Un-idling My Hands

I would like to have a small pencil bag to take sketching, and I’ve been finding myself in the evening, fidgeting because I can’t concentrate on the complicated stuff and my crochet has fallen so far out of my head that I am contemplating pulling the whole lot out (most of one sock, from rib to the beginning of the toe) and starting again.

And yet I would like my hands not to be idle.

I’ve just taken a pair of side panels out of a skirt, so I’ve pressed one of those panels and drawn some rough fernlike curlicue things on the fabric in chalk – just freehand, nothing complex, no attempt at evenness, just a sense of balance and an all over pattern.

Then I went rummaging for a thread that would live happily on the fabric. This is quite a heavy thread on a cardboard spool, and I’ve not the vaguest idea where it came from. It varies from a very dark teal to a lighter version of the purple of the fabric, and it’s going well so far.

Strictly speaking that thread is on the heavy side for the fabric, and I may find that coming back to bite me, but for now, my little homage to the “Fernmania” that brought you the scrolls on custard creams is going well.

When I’ve done the whole length I will need to decide, do I line it with the other side panel or save that to make another bag with? Little drawstring bags are always useful, after all….