Tuesday Knitting Report

I knitted these slippers using this pattern.

They knit up really fast.

I used these instructions for Felting In A Front Loading Washer.

I was a nervous wreck while waiting for the first cycle to be done.

After 2 cycles through the washer, they fit.

Now they are stuffed with plastic bags and drying.

I am now going in to put some lotion on my alligator legs.

Design Wall Monday

Not a lot of time was spent in the sewing room this week. I did make a new block to replace the orange and brown one--much better. I cut more friendship star pieces. I made a few more bow tie blocks.

I made a bag for my tablet using an online tutorial but it turned out to be too tight. It will be for the Kindle instead. It turned out really cute so I'll use the same idea of that one and make another for the tablet.

I finished the Trees Left Standing top that I showed last week. I knitted a pair of slippers. I'm going to try to felt them today so I can show them off tomorrow. Now that everything has been documented, I guess I spent more time in the sewing room than I realized. Isn't that fun!

This morning will be spent cutting tumbler blocks and baking zucchini bread/muffins for the freezer. This afternoon, I get to go to the dentist again. Yes, I do know how to have fun.

I jumped for joy when I saw Judy L has a design wall and today she has something fabulous on it. Go check it out and check out other great projects.

Today's Project

My dear friend Marian gave me a paper bag full of scraps from her Mother. The bag was packed with old fabric. Not knowing what was what and what might fade, I threw it all in the washer with a couple Color Catchers. (When looking for the link, I liked them on Facebook and got a free sample. :} ) So the big laundry basket is full of all kinds of fabrics.

My challenge today is to empty the basket. The mesh bag in the chair is a bunch of pre-cut squares that will go into the bin of others the same size. The plastic bag behind that is for strings, the plastic bin is for chucks that will be cut into tumblers. There is also a pile of big pieces that will be used for other things. In the basket is the garbage bag. I don't think there will be much garbage though.

Wish me luck......I'll let you know later how it worked out.

Design Wall Monday

It's fun to have a loaded up design wall. I am loving the new bow tie leader/ender project. I've decided not to use cheddar and use from my over flowing bin of 2 1/2" background squares.

Next up is the last l/e project, Trees Left Standing that I started here using up some of the 1" bonus triangles. When I put the red strip on the wall and looked at it for a while, I knew it had to be lots thinner. So I decided I like it showing 3/4" and the outer border will be 2 or 2 1/2" wide.

On the right are my 2010/11 completed blocks for BOM-Quilt Addicts Yahoo group. That's right, I said completed! Before the newest project starts! OK, so just the blocks are completed but I feel good about that. :0) Now I am going to cut up the remaining fabric from the fat quarter pack into 2 1/2" strips to make up stars for the border and scrappy binding. I'd better make the binding first though......... And I think I will rearrange some of the blocks and maybe replace the brown and orange one. (afternoon edit--The orange and brown block has been replaced with a pink and blue block and looks so much better. )

I love Design Wall Monday, thanks Judy L. Go here to see what other's have on their walls today.

Progress

In my last post, I talked about the Pokey Dot Throw and that I hadn't posted a photo of it. LuAnn (check out her blog!) wanted to see it, so here it is folded in half. Just for you, LuAnn. :0) Hiding behind the throw is daughter DeeDee who laid claim on that throw and it now resides at her house. See the border on it? That is what I am going to do on the striped throw after I put on the last 2 stipe sets that are left.

I spent lots of time Friday sitting in front of the TV with this covering me up for a while-it was kind of chilly in here. I don't know if you can see it or not, but at the bottom of the photo is a little ball of yarn. That's how much is left of the blue that I'm using for the every other stripe. Of course it isn't a color that I can just walk into a store and buy. I had to order from JoAnn's, so this will not be done by Tuesday as I had planned. But I will stalk my order status so I don't loose my finishing enthusiasm.

You all know the rule about ordering a $4 skein of yarn when the shipping is $8, you have to order other stuff, right??? So I had to order the heart die for the Go! because I had a 50% off coupon. (And I saw a photo of an adorable pillow that I want to make for some adorable girls.) It took the discount off the order page but if it doesn't work, I have a set of knitting needles it can be used on. Always cover those bases!!

Now I must make some zucchini bread before it gets too much warmer and I loose all interest in the kitchen.

Tuesday Knitting Report on Friday

This post should really be called Pick A Project, Any Project.

I haven't done a Tuesday Knitting Report all month. The last one, here, shows me working on 2 pair of socks. I had been pretty lax about my reports even before that. I'm trying to do better.

Anyhooo....I have decided I have too many irons in the fire and it's time to get some of them out of the fire and cooled off. I'm trying, really I am, to get some things finished so I can start more things without the guilt. So the photos shows 3 of my in progress projects. Front left is the shawl from the sweater gone wrong yarn. Behind that is the striped afghan using yarn left over from the Pokey Dot Throw I finished last November but didn't blog about-I wonder why I didn't. And then the cute little red, white and black bag (from The Quilting Gallery exchange) that came from Dawn in England, holding my sock project.

So...I finished up my Abracadabra socks. I love them and can't wait until I get to wear them. Sometimes I just smooch them because they are so soft.

I am almost finished with one of the Paraphernalia socks. The cables are kind of hard to see but believe me they are there!! And the second sock will be cast on as soon as this one is finished. I did tear out back to the ribbing and started over on the cables. I have learned the proper way to read a chart and it has made cables so much easier and fun. I'm excited to start on sock 2. I try to work on one of my projects each night while sitting in front of the TV. Or when I just crash in the chair during the day!!

I promise to check in on Tuesday and if everything goes my way, I'll have one of these three things finished!

Design Wall Monday

I am almost to the stage in my current leader/ender project where it becomes the main project and a new l/e needs to be started. Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame has issued the Cheddar Bow Tie Leader-Ender Challenge. I wasn't going to do it. No, I wasn't going to start any more new projects. But........

I have a drawer full of 2 1/2" background squares, a drawer full of partial 2 1/2" strips. And I have been wondering what I was going to use for my next l/e project. I do want to make a cute bag for my g tablet. Does it sound like I'm rationalizing something here??? I have had my eye on some cheddar......I don't have any in my stash. I could make the cute bag from my stash and then decide if I need to buy that cheddar fabric......you all know I'm going to. :)

Head over to Judy L's and see other fabulous design walls and wish Judy luck with getting her new wall up and filled with beauty.

Design Wall Monday

Design Wall Monday on Sunday Evening

This morning I went into the sewing room to do a bit of cleaning up and put up a new shelf. I did that and decided to sit down and sew a few crumb blocks from the bits and pieces that were in my little basket. These darn crumb blocks are like those potato chips that you only want to eat one of but you know, even before the first bite, that you will be out of control in no time! So after 1 string block and 17 crumb blocks and a quick photo, I put the blocks away.

I have no clue how many blocks are in the box. Probably enough for a nice sized lap quilt but I'm not counting yet. One day I will get the box out and start sewing the blocks into a top. I already have string strips sewn for the border so it will go together really fast.

A Finish, A Finish, Finally A Finish!!

Can you hear me singing? If so, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I have finally finished this UFO. I have not been very successful with the 2011 UFO Challenge. I posted about my February project here and here and again here.

Today I will post that it is finished! My new goal for August is to get a couple more of these UFOs marked off my list. I am motivated now more than ever before to reduce that pile of quilt tops. I would love it if I could have a year when all of my planned projects are complete. Realistic? Maybe not but I'm sure going to try. So 2 finishes with 7 left to be caught up. Can I do it? Let's see. I may need a push now and then, but please be gentle.

Now I must do something to get ready for company tomorrow....

Design Wall Monday

Night Watch

Sunset Silhouette Designs, Inc.

By Carol Robinson of Omak, WA.

I bought this as a kit. I started it over 4 years ago, I remember taking the pieces to work with me to cut out during down time. They were quite fiddly but I rather enjoyed the process. This is one of those projects that I really, really want to finish but I was very uncertain about what to do so I put it away only to be taken out, admired and written every year on the UFO list.

Yesterday I got it out and made a decision. I will add the outside borders, then I will layer it and do free motion quilting/raw edge applique all at the same time! If you have an idea that might work better, please share it with me. The bear, pine needles and moon are ultra suede. In some places on the bear, there are 3 layers.......I'm hoping a jeans needle will do the job. I have a few little pieces that will have to be glued back on but I'll wait until I am close to their area before doing that.

It's good to have a plan with this. Finally!!

Go over to Judy L's where others are sharing their fabulous design walls.