Today is the day!
The grand reveal!
No, not what’s in your parcels…
… but what Sophie looks like now she’s done.
First there was the construction of the blocking mat:
And then a lot of pinning and finagling, which was not photographed as it required lots of concentration.
Now she’s stretched out and slightly damp:
What do you think? Was she worth the effort?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on December 25, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/12/25/blocked/
This is my weekly post as I work through the yarn in my “collection” (not stash – thank you Sue). This week, again, there has only been Sophie. She’s nearly finished:
Next week, I’m hoping to show you her done (although probably not blocked) and to give you my thoughts on the project… both my personal feelings and some thoughts/advice to anyone considering making their own Sophie.
Because Sophie has consumed most of my creative time for the past six weeks, I now have a whole bunch of things that I want to make, but haven’t managed to get on with. So, in the coming months, look out for slippers, more wellie socks for Mr Snail, Norwegian socks, a neck-down jumper in the round, a warm snuggly jumper, a tea cosy, sea slugs and a cardigan.
Well, that’s my progress this week and plans for the future. What have you been up to? Have you got anything you are itching to make a start on?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on December 20, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/12/20/working-wednesday-12/
My weekly exercise in gratitude – three things that are making me smile – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog [or Twitter account or Facebook page or diary or life in general] with happiness.
First, snow and no snow. Here on the west coast of Wales, because of the influence of the Gulf Stream, we rarely see snow, so it’s a novelty when it falls – as it did on Sunday. However, I only like it when I don’t have to go anywhere (as was the case on Sunday and Monday) and I’m generally pleased to see the back of it. So, it’s been a good week, because it arrived, stayed for a few days and now it’s all gone.
The hens were not impressed and mostly refused to venture out.
Mags and Aliss were not keen
Second, being stuck indoors. The weather on Sunday kept me inside and it gave me the excuse to focus on sorting out parcels for some of my random acts of kindness (part of my 17 for 2017) as well as doing some sewing. Having not used my overlocker for several months it did take me ages to get it threaded and working at the right tension again, but it’s all systems go now.
Third, Sophie. I was too busy to post on my progress yesterday (I was doing some very short deadline editing); so, since she’s making me so happy, I thought I’d share my work today (not blocked, so a bit untidy).
I really like one section in particular – several rows of small stitches in different colours:
simple but lovely
I’m thinking that I might use some of the left-over wool to make something in this style once Sophie is done.
So, that’s some of what’s making me happy this week. How about you?
-oOo-
Emily of Nerd in the Brain originally created Three Things Thursday, but it’s now being hosted by Natalie of There She Goes.
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on December 14, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/12/14/three-things-thursday-14-december-2017/
This is my weekly post as I work through the yarn in my “collection” (not stash – thank you Sue). This week there has only been Sophie:
I’ve completed round 76, which means I’ve got 37 more to do (I originally thought there were more than 120, but unless I want to make it bigger, it’s actually 113). I’m determined to get it finished before the end of the year.
So, that’s my progress this week. What have you been up to?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on December 6, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/12/06/working-wednesday-11/
This is my weekly post as I work through the yarn in my “collection” (not stash – thank you Sue). This week there has been a little sock knitting; mostly undertaken in waiting rooms – dentist and optician.
Very slow progress on this
There’s also been another breast prosthesis – this combines knitting and crochet and I’ve used some organic cotton yarn that was given to me, I think, by ItwasJudith (thank you G.) over at Wee Story Book.
So much more comfortable than silicone
But mainly it’s been Sophie. She’s getting bigger and there’s now a row of flowers with leaves, plus the big flowers are nearly done on the “short sides” (which will soon be longer than the “long sides”, but that’s the terminology used in the pattern). I have not yet completed half of the rounds, so there’s load more work to do yet.
So, that’s my progress this week. What have you been up to?
And finally, please do take a moment to leave a comment on my 1001 post before the end of Friday (1 December 2017) so you can be entered into my give-away draw… no specific prize, it will be something tailored to you personally if I know you (come on regular posters, don’t be shy) or something that I think will make you smile if I don’t really know you (new readers also don’t be shy – random acts of kindness are especially rewarding when you don’t know the recipient).
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on November 29, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/11/29/working-wednesday-10/
This is my weekly post as I work through the yarn in my “collection” (not stash – thank you Sue). This week it’s only Sophie:
I have also started to put a bit of my stash into the secret Santa basket… I’m not going to photograph it, because I want it to be a surprise for the recipient. I can say, though, that it’s pure British wool.
So, that’s my progress this week. Have you completed any projects? Are you working on anything interesting?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on November 22, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/11/22/working-wednesday-9/
This is my weekly post as I work through the yarn in my “collection” (not stash – thank you Sue). In fact this week it mostly isn’t ‘stash’ because nearly all the wool that I worked with was bought relatively recently and for specific projects. Nevertheless, it’s nice to see wool from my store (however long it’s been there) becoming “things”.
I completed Mr Snail’s wellie socks and they have been inspected and approved by Sam. There’s enough yarn left over to make a matching hat, which I’ll get round to in due course…
I also make a quick pair of fingerless mittens (mentioned in last week’s Three Things Thursday), which I still haven’t delivered to the intended recipient.
I shared much of the work on “Sophie” on Sunday, but I have done more since then, when she was a circle. The corner flowers turned out to be rather complicated, with the work layered so that sometimes you work in front of previous stitches and sometimes behind. As a result, progress has been quite slow. The back (first and third pictures) is quite tidy, but gives an idea of the complexity.
It’s entirely possible that the whole month of November is going to be about Sophie, but I do have another knitted breast prosthesis to make and a pair of socks to finish, so there may be a little variety.
So, that’s my progress this week… and there was no blue in it! Have you completed any projects? Are you working on anything interesting?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on November 8, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/11/08/working-wednesday-8/
I had plans for this weekend – some clearing up in the garden, cleaning the interior of the limery and general outdoor sorting out. However, Saturday morning dawned with my nose running like a small stream and frequent fits of sneezing. Plus, outdoors it was raining.
So Mr Snail lit the fire and made me frequent cups of tea and I snuggled up on the sofa with a crochet hook, a box of wool and a pattern. You may remember some months ago I mentioned my plans to make a Sophie’s Universe blanket out of 100% British wool. At the time, I shared this preliminary picture:
all set to go
I had made a little start on the project on Friday night, so I began with this on Saturday morning:
part 1
By Saturday afternoon, I’d drunk a lot of tea and got this far…
progress
It was too dark to photograph my work when I went to bed, but before the light fades today, this is the current state of play:
part 3 completed
So, the garden may still be awaiting my attention, but I’m not so sneezy and I have had a very creative weekend.
-oOo-
The wool is a combination of Cambrian Mountains Wool, WoolyKnit Blue faced Leicester and West Yorkshire Spinners Bluefaced Leicester (yes Woolyknit write it as two words and WYS as one).
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on November 5, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/11/05/sneeze-along/
*three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog [or Twitter account or Facebook page or diary or life in general] with the happy*
Emily of Nerd in the Brain originally created Three Things Thursday, but it’s now being hosted by Natalie of There She Goes. Anyway, here are my three things this week…
First, a big cone of wool. Cambrian Mountains, 2.5kg.
I don’t think this does justice to its size!
Second, some little balls of wool. Various colours, all British. 50g each.
lovely colours… I chose them specially
Third, a new project. It’s called Sophie’s Universe and it’s going to be beautiful, and it’s going to be mine!
All that I need to get started
So, those are three things making me smile this week. What is making you happy?
Posted by The Snail of Happiness on June 15, 2017
https://thesnailofhappiness.com/2017/06/15/three-things-thursday-15-june-2017/
The Snail of Happiness 