divergence

This quilt was a result of one of the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild bee I participated in last year.

I was the queen bee for the month of April, so I guess it is fitting I finished it in April of this year.

I used the same backing for another quilt and liked it. I thought it would be perfect for this quilt. I quilted swirls as an all-over quilting design. The thread is a very light gray, the same light gray I piece with most of the time.

I think the quilting really adds a dimension to the quilt.

Scrappy binding, again. I really like how this one turned out. Look! I even remembered to label the backing before I loaded it onto the frame.

Free foundation paper-piecing pattern I designed for the bee can be found in this blog post. More about my process and how this one came together is in this post from January.

Knitting Update

It seems I am at a loss for what to share with you this fine Friday. So, I will share progress on my three knitting projects.

I finished the sleeves on my ugly sweater. They are a little long, but the fit is snug so length shouldn't be an issue. The pattern is Just the Right Angle (free on Ravelry). 

I picked up some inexpensive acrylic yarn because I can't afford all the self-striping yarn I want to buy. I'm using the Wingspan pattern (paid pattern on Ravelry) to knit up this quick and thick project. I'm holding two strands of worsted together to make a bulky yarn. The garter is so squishy!

Finally, my easily portable project, the Brioche Basic Beanie (free pattern on Ravelry). Sometimes I want a very portable project and hats are perfect for that. 

It wouldn't be April without a a wonderful photo of my orchid in bloom. I'm not sure why it picks April, but this is two years in a row it has bloomed in April. I'm mostly amazed I haven't managed to kill it yet.

What are you knitting?

Charity Quilting

I pieced a couple string block quilts and finally got around to quilting them.

I really like being able to use such small pieces of fabric to make a quilt. So little waste when making string blocks, alternating them with solid blocks helps stabilize the center of the quilt. Once finished, these quilts are headed to the Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

Want to make your own string blocks? Check out Bonnie Hunter's great String Quilting Primer.

2018 Charity Quilt Count: 26

Geeky Bag

While writing this post, I realized I made my last handbag in July 2016. It was time for a new one.

I've had this computer/electronics themed fabric hanging around for a while. I had intended on making a couple geeky knitting project bags, but decided a new purse would be way better. I grabbed my (somewhat questionable) notes on the last bag I made and got busy.

This is my own pattern, designed around the features I like in a bag and more than a few tricks I've learn along the way. I prefer a cross-body bag, with a zippered top and a zippered back pocket. It also has three interior pockets perfectly sized to hold my cellphone, a pack of tissues, and the coffee cozy I carry because the cardboard ones just aren't that great. The adjustable strap is new in this version.

This one isn't as deep as my last one, which I think is an improvement. The strap is slightly wider, as well. The vinyl bottom really makes a difference in the wear the bag can handle.

This bag is on my list to write a pattern for, but pattern writing is so much more work than bag making. Until I can make it without scribbling a dozen more notes, it isn't ready for prime-time anyway. Maybe I just need to make a few more times.