With dogs, cats, and a couple of houses. On to my daughter’s Christmas quilt.
The back.
The front.
Archive for the ‘Sewing’ Category
Red Yellow and Blue Quilt
October 5, 2012I Made a Mistake
September 27, 2012Last Friday, I drove over to Easton to buy a few extra yards of fabric to coordinate with a kit I had bought. I want to make it big enough to cover a twin bed. After finding what I needed, I had a look around the shop. Sitting in a basket with some boring pre-cuts, was a gorgeous six-inch jelly roll of Kaffe Fassett Collective in Fire. I didn’t want to buy it. Really. I didn’t. But I did.
Not the best picture, I know. But I was in a hurry.
Sweetums fell in love with it.
“Is it enough to make a quilt?”
“No.”
“Can you get more? It would look great on our bed!”
Oh my. What have I gotten my self into? I should have known better. What was I thinking? So. After spending about two days and two hundred dollars at various websites, I think I have enough for a queen quilt. I just hope he doesn’t bug me too much about getting it made.
I still have this one to finish. I think I have to make Dot one of her own.
Beautiful Days, Cool Nights
September 19, 2012It is hard to stay inside when the weather is perfect . And, of course, I had to several reasons to be out and about yesterday in the rain. Today, its windy and cooler, so I’m waiting for the sun to shine out back. I’ve gotten a lot of knitting finished, including my daughter’s vest. I also found some orange art deco buttons in my button box.
Here are the chicken mittens. In an effort to make these fit me, I used size 1 rather than 2. And it worked.
Here’s the yarn I used for my Color Affection scarf. I finished it in short order. It was extremely easy and got very boring, but the finished effect is beautiful. Sorry, no finished picture yet. It went too fast. And, now, my camera battery seems to be dead.
So. What’s next? I need to decide within the next ninety minutes. Sweetums has a blood test and we have to listen to the hoodoos recite the same old crap. I need to start my Christmas knitting. I also need to start my Christmas sewing, but we won’t talk about that yet. I bought some absolutely fabulous yarn to make my daughter a lacy sweater. My grandson is getting Coraline gloves with conductive thread in the forefinger tips so he can use his iPhone. I’ll also make him another cap.
New doorstop.
Chatting with Nancy
September 4, 2012I talked with my childhood friend for half an hour yesterday. We would have talked longer, but they was helping her husband paint. Ugh. I can’t help but think about the good times we had in Maine. She said she would like to visit her aunt, but flying almost anywhere from Bismarck is such a hassle. I completely agree with her. I loved my visit with her, but getting there and back was a real pain. I said that if my van wasn’t so old, I would drive there. I think she thought I was crazy, but I don’t mind driving at all. I could stop whenever I wanted and sight-see along the way. The only drawback is I can’t knit and drive at the same time.
I’m almost ready to put my quilt together. Instead of safety pins, I’m using Pimoors. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily they worked and how quickly they went. I liked them so much, the quilt is going to sit there until I get more. I ordered another hundred and I hope they get here soon.
Somethimes, I wish I could just sit down and follow directions, but I can’t. I get ideas, then more ideas. And the quilt turns out completed diferent from the original. I cut out some cats. That looked good, but I really did need some dogs. I thought I was finished, but then, I thought, where are they going to live. Well. A house of course. And a tree to finish it off. Finally.
I Can’t Sew!
August 26, 2012The weather has been really lovely for about a week and we haven’t had the air conditioning on. Sweetums bought a new window fan, but it doesn’t fit in the window. Frank to the rescue? Well, not quite. He has a couple of other things that he has to do first. But he did stop by and knows what needs to be done. Why can’t I sew? My sewing table sits near said window. So my table went one way and my machine went another until the fan is installed. I am so glad that I can knit.
Speaking of knitting, here is my latest project. I saw this yarn at Frivolous Fibers last week and had to have it. Janet said she spun it herself. Even better. I think I spent most of a day pouring over my books and internet looking for the right pattern. Coquille shawl in Knitty seemed to fill the bill. An unusual shawl for an unusual yarn. The pattern knits up quickly and it’s easy to see just what row you are on. I seldom need to look at the directions.
Last Tuesday, the “girls” and I went on a field trip. First stop was a quilt shop in Easton where Maria, as usual, couldn’t make up her mind. Then we had lunch at Sam’s in St. Michael’s. And finished with the yarn shop there. And, again, Maria couldn’t make up her mind.
PS– I want to apologize for the ranting last time. I guess I just expect someone twenty years younger than me who is working to have computer skills.
The Quilt
August 14, 2012I am so glad that I decided to go my way with this one. It’s been fun figuring out how much of each color I would need for each section.
I finished the main part, but yellow seemed to be the color I needed for the borders. I didn’t find any in my stash so I went internet shopping. I bought one yard each of three different yellows that I thought would work. I laid each one over the quilt and they all work. Happy dance.
I picked the pale one for the borders. But, I haven’t been able to work on it as much as I would like.
What do you do when your cat looks up at you and smiles?
Another Quilt
July 28, 2012Christa is having a ‘quilt-along’. Normally, I don’t join in on these things, but I had this jelly roll that’s been gathering dust for quite some time. So has everything else, but we won’t get into that. I also dug out some leftover fabric for the extra yard that was needed. It also gave me the incentive to finish my robe.
The jelly roll I had is basically two colors so I went with a paisley print to pick it up a bit.
I have sewn all the strips together. I laid them out to get a good look. I’m just getting all warm and fuzzy with it. I think I may have to go my own way on this.
A Day with Friends
June 23, 2012Serendipity was having a birthday sale so, naturally, we had to go. I left the house at 9:30 thinking I’d easily be there by 10:00. No such luck. I’m a few miles out when I thought to look at my gas. I had less than 1/4 tank nd I knew there was only one gas station and they always charge more than anybody. I turned down a side road and got out my GPS. I only had to drive three miles to save $0.16 a gallon and it was still along the way. But I was about 15 minutes late. I tried calling Maria, but she didn’t answer and her phone was full. How does voice mail fill up like that? I was going to beat her when I saw her, but I forgot. I knew it was useless to try Betty. She seldom even turns hers on. All that nonsense wasn’t even worth it. They were late too.
We had a great time. Everything was 15% off. They had various demonstrations going on and Maria’s favorite, free snacks. It is really hard not to get overwhelmed by so many beautiful fabrics, patterns, books, and kits. Somehow. I managed to get out of there with one pattern, on kit and three pieces of fabric.
And then, it was on to Sea Needles. They are only a few miles away. It would be stupid not to go. I was happy to see the new Noro magazine. Two of the on-line stores I use were sold out. Betty will become a first-time grandmother in December and I found some yarn that we both can agree on. I have a lovely pair of socks in Panda Silk so I know I’ll enjoy knitting with it.
Afterward, we had a very nice late lunch at the restaurant across the street. I finally made it home by 5:00, tired but happy. There is nothing like spending the day with friends, doing what we like to do.
Polyester—Not a Fan
June 11, 2012How can something as simple as this: 
Be such a pain in the ass to sew? Why do I put myself through this? I know that polyester and I do not get along. I just wanted to try something different. I should know better. I am a cotton person. You cut it. You sew it. You iron it. It just lies there. It makes me happy. It doesn’t look like something a seven year old made!
I think I’ll go make myself a nice cotton nightie.
Birthday Wishes
April 13, 2012I want to thank everyone for all the Happy Birthday’s that I received. It’s been a crappy week for me. I didn’t open my laptop for several days. Seeing those messages really made me feel better. To make a long story short, I was given a new prescription for arthritis and it really did a number on my bodily functions. The side effects were definitely not worth the little bit of relief I got.
The mittens are finished and I have started a pair of socks. I was going to make a scarf, but after trying several patterns, I went with socks. I am using a similar mosaic pattern.
I also made a little topper for the new kitchen table and I started some placemats, too.
Sorry, this post is kind of boring. I’m still not bright-eyed and bushy-tailed yet.
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 