Cranked Socks

On Friday I sat down long enough to crank out a pair of rainbow socks. Here is the sock train after I took it off the machine.

I even managed to crank both without an error. There is something to be said for having a full stomach before beginning work. These are in the bag for finishing.

2019 sock knitting count:

• Cranked socks: 18 pair (no odd socks)
• Hybrid socks: 2 pair (partially cranked and partially hand-knit) 
• Hand knit socks: 1 pair

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Medium Sock Blockers

Clover Locking Stitch Markers

Fiskars student scissors
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader 

Clear bag

Charity Quilting

 This fun top was pieced by another member of the Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

I think Mary pieced this one. 

I wanted to share the meandering swirl design and it shows up better on the backing than on the front.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2019.

2019 Charity Quilt Count: 54

Peacock Petals Crochet

I'm still working on this shawl. The motifs are going to be so great when I open them up with blocking. 

This is just after row 63.

Free pattern: Peacock Petals Shawl

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Scrappy Charity Piecing

I've been making these scrappy quarter-log cabin blocks for a couple weeks now. I can finish three or four even on a week night. They are satisfying to make but never seem to reduce the amount of scraps. 

I paired some of them with some red squares to make this fun little charity quilt for Annapolis Quilts for Kids.  I still need to find a backing for it.

Here is a glimpse into my process, if it can be called a process. I don't plan these blocks before making them. I pick each color as I sew it. There is some matching but there is never a real plan. 

I completed 24 over the past week or so. I think I'll plan out another little top with some of these this week.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. 

Charity Quilting

This time I quilted a couple that I pieced.

Sometimes I need to sew without too much commitment or thought. Having a couple kits from Quilts for Kids is great for that kind of sewing. I don't really have to plan, just sew. Both of these fall into that category.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2019.

2019 Charity Quilt Count: 52

Peacock Petals Crochet

I'm still working on my Peacock Petals Shawl.

Row 57. 

Sometimes I have to pause and look at the work up close. Blocking this one is really going to make it shine.

Free pattern: Peacock Petals Shawl

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Scrappy Piecing

Creating charity quilts leaves behind more than a few scraps. Another member of Annapolis Quilts for Kids also gave me a tote bag full of scraps and strings to work with. This means I have more scraps than I am likely to ever work through. It also means I can make little blocks.

This is four quarter-log cabin blocks. Each block is 6.5" by 6.5" and perfect for charity quilts.

Over the last couple week I've been making a handful after dinner. It's simple sewing that has great results. I'll likely keep working on these because these little pieces of made fabric make me happy.

Charity Quilting

Pinwheels are such fun! Pieced by Mary.

Sometimes a panel is perfect!

This is the stack of quilted quilts I dropped off last Saturday with Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2019.

2019 Charity Quilt Count: 50

Cranked Socks

It's been a couple weeks without any socks. This post will be full of them. These were made with Corrie Sock SW Wool/Nylon from Flying Goat Farm. The colorway is Fire Opal.

These were made using a sock kit from Brediculous Yarns. I'm head over heels for sock kits right now. I made the heel by switching to the contrast yarn a couple rows before the heel turn, then continuing a couple rows after the heel was completed. I think this will work great for striped socks, too.

This pair was made with a fun colorway called Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey from into the whirled. I have more than a few skeins of their yarn destined to become great socks.

These were made with Vesper Sock from Knitterly Things. I just found out they offer a sock yarn of the month club. That's something I'm interested in.

This pair of shorties was made using less than 50 grams of Knit Picks Stroll. This is an older colorway that is no longer available.

Finally, I used up the rest of the Vesper sock yarn from Knitterly Things paired with some Knit Picks stroll for contrast cuff and toes. I think these are pretty awesome, too.

I finally finished the toes on my second pair of hybrid socks. I'm not certain I'm a huge fan of the afterthought heels, but I do like the finished socks.

2019 sock knitting count:

• Cranked socks: 17 pair (no odd socks)
• Hybrid socks: 2 pair (partially cranked and partially hand-knit) 
• Hand knit socks: 1 pair

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Medium Sock Blockers

Clover Locking Stitch Markers

Fiskars student scissors
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader 

Clear bag

Parks Board Game

A couple times a year I back a board game Kickstarter. I like seeing these new games get off the ground with crowd funding. Parks was one that interested me enough to put down my money. I wasn't alone. Over 9000 people joined in raising over $400,000 to make the game come to life. 

The game supports 1-5 players. That's right, you can even play it solo. The art is beautiful. The game play is easy enough to pick up in the first round. Travel the national parks and take photos. I can't wait to share this one with my friends on gamenight. 

You can check out Keymaster Games on their website.

Want to get your own copy? While the Kickstarter campaign is over, that doesn't mean the game isn't available. You can get your own copy of Parks on Amazon (affiliate link). At publication the game was still at pre-order, but that won't last forever.

Charity Quilting

Panels are always great for a quick charity quilt. 

Foundation pieced strips helps keep everything straight! Pieced by Mary. I love working with the wonderful members of Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

If you want to contribute but don't have the time or skills, you can support the national Quilts for Kids by shopping through Amazon Smile. I don't earn anything from this link. This link lets your purchases support Quilts for Kids through Amazon. I don't add affiliate links to my charity quit posts on purpose. 

Here is the EpochConverter for 2019.

2019 Charity Quilt Count: 48

Peacock Petals Crochet

The rows seem to take so long to complete, now.

This one was just after I finished row 51. I love how this is working up. The color changes are coming quickly, now.

Free pattern: Peacock Petals Shawl

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Fan Embroidery

String Theory Fabric Art has some fun fan embroidery designs. This is just one of them. I wanted to stitch up some fun, small, Star Wars themed gifts. The clear vinyl on the back lets you store that ID or other card in style!

Rebel ID badge holder

Imperial symbol ID badge holder

If you see an embroidery design you are interested in, but don't have an embroidery machine, feel free to send me an email and I can work with you. Email contact form on the sidebar. The holiday season will be here before you know it!

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Badge Clips
Retractable Badge Holder Reel
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 4-inch Curved Craft Scissors
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear