Knit one...

I finished a second pair of socks using Wendy Johnson's basic toe up sock pattern!

I used a smaller needle (2.25mm) and fewer stitches than the first pair, and they fit like a glove. Yay!

in a pretty teal colour!

Now, I am tackling two at a time toe up socks using Melissa Morgan-Oakes book.

I still used Judy's Magic cast on, and magic loop knitting.

It was a little harder to get started, and the stitch increase was a new one for me, but at least there are no double wraps!

So far I haven't gotten them mixed up!

Meanwhile.......

.....the girls pose on Who's Your Granny?

Hope you're having a good week-end!

WIP Wednesday 23-01-2013

I hadn't realized until now that this is my first WIP post this year! How did that happen??

Looking back, I see that most of my work this year has been bee blocks, knitting socks, and reupholstering a chair for my sewing room!

However, I am now working on left overs from last year!

Starry, Starry Night is finally basted. Yay! It was not easy I must say. Because I am using voile for the backing, I didn't think I could use spray baste. Then, trying to keep it taped to the floor was a nightmare. So, I ended up doing a very non-traditional baste.

First, I lightly spray basted the batting to the quilt top; then I put the backing on top of the batting and put in just a few pins to keep it together. Then I flipped it over so that the top was on top, and pinned normally! A bit weird, but it worked!

Love AMH voile!

Now, I have to decide how to quilt it!

*****

I've had a ton of equilateral triangles cut from Chicopee up on my design wall for at least a month, and probably longer!

I finally bit the bullet, arranged them is some sort of random order, found a good tutorial for joining triangles without pulling out my hair, and now I am halfway through finishing them. This photo is older, so the placement of the triangles is different!

****

Some bee blocks have been done...

For Janine in Star Of Africa

For Jaclyn in Simply Solids: a modern {bee}

Our Saskatoon MQG is participating in the Madrona Road Challenge, and I signed on for it!

I was initially going to do a table runner, but changed my mind and did a cushion instead.

I used some Kona Ash as well as the Madrona Road.

A hidden zipper in the back, and black piping.

I did a little hand stitching and a bit of FMQ.

I'm just finishing up a Cathedral Window pincushion with the leftover fabrics!

A fun challenge and a first for our brand new Saskatoon MQG!

Linking up today with Lee @ Freshly Pieced for

Have a great sewing week!

From the inside lookin' out!

Well, it is frigid cold here the last couple of days, with temp at -30C. Add severe wind chill warnings, and it takes us to -40C

I'm not leaving my house! Yay for retirement!

So, there is nothing to do but watch tennis, knit and then sew.

Here is a sneak peek at my Madrona Road Challenge project.....

I also finally started the Lucky Stars BOM with Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy

I have a bin full of Kaffe Fassett fabric, so I pulled it out and started using some of it.

I'm also going to finish up a belated Christmas present! I know, a tad late!

I had to wait for a pouch frame to arrive, so it wasn't my fault!

My second pair of socks are almost done too. Yay! This pair will fit much better I hope.

I got a lot of it done while watching Downton Abbey last night.

Love that show!

Finally into the post is a Star of Africa bee block for Janine.

The message is in Cree- hope it translated properly!

I quite liked doing the wheat stitch on the bottom. The first actual embroidery I have done other than the stem stitch.

Okay, off to the sewing room.....

I have some triangle to put together!

Stay warm....or cool.....depending where you are!

Need a push....FAL

Other than doing my bee blocks, I have been quite unmotivated to finish up projects from last year.

So, I decided to join up with the FAL being hosted by Leanne this year!

Two things need to get done this quarter.
1.-Starry, Starry Night

I need to add borders, probably pin the voile backing (ugh)-wish I could spray baste!
Then quilt it.
2.- No name triangle quilt

 These are all cut, and have been on my design wall in different combinations for over a month while I decide what to do with them! They are taking up too much space, and I want my design wall back!
 Linking up with Leanne, and I hope I get these done!

 

Sock it to me!

Two books on toe-up sock knitting, one Craftsy class, a million you-tube videos-$60.

Yarn purchased many years ago, then lost, then found and waiting to be used-$20.

Yarn purchased on sale at Michael's and used for these socks-$12.

Knitting needles is various sizes and lengths because I didn't know what to use-$50.

First pair of socks knit(knitted?) by me!!!!-$$$ Priceless $$$ !!!

 Who am I kidding!! These suckers cost me a fortune! 

I've discovered that I cannot learn sock knitting from a book! Everything I learned was from you-tube videos, although the Craftsy class was good too. However, you-tube is free!

I used the magic loop which I really liked, as the double pointed needles tried to kill me on several occasions while trying to bend them into submission.

We had issues about who was in charge......I lost -(

Also, I should do swatches! While my socks fit just fine, I could have easily knit them quite a bit smaller and made use of the nylon in the yarn. They will probably stretch horribly after wearing them longer than an hour!

Not a big fan of short rows! I kept picking up the wraps wrong or something! The heel looks funny!

I did however, make my own sock blockers! Yay for that! Saved a few bucks!

For my next pair I will try a different method, and will also try two a a time!!

I do plan to make more considering how much I have invested in them already!

Something to do while watching Downton Abbey on Sunday nights!

Have a seat...

My sewing machine was in the shop for a tune-up and I just picked it up this morning!

Yay!

Now, I can get busy and catch up on all the projects I have left since before Christmas.

However....before I start sewing, I had one project that needed attending to.

I use this hard as rock chair in my sewing room that I borrowed from my kitchen. Not comfortable for prolonged sitting, and the cushion I have on it keeps landing on the floor.

So, last week I rescued an old aluminum kitchen chair probably from the 60's! It was on it's way to the dump!

Initially, I though about just giving it a good scrubbing and be done with it. But, no amount of cleaning could ever make this baby look good!

It's red vinyl. I actually like the colour!

Here it is in partial deconstruct...

So, I took it all apart (saving the upholstery nails :-), for reuse)

Then I went shopping, and found just the right amount of red vinyl. I didn't particularly care what colour is was, but the red was what they had.

New rubber feet and a bunch of staples later....

Not exactly a thing of beauty, but it works for me.

I had some fun with the back though!

Yup! It's the Keep Calm fabric! I have the same thing on my ironing table in my sewing room, so I thought it would look kinda cool!

I also laminated it just for the heck of it, and because I had this stuff and wanted to try it on something!

I used this product called Therm O Web iron on vinyl, and it was really easy. Then, I cut some batting to use because the cardboard backing was wrecked, reused the nails, and called it a finish!

The curved back of the chair was a bit of a pain, but overall, not too bad.

As I said, not beautiful, but it is functional and only cost me $15.00 for the fabric!

My first project of 2013....

DONE!