Saturday, December 30, 2017

One final post for 2017...

Hello!  Remember me?  It's been a while - between a crazy amount of knitting that I committed to doing, and my sewing machine dying, I haven't done much sewing in the past 2 months - and no blog posts is the result.
But, the good news is, hubby bought me a new sewing machine for Christmas!  Also, most of the knitting is done too - so hopefully, there will be more blog posts in the new year.
So, what have I been knitting?  Prayer shawls, baby sweaters, and a few toys for my grandsons...  (they aren't finished, so I can't share them yet).  The prayer shawls though - have a look:
 This one is made with a medium brown worsted weight yarn combined with a sport weight white variegated with red and dark green spots - one row is knit, and the other row is k1, p1 across the row.
This shawl is made with a blue / green / beige variegated worsted weight yarn combined with a Bernat Pop! ball that had several shades of green / aqua.  It's done with a simple k2, p1 stitch across the row - EVERY row.  Both were done on 8 mm needles.
I've also knit a few Tenderheart sweaters from Tincanknits for baby gifts - and I've already shared those finishes - but they released a new pattern (Dogstar) this past fall, and I had to try one of them!  I've shared a few "in progress" pictures of that sweater, and finally can share the completed photo: 

It's been gifted to my daughter's friend's little girl.
And now, the really exciting news - I've signed up to do a mystery quilt on New Year's day!  It's through Merry Mayhem - it sounds really fun.  These are my fabrics - and the fun starts Monday morning at 11.  You'll have to check back in a few days to see what I've done with them!
 
I appreciate your patience as I got my "stuff" sorted out!  I'm hoping to find a better balance of projects (and commitments!) in the new year.
Psst!  Did I tell you that 2 of our neighbours are expecting babies?....  Here we go again!

Monday, October 30, 2017

It's been far too long....

I've started this post in my head probably four or five times - when I'm in the car, or the grocery store - anywhere but near the computer.  Part of my problem is that I had a couple of half-done projects, and I really wanted to share at least one finish - and then, Friday night, I almost tripped over a prayer shawl that's been completed for almost a week (and it needed to be delivered almost that long ago).  Aha!  A finished project!  and the post still didn't happen...
So, before I turn the calendar page, I'm going to fill you in on what I've been working on in my oh-so-little bit of spare "crafting" time.
First up, the prayer shawl - a friend just lost her mom, and has had a few other challenges to deal with, so I thought she needed a prayer shawl - and I had just bought 2 balls of beautiful yarn that I thought would make the perfect shawl for her.  I tried a few patterns before I "found" this one - and I'm SO pleased with how it turned out!
I also made up 9  "Scrappy Susannah" blocks for Kat's Sept. / Oct. block drive for Covered in Love.  She asked us to use traditional fall colours - browns, rusts, orange and golds - all colours that I have in abundance.
I'm still busy knitting sweaters for babies born into our family and for my daughter's friends.  I really love "Tenderheart" by Tin Can Knits, and I've knit it a few times now - but always for little boys.  This time I needed little girl sweaters for 2 sisters, so I knit one in a soft green with rose contrast.  The second one uses the same rose yarn, but is being knit in their new pattern, "Dog Star".  The green one needs to have the underarm seams grafted, and then to be washed and blocked.  I'm just starting the contrast pattern in the rose one.  I REALLY  want to have both of them finished for the weekend - because the next baby is due in about 2 weeks!

I have a lot of projects in various stages of completion - I'll try to share some of their stories soon!
Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Another quiltlet...

In my last post, I mentioned that I had promised our local veterinary clinic a few small quilts to use when folks have to have a beloved pet "put down".  All they have right now is a pile of old donated bath towels to wrap the animal in - and that really bothered me (we've been there)...
So, I made up a few scrappy quilts.  I showed them to a friend, who thought that they might be too bright and cheerful.  A few days later, I was in our local Walmart, and noticed that they had some animal themed FQs - and of course, they followed me home....
I had pinned a number of scrappy quilts to my Pinterest board, so I chose one of the patterns, and before my husband could complain that supper wasn't ready, I had this top done!  It (and the other 2 tops that I made last week) still needs to be quilted, but that's the easy part.
And here's the finished top (I hope that my friend will appreciate the softer tone of the fabrics!).

Linking up to Sew Fresh Quilts and  Kat & Cat Quilts

Monday, September 18, 2017

Quilting ADD

I'm not looking forward to summer being over just yet, but the fall season does mean a little more sewing time for me.  The garden has yielded most of it's goodies, and the bulk of the canning / freezing is finished.  Fair season is in full swing - I've judged at 2 local fairs so far, and have 2 more to do.  BUT, I've managed to set some time aside to sew!  I can't get over how good it feels to sit behind the machine again - and even pressing is fun right now.
But, because it's been such a long time coming, I've got a multitude of projects in the works.  Add to that, we bumped into a long-time friend last week, and she mentioned that her granddaughter had just had a baby boy!  Of course, that means either a quilt or sweater is needed!  Fortunately, I had some charm packs that I got earlier this summer - and I had even started cutting and sewing some blocks for a quilt.  UNfortunately, I can't find most of the fabrics / blocks right now.  I did piece together the ones I did find, and laid them out, but it's obviously too small and too "blue" (even though it is a baby boy...).  A quick search of my sewing room turned up nothing except the border fabric.  (I need to get in there with a search warrant, I'm afraid).
But here are the blocks so far....
Some of the fabrics are very washed out, and I may just leave them out of the finished quilt (or use them for the back / label).
Also, earlier this summer, our 8 year old cat ended up at the vet's - he's tiny for his breed (Maine Coon), but he was downright scrawny.  He normally tips the scale at about 11 lbs. but was down to just over 7.  He spends most of the summer roaming the neighbourhood, and we only see him for a few minutes here and there - but hubby picked Buddy up on one of his brief visits "home" to eat, and was shocked at how thin he was.  We've already lost 2 'Coons - one to a malignancy, and one to a heart condition, and we were both sure that we were dealing with something similar.  Long story short, it was a minor issue - and a change in diet has him back up to 10.5 lbs again.  What does that have to do with quilting?  Well, we were sure we'd have to have him put down - and the clinic wraps them up in old donated bath towels.  I asked if they'd like a few small quilts donated for that purpose, and they were thrilled!  I had been making some blocks with a bright teal Kona and a print as my latest "leader / ender", so I grabbed them, and stitched up 2 small quilt tops.  I picked up some cute animal print fabrics for the backs - and hopefully, I'll be able to finish these quilts up and deliver them next week.
And finally, today's project - I've been slowly adding to my stash of 'Raspberry Kiss' blocks - it's going to be a quilt for our bed - and I stitched up another 11 blocks.  Our bed is a queen, so I have a way to go yet, but there's no rush for it.
So, Quilting ADD seemed like a perfect description of my last 2 weeks of sewing!

I'm linking up to Scraptastic TuesdayOh Scrap!; and Sew Some Love

Monday, September 4, 2017

I've been busy - honest!

I see that it's been a month since I last posted - yikes!  I didn't realize that a whole month had already passed - and yet, when I see the jars of jam and pickles, etc. on the pantry shelves and survey my dining room table, I know that I've finished a lot!  There's also a lot of WIPs scattered around...
But first - my current quilt-y project... My oldest daughter has recently decided on a career change - which means a move for her - and that's happening on Wednesday.  We had a conversation a few months ago, and she mentioned that "You can never have too many quilts", so I decided that this move needed to be celebrated with a quilt!  I went through my Pinterest board for ideas, but couldn't quit thinking about some blocks that I'd done for a block drive for Kat's Covered in Love charity quilt project.  I love the modern look of black and white blocks with a "hit" of colour, so that's what I decided to make.  I have lots of pieces of Kona cotton in a rainbow of shades, so I was able to make a LOT of blocks without repeating the center colour.  This is what my "design floor" looks like this morning:
My hubby just texted me that we have company coming over after supper, so I guess I REALLY need to get sewing!
One of the other sewing projects that I had going last week was sewing some red, white and blue star blocks for Kat's July / August block drive.  We were free to make any kind of star block.  I found a few ideas and pulled my fabrics to make the starflower block at the top left.  Unfortunately, I cut some of the fabrics too small, but salvaged them with the block on the right.  But the one I really LOVE is the bottom one!  I looked for striped red and white fabric to make an American flag block for the center, but this red and white "zipper" fabric was the best I could find - I think it works!
And finally, I've been doing a lot of knitting in the evenings (my current sewing space doesn't have lights).  Both of my daughters have friends that are having babies, and I'm trying to knit a sweater for the firstborn in each family.  So, I got some yarn to make my new favourite sweater - Tenderheart by TinCanKnits.
This is a beautiful spring green, and will be going to a lovely little girl - the final sleeve needs finishing, and then the 2-colour yoke will complete it.  When it's done, I have to make another little girl sweater, and then still have 2 little boy sweaters to make, and one more for a baby due in October.  I might switch the pattern for some of those sweaters...
Thanks for dropping in to see what I've been doing!
Linking up to Kat's Sew Some Love, and Cynthia's Oh Scrap posts.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Knitting and cards...

It's been far too long since my last post, and I apologize for that.  Part of the reason is that my sewing machine up and died, and I've been too busy to even look at replacement machines.  I have a VERY part-time job, mostly just June - August, and that's kept me busy; as well, our garden has me hopping - between planting, pulling weeds and harvesting / processing, I haven't had much spare time.  Thankfully, I've been able to keep up my outings with my father, and also be there for my mother-in-love, and for my kids and grandsons!
Mind you, I haven't had time to sit around with my hands in my lap!  My mom never sat down without a knitting or crochet project in her hands, and I've picked up that habit.  I love the Toronto Blue Jays (major league baseball team), and try to catch their games on TV, but I have a mindless knitting project on the needles so that I can keep up with the game, and accomplish something useful at the same time!
This is my latest "baby" sweater - you may recall that I was almost to the point of joining the sleeves to the body of the sweater in my last post.  I'm happy to say that the sweater is finished and gifted!


The pattern is Tenderheart by TinCan Knits.  I LOVE this pattern!  I currently have 2 more in progress - one for a little girl, and one for a baby boy.  I'll share pics of my progress soon.
I've also stolen a few minutes to make a few cards...  A dear friend had surgery recently, and was sure she had experienced a set-back;  I know that a card won't solve her problems, but it hopefully helps to know that someone is thinking about you and praying for you!  I made 3 different "encouragement" 
cards and sent the light pink one off to her.  I'm very happy to report that she saw her doctor yesterday, and, after a scan, she was sent home with the good news that everything is on-track, and going exactly as it's supposed to be!
(I found out late last night that another friend fell and broke her hand - no sewing or quilting for her for at least 6 weeks - so the white card will be heading her way later today).
And now it's time to head back out to the garden - there are beans and cucumbers to pick!

Monday, June 19, 2017

My newest quilt! and some knitting..

A few years ago, I purchased a fat quarter pack of Project Linus fabrics, and some yardage from the same line.  I was sort-of involved with making afghans and quilts for Project Linus at the time, but, as often happens, life took a turn, and I got busy with other things.  Now I've come full-circle, and decided to pull out those fabrics and actually make something with them.
So, first things first - what quilt pattern should I use?  I looked through the various quilts that I have bookmarked over the years, and also my Pinterest boards, and finally decided on "Hugs and Kisses".  I was able to get 2 - 10" squares cut from each fat quarter.  There were 13 fabrics that were usable for the blocks (the other fabrics had white backgrounds - they'll be used in other PL quilts), so I ended up with 26 blocks.  One block finished too small (?) and I set one more aside, and made a quilt with 4 blocks per row, and 6 rows.  I used the red Snoopy print for the backing and a great striped fabric for the binding, and voila! a completed quilt for Project Linus!
There are two prints with black backgrounds - one is striped, and the other is a text prints that says "Security is a thumb and a blanket" - so appropriate for a Project Linus quilt!
I've also been really busy working in the yard - sorry, no photos, but in my spare time I've been getting some knitting done.  It seems like all the young women that are having babies now are having boys, so my "stash" of baby girl gifts is being abandoned...  Knitting boy's sweaters is about the only thing I'm working on lately - including this little pullover for a certain almost-one-year-old little guy.  It's another "Tenderheart" sweater from Tin Can Knits - done up in a soft green this time.  I'm so close to joining the body to the sleeves - and then the stranded colour work gets done...  The photo doesn't do the colour justice - maybe the completed sweater will show more true.


Linking up to Kat's Sew Some Love page.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Kicking off June!

These items were all supposed to be blogged about in May, but somehow, the month has ended, and I didn't get the post written.  Of course, that makes June's first post a bit more exciting then, right?
I did manage to finish the quilt I was working in on my last post - except that it took a wee bit longer to do than my estimate of 20-30 minutes...  Two hours later, I snipped the last of the threads holding it to the machine - and I'm finally getting it's picture taken today.
This quilt will be donated to Project Linus.
I can't remember the name of the fabric, but it's made with 2 charm packs and some Kona Snow.  It's a disappearing 9-patch quilt - so fun and easy to do!  I did a diagonal stitch both ways through each block and also stitched in the ditch around each block.  It's got a bright striped binding to finish.
I also managed to finish a 4-week long knitting project.  I saw notices on Facebook from Red Heart yarn, talking about a shawl knit-along. The pattern looked easy enough (I've been knitting since I was 12, so, about 30 years?  LOL), so I signed up to knit the Textured Triangle Shawl.  It was a lot of fun to knit - so much fun in fact, that I've started a second one and have yarn for a third one!  The yarn for this project is a chunky / bulky weight (size 5), so it went fairly quickly.  I chose a pale grey - it will probably match more clothing colours that way.  I finished a few days after the official deadline - the garden was in desperate need of some attention, so that got in the way, but the shawl is finished now!
I think it's a bit smaller than the pattern suggests (more people commented on the same thing), but it's big enough for me!
Linking up to Sarah's Can I get a Whoop-Whoop, and Kat's Sew Some Love posts.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Final Hands2Help post for 2017

It seems like Hands2Help just got started a week or two ago, but it's already drawing to a close for this year.  I posted my first quilt for the project here - and, as hoped, I managed to finish a second quilt for Project Linus.  I even have a third quilt almost finished!  I'll be dropping these quilts off to our local drop-off next week Tuesday.
This quilt used 2 charm packs from a line of fabric that was promoted as valentine-themed, but I think they work really well for a child's quilt too.  I'd been wanting to try this pattern out for a while, and I love how it turned out!
So, here it is!
My friend Cathy talked me into trying striped fabrics for bindings, and I found this great one in my stash yesterday.  The green stripe in it is the only colour that doesn't appear in either the quilt or the backing fabrics, but green is a sign of new life and new beginnings, so we'll pretend that it's symbolic!
Here's a close-up of the backing and binding:


And finally, the quilt that is oh SO close to being finished.  Another 20 - 30 minutes should do it...


Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict's "Can I get a Whoop Whoop?"  and Kat's Sew Some Love posts.

Friday, May 19, 2017

This is what I've done so far this month....

You're probably thinking that it's about time that I posted something here.  The month is more than half gone, and I've only updated once so far.  I've been keeping busy, but I wasn't sure that you'd want to see photos of half-completed projects, especially when you can't see progress.  Let me assure you, I've been keeping my nose to the grindstone!
The advent of warmer weather means that I'm spending more time outside in the garden.  I've already lost track of how many times I've made rhubarb muffins this spring, and I think that asparagus has been on the menu at least as often.  There are weeds to pull, and plants to move to more appropriate locations as well.  Thankfully, we've had some cooler and rainy days too, and those days have been spent on my quilting projects.
I'm WAY behind on my 150 Canadian Women quilt project, partly because I wanted to make sure that I got my Hands2Help quilts done in time.  I'm hoping to finish at least 2 quilts for Project Linus, and the first one is done.  We'll see how I do with the 2nd one - my sewing machine needs to go the the sewing machine "hospital" for some TLC.  The problem seems to be a gear in the area of the bobbin - hopefully, that's all that needs fixing!  Thankfully, I have an older machine that I can use for piecing, and my quilting machine seems to be working okay, so I managed to get the quilting done on my peach / brown quilt.  I used a wavy line in a grid pattern - the spacing varies a bit, but isn't more than 3.5" in any direction.  I tried Hobbs 80 / 20 for this quilt - I'm curious to find out how well it holds up.  I used the brown from the blocks for the binding - I think it frames it nicely...  What do you think?
 I have another quilt layered and ready to quilt - hopefully it will work for PL too.  No pictures of it yet - hopefully in a few days.
I've also spent a fair bit of time on some knitting projects.  A very dear friend needed shoulder surgery recently - and it may have cost her the job that she's done for the past 16 years.  I thought she might appreciate having a prayer shawl.  Her kids thought she liked purple, and I had a lovely rich shade of purple yarn, as well as a variegated purple, green and cream combination.  I used the 2 yarns together and knit the shawl using the "Feather and Fan" stitch.  I finished it just in time for her to take to the hospital.  I snapped a quick photo of it before it went to her:
The colours are more rich in real life, but you get a rough idea of what it looked like.
And, just because I was in a shawl knitting mood, I signed up to do a Knit-Along, sponsored by Red Heart yarns.  One of their designers, Marly Bird, designed a quick and easy triangular shawl.  A clue is released weekly, and I've managed to keep up so far!  I chose a neutral pale grey, but I'm thinking that I need to knit at least one more!  This is my in-progress shot: 
Again, the colour isn't very true...  The shawl is getting quite wide, and I couldn't show the full width of it, so you'll have to use your imaginations a bit.  The section on the needles is actually the bottom edge so far.  The final section (of four) is another lacy section, and then it will be done!  Quite a few of the participants are using variegated yarn, or are mixing it up with solid-coloured yarn for the stockinette sections, and variegated yarn for the lacy section.  It's got me thinking of using a variegated yarn for my next one.
So, you're almost as caught-up as I am.  I'm hoping / planning to have at least one more post to wrap up my Hands2Help projects.  They're to be sent out to their new homes by June 2nd.
I'm linking up with Sarah's "Can I get a whoop-whoop" and Kat's  "Sew some Love" posts.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Design Wall Monday May 1st

If you saw my design wall post last week, you saw my newest project.  I'd found a quilt kit on Pinterest - and, while I liked the project, a kit only made a 24"x32" quilt - much too small for anything I could donate for Hands2Help.  So, I figured out how to make the blocks, pulled fabrics, and started putting the top together.

I'm happy to report that I finished the top on Saturday!  That makes 2 tops finished in April - the other one was my Quilt UFO project for April.  Now that warmer weather has finally (maybe?) arrived, hubby can get my quilting tables set up again in our enclosed sun porch, and I can get these tops quilted up.
Of course, that means that my design wall needs something new on it!  Judy chose the May UFO project number, 11, which corresponds to my black and white disappearing 9-patch.  It's based on a quilt that Kat chose for a block drive for Covered in Love last year.  I thought that the block would look great using a number of Kona cottons for the center spot in the 9-patch, and I think it looks pretty good so far!  Of course, these blocks are just stuck up on the wall so far - nothing is sewn, and I've already moved a few blocks around since they went up - but have a look:
These are about half of the blocks - can't wait to see it sewn up!
Linking up to Patchwork Times Design Wall, Quilting is more fun than Housework's Oh Scrap! and Lorna's Let's Bee Social posts.


Monday, April 24, 2017

My design wall - April 24, 2017

Hey, I've actually got something up on my design wall!  I haven't had much time to work on any of my on-going projects for any length of time over the past 2 weeks, but I made time on Saturday to start a new one!
I'm SO thankful my daughter warned me not to install Pinterest on my cell phone - she told me that I'd spend all my spare time scrolling through the various pins, and I'd never get anything else done...  So, I resisted - for about 3 weeks...  Last week, I ended up having to wait for someone, and so, to kill a bit of time, I scrolled through the day's offerings - and found this pin.  I really had no use for a kit, and I'd actually have to buy at least 3 or 4 kits to make a quilt the size I needed.  It didn't look too complicated though, so I thought I'd see if I had any fabric to make the quilt.  (See hubby, it DOES pay to have a stash!)  I found exactly the right fabrics, got them cut up and sewed up a bunch of them - and then I noticed that two of the fabrics were directional, and to get the pattern right, every other block would be upside down...  So, back to the fabrics, cut some more, reversing the two "problem" fabrics, and laid out the blocks.
And this is what they look like!
I'm hoping to finish the top this week - not sure if I'll leave it as it is, or put a border on it - I'll have to see what it looks like then.
Linking up to Judy's Design Wall post.

Monday, April 10, 2017

A productive day!

It's been quite a while since I've actually been able to sit at my sewing machine for longer than 5 or 10 minutes.  My sewing room needed a major clean-up / sort out / purge (this is what's kept me from sewing for the past two weeks), and most of what I needed to do has been done.  Hopefully, I can finish it up soon!
Part of what started all this is the UFO challenge that Judy issued a few months ago.  I listed 12 projects that I needed to finish this year - some of them are at least 8 or 9 years old - and am trying to complete them in a month's time.  In order to make that list, I had to find some of the projects, and determine how much needed to be done - could I do it in a month?  Then I'd wait for Judy to choose a number - and then I'd pull that project, work on it, and hopefully finish it.
This month's project number was #1 - which was my pink and brown log cabin quilt.  A number of years ago, I belonged to a quilt forum - we had a great group of ladies!  We did a lot of block-of-the-month swaps, and then different projects - one of them being a log-cabin swap.  We each chose a log cabin pattern, and our colour scheme - then the administrator would pair us up and we'd make the block our partner chose, in her colours - and she'd do the same for me.  Unfortunately, we only made it through about 5 or 6 months before most of us lost interest....
I had chosen pink and brown for my colours - it was a good thing that I really loved those colours then, because I had to make a few more!  The strips had been cut, and actually moved with us twice, so it was definitely time to finish this project!
I had most of the day today to work on this quilt, and I'm very happy to report that it's finally a top - ready to sandwich and quilt!  Voila!
Now the one thing about sewing log cabin blocks is that you have to do a LOT of "stitch a seam, press a seam; repeat" - and in order to press my seams efficiently, I found it best to use a leader-ender project to avoid wasting the thread on my last wound bobbin.  So, I also managed to make a few scrappy blocks!  I've put them up on my design wall - and here they are: 
These blocks are super-simple to make - all of the parts are 2.5" x 4.5", so they are easy to cut up and the blocks go together quickly!  This probably won't be the final layout, but it gives you an idea of how bright and cheerful the quilt is going to be!  There are a number of charities that are looking for quilts just like that, so it will find a home soon!
Linking up to Judy's Design Wall post, as well as Quilting is More Fun than Housework's Oh Scrap post and She Can Quilt's Scraptastic Tuesday post.

Friday, April 7, 2017

On the Needles Fri. Apr. 7, 2017

I have a finish to report today, as well as my next "works in progress".
I'm part of the TinCanKnits group on Ravelry.  They recently partnered with 7 other knitwear designers to create 9 unique sweaters using the same body and sleeves - the women each designed a different yoke pattern that worked with the body / sleeves.  Sales of the patterns funded the purchase of mosquito netting for the "Against Malaria Foundation".  
I chose to make the "Tenderheart" pattern by TinCanKnits, in teal and off-white for my son-in-law's nephew, baby Owen.  He was born in November, but I didn't want to make a baby sweater, so I knit it in the 2-4 year-old size.  I hope his mom likes the colour!
Another group that I belong to on Ravelry is the "17 in 2017" group.  We've been challenged to complete 17 items this year - hopefully (in my case), works in progress.  Every month we're issued a specific challenge, and I try to match it with a project on my list of unfinished objects.  
My oldest daughter's best friend (Erin) from high school had her first baby (a boy) last summer.  I've been working on a sweater for him for quite a while now, and it's SO close to being done.  Well, the challenge for April's 17 in 2017 is "Doubles".   

The group moderator wrote "Suggested ideas for doubles:
  1. Mittens
  2. Socks
  3. Two projects from the same designer
  4. Repeat of a pattern you have previously used"

I just found out that my cousin's 2nd daughter is expecting a baby girl this summer, and I thought that I'd take this opportunity to make a girl's version of the sweater that I made for Erin's baby - here are the backs of the 2 sweaters - the blue one is for Erin's son, and the red / multi colour print is for Melissa's baby:




Getting these 2 sweaters done this month should keep me busy!
Linking up to Judy's On the Needles post, and also to Sarah's Can I get a whoop-whoop post.

Friday, March 24, 2017

On the Needles this week, and some other goodies!

Here it is - Friday again...!    Both DH and I have a parent that has dealt with some serious health issues in the past 2 weeks, and the days seem to have just blurred into one another.  Of course that means that not a lot has happened in the crafting department.  I can't remember when I last sat at the sewing machine, but I have managed to get some knitting done (you can get a lot of "mindless" knitting done in hospital waiting rooms!).
You'll probably remember my sweater project from 2 weeks ago - I've managed to finish the second sleeve, and the body up to the yoke section; I've joined in the sleeves, and am now starting the yoke fair-isle patterning.  The pattern is Tenderheart from Tin Can Knits - they collaborated with 7 other knitwear designers to produce 8 different sweaters using the same standard body and sleeves - but with the twist of having each designer create a unique yoke.  Right now, there's a Knit-Along going on - we have until April 18th to finish our project, and there are some pretty sweet prizes!
Here's my progress so far:
You can see the picture of the completed sweater design on the pattern page.  I'm making the 2-4 year-old size - hopefully, the little guy receiving it will get a lot of use out of it!
I did have about an hour to make a few cards one evening.  Two friends were celebrating birthdays; we also had a few deaths in our church family...

These cards have gone out to the folks that needed them, and I ended up with a few extra birthday cards so I'd have some on hand.
Hopefully, the next few weeks will be a little more settled than the past ones have been -  I need to get going on a few quilting projects, and there's been another baby boy born, so I picked out another sweater pattern this afternoon.  I'm hoping that I can use some stashed yarn for it.
And finally, in the middle of the chaos that we've had, we've had some fun too!  Meet some of
our newest "family members":


I'm linking up to Judy's On the Needles post.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Blocks, blocks and more blocks!

It's been an absolutely crazy week - and I thought I'd have a few days to get some sewing done...  Well, that didn't happen quite the way I thought it would, but it is what it is.  I did manage to get a few seams sewn on Monday, but Tuesday and Wednesday were too busy with more important things. So, that brings us to today, and I made up for lost time!
First off, Kat's charity Covered in Love is hosting a block drive once again - a very interesting textural 3-D block that she calls "Grandad's Shirt".  She asked for blocks using black, grey and blue fabrics - and I managed to make 5 blocks:

Next up, while I had those fabrics out, I cut a few strips and squares to make more  "Raspberry Kiss" blocks:

They aren't the most exciting colours, but when added to the rest of the blocks on my wall, they'll fit in quite nicely!
And finally, I got to work on the stack of blocks that have been piling up on my sewing table - these are for my 150 Canadian Women quilt.  I'm still behind, but I've managed to get close to being caught up again:


Linking up to Leann's Scraptastic Tuesday; Cynthia's Oh Scrap;  Kat's Sew Some Love; and Quilting and Learning's Celebrate-Fetons-150-in-March posts.

Friday, March 10, 2017

My latest "doings"...

It's Friday again - time to share my latest knitting project - well, one of them at least!
Several months ago, the ladies behind TinCanKnits "conspired" with several other well-known knitwear designers to produce Heart on my Sleeve - a compilation of patterns to raise funds to purchase mosquito netting for malaria-areas of the world.  The idea was that a pattern would be purchased (the body is the same for all) and each knitter would be free to choose from the various yoke and sleeve options.  There's also a bit of incentive - there are prizes for any sweaters completed before April 18th.
It just so happened that I was in need of a sweater for my daughter's newest nephew - born in November - and the HOMS patterns start at 0-6 months and go to adult size 4XL.  I had already purchased some dark teal Ultra Mellowspun yarn from Mary Maxim, and had knit about 4" of a sweater, but I wasn't really thrilled with the way it was turning out, so I had no problem "unknitting" that project.  That freed up the yarn for a gorgeous fair-isle yoke styled sweater.
I've managed to complete one sleeve, and have most of the second one done; I've also knit about half of the body section.
This photo doesn't show the richness of the teal colour, but you can at least see the progress I've made since I cast on last week Monday.  The yoke will have an off-white yarn for the contrast in the yoke.

You may also remember the sweaters I've been knitting for my grandsons - and I'm happy to say that they are done - except for the buttons being sewn on - and blocking...   This is "Antler" from TinCanKnits - the light sweater is a size 1-2, and the darker sweater is size 2-4.  Hopefully, I'll get the buttons on tomorrow and the boys can have their sweaters!  They should fit them this fall - and hopefully next year too!

Linking up to Judy's On The Needles report.

Monday, February 27, 2017

Design Wall Mon. Feb. 27 / 17

Another Monday has come (and is almost gone), and I've got progress to report!  Is it on the two items that I need to finish for February?  No, of course not...!  Why would I want to deprive myself of the angst that comes from procrastinating?  Haha...
As I mentioned in my last post, I've stumbled across a really fun new project (Raspberry Kiss blocks), and I can't stop making blocks for it.  Thankfully, I found directions for making 9" (unfinished) blocks, instead of the 5" (unfinished) blocks that most are making.  I probably would have made the blocks anyway (I've made quite a few tiny quilts - those are large in comparison!), but these blocks will get me to my finish so much sooner.  I picked up a few new low-volume FQs at my LQS last week, and I'm putting them to good use - as you can see:
This is not a final layout - I have a lot more blocks in varying stages of completion, but this shows my progress quite nicely.
Also on the Design Wall today are 2 more blocks for the Big Quilt Bee - these blocks will go to my guild meeting in 2 weeks, along with the other 4 that I've already made.  We're planning a sewing day to assemble as many tops as we can; they'll then be quilted and sent off to benefit a child / family that needs the services of Ronald McDonald houses across the country.  I managed to get the "150 years" portion of the fabric in one of the blocks.  I'm debating going for another FQ with a different colour scheme - I've finally used up all of my aqua scraps.


Linking up with Judy (Design Wall Monday), Cynthia (Oh Scrap!), Sandy (Let's S.E.W. link-up) and Kat (Sew Some Love).

Monday, February 20, 2017

Falling down a rabbit hole...

I have SO many quilt-y things to work on, and the last thing I need is a new project - but that was before I looked on Instagram yesterday....
Yup, I saw multiple "Raspberry Kiss Blocks" - and I fell for them - hard!  So, what did I do?  This morning, I started pulling scraps to make "just a few".  Well, actually, I think I cut enough bright scrappy bits of fabric to make a twin-size quilt.  I didn't have a lot of time to work on the blocks today, but I did manage to make 12 to start.  I've only recently started compiling a stash of low-volume prints (I love this 3 Blind Mice print!)
so I may have to work on that before I can get too much more done...  What's that - I have to go fabric shopping??!!  
This probably won't be the final layout - and I have quite a few more blocks to assemble, but it's a start!

Linking up to Judy's Design Wall post, and also Cynthia's Oh Scrap post.  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, February 17, 2017

On the Needles - 2 weeks later...

I didn't realize that 2 weeks had passed since I last posted!  We were able to get away for a few days over the last weekend, so that probably has something to do with it...  As well, both my father, and my MIL have been dealing with health issues that have taken up some of my time - and I had a nasty cold that zapped my energy for a few days too.
So, now that you've heard all my excuses, I do have a few things to share!  I managed to finish the baby sweater and hat for my friend - before the baby was born.  My friend was thrilled with the outfit - and as soon as she sews the buttons on the sweater, the baby can come!

I was also able to get quite a bit of knitting done on my grandsons sweaters!  (An 8 hour drive each way on our trip helped...).  The picture from 2 weeks ago clearly shows two sweaters, with one sleeve between them - and now, the sleeves have all been knit, added in to the sweaters, and the cabled yokes have been started.  I think I have to knit 5-6 cable repeats, and I'm 2 rows into the 2nd cable round.


I'm hoping to have them done for the end of the month to meet my Ravelry goal... to finish these 2 sweaters (on my way to finish 17 items in 2017).  I completed 3 in January; this will bring the total to 5 done!
Linking up to Judy's On the Needles report.