STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  .125 yards

Fabric used year to date  184.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  148.625 yards

Had to do a bit of sewing this week - I was going through stitching withdrawal!  This accounted for the hexagons that I stitched to guest towels - not much, but every bit counts, and they are finished!

Now back to packing.....

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

HEXAGON FRIDAY

I'm supposed to be packing and cleaning, but......

I was straightening up my sewing table, and found my basket of 1/2 inch hexagon papers and leftover hexagons, so I just had to stop and sew.

 I love using tiny "fingertip towels" for my guests, and I have a collection of plain ones, just waiting to be decorated.
The three blue flower units were already stitched together, so I linked them with 2 neutral hexagons, then machine appliqued them, using a small blanket stitch, to the towel, using monofilament (invisible) thread in the needle and white in the bobbin.  Then I did the same with the zig zag strip of hexagons that I pieced while watching TV.  These will be really quilty accents in my powder room!   I may make some more for sale at my quilt guild's show in the spring.

ON THE NEEDLES

I have nothing to show - knitting wise.....
I delivered three bags of mitts, slippers, scarves, hats and a shawl to the cousins last weekend.  They were happy that I made some smaller mitts and slippers.  I have tiny amounts of alpaca yarn left, but not enough to make anything!

My house is a disaster, as we are gathering items to take south for the winter.

The red case holds my Bernina - it is going in for its annual cleaning as soon as we arrive south.  I have my quilt tool bag packed, holding cutting board, rulers, cutters, scissors etc.  My containers of strips are ready, a small duffel full of fabric, and a large black bag full of books.  Since I am in charge of the weekly quilting group, I take a few books to use if members are looking for ideas or inspiration.  I have 1 of the 4 large totes packed, but have 3 more to go.  DH also has to pack his guitar stuff, music books, amplifiers, cables, etc.  Right now he is washing the kitchen floor - we like to leave the house clean - much better greeting on our return!

Back to packing (wish I was knitting!)

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing again, so I won't be sharing my design wall again until I am back in quilting mode, in the sunny south in a couple of weeks is everything goes to our current plan!  Lately it seems that thinks are changing every day - more about that later.

Here is the toiletries case I made for SDIL2
I used "Soft and Stable" for this one, and I think it would be better if I use batting next time.  My original one is much softer.

It has four zipper compartments, made of clear vinyl.  I quilted the outside layer first, then used fusible vinyl so that each compartment is waterproof, except for the stitching lines.  Mine is great for packing a damp toothbrush etc., and wipes clean.

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

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  2.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  184.5 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  36 yards

Net used 2014  148.5 yards

This might be my last report for a few weeks.  We are getting in the "packing to head south" mode around here.  

I spent some time making a baby sleeper this week.  I had to change the pattern a bit to accommodate the zipper closure.  I dislike working with snap tape, and I don't have a snap setter tool.... ,  The knit fabric was in my stash so I get to count it!

I also made a toiletries case for SDIL2.  Picture to come later.  I made it similar to one I own, that I've had for years.  If I make another one, I'll make a few changes to make it easier to assemble.  Making this makes me really appreciate all the work that StudioKat Designs goes through to design and test their wonderful purse patterns!  It is not as easy as it looks!

I thought I'd also show the baby shawl that I made earlier in the spring.  It will be delivered to DS2 and SDIL2 this week.  I'm going to be a grandmother in January!  The pattern is from a "Beehive for Bairns" knitting book from the 1940's - another from my mother's collection.  I like to think that she was looking over my shoulder while I was making this!  It is all knit in garter stitch, which makes it reversible.

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

ON THE NEEDLES OCTOBER 10TH 2014

This will probably be my last knitting post for a while.  I'm down to the final skein of alpaca yarn from our cousins' herd, and I'm hoping to deliver the finished items to them next week.

I've been using all the part balls, and small amounts of leftover yarn to make the final few items.  I have finished another pair of slippers and some striped mittens.

This is the first of the pair of raspberry and cream houndstooth patterned mittens.  I use an old Beehive pattern for 2 needle mitts, and this one isn't stitched together yet.  The thumb is cream, as that is the colour of the stitches in the pattern when I began the increase rows.  The stitch pattern was in an old knitting stitch book that I've had for over 40 years, and is only a 4 row pattern.  As you might guess, I get bored with plain knitting easily, and either need to play with the stitch pattern, or the colour pattern.

I'm not sure if I'll be asked to make any more items for our cousins right away, or if they'll wait until spring, when we return from the sunny south.  Of course, I'll be in full "upcoming quilt show mode" by then......

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

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My design wall is empty!!!!  We had a great visit with our family for the past 4 days, so no quilting went on.  I just finished a vest to be donated to  my guild's boutique at the quilt show next June.

Of course, due to Murphy's Law, we had problems with one of the toilets when we had extra people staying in our townhouse.  DH had to remove the toilet for a day to make some repairs.  Couldn't leave it disconnected, so reinstalled it by night time.  Sunday after our family departed, I helped him to remove the toilet and the flooring (thank heavens for the vinyl floating flooring that we installed), and we have the dehumidifier and and a fan thoroughly drying the subfloor.  We'll re-install things back to normal tonight or tomorrow.

Since we will be heading south at the end of the month, I've been spending time making up kits for projects I want to complete over the winter.  I have some special ones for our first grandchild, due in January!  I've even dusted off my dressmaking skills and plan to make some baby clothes for the new arrival.  I have some older patterns for baby items, and while some of the things are very dated, there are some great patterns for basics, including sleepers.  I remember all the "stretch terry " sleepers that mine wore, but it seems like most of the commercial sleepers are is cotton knits.  Guess I'll have to dig out my ball point needles for knits too!

We have planned to visit the future parents in 10 days, to help set up the nursery (including shopping for some of their must have items).  I'll probably be sending items north all winter too!  We're excited to have our first grandchild - can you tell?

Check out the wonderful work shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week   3 yds

Fabric used year to date  181.75  yds

Fabric added this week   0 yds

Fabric added this year  36  yds

Net used 2014   145.75 yds

I finished my picnic placemat in time to donate it at my guild's Wednesday meeting.  I also completed 2 vests, one donated and the other will be delivered at the executive meeting later this month.

I haven't done much sewing since, as Thursday morning DH and I had our final dental visit of the year, then headed to the train station to pick up our 2 sons and 1 daughter-in-law for a visit.  They all took Thursday and Friday off.  I love having them visit.  They all enjoy playing board games, and sit around the table, laughing and joking with each other - it is wonderful to hear!  Occasionally DH and I are convinced to join in, but their idea of a game with simple rules is usually not accurate!  Our thanksgiving weekend is next weekend, so I took the opportunity to cook my turkey dinner a week early.  Neither couple cook a turkey very often, so they look forward to all the favourite turkey dinner side dishes.  A good friend that they only see on their visits home, joined them for some games on Friday and Saturday, so he enjoyed the turkey dinner and the leftovers too.  The house seems so quiet since we returned them to the train station for a 1pm departure.  Now time to catch up on email, laundry etc.

Check out Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to see all the weekly stash reports.