On the Needles 8-19-2016

I'm one of those unlucky people who suffer from motion sickness, and I can't read or write while riding, much to my regret.  I do often listen to books, but then my hands still need to be occupied.



One of the things I can do while riding is knit!!!  I often keep a project on the needles just for the purpose of having something to do during trips when my husband is driving.  It helps keep me awake and engaged, and that makes him happy :*)

For our trip to Carolina this past week, I pulled out my Aqua Socks to repair.  These came off my needles last winter (I can't find that I even blogged about their finish - bad girl!!!!)  But when I picked them up from the basket several weeks later to weave in the ends, there was this huge hole in one of them!

Some little critter had found its way into my knitting basket and had itself a feast!  Fortunately, I still had some of this yarn, so I was able to rip the stitches out all the way back to the hole, making sure to pick up the stitches on my needles before ripping back....

Then the repair was a simple matter of attaching a new strand of yarn and re-knitting the rows and binding off again.

Measuring to be sure I get it the same length as the first one

It is not as pretty or neat as before, but I doubt anyone will ever know except me!

Share what's on your needles at Patchwork Times today!

And PS - don't forget to "Like" our sweet little Quilter's Kitty, Rocky, in the Pets on Quilts contest at Lilypad Quilting =^..^=

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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The Needles Have Been Busy .....

Although blogging has been on the back burner lately, that doesn't mean I haven't been busy quilting and knitting!  With the cooler weather, my fingers have been itching to pick up the needles again, and I just had to take time this morning to share some projects in progress.....

First up are two cute little finishes ....

Aren't these just the most adorable little toboggans???  They are for our two youngest granddaughters, and I can't wait to deliver them :-)

These little kits were irresistible pickups during my stop at The Yarn Patch in Crossville last month.  They are called DMC Top This! - and there are lots of different colors and animals to top them with...

All of the yarn comes in one ball, with smooth seamless joins as each color/texture runs into the next, and a simple K2/P2 and stockinette design.  The little toppers are also part of the kit and super simple to attach!  Each little hat took me only one evening to knit up - don't you just LOVE quick finishes???  Yeh, me too!

I've also been spending some quality time with my latest Ombre Infinity Cowl project ....

The project is almost done, maybe a few more hours of easy stockinette knitting, joining the ends, and blocking.  I'm looking forward to snuggling up in these beautiful colors around my neck this winter!

Next I plan to pick up this languishing UFO  - The Swing Cowl ....

Denise at Justquiltin made one of these and I fell in love with it!  It's not something I can just work on mindlessly though, the pattern requires quite a bit of attention, so it tends to get pushed aside for easier projects.  I figure I'm maybe close to halfway done, and it's time to finish it up!

When that's done - and not before! - I'm planning to reward myself with permission to start a beautiful cowl that I picked up from The Haus of Yarn bus recently ...

This is a very soft yarn with gorgeous colors!  The pattern is actually rather easy and repetitive, so I think it'll work up fairly quickly.

And I am chomping at the bit to start this shawl kit that I picked up at The Yarn Patch  ....

This is the store sample!!!
Hopefully mine will look as nice :-)

But of course it is going to have to wait a while.  It may even be next winter before I get to wear it.  I'm determined to get the old projects out of the way before starting new stuff, but I just couldn't resist adding this one to the project queue!  It will give me plenty of incentive to work hard on clearing out those UFO's, right?

The colors in this yarn are HOT!!! - they sucked me right into the gotta-have-it vortex!  The owner knitted the sample I showed above, and she assured me that it is fun to knit and not nearly as difficult as it looks.
We'll see ..... =^..^=

I'm planning to catch you up on what's been going on in the Quilting Studio in the coming week, so stay tuned!  

Although I'm a day late to the party,

I always enjoy sharing at Patchwork Times!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Peacocks Like to Knit Too!

Last summer I designed a cute line of See-N-Go project bags for Jacquelynne Steve's Summer 2014 E-Magazine.  You can see my blog about them HERE :*)

Since then, I've made several more of these oh-so-useful project bags .... they're always a welcome gift, and I just can't ever seem to have enough of them on hand for my various portable projects!

Number 6 on my Q2 Finish Along List was to complete one of the large-size bags I had cut last year out of my coveted Peacock fabric.  And I finally got it done!

Bag Back - isn't that Peacock GORGEOUS?????

And just in time too, since my current socks project On The Needles is AQUA!!!!

The inside pocket is perfect to hold scissors and other tools that you don't want getting mixed up with the project in the bag.

The bags are perfect for knitting projects of course, but I've also used mine for embroidery, hexies, even makeup during travel!  If you'd like to make one of your own, just go to Jacquelynne Steve's - The Art of Home site HERE and sign up for her e-magazine - it's FREE! - and then ask her to send you the link to her Summer 2014 issue to get the free instructions for my See-N-Go Project Bags, as well as many other fun projects and crafty ideas from Jacquelynne  - even yummy recipes!

My socks are coming along very nicely by the way :*)  I love how this Frolicking yarn is striping in a "step" fashion, and pooling a little bit too.... this is a picture from last week.....

Since then, I've gotten quite a lot done!  One heel is made and the other is ready to work the heel flap.

A few more rows and I'll be moving on to the cuff!  We've been doing some traveling back east to visit with our family in North Carolina, and knitting is fortunately one of the things I can do in the car without fear of getting carsick, so this sock project has moved along much more quickly than I expected.  =^..^=

Oh yes, thought I'd share one more thing I managed to accomplish during this trip ....

Ouch!!!!

It's amazing just how sunburned one can get even while sitting in the shade of an umbrella on the beach!!!  Yes, it's painful!  I'm usually so careful about being in the sun, but I got tricked this time.  I have to say though, our first vacation to the beach in 5 years was well worth it!

I'll leave you with a few pictures - not that I want to make you jealous or anything *wink* .....

Morning has broken - Wrightsville Beach, NC

Is there anything more wonderful than that first dipping of the toes in warm ocean water?????

I think this fellow was fascinated with the way my hair sort of resembled a cyclone LOL!!!

Hex on the Beach anyone???

I've still got sand in my shoes :*D

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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On The Needles - 5/29/15

My raspberry socks are DONE!!!

Actually, they've been done for several weeks now; I just haven't had opportunity to blog about them.  I really love them, although I'm not terribly happy with the noticeable jog on the cuff where I ended the bind off.  I have to get better at that!

And I do have to say it bugs me that the socks are two different shades, when the yarn all came from the same skein!  This was expensive yarn too.  It is called Smooshy, and I pulled from one end of the skein for one sock and from the other end for the second sock.  Oh well - I know funky is in, but it still bugs me.  Just sayin' =^..^=

So I suppose, technically I'm sharing what I have OFF my Needles today LOL!!!  What I actually have ON my Needles are the sweet little toes of my luscious aqua socks, but I'll wait to share them when I have a little more to show than just the tips of the toes.

I'll also link this post up with the Q2 Finish-Along over at On The Windy Side.  So happy to have another project finished from my list!  (See my Q2 list HERE if you are interested)

So, what's on your needles?

Share with us at Patchwork Times!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Final Finish and Some Un-knitting....

My final finish from my Q1 Finish-Along list is a gift for one of my bestest blog buddies, Janet O., who blogs over at Rogue Quilter.  She received it yesterday, so I can blog about it now!

If you don't know Janet O., then go visit her NOW (link on her blog name) and introduce yourself!  She's a lovely person and friend, a wonderful quilter, and always has an uplifting comment and a sweet attitude.  Can you tell how much I love her???

Janet has gifted me with several really sweet treasures - she's the most thoughtful creature!  So I've been wanting to return the favor for a while now.  The problem was that I couldn't think of the perfect thing for her ... you know, the one thing she didn't have (how could I be sure?), or the newest tool that she's been dying to get her hands on (how would I know?), or ... well, you get the idea :)  I decided to make her something personal, but again - what?  Are you beginning to get the picture that I'm not quite as talented a gifter as she is?

Then she mentioned in a comment on one of my posts that she didn't have a Ruler Tote.  Eureka!!!

My next question was - what fabrics do I use???  Janet favors the primitive fabrics, darker than my style but still colorful.  The one color we both love is black!  So although I don't have much in the way of primitive fabrics, I did have some nice blacks in that style, and I was able to pull some reds and golds to go along with it.  I really hope she likes it!  I made it just like the one I always carry to retreats.

Brighter colors for me of course - and cats!!! =^..^=

It has pockets in the front for rulers ....

And heat-resistant fabric on the back for a portable ironing station ....

The inside will hold an 18"x24" rotary cutting mat and as many large rulers as she can carry!

I hope you enjoy this gift Janet!  I know I could never find a gift that would adequately say "Thank You!" for your friendship and encouragement over the past couple of years, but hopefully you will smile and remember how special I think you are each time you use your new Ruler Tote!!!

Tomorrow I will post my Q2 Finish-Along List - hopefully I will do a little better with that one :*)  Are you joining in on the fun?  I have to admit, it has really helped me to stay focused and concentrate on getting some of my projects finished up instead of flitting around from project to project, always starting and never finishing!  And there are prizes .....  (I thought that would get your attention LOL!!!)

http://makezine.com/craft/diy_knitting_needles/

And since it's Friday, and I haven't linked up with Patchwork Times's On The Needles in weeks, I thought I would update you on the mess I have percolating in the yarn department :*)

I picked up my Raspberry Smooshy Socks last week after not touching them since the end of October last year.  Knitting kinda took a backseat when I became obsessed got involved with Millefiore and Arcadia Avenue :)  So I picked them back up thinking if I could finish off the heels quickly, I'd have nothing but the cuffs left for a mindless take-along project.  Indeed, I did finish them up and was congratulating myself and feeling pretty good about my growth as an experienced knitter because those tricky heels actually worked out perfectly the first time!  .....

.... only to find when I tried to reconnect at the ankle that I had made a mistake way back yonder in October!  An unfixable mistake no less!  For those of you who knit socks, you'll understand when I say that I increased on BOTH sides of the sock while working the gusset instead of just the heel side.  See how wide the front is in the next picture?  UGH!!!

So I had to tear out those perfect heels (sob!), and carefully keep all the stitches from dropping - because if I didn't do it right I would have to START ALL OVER.  I used another set of needles to pick up the stitches before the place where the mistake started, and only then did I start to rip back to there ....

Thankfully, this was successful and I have begun the increases for the gusset once again, this time only on one side - whew!  Still a lot of stitching to do on these but at least I am moving in the right direction again :)

I really want to make my aqua pair, so these need to get done pronto.  Don't you love this yarn???

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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2015 IS HERE!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Our 2015 kitchen calendar
artwork by Wendy Bentley

You know, for me, New Year's Day is a lot like a belated gift after Christmas.  One reason opening presents on Christmas morning is so darn exciting is because of the potential contained in that intriguing package, right?   What could it be?  Is it what I asked for, or maybe something I never knew I wanted until I open it and realize I really, really wanted/needed that?  My Guy is really a pro at giving me gifts like that :*)  Of course, it could always be another set of dominoes!  My son swears he got a set of dominoes every year during his teens LOL!!!

On New Year's Day, we get to "unwrap" a mystery gift that will continue to unfold every day throughout the year.  (Sort of a DOY (day of the year) rather than a BOM (block of the month) - hahaha!)  We never know exactly what it will hold or what delights - or otherwise - we will experience.  Each day, more of the mystery is unveiled, until finally on New Year's Eve, we get to see the whole picture of that year.  Those of you who just had the pleasure of seeing Bonnie Hunter's new Mystery, Grand Illusion, unveiled know exactly what I mean right now, right?

My prayer for each of you is that your "gift" at the end of 2015 will be a wonderful one, 

filled with happy memories and good times!

I've worn my Happy New Year socks all day today, and I may just wear them tomorrow too!  Do you have traditions for New Year's?  Many of my friends are eating really disgusting interesting meals as a part of their traditions.  Others like to do what they love because there is a saying that whatever you are doing on New Year's, you'll do the rest of the year.  That would be nice for most of us, wouldn't it, to be able to choose right now, today, what we'll be doing the rest of the year?  Somehow, I don't think it quite works that way, though *sigh*

I had a lovely day though, so I think I would be happy if that were to come true for me.  One of my projects for 2015 will be Arcadia Avenue by Sassafras Lane, and I got to play with it a little today!  I did choose the Sunset colorway - you knew I would, didn't you?!?

The aqua will be the background, the black is my dark accent, the deep raspberry is the medium accent, and that light in the upper right corner is actually the  most marvelous pale gray with a white dot by Dear Stella!

Sassafras Lane is hosting a QAL for this wonderful quilt this year, and I'm excited to join in!  I'll be linking these fabric choices up with their first link-up HERE.  Go on over and check out all the fun combinations being chosen!  Shayla is even making one using low-volume fabrics - wow!!!

I printed out my patterns for the first couple of blocks yesterday and started paper piecing them, just because I couldn't stand to wait!  And also because I needed a NewFO for December *grin*!!!  This is the last NewFO linky party at Cat Patches and I think I've joined in on every one of them, so of course I had to be there for the finale, right?

Did you notice the patterns are smaller than the page?  You know how I love smaller quilts!  And I'd like this one to be a wall quilt - it's too amazing to be anything else :)  So I reduced the size to 75% on the printer, which will make my blocks about 9" finished instead of the original 12" in the pattern.

I also sewed up a test block I had promised to have done by today. Here are the colorful fabrics I played with ....

YUM!!!  ..... and notice the new accessory?  I'm not sure how, but I managed to stress my wrist several weeks ago, so I've been wearing a brace to protect it.  I suspect some marathon knitting sessions may be the culprit!  The brace really has helped, although I have to admit that it's darn uncomfortable!  I have to wear it while sewing because ironing and rotary cutting tend to torque my wrist in just the wrong way.

And speaking of knitting ..... this is no longer On my Needles!!!

I'm actually finished with the knitting on this Infinity Ombre cowl for my daughter Renee.  Tonight I'll kitchener the two ends together and sew in all the yarn ends.  She and little Hudson are on their way tomorrow morning bright and early for a few days' visit with us, so I want to have it wrapped up all nice and bright under the tree for her!  I'll be sure to share a pic when it's all blocked and ready for it's photo shoot :)

UPDATE:  Here's the finish!!!!

One of my favorite Christmas presents from My Guy was this new set of Knitter's Pride Dreamz Short Interchangeable Needles.

Last year I got the regular length needle set (you can see the longer needles in the middle in the above picture ) but they can't be used with the 16" cords for things like these cowls or hats, etc.  As soon as I unwrapped this set, I changed out my needles for the shorter ones.  Having the right tools for a job is absolutely Heaven!!!

Just a quick reminder ...
- tomorrow is the last day to get in on the Sew Sweet Simplicity GIVEAWAY!!!  Go HERE to leave your comment and have a chance to win this lovely pattern package from designer, Jacquelynne Steves!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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