Monday, March 31, 2014

A long report from the Sewing room

Andrew's top coming together
I've gotten much of Andrew's quilt together.  The big block are 4 string blocks, then sashing.  The cornerstones are red and I like the punch.  There is one more row to go and border.  Can't wait to see how the border will look.  I found some  black with Boo written all over it which I plan to use for the back.  I think this will be the cutest quilt.
Trimming half square triangles for my next project.

The best tools for trimming half square triangles are the small Broklyn revolver , A 3.5 Bloc Lock ruler and small rotary cutter.

Ah, the satisfaction of tariffed up units
My next quilt I want to do is a pattern by Bonnie Hunter.  Blue Ridge Mountain I think, anyway it takes 4 patches from 2 in. strips and Triangles cut from 3.5 in strips.  These triangles came from Alex's quilt which I didn't use.  Love that.

Trimming up left overs that needed to be put away.  It's so much easier a little at a time rather than a huge bag full.  Still have one of those.


Apple Crispers block exchange.  Love the high heel shoes 

I talked about this box of scraps that had been cut for these units.  I 'm still making the units.  These trimmed up to be 4.5 in.

I ended up with over 30 so far.
Someday I want to do a medallion quilt and maybe these units will go into it.

So this is the report from the sewing room.  I've not felt able to be in there much until recently, but it amazes me what I can get done in 2-3 days.  Also, trying to get cleaning done too.  I'm looking forward to another Bonnie Hunter quilt and more cleaning out, making scraps useful and so on.  I reorganized my embroidery and wool kits and hope to get started on one of these.  

I did start a new knitting project which is a KAL from Hertiage spinning and weaving.  No pictures yet, but the shawl started with 497 stitches.  Definetly long term project.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

On the wall

Been working on cleaning and putting together Andrew's quilt.Making progress on both fronts.  My goal is to take a wire basket drawer , refold and take out the short bits that can make strips or squares.  Most emphasis is on getting neutrals in my 2 inch drawer.  I think so far I've made more strips than I can count.  I use to( big emphasis on use to) just stuff any scrapes left from a project in a drawer no matter the size.  what a mess that has made over time.  However, I am now making progress in repurposing the scraps to a usable fashion.  Then I make sure I sew some every day I can.  Today, first up will be a back for Aidan's quilt.  Also want to do more on Andrew's quilt.  mean while I will cut more strips.



100 free half square triangles
I wanted to show the half squares that my friend was going to throw away.  She gave them to me and I sewed along with my string blocks.  Finished them before I left the retreat.

Friday, March 14, 2014

On the road again

On the road again to a nice retreat center in Prairieville, LA.  There were 10 of us and we were together last year at the same location.  It's a house purchased by a quilter and devoted to retreats for quilters.  Very nice.

I spent my time working on string blocks for Andrew's quilt (picture coming) and finished Aidan's top.  I also fixed a mistake on the Cletis Solstice quilt so it's a finished top too.  At Happy Scrappers when I showed this top, one of the ladies spotted a mistake in a heartbeat.  Every have that happen to you?  So glad I showed it.

Aidan's quilt 

Bonnie Hunter's Mystery

Buddy

The last picture is our new puppy, although he's 8, Buddy and we love him already.  Of course he's totally trained us by now.  He wasn't real happy about my being gone.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Latest finish in Knitting


I really like how this sweater turned out.  I adjusted the pattern to make 3/4 length sleeves and on the sleeves and bottom of the sweater a different finishing than the pattern called for.  I had gotten the ending from a knitting daily newsletter.  All that need up as beginning exactly what I wanted.  How fine is that!