Sewing for myself: the Sorbetto top from Colette Patterns

There are, of course, lots of free sewing patterns online, but one of the most popular must be the Sorbetto top from Colette Patterns. It's a simple loose-cut sleeveless top with two pattern pieces, bias binding around the neckline and armholes and a front pleat detail. It's supplied as a 'patchwork PDF' that you stick together to make the pattern. The instructions are easy to follow, the pattern pieces are easy to put together, and it's very quick to make. And here's my finished top.

Cooking shakshouka

I've been meaning to make shakshuka since I got Yotam Ottolenghi's book, 'Plenty'. It seems to have started a trend: I've seen this recipe or variations of it everywhere, from magazines to menus and everyone I know seems to eat it all the time. I exaggerate slightly. Finally I got round to it last weekend and although it takes a little longer than my normal breakfast to cook, we agreed it was well worth the wait. It's a delicious slow-cooked mix of spiced peppers and tomatoes with eggs broken into the pan.
See Yotam Ottolenghi's shakshuka recipe here

New Year craft resolutions

Finish what I start?
Not always as easily said as done. I like instant gratification and random inspiration, so I'm easily distracted.
Tidy my raw materials?
The yarn is in two wicker picnic baskets now. The sewing stuff is in my découpaged sewing box. However, the felt, ribbons and fabric scraps would be better off anywhere but the torn carrier bag that my OH got when he bought a coat in Florence last year... The jewellery findings are housed, as ever, in a wooden box that first contained Chinese bowls and spoons. I got it as a Christmas present about 25 years ago and later painted it red.
Learn how to crochet granny squares?
Ummm, I believe this was my resolution last year!

Next year's Christmas card designs

Merry Christmas - I know it's nearly New Year, but I'm planning ahead - this is next year's Christmas card! A coastal Christmas tree made of seaweed with whitish stones for lights/baubles and an odd fronded sponge-like plant/animal for a star on the top. Made in minutes on Deal beach on Christmas Day.

My OH was v keen to make our own cards this year but a last-minute trip shortly before Christmas knocked that on the head (along with a generously decorated Christmas tree and a wreath for the door - I got as far as buying the foam ring...)

Will they be finished by Christmas?

Currently racing to finish knitting a snood and a scarf for Christmas - they're presents. Last year I was casting off on Christmas morning - not recommended!

I had also started knitting garter-stitch dishcloths but the green string (Conran Shop) was v hard on the hands to work with so they're abandoned.

Somewhat more successful is the jingle-bell jewellery: I've made a few pairs of these earrings (photo courtesy of That's Not My Age) cos they take about a minute each. I also made jingle-bell rings for my friend's two daughters.

I've grown an aubergine!

It may be small but it's glossy and darkest purple. And tonight, it gets eaten, along with... one or two ripe red tomatoes. I haven't managed to get them to turn red naturally for years without resorting to windowsills, brown paper bags and bananas.

Gorgeous gooseberries

Who knew that gooseberries ever turned ruby-red and wine-dark? And sweet?! Not me, until the gooseberry bush had a bumper crop this year. I say bumper crop; last year there were about five berries... Perhaps being dug up and replanted was the TLC it needed, and I'm sure the weather helped. (This bowlful is just one picking.) And this lot made a gorgeous gooseberry fool with crème fraîche and a dash of elderflower cordial.