Sewing Etc.

Holiday Forest

I’ve been busy with several quilts lately, but I at long last have completed piecing my version of Edyta Sitar’s Holiday Forest. My version is larger, much larger!

My plan here was to use up a bunch of the fabrics gifted to me several years ago by my friend Nanette who passed away last spring. She had purchased skads of this including 2 fat quarter bundles, 2 layer cakes and a jelly roll. She had started some piecing but the busyness of the fabrics gave her headaches, so she packed it all up and asked me to do something with it! It’s taken me awhile to make a big dent, but I am getting there.

I have made several SafeLite kits for Carole at My Carolina Home, a pillow case, and some pot holders but that was not getting the fabric used very quickly. A couple of years ago I decided that the holiday forest pattern could work with these bold prints, so I started cutting. The kit sat in a box for a long time, with just a block or four made every month or so. This fall I got serious about finishing it up and over the past month I have been putting the blocks together.

Once I had the main body together, I looked at what was left, and decided to add another column of aqua trees on each end.

Next came a plain border to stop the motion, and then I took out some square in a square blocks that Nanette had sent along. I added a few more to make enough for a top and bottom panel, and purchased some plain gold for the sides.

The finished top is now ready for a hanger until I decide which gradutating student will eventually receive it.

But there’s still SO MUCH fabric left. I’ve laid aside some of the 10 inch squares to make bowl cozies for my daughter, but there’s still a full fat quarter bundle and more 10 inch squares!

HQAL Update – March 29

Last time I had started some blocks for a baby quilt. I am glad I started these now, with no baby in mind, because it will take more than nine months to complete the stitching and sashing!

I started with the panda:

I have now finished him:

Next up will be Mr. Zebra! I am also seizing the opportunity to use up some more of my MIL’s embroidery threads. Using three strands takes a lot of thread, and using these up will clear out some more bits and bobs. Granted, I have some left over skeins from projects (remember those snowmen–I have three more skeins of that blue) but so far, I haven’t had to dip into my identified DMC stash, so I’m pleased!

Now I’m off to see what my quilting friends are up to, won’t you join me?

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, and Daisy

SAL Update – March 22

I’m happy dancing today, as I have finished the cross stitch on the second floral cushion. Next time I should have the cushion actually finished!

Here’s where I was:

And here it is completely stitched:

This was the most intricate of the designs, so I am glad to be finished with it before spring gardening begins in earnest! Yesterday was unusually warm, so we were out cleaning up from the tree coming down before Christmas. Things are looking better in the back corner now, and we are nearly ready for the construction crew when they finally get to us.

Now it’s time to enjoy a cup of coffee and visit the rest of my fellow stitchers. I hope you will stop by and take a look at what everyone is working on.

Thanks for hosting us, Avis!
Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

HQAL Update March 8

How can it already be a week into March? Spring is coming; it may already be here. The winter has been strange hasn’t it. Here in South Dakota it has been unseasonably warm and NO SNOW. We are praying for moisture, whether it be rain or snow because 75% of our precipitation usually comes March – May. Right now we are at 0.

Last time I shared with you my options for my next project…I have decided on the baby quilt. I have no specific baby in mind for this project, but someone gave me the blocks, and it seems a shame to let it sit in a drawer.

Once I started, I realized that these blocks are not real quick little pieces, so I’m glad I decided to do them; they could very well take longer than 9 months to complete!

Here’s the first block in progress:

I am going to attempt to use up some more of the threads given to me by my MIL, if they are close matches to the recommended DMC. The blocks are a bit of a thread hog, using three strands of floss, so I hope I can put lots to use.

I hope you will check out my friends and their projects using the links below. If you would like to join our little group, just let me know!

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, and Daisy

SAL Update – March 1

I’m beginning to think I may have a stitching finish by the next update! I have spent some time stitching most evenings lately, and have actually had lesson confetti stitching to deal with, which makes progress seem quicker at least! Actually, I think it’s because I finished the latest book in the Hierarchy series. Not my usual read, but I got drawn in, and couldn’t put it down. Now that’s over, and I am back to stitching every evening. 😛

Here’s where I was last update:

Here’s where I am now:

Several have asked about my new floss organization. I have a nice clear box with a handle that clamps on the side. It easily holds my floss bags, which I’ve placed in number order on the rings that came with the bags. Now my floss is always together, and I can pull the threads needed as I stitch. No need to organize threads for a new project or put them back in order. It works perfectly with my brain, though I think it may be a bit unconventional. Here’s a photo.

I hope you will take a few minutes to see what else everyone is up to, I promise you will be inspired!

Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

Still Knitting…

I have finally worked through all the loose bits of my acrylic stash! This afternoon I balled the final bits to be used for student ornaments next year. I spent just about a month knitting hats to be placed downtown for the homeless. The weather is due to turn cold this week, so I am finished just in time! (Unlike much of the Midwest, we have had a VERY mild winter thus far.)

With the hats completed, I will now turn my attention to finishing up a pair of socks for DH, and starting a pair for me. I also am ready to divide my wool sweater, so will need to spend some time writing instructions so I don’t confuse myself. More on that next week!

I am really pleased to have all of my cotton and acrylic turned into useful objects. It was worth focusing on it for the past six weeks. A good thing too, because there is a yarn order coming this week…I expect it will keep us in socks for the next 4-5 years or longer!

So how about you? Have you been cleaning out any odds and ends, or organizing your creative space?

HQAL Update February 15

Last update I shared my finished EPP project, and I had hoped by now to have selected another project. At this point there are two possibilities, hand quilting a lap sized quilt, or starting these delightful animal blocks gifted to me by a piano mom.

Hopefully, by next update I will have made a decision! See you in three weeks!

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, and Daisy

SAL Update February 8

It’s time for another update with my SAL friends. I’ve not done quite as much stitching this round, because I have been on a mission to knit up all of my acrylic left overs. I am making charity hats to be placed on the statues down town where the homeless are invited to take what they need. I am on hat number 4 and the yarn is dwindling, which makes my organizational heart happy too!

Last update I was here:

Here’s where I am now:

The end is in sight now. I am going to go back to the right side now and work toward the center.

Now I am off to visit my SAL friends, and to watch some more Olympics!

Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen

HQAL Update – January 25

Welcome back everyone! We took a break over the holidays, but now we are back and making stitching plans for the coming year.

I am in the middle of a yarn destash, so I haven’t thought much about my next hand quilting project, but I have a few things to work on, including some embroidery blocks for a baby quilt, so we’ll see what I settle on.

For now, though I want to show off the finished table topper I was making for my sister. I finished it and sent it off just in time for a house warming. 🙂

I quilted a grid for the white space and bound it with the charm squares left over.

The back is made of charm squares, so it can be reversed on occasion.

I am happy to say that she loves the bright colors, perfect for dreary Minnesota winters!

Now I’m off to visit the other members of our group, wont you join me?

Kathy, Deb, Sharon, Karrin, and Daisy

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link above

The Itch to Knit

While taking part in a sewing room declutter for the January pop up, I decided one way to eliminate some containers of yarn was to just use them, so I have been popping off dishcloths, working on them while chatting with my sister or DH, and a bit in the evenings.

I ended up with seven dish cloths, several of which will be suitable for the gifting; the others will be utilized here at home.

Next, I will be knitting up my odd worsted acrylics into hats for the homeless. We put them on the statues of the presidents down town and the homeless can take what they need. It’s been several years since I’ve “dressed the Presidents”, so it’s time to clear out the extra yarn!

I also have a pair of socks on the needles for DH. He loves worsted weight socks, but they seldom come with the necessary nylon to make them suitable for every day socks, so I use two strands of fingering weight and that works perfectly. This pair is made from a strand of KnitPicks Stroll and another specialty yarn that is wool, silk and polymide. They are so squishy and soft he doesn’t care about the wild color.

I also have a wool sweater for me that I have been working on this fall and winter. I have been working on the body, which takes forever when working in the round; more on that later.