New Toy

 Yesterday my quilt group made our annual trek to the Arizona quilters guild quilt show, and I came home with this treasure! I have been dreaming of a new machine for quite awhile, I think I just plain wore the other one out. This is the Pfaff Smarter C1100 Pro and it is wonderful! Of course I got a great deal since I bought it at the show, a discounted price and all the quilting accessories. I wasted no time in taking her out of the box and putting her to work! This morning I finally finished up the star and chain top.

It was so nice to sew together all the rows without having to tug the fabric through every time I got to an intersection. Now I need to find the perfect fabric to back this with, some batting and get it loaded on the frame.Sounds like I need to take a trip to the quilt shop.

In keeping with my goal to finish some stuff up, I pulled this project out to work on next. This is another quilt kit that I bought in 1999. The pattern is called English Trellis and the fabrics are still so pretty, even 13 years later. I started working on it during our quilt retreat in August, but it was slow going to get all the strip piecing done and I didn't get it finished during the trip. I have 9 more blocks to make, then borders to add, so it really shouldn't take me more than a weekend or two get this top ready, but we shall see.
I'm still knitting away on my red socks, I am just starting the heel, so hopefully I will have a new pair in my drawer very soon!

UGH

Seems like the month of February was one big UGH for me as far getting any quilting or knitting projects done. It all started with my Noro sock.

This is another project that was started ages ago and I when I came across it, the first sock was about half done. After I finished knitting the first sock I got a funny feeling that there wasn't going to be enough yarn in my 100 gram skein for the second sock. Now I wear a size 6 shoe, so I have never had to worry about running out of yarn before, but I decided I better weigh the yarn and the sock to be sure I had enough. My sock weighed 48 grams and I only had 42 grams of yarn left. Wait, 42 plus 48 is 90, not 100. So obviously I will not have enough yarn to do the second sock - UGH  I went back to the shop where I bought the "light" skein and the owner said she really wasn't surprised to hear that, but she didn't have any more of that yarn. Now, I could just use what I have left and make the toes out of something else, BUT that will never make me happy, so I searched online and found another skein on ebay.

So, while waiting for my new Noro skein to get here I grabbed another sock project. This one had a completed first sock, but the second one had not been started yet. I set out to find the book that the pattern was in and it was no where to be found. I looked in all the usual places, still no book. I called my Mom, we often borrow each others books, and made her search her sewing room, no book. I called my daughter in Minnesota and she assured me repeatedly that she didn't have it. I texted my friend Sue and asked her to look, no book. All the sudden my youngest son was looking on my book shelf, with the other knitting books, and pulls out a book and asks, does it look like this one - it was there the whole time - UGH.

OK, well now that I had my book, I got going on the second sock. I found the pattern, cast on and started stitching. I knit, on and off, for about a week, when I got the feeling my second sock really didn't look like I remembered the first sock looking. I pulled out the first one and Lo and Behold

UGH, they are not same! Good grief. Now what do I do? Well my husband said that all that really matters is that they are both same color, right? WRONG. So, I could buy more red yarn and make 2 more socks so I could have 2 matching pairs or rip out my weeks worth of knitting and start over with the right pattern. I debated over this for quite awhile before finally deciding that I didn't need 2 pair of socks from the exact same red yarn and ripped out my mistake and started over.

Since the knitting wasn't going well I thought it might be time to think about some of my quilting projects. I have been doing the 2011 designer mystery block of the month from Fat Quarter Shop. Originally I was a little uninspired by the blocks when they came and they were all piling up, untouched. Then I saw a picture of the finished quilt pattern, super cute! I went out to order the finishing kit only to find they are all sold out, well of course they are, this is how everything has been going lately. After 2 days of scouring the internet I thought I had found all the fabrics I needed and placed my orders. The first package arrived and sure enough my order was wrong - UGH. The website apparently hadn't been updated for a few days and they really didn't have all the fabrics or the quantities required. They sent what they had, but that really didn't work for me. Apparently this is all my own fault for not telling them specifically to contact me if they couldn't fill my order as placed. OK, whatever, they clearly don't need anymore of my money. So after more online searching, I think I have the rest of the fabric on its way.

This is why I never finish anything - sometimes it just feels easier to start something new.............................

However, March seems to be starting out a little better. I sewed up a couple more rows on my Stars and Chains quilt and I really love it so far .This is the top third of the  quilt.

And as long as I don't have anymore UGH moments, this will soon be the bottom two thirds!

Hope your knitting, quilting or whatever makes you happiest goes smoothly for you and you are not plagued bu the UGHs.

Weekend Away

Last weekend OJ and I got away for a few days when we took a 3 night cruise to Ensenada. We had a great time even though it was a short trip. Aside from a few great pictures, a bottle of tequila, some vanilla and a new leather bag, I also brought home a fantastic cold. Hard to say if I picked up the bug on the ship, the shuttle bus or the airplane, but I  got it in spades. My head is finally clearing up so I thought I would post some pictures of some more finished items up.

This bag was knit my niece years ago, in fact she was still in high school and now she is 21. Anyway, it was her first knitting project and she asked me to bind off and felt it for her - well like 4 years later I finally got it done. It is a beautiful bag and I can't wait to finally give it to her.

These socks were started a couple of years ago. The pattern is Anniversary socks from the book Interweaves 25 favorite socks. The yarn is Nature's pallet and they were knit on size 1s with 64 stitches cast on. I absolutely love the color of this yarn, it has so much depth and the feel is wonderful.
I am working on another pair of UFO socks - so if I can keep up this pace I should have another pair ready to share soon! Hopefully next weekend my stuffy head will be gone and I can get back in my sewing room.

Productive Week

I was able to finish a few more items this week.

A few years ago at the AQG quilt show I starting collecting java themed fabrics to decorate my family room/kitchen area. Last year I made this table runner.

Last weekend I finally finished the coordinating table cloth and quilt for my side table.

The little quilt for the side table was made using charm squares and the little twister tool. Here are some pictures I took while I was making it, it really is a fun and quick project.

I also went out and found the perfect buttons for the red sweater I finished last weekend thanks to Todd at Jessica Knits I was being particularly fussy and was ready to give it up when Todd pulled out these perfect buttons - love them!

Hopefully I will have more finished photos to share soon!

2012 is here!

This is my first post of 2012. I hope that everyone's Christmas was as wonderful and blessed as mine was this year. Emily came home for Christmas and brought her boyfriend Geoff for us all to meet.

This year I made everyone matching pajama pants to wear. The family were all good sports about the whole thing and even smiled in the picture - after all it was all about the picture anyway. Of course we know that I am a pretty darn good quilter and an OK knitter, but I am NOT a seamstress. But thankfully my Mom is and as always she came to help me sew these things together. Why in the world do we have to make such huge seam allowances? Oh well,  they are done, they all fit and no one cried, LOL.

Like everyone else I am starting the year off with big ideas and plans about finishing all my UFOs. Well not ALL of them, I may not live long enough for that, but I would like to make a serious dent in the pile. So far I have finished 2 sweaters and a dish cloth, all projects that were started eons ago. 

It feels really good to get things done, hopefully I will have lots more finished projects to add as the year goes on. Happy 2012 everyone........

Almost done!

Had a busy weekend of sewing....first I made this little tote bag. It is the third time I've made this pattern, the little charmer. Just need to find that perfect button for the pocket, I have visions of a dark wooden one.

Spent most of Saturday helping a gal from the poker club pick out fabrics for quilts for her niece and nephew. We hit 3 shops and had lunch. Of course I had to buy a new Miss Rosie's pattern and a charm pack and some osenberg fabric, all for different projects. LOL

Then yesterday, I worked on my Washington Medallion. The only thing I have left now is to add the last small border. I have a brown already picked out for it, but I want to see if I can get more of it to bind in also. Also, OJ didn't love it and he typically has a good eye for these things, so I am going to look around and see what else is out there first.

Spent over an hour searching for a cloth tape measure last night, did a pretty job of cleaning up my sewing room during my search only to have Nathan find it for me in the front room, LOL

I am many weeks behind on my Jo Morton block of the week, so I got one of those done also. All in all a very busy weekend.

Sunday Update

Last night we took OJ to PF Change for his birthday dinner with his parents and sister. It was really fin and the food and service were wonderful as usual. The only downside was that we were a party of 11 without a reservation and had to sit on the patio unless we wanted to wait about an hour and a half. It was pretty darn hot, but still a good time.

Finished my pieced borders for the Washington Medallion today. I love the way they turned out. The blocks do not have white centers like it looks like in the picture. Those are post it notes with the block position so I can keep everything in order. Next week I hope to get the top all done!

Here is a picture of the my progress on the Hexacomb Sweater.

And one final picture, this is a bag that I made for my friend Judy. She was gracious enough to gift me her crazy quilting supplies and stash in return for my help in finishing up this little bag for her. I pretty sure I got the best end of this deal! Thanks again Judy :)

Washington Medallion Progress

I have been busily working on my my pink and brown Washington Medallion quilt. I have finally completed all of the blocks and pinwheels.

I have also cut out all the setting triangles, so now I just have to put it all together. I am pretty excited about the way it is all coming together and even have a spot to hang it all picked out.

On the knitting front, I have completed the bottom part of the back on my hexacomb sweater and started the right front. The body is knitted from the bottom up all in one piece, then I'll go back and add sleeves. I love the yarn I am working with, it is so soft and has a wonderful drape.

My Fun Friday quilt group is going on retreat in a couple of weeks, I hope to get lots of quilting done while we are there, I already have a few projects picked out to take with me.

Nathan wanted me to add a counter to my blog, so I did - so far he is not very impressed by the number of hits I get, LOL - maybe I should try posting more often.

Ready to knit!

I am nearly done with the sleeves on a very heavy wool sweater. Since I live in Phoenix and summer is fast approaching, I decided to set it aside and start a new lighter project.



This sweater should be prefect year round since I work in an overly air conditioned office.

Totally twisted fun!

Wow, it has been over a year since I last posted, that is pretty bad. Oh well, here goes an update anyway. My Mom and I were out shopping and she bought a great new tool called a twist it ruler. Of course I had to use it first, LOL

So it is a great tool for using scraps, charm packs, etc. I had several charms left over from the my table runner and table cloth and I decided to use them to try out the new tool.

First I made a quick and simple top, using 24 charms and 3 inch borders


After that is done you place the template on the quilt and start cutting out little squares. It was kind of scary, but here is what it looks like when you are cutting up your little quilt....

Then you sew all the new little blocks back together and this little cutie is what you get. I love it!

EQ7 Contest

Congrats to my friend Mary who won a copy of the new EQ7 software. She is sharing her good fortune by having a contest on her blog. The prize you ask - EQ7, of course.

I have been designing quilts on graph paper with colored pencils and a calculator for years, but maybe it is time for me to learn to do it on the computer. Of course, should I be lucky enough to win, Mary may have to give me a few lessons :)

So jump on over to Mary's blog and follow the instructions to enter her contest.

http://mequilter.blogspot.com/2010/05/exciting-news-eq7-give-away.html

Socks Done

I finished a pair of socks already this year. They are my undulating rib socks. I love the way they turned out!



Currently on my needles is a scarf - almost done.
More later.

Undulating Rib Update

I have just completed the heel on sock number one - yeah!!! I decided to do the eye of the partridge stitch on the heel instead of standard one the pattern calls for. I like the looks of this stitch much better and it is so easy to do.

This week is shaping up to be a busy one. Zac has a very busy calendar, which makes me very busy too. Last night we had scouts, tonight is basketball, more scouts tomorrow and I think maybe more basketball on Thursday - yikes. The only up side to this whole mess is that I can get some knitting done while I sit and wait.

Undulating Rib Socks

We had a really nice Christmas this year, I hope you all did too!

I have started a new sock project. It is the undualting rib socks by Ann Budd from the book Favorite Socks.

I am using Opal Cotton yarn and size 1 needles.

I just cast these on yesterday, the pattern is pretty easy to memorize and seems to be knitting up quick.

Socks and Quilts

Here is a picture of my most recent sock. I am calling it the Yellowstone sock because I worked on it while on my trip to Yellowstone. The pattern is the Lichen Ribbed sock from the Nancy Bush book, Knitting Vintage Socks. I am using Tofutsie sock yarn on 2.25mm needles.

This is the second time I have made this pattern and I really like the way it turns out, although I am not that crazy about the pearl 3 together that needs to be done on the toes. The toe feels great when it is done, but that is a hard stitch to do! The heel is called the welsh heel and is pretty easy to do and fits and looks good.

On a quilting front I have been working on the Washington Medallion quilt. I absolutely love this quilt! The pattern is by Sue Garman and it is being offered as a block of the month from Homestead Hearth in 2 different color ways. I have chosen to do it mine in chocolates and pinks. Now people who know me well are probably wondering how it's going for me with others choosing my fabrics. I know I am a bit persnickety and opinionated about such things, but I have to say I have only had to make a few substitutions so far.

Here it is with the checkerboard row being planned. I really hated that the pattern had us strip piece (YUCK!!) I should have followed my own instincts here, but tried to be a good pattern follower. For me, not only is it less accurate to strip piece, but it also far too uniform looking for my tastes. I have spent more time ripping apart my strip sets to fix fabric placements than it would have taken me to just cut squares and create 4 patches. OH well, it is almost done and I think that the finished round will look good.

I have also been busy working on my Charleston Harbor quilt, my Cabbage Rose blocks and my Foxtail sweater, so I should have more pictures to come, as well as pictures of our trip to Yellowstone.

Update time

Hi all!! I have my last class tonight and then I am officially finished with school - YEAH!!!!
I have managed to get a little sewing in lately. I have finished 2 more of my Mother Earth blocks, several more Charleston harbor blocks and started on my Washington Medallion quilt. I have included pictures of the Mother Earth blocks.

I changed the layout for the block on top. I think it was originally intended to be an anvil, but I wanted a star instead, so I made it into a star.
I will have more pictures to come as soon as I unpack my camera. We moved last month and most of my life is still in boxes in the garage, so hopefully since I am done with school, I might actually have time to unpack now.

Well, that's it for now. I promise more pictures will be coming soon. Also, my friend Mary sent some instructions for linking posts together on my blog, so I will be playing with that soon too.