Wow, I feel like I accomplished a lot today. I started this morning by completing the quilting on the Poinsettia quilt (official name Crimson Christmas). Then I got it bound and done. Next up was to box up and send the three custom quilts I had finished yesterday and Monday. I brought them to the Post Office, now that is a big check mark on the done list. I also completed a hat, but I think it is too small for the intended person. My head is a bit bigger than theirs and it is too snug on me. I also finished the Sea Urchin hat, just have to weave in all the ends. Then only one more hat to make, but that is one I have a few more days to do.
Up for tomorrow is to make a backing for the Arboreal quilt put it on the frame for quilting, and get a start on the Plaid pines quilt. I want to get all my gifts packed and out the door too. I usually like to have everything shipped and out the door by the first week in December. Since I was traveling last week I am a bit behind. Once that is done, hoping for Friday, I can get to enjoying the holiday and settling into a regular rhythm again.
I stepped away for a bit and got some more done. Finished weaving in the ends of the Sea urchin, and frogged then re-knitted the top of the Northwood cap. Much better, and done. It’s raining today, so there will be more sewing and finishing. I need to take a trip into town to drop some things off, make a few purchases, drop by the post office, and maybe have lunch with a friend.
This is a quick post. I am heading out for a few days, but in getting ready for this mini break, I have been stitching like a mad (not angry) person. On Friday I got the binding done on two of the tree quilts, started a new knit hat, and made a backing for tree quilt number three, LBQ Holiday Forest, and the diamond Creative Grids ruler arrived. Saturday I got the rest of the pieces cut and organized for the Poinsettia quilt, tried to get a start on the last tree quilt (need another triangle ruler- amazon to the rescue) and got the Holiday Forest top on the frame. Sunday, I finally finished the Fairy House, and got a few rows of long arming done, and more hat knitting. I pieced the Crimson Christmas poinsettia quilt so that when I get back I’ll able to get it quilted and gifted. Monday was a whirl wind of knitting while the long arm did its thing, and I managed to finish one hat, and make some headway on the other. Plus I seamed up the booties I have been knitting on the side. I only bought two things for Cyber Monday, tack cleaning sponges and envelopes. I am planning on making mesh bags with two or three sponges in them for my Barn mates. Last year I made them all little zippered bags for dog poo pick-up bags. There are a few less people this year, I think twelve. My bags will be based on a pattern from SewThankful.com . I need to check and see how much poly netting I have and the toggle thingies.
Four of the five quilt tops I am constructing are made with tree blocks. Plus I made a table runner with three trees from the scraps. This last one “Arboreal” is going together quickly. The blocks are large, the really big trees are 24″ tall, but I like how the fabric designs really show off. I was a little hesitant to use the white mistletoe print for the background, but I think it works well. These blocks are made with the stitch and flip method, and once I got everything cut, assembly line sewing was enacted. I am hoping to get this top together today. Also today, I want to get a few more rows done on the Courtyard Lattice quilt. Unfortunately there is some house cleaning that needs to be done, and then tomorrow there is meal prep for Thursdays feast.
My work on the Krista Moser Quilt-a-long has stalled, I got everything cut and many of the poinsettia petals done. However, I need the big diamond shaper ruler. I have the small and the mini, but my 60 degree triangle ruler isn’t big enough for the cuts I need to make. I had a coupon for Keepsake Quilting, so I applied it to the purchase of yet another Creative Grids ruler. It looks like it’s shipped on the 21st, so probably next week. I really want to finish this quilt as a gift, going to cut it close.
I really thought that I was going to finish the Fairy house last night. I finished outlining the tip of the roof Sunday, and figured I would cruise through the fill areas. When I sat down and looked there were still a bunch of vines and leaves that needed to be stitched. I concentrated on them instead, so maybe I’ll get it done this evening. I am thinking of taking a bit of a slow-down break from cross stitching this month. I have not been looking forward to the next house, the Haunted house, and this Fairy mushroom is taking a long while. I want to get my knitting projects finished too. Those Christmas hats won’t knit themselves.
I bought a yard of pink camouflage minky for a commissioned baby quilt last week. It is up in the mailbox, I would like a break from the red and green. I am thinking of a simple pinwheel and squares quilt, matching the pinks and brown/black of the minky. I also got some pink ombre yardage that looked like it matched these shades, I may have to wait a few weeks to get to it.
The first clue for the Bonnie Hunter annual mystery quilt (Old Town) was released last Friday. I’m not sure if I am going to participate, there is a lot going on this month. I am saving the clues though.
This past week has been productive. I am steadily working on the tree blocks for the third commissioned quilt, Laundry Basket Quilts ‘Holiday Forest’. I am making it larger than the pattern, I need 56 blocks instead of twenty. The blocks finish at 7″ x 12″ , eight across and seven down, for a 60″ x 88″ top. I worked out an assembly line rhythm for cutting and assembly. I try to make six blocks at a time, this gives me enough variety to mix up the fabrics and colors.
I finished the quilting on the Forest Den quilt last night. I had a close call with the top thread, I ran out of it with two rows to stitch. I was using a spool of King Tut, that had been around here for a while. I had a brief moment of panic, but I found a partially used cone in my thread drawer, phew. The quilting on this quilt used up about 600 yards, four and a half bobbins too. While the last rows were stitching out, I reorganized my thread drawers. Previously I had only two, now after a bit of cleaning out and purging some non-thread stuff, I have three.
In cross stitch news, I am nearing the finish of the Fairy house, with the completion of the purple flower. I have mentally put this project on the back burner for the next month, as hat knitting has commenced. I wanted to make this Sea Urchin hat from Tracy Doxey since last year. I had printed it out and had some yarns picked out for it, but made something else. I am beginning to think that I may only make one of these, as it does not go very quickly. I am also thinking of splitting the hat onto two circular needles, as the one is a bit too short. Although the short cable is easier to manipulate than a magic loop, it seems to make my hands cramp up a bit.
I got my fabric kit for the Crimson Christmas quilt-a-long. The third video is this Tuesday, so I am going to try to catch up later today. Of course, some people are already done, and posting their finished work on the FB page for it. It’s not a big quilt, 52″x56″, I want to give it as a gift before the holiday. I have made a few of Krista Mosers quilts, and I am enjoying the videos she is producing for this quilt. She explains her methods well, and how to get better results with the cutting and sewing of the pieces. All 60 degree diamonds, some bias involved. That, plus very well written patterns makes for a fun project.
Other rabbit holes, or in our case, ground squirrel holes, I participated in the Wasatch annual sale yesterday. The sale is 60% off plus I get an additional 25% off for being a master club member. I have been a member there (mostly) on and off for about six years. I gleefully added a bunch of designs to my cart from my wish list and from a brief search through the thousands of designs. Then I had to cross reference them with the ones I already own. Sometimes a design that is offered singly is part of a club pack, and usually the site will tell you it is already in your account when you try to buy it. I found quite a few of my “new” designs were already mine, and some I didn’t know I had. This further adds to need for me to catalogue my designs into some workable form. I bought a bunch of Christmas themed pantos and a few quilt block themed ones as well. In particular, a set for the Sew Kind of Wonderful quilt pattern called Mini-Rings. It’s a double wedding ring style quilt using their curved rulers. I also saw a new pattern on their site, that is coming out early next year, called Park Place. I would like to make it too. The Moondance Revival quilt I made earlier this year sold in a few weeks. These quilts are fun to make and great for using up scraps, I’m linking them here, so I don’t forget.
Early Christmas to the sewing room, I have started in earnest on the five Quilts with a Christmas theme. I finished the first, Courtyard Lattice yesterday. I had finished it Wednesday, but I realized I had sewn on one of the outer borders upside down. Thankfully before it was on the frame this time. I spent a little time fixing it, then continued on with the construction of the blocks for Seasonal Patchwork. I am making it a lot larger than the pattern calls for, 44″ x 52″, my version will be almost queen sized. The tree blocks in this quilt are a bit difficult to make as described in the pattern. I tried one and it was too wonky, I had to resew it four times to get the outer triangles to lay right so the block would be 5 ½” square. Creative grids rulers to the rescue. The Two Peaks in One ruler is perfect for cutting this size. The twin tree block is a bit more pointy though, and I am trying out the 45 Degree Diamond along with the two peaks one for these. I have a few more to cut and make for a total of 64 skinny trees. The stars are next, the pattern calls for folded corners, I have a dislike of that method. There will be some creative math involved this those too. It’s an 8 inch finished size block with four flying geese around a square in a square in the center.
Knitting projects have been progressing too, I am inching towards the half way point on the baby bear sweater/romper. The stitch holders are for the sleeves, and I am working on the main trunk part. There are only a few increases in each RS row, I have learned a new to me type of increase called a KLL and a KRL, much neater and they don’t leave a hole below. I printed out the instructions for them from Coco Knits, for reference. For some reason, I can’t seem to remember which is which. It’s because the KLL is made under the right needle and the KRL is made under the left needle. There is also a new to me thing called a shadow wrap, a different way of doing a short row. I think I am done with those for this project, as they are for neck line shaping. I am hoping to get this done before my trip in early December to meet the recipient :). Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the yarns I ordered for the four five Christmas hats I want to knit. Amazon has so spoiled me, as much as I hate to admit it. Remember the days when 4 to 6 weeks was the average time to get something delivered through the mail that you ordered through a catalog or over the phone? I still love to get hand written letters and cards too, sigh.
I did get the Forest den quilt on the frame, and chose an Oak leaf and Acorn panto for it. It is not as dense as the one I used for a few other projects, but still 25 minutes a row. Once this one is finished, I start the Courtyard Lattice one, I need to piece a backing for it first. My TODO list is growing. I did fix the errant diamond on the green peacock quilt top and pieced a backing for the Glow peacock quilt, those are in the TBQ pile too.
Finally, the Fairy House has been languishing, as knitting is taking over evening stitch time. I have made a little progress since last post. This week I think I averaged about 100 stitches a night. The next house, the Log Cabin, was released, along with a bonus house, The Tudor. Strangely, I am not too excited about the extra bonus, it won’t fit on my projects Aida cloth, and I think the past ten months of stitching on this exclusively, has worn down my enthusiasm a bit. I was watching a Flosstube with Lori Holt and she was showing her finished version of Lillies of the Field. I really miss working on that piece, but I know if I pull it out and work on it, the houses will go into the land of UFO’s.
Touch of Grey 