W.I.P.

In addition to sewing bags for my kimbuktu shop, gardening, and getting ready for our youngest grand's birthday party next weekend, I've been knitting up a storm.

A Brickless shawlette from Martina Behm is my latest finished project, and I am thrilled with it!

A number of other projects are on my needles as well.  One of the groups on Ravelry I belong to, is having a summer-long Stash Dash.  The object is to knit, crochet, weave, or spin your way through 5K of yarn between May 23 and August 7th.  That's 5486 yards of yarn!

We are keeping track of our finished projects with pictures and counters.  The counter image below shows my yarn tally so far.

I am having lots of fun choosing projects, learning new patterns, and using up yarn from my stash.

Hope you are enjoying your summertime activities!

W.I.P.

I made these knitted ornaments as Christmas gifts

for the ladies in our Knit n Purl Girls bi-weekly meet-up.

Pattern is from issue 8 of Knit 1-2-3 magazine.

The projects below were also finished recently.

Boot Cuffs

and a matching hat for my middle granddaughter

Plus, all projects from my last W.I.P. post have also been completed.  Whoohoo!

Now, what can I start on next....

How are Your Christmas Gift Projects Coming Along?

Here are a few projects I am working on right now in various stages of completion.

A scarf and hat for my son

A hat for my daughter

A mobius scarf for my son's fiancé

and kitchen curtains for my son's apartment (though not technically for Christmas)

I also have a lace and cable hat in the works (not sure who it is for yet), and two other Christmas gifts in queue in case I have extra time.

HA!

How are your Christmas Projects coming along?

W.I.P.

We were on vacation this week, but that doesn't mean I didn't work on any crafty projects.

The wollmeise scarf I have been making for my husband went on vacation with us.  I even had a  buddy to chat with as we knitted.

Of course we did other things too, like going to the beach, biking into town to the French bakery, shopping, and enjoying meals together.

This scarf is taking forever.  Every time I think it is done, my husband says that he wants it longer!

What have you been working on?

I've linked up with Adorned from Above, and We Did It Wednesday.

W.I.P.

I got in some gorgeous yarns this week, and started a new scarf for my husband.  This is my first Wollmeise yarn (for you yarnaholics).  I purchased it to make a cowl for my daughter, but she doesn't like the color, so it morphed into something for my husband who does.

I also got this yarn from a local yarn shop, and will be knitting a simple sleeveless sweater with it.  You can see the pattern pictured in the background.  This will be my first attempt at knitting something this big.  It is supposed to be a simple pattern, perfect for beginners, so hopefully all will go well.

Oh, and just in case you remember last week's knitting start with acrylic purple yarn, forget it!  I confirmed that I REALLY dislike working with acrylic, and won't be finishing that project.  Good thing the yarn was inexpensive.

No quilting this week.  Lots of time in the pool (since we've been having temps in the high 90's), and a little gardening.

So what have you been up to?

I've linked up with Handmade Monday,  Sew Much Ado, and Adorned from Above.

W.I.P.

I am happy to report that two projects went from "getting close" to FINISHED this week.  My Dancing Spools Quilt is done.  I'm honored that it was one of the featured quilts on Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday this week.

I  also did a tutorial on the scrappy binding, which you can see here. 

The knit tie for my son is also FINISHED.  You wouldn't think that such a narrow item would take so long.  I guess it is because the stitches are so tiny.

He was gracious enough to model it in these photos over a long sleeve shirt, even though the weather is in the 90's here.

I have some fabulous yarn on order (which I will share when it arrives).  But for my current knitting project, I am making a simple infinity scarf in purple yarn that I found in the bargain bin at AC Moore.

So that's it for me this week.

What have you been up to?

I've linked up with Handmade Harbour,  Fabric Tuesday, Sew Much Ado, Freshly Pieced, Free Motion Quilting Project, and Adorned from Above.

W.I.P.

This has been a week of "getting close."  Getting close to finishing a knit tie I am making for my son.  (This is an experiment, I don't know if he will actually want to wear it.)

Getting close to finishing the Dancing Spools quilt. Here it is all quilted and ready for binding.

The back of the quilt is kind of fun.  I used four spool blocks, but had them fade into the background fabric rather than contrasting with it.

I've decided to use leftover charm squares from the spools for the binding.  According to my rough estimate, a minimum of twenty will do the job.  And that happens to be exactly how many charms are left over!

I plan to cut each square in half (each section will be 2 1/2" x 5" wide), and then join the short ends into one long strip.  If all goes well, it should make a nice scrappy binding.

What have you been working on lately?

I've linked up with Fabric Tuesday, Sew Much Ado, and Adorned from Above,  and Freshly Pieced.

W.I.P.

I started two new knitting projects this week.  The first is a cabled bracelet for my eldest grand, who just graduated from 8th grade.   A nice small project, that was a bit challenging since it was my first time making cables.  The join is not pretty, but other than that, I am pleased with the results.  (I hope my grand is too).

The second project is a knit tie for my son.  I started with this pattern, (which I love), but is really beyond my current knitting capabilities.  Now I am just winging it, and have no idea whether it will work out or not.  I've started this over at least five times.  Does anyone know of a simple mens knit tie pattern?

On the quilting front, I put the finishing touches on a quilt for a baby shower this last Saturday.

The garden was calling this week, so the rest of my free time was spent outside.  My son and I began a landscaping project, which hopefully will be done soon.

So, what have you been up to this week?  I would love to hear.

I've linked up with I have linked up with Fabric Tuesday, and Freshly Pieced.

W.I.P.

Some finishes and a work in progress:

A whimsical baby quilt made with Amy Schimler's On a Whim Collection.  It was fun to free motion stitch around the flower, bird, and butterfly shapes.  If there were more time, I would fill in with some smaller motifs, but this quilt is scheduled to be gifted next weekend.

 I also finished a baby cap, and have a second one on the needles.

I included a beautiful orchid just for fun!

When I find a good pattern, I like to make it several times.  

(In case you are wondering, these photo collages were made with Mosaic Maker.  It is a great tool for displaying your photos.  An added bonus  -  it's free!)

What have you been working on this week?

I have linked up with Matariki Crafting,  Fabric Tuesday, Sew Much Ado, and Freshly Pieced, and Adorned from Above.

W.I.P.

My dancing spools top is pieced.  Next, I get to quilt!

I finished my first knitted baby hat this week too.

It was supposed to be for a baby shower in a couple of weeks.  I have a quilt to give as a present, but thought this hat would be a nice little extra.  However, the DPN's gave me trouble, and I will have to rework the top.  You can't see the unraveling because it is hidden on the other side.  

Since it is such a cute pattern, I've started another one.  Hopefully this one will be done in time for the shower, and I can sort out the first one later.

What have you been working on?

I've linked with Fabric Tuesday, Adorned from Above, Freshly Pieced, and Sew Much Ado

W.I.P.

My spool blocks wall quilt is coming along.  I am really enjoying making this pattern.  I'm using charm squares from Basic Grey to make a variety of "threads" on the spools.  It is one of those designs that are fun and easy to make.

Here are a few of the blocks laid out on my sewing room floor

On the knitting front, I've made progress on the boat neck sweater for my youngest grand.  

It is loosely based on the pattern you see in the magazine, which was designed for a baby.  I've changed the size, the color palette, and am only putting two stripes on the body of the sweater.  This pattern is a good design for my first attempt at a sweater because it is basically just two different size rectangles, one size for the front and back, and one size for the sleeves.  The yarn is an inexpensive cotton which shows the stitches well, is easy to use, and knits up quickly.

So those are the projects I am working on right now.  No strain on the brain, just enjoying the process.  What have you been working on?

Happy Crafting ♥

I've linked up with Fabric Tuesday, Freshly Pieced, Sew Much Ado, and Adorned from Above

W.I.P.

This week I made a summer bathrobe with some cotton fabric from Eclectic Garden from In the Beginning.

The pattern is my own design

Did some free motion thread painting on one of the baby quilts my daughter and I are working on.  This is a panel from Amy Schindler.

The stitching is more visible on the back side

And stitched my way through a stack of spool blocks because, what kind of week would it be without starting something new?

I am making a quilt pattern for charm squares

What have you been working on lately?  I would love to see.

I've linked up with Fabric Tuesday, Freshly Pieced, Adorned from Above, and Sew Much Ado