Some fun knitting

Due to the bank holidays, I wasn't able to get any more wool to continue with my aran cardigan, so I started  a hat, scarf and mitts set.

The hat was done in a day and was such fun to knit.  I don't normally do hats, but with the extreme cold we have been experiencing, I thought I'd better start being sensible.  Of course, now I have a hat, the temperature has risen!

The pattern calls for a pompom, but I think I prefer it without.  I may make one when I've finished the scarf just to see how it looks.

The mitts were very quick to knit too, so before the end of the day, the scarf was started.  As it has a cable pattern, it's going to take a little while to complete. However long it takes, I will be well prepared when the next snow arrives.

Slowly but surely

Slowly, but surely, we are all getting back on our feet and gradually getting back to normal.  The boys usually go away at this time of year, but due to the travel disruption caused by the weather, the boys are staying here all through the holidays.  It gives us a real chance to get back on our feet without having to rush doing it.

While I've been sat recuperating, I've been catching up on projects that have been filling my corner by the settee.  I've got the last three of the baby blankets finished.

 A lilac and white,

 and two using variegated wool.  One pastel shades of pink, yellow and purple.

 the other shades of cream, blue and brown.

The weather has also caused delays in the post getting through.  My crochet magazines were probably about two weeks late this month, but as soon as they arrived, I got this month's squares done.

I'm now concentrating on  my aran cardigan, though I may have to try and stock up on some more yarn.  I think I am half a sleeve and the collar short on finishing.  I'll have to check if there are some more stray balls hiding upstairs first.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and thank you to everyone for their get well wishes.  They have been much appreciated.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend

2011 UFO Challenge

Patchwork Penguin is hosting a UFO challenge for 2011.  You need to write a list of ten UFO's to finish next year.  Each month, she will pick a number, and that's the item to be finished for that month.  I've chosen ten, and if I only get a fraction finished, it will be an achievement.

Things are improving on the health front here, I've even begun the task of cleaning and throwing open the windows to chase out those germs.  At minus 10 degrees outside, it's a bracing experience.  While recuperating, I've even managed to do some crochet and have finished another baby blanket.  As I finished one just before succumbing to flu, I have one more to finish.  All being well, I should be feeling better enough to get to the sewing machine or even to concentrated on some embroidery.  Can't wait.

Friday Night Sew In

Apparently another week has passed, but I missed it!  I spent Monday to Wednesday in bed with flu.  DS1 was a gem, and cooked dinner Monday and Tuesday, and both boys kept a constant supply of drinks coming.  By Wednesday, DS1 was in bed too, so that left DS2 on sole drink duty.  Yesterday I migrated to the settee as DS2  escaped on a sleepover, but, by the sound of it, he's sickening.  It's now Friday, and the energy levels are at very short supply.

Tonight is the second Friday Night Sew In of this month, but if yesterday is anything to go by, there will be nothing left in the tank to do anything.  I shall be with everyone in spirit, and will look forward to seeing the results over the weekend.

I wish you all a very happy, and healthy weekend

Friday Night Sew In

It's been a rather stressful week here, which included a three hour visit to the dental hospital on Wednesday afternoon.  I have an extreme fear of dentists, but as I was in so much pain, I couldn't avoid a visit and after one tooth extraction, I am feeling much better.  It did mean that I've had about two or three days this week when I haven't felt up to doing anything creative.

Last night was Friday Night Sew In, and as I didn't fancy sewing,  I did some crochet instead.  I managed to finish one of four baby blankets I'm doing.

It just needs a wash and a block and it will be ready to go. 

Depending on how much time I get after taking DS2 to his exhibition, I may get another one finished later today

Splendid Isolation

Since Friday, we have had intermittent or non existent Internet access, which has been very frustrating.  It makes you feel very cut off, which I felt guilty about, as I can very well remember life without the Internet.  In fact, it was only after the boys had been born, that we had Internet at home.  DS2 would have been about 18 months old.  The upside to no Internet is that it gives you more time to get things done.

These are lavender bags. I've misplaced the pattern to link back to the website,  but they were fun to do.  DS2 thinks I should make "proper" little bags like this as  he thinks they would be perfect for lippy!

 

The other project I've been working on is a little larger.  These blocks were made from the remains of a layer cake.  There would have been a few more blocks, but I'd already used three of the pieces for something else, and it took about three pieces to perfect the cutting!

I want to add another border, but need to buy some fabric. 

The lump at the end is Shylock.  He thought I'd put this down especially to give him a blanket.  He was most disappointed when it was folded up and put away.

Once I can get myself organised and get myself going for the day, I am going to work on using up the scraps.

Hot Pad

I had some jelly roll strips left over from a previous project, so when I saw a woven pot holder, I thought it might be a good way to use some of the strips.

I've made this larger than a pot holder, about 10" square to make a hot pad.  As the jelly roll strips have been doubled over prior to weaving, this is very thick and should have no trouble absorbing the heat.  Although this was a simple project, it took quite a bit of time to do,  so I don't think I'll be making many of these.

I still have some of the jelly roll strips left, so I'll have to get the thinking cap on for another project to get them all used up.

Pot Holders

I bought some heat resistant batting a couple of weeks ago, so now I've made my first pot holders.

These were fun to do, so I might make some more in the future.  I'd love to make an oven mitt too, so watch this space.

We have had quite a bit of the white stuff now.  Buses weren't running yesterday so that meant a day home for us all, not that I had intended going out.  The shopping didn't get delivered, so we're hoping that the village shop will be able to stock up on essentials soon.  The boys won't be going swimming today but at least I have a good excuse to stay tucked up indoors.

Raggedy & Friends QAL-Block Five

The Raggedy block has been done for another month.  I managed to piece and stitch it all in one day, so now I have three weeks to do other projects.  I am finding this project  a pleasure to do, and stress free, as the instructions are so clear.  I'm looking forward to seeing next month's installment.

Hanging Around

Yesterday's project was an easy one, but it cleared the top of my sewing table.  I made some more hanging towels, the last I shall be making, at least, for a while.  They were all given the seal of approval from DS2, so they must be OK, which is just as well, as he was the one who told me to make some more.

The top of the table is clear, but I can't say the same for the shelf underneath.  That will take a bit longer.  Hopefully today, I shall be catching up with the next installment of the Raggedy QAL.

A slow morning

Yesterday was one of those days when, even though I was up early, nothing seemed to get done very quickly.  By the time I went to get the fabric out for my next project, one of the cats had made himself comfortable on the ottoman.  I didn't feel cruel enough to kick him off, so it was time for a rethink.

Though the pencil case wasn't going to be the next on the list, it was on the sewing table, cut out and pinned ready to go.  What else could I do, but get it finished.

It didn't take long, so the afternoon was spent crocheting whilst watching the tennis.

Maybe today, I can get to the ottoman before the cat.

Table Mats

I've finished another set of table mats, this time a set of four square mats.  There are two of each colour.  The centres, backing and binding are the same on all of them to make them co-ordinated.  I have quilted around the inner square and triangles.
Snow has arrived this morning, which means it's the perfect day to stay tucked up inside.  I don't think we have much, though more is forecast for next week.  Time to keep busy inside.

I'm still here

It seems like a long time, but I am still here.  I've been pretending to be a domestic goddess for a few days.  The cobwebs have been banished, baking has been done, and jam has been made.  Now I can get back to the fun things without feeling guilty.

 I've finally quilted and bound this quilt.  I treated myself to a sewing machine that could cope with quilting and did it by machine.  I kept it simple, as that's what I do best.  I stitched in the ditch around the blocks and the centre squares.

Now I know I can do these, I  need to get the backing to finish another couple of quilts.  All being well, I can get the fabric for the first one next week.

I've also made a couple of pencil cases.  This is a small one for crayons.  I have one more on the sewing table to finish, though there are a few bits to do before I get to it.

Unfortunately, the snow hasn't reached us yet, so I need to take the boys out today.  That means I won't be able to get to the sewing machine today. Hopefully, we will get enough light to take photos of the table mats that got finished yesterday.

Couple of Finishes

I've managed to get a couple of things finished over the last couple of days.  The first is another pyjama case.  This one is bigger than the one I did before.  I still haven't used up all of this fabric, so I will have to try and think of something else to make.

 I've also finished the table runner and place mats.

I've started making another set of place mats, but need to go shopping to get some more batting.  I seemed to have used quite a bit recently and my stocks are running low.

Progress

Have you noticed, that once you've mastered your fear of something, you have to keep doing it?  Well, now zips hold no fear, they are reappearing with great regularity.

This time I made a pencil case.

 The fabric was left over from DS2's artist pack.

You might have noticed that I've also mastered boxing the top corners as well as the bottom.

The bottom has larger boxed corners to give a tapered look to the whole case.  On the whole, I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out.

Now, if only I could find the white zip I bought especially, I could do the other pencil case I had planned.

Crocheted Squares

Here are the latest squares for the crocheted afghan.  I must be getting quicker at doing these, as I got them all done in  one sitting.  The next ones will arrive in about four weeks time.

Slowly does it

I thought I was having a good weekend, considering what was going on.  Saturday morning, I got the quilt top together and felt very pleased with myself, until I held it up!  There were pieces in the wrong place.  I still cannot work out how I could have missed them, but I did. so Sunday saw me unpicking seams.

Finally, yesterday, it all went back together and everything is in the right place.  If it isn't, I don't want to know!

I must be getting more patient in my old age.  There would have been a time, when I would have been so upset and disappointed, the whole thing would have been put away and forgotten about.  Not now, it's was just one of those things that happens, and it looks so much better done the right way.

 In between all that, I've been working on the place mats.  Three have been quilted and bound.  I need to wait for some more fabric to do the binding on the last place mat and table runner and then that will be another project out of the way.

I was so looking forward to not having to go out this week and catching up with projects, but as with all the best laid plans, things go wrong.  DS2 has a sore eye, so the first thing we will be doing today is going to the doctors.  At least it's not raining today, the walk through the park will be a little more pleasant than it would have been over the last couple of days.

In Progress

I didn't get out to do my shopping as DS1 wasn't well and we stayed home.  Instead I began work on the next quilt.

All twelve blocks are made up and are waiting to be sewn into rows. 

 DS1 has decided, he is going ice skating today no matter how he feels, so I'm going to have to put this in the waiting pile.

All the dishcloth and face cloths have been knitted and crocheted, so I looked for another simple fun project to do.  These envelope style lavender sachets were the result.

I used a pin to prick holes for the scent to come through.  It must have looked fun, as  DS2 came to join.   I don't have a lot of lavender left now, so I may have to go and find some more pretty paper and make enough envelopes  to use it up.

Table Set

A month or so ago, I started getting fabric together for a QAL, then decided that I had too much else on to enjoy doing it.  This weekend, I thought I'd find something to do with the fabric I had already bought, and have made a start on a table set.

 There are four table mats,

and a table runner.

These all went together quite easily, but there was a small hitch to getting them completed-I didn't have enough batting!  I'll have to go shopping later in the week to get some and hopefully get them finished over the weekend.

The place mats are quite large, so I thought I may do a set of square place mats without the strip at the side.  I know on our round table, the smaller square mats would fit a lot better.

Once I realised I couldn't finish the table set yesterday, I didn't feel like starting anything new on the sewing machine, so I wrote my shopping list for getting some projects finished and then went back to the trusty face and dish cloths.  I am on the last ball of cotton yarn, so there won't be many more of them to do.

The last one

Yesterday was a day of interruptions.  There were people in and out all day, unloading boxes, taking off garage roofs, leaving new materials for garage roof etc.  I knew some of it was happening before the day started, but not all of it.

Before the major disruption started, I finished the last of the fabric baskets I had prepared.

 I couldn't start any of the other fabric projects I had prepared, they all need zips.  I found the one I put aways safe, but it was the wrong colour.  I feel sure, deep down, I had another navy one somewhere.  If I have, I am sure it will turn up one day when I least expect it.

By this time, I was expecting the rest of the disruption, so I just spent the last few minutes I had, sewing in the ends on the bits I had knitted and crocheted the night before.

 One crocheted face cloth.

 As I wasn't sure how much yarn was left,  I crocheted some more coasters until there was only a tiny bit of yarn left.

Next came the pink ball of cotton, and a knitted face cloth. 

I seem to have caught the bug for these.  In the evenings, mindless knitting and crochet is so relaxing, and as I bought a job lot of cotton, I am going to see how many of these I can get.

This morning saw the end of British Summer Time, so the clocks went back.  Apparently this  gives us an extra hours sleep.  However, no one ever tells my body, so I'm up bright and early.  Actually, it's not very bright, and a little earlier than normal.  I have a quiet day until the boys come home this afternoon, so there is a lot of time to fill.  I think I had better get all the chores done out of the way so the fun can begin.

Mindless Knitting

After having a bad night's sleep, the sewing machine didn't seem a good idea, so some mindless knitting was the order of the day.

 I've made some more dishcloths using natural cotton,

And then with the leftovers, I crocheted a coaster.

There are a few more, but it was getting too dark to get any pictures.  Hopefully today, I shall get time with the sewing machine again.  There is also a small matter of finding the zip I bought, I put it away safely to stop the kittens pinching it, and now can't remember where it is, and now, I need it.

More Fabric Baskets

After having a clear out of the fabric scraps the other week, and having all the 21/2" squares in one place, I thought I'd better put them to good use.  I decided to make some more fabric baskets, but I didn't follow the tutorial this time.  I've developed my own way of doing them that is simpler and easier for me.

These are slightly larger than the ones I've done before, as the others were made using 2" squares.  Once I sorted the squares, I went through my stash of fabrics to find co-ordinating fabrics for the handles and linings.  I haven't had to buy anything new to make these, and I have one more to finish.  After doing this many, they have got a lot quicker to put together.  The longest time was rearranging the squares after the kittens had decided to help!

Now to decide what to put in the baskets...

Key Rings

I spent a couple of days practising my crochet skills, and made some key rings.

 It seemed to be taking forever,but there are ten of them!

The quickest things to do were the pom poms.

 I bought a new toy and love it.   I used to enjoy making pom pom the old fashioned way, but with a Clover Pom Pom Maker it is so much quicker.  I used the extra small one for these, but I may have to find something to use the bigger one, it was so much fun.

Raggedy & Friends QAL-Block Four

The next Raggedy block has been pieced and stitched.  I am happy to say it came together pretty quickly, with no snags.

These are the best pinwheel blocks I've made to date.  Lovely to see signs of improvement, I won't be so worried about making them in future.

That's me up to date for another month.  Now to see if I can get some other things finished.

A day for Pincushions

I was using up the last of the jelly roll.  This piece I will border with the same fabric as the quilt and make into a cushion.

 Then I made two pincushions with some 21/2" squares.

 That left 3 squares remaining from the whole jelly roll.  These have gone into my 21/2" squares tub to be used another day.

 With some of the other scraps I sorted the other day, I made a couple more pincushions.

I made a couple of pinwheel blocks.  These were made up from half square triangles left over from doing Amy's BOM.  The one on the left was made from a 51/2" square,  I folded all the corners into the middle to form the pincushion.

I don't think I've finished with pincushions yet.  I saw some lovely ones whilst browsing the other day, so may try a couple more designs.

Today, the sewing machine will be getting a rest, I have to take the boys swimming!

Jelly Roll Scraps

After the clear out of fabric the other day, I thought I'd better work out a way of using all the fabric scraps. The scraps from the Jelly Roll QAL had gone into a little tub.  These consisted mainly of  3" strips I hadn't used in the binding of the Jelly Roll Quilt.

I spent yesterday making them into blocks and had just enough to get 12.  Now I need to get some sashing and backing to make into another quilt.  It should be lap quilt size, so not bad for scraps.

One thing about photos, you get to see how things look, and I will be rearranging the blocks before the final joining together.  Even though they had all changed positions about three times, I've just seen a better layout. 

There are still a few bits left from the Jelly Roll, but I think I have an idea for using them up. More on that another day.

The Simple Things

After putting together the postage stamp quilt top, I was at a loss what to do next.  I ended up sorting through my fabric scraps and cutting them up into squares and strips.  There are even  a few triangles, so I will be thinking of ways to use them up.

I then came across a ball of dishcloth cotton I bought some time ago, and as I have a craft fair coming up, I thought I'd make some dishcloths.

I got three knitted up, all with different patterns. I really like hand made dishcloth, so I may get another ball and do some more.

Saturday's progress

 These were the final two blocks put together on Friday.

 Saturday was the challenge of putting all the blocks together, and despite the help of my furry friends, just after lunch I had one big block.

 I need to do some shopping to finish this one, I need the backing and border fabric.

 I've even got enough to do a couple of pillowcases.  Once these are quilted, I'll cut them to size and I'll have a complete bed set.

This is by no means perfect, I have come a long way from when I first started this quilt.  I am sure the next one, if there ever is a next one, will be so much better, but I have enjoyed the journey.  I can't wait to see these completed and in use.