I’ve often mentioned how I usually have a little sewing project in my handbag for those opportune free moments to do a little stitching, such as Doctors waiting rooms, teashops etc. I even made myself a pretty sewing wallet to keep everything safe in. It may take up a bit of room in my bag but yesterday proved why it is worth it!

I work two days a week in the centre of Leeds, about 12 miles away, I usually take the train, 20 minutes with a bit of a walk at the other end. Yesterday I left home at 7am as usual but didn’t arrive at work until 1.30pm!!!! I was stranded on a train for over FIVE hours after a power line went down, no drinks, no toilets after an hour, no air conditioning and a packed commuter train, luckily I had a seat. We ended up having to transfer across to another train via a ramp. It was certainly an experience – as I put on facebook, I’ve never been escorted off a train by the police before!

For the first 10 minutes or so after the train came to a halt I did the crossword, we rapidly realised the train wasn’t going anywhere soon, so I got out my sewing, it’s amazing how much you can do in five hours, even if they are teeny stitches…

This is a little project I started a few weeks ago, it’s a free design on the French blog Il Est Cinq Heures. It’s called Spring. There’s a rabbit and a sheep on it, together with flowers and a watering can, I thought it was rather cute. I’ve used DMC threads from my stash, trying to use up ones I’ve managed to double up on. I must admit I didn’t realise til I got it out to start (away from home) that to finish it the size I wanted it would have to be stitched over one thread! It was feeling a bit like hard work when I was half way down the watering can. I took a photo on the train after about an hour or so, this is where I was…

By the time we transferred onto the rescue train I’d stitched the watering can, albeit with the wrong colour (luckily it’s too similar to stand out – it’s not as obvious in real life!) some flowers and most of the rabbit, I just had to stitch his ears when I got home. I feel more enthused about this one now so hopefully it won’t take too long – it would be nice to finish it before the end of spring!