cheap navy cotton from for <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/finished-new-look-6154.html">New Look 6154</a>. I've re-pre-washed it so hopefully its shrinky tendencies have been tamed now.</div>
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Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-78014212001946998462014-01-29T17:00:00.000+00:002014-01-29T17:00:00.544+00:00Lytes Cary: Hedgerow, Riverbank & Woodland<br />
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A long-delayed sequel to my <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/lytes-cary.html">Lytes Cary post</a>, these are some photos from outside of the formal gardens. Boy and I took the path down to the River Cary, walked alongside it a little, and then found our way back along some field edges and through a lovely little bit of wood.<br />
Since it was quite late in the afternoon by this point we had the place to ourselves and there was some lovely late afternoon sun lighting up the trees and berries.<br />
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I meant to post this in late December but there was some kind of Flickr
stupidness with the photo sharing code becoming iframes. I've got my good old
html img tags back now so it's all playing nicely with blogger and
mobile browsers again.<br />
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By the time we got back to the house it was definitely late late afternoon and the sun had become low and lovely. It did make it quite hard to walk across this very lumpy field, but it was pretty all the same :)<br />
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Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-20232577684221532632014-01-17T22:01:00.004+00:002014-01-17T22:01:43.041+00:0025 Before 24 - January Update<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2644839989928615071" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2644839989928615071" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2644839989928615071" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7308/11382271716_fa71f11a7f_c_d.jpg" height="428" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-rant-</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Something is buggered with my post editing - the text keeps jumping around and becoming indented randomly. This wasn't happening on the last post I edited so I assume it's something to do with having copy & pasted some bullet points, or the continuous re-interpretation of the html that's going on.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">On the plus side I've managed to get rid of the Flickr "iframe" thing by effectively writing my own html - they'd replaced the old img tags with iframe ones which used a different photo source url on top of being bloody annoying. I can at least arrange my photos how I like from Blogger again, but it makes photo posts much slower having to re-write html for each photo rather than simply grabbing it already done from the Flickr photo page.</span><br />
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Oh dear, I can see why I gave up on writing this post. Anyway, December was... busy. Finishing moving, various birthdays, and Christmas. I thought going home for Christmas might be relaxing... nope. There was something familyish to do every day - no sitting about doing nothing like I'd have liked. I did see various family members and survive all of my immediate family living together for a few days fairly happily so that was a plus. Coming back to Bristol afterwards wasn't hard (apart from missing a coffee date with friends) and I had a slightly surreal single day of working from home before a very home-based NYE.<br />
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<b><u>25 Things</u></b><br />
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<ol>
<li><b>Cycle to Bath</b></li>
<li><b><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Make 5 items of clothing</b></li>
<li><b><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike></b></li>
<li><b>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL</b> - C++ looking more useful</li>
<li><b>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month</b> - oven-baked pilau rice! Vegan cake - my apple/carrot/banana cake but with flax seeds - which came joint 2nd in the office bake-off. I sabbotaged myself by voting for the winning entry. Too honest! I also made N a birthday cake - it was a recipe I'd made before but never with proper butter or actual ganache. Ganache is surprisingly easy!</li>
<li><b>Read twelve or more books</b></li>
<li><b>Cut down my photo-uploading backlog</b> - On K1000 roll 5 now</li>
<li><b>Scrapbook</b> - Nope. Session needed.</li>
<li><b>Visit 5 new towns or cities</b></li>
<li><b>Keep job/get good/become independent</b> - Scrum mastering going ok - definitely got the basics but still not keen on speaking to large groups or leading meetings. Have been working almost independently on a project for a month or so and am getting along ok despite self-doubt.</li>
<li><b>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</b></li>
<li><b>Finish things</b> - Finished the baby blanket and gave it to the baby! I've seen some very cute pictures of said baby using the blanket too. I also finished a bit of crosss stitch I've been working on since September.</li>
<li><b>Mend/alter</b></li>
<li><b>See cousins</b> - One set came round on Boxing Day & we did a secret santa :)</li>
<li><b>Go to a gig/film/... every month</b> - Went for supper at the Watershed but lamed out of cinema. Saw some surf/ska/funk at the bar where we met for Boy's birthday. Surf-style Norwegian Wood was pretty good.</li>
<li><b>Walk lots</b> - a few vague attempts but it's COLD. Went up & down the lane at home a couple of times and along a beach in Devon</li>
<li><b>Visit new cafés/things</b> - Work do took in The Hophouse and The Albion, neither of which I'd visited before. Visited the new Boston Tea Party up Gloucester Road and Grounded Café even further up. We also tried out the little café/Bistro in Henleaze with visiting friends and had a pretty good and reasonably priced brunch.</li>
<li><b>Do something creative every week</b> - Further bus crochet on the baby blanket, some embroidered felt stars for Christmas presents, little crocheted stars, a (wonkily) quilted stocking for Boy, a funny red accidental hat to teach me to knit in the round with double pointed needles (dpns), and the start of a pair of wristwarmers for myself.</li>
<li><b>Make an effort to go to things</b> - Several coffees with groups of friends, work Christmas do, a birthday evening I organised for Boy, pre-cinema dinner (even if I didn't stay for the cinema part), Christmas dinner with school friends, an afternoon Christmassing at a friend's house, coffee with old flatmate.</li>
<li><b>Learn to knit properly</b> - Definitely getting somewhere! Managed to teach myself to use dpns from <i>How To Knit</i> by Debbie Bliss and started on some wristwarmers from <i>Learn To Knit Love To Knit</i> by Anna Wilkinson (a Christmas present)</li>
<li><b>Listen to the radio regularly</b> - Boy generally has it on in the evenings so yes!</li>
<li><b>Use stashes</b> - Bought new fabric for Boy's stocking but otherwise everything I've made has been from my stash.</li>
<li><b>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed </b></li>
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Going back over this list I'm quite impressed with what I managed to cram into December. January is feeling a bit tired and full of nothing, perhaps I'll get started on this month's list early to try and encourage myself. I might do a round up of everything I made last year too - I genuinely have no idea what my craft output is. I feel like it's pretty low but could be entirely wrong.<br />I've been rather inspired to do some kind of year summary by all the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22576189@N00/11384379103/">Top 5s</a> I've been seeing - Gillian has some excellent ideas, including the <a href="http://sewcialists.wordpress.com/">sewcialists blog</a>.<br /><ol>
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Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-86131340102474750212013-12-27T16:58:00.001+00:002013-12-27T17:01:08.883+00:0025 Before 24 - December Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/10677376114/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snowdops by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="Snowdops" height="421" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/10677376114_235aee538b_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrops in Royal Fort Gardens</td></tr>
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Late again - but I'm all moved in with Boy now. We got all our stuff into the house pretty quickly and unpacked but have been rather exhausted by keeping all the normal things together on top of that. We were both rather looking forward to some quiet time together in the house to enjoy each other's company but busyness has held that off 'til after Christmas. Boy's birthday is just before Christmas too so I was gearing up for that.<br />
We've not made any new year plans so hopefully it'll be a quiet one spent with some good friends, some wine, and the contents of our <strike>salad</strike> cheese drawer.<br />
As ever I'd like to blog more regularly - I think reminding myself that I do make and do interesting "blog-worthy" things is part of the struggle. Now I have a craft room I shall hopefully be more organised in my making and not have unfinished projects lying about. <br />
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<u>25 Things</u><br />
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1. Cycle to Bath - Now have a garage but it's full of car things so no space for bike yet...<br />
2. <strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike><br />
3. <strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike><br />
4. Make 5 items of clothing - Craft room is set up & I have some lovely soft teal cord for another Simplicity 2451. It'll need lining though - new frontiers :s<br />
5. Go to <strike>Cornwall</strike> and/or somewhere warm - we've talked about a week in the warm in Jan/Feb<br />
6. Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL- Hmm<br />
7. Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month - Made a very fruity/vegetably cake twice over - once carrot, banana, apple, coconut & walnuts and once apple, banana, hazelnut & chocolate<br />
8. Read twelve or more books - Nope. All mine & boy's books are cohabiting merrily on proper bookshelves now<br />
9. Cut down my photo-uploading backlog - On roll 4 of K1000 photos<br />
10. Scrapbook - Did a little concerted scrapbooking just before I moved, currently just keeping bits together<br />
11. Visit 5 new towns or cities - Visited different parts of London to previously... Bethnal Green, Dalston & Goldhawk Road<br />
12. Keep job/get good/become independent - Finished the annoying thing. Now doing lots of copying & pasting. Have taken over scrum master duties which is more responsibility -> good<br />
13. Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club<br />
14. Finish things - UFOs are now dwelling in a box of shame<br />
15. Mend/alter - Did a little of this before moving, got a couple of things back into circulation<br />
16. See cousins - Failed to see any<br />
17. Go to a gig/film/... every month - Saw Cate Le Bon at Rise for free and Darren Hayman at The Vortex Jazz club in London. Both very good.<br />
18. Walk lots - Now closer to *a* bus stop, but a little way from a reliable one so walking there is a better option<br />
19. Visit new cafés/things - Went to The Breakfast Club in Shoreditch and Tap Coffee on Wardour Street in London. Both very good - I had bacon & banana french toast in the former, and good coffee and some kind of tasty cake in the latter.<br />
20. Do something creative every week - This got rather lost in all the moving and I've been feeling the want of some craft time<br />
21. Make an effort to go to things - Went to London! Saw a few friends who now live there<br />
22. Learn to knit properly - I have a pattern recommended and some wool in mind for arm-warmers<br />
23. Listen to the radio regularly - Boy's digital radio is often on in the evening<br />
24. Use stashes <br />
25. Find a dentist & get teeth fixed Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-23656385646724530022013-12-06T23:15:00.000+00:002013-12-06T23:15:21.367+00:0025 Before 24 - November Update<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/10542163046/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="425" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5545/10542163046_eb80406dc7_c.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<i>Edit: This was written quite a while ago but got stuck on my phone. For the sake of completeness I've not edited it. </i><br />
October was the month that boy & I found a house to move to together. We've been together almost four years now and with both of us having finished all the degrees we have planned and settled into jobs, now really did seem like the time.<br />
One of the hard parts of adapting to full time working and commuting has been not seeing him half as much as I had been used to. When I was a student, and then when I was unemployed, it was very easy to come past his office at lunch time and get a quick cuddle, or bring him lunch when he'd forgotten. Now I work a full day far outside the city centre that just isn't possible: I'm often too tired in the evening to think of going out again and too late to join him in the pub for long before we start wanting dinner and whatever else we had planned goes out of the window. We've joked that going out for dinner has replaced Photography as our shared hobby but it is rather too close to the truth.<br />
We've payed our Subject To Contract fees and deposits and all we have left to do now is to sign the contract and get the keys. It'll be nice to be together by default, and be able to take short breaks from our respective activities for a cuddle and a coffee instead of having to choose between getting stuff done and being together. Hopefully too we'll be able to get the domestic stuff out of the way and go for days out. We both do the majority of the housework in our current houses so that should only get easier!</div>
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25 Things<br />
1. Cycle to Bath<br />
2. Visit K at RHUL<br />
3. Go to a sewing meet<br />
4. Make 5 items of clothing - I seem to have started another instead of finishing anything<br />
5.Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm<br />
6. Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL- Writing teats & exercising my Perl skills again<br />
7. Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month - stir fry broccoli noodles, marinated pork & slaw, apple upside down cake<br />
8. Read twelve or more books - Inherited lots of books<br />
9. Cut down my photo-uploading backlog - Started on K1000 photos<br />
10. Scrapbook - Keep scraps with book but otherwise no progress<br />
11. Visit 5 new towns or cities - Had an evening drive to Portishead but didn't make it out of the car<br />
12. Keep job/get good/become independent - Been stuck on one thing for ages which is quite a downer, but also got pulled off it to help with an emergency<br />
13. Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club<br />
14. Finish things - Oops<br />
15. Mend/alter<br />
16. See cousins - going to London next week & will hopefully see some<br />
17. Go to a gig/film/... every month<br />
18. Walk lots<br />
19. Visit new cafés/things - Tried the little café near work and was pleasantly surprised<br />
20. Do something creative every week - Finished my bus crochet<br />
21. Make an effort to go to things - Been for dinner with friends after work, to a Photosoc social<br />
22. Learn to knit properly<br />
23. Listen to the radio regularly - Occasionally pop it on while cooking<br />
24. Use stashes - I have <u>plans</u><br />
25. Find a dentist & get teeth fixed </div>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-53748222737503203172013-10-13T15:22:00.002+01:002013-10-13T15:22:30.515+01:0025 Before 24 - October Update<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9995099534/" title="Plums by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="Plums" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7302/9995099534_e2384954b5_c.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Where did September go?! After our week in Cornwall I felt like I'd been away for ages which was lovely, but going back to getting up early wasn't so nice...<br />
I'm struggling to remember what I did during the rest of the month! The weekend we came back from Cornwall it seemed that everyone we know was in Bristol, including those who aren't usually. We both had a pretty busy weekend of coffees, dinners, and pub visits, both together and separately; I took a day trip and marvelled at the stock in my hometown's charity shops and had coffee with friends.<br />
Later in the month I visited my Grandmother with my sister, drove for the first time in six months, and got stuck into some gardening and cleaning. I think my remaining weekends were mostly spent resting and being domestic.<br />
<br />
<u>25 Things</u><br />
<ol>
<li>Cycle to Bath</li>
<li><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></li>
<li><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></li>
<li>Make 5 items of clothing - <i>All but skirt still half-made.</i></li>
<li><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike> </li>
<li>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL- <i>I should find out more about C++ as we could be doing more of it at work in the future </i></li>
<i>
</i>
<li>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month<i> - Made lemon & rocket risotto with baked salmon, tried a new way of making coffee, improvised a rather good apple tart.</i></li>
<li>Read twelve or more books - <i>Only got non-fiction from the library</i></li>
<li>Cut down my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/">photo-uploading</a> backlog - <span id="goog_774550404"></span><i>Digital 2012 is done! And ME Super film completely done</i></li>
<li>Scrapbook <i>- Stalled. Seems like a good rainy afternoon activity</i></li>
<li>Visit 5 new towns or cities - <i>Stopped off at Sainsbury's in Warwick but I don't think that counts...</i></li>
<li>Keep job/get good/become independent - <i>Started "tracking" i.e. taking a turn at fielding support e-mails</i></li>
<li>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</li>
<li>Finish things - <i>Still quite a few projects on the go but no more started...</i></li>
<li>Mend/alter - <i>Had a sewing & Big Fat Quiz evening with flatmate and mended a couple of things :)</i></li>
<li>See cousins</li>
<li>Go to a gig/film/... every month - <i>The Wave Pictures at The Louisiana and This Is The Kit at The Folk House, plus Rush (F1 film) at The Watershed</i></li>
<li>Walk lots - <i>Got off the bus a stop early several times</i></li>
<li>Visit new cafés/things - <i>4500 Miles From Delhi which was alright if a little more expensive than other curries, The Stable which was great fun - so many ciders!</i></li>
<li>Do something creative every week - <i>Lots more bus crochet</i></li>
<li>Make an effort to go to things - <i>Took my day trip home</i></li>
<li>Learn to knit properly<i><br /></i></li>
<li>Listen to the radio regularly </li>
<li>Use stashes - <i>Gained some more crafty things from a friend's Great Aunt. Oops.</i></li>
<li>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed - <i>Apparently the one near work is alright, may investigate that</i></li>
</ol>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-31704212592710103032013-09-29T10:37:00.001+01:002013-10-13T15:15:15.165+01:0025 Before 24 - September Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9761032552/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/9761032552_ae3e938f78_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Prior Park Landscape Garden in Bath last November</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oops. I've been meaning to write this post for weeks but somehow it's fallen by the wayside. Here it is anyway.<br />
Over the last month or so I've been on holiday, seen many different friends, watched the Balloon Fiesta Night Glow had a day on the Exmoor coast, caught the last day of the Laura Ashley exhibition with my Mum, been visited by my sister, and (joint-)won the charity bake-off at work!<br />
<br />
<u>25 Things</u><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Cycle to Bath</li>
<li><strike>Visit K at RHUL</strike></li>
<li><strike>Go to a sewing meet</strike></li>
<li>Make 5 items of clothing - <i>skirt, half-made Sonja, half-made Strawbetto</i></li>
<li><strike>Go to Cornwall and/or somewhere warm</strike> - <i>Cornwall again</i></li>
<li>Learn some Perl/Ruby/C++/SQL - <i>I'm picking up fragments of Perl as I go along</i></li>
<i>
</i>
<li>Keep a list of things to cook and make 2 new ones per month<i> - Cooked my first artichoke, made up patatas bravas, re-created <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/chicken-itame-or-spicy-coconutty-soupy.html">itame</a>, and experimented with overnight oats (meh)</i></li>
<li>Read twelve or more books - <i>Finished "Toast". Borrowed various non-fiction library books</i></li>
<li>Cut down my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/">photo-uploading</a> backlog - <span id="goog_774550404"></span><i>Almost finished<span id="goog_774550405"></span> with digital 2012! See above :)</i></li>
<li>Scrapbook - <i>Almost up-to-date</i></li>
<li>Visit 5 new towns or cities</li>
<li>Keep job/get good/become independent - <i>Started doing more complex code reviews</i></li>
<li>Go to a pop-up restaurant or supper club</li>
<li>Finish things - <i>I've ripped the Sonja muslin apart again... it just needs re-cutting & constructing</i></li>
<li>Mend/alter</li>
<li>See cousins</li>
<li>Go to a gig/film/... every month - <i>No gigs but I saw the night glow at the balloon fiesta :)</i></li>
<li>Walk lots</li>
<li>Visit new cafés/things - <i>Two new cafés in Bath (Same Same But Different and one nearby whose name I don't remember), Topping & Co bookshop.</i></li>
<li>Do something creative every week - <i>I've been crocheting on the bus, productive commutes are pleasing</i></li>
<li>Make an effort to go to things - <i>walked to the balloon fiesta!</i></li>
<li>Learn to knit properly - <i>made a moss stitch headband... and stalled</i></li>
<li>Listen to the radio regularly - <i>listened at work some more</i></li>
<li>Use stashes - <i>started a baby blanket for a colleague</i></li>
<li>Find a dentist & get teeth fixed</li>
</ol>
Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-10336599552358759882013-08-29T22:39:00.000+01:002013-08-29T22:39:06.284+01:00Lytes Cary<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9615188889/" title="Apples by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="Apples" height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5324/9615188889_8388b06d6a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lytes-cary-manor/">Lytes Cary</a> is a lovely old National Trust property in South Somerset, just near the A370 & Somerton. Boy & I went last October when he came down to visit me. It was a very cold day but lovely and clear with sunny intervals and we were snug-ly wrapped up in coats & scarves. Of course we took full advantage of the sunshine and photographed the garden to within an inch of its life.<br />
We walked down to the River Cary too and through a really picturesque little wood - that might appear in a later post - but didn't make it into the house. I'd like to go back and see inside, and to see the garden in another season. I love autumn for its low warm sunshine, orangey brown leaves, and crisp edge, but most gardens really should be seen in May or so too :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9618449920/" title="Sundial by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="Sundial" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/9618449920_82b85dd810_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9618468432/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/9618468432_8c068ec3d4_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9618483794/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9618483794_6b4871f397_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9622510459/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9622510459_cfe920057f_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9622521373/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/9622521373_b73e433a7a_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9622543335/" title=". by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="." height="480" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5340/9622543335_b1cb454bd7_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-9178146099004146092013-08-11T22:25:00.001+01:002013-08-11T22:25:28.672+01:00Finished: New Look 6154<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9447656284/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6726cs by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6726cs" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7444/9447656284_f0b7f4d94e_b.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look like I'm about to jump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I made another skirt! A better one! After my <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/simplicity-2451-i-made-skirt.html">Simplicity 2451</a> turned out too big I knew I should go down at least one size. This is <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/56333">New Look 6154</a>, which I reasoned probably had the same sizing as the Simplicity skirt and in fact every pattern piece apart from the skirt front is suspiciously similar, although I haven't overlaid them to check yet. I added the first review on Pattern Review which surprised me, but then I suppose it's quite a basic pattern.<br />
I wanted to make a couple of adjustments, namely moving the centre back zip to the side, cutting the back on the fold, and lengthening the whole thing a couple of inches. I muslined it using a second-hand Ikea bedsheet and it was a good thing I did; I added extra seam allowance at the sides but forgot to take it off the back and ended up with a seam there anyway and a foldy mess on the yoke. Lesson learned.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9447657364/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6727cs by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6727cs" height="450" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7417/9447657364_252c802bf6_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know if the zip is this obvious without flash...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I sewed the skirt over the course of several evenings, but saved the zip insertion and hemming for the bus to work - time I can easily lose to gazing sleepily out of the window. This was intended as a very cake-y and work-appropriate garment - the summer equivalent to my favourite navy cord skirt.<br />
The final version is made of some medium-weight navy cotton from Fabricland which leeched an incredible amount of dye in the wash (even my very bleed-y pink & red bedsheets fell victim) and shrank a little. This, I thought, was fair enough - one is meant to pre-wash - what annoyed me though is that on the first wash after wearing as a completed garment it leeched still more (thankfully I remembered the colour catcher) and shrank more! The fit is no longer what you see above, instead it sits a bit higher and moves around annoyingly. I only washed it on 40! Boo and hiss. It also wrinkles a fair bit - these photos were taken after one day of office wear and half a bottle of cider.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9447658280/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6730s by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6730s" height="426" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3805/9447658280_28c315bbbb_b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Failing to show off my bias binding'd hem. Why yes, that is a mop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before the aforementioned laundry incident the skirt was very comfortable and just what I needed for work. I was even happy with my shirt tucked in. Next time (and there will be one, possibly with more of this fabric and the pockets from Simplicity 2451) I'll re-pre-wash the fabric and attempt a full bottom adjustment as I think I have a combination of that and sway-back. It's hard to tell from these exuberant photos but I don't think the side seam is quite vertical - at least it isn't now that the skirt has shrunk. Hmm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MC8RjkhOnuKU-JSv5VikB9DqQpmXYuXIUmgolzNqbFl4kBn0XF1T30g0l7WQf_1aqu06kxig_-k0Yc9cRiBiETYPFqRPiJcByBTXBU26csOKBGqhlQ0oMBdXGPNLL72c6ZECF2XJxkpw/s1600/2013-07-25+17.45.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MC8RjkhOnuKU-JSv5VikB9DqQpmXYuXIUmgolzNqbFl4kBn0XF1T30g0l7WQf_1aqu06kxig_-k0Yc9cRiBiETYPFqRPiJcByBTXBU26csOKBGqhlQ0oMBdXGPNLL72c6ZECF2XJxkpw/s640/2013-07-25+17.45.55.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Productive commuting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the yoke facing I used a scrap of fabric leftover from the time a misunderstanding led my Mum to shorten a new skirt of mine, thus ruining it - childhood trauma made good - and a scrap of purple bias binding from her collection at the hem. I didn't attempt any levelling on the hem, just turned it up a roughly even amount all the way around. The zip is one of my 10 for £1 from the Rag Market at the <a href="http://52weeksof.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/raiding-rag-market.html">Birmingham Sewists' meet</a>, put in by hand as I don't have a zip foot and find it reasonably simple to do. It's centred as that also seems like an easy option, but perhaps not so good for a side seam? I don't know if the light blue zip is so obvious in real life. I decided that laziness could be euphemised into stash busting and didn't bother buying a navy one.<br />
I had to re-sew the yoke facing around the top of the zip a few times as I'd got it caught up in various places which was annoying but not the end of the world. With a little more care it should be easier next time. I'm still not sure what the pattern instructions wanted me to do with the bottom of the yoke facing - it seemed to be telling me to zig-zag the edge and leave it - but I turned it under before stitching in the ditch, as you can see above.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dichohecho/9447660128/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="IMG_6731s by dichohecho, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6731s" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/9447660128_073547bfa5_b.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta da!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More straight-up details can be found <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/review/pattern/89265">over on pattern review</a>. <br />
<br />
These photos come courtesy of my friend Alice who invited various of our friends around for dinner that evening and cooked us tasty bruschetta, then goats cheese, polenta & spinach parcels with roasted veg, followed by an enormous banoffee pie. There was good food, good company, a cat, a garden, and beer, wine, & cider aplenty. It was a very good evening.Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2644839989928615071.post-2029604679339819532013-08-07T22:02:00.000+01:002013-08-10T22:36:52.380+01:00Chicken Itame, or Spicy Coconutty Soupy Noodles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6K0RGoUYqP_Dy3wWb9uMndvDrHbV38xyMCpN6sBZy6cggguvMs1EoklrIL0Cc6xEVS52eeQfSNUpVxQ8q3VF2XtoXs9WFAAM6ubOG6QjKtJ6EhmEkNAnL3BzRe191q_QIE2Mc58K3jg5/s1600/2013-08-07+20.33.51lc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6K0RGoUYqP_Dy3wWb9uMndvDrHbV38xyMCpN6sBZy6cggguvMs1EoklrIL0Cc6xEVS52eeQfSNUpVxQ8q3VF2XtoXs9WFAAM6ubOG6QjKtJ6EhmEkNAnL3BzRe191q_QIE2Mc58K3jg5/s640/2013-08-07+20.33.51lc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of my favourite things to eat at Wagamama is chicken itame - it's a very comforting hot, slightly spicy, yet refreshing bowl of noodles, vegetables and chicken in a spicy coconutty soup. You have to be quite careful while eating it that you don't drop noodles back into the bowl and splatter yourself with soup!<br />
Yesterday I borrowed the original Wagamama cookbook from the library. It didn't have the recipe for itame in but it inspired me to try and replicate it anyway. I googled a bit and found a couple of other replications (<a href="http://lorileysesh.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/wagamama-chicken-itame-recipe.html">here</a>, <a href="http://cookbook.myhighness.com/?p=70">here</a> and <a href="http://victoriamakes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/my-chicken-itame.html">here</a>) but, as usual, when it came to making I went off-road and improvised my own version. I ended up making it with roasted pork loin (also easy - I followed the packet instructions) as I couldn't work out where Morrison's had hidden the chicken section! My life is so hard.<br />
<br />
While googling I noticed that itame doesn't necessarily mean what you get in Wagamama - it seems to mean something like "stir" or "sauté" - and in fact it's something different in Australian Wagamama to in the UK.<br />
In the UK it's:<br />
"<span class="ProductDescriptionText" id="ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_ContentCentreColumn_ucItemSelectorContainer_rptProductItems_ctl07_ucItemSelector_lblProductDescription"><i>rice
noodles in a spicy green coconut and lemongrass soup topped with
stir-fried chicken, beansprouts, chillies, red and spring onions, bok
choi, peppers and mushrooms. garnished with coriander and lime</i>"</span><br />
While down under it's:<br />
"<i>succulent strips of chicken marinated in ginger, garlic and
lemongrass, stir-fried with red chillies, zucchini, broccoli, red
onions, mint, basil, coriander, ginger, garlic and chilli oil. served on
steamed jasmine rice and garnished with a wedge of lime</i>"<br />
There are definitely some elements the same, but it's interesting to see the difference - and good to know that looking for "chicken itame"won't necessarily get me what I expect. Now I've got my own recipe I don't have to worry about Wagamama taking it off the menu and never being able to have it again either :-)<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's my version:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Itame - or Spicy Coconutty Soupy Noodles</u> - for 2+</span><br />
<br />
I'm leaving this general (and almost veggie) as the way I made it the elements are assembled at the end, so any protein-y element isn't cooked along with the rest anyway. I think this is a fairly authentic (whatever that means) method, and has the effect of keeping all the different parts fresh and distinct rather than becoming a homogenous mush.<br />
There are lots of ingredients here but it's not complex at all. You can even prepare your protein beforehand and let the soup heat it up at the end.<br />
To go veggie, omit the fish sauce and check the packet of anything that has >1 ingredient. Dried mushrooms might help the depth of flavour in that case (do let me know if you try it).<br />
<br />
<u>You will need:</u><br />
<br />
Noodles - fresh ones that don't require much cooking<br />
Mild-flavoured oil (or something that goes, like sesame, just not strong olive)<br />
<br />
LOTS of coriander, chopped<br />
1 can coconut milk - I used low fat<br />
Half a stock cube - you could use a whole one but it doesn't need it<br />
Fish sauce - 4 tsp<br />
Soy sauce - 2 tsp<br />
Ginger - a small lump, grated<br />
Lemongrass - 2tsp of paste or equivalent (remove the sticks before eating if you have those!)<br />
Half a red chilli, chopped - or more if you like things spicy<br />
A pinch of basil and/or mint - I used dry but fresh would be far better<br />
One small red pepper, chopped<br />
Chinese greens, beansprouts, mange tout would all be good - I used green beans as that's what I had <br />
<br />
Spring onion, chopped<br />
More coriander, chopped<br />
Juice of one lime<br />
<br />
<u>Method:</u><br />
<br />
Boil the kettle. Empty your can of coconut milk into a pan, add another canful of boiled water (careful, it'll get hot), and the half stock cube, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, lemongrass, herbs, and chilli. Bring to the boil and simmer for ...a while. Maybe 15 minutes, you can't go too wrong here, just make sure the liquid doesn't boil off too much - you want enough for 2+ decent bowls.<br />
<br />
After that, heat some oil in a frying pan and stir fry your noodles (as it says on the packet). While heating your pan, add your pepper and other vegetables (but not the spring onion) to the soup. Leave any leaves quite late as they'll cook very quickly.<br />
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When you're ready to assemble it all, take the soup off the heat and stir in the lime juice. Put some noodles into your serving bowls, add the protein and spring onion, and pour over the soup. Garnish with coriander and enjoy.Dichohechohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14531475574269492154noreply@blogger.com0