Stitch'n Time - Venturing in to Lace Knitting

I have a lot of stuff around my house.  I would love to be an organized person with regard to this stuff, but it's not happening.  One day while thinking about putting it all away in closets and cupboards, I realized, that out of sight out of mind, I would never get back to finishing those items.  Instead of finding a place to put them away to, why don't I finish them.  Great idea. Now when I open a bag or container to see what it's hiding, I form a plan to finish it.

 First up: I knew this one had a deadline and that it was sitting on the floor under my ironing board.  It's from a class I took with my mom and a friend early last year.  It was taught by quilter Jen Houlden.  She is a wonderful teacher and her class materials are detailed and most helpful.  The three of us accomplished quite a bit in the class, but didn't get finished.  We continued to work at them at home.  My got pushed to the side, but my persisted and finished hers.  She sent me a photo and said that she was going to show it at her local quilt show.  Of course, I jumped in and volunteered to finish mine, so it could also be in the show.  It would make a better presentation with two similar projects side by side.

Last week I started to get nervous that the show would soon be upon us.  I had to get stitching.  I liked that my friend made her piece into a pillow instead of a wall hanging, and decided to do the same.  Now my top is finished.  I need to purchase a zipper so that I can get it done.

 Jen has an interesting technique for the applique. It's a free motion zigzag.  Set your machine to a zigzag stitch, put on the free motion foot, lower the feed dogs and start stitching.  For best coverage, you move the piece back and forth along the applique edge until you have to coverage you want.  I used a variegated thread, the same I used to quilt the background.  At first I was going to go with my old standby of machine button hole stitch, but then I thought I had better try Jen's technique, since that is the reason to taking classes, to try something new.  I'm glad I did; I like the way it turned out.

Later that week, I came across the bag of wool for this project.  I'm going to the leave the pattern details a mystery until I get more accomplished.  My sister purchased this kit for me several years ago and it has sat in almost the same spot in my living room since I brought it home.  It's much to lovely to leave as skeins any longer.

By paying attention and lots of counting, I have only had to rip it out once.  Before I start the next pattern area, I will be sure to install a lifeline.  It's knit with two strands of lace weight wool held together.  The blue heart pin marks the centre of the pattern, which is a simple knit stitch with a yo to either side.

A while back I promised you a photo of the finished body builder afghan that I designed and knit for a friend of my son.  Well, they were thrilled with the results. I am hoping for a photo of the little guy with his blanket.  It was a lot of fun to create this piece, though I am in no hurry to make another like it.

Stitch'in Time is a regular Monday post where I share my current needlework projects with my readers.  I get so much encouragement from you all that it keeps my stitching even when I should be doing other things.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current needlework project.

Needlework Tuesday - Knit Along Finished

You've been following for months; curious to see what this project would look like and how the colours would go together.  As you can see, they look great.  I used Bernat Satin yarn in Forest Mist Heather, Bordeaux and Camel.  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  I submitted the photo to the contest over at the Bernat site. 

You really should visit there and see pics of the other complete afghans.  The colours are terrific.  When last I checked there were 10 finished projects.  each one different combinations.  Bernat Knit Along Finished Afghans.  (Click the link and it will take you to the Bernat blog, then select the Mystery Knit Along in the right hand column to see the finished afghans.)

One follower has told me that she is working on this pattern. I am looking forward to posting her pics when she is finished.  Anyone else?

Now on to sewing. I want to get the border sewn for the 'Wild Blue Yonder' quilt.  Am still thinking about how to machine quilt.  There were some wonderful comments last week that I found very helpful.  Thanks.

Did you finish a project this week and you want to share it with the world? Hop over to 'Lit and Laundry' and post your link.

Needlework Tuesday

Most of my needlework activity this week has been limited to the 'Wild Blue Yonder' blocks that I started 2 weeks ago.  I had to purchase addtional fabric on saturday as I was still short the dark fabric for two blocks and didn't have enough background.  Well, I didn't like the back ground fabric in the block shown in the upper right hand corner, so had to cut 2 replacement blocks.  will piece 22 blocks, though will only be using 20 in the final quilt.

I have been thinking about the boarder.  I want to finish the pinwheel and 1/4 square blocks that are around the edge and have cut a number of additional triangels for that, though haven't put them up on the wall yet.  Next perhaps.  Any suggestions for border???

Knitting: I have touched my needles but not much accomplished.  I did try and knit and watch the Olympics, but that involved too much ripping back due to missed yarn overs and such.  I should stick to stitching together my blocks for the Bernat Knit along.  The final assembly instructions for the knit border are now posted.

Leave a comment and let me know what you've been working on this past week.

Needlework Tuesday

Ever get tired of working on old projects?  Recently I have been looking through that magazine I told you about last week, Quiltmaker's 100 Quilt Blocks.  I really like # 97 'Wild Blue Yonder.  I remembered some samples of floral fabrics that had been sitting on the floor of my quilt room for the better part of 10 years.  I figured I would find them and cut out a block and sew it up.  By the time I was finished cutting, I had enough darks for 14 blocks and lights for 8 blocks.   The first picture shows one quarter of the block.  Pretty straight forward piecing.  Rectangles and triangles.

Second picture shows the completed 12 inch block.  I have to admit that I rather like this one.  More blocks to be made  though I will have to purchase some similar light florals.  Don't know how many blocks I'll make, we'll see what happens.

The designer of this block is Scott Murkin of Patchwork Possibilities.  Here's the link to his photo album.

I have finally finished everything on the ABC quilt.  It is titled 'Lilybet' since it is for Lily.  Size is 70 x 81 inches, Hobbs Polydown batting, flannelette on the back.  Machine quilted.  In the next picture you can see a bit of the quilting detail.  I kept it simple as I had no other idea of how to finish it and I didn't want to detract from the embroidered letters. I did end up quilting free form around all the letters and it made a big improvement.  Can't wait to give it to Lily and her mom.  There is even a label on the back that gives her mom credit for the embroidered letters.

I didn't work on my Bernat Knit along project this week.  they did post instructions for how to arrange your blocks and how to stitch them together.  I will have to get moving and finish the final two blocks.  I do think i need to block the knitting as they aren't all the same size.  That will delay me a bit, but I really does need to be done.

the Olympic start on friday and I don't know how the will affect me.  Will probably get a bunch more knitting done. Still have one more scarf planned (2 yet to finish mending in ends and show you) and then on to a different afghan.

Remember, you still have to midnight to enter my two contest: 1) the 4 fabric pillow panels, 2) the paper piecing pattern

also you have another week to enter the contest for the Red Canada Olympic Mittens.  Look for the link on the left side bar.

Click the 'Finished for Friday' and see who else has finished a project this week.  Could be needlework, a book, or some other project that has sat unfinished for much too long.

Needlework Tuesday and a Contest

Last week I received a package in the mail from Scott Hansen over at 'Blue Nickel Studios'.  Included were fabrics from a layer cake called Birdie by Me and My sister designs.  Scott designed one of the '100 Blocks' in the magazine and sponsored a contest at his blog when the magazine hit the stands.  There were a few other inspirational items in the envelope including an actual blue nickel.  Thanks Scott.

I promised this week that I would show you block 7 and block 8 from the Bernat Knit Along. 

The green block (yes, it really is a deep forest green) is filled with lovely cables.  This was the most fun to do.  I love the challenge of blocks like this.  In fact, I think I need to make an actual sweater (oh stop me someone, I don't need to start another new project).

The cream block is number 8 and the final one in the series.  I still have to knit two more of these, one in burgandy and one in the green.  The next update on the Bernat site will be how to stitch the blocks together.  Yippee.

I did get a bunch of sewing in last week as well. Quite a while back I won a pillow kit  from Purrfect Pastimes. ( the pattern is now shown at her new site Cotton Novelty Fabrics) It was supposed to make the front of the pillow and maybe enough for the back.  I really didn't want a pillow, or rather my daughter didn't want a pillow.  So with very careful calculations and cutting I had enough fabric to make 4 -12 inch blocks.  The pattern was designed for paper piecing, but I measured and cut correct size pieces and madeit by regular machine piecing.

My daughter is most pleased with the results.  Has her perfect Halloween colours and it features penguins.  She couldn't ask for more.  Well, she wants it larger.  So my mother is going to add a border and return it to me.  Then I'll add a further border and that should make it large enough for a lap quilt.  I had to manipulate the blocks to get the tiny penguins all in the centre of the blocks.  it looked funny when it was the largers penguins clustered there.

I did those orange corners using the stitch and flip methods and had 64 half square triangle blocks left over.  I trimmed them to 1 3/8th inch squares and put together this miniature block.  It only about 8 inches on a side. Yes, 128 pieces in an 8 inch square. It will be titled 'Halloween Barn' since it's in the log cabin barn raising form.  I think that it needs 2 narrow borders???

Now for the contest part.  I am finished with the pattern and would like to pass it along to another quilter who would enjoy it.   The pages are all there for paper piecing one block.  Also my calculations of cutting size for regular piecing.  Any follower of my blog is eligible to win.  International welcome.  Please note, there is no fabric in the pattern.  I will draw a winner next Tuesday from any comments that are left.

Needlework Tuesday

I like weeks when I finish up projects.

First shown are the fingerless mitts I made for my daughter. I finished them over the holidays and yesterday darned in the ends of the yarn. Our dog wouldn't move so he is in the picture. I didn't use the recommend yarn, instead I used Patons Astra that knits up to the same tension. Also its very washable. Pattern for Fingerless Mitts. I didn't need to make any adjustments to the pattern. Will be making more pairs as my son wants t pair in a more suitable colour.

I made this cable knit hat using Bernat Satin. That's the same yarn that I am using for the Knit Along. Its a very soft yarn and suits the cables. You only need one ball of this yarn and there was quite a bit left over, so you could choose the slightly smaller variegated version. This is a free pattern that is found on the ball band or at the website. You might need to join Bernat to access the pattern. Free Bernat Satin cable knit hat pattern.


When i make this hat next I will add 4 more rows in the pattern before starting the decreases for the crown. Be sure to check your tension, if you are even a bit tight, the hat will be too small. I used a 5 1/2 mm needle instead of the 5mm recommended and as you can see, it fits snugly.



I did start the 7th pattern for the Bernat Knit along. This is a cable and twist patten and is taking more concentration. Rather a big step from last week's pattern. It does look really nice. Will have a picture for you next week. Then only one more block variation to go.



I am working on the ABC quilt. Its sitting at my sewing machine and needs on the boarder to be quilted. I think I will have to stitch around each of the embroidered letters so that they show up better. I used Hobbs Polydown batting, which I generally love. Unfortunately this piece of batting was cut smaller than the advertised size. It was supposed to by 81 inches wide but was only 76 inches, which was the exact size of my backing. I had planned to use that extra 5 inch strip in another project. oh darn. I will have to send an email along to Hobbs to let them know about this situation. I plan to finish this in the next day or so and get started on another top that has been sitting too long. I want them both quilted before my quilt guild meeting next monday.



Let me know if you try either of these knitting patterns. Would love to see a pic of the results.

Needlework Tuesday

I really like last weeks clue for the Bernat Knit Along. Its a nice diamond or lozenge pattern. I have two of the three colours completed. I took this picture in front of the window and it looks very grey where its really a deep green.

I started work on the alphabet blocks that I showed you last week. My friend, Audrey, was cleaning out for a move and found a set of alphabet blocks that she had embroidered more than 20 years ago. I matched them up with a set of fabric charms representing each letter of the alphabet. I adapted the pattern from a picture in the book 'Sensational Settings: Over 80 Ways to Arrange your Quilt Blocks' by Joan Hanson. My book is the 1993 version, there is a new 2004 edition available.

My dog, Atreyu, decided that he wanted to get in the action and take a nap in the middle of my work.

You can't really tell in the final picture, but there is a middle boarder of a marbled fabric. My friend is a paper maker/book binder and it was the perfect fabric to include. Also, I already had it so didn't have to leave the house. The only thing I will need to purchase is a package of Polydown quilt batting.



I hope to have this finished by next week so it can go on her daughter's bed. Its cold here and she might be needing it at her new house.

Needlework Tuesday

It seems ages since I was here on a Tuesday to present a needlework update.

I finally got to part 5 of the Bernat Knit Along. This is a straight forward lacy pattern of knit 2 together and yarn overs. I have all three colours completed and have printed out part 6 of the pattern. Should be up to date by the end of the week.

The week prior to Christmas I started this lovely red, metallic scarf for my sister. Last time she visited I showed her the gold, metallic scarf that I knit, but the colour was wrong for her. She has lovely red hair and so that's the colour I made for her. I knit 25 stitches on 6 mm needles, using 4 balls of Palette Collection Series 107/219. She is very pleased with this scarf.

This pillow case from batik fabric was made for one of the young people at my fencing club. She is drawing a picture for me in exchange. She does such lovely work and I wanted to encourage her to continue with her art work.

Friends of ours are moving and have been clearing out 'stuff'. She bought me a small bag of fabric and such. There was this crib size quilt top. The upper left corner is embroidered with a little piggie.

You can see him in this photo. The other squares are blank. I don't know if I should finish it as is, or remove that block and put in a blank and machine quilt in a new picture or design on each block. She has a 3 year old daughter who will love the finished project what ever it turns out to be.

She also brought a second project. 26 embroidered alphabet blocks that she had started to set into a quilt. I will be taking this apart and making a new setting though I have no ideas yet. There are a few yards of the floral fabric that I will be using. The blocks are about 6 inches.

I want to finish these two quilts quickly and move back to the others that I was working on earlier. Suggestions for both would be appreciated.

bye for now.

Needlework Tuesday

Last week the 4th step of the Bernat Knit Along was posted. I started knitting the posted pattern and after 20 or so rows I decided I really, really didn't like that stitch and that it would bother me forever if that block was in my afghan, so I ripped it out.

I found another pattern in a book I bought a million years ago, 'Knitting Encyclopedia 1500 Patterns by Pingouin'. It's a terrific little book that I use every so often. I made 9 repeats of the pattern across the block and 8 repeats in the length. I am much happier with my choice. Two more colours to stitch up.

It has taken a bit of conscious effort to keep up to date with this project, but definitely worth it. I want to get it finished in a timely fashion and this process is really helping.



I started a new project this week. Its a scarf (how many of those have I stitched this year?). It's from the 'East + West' pattern book by Mission Falls.
Don't you just love that luscious green wool. It's for a friend in Australia. She lives in the Melbourne area where they had those destructive fires last year. Everything was blackened and she seemed so sad. This will be her own little patch of grass.

I have to stitch 12 repeats of the diamonds. This wool feels so nice in my hands that I want to make the sweater that also uses these motifs. But that one I would have to keep.

I have made one other project from this book and find their instructions very good. I had a problem with the graph and sent them an email and later that night I had a response that answered my questions. Good company to deal with.

Back to that other project from this book. I never finished it. arg. Later today I am going to post a stitching challenge that you are invited to join. You'll like this one. I'll tell you about the project and maybe add a photo. Yes, I am going to embarrass myself. Please come back and read all about it.

Darilyn over at Tropical Screamer has posted a new block for her Sampler Quilt.

Anya over at Hills Creek Quilter has finished 9 additional blocks for her version of the Dear Jane Quilt.

Needlework Tuesday

I didn't do all that well with my needlework this week. I did sort out some of the fabrics and patterns for the Bird quilt with the best of intentions yesterday, but then I picked up 'Brother Odd' by Dean Koontz and didn't stop till I was finished. oops, so much for sewing. That book review should follow in a few days.

I did better on my knitting. I finished all the blocks from the second 'clue' on the Bernat Knit Along, and two of the three for the third pattern. I really like these diamonds. So far the three patterns have only used knit and purl stitches.

I plan to have more to show you next week.

Be sure to visit Darilyn over at 'Tropical Screamer', she has joined me this week in a Needlework update.

Thanks for coming by to visit.

Needlework Tuesday

It's been a busy week for me. I am working every day on my novel and am doing more research than I could ever have imagined. Things like: how many Russians lived in Australia in 1914? Stops along the Trans Siberian Railway in 1904? Names of Tsar Nicholas II's children? and Japanese family crests to name just a few.

Yes, I really need to know all these plus I had to start looking up quilt blocks so I could design a virtual quilt to represent the trip on that railway by my characters. I will have to re-install my Electric Quilt and work up that design. I continually amaze myself at how much time I can spend doing odd little things. I should mention that I also spent hours flipping back and forth in my Dear Jane book selecting the perfect blocks to discuss in my novel. Of course my main character has to be a quilter and just like me she is sewing her version of the quilt in orange fabric. This week she pieced the two blocks shown here. Since a number of my characters are immigrating to Australia, I got wondering about the difference blocks Jane Stickle might have pieced had she been been Australian. Read my post titled "Dear Jane and Australia" and leave me a comment.

The first Block shown is H-7 Bennington Star. I got that fabric from my daughter and thought it fit perfectly. I missed on a couple of the star points, but I'm not going to sweat it. I was in need of some blocks with lighter orange fabrics.
The second block is A-4 Courtney's Stethoscope. I can't imagine why that title. I wanted to use another star fabric, but didn't have the luxury of getting to the quilt shop. I did have a bit of this fabric and to me it sort of looks like outer space with an orange twist. I did not paper piece, rather made it as a 9 patch as shown in the second photo and then cut it one point and added the outer borders.

Oops, I did make a slight mistake. The white cross in the middle should have been from the print fabric and the triangles around it should be white. I don't know if I'll redo this one. I rather like it.

Step 2 of the Bernat knit along is now available. I did up the block for my first colour the other evening. It was very straight forward. The tension was much better than the first block. I am looking forward to the next stitch pattern.

I had better get back to my novel as I am in the middle of describing a traditional Russian dinner circa 1904 and I am getting hungry and thirsty for the tea in the silver samovar.

come back next week and see what I have been stitching.

If you decide to join me and feature your Tuesday needlework, send me the link so I can post it here.

Needlework Tuesday

Progress on 'Dear Jane' was limited this week, but I am determined to do at least one block a week. That way it won't get pushed to a back corner and forgotten for months on end. Then I would have my readers sending me inquiries wondering if I ran out of orange fabric or something.

This block is C-3 Rayelle's Fence. At first it looks kind of complicated, but then I realized that its really a 9 patch whose sub-units are 4 patches and fence rails. Didn't have anything small enough to fussy cut for the centre as that piece was only cut 2 inches. The strips were all 1 1/4 inches as were the squares.

View Tropical Screamer's version also in orange.



I was so excited to finish this Cardinal block. All the tiny holly berries are stitched on. They measure about 11mm. Quite tiny. There are 18 of them. Three leaves are not stitched down, as they overlap the neighbouring blocks. Will have to work on one of these neighbouring blocks next. Check back next week to see which.

I started on the Bernat Stitch Along yesterday. I have done 1 1/2 repeats of the pattern and its looking good. The colour in this photo isn't good, but it shows the pattern better this way. I ended up knitting on larger 5.5 mm needles rather than the 5mm called for. We are told that we need to knit this square three times, once in each colour. In a few weeks, they will post the next step/block. I think that this pattern would make a wonderful scarf for a man. Of course done in a colour that doesn't look so pink, unless he likes pink.

I was browsing some of my favourite sites yesterday and came across a pic of my mother. She attended a workshop featuring a quilt teacher from Ireland. The special part is that my mother had been trading fabric postcards with the instructor via an online postcard group. I don't have a copy of the photo to post yet (for some reason I couldn't capture it from the site), but you can click this link and she is the lady to the left in the very first photo. Landscape Technique Workshop with Miriam at Linda's 'Living, Quilting and Stuff . How special that my mother got to meet one of her 'virtual' friends.

Update on Wednesday, October 28. Linda kindly sent along the file with two pictures which I have now posted.

Needlework Tuesday

I am back after a busy Thanksgiving long weekend. Several festive meals were enjoyed with friends and family. Now time to eat left overs, read good books and work on some of my ongoing projects as well as add another one.

I did get one block sewn on my Dear Jane before the migraine struck and then when it cleared I had to get the dining room table cleared off (I generally sew in the Dining room since my sewing studio is too full of unfinished projects).

F-3 Snowball was a fun block to piece. I fussy cut the centre patch to feature the lovely autumn leaf in metallic gold. I didn't paper piece as the Dear Jane website suggested. View Tropical Screamer's Version.


Very little reading got done last week as I was determined to finish this scarf for my son. He is away at school and won't be home for his birthday. As you can see I did get it finished and it is wrapped in a fabric bag and I sent it home with my sister to give to him on his birthday on the 22nd. He knows I made it for him and has even seen the pattern, and some of the un-assembled bits, but hasn't seen the finished product. I am thrilled with how well it turned out. The black mesh part measures 67 inches and the I-tubes are 80 inches. It actually was fairly easy to thread them in. I would recommend not weaving in the ends of the yarn until after you put the strips through the mesh. They did tend to pull back out a little bit. My daughter wants a similar scarf with a black mesh, but with each strip being a different bright colour. Myself, I am planning a brown mesh and then 5 different orange strips.

I first wrote about this pattern a month ago. It's by Iwona at the Knit Cafe.


Bernat has announced that they will be hosting a 'Knit Along' on their new blog. I thought this sounded fun. Son helped me chose colours of their 'Satin' yarn. Forest Mist Heather, Bordeaux, and Camel.

The first step will be on the blog on October 23. You can find the pattern at Bernat Blog Mystery Afghan Knit Along. Stay tuned for my progress on this new project. Let me know if you decide to knit along with this project as well. My sister is thinking about it, though she is going to chose materials from her 'stash'.

If you will all excuse me now, I really do want to get back to my reading. I have a copy of 'Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit' by Mercedes Lackey that was sent to my by Penguin to review. When my kids were little I read every Arthurian legend book that I could get my hands on. This one is a new look at Gwen and she is a wonderful character. Hope to have my review in the next few days.

Bye for now.