Tuesday 20 January 2015

Swoon Quilt Two- Block No.9

I'm so happy, oh so happy, that my last Swoon block in made!!!
I LOVE the Swoon block, but I have to say that I think I might have got the pattern out of my system for a while!!!
Including cushions, I have now made 20 blocks!!!! And I have to say that the last block was actually the most accurate and neatest!!
So, I'm ready for sashing the blocks and then I was thinking a scrappy Chicopee border around a skinny white border, as I need this to fit a king size bed. What do you think?
I'm off to fiddle with layouts...............on the computer of course, as Boris has still not learnt the art of leaving things that are not his alone and from the talk on Instagram, I'm guessing this will not improve for some years!!!!

Thursday 15 January 2015

Green Gansey Socks ✓

We have a finish!!!
My first finish of 2015 and the FAL!!
These are my Green Gansey Socks that I started on Christmas Eve when Dani from Little Bobbins held a mass cast-on on both IG and Ravelry.
I haven't knitted any socks for a while, so it was a great excuse to cast-on and to make a new project bag! I made the Sock Sack for these beauties!!
I have really sped along on them (sped for me, I know there are some super quick knitters out there) and the christmas break, along with feeling completely rough for a few days before New Year got quite a bit done.
They are a little baggy on the leg, but I think that was my tension rather than the pattern. Speaking of the pattern, I found that really simple and I love that this book gives you several different cast-ons, heals and finishes. I knitted them two at a time to prevent any second sock syndrome (lazy Jo syndrome!!).

The Details 

Pattern - Diamond Gansey Socks from Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D Johnson
Time Knitting - 2½ weeks! That is a sock record for me!! 

The yarn was sooooo soft to knit with and has only gotten softer since I soaked them, I only used 75gs of yarn so have enough to do contrast toe and heels on another pair. I think these just might have awaken my love of sock knitting, but after a few 4ply project I really needed something a little chunkier on the needles, so I've already cast-on another project, which just might confirm I'm having a thing for green at the moment!
And definitely ticks the chunkier yarn box.
I'm using Oosie from The Skein Queen and it's a really thick dk so should knit up pretty quickly into a yummy shawl....yes another one!!
I'm off to battle with the to do list, which is ridiculously out of control, a bit like the washing basket!! 

Wednesday 7 January 2015

2015 FAL - Q1 The List

So, it should be New Year, new list, but I fear that there are quiet a few repeat offenders on my first list for the year.
But the FAL is nothing if not a motivator or an embarrassment if your like me and keep ignoring the list!

1. Chicopee Swoon

Needs one more block made, sashed, quilted and then binded.

2. Fabulously Fast Fat Quarterly Quilt

Needs a back, quilting and binding.

3. HST's Cushion

All the HST's are trimmed just need assembling, quilting and made into a cushion.

4. Baby Girl Quilt

I might another row or two to this quilt and then quilting and binding to do.

5. Paper Pieced Post things

Finishing the last two blocks and the assembling, the internal bags are already done!

6. Christmas Eve Socks

These are very near the finish line, just a few more diamonds, then ribbing for the top and casting off.

7. Butterfly Emery Dress

This has been cut out since October, I have everything except the nerve to get it finished, but a pep talk and brilliant tips from Kerry will help me line up those damn butterflies.

8. Was Lake District now Wurm Hat

I started this in December, but the yarn is not the best colour for night knitting, so I've slowed on it. I think it's also because it has been really mild weather here, if we had a cold snap it might make me want it on!
Edited on the 09/01/15 
I frogged the Lake District Hat and cast on the Wurm Hat as the pattern was just awful for me to follow!! 

Thats 8 on the list and I'm sure I've forgotten something!!
Now what to pick up first??

2015 FAL at On the Windy Side

Tuesday 6 January 2015

2014 FAL - Q4: The verdict!

Finish Along 2014

I think it will be clear to anyone who has been reading around here for the last few months my FAL finishes have been very few and far between, but just to be honest, this is The List and what I've done or not!!

1. Fabulously Fast Fat Quarterly Quilt.
This needed finishing, quilting and binding.
FAIL!!!
I finished the top in November and then added it to the quilting pile!!

2. Cushion for Helen
This was a half completed paper pieced block, it needed finishing, quilting and turning into a cushion.
FINISH (blog post here)
This was done and sent off to Helen at the beginning of December.

3. Magrathea Shawl
This was about ¼ through the 1st skein and needed another skein to make it big enough.
FINISH (blog post here) and it's made it into my new blog header.
This was finished in the middle of December and has been permanently around my neck since.

4. Chicopee Swoon
This needed another 3 blocks to be made, then sashed, quilted and binding.
FAIL! Nearer, but yet so far!!
I've made 2 more blocks so only another 1 to do................oh then sash, quilt, and bind!!!

5.HST Cushion
Needed the HST'd to be sewn together, quilted and made into a cushion.
EPIC FAIL!!!
One year on this is still in the same state!!! *hangs head in shame!*

6. Baby Girl Quilt
Just needed quilting and binding.
ANOTHER EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!
Another wip thats a year old! *backs out of room slowly*

7. Paper Pieced Post Hanger thing
Needs two more blocks finishing and then assembling.
Yep, another FAIL!
Still in the zippy bag!! *gives up with excuses!*

So a grand total of two finishes off the list and two finishes that are having a 1st birthday party!! I would give excuses to myself, but the truth is I like shiny new projects and am very easily tempted by the inspiration on the internet and Instagram....basically I am a new project sheep!! Baa Baa!
All that is left for the 2014 FAL is to say a massive, huge THANK YOU to our hostess with the mostess Miss Katy! She has cheered us on, told us off and checked up on us all year and it is a task that I really don't envy.
I'm off to compile my 2015 FAL - Q1 list, I'm sure you can guess at least 5 of the things on that list!!
2015 FAL at On the Windy Side

Thursday 1 January 2015

2014 was the year I....

(did actually, a hell of a lot more than I thought!!!)

....wrote 105 blog post, God knows how you read my waffle that many times.

....made fewer quilts than 2013, 
only 4, but I have my Swoon blocks so nearly done as well!!!

....made cushions, but also less than 2013.
The husband is moaning about space for humans and not fabric on the sofa....but I hope that will change next year, either with more sofas or by sticking a cushion in his mouth so he can't moan!!!
I'm most proud of my Finn the Human as I drafted that Paper Pieced pattern myself, lots of people have asked for a copy of the pattern, but it was on graph paper, so the plan is this year to get this onto touch draw to share it with those that have asked.

......really found knitting again.
I feel that my knitting has really developed this year in both picking more challenging patterns and in the yarn I've bought from less commercial UK based hand dyers.
I've nearly finished my Christmas Eve socks too and it has really got me in the sock knitting mood, well there is only so many shawls a woman can wear!

.....kept up with sewing clothing.
Firstly Rose's items
And then clothing for me
Still got an Emery all cut out ready to sew, just need the kick/time to do it! This mosaic is like the evolution of my hair, I only get it cut once a year!!!!

.....sewed a bit for others and actually joined in a few swaps at FQR
I also had the massive pleasure of being asked to contribute to this amazing quilt
The Christmas Jumper Quilt, which I have to say even though none of us really knew too much what the other was doing, it came out stunning!! 
I also have to say the worry for swaps and sewing for others made me feel like I was developing an ulcer!

And if you've made it this far well done........... 2014 was the year we took a massive personal jump, it was the year we bought a new house, I know a house!
It is a massive project house, we won't be in there for ages, I'm realistic this is the 3rd project house we have taken on in our married life!!!
It has asbestos, an outside toilet and really quilty carpets (My husband is convinced this and the tiled hallway is the only reason I bought the house!) and it will take every spare bit of time, money and patience we have, but I'll do more about that on another post!!

So, 2015 I really need to be organised, motivated and sewing will definitely be my sanctuary.
Having looked back at my craft-olutions from last year I have definitely achieved three of them

Heres to a crafty 2014 in which I
make some of the things that are bouncing around my mind,
that I use my fq bundle of Chicopee (If you have any pattern suggestions, I'd be really grateful!)
that I be a bit braver with mixing colours, I always tend to play safe and stick to fabric ranges,
that I use some of those fq's that I am just hoarding for NO reason!
and dare I say it…. make more cushions!!! Surely no house can ever have too many? Can they?


I have made the Finn the Human Cushion I was mulling about, chopped into my Chicopee bundle and have 7 Swoon blocks to show for it and lastly through my Economy Block Quilt I was definitely braver with colours and mixing ranges.

So my craft-olutions for 2015

to make something from my Quilty Bucket List
to tackle some really long running wip's (Swoon, HST's cushion!!)
to knit myself a cardigan/ jumper (although I may need to up the mortgage to afford the yarn for a garment!!)
to be braver with quilt patterns
and to keep sewing myself a handmade wardrobe!

Not too unachievable really! Whats your crafting resolutions? or do you have a word! Obviously after how long this post was a word is far too short for me!!!

I'm linking up with the lovely Lynne's
Fresh Sewing Day

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