My first ever holiday sew!

Hello, hello!

We’ve been met with thunderstorms and heavy rains today!

But it gave me a chance to wear the first pair of socks I finished knitting here.😃

At the beginning of the week, we travelled to Porto and stayed there for 2 nights.

Our residence was in a really good spot. We were 2 minutes walking distance from the centre, but just out of the way of all the hustle and bustle.

On our way back to Lisbon, we stopped at Passadiços do Paiva which is such a gorgeous location. It had what felt like a million stairs and a wooden walkway all around the mountain.

We weren’t able to finish our walk for various reasons, so we would like to go back again next time when we have more time.

Back down in Lisbon we went to the Sintra area which is my old playground from my teenage years.

We walked from Sintra village all the way up to Pena Palace through a beautiful garden that for some reason I’d never walked through.

But it was nice showing my kids the places I used to hangout with my friends.

Other than this, we’ve been eating a lot!😅

Indulging in all the pastries, all-you-can-eat sushi’s and of course, the local cuisine too.

I don’t really want these holidays to finish, especially because my girls are loving it here, but on the other hand I am ready to go home and get back to our space.

Stitches of the Week

 

Tilly and The Buttons - Leah

It took a trip to Alentejo, a trip to Porto and a few days in Lisbon but I finished it!

Before I came, I cut all the pattern pieces, overlocked the edges and packed in 2 different coloured buttons, a blue and an orange one.

I ended up choosing the orange one.

The binding around the neck and armholes aren’t the neatest I have ever done.

I was in a rush to get it finished and worn the next day that I missed the fold of the binding in a few places.

Did I want to unpick and redo it? Yes!

But did I want to have a finished dress and wear it as soon as possible just to say I finished sewing a dress on holidays? Yes!!!😂

Having said this though, I finished it and it rainy, windy and lots of thunderstorms the next day, so it didn’t get worn anyway.😑

I still have a few more days left here so hopefully I can still wear it before we leave.

Materials: Cotton from Leon’s Fabrics

Size: Size 2

The Drama: Not so nice binding.😬

The Win: But at least I can wear it here still!

Summer Lee - Colourblocked Ribbed Socks from The Sock Project book

These are the first pair of socks I have not made a single mistake!😂

I counted properly, decreased evenly and picked up all my dropped stitches.

The striped colourwork is really pretty too, I like it more than I was expecting.

Making socks has made me realize that I don’t really like socks with a lot of colour changes in the yarn.

If it’s solid coloured stripes, but multiple colours, I like it more than a single yarn that does the colour changes as you go.

I think I like this colourway because pinks and purples are colours I’m really drawn to.

There is not much left to go on now. Maybe just below an inch for the foot and then the toe decreases.

I’ve still not managed to find a yarn shop with what I want. They either don’t stock what I want or are closed for the August holidays which is a pain.

Half of Portugal closes down during the month of August and this includes restaurantes too.🫠

This is just making me think what yarn am I going to use for my next pair because I’m only leaving here on Thursday.

On Monday/Tuesday I’m trying the last yarn shop here. They’ve been away on holidays and returned then, so fingers crossed I get something.

What I’m really looking for is not just solid coloured yarn, but Portuguese yarn, specifically Rosários 4, so let’s see.

Yarn: Hobbii Silly Socks - Exciting Acrobatics 05

Size: Started with an L and decreased to an M for the foot.

Needle Size: Cast on with 2.5mm, knit one row and transferred to 2.25mm for the rest.

The Win: Nearly finished with no drama at all!🥳

Maker Spotlight

 

This week’s spotlight goes to @jasmine.needle!

Andreia made this lovely Friday Pattern Company Sagebrush top! 😍

I love all the personal touches she put on it!

From the scalloped cuff to the cross-stitching on the sleeve and replacing the neck binding with a facing.

Plus the green and pink combo is one of my favourites!

I’ve made this pattern once before but something put me off it. If I ever decide to get back to it, I will definitely take inspiration from Andreia’s modifications.

Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make and a little about it, I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍

 

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Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
Bye for now, B! xx