Wednesday, November 6, 2013

What's on the Needles Wednesday

In anticipation of Season 4 of "Downton Abbey," I've been watching seasons 1-3 on DVD.Since I've seen all the episodes multiple times, this allows for lots of knitting time!

I started this sweater ages ago and had all the parts knitted and blocked for about two years. When I spent the weekend at Mary's cabin, I started sewing it together. Because it has a hem on the bottom and the sleeves that has to be turned up and stitched down, a button band and and a neckband -- it too longer to do the finishing than to knit the sweaters. And the buttons have gone missing. But the Shetland wool in Sunglo coral is lovely!


I've knit three cowls and have another started. This one is "Downtown," a variation of the Downton Cowl by Shannon Cook. It's knit with the Madelinetosh DK "Cousteau" that Elder Son gave me for my birthday last year. I made mine longer than the pattern because I like to wrap my cowls twice and still have them not be too tight around the neck.

This is Stephen West's  "Purl Ridge Scarf" knit with Cascade 220 Paint. It's not quite the raspberry color it shows in this photo, but it is a gorgeous purple variegated.


This is another cowl knit with Madelinetosk DK, this time the colorway is "Filigree." It is a variation on "Waves of Grain" from the new Scarf Style 2 book by Ann Budd.





I had two skeins of Mini Mochi worsted and made this neckwarmer -- of course, I tossed the pattern as soon as I finished it and can't remember the name of the pattern!



But if you belong to Ravelry, there are lots of similar neckwarmers there!







I also started a purple sweater for my "Japan Wardrobe." This is "Uma," pattern by Bonnie Marie Burns for Chic Knits. The yarn is Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino Aran, Merino, Microfibre and Cashmere. Yummy to knit with and once I figured out the unusual  top-down construction, a fast knit!


Linking up to Tami's Amis Work in Progress Wednesday.

Join us!

With the length of my Quilty To-Do list this month, I need to turn off the TV and get back to the sewing machine!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, November 4, 2013

BOM-day

It's the first Monday of the month, and that means it's Block of the Month Day!

After just about killing myself last month getting caught up on BOMs, I am determined not to get that far behind again! So this weekend, I made all the BOMs for which I already have the fabric.

First, the easiest one. It's the 2013 Patchwork Party block. This year, the blocks are laser-cut and ready to sew when they come in the mail. What a great idea!

This month's block is from Fabric Essentials:


Yes, the edges of the pieces look a little "singed." That's a result of the laser used to cut the fabric, but not to worry, it's all hidden in the seam.

Next up, the other two Patchwork Party blocks. The one on the left is from 2010 and the one on the right is from 2012. Both blocks are the same design, "Waring Square."


Both the 2010 and 2012 Patchwork Parties use Marti Michell's templates. One of the block parties at Ruth's Stitchery next year will also use Marti Michell's templates -- I can't wait to see what it is!

I have only one more block to make for my Amish With a Twist quilt. Here is "Hole in the Barn Door."


I decided I don't want to use black for the background -- too predictable! I saw a customer buy some lovely aubergine Northcott solid fabric at the shop the other day, maybe my background should be purple!

I'm plugging away at my 3D Patchwork Sampler blocks. I really should place my hand in the photo to show how small these blocks are! Each pinwheel finishes at 4"!


It takes the better part of a day to make one month's worth of these tiny blocks, but they are so worth it!

Last but not least, four more Farmer's Wife blocks:


Clockwise, from upper left, Block #95, Temperance Tree; Block #63, Ozark Maple Leaf; Block #53, Jackknife; and Block #24, Country Path.  Only four more blocks in this quilt, woo hoo!

Linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.



I have quite a list of "Quilt To-Dos" for November. What's on your list this month?

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Scrap Basket Sunday

It's been awhile since I've dug through the scrap boxes on a Sunday.

Thanks to Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville, I spent an enjoyable afternoon digging through my scraps today looking for fabrics for Bonnie's next mystery quilt! Each autumn, Bonnie hosts a Mystery QAL  on her blog. I swore to myself I wouldn't start this year's scrappy mystery, as I have yet to complete last year's "Easy Street."

That was fine, until I saw the colors Bonnie has selected for this year!  All my favorites! Orange, yellow, green and blue. She's calling the quilt "Celtic Solstice."  Here are my fabrics for this project:


I think I was the first person at my local Lowe's picking through the Olympic paint chips. Here is Bonnie's photo of the paint chips:
CelticSolstice 009

Not surprisingly, I had enough of the blues and greens that I didn't need to buy any extra.


But I was short on orange, and I'm still not sure these are the best match to the color cards:


Bonnie recommends "shirtings" for the background. Hooray, I will have to shop for more of those!

Linking up to Kim's Big Quilting Adventure Scrap Basket Sunday.

Scrap Basket Sunday

The first clue for Celtic Solstice goes "live" on Friday, November 29. Good thing I don't shop that day, because I'll be busy cutting and sewing my "Celtic Solstice!"




From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Friday, November 1, 2013

October UFO Parade

Eeeep! Can you believe it's already November? That means only two more UFO projects to challenge!

The number for November is:
Here is my own challenge for November, "Dresden Blooms." The pattern is from Cozy Quilts. It's anothe rof my "1930s Reproductions" projects. And it was quilt #44 for 2013!


I received the first entry for the October parade early in the month from Carol. She lives in Idaho in the summer, and Arizona in the winter. I met Carol years ago when I went to Granny's Attic Quilting in the Pines Retreat. Here's what Carol says about her quilt:
This picture is of a 2008 Thimbleberries project.  I am finally getting caught up with all the years of club projects.  Now I have to get them quilted.  There are 10 tops ready to sandwich and quilt. 




Love this one, Carol! Maybe the 2014 UFO challenge should be "quilting and binding!" I really missed being with you all at quilt camp!

Look at this adorable entry from Sandi. She calls it "Kindergarten."


And reports:
The stripe really makes this little quilt sing.  I was so happy it was the smaller one of the three UFOs that remained for 2013. Little School Girl designed by Lori Smith is a pattern I picked up at Quilters Coop in Temecula during the annual outdoor quilt show that is held each October.  The year the pattern came home with me was 2011.  Pattern is in Lori's Q is for Quilt series.  www.frommyheartoyourhands.com.
Sandi blogged this quilt at KwiltnKats here. Be sure to go to her post, because she reviews all her 13 in 2013 finishes so far!

Deb's October finish is a design that is dear to my heart --  Jacob's Ladder, this one from Thimbleberries.


Deb writes:
My year of FINISH has been a good one (this is UFO Finish #47 for 2013) and I'm hoping to end the year with less than 25 UFOs in my Collection so I'll be doing lots of quilting through the end of December!
You're ahead of me, Deb! I've only pieced 46 tops so far this year!

Debra finished her Sunbonnet Sue! Everybody cheer! I know a lot of us have a Sunbonnet in our "UFO stash," so this is a BIG finish. I have to show all three photos, because this quilt is just too big to fit in one photo!



Look at Debra's great embroidery!


Plus, here is Debra's "13th Finish." Debra tells us:
I have also sent over a picture of a quilt I started in September 2013 with Sandi Delman (www.kwiltnkats.com). It is a Buggy Barn original and is called "If the Hat Fits". Of course I had to make one of my witches wearing her beautiful "ruby slippers".


Since I live on "Oz Court," Debra, I really should add this quilt to my "bucket list!"

Here is a quilt from a 13 in 2013 "newbie" (at least I think newbie),  Donna. See, I told you it's OK to join in at any point!


Read what Donna writes about this quilt:
Recently finished (October 4, 2013) queen-sized quilt "Labyrinth" from Keepsake Quilting for my son and soon to be daughter-in-law.  First time working with batiks, and I really liked them! Machine pieced, hand quilted.
I love how she just drops in that "hand quilted." This is a queen-sized quilt, people! Very impressive, Donna!

Only six entries this month, but wow! what a group of finishes!  I have a copy of Quiltmaker magazine's new book, "Devoted to Scraps" to send to


That would be Deb S. Congratulations, Deb! Please send me your postal address and I'll send the book to you.



I count 127 finishes so far this year! And that doesn't include my own (I don't count me for the giveaways!). Wow! What do you think we should do next year? I'm thinking maybe a "BOM Finish" (what, you don't have 12 BOMs underway?). Or maybe a "quilt and bind" finish. Or perhaps just a "12 Finishes" finish.

A late entry!

I missed this email from Martha. She reports it uses a new "zig zag" tool. As soon as I find out who makes, it, I'll feature it on a Tuesday tool!




Hope to see your quilt here on December 1!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature