On the Needles - 11-8-13

Since I was so burned out on quilting after Moonglow, I kicked up my knitting projects a notch in the past few weeks!  I find it really relaxing to just sit with needles and yarn, and quietly, gently make something beautiful appear out of nowhere :*)

I just finished a wonderful new pair of plain jane socks.....

These are my Surf Serenity socks that I finished up in just 10 days!  You can see more pictures and read about them in my last blog post HERE.  Several have commented that the color bands match so well - that was totally unexpected!  I did take off some yarn at the beginning of one of the balls of yarn so the toes would be the same, but I never dreamed they would keep the same bands of color throughout most of both socks! :*)

In that post I also shared about a new-to-me method of stretchy binding off that worked like a charm!!!

I've worked a little on Wingspan - two "wings" are now finished and I've started on the third.

Joanne and I are going to Knaughty Knitter tomorrow and I hope to pick up a longer pair of #4 circulars because I'll be running out of room on these soon I'm afraid.  I'm also not really liking the way these Clover bamboo needles are "grabbing" the yarn, and the tips are too blunt for it as well.  I like the Knit Picks wooden circulars that I've been using for my socks - much smoother and with pointier tips.  The only metal needles I've found that I like are the Addi's.  They don't get "tacky" and they don't slip off the loops easily like other metal needles seem to do.  Although they are quite a bit more expensive, they may be worth it.  The right tools really DO make a difference!!!

As Denise at Justquiltin' promised, Wingspan is the perfect take-along project!  Very little thinking involved, so you don't have to follow a pattern every stitch.  And it is light and compact enough to carry in my purse.  I'm really enjoying the colors too, and this yarn is heavenly!!!!  This project will move slowly as its purpose is to have a "take along" project when I will be sitting somewhere and need to have my hands busy.

I have a couple of new projects in waiting.... all of them pretty involved and requiring some concentration and skills that I may not yet have :)  I need to decide on which one gets to be next, and get it started.

My husband gifted me with all the materials for my 100 Diamonds shawl for my birthday.  (Isn't he a pretty awesome guy?!?!  Yup, he certainly is :*D)  Ooo-la-la!!!!  I love this shawl!!!  So elegant and delicate.  And I'm very happy with the color yarn I chose...Raspberry - Yum!!!

I also decided to add the beads to this project.  It calls for one tiny little 3mm Swarovski crystal bead in the center of each diamond intersection.  Ya know I just love that bling, right???  I was too chicken to try them with my Cloud Illusions shawl LOL!!!  But I think I may be ready now, and I'm in love with the idea of how they will sparkle ever so gently on this delicate shawl.  Yes, I do believe I am waxing poetic!!!

I was shocked when they arrived - sooooooo tiny!!!!  And I had to order a special crochet hook for attaching them.  You can get an idea of the miniature sizes of the beads and hook by the toothpick added to this picture....

And by the way, I found a wonderful supplier for Addi needles and hooks - addi Needle Shop .  They have any Addi needle you might want and free shipping in the US!  I found the crochet hook I needed - the price was less than Amazon's, it included a protective cap, and there was no shipping!  They were very friendly, and they shipped quick.  I couldn't have asked for anything more!

But I think I will wait just a little longer until I have a little more experience under my belt before I make this special shawl.  I want it to be glorious!!!!  Well, I want it to look like Sachiko's flawless shawls, but that's not going to happen LOL!!!  This is a chart pattern which I've never done before, so I think I may find a simple chart pattern on Ravelry and practice that first.  Plus, I really want my knitting to be even and smooth on this shawl, because it will really show up if its not.  You can only get that from practice, practice, practice!!!!

So the project I think I'm going to start next has been waiting in the wings for a while now, almost since I started knitting again.  It is the Neck Down Swing Coat.....perfect with winter on the way!  Of course, it may be next winter before I finish it LOL!!!

I got the pattern and that wonderful hand-dyed worsted yarn at Knaughty Knitter - don't you just LOVE that yarn!!!!  I believe Meredith (shop owner) dyed that herself :)  I've put off starting this project because I am terribly nervous about successfully knitting a garment that will actually fit me!  I've never done anything but shawls and socks, so this is a new animal altogether :*)

To help in this learning process, I signed up for a Craftsy class - Knit Lab - Fit Your Knits....

I'll keep you posted on how the class goes and whether I am able to make any progress on this Swing Coat!

In the meantime, I will be putting yarn on the needles for another pair of socks to relax with in the evenings while watching my taped shows....

I've promised my daughter a pair of purple socks, and I just loved the colorplay in this yarn.  I wanted to try out the Kroy socks yarn to see how I like it.  There are a lot of colors that I like, but it is more expensive than some other sock yarns at Joann's, so I had been passing it up.  I was able to use coupons to get these relatively inexpensively.  I like that this yarn is mostly wool and it has a really nice soft feel to it.  I think my daughter will enjoy these! =^..^=

I'm linking up with Judy's On The Needles linky party at Patchwork Times - come see!!!

Have a wonderful & creative weekend my friends!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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October End of Month Reports

Nothing like being just a "little" bit late, right?  Let's see.... October ended a week ago, didn't it?  

Oh my!  Life has just been so busy, and blogging has had to take a back seat.  Actually, that may be the case for much of November too.  I have two baby quilts to finish up in two weeks time - one hasn't even been started yet -  yikes!!!  I promise I'll try to pop in and keep you updated with short posts about my adventures :)

So, what did I accomplish in October?  

October 2013 NewFO Challenge project:  One of my favorite things to do each month is start something fresh and new, and then LINK UP with Barbara at Cat Patches!

Sneak peek - "Paws in the Garden" wool block in process

Terri Stegmiller - amazing mixed-media artist and art quilter! - asked for volunteer pattern testers last month, and I just couldn't resist these adorable, purrsonable kitties in her pattern called "Paws in the Garden" - so I said, "Sign Me Up!"  I thought these kitties would be a really cute addition to my Summertime wool quilt (click on the name to see the designer's quilt).  As a reminder, I'm only doing 9 blocks and substituting some of them with a few of my own choosing - such as my wool rendition Terri's "Paws in the Garden."  I had SO MUCH fun with this NewFO in October :)  You'll be seeing the finished project soon!!!!

As my regular followers have already seen, I finished Moonglow and it won 1st place at our local Oktoberfest Quilt Show (click here for more) - woohoo!!!  

I'm hoping to get a better picture of this quilt soon!

After a marathon quilting session that lasted 2-1/2 weeks, I was pretty much "quilted out!"  I took a much-needed break from the machines and did some soothing hand work instead.  I sat down to my sewing machine for the first time last night to sew together a backing for a quilt to go on Joanne's longarm today.  I'll share pics of that fun finish in a few days :)

We also had some company this month, which is the absolute BEST reason I can think of for not getting all my Get It Done items completed this month, wouldn't you agree? :*)

Mom & me, at Olive Garden with our favorite fellows, celebrating my birthday - shhhhh!!!!!!
(It was such a fun time, we couldn't sit still; hence, the blurry pic LOL!!!)

Early in the month, we had our oldest grand-daughter Emma for a week - always a pleasure!  And then last week we had the rare treat of my mom and stepfather here for a few days while on their way to visit my brother in Los Angeles.  My friend Lynn came in from Seattle for a visit also last week, and we enjoyed some wonderful time together piled up in the recliners and covered with comfy quilts while I introduced her to the excellent PBS series, Call the Midwife. This is absolutely my favorite show on TV right now.  They are showing repeats right now, gearing up for the 3rd season which starts in March 2014 - can't wait!!!

Since I was in a place where I just wanted to rest and relax, I picked up my needles and put on a new pair of plain jane socks - and I finished them in 10 days!  If you had told me a year ago that I could make a pair of socks in 10 days, I would have sworn it was impossible!  But here is the proof...

Surf Serenity socks
Two at a time using Magic Loop

They fit very nicely!  

Still a tad loose around the foot though - I'll take a few more stitches out of my next pair.

For the cuff, I went to DPN needles one size smaller than those used on the socks, 

and tried out a new-to-me method called Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off.

The cuffs are easy to stretch out but hug nicely when worn and

go back to shape quickly when I take them off  ----

Yes, I was happy with Jeny's bind-off and I'll use it again :*)

So, in summary, my October accomplishments - or lack thereof - look something like this ..... *drumroll please!*

October 2013 Goals:

• RSC Challenge Blocks - The color was Black/Gray, so I chose to let these blocks slide last month so I could concentrate on getting Moonglow quilted.
• NewFO project - ?????? - I want to do a pumpkin project - will I have time???  No, I didn't have time for a pumpkin project :(  However, "Paws in the Garden" has been great fun!!!
• Quilting - Moonglow, Genevieve's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper - Moonglow is DONE, but the other two are still on the To Do pile at the side of my machine.  They MUST be done by the week before Thanksgiving - yikes!
• Finish prepping and begin stitching on the next Summertime block - DONE!
• Yarn Projects - start Wingspan knitted shawl so I'll have an easy take-along, no-brainer yarn project - YES STARTED and two "wings" done :)
• Christmas QAL - Finish Bargello Tree Skirt; start on Jovial if I have time - NOT TOUCHED!
• Make at least half of the Talkin' Turkey flying geese - Cut most of the neutral pieces, but still a lot of cutting to do before I can even start sewing on these geese :(
• Continue washing stash - this one is ongoing and I did make some progress this month - Yay!!!

November 2013 Goals:

• Finish and post about Paws in the Garden project
• Quilting (domestic sewing machine DSM) - G's Banners, Mom's Valentine table-topper
• Quilting (longarm) - UFO - Christmas Geese (Christmas QAL)
• Make a baby quilt for newest grandson for shower the week before Thanksgiving
• Make several receiving blankets, etc., for shower also
• Yarn Projects - continue Wingspan; cast on new socks for working on over the holidays :)
• Enjoy time with family for the Thanksgiving season!!!!!

Linking up with -

Cat Patches - 2013 NewFO Challenge

Patchwork Times - Get It Done!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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It's Blogger's Quilt Festival Time!!!!

I love joining in on Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival!!!

Click on the button above to go to the main page and check out 

all the wonderful quilts and prizes for this year's Fall Festival :*)

Of course, this year Moonglow has to be my entry!

For those of you who are not already heartily sick of reading about this prize-winning quilt on my blog, following are a few more details of my Moonglow quilting adventure LOL!!!

This quilt is designed by Jinny Beyer - quilting megastar - and the fabrics are all hers too.  I fell in love with the quilt the first time I saw its picture in a magazine!  Then I found out it was available as a Block-of-the-Month, so I asked my husband for the set for Christmas in 2009.  It was the perfect gift because I got a new package every month in 2010.  What fun it was to open the package to see what that month's star looked like - and then ponder just how difficult it was going to be to make LOL!!

I finally finished the blocks and managed to get the top together in May of last year, then in May of this year, my friend Joanne let me use her long-arm machine to baste the layers together - what a blessing that was!!!!  No scrambling around on the floor trying to get it sandwiched!!!

I quilted this quilt with my Janome 6600 domestic machine - and as usual it came through for me like a champ!!!  This is a large queen-sized quilt, but I was able to free-motion quilt even the stitch-in-the-ditch areas pretty well - I only struggled on the center row with a lot of bulk under the machine.  For the first time, I used a wool batt in this baby, and I love the feel and heft of the quilt, as well as the loft and definition it gave to the quilting design.  It did add some bulk under the machine though.  My favorite reason for using this batt is that I love knowing it won't get those permanent wrinkles some quilts get in them after folding :*)

I finally got busy with the quilting process early this month in the hopes of getting the quilt in the Oktoberfest Quilt Show held here locally each year - and it won 1st Place in its category!!!

You can read more about that HERE if you like.

The quilting process was long and very strenuous!  You can read some of my quilting adventures with Moonglow HERE and HERE.  I think the marking took as long as the quilting did!  Since I was working primarily with a black background, I used the white Clover White Marking Pen (three of them actually!) and it also did a magnificent job.  It goes on invisible as a liquid, but turns white as it dries.  Then when you are done stitching, just steam out the marks - voila!!!!

Marking each line to make sure they were perfectly straight and at the right angle!
Then, can you see the swag line I drew in?

I used one of Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles as a template for the circles - worked wonderfully!!!!

The swag lines were drawn on, but the feathers and circles on them were all free-motion quilted.....

It's a little hard to see them because I used a similar color thread.  I tried black and it stood out like a sore thumb!!!  The corners got a simple swag/feather treatment to keep things cohesive....

The lines in the borders were kept organic - I didn't want to do anything flowery or feathery there.  I really like the nice clean lines of the quilt and those borders, so I just did the understated swag work and "piano keys" lines, and kept it at that...

My binding, as usual, was applied by machine......

I've learned how to do this so that it looks as nice as any hand-sewn binding on the front, and almost as nice on the back too :*)  The Judge had no negative comments to make about it, so I think I must have done a nice job.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing Moonglow in all its glory!!!

Your vote in the Bed Quilts division would be so greatly appreciated :*D

Please feel free to come back again and visit soon!!!

Hugs & Blessings,

Teresa

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What I'm Up to....

Since I finished the quilting marathon with Moonglow, I've been trying to tie up a few loose ends in the sewing studio.  And I have been busy in the evenings with my knitting needles.  First off, I finished up Dreambird!

I decided to finish it off with only 15 feathers, rather than the 21 called for in the pattern.  I'm a small-size person (except around the middle LOL!!!), and I felt that too many feathers would just overwhelm me.  I'm very happy with the size and how it turned out!  A huge THANKS to Judy & Denise for hostessing the Knit-along to encourage those of us who might not have started this project otherwise :*D  I can definitely see me making this shawl again someday - it was a truly fun project with just enough challenge, but still easily make-able once you got the hang of it.

On my needles right now are two pretty easy projects.  First, here is my progress on Wingspan....

Not a whole lot more done since my last picture, but this is my "to go" knitting project, so it hasn't come out a lot lately.  But I'm pretty sure I'm going to LOVE IT when I'm done :*D

Next, I've started my third pair of socks - again using the "Toe-up, Two-at-a-time, Magic Loop" method that I really enjoyed with my second pair.  The yarn is Serenity Sock Weight in the Surf colorway...

Can you believe I started these socks last Sunday, and I already have them past the heel????

Photo taken last night

They've been a very relaxing project for TV watching in the evenings.  We're going to be doing a little day travel this weekend, so I expect to get these done pretty quickly - don't blink or you'll miss the finish LOL!!!  I'm just doing a "plain jane" stockinette stitch for the leg sections.

Don't you just love this "Eye of the Partridge" design on the heel?  I do!!!

This pattern incorporates what they call a "faux" heel - which means that you don't knit a heel flap and then pick up stitches to attach it to the rest of the sock like in usual sock patterns.  I don't really know how to explain it very well.  You still use short rows but you attach the flap by way of knitting back to your other heel stitches - you don't go into the sides and pick up stitches there.  Sorry if that doesn't make any sense.  If you're interested, go HERE to download the pattern and try it - its free on Ravelry, quick and fun, and really easy!

For my next big knitting project, I must confess I bought yarn!!!!  It will be a birthday present :*)  I love the 100 Diamonds Shawl that is designed by Sachiko Uemura, one of the most amazing knitters I have ever seen!  Her work is flawless!!!!  I'm not sure if it is okay to post pictures of other knitters' projects from Ravelry  even with the proper credits, so I'll just provide a couple of links here for you to go look if you like - both of these are just gorgeous!!!

Purple version - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/100-diamonds
Newest Caffeine version - http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knittimo/100-diamonds-3

Of course, my knitting will not come close to Sachiko's perfection, but I can't wait to make one of these elegant shawls!  I ordered my yarn from Knit Purl because I wanted to use the same exact type of yarn = Shibui Silk Cloud - mine will be in this luscious Raspberry colorway....

Isn't that just a gorgeous color?

(There will be crystal beads too!  BLING!!!)

I also ordered the Addi Lace needles for this project.  Sachiko mentions that working with this yarn can be "fiddly," and lace-work can be fiddly enough for me all on its own, so I decided to get the best tools for the job.  I used Addi needles on my Dreambird project and loved them - nice sharp points and the yarn slides along nicely without losing control and dropping stitches.  Knit Purl describes the Addi Lace needles this way - "smooth needles with defined points for knitters who need a little more control over fine yarns than the traditional Addi TURBO needles"  I decided they're worth the extra expense for this special project.  I'll keep you posted on my progress, of course :*)

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On the "quilty" side, I have been busy playing with Terri Stegmiller's Paws in the Garden pattern and having a ball!

I've already prepped pieces to make two different projects but I don't really have much to share yet.  I've chosen fabrics, traced and cut out the fusible pieces so far, that's it :(

I will give you one hint though - one of the projects will be done in wools!!!

And I want to show you my oh-so-lovely winnings from a giveaway recently by my friend Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter.  If you haven't visited Lesley - you need to go NOW!!!  I just love her blog :*D  Lesley was celebrating her two-year Blogiversary and she decided to offer a giveaway.  My name was pulled for a gift certificate to Christa Quilts - one of my favorite on-line fabric shops - YIPPEE!!!!  This is the fun bounty I scored from Christa's sale section....

3 yards of that luscious batik on the left and 1 yard of the happy lime Christmas print in the middle.
And Christa includes a mystery fat quarter if you order over $25 - how could she know how much I love text prints?

 A closer look at the batik...YUM!!!!

Thanks Lesley!  And Happy Blogiversary!!!!  I'm so glad you decided to start a blog so all of us could follow along and get to know you - such a bloggy treasure!!!!

And lest I run out of things to work on - it could happen!!!!! - I signed up for this too-cute BOM at Shabby Fabrics....  Berties Year Club at Shabby Fabrics.....

Photo courtesy of Shabby Fabrics

The applique pieces will arrive at my doorstep already laser cut - woohoo!!!!  And I know I don't have to tell you that I am a true sucker for small quilts that I can change out every month for a new one :*)  I love the simplicity of these designs - they shouldn't take very long to make at all!  And the borders really add something special to each quilt.  I'll be eagerly looking forward to this package from Shabby Fabrics every month!

Linking up with On the Needles at Patchwork Times!

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Moonglow Won!!!

It's been hard getting back to "ordinary" life and blogging.  

I worked practically non-stop for over 2 weeks on the quilting for Moonglow so I could enter it in the local Oktoberfest Quilt Show, and I am happy to report that I made it!  I skidded in just 1-1/2 hours before deadline to register both Moonglow and Rainbow Pineapples.....  and they both took 1st Place ribbons in their categories!!!

 This event is sponsored by Wilson Bank, and they provide the ribbons 

which are all the colors of the bank - burgundy and gold.

I'm so Happy!!!!

I'll share more about Moonglow and the quilting process with some pictures later this week.  

The first day after I finished, I worked as a scribe for the Judge, so I was able to be there and hear her comments about both quilts.  She used a 1-4 scale, with 1 being "Best", 2 being "Very Good", 3 being "Good", and 4 being "Fair".  Moonglow scored a "1" on all points - Color & Design, Piecing/Applique, Quilting, and Binding.  Woohoo!!!!  Looks like all that hard work and focus really paid off :*D  There are things that I might have done differently if I had had more time, but overall I am very happy with the quilt and will very much enjoy seeing it on my bed every day.

Rainbow Pineapples scored a 1 for both Color & Design and Piecing.  She gave me a 2 on Quilting because she said it was just "sufficient" for the quilt.  She was right.  I really didn't do a lot of quilting on it because it is small and it's a wall quilt, so it didn't need a whole lot.

The second day after I finished quilting Moonglow .... I did NOTHING!!!  Seriously, ya'll... I didn't do anything at all.  I was whooped!  I piled up in my recliner with my cuddly rag quilt covering me and started a new pair of socks.  And I watched 4 episodes of Revolution in a row LOL!!!  It's been a low-key weekend for me, but yesterday I began to get my energy back and spent a good part of the day in my sewing studio straightening things back up after the quilting marathon and getting it back in order.

Then today I started a new project!  

(Getting that October NewFO taken care of instead of waiting until the last day - LOL!!!)  

One of the blogs I love to follow for her amazing eye candy is Terri Stegmiller - an amazing artist and fiber art quilter!  You can visit her wonderful Blog by clicking HERE.  You can also find her on Facebook HERE, and she has some absolutely gorgeous things for sale in her Etsy shop HERE!

Not long ago, Terri put out the call for a few pattern designers.  I know!  I have SO MUCH going on!!!  But I'm telling you, Terri's designs are so marvelous that I just couldn't resist throwing my name in the hat!  And just in case that doesn't convince you, would you believe the designs had cats in them?  Yep, resistance had no chance at all!!!  :*D

"Paws in the Garden" by Terri Stegmiller

Once I saw Terri's "Paws in the Garden", I just had to play with it!  Don't you love the expressions on these cuties' faces?  The lids on their eyes is a genius touch - it gives them so much purrsonality :*)  I spent a few very happy hours today working with the pattern to get it to the size I need for my planned project - what fun!!!   Of course, Terri is a mixed-media artist, so her rendition of the pattern was done with hand-died and stenciled fabrics (that she did herself of course), and lots of embellishments.  Mine will be a little tamer, but I think it will end up being just as beautiful in its own way - I hope it will, anyway :*D  Terri wanted us to do "our own thing" so she could get different looks for the designs, so I'm just doing my thing and having a ball!!!

As for the rest of my Design Wall, it is currently empty.  But of course that doesn't mean I don't have lots of things in progress.  For our upcoming visit to family in November, I'll finish up Genevieve's Banners baby quilt, as well as a new bib for her.  I found this pattern while at Runaway and couldn't resist making one for our little girl, who is now a big girl at six months old!

I'm having a hard time deciding which one to make, so don't be surprised if she gets more than one LOL!!!

I also want to take some hand-sewn gifts for my daughter-in-law's baby shower for our newest baby boy on the way around Christmas time.  Among the items I hope to have for the shower will be some over-sized flannel receiving blankets from some fun fabrics I've been saving in my stash for just such an occasion ....

Aren't they cute????  I think Anna will like them, and I'm pretty sure Cooper will enjoy their cheerful color in his new world :*D

I also have several gifts I'm making for other loved ones that I just can't share right now.... you know how that goes, right?  I'm going to give my October Get It Done list a good look-over to see if I need to adjust anything so I can focus on these things right now.

What are you focusing on in your sewing room?  Is your Design Wall full of fun things, or is it empty like mine?  Please join me in sharing your current projects at Judy's Patchwork Times linky party!  I'll see you there!!!

Hugs & Blessings,

Teresa

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Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

It's been "Nose to the Grindstone" time here at my house!

I have been focusing exclusively on Moonglow, trying to get it quilted and ready for entry in our Oktoberfest Quilt Show next week!

There are 25 blocks total - 12 Log Cabin blocks and 13 Stars.....

Each star block is SID (Stitched in the Ditch) by FMQ (free-motion quilting) - which is NOT easy!!!  I love doing FMQ with swirly, curly designs, but straight stitching in a ditch is a real challenge.  I've ripped out more than I care to tell you about!  I couldn't do straight-stitching with the walking foot, because this is a Queen-size quilt, and no way was I going to keep turning it back and forth, around and around.  I honestly don't know how people do SID on a long-arm.  

Then I'm doing a FMQ pebble design in the background areas to make the stars pop out.  After all, they are the "Stars" of this quilt (pun totally intended LOL!!!)  :*D

But, wowzers!!!! - this sure does take a lot of time to do!!!

The Log Cabin blocks are pure SID with a simple circle stitched in the black squares....again, not nearly as easy as it looks like it would be!

Thankfully, this block is not crooked - it's just the way it is laying on my tabletop :*D

I still have EIGHT more blocks to do - ugh!!!

And THEN I have all these dad-blasted borders to do something with!!!

Yes, folks, that's a LOT of border area to quilt!!!

I have a design in mind, and I'm hoping I'll have time to do what I want to do with it.  But it means that I can't work on anything else until it's done.  Wish me luck!!!!

Missing you all and looking forward to the end of this crazy Moonglow marathon!!!

Be back visiting with you all soon!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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