The February Project

I have been working on the red quilt and the going is s  l  o  w…

I had originally planned to quilt in a variegated gray and I had even tested the thread on a sample of all the fabrics but when I started quilting the quilt –even just outlining the blocks, I did not like it.  I decided to go with red instead. There is a row with a lot of white so I think I will use the gray there. It is beginning to grow on me but I now wish I had thought to use the mono filament polyester thread.

Grid quilting the blocks took me two days.  The quilt is bulky and heavy.  I was able to keep the quilt rolled while doing that part but quilting the individual blocks is another story.

I pulled out my table and set up my ironing board on the left.  There is lots of turning and adjusting to do so I spend a lot of time getting up and pulling the quilt through the machine.  After a bit, my arms are tired so I have to take a break.  I keep thinking of the riddle, How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time…

In the evenings, I also do my knitting.  I have a couple of projects I am working on but this one is the most exciting:

It is a baby blanket for Lauren and Jeff’s baby! Yay!

The blue is a provisional cast-on and this is what the blanket will look like (I hope!):

I haven’t picked out a quilt pattern yet but I have until July. 
I can’t wait!
Diane

Where Do I Start?

Has it really been EIGHT MONTHS since I last blogged?  To my followers I am very sorry and I hope that you will find your way back here.

So much has happened since I last posted.  Good news is that Adrienne and Joe (and Leonard) moved up here from Baltimore. Joe retired, Adrienne got a great job at Upstate, and Leonard is all ready for kindergarten.  I love having them just a half hour away.
The not so good new is we did not have a great spring.  Michael fell walking the dog at the end of March.  He broke 5 ribs, several vertebrae (is that plural correct?) and his collar bone.  He has had a long recovery but is starting to feel like his old self again.
The summer is going by too quickly.  August already? I did not get as much done as I had planned but I have been squeezing in some knitting and sewing.

A baby outfit

A vest for myself, front and back

A knitting needle caddy
The American Quilter’s Society was in town this week.  The quilt show was beautiful. Of course I forgot my camera but I did snap some pictures of my goodies when I got home.




By the way, this little quilt finishes to 13” x 14”.  The tumblers are 1 3/4” high, unfinished

One of the nice things about working at the quilt shop is all the nice people I meet. Many people were in town for the show and one special person that I met was Lee Anna. She is a fellow blogger and posts at Not Afraid of Color.  Please visit her site. She has some beautiful things to show including the cutest dog!
While downloading photos off my camera, this cutie came up:

Aren’t grandkids wonderful?
Diane

December Goals

And now the December rush begins…

Actually it should not be too bad. I have some quickie presents I plan to make (can’t show those yet!) and a couple of knitting projects to complete.  The projects for this month are the extras…things I would like to get finished.

First, though is my November project for a challenge with a friend.  Each month Jean comes up with an art project and those who take up the challenge can use their favorite medium to complete it.  Last month was my little purse.  This month our challenge was something for the table:

I made a fall topper.  Very easy and fun to do.

Now for my goals.

This has been on my design wall forever.  Mimi bought me the pattern a couple years ago and I picked out fabrics back in the spring.

The center is in 4 sections right now and the leaves for the set-in triangles are fused in place waiting to be appliqued. I don’t have the set-in squares ready yet.  I really want to finish this so I plan to work on it between Christmas and the new year.  It looks a little brown in the picture; there is more green than shows.

Finally, I am having fun with this. (Free view of mess included!)

The pattern is No Measure Bargello and I am doing it with a batik jelly roll. Not super difficult but a little fussy. Just what I like! If I like it, I will be teaching it in the spring.

To conclude, here is Adrienne modeling my latest shawlette.  My first attempt at beaded knitting and lots of short rows!

Diane

A Lamb of a Day-baaa!

Remember the old saying? March came in like a lamb so it will go out like a lion. This winter has gone on for too long! And I usually love the cold weather.

So let’s be honest here.  I did no sewing this month. Well that is not completely true. I did complete two little quilts for a swap.  More on that in a later post.  But I did lots of knitting! Some days I think that I love knitting so much that I may never sew again.  But that only lasts a few minutes. I have many quilts to make before I sleep.

Here are some things I have finished/am working on:

Swimming with Salmon Cowl in Vintage Multi. This looks so much prettier in person! Mary has it at the shop.

I bought the book, Scarf Style 2, and I love everything in it. This is the first cowl I made.  It is a mobius from a DK weight.

I am making my second cowl from the book in a lace weight. No pictures yet but it is pretty.

I finished one Olympic sock but now the Olympics are over. Will I finish the next one in 4 years? Stay tuned!

Last week Dylan called and asked for a camouflage hat. Did you know that there is a camo yarn? Well there is! I hope he likes it. I have not seen him to give it to him yet.

If I stay busy, I stay warm.  Back to work!

Diane

Cold!

It is cold outside! And has been for several days.  I have been very content to stay inside and knit and sew.

Mary is running a Fair Isle class at the shop and we are making these fingerless mitts.  This is my first one; I am doing the ribbing on the second one.  That white line that looks like a mistake will be cut open (steeked-eek!) for my thumb.

Last year I started crocheting a large granny square to make a knitting bag. I lost the directions so I fudged a lining for it.

I have to tack a couple more spots but I am pleased with it. I used a dark batik so I would not have to line it.  I added snaps and pockets on the inside.

One more set of Civil War blocks almost done! 4 are completely sewn; 4 need to be completed.  Can you see how they are different?

I thought some of you “older” sewers would appreciate this. I still have several of my mother-in-law’s sewing supplies.  While I never recommend using old thread, I used this carpet thread to attach the ling to my knitting bag.  Check out the price:

Do you remember when?

Diane

January Finishes…So Far

I have actually been very busy this month.  I have been working, knitting and sewing. The only thing I have not done a lot of is cleaning and laundry!

This quilt has a completed binding and is on display at the shop for my binding class:

I made a few travel sewing caddies:

I increased the size of one to make a carry case for my IPad.

I completed 1 more block for my Civil War Quilt and started the next set:

96 half square triangles.  96.  I will start them this afternoon.

I started and completed this fingerless mitt:

It was fun to do. Lots of techniques I had never done before.

My mind is just racing. I have about 10 things I want to have finished now! I have them out and ready to go. I am thinking I will spend this month and next working on these WIPs and then in March I will devote to machine quilting.

How are your projects coming along?

Diane

Back-Again!

Let’s just pretend that I have not updated in so long because I have been busy completing projects…Yeah- that sounds good!

I have been busy. Since May I have been working 2-3 days a week at the shop, along with lots of subbing at the Y (afterschool care).  But I have been working on several projects.

I managed to make a pair of socks:

I chose not to have the stripes match.  I also tried a 3 needle bind-off on the toe:  evidently it looks better if you turn the socks inside out first… I still like them!

I am also half-way caught up with my Civil War blocks of the month:

Each month there are 4-8 blocks to complete.  The one on the right was a bear- 96 half-square triangles in that set!

Katie put in a little garden for me for:

Dylan is riding a two-wheeler:

AND, I got a quilt back that I had hand quilted. I made this quilt top about 6 or 7 years ago. I started to hand quilt it and I immediately gave up.  Then I learned about a group that hand quilted to raise money for their local library.  I am more than thrilled!

I only wish that the quilting was more visible in these pictures. They all did a great job! Now to get the binding on…

Diane