STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

No change to my stash numbers this week.  Sometimes I wonder where the time goes each day.....

DH's friend arrived on Friday afternoon, and they had a practice with DH's regular music partner.  I fed them an early dinner, and then they were off to entertain at a "Drive - In"  on Friday evening.  Lots of collector cars gather to visit and show off their latest projects.  This morning the 3 of them headed to the Syracuse area to meet up with another member of their group, who is visiting relatives there.  They are entertaining at a nursing home this evening, and then at 3 different places tomorrow before heading home on Tuesday morning.

They have a performance in our area on Tuesday evening, and then one more on Wednesday and two on Thursday.  The nursing home residents love to see them arrive, and enjoy listening to the music, singing along from time to time, and even get up to do a bit of dancing.

I had planned to get busy with some sewing and even do some baking this morning, but we had a power outage for a couple of hours, so I spent the time reading.

Check out the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ON THE NEEDLES

Or off, as the case may be. 

This is a small shawl, using the pattern "198 yds of Heaven".  More of the cousins' alpaca yarn, but this time blended with 30% merino, and dyed.

I'm looking forward to getting the scarf and shawl blocked, but right now my blocking boards are in the garage, behind a bunch of "stuff".  A friend moved recently, and the moving company underestimated the size of the load, and there were several bulky items that didn't make it on the truck.  We offered to store it, and I'm waiting for a call to have it picked up by the same movers. For now, our small garage is full!

I'm knitting a hat to match the brown scarf that I had finished.  It is hard knitting for others when they don't give any directions to how many of each type of item they want.  Oh, well - I'll just keep knitting!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I love doing applique, and I often wonder why I don't do more - until I look around my sewing room and see the piles of fabrics, chosen, discarded, rejected, etc.  It does reacquaint me with my stash, which is always a good thing!  I just have a few more small flowers, some buds and leaves to complete this block, and then I have to decide whether to make a small wall hanging, or continue on....

Unfortunately, I have some high priority items to work on, including arm protectors for my new chairs, and some baby things for my first grandchild, due in January!!!!!!!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

 

No change again this week.....  I've been working on my applique project, and knitting, along with a trip to visit our 2 sons and their wives, for our August birthday lunch!  Driving sure takes up lots of time, but the good thing was that we were driving away from the big city on Sunday late afternoon, and all the bumper to bumper traffic was driving the other way!!!!

 

Check out others' stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ON THE NEEDLES

I've completed 2 pairs of mitts. These were made with 70% alpaca 30% merino yarn, and the yarn was "tweeded" with 2 different shades.  I am making some various sizes of mitts this time - apparently they are big sellers for the cousins.

My next project is with 100% alpaca yarn. It is more of a fingering weight, so I decided to knit another lacy scarf.  This pattern has 16 rows, and I have to work slowly.  I can't wait so see it blocked so it can show its lovely pattern!

Visit Judy's blog, Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting today.....

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

A few more pieces prepared!  DH is out this afternoon, so I think I'll spend it watching a British mystery and stitching....

Check out all the creativity at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 0 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

 

I feel like my quilting is at a standstill!  I have been spending more time knitting, but I am still working on some quilting.....

 

 I've been doing some work on my appliqued flowered heart WH.

These are the fabrics that I've pulled from my stash to make all the flowers, leaves, etc.

I have had this neutral print in my stash for quite a while, waiting for the right project.  I have two flowers, along with some buds and leaves ready to stitch.  

I've already stitched each motif together, so I'll only have to sew around the perimeter of each motif.  There will be some individual leaves to add here and there....

Check out the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

ON THE NEEDLES

It seems odd to me that I'm doing more knitting than quilting lately!

Today we went to Tweed to visit the cousins who own the alpacas.  At our family reunion in late June, they had given me 9 skeins of lovely hand-spun alpaca yarn to make items for them to sell.  I delivered a whole bag-full of items, from scarfs and mitts to hats and mini-shawls.  They were surprised that they were completed so quickly.  They had been paying a local person to knit some items for the, but she took 20 months to return the few items.  DH is happy that I like knitting, especially with someone else's yarn - less money for us to spend!  When I do knit, it is usually to donate, so I'm happy to help the cousins with their business!

In fact they were so pleased that they asked if I'd like some more yarn to play with.  This is today's haul.  This time, most of the yarn has been blended with some merino wool.  It is hard to tell but the 3 skeins on the left end and the two on the right end of the bottom row are tweed, with 2 shades of tan and beige.  As you can see, the skeins vary in the number of yards, so I guess I'm heading back to Ravelry to look for some different patterns!

They were telling us that last fall they had people knocking on their front door looking for alpaca mitts, in any size!  I just finished winding the first skein into a ball, and the ribbing for the first mitten is started!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

 

This is the first motif for the floral heart wreath project.  I haven't done an applique project for a while, and this one has been waiting much to long!

I have pulled all the fabrics from my stash, so I can work on it at a leisurely pace, and even take the fabric south to complete the quilt.

I have been preparing the pieces using a "Floriani Stitch N Wash Fusible" stabilizer.  I cut the exact shape from the stabilizer, and iron it onto the back of the fabric.  Then I turn the trimmed edges of the fabric piece, using washable glue stick, and then glue the motif together, where it waits for hand stitching.  I still have a couple of leaves to add to this motif.   You may notice a couple of fabric pokies at the ends of the leaves, but this will get tucked under when the motif is stitched to the background fabric.

 Now that I have begun the project, I'm anxious to start stitching! 

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week 6.875 yards

Used year to date  157 yards

Added this week 0 yards

Added year to date 36 yards

Net used 2014    121 yards

I finished the second disappearing hourglass quilt, and finally started a new project - applique this time.

I found a lovely heart shaped flower wreath in a book many years ago.  I made a line drawing of the design, and even made one in reverse, but then I placed the whole thing in a binder.  The last few times that I looked at the design I was in the south, while my stash was in the north.  I finally decided it was time to pull fabrics from my stash to begin work on the project.  I have prepared one flower for stitching, but still have to work on the leaves.....

We had a busy week with eye exams, and DH had a procedure on his eye on Thursday.  He had a cataract removed a couple of years ago, but his vision has worsened again.  He finally saw the specialist on Thursday, who used a laser to remove some cells that had grown on the back of the tissue that holds the lens in place.  Happily, he is back to 20/20 vision in that eye!

We also visited both sets of "kids" over the weekend - lots of driving, but well worth it!

Check out the stash progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Finally - two finishes!

Both quilts are made from the same "disappearing hourglass" blocks, but have different borders.  The green version uses the pink butterfly fabric for piping.

 The blue bordered quilt uses some of the backing fabric for piping.  It is a blue and yellow print that has lived in my stash much too long, but made a great backing for this quilt.  
Now I have to get my creative juices flowing, and decide which project will be my next.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Used this week  6.875 yards

Used year to date  150.125 yards

Added this week  0 yards

Added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  114.125 yards

 

Finally a finish!  I finished one of the two "disappearing hourglass" quilts, and the second just has to have the binding stitched down.  I decided to do and unstuffed piped binding on these two quilts, so after stitching the binding to the back side, I machine stitch it in the ditch between the "piping" and the binding with monofilament thread.  I'll try to get a picture soon.

 

Friday night, DH and his friend entertained at a "drive-in" for antique and collector car owners.  There were lots of people walking down memory lane, looking a the cars, talking with their owners and enjoying the jukebox favourites.

 

Today we are off to a fund-raiser BBQ, sponsored by DH's music partner's service group.  The guys are entertaining again, and it looks like the weather will be cooperative.

 

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times to see other's progress this week.

ON (OR OFF) THE NEEDLES

I have finally used all 9 skeins of hand spun alpaca yarn, making items for our cousins.  The final two items are another scarf in the medium/dark brown, and a mini/shawl in the darkest colour.

I get bored doing plain knitting, so another scarf with lacy designs and cables.  It takes a little longer to make, but the constant changing pattern makes it more interesting.

 Here's a close-up of the stitches.

 For the final project, I dug out an oldie but a goodie.  This closes with 3 buttons, and is worn with the opening to the back.  It is wonderful to fill in an open neck winter coat.  I still have mine that I made many years ago, although I haven't worn it for a long time - not necessary in the south.  Some day we'll stop heading south for the winter, and then I'll enjoy wearing it again.
Check out all the knitted items shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.