Needlework Tuesday - Merrily Stitching Along

 Sorry I missed you all last week.  I started a new project and was totally carried away with it.  According to my sister, anyone who loves crochet is working on their Sophie's Universe Afghan.  she practically insisted that I start one as well.  After a few weeks of dithering on colours, I decided I would work with whatever I had on hand.  This is a free pattern that has been designed by Dedri at the blog Look At What I Made.   It is complex looking afghan, but she has so fully explained and photographed each step, that so far I have only had to rip it back a few times.  By breaking it down row by row, it is a doable project. This first photo shows Week 1 rows.  There will be twenty weeks of instruction.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

Sophie's Universe Week 2

This photo shows Sophie's Universe to the end of Week 3. Dedri even tells you in the instructions when to expect the project to ripple and always reassures that it will flatten out once again.  The last round shown was crab stitch, which resulted in some rippling, most of which I flattened for the photo.  In Week 4 we are squaring up the centre medallion.  I have a few of the rows complete, but you'll have to wait for photos.

 I have continued to work on the octagons for my one block quilt.  I'm about half way done.  Hubby keeps sneaking into the room to rearrange them.  He is convinced that he can mathematically determine the best layout for the blocks.  It makes me smile when he gets very serious and starts telling me his theory of how that would work.

I suspect that I am not unusual in have many unfinished projects.  I am a terrific idea person.  Fantastic at starting things, but not so great at getting them finished.  I can't recall when I cut these boxers out, but thankfully they are now finished in time for daughter's birthday tomorrow.  Whether I get the other two pairs completed tonight....

I was thinking last evening that I needed a new carry around knitting project. Not that I don't already have two afghans on the go, oops, make that three, there is one hiding in the basement, oh wait, make that four, there is one in the dining room with all the blocks complete and waiting to be sewn together.  See what I mean, too many unfinished projects.

Do you have an unfinished project that is sitting there and bugging you every day.   I don't have just one, I have several sitting on my dining room table.  If I clear the table, then they'll get put away unfinished and stay that way for goodness knows how long.  After I finish the boxers (that are sitting on that same table) I'm going to pick another off the table and get it done.  Do you have a plan for attacking the UFOs.  Share  it in the comments, you just might help me and my readers complete one of their projects.

Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current needlework post.

Needlework Tuesday - Last Minute Gifts

My shopping was done long ago and I found some time to do a bit of stitching.  Last minute presents.  Over the years I've made dozens of boxer shorts and my family never tires of getting a new pair.  I use Pattern 1672 from Kwik Sew.  The gorgeous inukshuk fabric is by Northcott.   these are for my niece who is visiting from overseas.

 This pair is for son. I've run out of time, so daughter's will have to wait a few more days.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I almost have these ruffle scarves out of my system.  Daughter had several balls in her room before she went to University and I've been stitching them up.  The two on the right are made from Bernat Twist and Twirl. both are made with 6 stitches.  New colours are now available.  The scarf on the left is made from Ruffelina, which is now discontinued. It has the look of poodle curls. If you have a ball of this in your stash, cast on at least 8 stitches.

This is my last Needlework post of the year.  i'll leave Mister Linky up until the new year so you can show off your stitched Christmas gift whether you gave them or received.

Needlework Tuesday:Starting a Stocking

 Needlework Tuesday is open to all readers looking for inspiration, encouragement or who want to share their recent needlework project. Introduce yourself in the comments and be sure to leave a link to your current post. Feel free to grab the cute little mouse for your post.

 Last night I finished my fifth stitch for Grandma Coco's Papa Bear Sampler Scarf.  The stitch is called Basket Rib 1.  This was a new one to me, but very straight forward.  Lots of 'slip stitch purl ways' which isn't difficult by any means.  Due to the slipped stitches, this is a slightly more firm knit.  Pattern six is up now for those following along.

Since I am in a knitting frame of mind, I thought it was about time to get started on a Christmas Stocking for my daughter.  I have been finding it rather embarrassing that my kids have store bought stockings.  This year it must change.  I found a skein of Briggs and Little Heritage weight in gold.  Am going to knit it in 5.5mm needles and use a sock stitch pattern called Diamonds and Lace from Knitting circles around Socks.    The stocking pattern itself is from a kit I bought way back.  Unfortunately it doesn't have a publisher or company name on it.  Since I haven't started, I don't have any photos.

Finished two more pair of boxers.  Obviously these are for daughter.  Son wouldn't be caught in the same room with these beauties.  They are the same size, but the camera angle makes them different.  Three more pairs to go in this batch.

As you can imagine, I need a new project just as much as I need a new hole in my head.  Red Heart Yarn has started their latest Crochet-Along today.  They are hooking that wonderful snow flake afghan that I made for my niece last year.  I hooked hers in the colour suggested in the pattern, though for myself, I am making  mine a touch more colourful.  If you decide to make this project, I recommend purchasing more than the suggested 5 balls of variegated.  I used at least 6 balls and might even have started into the 7th.  I sent these corrections to Red Heart, but they chose not to make note of them.

Tami at Just One More Thing...  is joining with me this week and also working on a stocking.  Be sure to drop by and encourage her.  I'm not big on doing cross stitch as I am so slow, so I will be eagerly watching her progress.

Sherrie over at Just Books is working on her ripple stitch afghan.  Love the use of the variegated yarn.

I made my first stocking when I was in a girls group at my church.  I think I might have been ten.  It still make an appearance each year, though it is small and barely anything fits in it.  Mrs. Claus managed to find items that would fit in it every year.  I'll have to search it out and share it here.  It is starting to show it's age, and has lost some beads.  Perhaps this is the year to fix it up a bit.  Have you made stocking for the holidays?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Needlework Tuesday - Paisley Boxer Shorts and more

 Needlework Tuesday is open to all readers looking for inspiration, encouragement or who want to share their recent needlework project. Introduce yourself in the comments and be sure to leave a link to your current post.  If you need help on  your project, we can possibly answer your question or direct you to someone who can.


 I have been working on boxer shorts for ages.  Currently I am working on several pairs for daughter and one for hubby.  Daughter has the most eclectic tastes.  These are way out their paisley.  Can't help but smile looking at them.

I wanted to show you a close up of the 'fly' detail. Being that they are for a girl, I have added a row of stitching to close that up, otherwise, that left hand vertical row of stitching would not be there.

 After attending the knitting show last week, I had to start a new project.  I have had this nubbly yarn sitting around for a few years.  I bought it as surplus, so it had no labels.  I have no idea where it is from and what it is made of. 

I cast on three stitches uses in 7.5 mm needles.  Increased at both ends every other row till I had 61 stitches.  Now I am knitting even in knit stitch every row.  I'll keep going till I am on the last ball and then will decrease in the same manner as the increases.

Measures about 54 inches from the tip.   You can notice toward the right of the photo that there is a slight change in colour.  That's where I joined the second ball.  It wasn't obvious looking at the balls that they were different dye lots.  I hope it won't be all that visible when I am wearing it.  Oh well, too bad if it is.  I'll just say "It must be the lighting!" if anyone has the nerve to comment.

I have been searching to find a perfect yarn for Grandma coco's "Papa Bear Sampler Scarf".  I didn't have much luck.  Seeing that Cheryl now has part 3 posted, I really don't want to fall much further behind.  I dug around in the basement and came up with six balls of Patons Astra in two different colours.  If it's not enough, I'll just have to stop when I run out of yarn.  It's a bit thicker than Cheryl suggested, but then again, sock yarn was just a suggestion.  That's one of the things I like about doing stuff myself, I can make changes to the instructions and experiment.

You can follow along on Cheryl's blog, just click the name above, or you can head on over to Ravelry and join Grandma Coco's group.

The weather has turned rather chilly here the past week or so.  Makes me want to cuddle up on the sofa with a fresh new quilt, alas, I haven't stitched on one of those in a while.  So , I will settle for one that is already there and perhaps pile on a knit afghan, pick up a project and settle in.  I look forward to hearing what you've been working on in the past week.  Leave me a comment and a link and I'll add you to our happy group.

Rikki, over at Rikki's Teleidoscope was crocheting with wire this past week.  You must visit with her to see what she has made.

Needlework Tuesday - Three Projects Finished

 Needlework Tuesday is open to all readers looking for inspiration, encouragement or who want to share their recent needlework project.. Introduce yourself in the comments and be sure to leave a link to your current post.

Here in Ontario it's back to school day.  Son started his first day at college.  Actually we took him to my sister's two weeks ago, as he will be staying with her for the next two years.  Wow, my little boy at college.  He'll be studying photography.  Hopefully he'll allow me to post the occasional one here to share with you.    Daughter has started her second year of high school.  The school bus stop for the whole street happens to be right outside our front door, so she has no excuses for missing that ride.

Good luck to all the students in their studies this year.




Ages ago, but less than a year, I showed you some wonderful Betty Boop fabrics that my son had selected.  He wanted me to make him boxer shorts.  Finally the last pairs are finished.  I think that he now has 7 or 8 pairs all featuring this classic lovely.
 
This one is biker inspired images.

 Valentine cutie.

And the most colourful of the bunch, Halloween.

I have lots of leftover bits and have cut pieces for a quilt for my son.  I still need more variety or it will be a very small quilt and as you know, kids keep growing and he needs a full bed size at least. 

My mother and I have joined in a mystery quilt project with one of our online quilt guilds.  This one is a table runner.  I am making one for her and she is making one for me.  At some point in history we challenged each other to use these fabrics in a quilt project.  She made a runner and gave it to my sister in Calgary. (I'll ask her to send me a photo for next week's post).  There is one other fabric she used, but I can't find it yet in my mess of fabrics.  In fact, I can't even remember buying these fabrics and challenging my mom to use them all together.  Thank goodness she has a better memory for those kind of details.  (edited to add that you should read the comment by annonymous)

This photo doesn't do the fabrics justice, for some reason the fabric in the back is showing much light than it really is.  I hope I can find the cream and brown fabric that mixes in, otherwise I have to start digging through the boxes in the basement and hope for luck.

I also have four more pairs of boxer shorts sitting on the sewing table.  I was on a cutting spree a few months back and cut out about seventeen pairs.  Next I am going to work on the pairs which I can sew with blue thread.  I'll work at them all at the same time, assembly line fashion.  So much easier when I can do the same step at the same time.  Saves going back and reading the instructions each time.

Do you ever do projects in that fashion?  or do you tend to do a single item and finish it before starting the next?

You really must pop on over to Lit and Laundry to view the gorgeous autumn needlepoint .  I'll have to remember to go there on Friday and join in the Finished for Friday meme.

Marie at Daisy's Book Journal has been digging through a box that needed unpacking and found some Hardanger projects that she is sharing.

Needlework Tuesday - A Mixed Basket

It's a mixed basket for you to enjoy this week.  I enjoy when I finish a project, and it's even better when there are more than one to complete.  This week was wonderful.  Finished some items that have been sitting around far too long.

 Ages ago I teased you with some pictures of Betty Boop fabric that I had cut and was yet to sew.  I have finally finished the first item.

This pair is for son.  For some reason he really enjoys this motif.  He has about 6 pairs of boxers with Betty on them and more to come.

This handsome pair is for my hubby.

Last year my in person quilt guild decided to have each member of the guild make a quilt block for the outgoing president.  This year's president has chosen dusty blue, dusty pink, and white for her colours.  I selected a block from Judy Martin's Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts.  Click the title to see my earlier review.  Block I made last year for the outgoing president.  I still wish that I could sew from this book every single day.

This picture shows all my cut pieces.  First to sew a whole bunch of half square triangles.   Now lay them out in the order to be sewn together.

This finished block is a variation of the block titled  'Rise Up so Early in the Morn'.  It's a very straight forward double star, but when you play with the colours you get something totally different.

A few weeks back I told you that I had bought some pre-printed pillowcases for embroidery.  I dug them out on Thursday and got started.  Stem stitch for the vines, and satin stitch for the leaves.  This is the first green completed, the other leaves will be done in a slightly darker green.  A small trick to get the satin stitch to be a little 'puffier', you need to add a few running stitches to the area before doing the satin stitch.  I have shown a close-up of this in the next photo.

Now to do satin stitch over the top of those running stitches.  I really does make a difference.

A heads up to all my Needlework Tuesday readers, I will be starting a new contest on Thursday.   Be sure to visit my Recipe Thursday post to see what I am offering.

Joining me for Needlework Tuesday is Marie at Daisy's Book Journal.  She has posted an update of her sock knitting progress.  Be sure to leave her a comment about her gorgeous socks.

Needlework Tuesday - Traveller's Boxer Shorts

Those who have been following my blog know that my niece stayed with me for the last half of the year.  We were shopping for fabric one day and I asked if she'd like me to make her some boxer shorts.  My kids both have several pairs from fun fabrics.  My niece decided that it would be cool to buy fabrics that represent her trip.   I was able to get two boxers completed before she left.  This first was from the Mennonite buggy fabric.  A very common sight in this area.  The second fabric features many of the views she hopes to see as she visits in the United States.

It was really a tough choice for her to purchase this Australian fabric.  It really is perfect though, as her flight from New Zealand first went to Australia before continuing on to Los Angeles.

OK, this one has nothing to do with her trip.  She really like this fabric.  Its a pale blue and white pin-stripe with little pink flowers.  Doesn't show up too well in the photo.  click on the picture and you should be able to see a close-up.   As a surprise, I am looking for additional fabrics that will be meaningful to her. 

Pattern used for the Boxer Shorts is from Kwik Sew # 1672

Last week I mentioned that I was working on a hat for myself.  I am a bit mystified by this yarn, 'Satin' by Bernat.  Using the exact same pattern, number of stitches and needles, the plain colour hat weighs 65 grams when complete and the variegated weighs 80 grams.  How can this be.  I used every last inch of the variegated to finish this hat and had to use about 14 inches of cream from another project to cast off.  The plain ball when new weighs 100 grams and is 163 yards.  I had 35 grams left over.  The variegated ball weighs 80 grams and is 130 yards.  They are exactly the same when I do the math, yet it took so much more yarn to make the variegated hat.  All I can imagine is that the variegated yarn is actually the slightest bit thicker and I used more as I knit.  Both hats appear to be the same size when I lay them together.  In the future, if I make a variegated one, I'll use a solid colour yarn for the first six rows of ribbing.

If you want details on how I enlarged the pattern from the one on the ball band, check my post from last Tuesday.

Enough knitting, I really am sewing this year.  Not knitting, sewing.  I figure that if I say this enough times I will start believing it and it will happen.  I have 14 more pairs of boxer shorts to finish and then some shirts for my son, and then probably a few pillow cases.  I made a pillow case for one of the young ladies at fencing and in exchange she is making me a pair of earrings.  I am curious what she will come up with.  I'll share with you when she has them ready.

Better go now.  Today is the day that I am starting my running program.  eeks.  It's wet and cold and icky outside so I have decided that I will run around and around my block.