Feathers quilt and other finishes

This month made quite some progress. Maybe because the evenings are colder so less likely to spend hours outside. Also we had quite some rain - quilting and rain are best friends.

1) Feathers quilt

Earlier this year I participated in the Feather sew along organized by Alison Glass. Her team had set up a community board and we had online sessions. I really enjoyed the process and we actually got to meet Alison who participated in the different sessions, explaining the pattern, and cutting, paper piecing, .... this was the first time I actually met the designer of fabric I was using.

The top was done within the SAL and I earned the finisher's pin and a label. 

Before quilting the layers I wanted to be sure that what I was going to do would work and gave this process quit some time. I knew I wanted to have lines in the grey areas, other than that ......????

In October, decided to give this a go. I used grey thread - charcoal for the top and light grey for the backside. And indeed this was the effect I was looking for. 

Next step - what to do with the coloured areas ..... definitely not grey as that would stand out too much in the coloured areas. While my brain was processing what to do, I worked on my hand piecing project.

Light-bulb moment - what if I used variegated thread in the colours of the fabric. Perfect solution, the thread use (Mettler silk finish) is perfect and blends in well. Plus it gives some colour to the grey areas without disturbing the pattern.

2) Slow stitching

Block 2 of the Tula Pink Sunrise quilt is done. I learned a lot from doing the first block - which was my first attempt ever at EPP. The assembly of the block went much easier. For block 1 I had stitched all triangles together before attaching to the center block. For block 2 I worked in groups of triangles. The center carton stayed in place which will help stabilize the block while I work my way through the next 14 blocks plus plus plus ..... For block 3 I aim to learn to make smaller stitches. 

I do like the hand stitching. Let's see how many years this project will take .....

3) Sock knitting

My socks are done, waiting for Christmas to wear, or maybe just waiting for cold weather.

                                        

Next pair of socks maybe try a new pattern ......always a perfect on the go project.

Linking to Patty's OMG October over at Elm Street quilts

October goals

 October projects on my list are

1) Slow stitching

I prepared the triangles for block 2 of the Tula Sunrise quilt and aim to hand sew it this month.

2) Sock knitting

Continue working on sparkle sock number 2 ...... The last few days my focus was on this second sock, finished the heel, turned the heel .....  I have a few inches of knitting left so should be able to wear them at Christmas.

3) Feathers quilt

My feathers top was finished in February. This beauty has to adorn my sofa fast. Last night I ironed the top as well as the backing. Aim is to baste, quilt and bind this month.

 

Linking up with OMG October over at Elm Street Quilts
 

September finishes

At the beginning of each month I make a little list of what I want to work on, or I continue last month's list as some of my projects are more long-term than planned.

1) Slow stitching

I finished block one this month, and prepared the triangles for block 2

2) Sock knitting

Continue working on sock number 2 ...... have made progress, and the month is not finished yet ...

  

3) tqs_animal swap

I finished the cushion cover and the two extras of my tqs_animalswap2022. Unfortunately my secret partner has not yet sent hers so I cannot send mine. Don't want to post pictures so need to be patient and wait until she has send hers off.

4) Any project of my pile of UFOs

I finished the top of my quilt rise above. This was not expected, but lots of rain does that. Once I got going on the last 12 blocks, I really felt like finishing. 

Linking up with Patty's September OMG over at Elm Street Quilts

June goals

 A new month and new aims.

Work less

Be happy

Be creative

 

1) Courtyard quilt

I finished the top of the courtyard quilt in May

and managed to send it all off to my favourite long-arm quilter (Stitched in Color) in the Netherlands. 

The package is now waiting for me to be picked up at the post office. My aim is to finish the binding, not forget the label and gift at the end of the month.

2) Socks

I started on sock 2 and am sure there will be some rainy days this month that i can get some knitting done. 

3) Rise above quilt

Last  year I bought the pattern Rise above from Charisma Horton. The fabrics - all solids - I got separately at the fabric market. The pattern is set up as a "block of the month" program - doing in my own rhythm though.

In May I made the blocks of month 1 and 2. In June I aim to make month 3, I started cutting already.

Linking up with Patty's June OMG over at Elm Street Quilts

January OMG finish - Frida Kahlo cushion cover

Frida Kahlo cushion cover

I am a huge Frida Kahlo fan. And when I saw the panel that can be used to make a bag or cushion cover I bought it. Not sure if this would be for a cushion or something else ...... Making a bag is on my list of projects tot tackle this year. However my youngest needed a new cushion with a nice cover as we had thrown the one he had away.

 

Last year I found this great sugar skulls fabric on line and bought a meter. A good thing I did, as now the fabric was used to make a border around the panel and for the backing.

 

My youngest is happy with the end result.

Pinguin quilt

I finished cutting all the fabric for my pinguin quilt. No sewing done yet as got side-tracked and decided to participate in a sew along. Which is perfectly fine as this was one of my objectives.

That was quite some cutting and it all fits in a small box .... neatly labeled waiting to become a quilt top.

Sock knitting

Not much knitting done this month, I did make progress on the first sock. Am using the WYS yarn, one of my all-time favorite sock yarn.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts and the January OMG.

OMG January 2022

 A new year and a long list of projects. 

For January my list of projects to tackle include

 

1) Cushion cover Frida Kahlo

My youngest had a handknit cushion on his bed. And Glacon our cat was often on the cushion, one of his favourite spots. We had our evening ritual where Glacon would be on the bed, my youngest reading a book. And when I arrived she would turn around on the cushion, walk back and forth between me, my son and the cushion, purring and purring and purring. Every evening same ritual. If I would give a kiss to S. she would join the hugging party. Last year she fell very ill with a severe lung infection and she died. Her last weeks were spent on the cushion carrying her around to make sure she felt loved and taken care off. When she passed the rainbow bridge I washed the cushion, but we just could not deal with seeing the cushion. I had a second one, but that also was too much. 

 

So I threw all out and bought a ready made panel of Frida Kahlo and some backing. S. will have a new cushion adorning his bed. A good thing he likes Frida.

2) Hand knitted socks

I love hand knitted socks - and with all the teleworking I wear them every day. Last year I bought three balls of my favourite WYS sock yarn and started a new sock. This month I want to finish both socks.

 

3) Penguin party

I started cutting fabric for my Penguin quilt. I finally decided on the background fabric. My aim for this month is to finish cutting all the fabric. The fabric is a mix from the market in the Netherlands and some online fabric bought in the UK. The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman.

Linking up for my 6th year with Patty's January OMG at Elm Street Quilts

October finishes

Several projects got out of the way this month so a lot of feelings of accomplishments floating here around.

1) OMG October

My main OMG for this month was to finish a baby quilt for a baby born this month. And the quilt is given to the grandmother so on its way to the baby this weekend.

The new mum loves pink!!! The baby being a girl the quilt just had to be pink, and not any pink .... pastel pink (if that expression even exists in English).

Enough pink fabric in my stash left over from my very pink scull quilt .... just these were very very bright pinks. A trip to a small shop (one of my favourite yarn shops who also happens to sell some baby fabric) and some more fabric buying over summer in the Netherlands and the basics for the quilt were there.

I used the pattern disappearing four patch block from the designer/quilter Material Girl Quilts. I watched her tutorial and started cutting and sewing and more cutting. Once all blocks were done i was not sure on how to best place each block. I tried a few options and ended up making a black and white picture to see how the balance was. After a few try-outs I was happy and started the assembly of the blocks in to a top.

 For the quilting I was not sure what to do and in the end decided to use curvy lines to create soft lines.

Some details: the new mum loves dogs and when I saw the dog-paws fabric I just knew I had to use that also for the binding. And the flamingos are just too cute.

Linking up with Patty's OMG at Elm Street Quilts.

2) Socks

I bought this yarn a few years ago for the colours, I had bought two colour schemes, one more purple and this one with more turquoise. And I don't think I will ever buy this sock yarn again. I don't like the way it knits up. I do love the colours, very warm and rich. I started knitting these a few months ago and was so dissappointed that sock number 2 never got finished. I tried a few times and .... not much progress. This had to change. I got a few knitting sessions going and last week finished these socks. They are too ugly to wear - but in winter I might wear these at home to keep my feet warm.

 

3) Scarf

Last winter bought yarn for a scarf. My youngest already had one, my daughter knitted one for herself, so high time to make one for my eldest. He choose the colours and I knitted. This was my on-the-go project

OMG July

July is here and so is summer. My list of projects to be finished is slowly getting shorter .... and my list of new projects and ideas is getting longer and longer.

 

My July projects are:

1) Color Jolt qal quilt top

The quilt top was made end of 2020 and basted earlier this year ... and then no more progress. The basted top was waiting and staring at me asking to be finished. 

 

 

 

 

 2) Knitted socks

Both socks are knit and waiting for the final step of closing the toes.

 

3) Destination quilt along

I so not need a new project .... this one is just to difficult to resist. Last year I participated and had so much fun, so the theme of this year .... different surprise destinations each time. Between each block there is a time span of two weeks ... so this should be feasible

 Slice of Pi Quilts, one of the blogs I follow, is one of the organizers/designers

 

4) Sewcialites qal

36 blocks sewn over a period of 36 weeks. Final assembly to be done this month.

Linking up with Patty's July OMG at Elm Street Quilts

Summer knitted cardigan

My sewing machine is (more or less)out of reach; because we are redoing my daughters bedroom and had to move her stuff to other places in our house. Also as part of redoing the floor in her room ... we thought that we might as well change the parquet in the hallway and Slava's room. We have been staring at the ugly parquet ever since we bought our house 15 years and this is one of the "still not changed things that we absolutely need to change as is it sooo ugly". Also the parquet is not real, it is some cheap synthetic something. So no sewing for a few weeks. I managed to finish the quilt for my niece just before moving (a lot) of furniture, books, games, ... temporarily in to "la chambre peche" or the peach coloured room. When we bought our house I painted each room in a different colour, giving a name to each room at the same time. The curtains have disappeared and the room is waiting to change colour ... one day .....

I still had access to my bond knitting machine. Have not used my bond a lot the lately, yarn in abundance of course. Before going on holidays I knitted a cardigan for Alesya. The yarn (Markoma 4 points mysterieux) I had bought last year in a little shop on sale, the owner was retiring and having a huge sale. So I ended up buying yarn and fabric, thinking that whatever she would sell to me, she would make more money than selling all to a someone who would buy the whole lot for one price. So now the challenge is to use all that I bought. I have no idea where this yarn is produced, a search on google did not produce any results, other than shops selling this same yarn or Nordic sock wool.

The yarn is not intended to be used on a knitting machine, however with some coaching and sweet talking I managed to knit the 5 parts (back two fronts and two sleeves) prior to going on holidays. The assembly I could do while away. The edges were finished with a matching spring green cotton yarn crochet border from my stash, as were the the buttons. My daughter loves the cardigan and will wear it happily this autumn all through spring.

Secret Garden Shawl in Scheepjes yarn

In January my project on the go became this lovely shawl in Scheepjes yarn. I took this with me to India and Ethiopia. I knitted on the plane and in my hotel room. Sometimes just sitting and knitting in the evening after a long day of meetings is soo soothing. And something I don't always manage to do at home.

In April I was almost done and managed a few evenings of knitting to finish it as it was too large to take in my handbag and carry around in a plane. Then the knitting was done and the shawl just waited to be finished.

This morning, we had nothing planned, as last night both my eldest and husband had their "ending of the season" concert. After breakfast the laundry was put on hold and I took some time out to sew in all the ends.

The end result is this lovely soft shawl that will be perfect for the winter.

Linking up with 2019 Finish-a-long quarter 2 and the
This is my second project (3 out of 7) done from my list

Lavender socks

My lavender socks are finished. Started knitting last year October .... or maybe even earlier. The first sock was finished rather quickly, the second sock took its time. So many other projects to finish were competing. Also wasn't sure if I could take all needles through airport security.

The future pair of socks ended up on my FAL Q4 2018 list, and as I had not finished them, they were included on my FAL 2019 Q1 list. I used West Yorkshire Spinners yarn, colour scheme "forget me not" from the Signature 4 Ply floral collection together with violet.

I have enough left to make a second pair of socks ....

Linking up with FAL 2019 Q1, project 3 of my list, 2 out of 5 done.

Poncho

My last finished project of the year, the poncho. I needed a crafty something to take along in the plane, for my trip to Nairobi, Kenya and to Jakarta, Indonesia. Still not done, I took it with me to the Netherlands early December, the flight was very bumpy and it kept my hands busy. Rather knitting than showing my kids I was not at ease. It worked, they did not notice a thing and while knitting I could tell them that we were doing fine.

I was almost done after my family trip, just needed some 20 rows of knitting. They were done rather fast. Last night I sewed all parts together and am ready to wear it to the office after the holidays.

The yarn I bought on-line when I had to buy two balls of yarn to finish my cognac colored cardigan, after all, only ordering two balls and paying postage was not really cost effective. The pattern and yarn were sold as a package, and it went straight in to my shopping cart.

The yarn is from Filato, Lana Grossa, Allegro made in Italy. I knitted with two strands at the same time and used a circular needle size 8 mm, 80 cm. The pattern was pretty simple, knit two rectangular pieces and sew these together.

The end result is a very colorful poncho that will look nice on a pair of black pants or jeans.

Linking up with FAL 2018, project 6 of my list, 7 out of 10 done.

Legwarmers for my daughter

Alesya wanted socks, just not ordinary socks, no she wanted hand-made socks by me. And although I was happy to make her socks, the thought that they might be too small in a short time and therefore only used a few months seemed to be a pity. Legwarmers were the perfect answer. I used WYS yarn, Pink Flamingo cocktail sock yarn.

They became my on-the-go project, while stuck in traffic jams, or at the GP. Before Christmas one was done and during the holidays made the second one. Every time I had some 10 minutes, I took out the second legwarmer. I used dpn's 3mm for the rib part and a small circular needle 2.75mm for the knit part. I set up 54 stitches and knitted a total of 35 cm. The second one was done in no-time. Holidays are great for finishing projects.

Linking up with FAL 2018, project 7 of my list, 6 out of 10 done.

Cognac coloured cardigan

In December 2017 I bought lovely recycled yarn in a shop in the Netherlands. Already that summer I had eyed the yarn (Lana Grossa, Solo Lino), however was not sure if it would go well with the silk fabric I had waiting to be made in to a skirt. So when I went to the Netherlands again ended up buying the necessary yarn (well, I was one ball short). I started knitting, shortening the front and back panel to compensate that I was 50 gr short. Then knitted one sleeve and realized I was not going to make it, not enough. While in the Netherlands over summer (2018) went back to the shop, and none available. Went to the site of the manufacturer and out of stock. In October the yarn was available again and I ordered two balls. Meanwhile I had knitted the two sleeves top down, at least if there was a colour difference, it would be the same for both sleeves.

The aim was to finish the sleeves and assemble all before Christmas, which was the case. Am quite happy with the cardigan and the yarn used. I will definitely be making a cardigan with this yarn.

Linking up with FAL 2018, quarter 4. Project 5 of my list is done. Five out of ten, not bad am halfway and still have 10 days left to see what I can finalize.

Alesya's scarf

Alesya wanted to learn how to knit, she asked a few times for some needles and yarn. So we went to the store and bought her some Katia paint self grading yarn. I started the shawl, 40 stitches would be good and off she went, she would do one row and I would do 2 rows, knitting only, no purling. And then I realized that the scarf would take her too long to finish. So we unraveled and I made her the scarf on the Bond. I had not used my Bond for at least a year. But she worked and loved the yarn. In no-time the scarf was done.

I had set up 80 stitches, knitted until the end of the yarn cake, transferred the scarf to needles and bind off by hand. The shawl was folded lengthwise in two, sewn together and closed off at both ends. The end result is a nice thick warm scarf that will keep her warm this winter. She will still need to learn how to knit, a smaller project though. Maybe a hat, either by hand or on the Bond.

UFOs/WIPs

I keep a booklet of my unfinished projects. And I have a separate list with my wish projects. And then there are all these ideas going around in my head. Oh and of course there are these projects that I made and I did not like them, I should make a separate list of these and decide what to do with them. The list of unfinished projects is quite long …. and that should change.
There are a few projects that I just never seem to be able to finish – for different reasons. There are 2.5 months left in this year and below are a few projects that I should finish and why.

1) Red silk jacket
I like making clothes, often they work out or just need a little adjustment. I made a lovely blue jacket with African fabric, so of course I wanted to make this jacket again. In 2007 I bought some very nice silk and the jacket would be soooo gorgeous in red silk, or so I thought ….. Disaster after disaster and frustration upon frustration. Three years later this jacket is still not finished. I redid the seams, the lining - supposedly to be black was blue so redid the lining, the sleeves were redone maybe three times …….. and now all it needs is to redo the bottom seams. I need to carefully open up a few seems – not much – line up the lining with the outer red silk and hand sew it all together.

2) Bella Skill Builder quilt
In an effort to boost my quilting skills I bought the kit for the Bella Skill Builder quilt. I enjoyed the sewing up off all the blocks and sewing the top. The quilt turned out huge and I was too afraid to continue. After all these efforts now what. So I bought iron-on batting. While gathering courage to quilt this beauty I made a few baby quilts just to get acquainted with my new sewing machine and getting confidence. My daughter knows it is for her and she stopped asking when I am finishing this. So for Christmas it would be a great gift for her.

3) Cross roads quilt
When this quilt was announced on the FQS blog I fell in love with it. The first version I made was in African Fabrics. And then decided to spoil myself with the original kit. The blocks are done and this sweety is waiting to be quilted. This one will be for me.

4) Autumn quilted table runner
As part of overcoming my barriers to do free motion quilting I bought this cute little kit with acorns. I have combined all acorn blocks. Well as it was too long for my coffee table I kept 4 blocks aside. I have cut the background and the batting and all I need to do is quilt the acorns and bind it.

5) cognac coloured cardigan.
Last year December I bought this soft lovely Italian yarn to make a cardigan for myself to match a skirt my father’s wife made for me. I ran out of yarn and could not finish it as this specific colour was out of stock. The yarn is available again and I ordered two balls to finish it. I ended up ordering on-line directly from the company. Oh so dangerous as this leads to my next project that I started. I want this cardigan to be done by Christmas as well so I can wear it.

6) Poncho
Purchasing two balls of yarn is expensive postage wise. What to do, wait until I find the yarn somewhere in a shop … or just go ahead order the two balls of project 5 and order another project (oh the danger). The perfect excuse. I am traveling and bringing along the unfinished cardigan on different needles is complicated. A new project is in order. And yes this goes against my own rule of not purchasing new projects until I have finished my old projects. However, this would be a perfect project while having an 11 hour journey with one stop over. And it is. It calls to make two panels and while traveling to Nairobi have knitted half of one panel. Maybe this evening might try to do some knitting. And panel one should be finished on my way home. The quality of the picture is not great as I took the picture in my hotel room that lacks light.

7) leg warmers for my daughter
I knit socks, actually I love knitting socks. So my daughter wants me to make her socks. I had bought this lovely yarn from WYS, and she claimed it. As she is only 11 she grows fast, and so do her feet. What if I knit socks and they would be too small in a few months … she would be sad. Solution: knit leg warmers. I started as this is my daily travel traffic jam project. I commute to work and sometimes traffic is bad, we don’t move … so I knit, knitting on a short circular needle is perfect – all I have to do is go round and round. And only when my car does not move of course. So depending on the traffic, the legwarmers will be done by end December. Otherwise will just have to take a few moments knitting while supervising my kids doing their homework.

8) Christmas placemats.
I started making Christmas themed placemats. And then my sewing machine broke down. Meanwhile I changed my sewing machine. When back from my trip need to dig these out (take a picture) and finish them. This entails, the quilting and the binding. The tops are done and basted and backed with clips/safety pins.

9) Ross blanket
For a reason I cannot explain, somehow crocheting is something I like, and never end up doing at home. Last year’s summer holidays I started the Ross blanket, and throughout the different holidays, worked on the project. For almost a year now I have not touched the blanket. There is no way I will finish this in the next 2.5 months. Am hoping though by adding this project to my public list will help me to get it out of the bags and just get on with it. I have made blocks 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. Have started the blocks 5. To finish this project, I will need to finalize crocheting the four number 5 blocks that I am building on block 6 (the centre piece). Then need to learn how to crochet all the blocks together and make a border. In the FB group where we crocheted this as a CAL, there were plenty of ideas for different borders. I have come so far with this project, learned so much, so now just need to find an incentive to start again and actually finish this.

10) lavender socks
My list of projects that I can think of on the top of my head on which I am actually working is getting longer and longer. Not sure how embarrassed I should be. I started knitting these socks and one is done (except for the binding off). My daughter looked at me a few times most likely thinking "when oh when will you start mine". So I had to interrupt this pair and start her leg warmers. So they will be on the list for next year. Unless of course there will so many traffic jams that I get to knit this sock as well. Actually, hopefully not.

I am linking up with Finish-A-Long – FAL 2018. I discovered this group of enthusiast crafters stimulating us all to pick up that forgotten/abandoned project and finish it. Thank you in advance for pushing me to finish what I can. Let’s see how far I get.


The final link-up for our projects is here.