I think I have issues with perfection.

OK those of you who have met me or possibly even those who have been reading this blog for more than three minutes need to stop laughing now.

I rooly trooly do think perfection and my expectations of attainment affect the crafting I do (not even going to look at wider aspects in my life).
I see the finished products I make and most of the time they bear little resemblance to the initial idea of what it will look like. Sometimes this is ok because different is not necessarily bad but usually it results in a big ugly mess that I can't fix and yet am unable to throw into the bin (viz Mrs Onion, her shopping bag and the London red bus cushion cover).

Poppy Treffry and those following her style in a flattering manner (sounds better than copiers right?) have aided me in seeing past the strictures of neat edges, french seams and straight lines laid down by Mrs Robinson and Mrs Heighway so many years ago but still I struggle. I know my limitations; I will never get sharp pointy triangles when sewing. Frankly I still get quite joyous when corners meet in an appropriate fashion!

This recent work with zips and bobbles has been useful in meeting my perfection expectation. While not quite professional or shop standard it all looks fairly good and so I went in to creating the pieces for the Snailblazer's Sample Swap (taking place here) on a high. So far so good but have still to attach the base into both the body and the lining. Let me just say though - zips! In circles!

I have been following 'Whip up's Month of mini-quilts' and am loving the designers being highlighted. These fabulously talented women could split wide the cracks laid by all these years hanging around the crafty blogoverse.

Blurry lace!

I opened 'The Cupboard' this weekend and it was brutal.

Once the tears and fainting fits passed I gently began to excavate with the kitchen broom.

There was A LOT of scrappy bits of paper, far more fabric than I remembered buying, pins, elastic, buttons, needles and machine bobbins. Woohoo! Bobbins!! This means I now have more than one. Yay!

There were drawings, books and pens. I found partners to many sad and lonely knitting needles sitting in the library bag. Can anyone remind me when I bought the pattern to the Amy Butler Weekender bag? I read the pattern yesterday over lunch. I am quite a little bit scared of it now. I think it may just be one of those patterns that just sits on the shelf and makes me look competent and capable.

While browsing the stalls with Maria at Ally Pally last year I bought some really fine yarn. In fact I think it is just sewing thread with an angora overcoat. The plan was to make a wide lace scarf. Simple lace you understand. It would be flimsy and fabulous yet warm and wonderful.

(This is not the pattern. But it IS lace. I can't do this one either.)

The pattern asks only simple things - K, K2tog, dbl y/o, P1.

I can do all of those.

I really really can.

But apparently NOT in the same row.

I have now ripped back the blurry lace pattern three times. I think I want to cry.

Do you think this is God's way of telling me I really shouldn't bother with housework???

Hmm.... perhaps not EVERYTHING!

You see how the strapline in the header reads 'Trash can do anything'? Well, last night I discovered I am a rubbish matchmaker! I tried my best but not only was I distinctly lacking in subtlety but she went home without any promise of future contact with the nice young man. Deep breath, big sigh and gentle headshake as do not wish head to explode from upsetting hangover.

But on a knitting front.... I have a success (if unfinished yet) in creating a scarf for the 13 y.o. tropical niece. Apparently she likes purple but Cashsoft? Their purple is better suited to small babies who have no choice in wearing it or little old ladies who wish to wear colours they smell of. Think Yardley's Lavender.

The pattern is adapted from one out of 'Quick Knitted Gifts' (I think title is right) and is a simple lace row interspersed btn garter stitch. They said use Kid Silk Haze but I don't love it so... I used a lovely Sirdar Acrylic Wool(30/70%)mix. The shade of purple makes me think of crushed blueberries and blackberries. I'm thinking with her snow blond hair and tropical tan it will make my gorgeous niece even beautifuller.


Update: The book is called 'Last Minute Gifts'. I came across a link to it on the Angry Chicken' Blog.