So many hobbies!

Proof the waste basket is a blast!

 

It's been a while

The Christmas presents are done and I've regained what little sanity I had before the holiday craziness started. 

Yesterday morning, I was awakened by a paper wad being dropped on my face.  Galen wanted to play.  I know I shouldn't have, but I threw it for him anyway.  We had a happy little time, Galen and I.  Tyr, on the other hand, won't stay out of the waste basket:

 

Okay, granted, Gray Mousie was in the basket once but it's not in there any more.  She's so lucky she's cute.

Some spinning of some Polwarth:

 

I used the technique Elizabeth told us about.  I took 4 ounces of roving and broke it into thirds.  One third I drafted out into one long length and spun it onto the left most bobbin.  The second third a separated into 4 sections and spun them onto the middle bobbin.  The last third and tore into small sections and spun them onto the right bobbin.  These I spun into a 3-ply yarn, hoping for enough for a pair of mittens.

 

I think it turned out pretty well.  I'm not sure if 150 yards is enough for a pair of mittens, though.  I have my doubts actually.  I even Navaho plied what was left on one of the bobbins:

 

This is only 3 or 4 yards, though.  Darn!  The mittens were supposed to be my knitting project when I went to Sanibel Island at the end of January.  I'll have to dig through my stash of handspun to see if I have any other yarn that might work.

Blue/green quilt blocks

I picked out the 4 blocks I like the best.  I've been trying to make each block without thinking too much about them.  I haven't been measuring but just eyeballing the width and in some cases, purposely cutting strips wonky.  This is taking me outside of my comfort zone and making me feel rather anxious about the whole thing.  I really can't tell if this quilt is going to be great or totally suck.  I've told myself I have to complete the thing before I decide if I love it or hate it.

 

 

 

And my favorite:

 

I'm hoping to get at least two more done tonight and two or three done tomorrow.  I need to get my work spaces cleared off by bed time tomorrow night because I have one more big Christmas project that's going to take up space.  I've asked for Thursday off from work (there's no way I'd get everything done if I worked Thursday) and I need the blue/green blocks done by Thursday morning.  Having such a short deadline forces me not to over-think and to be more improvisational.

A clever title is beyond me

 

A back for the quilt.  I might like the back better than the front.  I spent today playing with my new walking foot and quilting the mini quilt.  I LOVE the walking foot.  It works beautifully; any flaws in the quilting are because I messed up.  Once I finish the binding, the quilt will be ready for it's glamour shot.

Most of today I spent working on the blue/green quilt.  I've got 4 squares done but the sun went down before I could get a decent picture.  I'll try again tomorrow.

The ironing board is a favored place to hang out:

 

I REALLY want to try this...

Check this out!  Maybe getting lots of snow is a good thing.

Fabric Friday

 

The first set of fabrics for my blue/green quilt.  I haven't raided the stash in the basement yet so there will undoubtedly be more.

Think pink

 

I think the pink border looks pretty good and I love the look of the off-center square.  I think I'll back this with flannel and leave it in my car for those cold Michigan mornings. 

A bit of stitching

The quilt squares are done!  Yay!  All 396 of them.  And I had a few left over so I put together a little quilt:

 

(Kitten added for scale.)  It's only 20"x20" and I haven't decided if I'm going to sew a border around it or leave it a miniature quilt.  One thing I am going to do is use it to practice quilting the bigger version once I get it done.  Using my new walking foot (once it comes in - they had to order one for me), I'll do a straight stitch in the colored parts.  When that's done, I'll free-motion stitch a kind of a figure eight in the black areas. 

While I was working on quilt squares, both kids found that Galen's hidey hole was a good place to hang out:

 

Can't wait to cast on

 

If I wasn't in the middle of a pair of socks, I would have already cast on for another pair.  The stats:  Merino/silk/bamboo roving from Woolgatherings on Etsy - two different colorways; after its bath, it ranges between fingering and sport weight; and from 8 ounces, I got about 760 yards.  This is going to make a gorgeous pair of socks and with the added silk, they should wear well.

 

Some new fabric for my stash; I fell in love with the colors.  (In case you're curious, it's Metro Cafe from Kona Bay.)  I want to make a blue and green quilt and the right hand fabric will be perfect.  Actually, the number of quilts I want to make is growing bigger than the time I'll have to make them.  I really need to find a way to become independently wealthy.  Work keeps interfering with my play time.

Fortunately for me, my local quilt store just sent me a coupon for 20% off of sewing machine accessories and I'll be using mine to buy a walking foot for my machine.   A sewing machine foot is an accessory, right?  I hope so 'cause the foot costs $110.   Since I keep making quilts, I'm going to need to quilt at least some of them or I'll end up in the poor house.  Walking feet are only good it you're quilting in a straight line so if I want any fancy quilting done, I'll have to hire out.

Galen found a new place to sleep.  It's where I store my handknits.  He's got good taste:

 

I'm light on content

Actually, all I have is finished yarn but it's drying so it's not ready for its glamour shot.  So, you get another pic of these guys:

 

Yes, I know it's yet another shot of them sleeping but that's the only time they sit still long enough for me to take a shot.  They're pretty darn cute, aren't they?