24 January 2014

Yarn Report 4 - 2014

I have progress. Yay!!!. If only all my weeks will continue to look so good (or better).

I finished my Racing Raindrops Scarf.

I finished my twirly scarf but since the yarn was given to me and I finished in one day I am not counting it in or out.
Zitron Filigran in Gray

 


Used this Week: 1 skeins
Used this Year: 2 skeins
Added this week: 0 skeins
Added this Year: 3 skeins
Net Used this Year : 0

Used this Week:  437 yards
Used this Year: 837 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added this Year: 1030 yards
Net Used this Year : 
-193 yards (looks better in skeins)

Hopefully I can finish my hat this week. Yeah right but it is a lofty goal. I am off to cut 200+ FQ for some kits so I can get these 75 bolts outta the house and back to work. Then some nice knitting tonight.

For other progress reports head on over to Judy's. I really like seeing how her numbers show up. I think one of these days she will be in the black...well...maybe not.

Michelle

On The Needles 1/24/2014

I have been a busy girl this week, on the knitting side anyway.

I finished my first piece of the cardigan, the back, by doing my 15 minutes a day.
This is before I finished it. It didn't look much different done so I didn't take another picture.
 
Then I finished my Racing Raindrops scarf for the Loopy Ewe Challenge. I really enjoyed worked with the beads. You can not see them really well but that is because I used smaller ones, it was what I had. I may make this again one day in the larger size. Yeah right.

I really need to find something to display my stuff on better. Guess I will put that on my to do list for someday.
 
 
I then finished this swirly twirly scarf for my niece. She had been asking for one for ever and so my mom had a skein of this funky yarn so off I go. I really dislike making these. They are easy but I think it is just because they are kind of fiddly to work with. But it is done.
Hard to see but I wasn't taking a selfie and this was the closest thing.
 
 
I then started a different project on my 15 minutes a day project. It is actually a UFO but new to the 15 project. I needed a break from the cardigan. I will probably get back to that after this sock is done.
This will be an ankle sock and then when the pair is done I will try and make a pair for my younger niece (she's only 3) since I don't need as much yarn. My SM is there since I have changed my 15 minute week from Thursday - Thursday to show progress on Friday.  This last week I actually finished the ribbing and then moved down to the SM.
I love seeing the progress from week to week. I like that it lets me know I have been making progress little by little.
 
Last but not least I cast on my Scraptastic Hat. I did have almost all the ribbing done but of course someone was talking to me and I lost my place and couldn't fix it so I had to tink and start over.
 
Handmaiden Casbah in Walnut - I like the one Denise did over at Justquiltin so I had to copy her.
 
At least my numbers will look good on yarn report this afternoon.
 
For more inspiration head on over to Judy's.
 
Have a great day.
Snow yesterday. High of 22. Highs through the weekends of 60. Then 30 and snow on Monday gotta love life here in Colorado.
 
Michelle



 
 

 



20 January 2014

Design Wall Monday 1/20/2014

Haven't been able to do a lot of sewing. I am back to the routine of blocks for Sylvia's. I did 7 of them for class this month. If we keep up at this pace we will finally be done with this quilt in August. I am so excited.

The first 6 rows sewn together. It is laying side ways . This is such a long quilt. 

The seven blocks done for this month. I skipped one in the row since it is curves or applique for me. Saving it for Feb. class.


For more DW pretty's head on over to Judy's

Michelle

19 January 2014

Stash Report Week 3

I totally missed week 2. With getting the kiddos back to school, us back to work and football my life was crazy.

I did get one little finish last week. My hexagon table runner.


I won't have much out the next couple of weeks. I have Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, Downton Abbey Mystery and Loyal Union Sampler to work on. A lot will be going on just not much I can count yet. May have to make a little time to finish quilting a UFO to keep my numbers going.

Good news is no fabric came in. That is always a good thing for me.



Used this Week:  2.125 yards
Used year to Date: 7.125 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014: 7.125 yards

For more progress reports head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

17 January 2014

Yarn Report 3 - 2014


I don't have much to report this week. Nothing in. Which is good. Nothing out. Which is bad. I may have to starting reporting less often or a lot of my posts will be very boring. I am hoping to get a finish this week so maybe by next week my numbers will look a lot better.



Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used this Year: 1 skeins
Added this week: 0 skeins
Added this Year: 3 skeins
Net Used this Year : -2 skeins (not good but not bad)


Used this Week:  0 yards
Used this Year: 400 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added this Year: 1030 yards
Net Used this Year : 
-630 yards (sounds worse in yards :)

Have a blessed day.

Michelle

For more reports head on over to Judy's

On the Needles Jan 17, 2014

Not a lot of progress made this week. Although, some days it seemed I just kept knitting and knitting and knitting and didn't get anywhere. I think I hit the cosmic vortex of stagnation, or so it seemed.

I am hoping that I will be done with my Racing Raindrops scarf AKA Loopy Ewe challenge this weekend. I am on the decrease side so my rows will be getting shorter as I go I just have to figure out how to keep Zeus off my lap. He loves to sit right in the middle of my lap and of course that is on top of the yarn. He doesn't mess with the yarn though which is a good thing.

Mind you this was after I moved my yarn because conveniently it was under his front side. Crazy gato.
 
Racing Raindrops - I think I am down to 50 or so repeats left. I felt like I was on 62 for about a year.

 
Kimono Cardigan  - I have been working on this for about a year. Well, ok, it has been sitting in its bag for about 3/4 of that time. So, I decided this year I would do 15 minutes a day 5 days a week on one project that I wanted needed to get done. The last 2 weeks (well this is the second week) this has been my project. I placed a marker and then spent 15 minutes a day. For me that came out to 3 rows a day. It doesn't seem like a lot but eventually it will be, because it will be done. I have about 2 more inches then I will be done with the back section, which is this piece. I have 4-5 more pieces to make probably the fronts and the arms but I will get to them eventually. I may decide after this is the right length the switch projects (this is for my mom and she keeps asking for it) or maybe not. I just feel content that I can do the things that are wanting my attention and still spend a little time with the oh not so nice things.
 
 
Hopefully next week I will have a finish to share maybe two but that is highly unlikely. I can only dream right?
 
For more needle goodies head on over to Judy's
 
 
Michelle
 


10 January 2014

Yarn Report - Week 2, 2014


I fell off the wagon a little. Not like some people I have read about. But, in my defense I knew I was. I have a standing order for one more month of yarn from the Dream club. I also was influenced to buy this specific yarn but they were out of stock so I had to wait until it was available which happened to fall this year as opposed to last. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it.

Nothing finished - but I knew there wouldn't be.

Added -

 Dream Club for January - 2 skeins (mini) and 320 yards
 
Hand Maiden in Walnut - 1 skein  and 355 yards
 



I do have projects in mind for both of these. Getting to them is another thing. Hopefully I can have some progress next week but with the projects I have lined up that may not be possible.



Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used this Year: 1 skeins
Added this week: 3 skeins
Added this Year: 3 skeins
Net Used this Year : -2 skeins (not good but not bad)


Used this Week:  0 yards
Used this Year: 400 yards

Added this week: 1030 yards
Added this Year: 1030 yards
Net Used this Year : 
-630 yards (sounds worse in yards :)

I can say I like my blue numbers better than the red. For more stash reports head on over to Judy's.

Michelle

OH and by the way I received my first order from Eat Sleep Knit and those stinking yarn lotto cards could be highly addictive. I'm just saying. 

Now to ponder do I want shiny cards to scratch or get my numbers back into the blue. Hmmmmm????

On the Needles - Jan 10,2014

I still have all of the same stuff on the needles. I have been knitting and knitting and knitting but don't seem like I am getting anywhere. I think that is because I keep casting on and for me that is a no-no. I just need to keep a few things going not a hundred.

I am almost half way done with my Racing Raindrops Loopy Ewe challenge scarf. Of course I have been saying that for almost a week. I will get to the half way point one of these days, hopefully this weekend.

Racing Raindrops - I only have 4 more repeats (24 rows) then I am half way done. I know the other half will go quicker since I will be decreasing. Or at least I can hope it will.

This is a the first of a pair of socks in the plain Jane style following the Yarn Harlot's guide.. I am using Springtime from Knit Picks.  First time I have used such small needles, and they are my new Karbonz, so it seems to take forever to do the ribbing. These will become my church socks. The other one I cast on for this purpose are going to be short socks so they will be my stay at home and knit socks. Let's see how long they take me to finish.


For more goodies head on over to Judy's.

09 January 2014

Hexagon Table Runner

I had originally planned to make this a nice size quilt. I figured that would be great for the class I'm teaching in March. After spending quit a bit of time with those pesky seams and sewing from dot to dot I was ready to pull my hair out. So, this became a nifty table runner. I didn't even add an outer white border I just chopped off and went about my business.

I ended up quilting this with a decorative stitch on my machine. I just changed the stitch length and eyeballed the lines. No one says it has to be perfect and I am actually happy with it.

I will be able to add more to my numbers this week as an added bonus.





I hope to get another little project done this week but I have to work on Sylvia's so that might not happen.

Have a great day everyone.

Michelle

06 January 2014

Design Wall Monday Jan 6, 2014

I actually have some finishes to share. It might be all for awhile since I have to go back to class stuff, Sylvia's and Loyal Union Sampler, which will be blocks and blocks and more blocks. I do have some Hexagon stuff to get done but we shall see how that goes.

I started this New Years Eve and finished it on Jan 2. It is the strip club for High Country Quits. It is made with the Barcelona fabric line and Yin Yang pattern from Cozy Quilts. I was really unique and titled it Barcelona Yin Yang.

I ended up just making the throw size. I wish I had more time since I have made this before and also in a throw size. I would have liked to make it bigger.
 
 
 
I also finally finished my EPP Hexagon pillow. I love EPP but my hands do not. I guess this will be my only project for awhile. I will be taking this to work as my sample for my Hexie Along With Me class next month. I had wanted to hand quilt it but time was also not on my side. Oh well, maybe another project down the road.
Before quilting. I really had a hard time cutting into those puppies to square the pillow up when done.

Finished.

Close up of the straight line quilting.
 
 
 
Today I also start my 15 minute project. I will work on something for 15 minutes a day for 5 days a week. I will report my progress on Tuesdays. We shall see how much I get done or how long it will last.
 
 
For more eye candy head on over to Judy's
 
Have a Blessed Week everyone.
 
Michelle
 
 


05 January 2014

Stash Report - Week 1 - 2014

I'm starting off the year on a good note. How long that will last who knows especially since I have to concentrate my efforts on my BOM's. I will count my usage as top done then when quilted and binding is added. This way my numbers may move a little bit more.

This week I finished a top for strip club at work. It was nice because the fabric came in on the 31st so I didn't have to count it this year. I also finished my hexagon pillow EPP project for class in Feb. I have half a side to bind still but I am including it in this weeks numbers.

Barcelon Yin Yang - 4.25 yards

Hexagon Pillow - 1.125 yards

Used this Week: 5.5 yards
Used year to Date: 5.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Used for 2014: 5.5 yards

Slow start is better than no start.

For more Stash Reports head on over to Judy's.

I'll show my finishes tomorrow on Design Wall Monday.

Michelle

03 January 2014

Yarn Report Week 1 2014

It's the first of the year and I am on a roll. Well, kind of. I finished a pair of socks. Don't mind the fact that I started these in April we will just forget that little tid bit of information.

I do have some movement in my first yarn report and I am running with it. The way I knit I will only be posting once a month and will be lucky to have any movement (positive that is) but that is ok. Some is better than none.

I decided to try and report yardage and skeins just to see what it looks like.


Used this Week: 1 skein
Used this Year: 1 skeins
Added this week: 0 skeins
Added this Year: 0 skeins
Net Used this Year : 1 skein


Used this Week: 400 yards
Used this Year: 400 yards

Added this week: 0 yards
Added this Year: 0 yards
Net Used this Year : 400 yards


Let's see how the rest of the year goes. Keep my fingers crossed. LOL

Michelle

Head on over here to see how others are doing.

On the Needles 1/3/2014

Yes! I finally finished the socks I started in April. No one said I was fast but I can be steady. Well, most of the time. I can say these were not something I worked on all the time more like a little bit here and there. I have found that they became my church socks. I realized when knitting these during service I concentrated on the Pastor more. So, I sit and knit with my Bible and notebook open next to me and make notes as needed. Who would have thunk it. I am going to have to get another pair cast on so that I am ready for Saturday.

My Antarctic socks. Made with a Zauberball Sock yarn in who knows what color because I lost the little paper (it's been so long).

These were for the pooling challenge Judy did way back when. I am happy to say I did get a little bit which is good.
 
 
I also, late last night, remembered I wanted to cast on my Dr. Who? scarf so that I could work on it throughout the year. I am not in any hurry but let me tell you I did not want to put it down last night. Might have something to do with the fact that I decided to have a large cup of coffee at 730 because I was falling asleep while we were watching Lincoln (good movie by the way). Needless to say it did take me along time to fall asleep, guess I won't be doing that again anytime soon. Anyway, I loved the simplicity of this pattern and I love the yarn. It is a simple garter stitch using Lorna Lace's. It seems like huge bulky yarn since I am also working on my Loopy Ewe Challenge.
Loopy Challenge - Racing Raindrops Pattern using Beads.

Dr. Who? Scarf
 
 
 My Challenge is using lace yarn and beads. Big difference for sure. I am about 1/4 of the way through so I am still hoping to be done by the end of the month. I only have a little more hand work I have to finish up then I can just knit at night.
 
 
 
 
 
For more knitting goodies head on over to Judy.
 
 
Michelle




02 January 2014

Loopy Ewe Challenge

This was my last finish of 2013.

I decided to jump in with both feet to the Loopy Ewe Challenge. I decided on the Family Tree by Moda FQ's and then added some solid by Riley Blake. I had originally planned to make a large quilt but with all of my projects I had to use some common sense.
 
 
Family Tree by Moda

I still stink at taking pictures. My lighting is way off. I was too happy that it decided to lay flat and I didn't have to adjust any seams.

I topped stitched the Dresden plate down and then free handed a outline stitch all the way around.
 
Believe it or not this is the first pillow I have ever made. I even did an envelope style backing on the back. I will remember for next time to make the over lap a little larger. I also hand stitched the binding to the back. If you know me you know that is not something I am keen on doing. It did take me over a year to bind Orca Bay.
 
So I have a nice pretty pillow to put on the sofa for the teenage boys and Zeus (the cat) guess I shouldn't have picked white as the background. Oh well.
 
Have a great day everyone. I am off to sew a top that I need at work by tomorrow. Good thing the blocks are already done and I will be able to count in my stash this Sunday. Yeah!
 


01 January 2014

Happy New Year! - A Look at 2014

I'm not one to follow through on New Year resolutions but I do like goals. This last year was kind of crazy with moving into a new house, dealing with middle sons schooling, government furlough, well, the list could go on and on.

I decided this year I would set up some goals. Just some things that I would like to get done in 2014. If I do them it will be awesome. If not, I won't be upset, I just want to see what happens.

 
On the Quilting Side.
  • Finish Sylvia's Bridal Sampler
  • Finish Loyal Union Sampler
  • UFO's (I have a lot - at least 30)
  • Quilt all my flimsies (I have at least 37 - probably more)
  • Make a quilt for each of the boys (and no they don't have one except the ones I made as babies, that would be 3 of them)
  • Scraps - they are out of control
On the Knitting Side
  • 4 pair of socks (one each quarter)
  • use up some of my stash that has grown out of proportion in a small amount of time
  • 15 minutes at least a couple of days a week to finish up these old crochet projects
On the General Side
  • Make this a handmade Christmas (12 gifts on my list)
  • paint Ryan's room (middle son)
  • paint Jared's room (younger son)
  • paint my bathroom
  • get rid of the popcorn ceiling
  • sand and repaint the deck
  • remove paint from the fireplace (why oh why did someone do that?)
  • Year of de-cluttering. It has got to go.
  • Get rid of bad habit.
I also plan on following through on Stash Report, Design Wall Monday's, On the Needles Friday, and Yarn Report.
 
I will look back on this Jan 2015 and see where I stand. It will be interesting.
 
Hope every one's 2014 is and awesome year.
 
Michelle