I finished the wool hat I made for my DD. Not the most flattering photo but I didn't want her to try it on since it will be a gift. I do need some bits though - some bits of white and of yellow wool - at most a yard of each. I am going to turn the white in owl eyes and the yellow into the beak. Is there anyone who might have bits to share of white and yellow? Please leave me a comment. Much of my yarn stash is cotton, not wool.
I also made good progress on the scarf I am knitting. The lace pattern was easy to learn so makes for good tv watching knitting.
Finally, got my FMQ challenge from SewCalGal was completed right at the wire. Spirals were the challenge this month. My first attempt was a bit sloppy - scary even!
To give me a more defined line within which to swirl, I sewed together some 2 1/2 in strips.
I was happier with this result but still need to keep practicing. I don't think either of these photos clearly shows the work - you have to look real carefully to see it.
Happy Stitching!
I tried to resist, really I did. But the chance to make a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt was too tempting. So, I am here on Easy Street!
I did, however, decide to make a much smaller quilt. Bonnie says hers will finish at 84 inches square before borders. I decided to make on 42 inches square before borders. Once I see the blocks I can also (possibly) make it 'unsquare'.
I wanted to use my stash if at all possible. While Bonnie's quilt called for Green, Teal-ish, Purple and Gray, I decided to use my stash of Good Fortune. I've got greens and blues and will substitute the orange read instead of the purple. This line has a really pretty grey as well. Instead of using a white print with some text etc, I will just use a Bella solid. (I didn't quite have all of this in my stash but a quick trip to a local quilt store scored me the orange red and the gray.)
Week 1 is done - now my cute little 4 patches await the next clue.
I linked up my progress so far with the other Easy Street players!
Pauline from Quilting Queen and Mdmn Samm from SewWeQuilt have put together a new blog hop - Holiday Lane. My day was Tuesday, November 27 and I had two projects to share. I really appreciated all the fun comments!
You can find the entire schedule for the blog hop here.
Happy Stitching!
This month's AYOS is a mini-bite Schnibble called Drop. I really like the way this one turned out and just love the fabric - French General Rouenneries Duex - that I used.
Instead of a constant background fabric around each little square that the pattern called for, I used a charm square. I am calling this mini Cranberry.
I was befuddled (is that a word?) by how to FMQ this one so I just did quilting in the ditch around each of the major squares. I like the final soft feel of this mini.
All ready for Santa.
In the year of Schnibble there is one more month to go - I am so proud that I've made a Schnibble every month. Will certain check in with Sinta and Sherri's blog on Saturday to see the parade and find out what our final challenge is for AYOS!
Entered my mini in Quilting Tutorials Christmas Quilt show. Check it out - plenty of lovely entries!
Pauline from Quilting Queen and Mdmn Samm from SewWeQuilt have put together a new blog hop - Holiday Lane. My day was yesterday, Tuesday, November 27 and I had two projects to share. I really appreciated all the fun comments! My Santa was not harmed in yesterday's photo shoot and was still in great shape to participate in today's post.
You can find the entire schedule for the blog hop here.
Happy Stitching!
Yippee! My day for the Holiday Lane blog hop!
Pauline from Quilting Queen and Mdmn Samm from SewWeQuilt are both chief hostesses and cheerleaders for our Holiday Lane hope. What a fun hop this was - I put together two entries for today.
Santa's looking forward to December 26th - the best day of the year because Mrs. Claus allows him to relax before he has to start planing for next year!
This mini-version of the pattern was made from all soft and cuddly flannel. I had a bit of fun quilting this one. The North Pole sign was done on my machine.
I just love Jill's pattern and wanted to make one in non-holiday colors so it could sit on my couch for more than just December.
My pillow - temporarily disguised as a table runner - was made using solids, many of these Moda Sandy Solids.
(Why is my pillow so un-pillow like? I ordered a pillow form weeks ago and have been trying to watch its shipping progress every since. The pillow form left Ellenwood, Georgia on November 14th. It is now the 27th of November. I know there was a holiday but don't you think it would have gotten to North Carolina by now? That is only two states away, 6 hrs by car or 128 hrs to hand carry it. 128 hours walking at an 8 hour per day pace means 16 days shipping time. Accounting for weekends and holidays, the pillow form won't be here for another week at a walking pace. But I digress.)
I kept my FMQ to just small highlights - like the smoke from the chimney. For both of these pillows, I used fusible fleece which worked very well.
When it is properly stuffed, it will sit here on my couch. I just love it!
Now, please make sure you go off and visit the other lovely and talented ladies I am sharing today with:
Tuesday November 27
Finally it would have been easier (but not as much fun) to photo shop my first shot. My DD was in charge of throwing - and catching - while I took the photo. I had hoped to catch Santa and the pillow but, alas, most of those shots looked like this - Santa heading face down toward the ground as though he fell out of the sleigh. And the pillow was always backwards!
If you've missed any days of the blog hop, the full schedule can be found here.
Happy Stitching!
My very best to you and your families! I am thankful for many things, including being able to share and be inspired by all my friends in blog land.
Happy Stitching!
When the weather turns chilly and the holidays approach, I enjoy having a knitting project (or 2 or 3) at hand. It is nice to sit and visit with family and relax with some easy knitting.
I visited a new store nearby called Warm n' Fuzzy. Great selection of yarn and very friendly, helpful people - just want you want in a yarn store. I will surely go back.
First project is a knitted hat - with ear flaps - that my DD (14 yrs old) requested. This is going to be an Owl (you've seen these hats that look like animals?) and this gray was the perfect color. This is Natura color 12 and is a mix of all different kinds of wool. So soft!
This beautiful color is blue sky Alpaca Silk in colorway brick. I will be making a lace shawl from this one. There are several patterns I am considering so more on that later!
This is louet Gems in a color called Candy Apple Red. I am going to make a fun lace scarf out of this beautiful color!
Finally, new blog hop starts today!
Pauline from Quilting Queen and Mdmn Samm from SewWeQuilt have put together a new blog hop - Holiday Lane. My day is Tuesday, November 27 and I've two projects to share.
You can find the entire schedule for the blog hop here.
Happy Stitching!
More great history from Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice block of the week program - this time all about fashion. When I first saw the block, I was ready to hide under the desk. By going slowing, I was able to turn out results I am quite pleased with.
There is a little pucker but I can live with it. Overall, the block lays flat - that is a good thing!
Have a great week!
Happy Stitching!
Had a lovely time in my sewing room (i.e. corner of the bonus room) piecing together more of my Irish chain quilt.
This will be a twin size quilt. Fabric is Marmalade.
I assemble in pieces - last night I finished the assembly of the 4 block x 4 block larger squares. I'll then press those, square them up and then start assembling the quilt top. Doing it this way - as opposed to long rows of single blocks - is a very manageable way to assemble a large quilt. I also add a line of stay stitching around the edge to prevent seams from opening.
I've a date with my LAQ in 2 weeks so this will get done in time.
I also did a bit more work to get ready for the Holiday Lane blog hop - my day is November 27th! No spoiler pictures though.
Happy Stitching!
Using my Marmalade jelly roll, I've gone from 96 9-patch blocks...
To assembled 4 by 4 larger blocks...
I like building quilts like this from big blocks instead of rows. I've got about 2/3 of it assembled in these 4 x 4 blocks.
This will be a twin size quilt when complete and will have a nice flannel backing!
Happy Stitching!
More great history from Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice block of the week program. This block was called the Red Schoolhouse so I made good use of the reds in the Vintage Modern line I am using.
Of the 11 blocks so far, I've made 6 of them in red (and grey):
4 of them in blue (and grey):
And 1 that is red and blue.
I do hope to make some decisions on how I will be setting these blocks so I can start squaring them and sizing them as I go. Would be a less daunting task than leaving it all to the end.
Happy Stitching!
I made two mini coin purses for the blog hop.
First up - Keep Calm and Quilt On - great words to live by!!
With each of these blog hops, I decide to try a new technique. For this one, I made a selvage coin purse. I just started collecting selvages so didn't have too many to choice from but I did manage to include Good Fortune - fitting selvage for a coin purse, isn't it?
Next up - Keep Calm and Call the Doctor.
Doctor who?
Correct!
Any Dr Who fans out there? When my DD saw this coin purse, she tried to claim it for her very own.
The mini TARDIS fabric comes from Spoonflower.
Keep Calm!!
Thanks for Katherine and Mdmn Samm for another fun blog hop. Making these little coin purses are quite addictive!
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You can find the full schedule here.
Happy Stitching!
I am making a twin size quilt for my daughter using this delicious jelly roll of Marmalade.
The pattern calls for 96 9-patch blocks. Here they all are, pressed and pilled.
I really love this fabric. I plan to put a flannel on the back to give it extra cuddle factor. The aqua print with the flower - lower right in this top block - is the print I will use for the back.
Those blocks finish at 6 inches.
I spent some time last weekend making smaller blocks for this month's mini-Schnibble Drop. You start with a center square at 1 7/8" so you are working with very tiny pieces. The pattern is quite good to work with because there is an opportunity to trim to get the block the right size. Lots of forgiveness is helpful when dealing with tiny pieces.
Happy Stitching!
