Friday, April 13, 2018

Wild Woods April

April blocks
 I altered the pieced  pattern a bit. I did not wish to do all those square and HST's. I am thinking of fusing some flowers, or maybe a butterfly. I am just not into animals at this point. They might get added later on when the top is pieced.

All the blocks
I save the cut off triangles and sew them into HST's. You never know, they could make something fun!

Linking to Amy.

Springing along

I was knitting the first official pattern of Sock Madness and realized it was not working for me.


Blackberry

It was interesting to learn how to make the beaded blackberry.
Time to rip!

I was not happy with the fit when I tried it on. Also, I did not think that the gray would last for both socks, even with gold toes and heels. So I ripped it out! My sweetie was appalled. So close to finishing a sock. But if I am not happy with it, it would not get finished.

Checkerboard
 So I started the next round using the same gray yarn with a different contrasting yarn. It involves brioche knitting. Something I have wanted to master. And it is a very fun knit! I am ready to start the heel on the first sock.
Guild Blocks
 After the January guild meeting I brought home my show and tell in a tote bag. I finally opened the bag last week so that I could put away the quilts. I found a baggie with some white squares and two patterns. I honestly could not remember what they were for, so I messaged the guild president and she gave me some instructions. But she didn't really say what the guild is doing with the blocks. They need to be turned in before September. I decided it was an easy sew and just made the blocks. I used my "cutting table" fabric selection. Which is digging through the piles on my cutting table that have not been put away yet.
Swirl
 Another block that came up for air, Swirl. I took a demo class at a retreat years ago and made this block. Not sure what I had intended, but I think it could be a good start to something. So I left it on the design wall to inspire me.
Swap blocks
 A few month's ago I posted about swap blocks that I was making for a quilt group that I swap blocks with by mail. I got my blocks back!  What a nice pile! I think I may have won the blocks in the "pot"! It will be fun to play with these blocks.
Bonus #1
When Diane mails me swap blocks, there is always some sort of bonus stuff in there. This package's bonus! Since I live in cowboy country, the bandanas might be fun to play with.
Iris blocks
One of our mutual friends also will tuck in a little something in the packages. This UFO looks like a One Block Wonder. The iris print is lovely. Some of the rows have been sewn and some of the blocks are pinned. It will be a puzzle to line it up (I think). I decided to wait and leave it stacked as it came to me.  So if there is a logical order, I will be able to lay it out easily. When I have some time to play with it.

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Last weekend my Brother-in-law came for a visit. We drove up Johnson Canyon Road. Which used to be the border of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Lovely rock formation along the canyon. I am not sure if this is still in the monument or not since the borders of GSENM has been gutted. 


Linking to:






















Monday, April 2, 2018

April

I finished 2 quilts in March! I can only show one of them at this time. Stay tuned for the other one at a later date. This is my Skittles quilt. I quilted it at a retreat put on by my local guild. Used a walking foot and one of my standard designs. I am happy with the way the quilting turned out.



Close up

Quilt before trimming

Faux quarter inch quilting
Glamor shot

I used a flannel print for the borders, binding and backing. It should be a very cozy lap quilt! Eddy approves!

Yarn Barf
I knit the qualifying round of Sock Madness. I was having yarn barf issues. I think that there was more yarn that barfed than was left in the skein.
New technique
I learned a new stitch technique. It involved several rows with 2 colors and slip stitches.
Done!
I was just a few hours short of making it to the next round. But since I was close to finishing the qualifying round pattern, I am a cheerleader and will get to knit the other patterns for fun. My project page Here.


Jo


Judy

Beth

Nicole

Julie