31 January 2016

Stash Report 3 - January 26, 2016

I didn't do a stash report last week - didn't have anything to show for it but I am on a mini roll this week.

I finished the top with my Tonga 6 pack = 6"x20 fabrics = 3.34 yds



Fabric Used this Week: 3.34 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 24.92 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Fabric for 2016: 24.92 yards used


I also finished my Addicted to Sock Knitting (ASK) socks. Hornet pattern. So that used a whopping 400 yards.

Yarn Used this Week: 400 yards

Yarn Used year to Date: 1000 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Yarn for 2016: 1000 yards used

I know it will be another couple of weeks before the numbers move on the knitting side but maybe I can pick up the speed on the sewing side. We shall see.

For more usage head on over to Judy's - you may get some inspiration.

26 January 2016

A Quick Top

I love it when I can start and finish a project in less than a day. Well, almost, it still needs to be quilted.

This is or my Pre-cut class in March. It was already cut so I just had to sew on both sides and then use the Strip-tube Ruler to get cut my triangles, which really are half-square triangles. Trim off the dog ears. Then the hardest part was deciding on a layout.

All the HST's pressed to the light.

First 5 rows laid out. I did 2 sets of 5 so it wasn't as confusing.

On the design wall. 

Quilt measures about 40x50. I will not put a border on.

I would love to do this again with smaller strips - these were 6" which made a 5.5" block. I would love either a 3.5" or even a 2" strip. It would be totally awesome.

So, progress made. I am almost done with another applique piece and just have the toe to finish on the second sock so a pair will be done shortly.

Good thing too. My stash numbers were looking a little humble.

Have an awesome day.

Michelle


18 January 2016

Design Wall January 18,2016

I started an applique project. It is really hard to take time to do it since I am usually knitting or my hands can't do it for a long period of time. I really do enjoy it though.

I prepped this block last week and finished it Saturday night. I now have to prep the next one (note...cut back on the glue).



The fabric is from Little House on the Prairie and the pattern is from one of Kim Diehl's books. I have 3 more sections to do like this one and then I can put the quilt together.

I need to hurry up. I already have my next applique project planned.

Head on over to Judy's for more inspiration.

Off to prep....I hope.

Michelle


15 January 2016

On the Needles Jan 15, 2016

Not a bunch of stuff has been done this week. Trying to get back into the groove of working.

I spent all day New Years Eve trying to master two at a time cuff down on magic loop. It was not a success. I posted in one of my Facebook groups (Addicted to sock knitting) and someone suggested trying one at a time. Why I didn't think of that who knows! So that is what I did. I mastered the cuff then realized my gauge is way different. So I frogged and used a smaller needle and I have success.

I am doing these at the same time. I am just using to different needles and rotating around. Harder way to do it but I will get them done close to the same time. I really am like the magic loop, of course I haven't done the heel or anything yet. They are Inversibles, one will be more purple the other more turquoise.

The Hornet. I am just a couple of inches away from the toe. Last night I was cruising along and ended up with a rats nest from here to next week. I tried as hard as I could but alas I had to cut the yarn. Thank goodness it was as the beginning of the round. I ended up spending close to 2 hours untangling the mess and I never did find the other end. I ended up cutting off the last small knotted area. Clueless as to how it happened since the stinking cake was in a ziplock back. Oh well I will get back to these soon. 

My goal was to finish a pair by the end of the month but I don't know if that will happen. I am slow and with the socks that have a pattern on them I really have to concentrate especially if it is a larger pattern. The Hornet socks is a 9 row repeat and therefore I have to concentrate. Hopefully I can finish this one this weekend and start the next one. Still have a little time left in the month. I can only hope.

Although, all this sock knitting means nothing else is getting done. I need more hands.

Head on over to Judy's for more ideas.

Michelle

10 January 2016

Stash Report 2 - January 10, 2015

I was on a roll this week.

Prairie 8th Grade Quilt - 1.25 Outer Border, 3.625 Background and sashing, 2.08 layer cake (30 squares) = 6.96 yards used 

Plain and Fancy - Complete Top 15.25 yds (but I think that is really high so I am taking a few yards off) So I will use 12.00 plus backing was 2 5/8. = 14 5/8 used.


Fabric Used this Week: 21.58 yards

Fabric Used year to Date: 21.58 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Fabric for 2016: 21.58 yards used



I finally finished the pair of socks I started in Sept of 14. It only took me about a month to finish the first one. The second one...well I finished it on Jan 8, 16. That is all I will say.
Yarn Used this Week: 400 yards

Yarn Used year to Date: 600 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Yarn for 2016: 600 yards used

Head on over to Judy's for more.

08 January 2016

On the Needles Jan 8, 2016

I have way to many things on my needles. I really need to knit faster. I have more projects than time.

These are my DVD socks. They have been on the needles for over 2 years I think. I have a couple more rows then I can do the toe. Here is hoping I can finish them before Sunday. Yarn is Desert Vista Dyeworks (DVD) and I don't remember the colorway.

One of my Facebook groups ASK - Addicted to Sock Knitting - has a challenge. Knit one pair of socks per month out of your stash yarn. Only requirement is the leg needs to be 4 inches. I received this pattern last year and for the life of my I couldn't get it. Fast forward a year and I am now doing it. I don't know if I will get them done in the month but I am trying. I am just slow and if I concentrate on the socks I get nothing else done. Of course with this poor thing I may have ripped back almost as much as I have knit. I have 2 more repeats and it will be ready to turn. Pattern is Hornet and can be found on Ravelry. Color is actually more of a blue than this purple.

Finally, my Easy shawl (Ravelry as well). This pattern is really simple and I work on this at Dr's appt or when I just don't want to think or pay attention. The yarn slips my mind right now. I need to weight it, after half is used I need to change direction.

Here is hoping I can get more finished soon. I have a complete basket of stuff on my bucket list for this year. I will have to show you in another post.

For more idea head on over to Judy's.


Michelle - freezing in Colorado.


06 January 2016

Farmer's Wife 30's #1 and a Finish

I usually always (lol) start the year with a bang. I take a week off and can breeze through things. Then, I go back to work and things slow down. I am really hoping that doesn't happen this year.

Yesterday was a slow day. I read a little and worked on a sock (which may be the death of me). Anyway, this morning I was back up and cruising. I ran out of my leader and ender project so after about an hour of cutting I was back at the machine.

I am teaching a class this year, Farmer's Wife 30's. Not really teaching but guiding. So I am trying to stay ahead of the game. I was planning on doing 5 blocks a month but these little things are so tedious that I decided 4 would be enough. I am making it a personal goal of doing 2 a week but we will see how that goes. There are only 99 of them so I have a bit of work to do.



Here are the first 4 blocks. I am putting them together as I go and this will be the first column. I have made the triangles over sized so that I can trim them down later.
#19 Carolina

#63 Mollie

#3 Alice

#1 Addie

These have all been paper pieced so far. They are a little fiddlie and take some time but I think it will be great once it is done. I just hope I don't run out of patience or "like" of it sooner than that.

I did finish another quilt as well. I finished piecing it last year and then gave it to a co-worker to quilt. She did a lovely job on her George, it wall all freehand too. Awesome. I have since added the binding and as I type it is in the washer. It will head back to work this week to hang as a sample so no telling when I will see it again.

It turned out to be a tad bigger than I thought. But I love it.


Have a great week and see you on On the Needles Friday.

Michelle





04 January 2016

Design Wall Monday

I didn't realize my class was this coming Friday. I better get busy. This is really not needed until the second Friday in Feb. but it would be nice to have the sample done early. I may just finish the top and not get the quilting done. I only have 20 more blocks to go and to put it all together.



Fabric line is Prairie - pattern is from the book Pre-cut Primer and is the 8th grade quilt. It really isn't a hard block to do - once you spend the month sewing and trimming up the hourglass units. I have been chain piecing 2 at a time and it seems to go pretty fast. I figured if I did any more at once I would mess up my color combinations.

For more design wall ideas head on over to Judy's. Hope I have something new to show next week.

Michelle

03 January 2016

A Hat for Michael

Last Christmas (2014) I made my brother a hat. He uses it but it is a tad to big. I decided to make him new one a little smaller. Well.....I think it may be too small. I'll know once I give it to him. If so..well I guess another hat will be on the list.

This is one of my favorite hat patterns. Scraptastic Hat . You can even use it with scraps. Hey who knew.


I call it the Rockies hat even though it is just a coincidence. The yarn is String Theory Colorworks Continuum in the Fluorite colorway (self striping). Love the way it feels - it is 80% SW merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon. I have enough left that I am going to make a pair of socks. The stripe sequence will be totally different.

Off to craft some more.

Michelle

Stash Report 1 - Jan 3, 2016

Hopefully I can make a dent on both yarn and fabric this year. I have been spending the last couple of weeks cleaning out my sewing room (15 minutes here 15 minutes there). I still have a ways to go but I have things to do as well. I figure it will get done when it gets done. In the mean time I hope no body wants to stay in the spare bedroom because it is a mess.

No fabric to report yet - I only report when a section is done (top, quilted, bound)

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Fabric for 2016: 0 yards used

Yarn will be counted by yards only. I think that is easier. I did finish a hat last night for my brother but I am thinking it may be too small. Oh well. Someone can use it.

Yarn Used this Week: 200 yards
Yarn Used year to Date: 200 yards
Yarn Added this Week: 0 yards
Yarn Added Year to Date: 0 yards
Net Yarn for 2016: 200 yards used

I can start the year out positive. Let's see how long that lasts.

Michelle

check out Judy for more stash reports.