"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says...."Oh crap! She's up!" Unknown

Friday, May 30, 2014

Knitting Friday

This week I made a little progress on my Sweater.

I was busy working on another non-sewing, non-knitting
project that I can't show right now and this took up
A lot of my free time!

Here is what I was able to get knitted this week:


I have 2 1/2 more rows to knit and the back is done.
 

This yarn is just so much fun to knit!


Here is the sweater pattern I am using.


I did have to start a mindless, take with me knitting project.
There were several times this past week that required my 
sitting in a doctor's office or somewhere else, waiting....

SO.....


Out came a skein of the Kroy sock yarn and another
a pair of socks was started.
I can't wait until I get to that pop of orange and yellow
in the skein!
 

On another blog (sorry... can't remember which one!),
 a knitter had randomly purled rows in the
plain vanilla sock.  I decided to try this and am liking how
it looks!

Please visit Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Just Add the Ties.....

... and this Tree Skirt is Finished!

The wedding is June 7th, 
so it will be finished in time to give as the gift.


The pattern for this
Christmas Tree Skirt
is on the packaging of the
10 degree ruler.

It's an easy pattern to use,
if you pay attention!




It could almost be reversible!
This backing fabric is fun with all of the 
Christmas words on it.

The next wedding is in October...
so I have a little time before I need to make
another Tree Skirt.
(I give Christmas Tree Skirts as Wedding Gifts.)

Happy Quilting!

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day Design Wall

I give thanks to all of the
 Men and Women
who have given their lives
protecting our freedom.


memorial day image of american flag
(Image used from Memorialday-pictures.com)



On this Memorial Day
I don't have a lot to show on my
Design Wall.
Life has gotten in the way of my sewing!
I have been in my sewing room,
but doing things that aren't very exciting to show.

This Christmas Tree skirt is being quilted.


Sewing the backing and pin basting doesn't make for a very exciting
Blog post.  :)
Hopefully this gift will be finished by the end of the week.


I did get a few more of the
Scrappy Challenge blocks sewn.


Mine are small blocks....
4 1/2" finished.
I have more ready to be sewn,
as soon as I'm finished quilting the
tree skirt.

These are waiting their turn!
Please visits Patchwork Times to see what others are
working on today.

Happy Memorial Day
and
Happy Quilting!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Knitting Friday

I decided to knit a sweater last week
and am making progress.
I'm so worried that it won't fit,
even though I knitted the piece to
gauge my stitches and it was correct.

First time anxiety, I guess...

Here is the sweater pattern:


And here is my sweater:


I am almost half way done with the back piece.
This is so much fun to knit!
It looked very confusing to me, but is actually quite easy.

I LOVE this yarn and the colors in it.
(Noro silk garden lite.)

This picture really captures the texture of the yarn.

Keep on knitting, keep on knitting!

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are creating.

Happy Friday!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Back to the Scrappy Challenge

Several projects have been completed
and before I clean up my scraps,
I decided to make some blocks for the 
(I totally missed April's Challenge!)


We are making Spool blocks this month
and mine are being made with 2" squares.
Since I just finished the quilt made with
Kaffe fabrics,
these are the scraps I am using for the May challenge.

So far I have two blocks sewn
and
lots more cut and ready to sew.


I found the "word" fabric the other day and love it 
with the Kaffe fabrics.
I also have a piece in lime green letters.
 

These will be fun to work on when I have a few minutes
here and there.

Happy Quilting!

Monday, May 19, 2014

Monday Design Wall

This week I have a finish to share
and a return project back on my Design Wall,
hoping to be finished soon!

On Saturday, the quilt group I belong to
had our big reveal of the
projects we made for this session.
The "rules" were to take inspiration from an
antique quilt and make something.
It could be copied (same color, same layout),
 made in our own colorway and/or layout
or our own design... just be inspired.

I'm telling you... what a talented group of ladies there are in this group!
I didn't take pictures, but the quilts were GORGEOUS!!
It was fun to see how we were all inspired.

For my quilt, I used the Dresden Plate block as inspiration.
I love flowers and bright colors and had fun coming up with this design.


This was made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics.
For the background I used the reverse side of the fabric to
tone the colors down a bit.

This was so much fun to make!
It sure brightens my hallway where I have it hanging.

Thank you, Linda, for this great project idea!




 The baby quilt I had started a few weeks ago is back on my
Design Wall.


I finished sewing the blocks and I think I am 
done with playing with the layout.
 This was made with a charm pack and a jelly roll.
Super easy!!

Please visit Patchwork Times to see what others have on their
Design Walls.


Happy Quilting!


Friday, May 16, 2014

Rainy Friday Knitting

This week provided a little more time for knitting
so
I was able to finish another pair of the

These I gifted to my sister.



I love this yarn,
But I don't know if I can find any more.
It came from the clearance bin from either
Michael's or Joann's.


THEN....
this week I made a decision!
I am Making a Sweater!
FINALLY!

Here is the one I decided on:


It's Go Big or Go Home!
A knitting friend made this sweater and it is
gorgeous!
She has offered to help if (when!!) I need it,
and I'm sure I will!

Here is my progress so far.


I'm using Noro yarn and found it on sale!

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting today.

Happy Friday!

Monday, May 12, 2014

It's Monday!

It's the beginning of another week!
Summer has hit here in Virginia
with temperatures in the high 80's
and the yard work is in full swing.

Hence....
not as much has gotten done in the
Sewing/Quilting Department!

Over the weekend I was able to finish the
top of the
Christmas Tree Skirt.


This pattern goes together very easily,
as long as the cutting of the wedges is
Accurate!
(Don't ask me how I know this!!)


This is going to be a wedding gift
(my tradition)
and needs to be quilted and finished by the
beginning of June.
Maybe this week I'll get it quilted??


Also this week I worked on my project
for my quilt group
and finished the top.


After Saturday I'll be able to show the whole top.

Please visit Patchwork Times to see other creations.

Happy Quilting!!!

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day!!




To all of the 
Wonderful Mothers...

http://jscooperauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/happy-mothers-day.jpg 

(Image from J.S. Cooper website.)

Friday, May 9, 2014

Friday Knitting

Thank goodness for Sporting Events.
This past week we went to three baseball games
and I knitted.... during all three!  :)

Therefore..
I finished these!


I am so pleased with how they turned out!
The stripes are so cute.

Someone was asking how these
are made, so I took a few pictures as I was knitting.


This picture shows the beginning of the sock.
The part at the bottom is what will wrap around the back of the foot.
(Look at the top sock... you can see where these stripes are on the sock.)
Above this area you can see the heel.  It has already been turned.
Above the heel is part of the sole of the sock.
Up to this point, all knitting has been with two needles.


Next you take the side edge of the larger area that wraps around the foot
and  turn it up to the top, next to the sole.
You pick up stitches on the side edge to join the pieces.
(Sorry, but I don't have one of those drawing programs.)

After you pick up stitches along this side edge,
you cast on stitches to form the part of the sock
that will go across the top of the foot.
Then you will pick up stitches along the other edge of the
part that wraps around the back of the foot.
(The openings in the picture above will be stitched closed
once the sock is finished.)


This picture below shows the opening for your foot,
with the cast on stitches on the right.


Once all of the stitches are picked up and cast on
you continue knitting using four dpn's.



I did start another pair and you can see the openings in the sock
above from where I joined the side edge with the sole.
I need to stitch these openings closed and the sock will be finished!

Is this as clear as mud??

These little socks knit up so quickly and are fun to make.
They are great if you don't have enough yarn for a pair of regular socks.

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting today.

Happy Friday!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Design Wall Monday

This week I have two projects on my
Design Wall....
One new project and one that I have been playing with for a while.


It has become a bit of a tradition for me to make
Christmas Tree skirts for
Wedding Gifts.

A family friend is getting married in the beginning of June,
so I needed to get going on the Tree Skirt.


I am a third of the way done
and am really pleased with how it is coming together.


This pattern came with the wedge ruler I am using.  
(The Ten Degree Wedge Ruler.)

I hope to make a table runner to go with this tree skirt.



My other Design Wall project is something I have been
playing with for a while.
I am not showing much of this because I think
I am going to use it for a quilt group project.


It sure brightens my Design Wall!

Visit Patchwork Times to see what others have on
their Design Walls.

Happy Quilting!

**Edit**
Is anyone else having a problem with receiving the email
notifications when comments are placed on their blog?
I have not been getting some emails of comments and, therefore,
cannot respond.  Also, I get an email saying my comments have not
been delivered via email to some bloggers.
  

Friday, May 2, 2014

Knitting Friday

Here we are at Friday again...
AND the second day of May!

It has been a slow week for knitting, but
I have one of my


This little sock really turned out nicely with
the Paton Kroy striping yarn.
 I was worried that the stripes would be too wide for the sock.

 

The second one has been started.
I just need to find some time to knit!

Have a great Friday and
visit Patchwork Times to see other
knitting projects.
 

Thursday, May 1, 2014

All Bound Up...

Back in the beginning of March
announced his plan to make quilts for
Quilts of Valor.

He blogged about his plan
and shared the block he was asking
quilters to make.

WELL....

as of the end of April,
3,161 blocks,
enough for 105 quilts!!
(He had hoped to have enough blocks for three or so quilts!)

I decided to ask Kevin about making binding for his quilts.
He responded almost immediately to my email
and the cutting began.

So far I have made binding for eight quilts.





What a gift these quilts will be for our
brave men and women who serve our country.

Thank you, Kevin!

Quilters are AWESOME!!

Happy Quilting.