A sleeve

I love the shape of the sleeves especially the gathering near the rib.

One more to do, although time working on it is reduced.  Daniel is back to his lessons, and I can work on his owls.

Recycling

The first things to be recycled were the red houses.  The only way I was going to make use of them and be happy with them, were in my scrap blocks.  I've cut two from the houses, and the other pieces will be go to make up with the other colours.

The next recycling is a bit more long winded.  A neighbour was getting a new suite, and passed on their old one to us.  This means we needed new cushion covers to go with it. 

A few months ago, a friend gifted me with various bits of fabric, and one of the pieces were offcuts from a curtain.

That piece is now three cushion covers.

These are very simple and basic, with envelope backs.  These are a good start, but I shall look out for some more bargain fabric to compliment these.

Two Fronts

Despite the heat, it's been fairly comfortable knitting.  I've had the doors and windows open, and have been enjoying a lovely through draft.

Having learnt from the first front to keep a careful count on the decreasing on the neck and armhole side, I only had to do it once.  Makes for much quicker progress.

The sleeves are next, and as they're going to be short, they shouldn't take long at all.

A front

Once I got my head around the front and armhole shapings, the front knitted up fairly quickly.

Hopefully, the front right will only need to be done once, and I can get to the top first time!

Borders

The borders and rows have been added, and now the top is completed.

I need to shop for fabric for the backing, as I don't have enough of anything here.  I shall then do a dark binding to finish it off.  I quite like the colour in this one, even though it's not something I would normally choose to do.  Terry has almost finished hers, so I'm looking forward to seeing it once she has it posted on her blog.

No Longer Detached

I had my doubts when I first made the red houses, and,  as the months have gone on, I finally decided I wouldn't be using them in the final quilt.  That meant I had to think of something to replace the red block.

I could have made another house block, but thought that maybe a "park" would be what was needed for this housing development.

Before the rows could go together, my green block had to be made.

This was the centre around which the rest of the house would sit.

Here are my rows altogether. 

The next thing to do now, is the rows to go between, and the borders.  These will be made from 21/2" squares of fabric used in all the blocks.  Hopefully, this should tie them all in together.

In Miniature

It seems like a very long time since the sewing machine has been used, but after a busy few weeks, cleaning and furniture rearranging, I finally was able to reach the sewing table.

The first task was mundane mending, two pairs of jeans to patch for Jonathan.  While I was doing that, I upset Daniel by cutting up a pair of jeans beyond repair.  Eventually, the cut squares will end up as a picnic blanket or something, so he'll still get some use out of them, but not quite in the way he was expecting.

During the cleaning process, I came across a couple of half square triangle blocks that had been pieced wrongly for another project.  Instead of them going to waste, they were cut again, resewn, and made into this tiny pincushion.

It measures about 21/2" square.  I was going to put a button in the centre, but came across this ribbon rose.  These were once on a pram blanket that my mum made for me when I was pregnant with Jonathan.  As they've dropped off, I collected them and thought they would come in useful sometime, although I hadn't thought it would take this long.

With the jeans and this pincushion done, there was even more space on my table, time to get on and put the houses together.

Best of the Web

Among others, I have been featured on the Be @ Home blog.  This is a home and kitchen blog.  Be @ Home, features anything from interior design tips to room trends, amazing styles of foods, and from time to time, craft related items.

They have a regular feature to highlight interesting blogs across the web.  The link will take you to the article where I am featured, along with some other interesting blogs - http://pocketchange.become.com/2012/05/best-of-the-web-be-home-69.html

The Back

From baby knits to adult now, and one back is done.  I love this yarn.

This is Wendy Skye which is manmade fibres with mohair.  The photo doesn't pick up the richness of the colour, but it's a joy to knit with and I love the colours.  Having short sleeves, this cardigan should be pretty quick to knit up.

First Page

All the cross stitch on the first page has now been completed.  There are two more to do!  Before moving onto the next page, I'll work on the backstitching detail on the middle owl.  It will be interesting to see the difference it makes to the appearance.

I was hoping to work on it today, but Daniel isn't well and won't be going to Spanish.  Will it be too cruel for me to kick him out anyway?  Just joking, the owls can hide under the settee for a little longer and I can spend some time catching up on other things.

Hooded Vest

This cotton yarn definitely goes a long way.

This is the second top, this one for age 6-9 months, and there is still some leftover.

Probably time for another dishcloth

A New Face

Progress is still being made on the owls, another face has been completed.

I had a beautiful picture of the full face before scrolling up the frame.  However, Daniel decided he needed the camera and was going to upload some pictures.  It meant that the original photo had to be deleted!  Never mind, it's done, and there is only a small portion of the body to be done before the end of the page.  Roll on tomorrow, when Daniel will be swimming.

Mr Panda

As you can probably tell from the lack of posts, it has been busy here over the last week or so.  In between I have been busy with the knitting needles.  By Tuesday, I had a little pile of body parts that needed sewing together.

Tuesday tea time, we had a completed panda, but he needed a ribbon so that he would be properly dressed.  The only ribbon I had that was the right width was black, and we were all in agreement, that it needed to be white.

While I was out yesterday, we got some white so our little friend is now all complete.  I just love his little tail!

There is plenty of the yarn leftover, so I'll use it up to make another little hoodie, but in the next size up.

We Have a Body

After a busy week, I finally get an afternoon when I'm home and Daniel is out.  That means the owls can come out and get a bit of attention

One body now has all the cross stitch completed.  Once I've completed the rest of the page, I will go back and add the back stitching.  I don't fancy leaving it all to the end.  The third head has been started, and eye has appeard, but there is still a long way to go.

Baby Knits

I had to go to plan B with my other knitting, but in the meantime, I thought baby items were quick and satisfying to do.  Added to that, there are babies on the way, and as we don't know the sex yet, we might as well prepare early.

This sleeveless hoodie is knitted in 100% 4 ply cotton, and in the size for a three month old, it was quick to knit.

In due time, to accompany this jumper, will be a "panda".  Hopefully, it won't take too long to knit.  So far the legs have been done, and the arms are in progress.

Owl Update

While Daniel has been away, it's been easy to work on the owls.  I've left them out, and the threads ready, so I can sit down and get straight to stitching.

I've put it on a frame to make it easier to work across the width,

but it does mean I have to scroll it up and down to get to the various heights.

This middle owl is nearly finished, it's just it's lower body to finish.

Progress will be a little slower, it's back to hiding it, and working on it when Daniel is out.  Unfortunately, for the next week or so, I shall also be out quite a bit too.

Blue Houses

Back to the houses QAL with Terry, and this month it is blue.  I have my two blue houses, which seems very appropriate for the temperatures we are having at the moment, but despite the cold, I am happy with how they turned out.

Terry and I have decided that we are happy with nine houses in our quilts, so I need to retrieve the houses from previous months and decide which nine will go in the main quilt.  The one left over will probably make it into a cushion.

Once I've decided on the houses, it will be time to sort out how they will come together and sort out some binding and backing for it.  First I must choose my houses.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge-Yellow

This month's colour for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is yellow.  I had to shop for my yellow houses, so now I have some leftover to use for this month.

I've got my six blocks made to go with the others.  Now I need to work out what I am going to make next.  Before that happens, I need to make my blue houses for this month.  The fabric has been purchased, but hasn't yet seen the light of day.

We're Watching You

One thing about stitching something with faces, you get the feeling that you're being watched.  So far two of the four owls have partial faces and eyes.

This is where I'd managed to get to before Daniel left on Thursday.  I just stitched on it for the odd hour or so when he was out.  Now he is away, I can keep it out and stitch on it whenever I want.

After the first evening, the owl on the right has all his body, he will have to wait until I turn the page before he grows any more.  It's now time to concentrate on the one on the left.  He is the middle one of three on this section.

Time for Tea

Heidi organised a Quilters Day swap.  Yesterday my package from Leanne arrived.

Inside were the two most beautiful mug rugs I've seen, or owned!  They are stunning, I am so grateful for them.

Leanne also included a quilting pattern and some embroidery transfers.

Thank you Leanne for such a wonderful gift, and a big thank you to Heidi for organising the swap.

A good post day

It's always exciting when there are packages in the post, but yesterday, there was one from Germany.  This meant I was receiving my package from Susanne for the Stitch Specialists Yahoo group exchange.  It was for scissors and pocket.

I opened the envelope to find a plastic folder filled with these goodies.  This is the front of the scissor pocket and fob.

The reverse side with a lovely button.

And these are the wonderful scissors.  You can't really see it in the photo, but the fabric has been overdyed and is beautiful.  I need to find some lovely project to stitch on it.

Susanne, thank you so much.  I love it all.  I've never seen fabric like this before, and I shall enjoy using the wonderful thread.  The plastic pouch is perfect for storing WIP's and I'll look forward to using my scissors and their pocket.