Cranky Socks

More than a few times I've come across proud makers of heel-tab socks. I decided I should give it a try.

I started with this video by Jamie Mayfield. I generally have a rule about weeknight knitting. The rule is I don't knit on worknights. Why? you may ask. Because I have used up most of my attention and focus by dinner time and end up making too many mistakes. This pair of socks was no different. I got to the heel of the second sock and realized I had forgotten to hang the hem. I just cut the yarn and cranked the mistake off and started over. I'll sort out what to do with my mistake another time. 

I think I miscalculated how many rows I should knit for the foot after the deep heel. Or, more accurately, I failed to take into account how much longer that deep heel makes the sock. Oh, well. I will sort that out another time, too. Maybe they will shrink up with some rest. Here they are, my first heel-tab shorties. 

Pairs of socks knit in 2022: 11

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Knitter's Pride Aqua Sock Blockers, Medium

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

What Makes Prom

Part Two

I always forget how much there is to garment sewing. The interfacing. 

The darts. 

The top-stitching. 

The pockets (these aren't real pockets). I love this fabric. It is subtle and amazing at the same time. 

The standing back and admiring an almost finished vest. At this point it still needs button holes, buttons, some lining finishing stitches. You know, little details. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Crochet Crazy

I'm continuing to progress on my crochet hexagon blanket. I'm not planning much, just grabbing and attaching the next hexagon. I'm loving it so far. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Crochet Crazy

It was finally time I grabbed my bag full of crocheted hexagons and started stitching them together. 

I don't have a plan for these. I'm just grabbing one from the bag and joining it to the others. That means I don't know how big this thing will get. I like creative surprises. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

What Makes Prom

What does one do when asked to help out with the prom project? One goes with it. I grabbed some fabrics from my collection and a pattern and got busy with a simple wearable muslin. This is the only simple part of this project. 

Embroider some butterflies on organza (which I had in a box for some reason). This design is Whimsical Butterfly from Urban Threads. 

And do some shopping for suitable fabrics. This wonderful rose embossed fabric for the vest. 

Add some chiffon and butterflies on fine tulle and I was ready to go. Bringing a fashion vision to life is a challenge and I hope I don't miss the mark. This photo looks mostly gray but it is black butterfly tulle hung over navy chiffon. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle Fiskars Rotary Cutter

Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Dritz Craft Pins, 1-3/4-Inch (250-Count)

Charity Quilting

I really like these stacked blocks. So simple yet effective. 

Both were pieced by members of  Annapolis Quilts for Kids. I will hand them over for binding at the next meeting. 

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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

My personal goal is to quilt at least one quilt per week throughout the year. To that end, check out the EpochConverter for 2022 to see how I'm stacking up.

2022 Charity Quilt Count: 32

Charity Quilting

Both of these fun quilts were pieced by Mary for Annapolis Quilts for Kids. Many novelty prints make for fun quilts. 

I will hand these back to Mary at the next Annapolis Quilts for Kids meeting so she can attach the binding. 

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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

My personal goal is to quilt at least one quilt per week throughout the year. To that end, check out the EpochConverter for 2022 to see how I'm stacking up.

2022 Charity Quilt Count: 30

Cranky Socks

This was a sort of challenge. Since I usually buy a single ball of Knit Picks Felici I have to get creative with contract cuffs, heels, and toes to make that single 50 gram ball into a pair of socks. For this, Knit Picks Stroll is perfect. I've also used their Stroll Tonal as a coordinating/contrast yarn. 

These turned out great! I used the entire ball of Felici. It was a fun experiment. I should write down some notes so I can replicate the process.  

Pairs of socks knit in 2022: 10

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Knitter's Pride Aqua Sock Blockers, Medium

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Charity Quilting

I've been making great progress on quilting these little quilts for Annapolis Quilts for Kids. 

This one was pieced by Trudy. 

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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

My personal goal is to quilt at least one quilt per week throughout the year. To that end, check out the EpochConverter for 2022 to see how I'm stacking up.

2022 Charity Quilt Count: 28

Charity Quilting

I've been squeezing in some quilting in the evening on these little quilts. 

This one is made with some pretty fun flannel fabrics. 

The basic quilt is always perfect. Both of these were pieced by other 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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

My personal goal is to quilt at least one quilt per week throughout the year. To that end, check out the EpochConverter for 2022 to see how I'm stacking up.

2022 Charity Quilt Count: 26

Charity Quilting

I've been making these little 4-patch blocks using leftovers for a while now. I combined them with some 4.5" squares to piece a top for Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

This is a great way to use of some of the fabrics left over from other quilts. The border holds it all together. I will add this one to quilt count once I get it quilted and ready for binding. 

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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

Charity Quilting

Sunday morning I picked up a bag of quilt tops and backings from Annapolis Quilts for Kids. It's good have little quilts to work on. 

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. I donate my time, my machine, my thread, and my skill to the cause. 

My personal goal is to quilt at least one quilt per week throughout the year. To that end, check out the EpochConverter for 2022 to see how I'm stacking up.

2022 Charity Quilt Count: 24

Crochet Crazy

I've been working on these hexagons for a while. The stack just keeps growing. I finished weaving in the ends for this stack last night. 

At some point they will become a blanket. I'm just not sure when. Soon, is my hope. Do you have any long term projects? 

Those with a keen eye will note this was posted around 6pm and not the earlier time on the post. Because I wrote the post but failed to set the time correctly. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg