May Chookshed Challenge.

In April I dipped out of the challenge as I couldn't make a decision about how I wanted to create the Japanese quilt. At present the panel is still in one piece but this won't last as I am in the process of finalising how I want to use the panel and also incorporate it with sashiko. As this process will involve some maths it will take me a little time to check my calculations before I make a start. This quilt will probably be started during my holiday at the end of May or in August. Speaking of August I must book my tickets for the Festival of Quilts.

For the May Chookshed challenge number 8 was drawn and my number 8 was to work on the Star Trek Enterprise Blueprint cross stitch. Below is a picture of the cross stitch pattern.  The pattern itself is printed on 12 sheets of A4.

As you can see I hadn't got very far as I was finding it hard to stitch on the black aida. New glasses prescription, the use of a hoop and good light has solved that little problem. Now all I need is time to get on with the project.

On Saturday afternoon I made a start to move this project on and as I stitched I found myself enjoying cross stitch again. My last big cross stitch project was the millennium sampler which I ended up hating to stitch because of all the fractional stitches. I eventually finished it 20 years after I started it. I received the sampler as a Christmas present December 1999 and started in the following January. Finally finished it in December 2020. It now has pride of place on the wall in the hall.

So back to Star Trek. Here is how far I got on Saturday. Sunday we spent the day with older daughter and family so no sewing of any sort was done. We did have a fabulous dinner with them and really enjoyed the day.

Today I carried on with scrap management. There is a Vlog I follow called, The Last Homely House which is based in Northumberland UK. It belongs to Kate Jackson. She quilts, knits, cooks, gardens, spins and a lot of other crafts. Her motto for this year is 'use what you have'.  She is using her scraps and stash to make quilts and other projects. I decided to have the same motto for this year, hence why I've pulled unfinished projects from my sewing cupboard and I'm slowly finishing them. I'm also using my scraps to create quilts that will be donated. I've already made some string blocks and more will be made. Today I worked on my two and half inch squares. I sewed them into 4 patches and then added  half square triangles to the sides. 

I still have a lot to add the half square triangles to. If they squares are plain colours they have a patterned half square triangle and if the squares are plain the half square triangles are patterned. Binding clips are so useful for clipping pieces together!

This evening I finished the first sleeve of my pink cardigan and cast on the second sleeve. Tomorrow is a new day and I need to check my work emails and then sewing time.  For now I need to head to bed. 

Take care

Lyndsey