Greetings dear Unravelers and Happy almost mid-month Wednesday!
I think that Saturday we will have mulch and (fingers crossed) a clothesline! I am most excited about both things, especially the mulch because maybe it will deter the damned weeds which are like they are on steroids with all this rain. If this weather continues, I am not sure how much a clothesline will be used… but I live in hope! Ha!
Okay… so first let’s start with a bit of Knitter Confession… that would be a confession to the knitting that has brought out all the swear-y type words this week. Apparently, duplicate stitch is not as easy as it sounds…. in fact, I could not do it. At. All. And, trust me… I tried and tried and looked at more YouTube videos hoping it would all “click”. It did not… but those swear-y type words… yeah… they flowed freely!
However… and because I wanted to remain in good graces with the Gnome in Progress… I moved on to Plan B: back stitching those four letters (plus an exclamation point!) I like how this looks better… okay, really??? In actuality, this was the sum extent of my adding letters later abilities! I do think it feels more ‘gnome-y’… at least that is what I am telling myself and dear Gniddy. Yes, Gniddy… big sister to little Gnoddy. (And for those who spin… you will find in these names the Gnome-ic version of a spinners friend the Niddy Noddy.) Gniddy is an avid gnitter… thus GNIT! You see, in Gnome-speak… it is gnitting that happens at the end of the day when they are gathered round to listen to stories, poems, and general gnome chatter. The sweater is done and I have begun the “body” finishing. I am seeing some lovely braids in Gniddy’s future… stay tuned!
The Big Reveal for this week is my finished 100 Day Stitch Book! I vacillated back and forth on finished edges and raw edges… decided on finished edges and then changed course when I sat down to sew. I decided in that moment on unfinished, raw edges… and I really like how it looks. I seamed the binding side, tuned and pressed and then sewed a scant 1/4 inch around the edges to hold the pages together. The stitches are almost invisible and I like that. I did not have any “suitable” binding cord, so I ordered some navy perle cotton (size 8 if you are wondering) and I cut 5 – 30″ lengths. I marked each page for stitching and began. It was a bit “fiddly” as you do each page, one by one… but I really love how this binding lays flat and does not need to be fussed with.
I have several reading finishes to share with you all… so I am going to do that – in depth – on Friday!
What about you all? What are you exceedingly proud of this week?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below!
I think Gniddy’s sweater is perfect and I look forward to seeing her braids in the future. And your stitch book is wondrous! I think we’ve seen most of those pages but their impact is intensified seeing them side-by-side in double pages. The binding is really neat and lovely. I could look at those pages and the fabric you chose many, many times. That is a wonderful project and you should be proud!
I love your solution and it is completely appropriate for the garment and it’s wearer 😊
Oh Kat!!! Your Stitch Book is marvelous – such a gem and so beautiful. You did a wonderful job on the binding (which would have had me singing a song of swear words…). Well done you. So nice to see it all put together.
And Gniddy looks so cute in her personalized sweater. Can’t wait to see her braids. I wonder if she will attempt to teach her little sibling to gnit?
I am looking forward to hearing about your reading for the week. See you Friday!
“Gnit!” is perfect. I am so impressed by your artistry — I do not have the patience or skill to execute handcrafts like this!
I must say the g’names for your new gnomes are simply g’narvellous.
I wonder if Gniddy will be able to teach Gnoddy how to make gnots – Gnomes are clever little things so i bet if she can gnit I’m sure she can gnot……and make macrame hangers
Your stitch book is masterful. I noticed lots of applique in the pages. You must be getting quite good at the technique.
Thanks for posting the video
Gniddy’s sweater is perfection! And I love the combination of Gniddy and Gnoddy (yes, I see what you did there)! Thank you for making the video to show us your stitch book. The photos are always lovely, but seeing it “in use” really shows it off so much better. You should be exceedingly proud of it!
I wish I could backstitch as nicely as you do!! Loved the video!! you are so so so talented 🙂
The stitch book is just lovely. What an inspiration. I love the juxtaposition of designs on a page spread and the binding looks great. I have used pearl cotton to sew together chap books of my poems and it works well. Gniddy and Gnoddy – how fun is this pair. I look forward to seeing them finished – side by side.
For what it’s worth, I can’t duplicate stitch either! And I think the sweater looks perfect with the way you added the letters. Your stitch book is amazing, you should be REALLY VERY PROUD of it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the stitch book, Kat. And I think the unfinished edges are just right. I have duplicate-stitched . . . once. It took FOREVER and it looked like crap and I will never do it again. Your solution is perfect!