Flower Garden

This beauty of a quilt was created by a new quilter. This is the second quilt I've quilted for her. You can see the first one in this blog post from April. 

She chose the fabrics and design.

She also picked out the thread and the quilting motif. 

I quilted this beauty in an afternoon. 

Now I will box it up and send it back to her. I hope she loves the results as much as I do.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Fiskars micro-tip 5" scissors

Cranked Socks

Last week I cranked up this pair using Uneek Sock by Urth Yarns. I purchased this yarn locally from Cloverhill Yarn Shop in Catonsville, MD. I loved the many colorways of Uneek Sock so I picked one with purple and that was it. The colors are amazing. I still need to kitchener the toes closed but these are going to be great!

I finally caved in and bought the 72 needle cylinder for my circular sock machine. It's been on my mind for a while. I ordered it, marked the needle positions and loaded it up. The machine was overdue to for a cleaning, so it was a good time to pull out the 64 needle cylinder and clean it. I know I keep saying I'm going to share some tool tips for the circular sock machine, and I will, one of these days. The good news is, when you order a cylinder it comes pretty quickly. Nothing like the lead time on a new machine.

2019 sock knitting count:

• Cranked socks: 23 pair (no odd socks)
• Hybrid socks: 2 pair (partially cranked and partially hand-knit) 
• Hand knit socks: 1 pair

Charity Quilting

This fun top was pieced by another member of the 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: 56

Modern Quilting

Michael Miller Fabrics donated some fabric to the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild to help with our charitable quilt-making. I picked up a bundle of fabric at the last meeting and I finally pulled it out to come up with a plan.

This border print is super cute and deserved to be highlighted. I did some measuring and decided on a layout. I worked up a design in Electric Quilt, pulled fabrics from my collection to make up the top, and got cutting.

I'm not sure how modern this quilt is. It uses traditional blocks, but modern fabrics.

Here is the layout I settled on.

I've got the backing and binding ready to go. Now I just need to get it quilted.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Easy Angle Ruler, 6.5" 

Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White
Electric Quilt

Cranked Socks

Time for another sock update.

I've been meaning to add to my sock machine workbench for a while now. I finally picked up the right materials and fashioned a panel to put on the workbench. This was a precut piece of lumber from the local home improvement warehouse. I had the 1x3 stock leftover from another project. I clued the small stock onto the back of the board, clamping until dry. This piece won't be moved about very often, so adding another physical fastener (such as nails or screws) wasn't necessary. 

Then I adjusted my workbench (Black and Decker adjustable project center) to accommodate the new piece and cranked it in. Now I have so much more space and I don't feel like I'm going to knock stuff off of it.

I've been cranking a couple socks here and there over the last few weeks. Here is a 4-sock train I did a couple weeks ago. 

This is Cascade Wave. It is a fun twist that shifts colors. It was a lonely skein in the discount pile of the local knit shop and I love the resulting socks. 

Colorful Knit Picks. I bought so much of this and it is taking forever to work through it. 

I picked up some Regia Pairfect from a local knit shop because I wanted to give it a try. These were great on the sock machine. They knit up perfectly the first try. Definitely see more of this in my future. 

This pair was made with some leftover Knit Picks Felici and leftover Firefly Fibers for heels and toes. Another fun finish. I need to shift gears and start knitting socks for mid-winter giving. People don't know how amazing hand-knit (even with a circular sock machine) socks really are.

2019 sock knitting count:

• Cranked socks: 22 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

Black and Decker adjustable project center

Witchy!

When Sew Desu Ne? released this witch hat pattern last month I had to buy it.

I went to the big box fabric store to pick up the materials for my witch had and came home with so much more. All those sales paid off, though. I walked out spending only $30. 

This foam was in the remnants bin and just want I wanted to make my hat. 

The Halloween costume fabrics were on sale and this fabric just screamed witch/wizard hat to me. 

I was concerned I was making it too small, but it turned out just right. 

Finished in an afternoon. Now the kids will know where to find the candy come All Hallows Eve. I might have enough left over to make another one.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Multipurpose sewing clips
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron

Fall Cleaning

I've been looking at the front of the travel trailer and thinking how shabby it looks. I convinced Darling Husband to try out an outdoor cleaner. 

So much better! Although, now it is the end of the season and it is unlikely we'll be hitting the road anytime soon. At least it looks nice in the drive.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Mr. Clean Outdoor Cleaner
Lynx Levelers 10-pack

Peacock Petals Finish!

The last rounds of this beautiful shawl were slow going. Peacock Petals Shawl pattern is free. 

When it was done I put it over my exercise ball so I could get a feel for the resulting fabric. 

I knew it was going to be a monster to block, but wet blocking was the best choice to get that lace to open up.

Here it is blocked. This is why I love wet blocking knit and crochet projects. It lets the lace shine.

This one is all about looks because it is too light and lacy to offer any warmth. 

It is a wonderful thing. Now I just have to figure out who on my holiday gift list is the right person for it.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Crocheting Along

I've almost finished my Peacock Petals Shawl. Once I get it blocked I'll share it in full.

I needed a new project, so I grabbed this cake made with several balls of Knit Picks Chroma worsted. 

I got hooking using a free pattern on Ravelry called Raspberry Croissant Shawl. 

I've been working on it for a few nights and I really like how it's turning out. I'm not even close to done with this one and I'm already thinking about my next. That's short-attention-span crafting!

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

Vinyl Project Pouch

The Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild had their annual retreat this past weekend. I didn't have the time to attend but I did join in through social media. One of the prompts was to make the retreat project: a vinyl project pouch using a free pattern available on Moda Bake Shop designed by Kristine of Center Street Quilts. I'm in mood for things of the season, so I grabbed my box of Halloween fabrics to see what I could come up with. 

I had some leftover 3.5" squares of Alexander Henry Ghastlies fabric. I cut some contrast and stitched them up into a simple grid.  

I also pulled out a practice bee block from a bee I participated in a while back. This is free bee block called Alpine available from Blossom Heart Quilts. I've made this block a couple times for bees and I don't know that I've ever seen a finished quilt made with them. 

With all the other things I had to do this weekend, it wasn't until the afternoon of the last day of the retreat that I finished my pouches. Clear vinyl on the zipper side is a nice touch. I added the handles because I need handles. 

It was fun to join in, if only for a little while.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Multipurpose sewing clips
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron

Zippers from ZipIt Zippers

Framed!

Since I picked up such great art at the Crafty D.C. Festival I had to buy some frames so I could display that art. I picked up this fabulous print from Jen of Zooguu. All the frames on Amazon had white mats so I had to pick up a black on locally.

I had never attached a print to a mat before, so I did a little research on YouTube and found a great video that really had way more content than I needed. It did give me some tips to get me started, though.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

Since I was on a roll, I grabbed my other two prints. These are so much fun!

I even added the Alternate Histories info to the back.

I'm overly proud of this and I didn't even work very hard. Darling Husband helped me hang them.


Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
11" x 14" frame with white mat
11" x 17" black poster frame
Hardwood Roller
Scotch Magic Tape

Local supplies:
Elmer's School Glue
Black 11" x 14" mat (8" by 10" opening) (it is possible to buy black mats from Amazon, but you have to buy ten at a time)

Quest for Pockets

I've been known to say "what people really want is pocket equality." What is pocket equality? There are more than a few articles written about pocket inequality. Here is one that shows sizes and compares the pockets in women's and men's pants. It is interesting, and somewhat baffling, why there is so much disparity. What I do about it is carry a purse that fits all the things I want/need to carry. Most of the time it is way more stuff than I really want to carry, but I don't carry a handbag every day of the week.

This past week, I decided to hack a free pattern to have long straight lines, and pockets big enough to carry a kitten, or two. In January I shared a fleece vest I made using a Purl Soho pattern (Quilted Wool Vest). Purl Soho has loads of free patterns and other great stuff. Check them out if have time.

I decided to use bias binding since my fabric is a fun stripe.

It took some creative pattern layout to get all the pieces cut from less than two yards of fabric. I did it, though. All of the seams are completely finished. Either with the lined yoke, French seams, or bias binding. A very nice piece if I have to say so myself.

I should have cut the back yoke with the stripes going the other way, but by the time I thought about it I had already cut the other pieces and there just wasn't a piece big enough. I used a quilting cotton for the yoke lining and the facing on the pockets. I think this helps stabilize the somewhat shifty fashion fabric.

Overall, it is a great project. It fits and it has pockets. I'll have to wear it to see what changes I would like to make, but I think it's spot on.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
1" grid paper
Clover Bias Tape Maker