A Very Special Blog Post -- And a Giveaway!

Most of you know my younger son and blog co-editor, aka My Little Sailor, is a member of the US Navy. He's assigned to the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier currently underway "somewhere" in the Western Pacific. Although the DH and I are both former US Air Force members, we're all about Navy nowadays.

Which is why I'm writing this Very Special Blog Post.

What's it All About?

A group of knitters join together each year to knit hats for US Navy Sailors.

Here is the description of the group, from Ravelry:

We are providing hand-knitted and crocheted hats for sailors in the US Navy one ship at a time. It all started with Shanti who writes the blog Adventures in Paradise and had the idea to provide a handmade hat to every sailor serving on the ship she would be commanding. Lynne, her mom, made that idea a reality with the help of knitters and crocheters from all over the world. We continue to knit and crochet hats for sailors on other ships. It is cold on the ships and they can wear the hats when they are off duty.

This is the second year I've knit hats for the HFS group. During 2012, I knit 16 hats in 16 days for the Ravellenics challenge:

This year I've knit 20 hats, so I get to put the "20 Hats for Sailors" badge on my Ravelry page.

Our group moderator has put out a call for nominations for ships to receive hats this year. I've nominated the USS Nebraska SSBN-739, a Ballistic Missile Submarine. Submarines are called "the silent service," unsung heroes who keep a lot of bad things from happening. The husband of my niece was formerly assigned to this ship, although he's currently on shore duty.

US Navy photo by PH3 Christian Viera

The Important Part

So far this year, we've only knit about 250 hats. Both crews on the USS Nebraska total more than 300 Sailors (and yes, women can now serve on subs!).

If you're a knitter, won't you consider knitting a hat for a US Navy Sailor?

Hats are fast and easy to knit -- Ravelry.com has lots of free patterns! Here are the guidelines for the hats:

The color and design of the hat are the choice of the knitter/crocheter, but ALL HATS MUST BE 100% WASHABLE WOOL. Both men and women serve on the ships. We have two deadlines each year - Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. If you have questions about the project or want to know where to send the hats, email us at HatsforSailors@gmail.com. You can also read our blog at Hats for Sailors.

The Giveaway

Since the first comment on this post asks about what yarn to use, I've decided to add a giveaway! The first TEN readers who comment and agree to knit a hat for a sailor will receive a skein of superwash wool from me -- in their choice of colors! You can either send the completed hat back to me, or email HatsforSailors@gmail.com for a mailing address.

I hope you'll knit a hat -- or hats! -- for a Sailor. Even if the Nebraska isn't the receiving ship this year!


From the desk of your

September UFO Parade

Can you believe we're onto our 10th finish for 2013? Not a lot of finishes this month, but some really great surprises!

First, because I've already been asked, the October UFO project to work on is lucky

According to National Public Radio, "7" is the most commonly chosen favorite number.

My #7 project is another oldie-but-goodie, a Dresden Plate project from 2004 by Quiltin' Tia for Cozy Strip Club. Almost ten years ago! I have one "bloom" made.

Here is a photo of the pattern cover:

This is another project from my "30s Reproductions" phase. I can't believe how many 30s repros projects I still have in the UFO bin!

And now for some September finishes.  Here's mine:

The pattern is "Cobblestone Road," by Daniela Stout of Cozy Quilts. The fabric is Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket for Moda. I won a fat quarter bundle of this fabric in the very first Schnibbles Parade I entered. The pattern was "Doc." Here is a photo from May of 2012:

I owe a lot to Sinta and Sherri. Not only did they introduce me to Schnibbles, but their Schnibbles Parade is the model for our very own "UFO Parade." I didn't want to host a regular "linky party," because so many of my readers are not bloggers. Thanks, Sinta and Sherri!

OK, have I teased you long enough? Is that a band I hear? Here comes the Parade!

Susan in Brisbane sent the first entry. I love this design to show off a large print:

Very appropriate, since it's spring in Australia! Susan blogged this finish here. She adds: The Pattern name is Flower Box and is available from Logan’s Patchwork in Sydney and the web address is: http://www.patchworkfabrics.com.au/

Karen has two finishes to share this month. First is her "extra credit" for 2013, a Christmas Mystery. She reports "It's a mystery which online site the mystery comes from. I can't remember!" Maybe one of our readers made the same quilt and can comment on the pattern name and source.

How perfect is it that Karen's #6 project was "Monster Bash?" I love these fabrics, Karen! Karen blogs at Stitching Circle.

I love that two quilters finished the same design this month -- first up, Sandi's "KampKastles." Because, you know, all of Sandi's kwilt names begin with "k!"

I have to share Sandi's story about this quilt.

Cute name don’t you think that my sister came up with?  This was a class given at Cozy Quilt Shop in El Cajon, CA.  It was a two session class that happened to be on a weeknight.  No can do when the shop is over an hour from my workplace.  Excitedly I was able to get the pattern to make it on my own...although in the company of others would have been more fun.  Besides that the instructor could have opened me up to some special trick or technique new to me.  Classes are a good thing to partake if you can.  I only purchased the brown sashing and green inner border; all other fabrics from my batik stash!  The project finishes at 22" x 37".  Design by Renee Peterson called Jeweled Forest featured in McCall’s Quilting November/December 2009.

Sandi included a link to all her 2013 UFO Challenges finishes. Wow!

Debra also finished "Jeweled Forest."

Had to laugh when I read Deb's comment:

Only 3 more to go and one extra credit - yippee!!!  I'm bustin' my butt to get things done. I am very happy I am able to keep up as well as I do - I seem to get side-tracked so easily (don't we all, smile, smile).

And although Kerry finished her "Jeweled Forest" last month, I thought it would be fun to parade "through the forest."

Isn't it fun to see how different each is, even though they are all made from the same pattern, and all made with batiks?

Noela has a clever idea. She made this quilt to go on top of the chest freezer in her laundry. So much more attractive than a big square of white metal, don't you think?

Carol reports she is now "all caught up," with two finishes this month. First, these darling tea towels:

I absolutely adore hand-embroidered tea towels, don't you? I collect "day of the week" tea towels, and it always makes me smile when I pull one out of the drawer.

Her second finish is actually July's "assignment." See those leaves? They continue all around the quilt, and the blanket stitching was done by hand! 

Oh, yeah, Carol, that one is worth waiting for!

I got all my "September Quilts" crossed off the list, plus I made 90 blocks for my "Block a Day" Challenge.

See that number at the bottom? I've pieced 43 quilts so far this year -- only nine more to go to make 2013 the third year of 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks!

I didn't do as well keeping up with the BOMs, though. Since I don't have a Scrap Squad quilt to make this month, nor a Jelly Roll Party sample, maybe I'll make "getting caught up on those BOMs" my goal for October!

Oh yeah. The UFO Parade Giveaway! Only eight entries this month -- and the Random Number Generator chooses:

Quilter #4 -- Sandi! And she hasn't won the giveaway before. This is why I love randomness! Sandi, send me your postal address and I'll chose something fun to send you. Maybe I can find something that begins with a "k!"

What's your favorite number? Plus, I hope you'll come back tomorrow for an extra-special post!

From the desk of your

UFO Finish Call

Tomorrow is October 1! Rabbit Rabbit Day, as well as the September UFO Parade day.

Here is an "old finish" to get you in the mood.

Be sure to send me a photo of the UFO you finished this month!

From the desk of your

Friday UFO Finish

Well, it's not the best photo -- but the top is pieced, and that's what counts, right?

The wind is blowing too hard to take a photo outside, so I hung the flimsy over the bedroom window. I'll try another photo when the sun goes behind the mountain, and see if the fabric shows up better.

In the meanwhile, here is my September 13 in 2013 UFO Challenge. The pattern is "Cobblestone Road," by Daniela Stout of Cozy Quilts. The fabric is Circa 1934 by Cosmo Cricket for Moda.

Linking up to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

And Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday, hosted this week by Megan at Cherry Valley Designs.

It's the last Friday of the month -- I think that calls for a celebration! Enjoy the weekend!


From the desk of your

Thursday on the Wall

I spent WIP Wednesday delivering hazardous materials (paint and motor oil) to the recycling center, so here is what's on the wall this week.

It's the sample for November's Jelly Roll Party at Ruth's Stitchery. I had a little trouble with the pattern, but once I basically re-wrote it to work with my jelly roll, it's going pretty fast. The pattern is "Mirror Mirror" from A Quilter's Dream, and the fabric is "Little Black Dress" from Basic Grey for Moda. I'm excited to see how it looks with the remaining blocks, but first I have to finish my Quiltmaker's Scrap Squad quilt and write the blog post.

Since I can't show you the quilt until it appears on the blog next Friday, I'll give you a sneak peek of the lovely quilting done by Cornelia:

If you're a PBS fan, you probably already know a new season of "Foyle's War" has launched on public television. I always TiVO Masterpiece Mystery, so I can watch it twice. Each episode equals enough knitting time to finish one hat for Hats for Sailors. Here's the first two of the season:

Isn't this yarn great? It's a custom hand-dyed yarn from Sunrise Fiber Co. The colorway is called "Freedom" -- perfect for US Navy sailors, don't you think?

This had is made from the Liberty Wool I won in a Hats for Sailors Giveaway. The colors didn't photograph very well, the cast-on edge and the very top is really a soft olive green. If you're a knitter, go to the HFS website to take a look at the incredible giveaways being offered for the next round of knitting!

I've only received one entry for the September UFO parade so far -- I hope you're sewing away on your #6 UFO!

From the desk of your

Selfish Sewing Week: I Can Do It!

When I first read about "Selfish Sewing Week" on Rachael's "imagine gnats" blog, I thought, "Oh yeah, what a great idea!"

Now the week is here, and I had no idea what to sew for myself when I realized "today is the day!" I'm totally on board with the glass of wine, but since I give away 99% of the quilts, bags, mug rugs, etc. I make, I had no idea what to make for ME!

Luckily, Debbie listed her goals for the week, and one is a new bag. I have two test-sew bags in the queue, so I don't want to make a new bag. But wait a minute -- there IS that "Sweet Retreat" bag I started at Quilting in the Pines two, maybe three years ago. I know it's in a plastic bin -- where is it?

Found it, hiding under My Little Sailor's loom, covered with dust. See?

When I pull it out, I realize it isn't far from finished:

I even have the binding made.

The pattern calls for 6-8" gussets on each side, but I think I'll alter it to be nearly flat. I want it to carry my big cutting mat and junior size Sew Steady table, plus maybe a ruler or two.

If you want to make one, too, here is the link to Whistlepig Creek Productions.

Now, if it just weren't 7:55 am, I could pour that glass of wine and get to work on my Selfish Sewing project!

From the desk of your

Last Summer Saturday

Yep, summer officially ends tomorrow! I'm sure I'm not the only Coloradoan who will be glad to bid farewell to this summer -- from fires to floods, we've about had enough this summer!

To celebrate, the DH and I are going to farmers' markets today. So I'll post just a quick glimpse of what's going on in My Happy Place.

At quilting class on Wednesday, Cathy shared the clever idea of making a "mini" design wall from a foam core board and flannel.  I didn't have any foam core at home, but I had an old, worn-out June Tailor reversible cutting mat and pressing board. And some fusible fleece. Et voila:

A mini design wall that fits perfectly on my sewing table!

I really need it for the Jelly Roll Party Sample I am making for the November class. The pattern is "Mirror Mirror" by A Quilters Dream. 

The pattern is a little sketchy on details, so I worked out my own cutting directions. The fabric is Basic Grey's "Little Black Dress," which DH picked out at Sew-ciety in Castle Rock. After the farmers' markets, we'll scoot up to Castle Rock, where I'm hoping the shop will have some yardage from this collection for a binding.

In case these photos are a little dull, here's a photo of the DH's running shirts. Aren't the colors great? I think I'll make a modern quilt from all solids using this collection of bright colors!

Happy autumnal equinox to those in the Northern Hemisphere and happy September equinox in the Southern Hemisphere!

From the desk of your