Travel Crochet

Last week we went on an adventure. We took the Amtrak from Baltimore to Providence, Rhode Island. I took along this project to give my hands something to do as the north east passed by the window. 

New York City from the train.

On the return trip I finished up the last row with shells. I was then left with my Kindle. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Stinging

A while back I got the crazy idea that I wanted to make some fake wasp nests. I convinced Darling Husband to go with me to the craft store and buy some acrylic yarn in a suitable color. I picked up a pattern on Ravelry, and got stitching. The stitch pattern makes a wonderfully organic shape. 

I stitched and stitched until I could make the decreases. 

I finished the fake wasp nest. It doesn't look much like the pattern sample. Overall, an interesting project. In practice? Well, that is another matter. While I was working on this project, I did a little research and found Ask an Entomologist had already provided an answer. I won't spoil the surprise. Be curious, do random research!

You can find the pattern I used on Ravelry.

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Travel Crochet

Sometimes I need a comfort crochet project. This is one of those projects. We recently traveled to say a last goodbye to a good friend. When you have plenty to think about, a simple project is perfect to occupy your hands. This is a granny triangle shawl made with a Caron Skinny Cake.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Machine Knitting

A friend of min had some Lion Brand Mandala she no longer wanted. She gave it to me and I decided to turn it into hats. This is what it looked like on the machine before I started the decreases for the top of the hat. 

This photo, and the next, are more for me than you. Tension can be a tricky thing for a machine knitter. This is my tension setting on the yarn mast. I almost never change it. I just set it there and leave it alone. 

What I do change, is the stitch length selector. This gives me a big change when forming stitches. This is the setting I use for the body of the hat. I use a slightly smaller setting (4) for the brim. 

Here is an adult hat next to one of the baby hats I've been making. I think these came out great! I'll have to make a stack. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder4

Machine Knitting

Last week I did some machine knitting. I knit up baby hats in yellow. 

I knit up hats in gray. I knit them up in gray and yellow. 

I used up the last of my baby yarn on these nine hats. Such a great little project.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Charity Knitting

I set up my knitting machine this week and managed to make three little newborn hats. These are quick little projects. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Crochet Crazy

This shawl was supposed to be something completely different. 

In the end, it worked out just fine. 

I think it turned out great. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Getting Hexie with It

I'm still working on my hexie flowers. 

Each week I finish a few more. 

Some weeks are more productive than others. I never thought this would be a quick project. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars Rotary Cutter

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

Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors, 5 Inch

Fiskars X-Large Squeeze Punch, Hexagon - this thing turns junk mail into hexie papers!

Flexible Rubber Thimbles

Sewline Water-Soluble Fabric Glue Pen with Refill

Random Qube Blocks

Here we are at the end of week number five. 

This week saw a couple blocks that hadn't made in yet. Like this one. Technically it is a two color block but I used four different prints for the blue. 

I like to use the larger pieces to showcase larger prints. 

Like this one. That rainbow dog fabric is delightful. 

Two yellows!

I love this large flower print. 

Sunflowers. 

I think this is the last large piece of that flower print I've been using as a green. Do you have any long-term projects planned for 2023?

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
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

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

Accuquilt Go! - This is the basic kit that I started with. The cutter, one die, and mat.

Accuquilt Ready. Set. Go! - New to Accuquilt and ready to jump into the Accuquilt Go! with both feet? This is the set for you. It includes the 8 Inch Qube and a strip cutter. 

8 Inch Qube - Already have an Accuquilt Go! and just want to add to your collection of dies? 

Random Qube Blocks

Four weeks of randomly generated blocks on the design wall. 

This block is such a delight. 

Bigger pieces means I can use bigger prints. 

These are just so much fun to put together. 

Look at that fussy-cut treasure map!

I was so excited when this block came up. So different from the rest. It would make a great alternate block.  

Sometimes I put unlikely things together. 

Halfway there!

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
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

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

Accuquilt Go! - This is the basic kit that I started with. The cutter, one die, and mat.

Accuquilt Ready. Set. Go! - New to Accuquilt and ready to jump into the Accuquilt Go! with both feet? This is the set for you. It includes the 8 Inch Qube and a strip cutter. 

8 Inch Qube - Already have an Accuquilt Go! and just want to add to your collection of dies? 

Charity Quilting

Spinning pinwheels pieced by Trudy for Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

Simple blocks pieced by Mary. Both are quilted and ready to head back to Annapolis Quilts for Kids next month. 

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: 101

Felted Slippers

I have this collection of blue yarn perfect for felting. 

I used the LK150 and a video tutorial to make some more slippers

I finished them what seems like ages ago but I didn't wash them to felt them up until recently. Here is how they compare to my earlier experiments. Felting is not very precise and more of an experiment each time I do it. 

They came out great! I still have yarn that will felt so expect to see more of these. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Knitting claw weights (5 each)

Silver Reed LK150

Random Qube Blocks

Week number three!

This week I managed to cut and sew each randomly generated block on the day I rolled it. 

This week I had more than a couple blocks that had doubles. This one had double green. 

This one had double white. 

This one is double yellow. 

Sometimes there is an easy block. The pinwheel is one of those. 

I think this one is my favorite of all the blocks. I could make an entire quilt using just this block. 

I'm going to be able to make some interesting layouts with how many of these I'm getting. 

Here are my three weeks worth of blocks (plus my Sunday block). 

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
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Juki TL-2010Q

Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

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

Accuquilt Go! - This is the basic kit that I started with. The cutter, one die, and mat.

Accuquilt Ready. Set. Go! - New to Accuquilt and ready to jump into the Accuquilt Go! with both feet? This is the set for you. It includes the 8 Inch Qube and a strip cutter. 

8 Inch Qube - Already have an Accuquilt Go! and just want to add to your collection of dies?