WIP Wednesday {The leap day edition}

Happy leap day! For some reason I am pretty excited about leap day this year... really I suppose it's not all that special, but that's alright, I'll keep pretending and enjoying my extra day :) As it is the last day of February I must mention that I did not get everything on my list for the month done (I may have been a bit ambitious) but I did well this week and I'm happy with my progress. I even did well focusing on quilts and not getting distracted by other {smaller} things.


Completed:

Broken Diamonds top

This is what I am calling this quilt for my aunt and uncle now. I am sure it is not an original idea, but it is really the first quilt I have designed from the idea in my head and not outside inspiration so I'm pretty proud of it. I don't know when I'll get to backing/quilting/binding it, but I am just happy to have the top done.

Leg Warmers

I am happy to say that my knit legwarmers are finished and I love them.

New:

Mini for the wall

I finally started this, which has been brewing in my head for ages. I am hoping to actually finish up the top today, but we'll see. I am using all my Farmer's Wife quilt scraps which are so bright and happy. I can't wait to have this hanging on the wall to brighten the place up!

Echo Quilt
I have all the fabric ready, and the templates printed so I am calling this one started. I have every intention of cutting this out this week. No picture yet unfortunately.

Waiting:

*scrappy triangles {I changed my scrap plan and strings are on hold for now. I will hopefully start it once the echo top is done}
*dresden toddler quilt

So, I completed a knitting project and a quilt top (a pretty big one) this week. And I got started on my mini. I am moving forward which is good because I have a lot of things I want finished in the first half of the year and tomorrow starts March already. These first two months of the year have absolutely flown by.  Well I hope everyone enjoys the last day of February!

Leg Warmers

Earlier this month, I posted a little round up of my knitting projects. I thought now would be a good time to check in and report that I am done my legwarmers! That means I got done the two projects I was trying to complete in February and I can start on the other things!

I have wanted to make some leg warmers for a while now. I have some Ugg slippers that I don't wear socks with, but my ankles get cold so I wanted something to cover them. I found this pattern on The Purl Bee and I love it. I obviously made mine shorter since I thought full leg warmers would be a bit excessive, so I stopped somewhere around 15".  I used Berroco Remix yarn and I like it a lot. I have already washed them and they survived just fine and got softer and lovely. This yarn is a bit thick for this I think, but it works. The pattern is simple and went really quick when I actually worked on it.

In order to make sure it would go over the widest part of my calf, I did cast on and off with needles a couple sizes bigger, which I think helped. They fit great and I can't wait to wear them this week! This leaves me with just two current projects, the afghan I have had sitting around forever, and the cowl that I want to make for my sister. I am planning to make a few blocks and then when I get bored start the cowl. I must admit Downton Abbey is really helping my knitting addiction ;) Today, however, I have a bit of sewing I need to get done. I have starting working on the mini quilt that has been in my head for ages and I can't wait to see it come together! We'll see if I can get it put together today!

Ikea Quilt II

Happy Friday!! I am so glad this completely ridiculous week is coming to a close and I actually have a relaxing weekend to look forward to. My plan: a bit of sewing, a bit of knitting, a bit of Downton Abbey, some delicious food, and some extra sleep. The good life :)

Now I know I already made this quilt, pretty much exactly, back in November. But it came out really nicely and I somehow just had to do it again. I had half the fabric left still, just begging to be used. The only difference is that I used blue and green instead of red and orange. I like both combinations a lot, but I am slightly more partial to the blue and green in this one.

Actually, I take it back, the biggest difference is the quilting. The first time around I went with a quilting design that went along with the quilt design. I didn't love it, mostly because of the quilting in the borders, but it worked out okay. This time I wanted to try something different. I went through a few ideas before deciding to do something I had been wanting to try for ages: organic wavy lines! Most of the quilts I've seen quilted in this style have more dense quilting and less even wavy lines, but that's okay. I love the look of this. The lines are roughly 2" apart so the quilt is still super soft and has such a good drape. I kinda can't wait to try it on another quilt, but maybe closer together to see how that comes out.  I used another black/white polka dot for the binding and I just love the way it frames the bright colors. My favorite block is the bottom center with the lion, in case you were wondering.

 This is my first quilt of this year start to finish, but number 3 overall. Hopefully I can keep it up and reach my goal of 12 this year. I am most of the way done the next top, and plan to finish that up this weekend. And the one after that is ready to be cut. But I have a feeling I am just going to end up with a bunch of quilt tops for a while. Oh, and I think *fingers crossed* I should be back Monday with some super sweet legwarmers all knit and ready to go :) And I guess this weekend will determine how realistic my goals for February were. Have a lovely weekend!

WIP Wednesday {2.22.12}

Wednesday again! And although I am quite tired and things are pretty stressful around here, I am feeling pretty good. So far this week I am staying on task and I am making good quilt progress. Which is good since I just keep getting excited about new quilts I want to make, but clearly I need to get some others done first :)

Completed:

Ikea Quilt II

I love this! I will do a full post Friday now that I actually have some pictures, but I am so happy with how it came out.

Zip Pouches

All 3 done! Ready to be given this weekend :)

Still Going:


Quilt for my aunt and uncle

Making good progress on this. I have 3 rows left to trim and then I can start working on the sashing. Hopefully today.  I am really anxious to see this come together.

New:  Nothing, I have refrained from starting anything else that is swimming in my head. I make no promises for this week.

Waiting:

*echo quilt {I finally got the rest of the fabric!}
*scrappy string quilt {still deciding on a design}
*dresden toddler quilt
*scrap mini for the wall

 So there you go. I am kinda hoping I have a quilt top finished by next week. Along with possibly a new wallet and/or purse. And maybe start my mini for the wall. I don't know about all that yet, but I do hope so. I am looking forward to a more relaxing weekend anyway, and one which will involve more sewing as we finally have a visitor-free weekend. Oh, and some Downton Abbey and knitting {my new favorite obsession combo}.  Happy Wednesday!

Bags, bags, bags

So here's the thing. I love to make quilts. I really do. And I think that probably has a lot to do with the finished product and not just the process, although I like that too. But I feel like I have quilting ADD. I just constantly feel the need to make other things instead of just focusing on the quilt like I intend to. Which I think has to do with the fact that I need a feeling of accomplishment and am a sucker for instant gratification (I hear it's a generational problem...) and to further the cycle, this makes the quilts take even longer. *sigh* Point being, while I did work a bit on my most recent quilt top this weekend, mostly I made bags. Which is good because now they are done, but that kind of leaves me feeling like I might have time to make a couple other small things this week that I was going to hold off on. So I am going to try and focus because I want this quilt top done, but I'm just saying that I am having a hard time with the whole focus thing.

And now that I am done analyzing myself, I must say the bags turned out awesome. Two of them are gifts to be given next weekend and the other is just because. I used the Emmy Clutch pattern again from Paisley Pear Quilts on Etsy. I love this pattern. It just comes out so nicely. The pleats take a bit of time, but maybe that was because I was doing 3 bags so that was like 60 pleats. The zippers even all went in without a problem!

I kind of want to keep them. But I think I'll be more happy to give them to loving homes. So now I need to get into quilt mode. To be fair to myself, I did lay out my quilt and start to sew/trim the blocks and got through almost half of them. And today I am going to try to finish the rest. Maybe I'll surprise myself and have a quilt top by next week...or maybe I'll have a new wallet/purse. Either way I suppose I win :) I just really keep meaning to focus on quilts for a bit. Also, I finished up the binding on my Ikea Quilt II last night so it is just waiting to be washed and photographed. 

stuffed love

Happy Friday friends! I am happy to report that yesterday was super productive, which will hopefully carry over into today. I managed to not only get my quilt quilted and the binding sewn on, but I am thisclose to finished the bags I am making. If I can finish those up today and lay out my next quilt, I will be a happy girl. And then maybe I'll feel ready for another weekend of guests. Maybe. Also, I made my list of things I want to finish by the end of the month and it is feeling really possible at this point. I think I'm even going to get my leg warmers done; I worked on them the other night and found out I have less than half of one to go. I might even get to wear them this winter!

I thought I would go ahead and tell you about this little stuffed birdie I made my little lady for Valentine's day. I almost didn't get it done, what with making the e-reader case and 2 cards as well on Monday. I knew I wanted to make her a little bird (she loves birds and making a little "tweet" noise that really sounds nothing like "tweet" haha) so I set off to find a pattern or something since, as a general rule, I shouldn't try to make my own templates unless they have straight edges, and even that is iffy.

I found this lovely little tutorial at lavender's blue and it was perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Just the right size for those little hands to squeeze. I did have a hard time deciding on fabrics, but in the end I had a couple of fat quarters I cut into. I even used my new found embroidery skills to do some little satin stitch eyes.

And since I finished it Monday night, I gave it to her before I got pictures of it. And then had a very hard time getting it away from her to get said pictures. So I got one clear shot and the next one has her hand in the picture trying to grab it away. Oh yes, she had to come with me if I was going to be going anywhere with her bird. I suppose I could probably have waited a few days until she was less attached to it, but I'm just not that patient.

Anybody got any good plans for the weekend? I think my main decision of the weekend will be whether I want to knit or sew down binding. Honestly, at this point I have no idea which one will win, but either way it should be a good weekend. See you Monday!

WIP Wednesday {2.15.12}

Someone please explain to me how the days are so long but the weeks are so short! I wish I was a bear and I could just hibernate for the winter...ah well. Instead, I will sew away the winter :) I have a long list of things to sew to get me through the next few months. Of course it would go a lot better if I stopped adding things every week....


Completed:

Embroidery 101!!

So happy to have this done! I love the way it turned out and I am pretty stinking proud of my embroidery. 


E-reader case

I decided to go ahead and make an e-reader case for the hubby for valentine's day. He picked the pac-man fabric and I kind of love it. This pattern is seriously wonderful and I love the way it comes out!


Stuffed birdie

This was a valentine's day gift for my little love bug. She totally loves it and I had quite the time getting a picture of it after I gave it to her! I'll do a full post on this one Friday.


Ikea quilt II top

I finished this the other day and I love it. Even more then the red/orange version from before. That could be because I like blue so much....but I am amazed how different they look even though they are the exact same design and print fabrics.

Still going:

Quilt for my aunt and uncle
I haven't gotten the chance to touch this one. Hopefully this week I'll at least get it laid out so that I can start sewing. 


New:

Zip pouches
I am making some zip pouches for birthday gifts. And I need them done by next weekend. So I hope to do it this week if I can manage it.  I do have the fabric {almost} all cut, just no picture.


Waiting:

*echo quilt {I finally got the rest of the fabric!}
*scrappy string quilt {still deciding on a design}
*dresden toddler quilt
*scrap mini for the wall

 So that's my week. This week I will hopefully get the ikea quilt quilted and sew the binding on the front, and lay out my aunt and uncles quilt, and make 2 zip pouches. I doubt I'll be able to do it all since we have more guests this weekend, but I can sure try. Today I'll make a good start and get the quilt back done and if naptime goes really well, it will even get basted :) Have a good week everyone!

Embroidery 101 - A finish

It is done! Not only done, but gone to it's new home too! I didn't get to do much in the way of sewing this weekend, but I did manage to finish up the binding on this Friday so I could send it to it's new home Saturday. It was a pretty great weekend. A day-long date on Saturday was a lot of fun; a bit of shopping, a lunch date, a movie, and a bit more shopping before having a great dinner/dessert with my sister and baby girl :) It definitely put me in the mood to get a lot done this week. Of course today is the only day I have to make a couple little valentine's day gifts for tomorrow so I hope I can manage to get that done.

Anyway, on to the quilt! I started this one in the fall. Well it has been on my list since the QAL over at Clover and Violet this past summer, but I found the fabric while quilt shop hopping in October and had all the blocks together in November I think, and then they sat, waiting to be embroidered. I am glad I finally made myself take the time to do it. It was so much fun. I loved learning all the stitches and I'm so happy with how it turned out. My blocks are a bit small since I pre-washed my fat quarters so they weren't quite 18" so instead of 3" strips mine were all 2.75" giving me 16" finished blocks. I added some 2" sashing (4" on the outside) to bring it up to a 60" square. I quilted straight lines to the side of each seam and I love how it came out. I'd love to tell you what the fabrics are, but I'm not sure. I know the blocks are mostly from the Central Park line and the sashing/back/binding is from the DS quilts lines at Joanns.

This was a quilt I never intended to keep, although I wasn't sure for a while exactly who it was going to. It is delivered and loved though. And I am glad to have my second quilty finish for 2012. Now I just need to get one done start to finish this year instead of finishing up last years haha. I am on my way though, my ikea quilt is almost ready for basting! This week for sure. And now, I better go think loving thoughts and get some gifts done for tomorrow :)

Honey Cowl

My Honey Cowl is finished! Oh man, it is so perfect and warm...I used it yesterday morning on my way to work and it was great. Better than the lighter scarf I've been using, but not as bulky as my heavy scarf. I am just glad I actually got it done to use this winter.

This pattern has been going around blogland for a while now. I saw it here, and here, and probably a few other places and somewhere along the way it seemed like something I needed to make. I actually had a different cowl pattern in mind that I like a bit better, but I had the right weight yarn for this and would have had to buy bulky yarn for the other. That's okay though, I'm going to make the other for my sister so if I like it enough I will make one for me.

I started this right before Christmas when I ran out of yarn for my legwarmers. And it goes pretty quick, I just kept getting distracted working on other things. I did consider quitting at one point when I realized the yarn was twisted when I joined it in the beginning....so it has a big twist in it. But since it gets wrapped around anyway I don't mind. I don't know how I managed to not notice for at least 16 rounds, but I guess there are just so many stitches crammed on there that I missed it.  I made the larger size because I wanted to be able to wrap it twice and I am glad I did because I love it that way. I used Encore DK yarn, because that's what my dad had for me to steal, and it is nice and soft and warm. I think I did end up making this 10 or 11 inches instead of 12 because I really wanted it done and it seems plenty wide enough.

The pattern is available for download here if you are interested. And I started using ravelry so you can find me on there as well! Not that I've put much up there, but it's a start. And now I go kick off a weekend by {hopefully} putting a quilt top together! I am so excited about this weekend, I get to see my sister, have a day-long date with my hubby, and finish up my embroidery 101 quilt! Next week I really need to make a couple valentine's day gifts real quick.....that kind of snuck up on me. Anyway, happy weekend!

WIP Wednesday {2.8.12}

*Whew* halfway through the week. And I am beat. But I am looking forward to this weekend when hubby and I escape for a day child-free....something that hasn't happened since she was born, if you can believe it. It does mean less sewing time this weekend, but I guess I'll survive haha.

I've been fairly productive this week, but it has been spread out over multiple projects instead of focused on one. I'm going to try and focus though for the rest of this week and just work on one thing. We'll see how my attention span holds up.

Completed:

Skill Builder Sampler - block 25

Wonky log cabin variation. I like it, but I don't love it.

Still Going:

Embroidery 101

Quilted with the binding sewn on the front. A few peaceful movie nights and this one should be done!

New:

Ikea quilt II

Pieces all cut and ready to be made into blocks. I am hoping to get this top done this week but that might be too ambitious. We'll see.

Quilt for my aunt and uncle

I have the fabric mostly cut. Now I need to lay it out so I can start sewing.

Waiting: {This is my new category for my list of things that are waiting to be started }

*echo quilt
*scrappy string quilt {still deciding on a design}
*dresden toddler quilt
*scrap mini for the wall

And that's my week. Also, honey cowl is pretty much done so hopefully I'll snap some pictures soon. I love it; it is warm and wonderful. After my embroidery quilt is bound and finished I'll get to work on finishing my legwarmers. And I guess for a while I will have to get used to doing more projects that take a bit longer instead of all the small stuff I've been doing recently. I'll probably sneak some small things anyway. It will be good though. I am really excited about these quilts and can't wait to see them come together. Well happy Wednesday! I think I hear a little love bug calling for some reading time :)

just keep knitting, just keep knitting

Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting. Clearly you can tell what I've been up to :) There is something about winter that always puts me in the mood to knit. It starts in about November and goes on through at least March usually. The thing is, it just takes me a long time to finish something I knit. And unlike when I sew/quilt, knit projects have a tendency to sit around for a long time and become ufo's. So I thought I would do a little round up of things I am working on/going to work on and maybe that would help me push through to actually finish it all. And I made a deal with myself, if I can get everything done this year, next year I will try to make the sweater I fell in love with. I really want to, but I have to prove to myself I can finish knit things...plus I need to clear out some space to store the yarn.

Working on right now:
    I am hoping to have both of these done by the end of the month.

Honey Cowl

I caught the bug on this one. I love it and I can't wait until it's finished and I can wear it. I should finish it up in the next couple days, maybe even tonight!

Legwarmers

I finally got the rest of the yarn I need to finish these up. So as soon as my cowl is done I will get back to these.

To Do
Cowl for my sister- I have everything ready, I just need to finish the other things first

UFO's {that I am determined to finish]
Patchwork afgan

I started this um....over 3 years ago now and I really need to just use up the yarn I have and make it whatever size that brings it to. It has been sitting around way too long. I don't even know why, I just think I got bored.  The rectangles go pretty quick, so hopefully I can get myself to start working on it.

I guess it's really not that bad, but it feels like it is, probably because I know how long it will take to do it all. I am a pretty slow knitter and my hands get sore pretty easily, but I do love it. I have some other things on my someday list, but I'll save them for now. So you'll probably be seeing an occasional knitting update from me. Hopefully. We'll see if I ever decide to actually make a sweater....I have such a fear of it not fitting and never wearing it after hours upon hours of work....

Anyway, I am working on creating a ravelry profile (with stuff actually on it), so we'll see if I get it done. I'll let you know!

Nook Love

It's Friday!!!! Hello weekend! I am so glad it's here and I am hopeful about getting some quilting done tomorrow :)

I thought that I would share a bit about the nook cases I made and posted a bit about on Wednesday. I don't remember if I mentioned it {and I'm too lazy to look} but I got a Barnes and Noble Nook for christmas. And so did my sister...and my grandmother...and my aunt and mother already had them actually. So naturally mine needed a nice little home to keep it cozy and warm and I thought my sister might enjoy one as well. Maybe at some point I'll work my way through the rest of the family too.

Anyway, I was debating whether I wanted one to hold it while I read or just to store it in. In the end storage won and so far I am incredibly happy with that decision. Seriously, this is one of my favorite things I have ever made. Ever. I admit it has something to do with a love of whales and polka dots, but the design is perfect and the zip pocket in the front keeps my cord from being lost in the office. I used the tutorial that Faith put up at Fresh Lemons Quilts during the 12 gifts of christmas blog hop and just altered the dimensions. It worked beautifully. I am already planning to make another for my husbands e-reader {which is not a nook} once I get some sweet fabric; not as sweet as whales obviously, but still awesome.

But the real insanity came from the case for my sister. I asked her what kind of case she wanted and she told me about one that also stands up as an easel. Like this one.

And I thought, sure, I can do that, no problem. So off I set to figure it out. I tried to even put in a magnetic closure but in the end the magnet I got wasn't strong enough to go through all the layers and I was not about to go looking for a stronger one. So I settled for velcro which I think works fine. I put pieces of thick chipboard in so that it could stand upright and it seems to work very nicely. I tried to use the hairbands for all 4 corners to hold it in (I got the idea from here), but it really wasn't working so I added that pocket at the bottom as an afterthought just to try and make it work. Thankfully it does work, quite well in fact. Also, I was going to top stitch on either side of the center to hold the chipboard in better, but I didn't think it through and couldn't get it through the machine once the chipboard was sewn in. It seems okay though.

I am super happy with the way they both turned out. And I am proud of myself for figuring out the one for my sister and it actually working. And there we have 2 beautiful new Nook cases. I can't wait to give my sister hers :) Now I believe I have some fabric cutting to do.....

WIP Wednesday {2.1.12}

Wow guys, can you believe it's not only Wednesday already, but February as well?!?! Insanity! I am getting back into my groove so time has started flying again. Which is good. I got so much done this week and I am so happy with it. And today I am ready to jump into some quilts. I have a pile that I want to do in the next 5 months or so, which means I better get a move on. At least now I have cleared out most other things and can focus on them. Until I add more to my list again haha!

Completed:

Embroidery 101 top

I didn't think I would get this done this week, but I managed it! That is correct, I finished the 5 embroidery blocks I had left and put it all together in the past week.  And I love it! I just need to go get some fabric for the back and quilt this bad boy! Maybe this weekend....

Nook case [for my sister]

I'll write more on this later in the week, but my sister told me what kind of case she wanted and I made my own version of it. It isn't perfect but I think it will work and I hope she likes it.

Nook case [for me]

This is quite possibly one of my favorite things I have ever made. It makes me happy every time I look at it (thank you whales and polka dots!) and it came together wonderfully. I used the tutorial at Fresh Lemons Quilts and seriously, I am looking for an excuse to make another :)

Still Going:

Skill Builder - waiting for the next block
Embroidery 101


New:

I am just going to list the quilts I have planned even though I haven't started cutting yet
*ikea quilt II - a second version of the plus/tumbler one I made
*quilt for my aunt and uncle
*echo quilt
 *scrappy string quilt - probably an ongoing project since I doubt I have enough string scraps at the moment.
*dresden toddler quilt


And those are just the ones I have piles of fabric sitting around for. And I'll probably add another scrappy quilt, but we'll see. I think I'll get some of this done first. We'll see what I start first, probably the ikea quilt.

And now that I am done embroidering, I can spend some nights knitting and reading until I have a quilt to bind :) Happy Wednesday!