Yowza Weight It Shawl

I seem to be doing more knitting that quilting lately.  But that's okay with me.  I do need to be making thread catcher for next month and will do. 

I did a KAL (kit along) and am very happy with how it came out. I was suppose to be for two different ones but didn't get completed in time.  The penguin always wants to be my model so why not. 

Dad's Scarf

I decided on December 26th to make my Dad a scarf for his birthday. Not a big deal but his birthday is January 1st.  I gave it to him on his birthday still on the needles.  He loved it!  He waned it to be a gentleman's scarf not one to wrap around his neck.  I would work on it and think it's long enough. Take it to him for a fitting and he'd ask for another inch or so. Of course I'm make it more like four or so inches more.  Finally last night he deemed it perfect.  I took it home and bound it off and waiting to bring it to him. 

Design Wall Monday

It's design wall Monday and I actually have something new on my design wall!! I took a class from Linda Ballard called MacKinzie's Square.  It was a fun class.  I have more elements done for the quilt but these are the three different blocks that are needed.

New Year new goals

New year means new goals.  My first goal is to be a better blogger.  That means working on projects more and posting pictures. Too much I want to do.  I am starting a list of what I want to get done this year in both knitting and quilting.  My going to challenge to myself is to shop my stash first.  Not to buy just to buy.

Knitting goals:
Finish Dad's scarf
4 pair of socks for the year
Scarfs
Top down sweater

Quilting goals:
Black and White quilt
Borders on Gordian Knot
Knitting bags - 4
Market totes - 2
Pillow case - geek fabric
Red and White quilt
Table runner for parents anniversary
Table runner for sister
Thread Catchers
Work on UFO's

Design Wall Monday

This past week I went to a new to me quilt retreat. It was located at Zephyr Point. I got very lucky and had a view of Lake Tahoe while I was sewing. This was my view taken from the window.  I started a new project, a log cabin. I've been collecting fabric for this for a long long time. I forgot to actually take a picture of the fabric before cutting it up for this and several others I want to do. I was able to complete four blocks with another 21 in various stages. I am not sure how big I am going to make it or the lay out.

My view

My sewing area

First block

The first 4 blocks

Design Wall Monday - Cat Quilt

It's Monday and I have a quilt on my design wall. Okay there are blocks on the design wall. Cat blocks and 30 of them. Now to lay them out in a pleasing arrangement. 

Cat Quilt

I went to my Spring quilt retreat and worked on blocks for the quilt.  I always make one block of any project if I can then go back and make the unit's for the block. Makes it go much faster.  Her is the first of many blocks.

Cat Quilt 2014

It's time to start this years cat quilt for Marin Cat Connection.  With the help of my favorite cutter, my Dad, it's all cut out ready to start. There are 15 different fabrics plus the background.

Stitches West 2014

This past weekend I attended Stitches West 2014. I've been before but never took any classes. I took two classes. One was making socks from the toe up with an afterthought heal and the other was intarsia. Enjoyed both. 

Design Wall Monday

Ok this is not my design wall but it is my quilt I've made. As it's completed I wanted to show it one last time. It's a gift for a friends brand new granddaughter.

Red and White Challenge

On Saturday I met my quilting buddy at my LQS to look for yet more red fabric. I found eight more I thought will look good in this quilt. So I got a quarter of a yard each.  I need to add it into my stash report even though I'm going to take it right out. I'm trying to decided how to even count all this fabric. I pulled 9.5 yards out of my stash but some will be going back as I do not need it all.  I think I'm going to count all the red out then add back in once I'm completed. I have a friend in Oregon who loves to quilt. I ask if she would like to accept a mission of looking for red fabric. Of course she jumped at it. So I'll have one more picture of fabric. I have started cutting out and do a little bit each day.

Red and White Challenge

We all need a friend in our life who is an enabler. Mine is my friend and quilting buddy Kerstin.  Yesterday at mini group, she was talking about the red and white challenge that she had read about. I've have always talked about doing a red and white quilt. I've been collecting red fabric and know the pattern I want to use. The pattern does not have a name except I call it Green Quilt Number 6 as it was the sixth green quilt Kerstin made. I too made one and it's called Green Quilt Number 6 even though it's my first green quilt.  I made one in pinks and it's called Green Quilt Number 6 in Pink. We ended up on the phone later and we talked about the challenge.  I knew I had white squares cut out I was planning on using. To make sure I'd have enough, she figured out how many I'd need to make it queen size. I had to only cut about 25 more and I'd had enough. Total squares are 570 give or take a few.  I then pulled red fabric and have 20 different fabrics. There is a total of 9.5 yard.  Might need to trade with my enable to get more variety. This is a picture of the fabric prewashed. I have learned to wash fabric.

This is what 570 white squares in a box to contain them looks like.

Design Wall Monday

I have been plugging along on my class project. Not a lot done but progress has been made. I'm making a game plan so I can get it done. Kerstin, my friend and fellow quilter has me excited to do this years red and white challenge. I think I'll just called her an enabler. But I digress. So this is a picture of this weeks progress

. 

What's on my Needles

I took my very first knitting class this past Saturday at Knittery. We are making a top down sweater.  The class is done in two sessions two weeks a part. This is what I've done so far.  I even used stash yarn I had purchased for a different sweater.  When I'm ready for that sweater, I'll get more yarn. I've been so happy with what I've gotten done so far. We have homework so best to go back to work. It's the same yarn I think it was the flash that made it look different.

Yarn Report - Week 3

I've made progress on the afghan for my Dad. It's about half done now.  For some reason I seem to having more yarn in than I'm knitting. My newest is from Fibernympy. It's a special order called Soft Kitty.  Any Big Bang Theory fans will know the story and song.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used/Traded/Gifted since 1/1/2014: 7 skeins
Added this week: 1 skeins
Added since 1/1/21014: 6 skeins
Net Used/Traded/Gifted since 1/1/2014: 1 skein

Yarn Report - Week 2

I'm already a week behind in my reporting and I feel off the wagon.  Someone was selling a skein of Wollmeise at knit night. It's in lovely jewel tones and I just couldn't not buy it.  Not sure what I'm going to make with it but it sure is pretty. I did trade yarn with someone on Raverly.  I sent her 7 skeins so I'm counting it as out. When I get my trade I'll them back in. They are different number of skeins so that's why I am counting them.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used/Traded/Gifted since 1/1/2014: 7 skeins
Added this week: 3 skeins
Added since 1/1/21014: 5 skeins
Net Used since 1/1/2014: 2 skeins

Design Wall Monday

Well off to a good start. First Design Wall Monday and I have something to post. I'm going to get this done. Turns out I need to cut 2 more colors. It's from the class I took a while ago. The pattern is Now You See It... Now You Don't by Linda Ballard. It's done in fall colors. The ones looking black are really a dark green.

What day is is?

It's been a long time since I'd posted anything to here. Not much to show for the long absent. I finished a scarf and shrug for my sister for Christmas. Pillowcases for my mini group friends also for Christmas. Did I think to take pictures? NOOOOOOO Oh well life will go on. I have been plugging along on my Dad's afghan. It's officially late as his birthday was the on the 1st.  I gave him other goodies and told him about his new afghan.  It's close to half done. 

I stopped keeping track of my stash busting around mid July. No idea why I stopped but I did. Need to be better about that this year.  I am making smaller quilting goals this year and maybe I can get them done. 

My List for this year. Not in order of priorty.

Quilting
Binding on the quilt for Blue Star Mom's of Marin

Butter Churn Quilt
Complete Now You See It ... Now You Don't by Linda Ballard
Quilt for Buttons Young
Two pillowcases for my sister

Knitting
Dad's Afghan
Sweater (Kimono pattern - started)
3 scarves
Socks

I'm sure there will be other things to add to one or the other list but for now that's it.

Design Wall Monday

Okay don't be shocked, I actually have something on my design wall. It's the top for a baby blanket for a friend who is becoming a Grandfather after the first of the year. I figured the baby needs a quilt when it visit's Grandpa. I still need to make the back before can it can be quilted.

Camp Loopy project 1

It seems lately I'm enjoying knitting more than quilting. I have done a bit of sew but not much.  I decided to stretch my knitting skills and go to campy this year. I am pleased with my first project and look forward to starting my next one on July 1. This pattern is called Hitchhiker. The requirements are as follows.

Project One: needs to be knit or crocheted between 6/1 and 6/30 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project One Photo Gallery by 7/1). The Challenge for Project One – A one-skein project, using a fingering or laceweight yarn that you have not used before. Your project must use at least 375 yards of the skein.