Needlework Tuesday - 1000 post celebration and contest

 This is part of my 1000 post Celebration

 

When I started my blog, I didn't really know what I was doing.  When asked for a title, I typed in the first things that ocurred to me, Books and Quilts.  Little did I realize that this would become the recognized name of my blog.  As it has turned out, it is a title that works; my readers don't have to guess what I write about.  At first I wrote what I felt like on any given day.  About three years ago, I decided to make a weekly needlework post.  It was easier for me to gather photos from my week of stitching and I imagined that it would be more convenient for my readers who enjoyed needlework to know which day of the week they should visit.  Hence, Needlework Tuesday was born. 

 

I have invited my fellow stitchers to join me with their needlwork posts.  I have been encouraged by them and hopefully have done like wise for them.  The following bloggers have frequently linked with me:
 

Marie at Daisy's Book Journal

Sarah at Lit and Laundry

Sherrie at Just Books - Sherrie will be ending her blog at the end of the month due to family considerations, I'll be sorry to lose her online companionship.

 

There are dozens of other needlework type blogs that I visit on a regular basis, many of which can be found on the left hand side bar of my blog.  When I am feeling in need of inspiration, I visit a few blogs, leave a comment or two and it revs me up and I'm ready to go again.

 

 I 've had lots of fun with my needlework.  One of my most memorable posts is about the yarn eating vacuum, it finally answers the question of how much yarn your vacuum can consume before you can hit the off button.

 

There are two posts that hold special significance with me.  They are  One Woman Quilt Show and One Woman Quilt Show part 2.  My father was very ill at this time and I was spending much time at my parents.  It brighten dad's day to watch as mom and I pulled out all of her quilts and took pictures of them for these posts.  Even on dad's sickest days, he still insisted that mom sew or that I take her to her quilt guild meetings.  Mom is still quilting up a storm and will be donating a fabric postcard in a contest later this month as part of my 1000 post celebrations.

 

 Wandering the net, I have found and printed dozens of patterns.  In November, I decided that it was time to make some of them.  I wrote about these tea wallets in "A Small Project" on November 13 2012.   I love making them and have fabric cut for at least two dozen more.  The most fun is in selecting a fun/funky/chunky button for the closure.

While I was in New Zealand this summer, I bought two balls of this gorgeous tweedy wool. I  wrote about the wool and pattern in the post "Kiwi Crafts".  I  did change the pattern a bit as the hat didn't come down over my ear lobes.  Four extra repeats of the pattern were enough.  Now I am all set for the return of the winter weather.

My sister Nancy, tells me that years ago I promised to knit her some patterned mittens.  She reminded me in the fall.  Fortunately Knit Picks had a sale on kits for their Woodland Winter Mitts.  I ordered it and have started with the ribbing.  I am using the magic loop technique (first attempt) so that both mitts will be the same tension and length. A good method for  learning about the magic loop method is from a Youtube video. I don't have a specific one to recommend.  I have no idea how long these will take as the wool is quite fine and I am using 2.5 mm needles.

 
Now for the contest.  In September 2010, I had the opportunity  meet Barbara Haworth-Attard and Judy Ann Sadler.  The writing/quilting duo visited my local quilt guild and brought a wonderful trunk show.   You can read about that visit in my post "Authors Who Quilt".  Since then, I have joined my mother's guild, where Barb is also a member. 

IN the past few Needlework Tuesday posts I have shown your photos of the Razzle Dazzle table runner that I was stitching.    The instructions were well written and easy to follow.  I have several other patterns of theirs that I am looking forward to trying particularly the "skinnies".

Barb and Judy have kindly donated four patterns, pdf format, as prizes.

Quilt - Bubbles of Hope
Skinnies - Presents
Quilt - In or Out (special, only available directly from the designers, think arrows)
Skinnies - March of the Penguins

Contest open internationally, winners will receive a pdf of one of the patterns listed above.  To enter, you must visit Babs 'n' Jas Designs, view their patterns and pick a favourite from any of them, not just the four prizes.  Then come back here and leave a comment at this post, telling me which is your favourite.  Contest closes January 26, 2013.