I have created a monster

I am still here and knitting away. I have finished one pair of tube socks and am almost finished with the house socks/slippers that will be felted to fit. Then it is on to the last pair of tube socks.

The title of this post? It refers to the fact that now SOMEONE ELSE wants a Rasta hat: the absolutely cute, darling brother-in-law of the boy who is getting the socks. He is in a band and is growing dreadlocks and wants me to make a hat for him. You can see the Rasta hat I have already made using yarn from the stash for my employer's son. His dreads are almost to his waist and really fill the hat. This new hat will have to be a bit smaller since the BIL is a new dread grower.

Update on the 4SQS5: I am now in the process of quilting it. This little quiltlet will be hard to set free. Now I know I say that for all the little ones, but it is more true for this one.

Princess Feather

When I was at the local museum partaking of the Gee's Bend exhibit I spied this beauty in one of the display cases in a different exhibit. This is a two color Princess Feather quilt. It was given by A.D. Hagemen to his wife as a wedding gift c.1871. The quilting is exquisite and is 1/2" apart. Look at how the unknown quilter quilted a feather design in and around the feathers. Another thing was the extensive quilting inside the applique pieces. Wish I could do hand quilting like this. I know I can't, because I just put the last stitch in a small quilt last evening. My stitches are not tiny and, lately, they are not even consistent. *sigh*.

I've been plodding along on the first pair of bartered tube socks. Can we say boring? It is not the yarn but the design: a tube stock done with stockinette stitch. *yawn!* I've been trying to hurry on these by doing 2 at a time but it still seems interminable.






It is probably going to be a bit quiet around La Casa del Quilter as I am only working on tube socks *yawn* and the 4SQS5 that I can't show you. Speaking of which, it has turned out so well that I am going to make myself one in red, white and green; you know, the colors found in a Baltimore Album quilt. I've always wanted a quilt in those colors and this pattern will work wonderfully.

Winnings

On Friday, I came home to two special packages in my mailbox! A week or so ago, I made a comment on Pat Sloan's blog about what quilting podcasts I listen to and how long I've been listening. I have been listening to Annie Smith's Quilting Stash podcast almost since it's inception and I said as much to Pat. I didn't realize that I was entering a drawing and I won! I was able to get one of Pat's books autographed by her. Do you listen to Annie Smith's Quilting Stash podcast ? If you do, you would have heard her mention me.

The other package was an absolutely beautiful handknit scarf that I won in a draw from Vicki, at Knitting Dragonflies. I've been looking at the black scarf/hoodie combo I normally wear and thought that it is time to brighten up my look, so this is the perfect accessory. But wait there's more! She included these fantastic refrigerator magnets in my favorite color: blue. I've been wanting to add a bit of color in my outerwear wardrobe and this lovely scarf just fits.

I just love gifts, don't you?

Randomness

Jenclair, over at Bayou Quilts, recently reorganized her bulletin board. I thought that was a good idea so I went into the sewing room this morning and took this photo. But the more I stood there looking at my board the more I like it this way. In a way, it reminds me of the wall at a (former) head shop in a nearby town. This 'boutique' used the whole wall (not a board) and has not taken anything off this wall. Never. Ever. The shop has been in existence since 1969. The wall has an approximately 4" deep strata: announcements of peace marches, concerts, parties, items for sale or trade, posters of plays and events. 40 years worth -- I kid you not. I would love to dig down through the layers just to revisit. A time capsule on the wall, so to speak. But I digress. My measly little bulletin board holds some memories too. See that green & yellow flag up in the corner? That is one of two stickers I bought for my guitar case in college. In 1970. Yes, even then there was concern and awareness for the planet. Next to it is a design I made up as a patch for my blue jeans. I like to look at them so I keep them fairly cleaned off.

There is a whole lotta of knittin' goin' on. Sorry Jerry, I couldn't resist. I have been bartering again. One of the younger boys at work wants some knitted socks. And he bought the yarn. Come springtime, I will need a young strong boy to help in the yarden doing some heavy lifting, so we are trading labor for labor. I currently have the first sock of a pair of socks for me on the 5" double pointed needles, a barn-raising square on the 7"dpn's and a pair of socks on the 40" Addi Turbo circular needle for him. I am going to knit him 2 pairs of tube socks using the magic loop technique. O, and he requested a pair of felted house socks too. No prob.

Had my eyes checked yesterday and dr said I have the beginnings of a cataract. Ugh. Ordered the new glasses today and about had heart failure at the price!

I'm still working on my 4SQS5 quilt. Sorry no photos.

The hand quilting is progressing on the little quilt. I am not going to show a photo of it until it is done. After all, how boring to see the same thing over and over.

Spent a bit of time late this afternoon, cutting some scraps into 2.5" squares for leader enders. I have a LOT of 4 patches made up now. I suppose I should make something from them?

Today it was a lot more like spring than a wintery January day. The sky was blue, the weather warmy and slightly balmy, the ice melting on the lakes and the doves were cooing. Never heard doves in January before. So here's to you: stay warm and enjoy your weekend.

Take my word for it

You DO NOT want to go into a grocery store after having your eyes dilated.

Slow Fibery Weekend

Saturday was the monthly meeting of Quilty Friends. I was prepared and took my hand quilting project and my knitting. I have been trying to teach myself frameless/hoopless hand quilting and end up removing more stitches than I get put it. Putting that aside, the socks came out and on the first yank of the yarn the whole center of the yarn skein just popped out. The rest of the time was spent untangling the mess. Afterward, at home, I kept up the fibery doings and hand quilted the rest of the afternoon away. There is something about hand quilting that just relaxes one, isn't there?

Today was spent in the sewing room where the 4SQS5 swap quilt was finally started. No photo of it yet, 'cause it's a secret.

Another knitted barn-raising square is blocking as I type.

And in between, a page or two of the Photoshop Elements 5 for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby. I actually have a newer version of the software but the library did not have the corresponding book. I figure that what is covered in this book should also be in the version I have. Right?

I hope your weekend was slow, fibery and enjoyable.

*photo courtesy of iStockphoto

Barn Raising

Normally thought of as a setting for a log cabin quilt, this is the name for some knitted squares. A basket full of yarn balls ranging in size from a bit larger than a golf ball up to tennis ball size necessitated finding a use for the leftover sock yarn.

Self striping sock yarn results in a barn raising pattern when knit into a square. After knitting and blocking (a really good use for a June Tailor Cut 'n Press board, BTW) the resultant square is 7.5 inches square.

This afghan, which is a very long term project, will result in a visual history of all the socks I've knitted. How kewl is that?

For blocking wires I went to my local hardware store and bought some brass acetylene welding rod in the smallest diameter. It is small enough to weave in and out of this square and as an added bonus, it does not rust. I picked up four 12" long pieces for under $5.00

Tempo

After 11.5 days off, today it is back to work. It is an understatement to say that it was nice to be home. There were holiday activities and 'have-to' type things that encompassed several days. Then the days settled into an enjoyable rhythm.

Sewing quilt pieces and blocks together did not seem to be as frantic and stressful because time was available. Three Quilts of Valor tops were stitched together. A long-term knitting project was started. Recycling gained speed in the household.

If the paycheck weren't such a driving force, I could embrace staying at home and slipping back into the tempo of each day.

Quilt Edgings Part 2

So, do you know what I did with this edging? Yes, it is a standard double fold binding, but before stitching it on I inserted a bit of rick rack to give the bound edge just a bit of embellishment. Cute, huh?

This next one is just as simple. After the quilt was completely bound using the same fabric as the last border, I went back and added an embroidered stem stitch in red all the way around it.

There. Now you have four different ways to finish off a quilt that is not the same old binding.

Quilt Edgings Part 1

Do you always use binding on your quilts? Have you ever tried something different? I have tried several different things. This post starts with 2 of the easier ones. The first photo is my old standby utility quilt. Instead of binding, I pulled the backing over to the front. I cut the batting to be the same width (2.5") as the logs in the log cabin and then cut the backing 3" to give myself enough to bring to the front and a seam allowance to fold under.

This next image is another treatment that I tried. I liked it so much I did it on another quilt too. It gives a very feminine touch to a quilt. This is purchased eyelet lace that has been basted to the top by matching the upper edge of the eyelet to the outer edge of the quilt top. Since the plan was to tie this quilt, I layered the batting, then the quilt top right side up, then the backing right side down and stitched around the outside edge leaving an opening to turn it right side out. Once that was done, I slip-stitched the opening closed and tied the quilt. It is a nice finish and easy to do.