Loving it....

I really LOVE this quilt!!!  I finished piecing the top today.  Now it just needs to be quilted, but I haven't quite decided yet how I want to do that.  Here are a few pictures of the quilt with the chosen backing fabric.  I didn't use a flash to try and capture the actual color.

Here is the backing fabric chosen for the other quilt.  Same issue, I need to decide how to quilt this one.  I'll probably take it down to one of my LQS's for long arm quilting.

This weeks QAL blocks...

Tonight I made the two of the three blocks released this week for the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along.  I'm not sure that I'll be making the third has I'm not fond of applique.

I tried a new technique on the red and white block for making my half square triangle blocks.  I did the method that starts with two squares, sew them, cut them apart and viola! two blocks.  I didn't care for it.  I actually like to cut the individual triangles and sew them together.  I've never had a issue with the bias edge stretching and it just seems easier to me.

 

Now that the little blocks are done for the QAL, I'll concentrate on finishing my purple quilt.  The ladies at my LQS helped me pick out a gorgeous fabric for the back from the Terrain collection by Kate Spain for Moda - LOVE IT!!!

For now though, off to knit on my baby gifts.

One more...

...and now I'm done quilting for the weekend.  Time to curl up in my chair with my knitting and relax before the new work week starts.

This is block #3 for the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along.

Do over

Believe it or not, I was actually dreaming about the little 4" block I made yesterday.  I realized that I goofed and I wasn't completely happy with the block anyway.  This morning I was up early, made some coffee and did the block over.  I also completed block #2.  In block #2 I foundation pieced the mittens.  The rest of the block was to be foundation pieced too, but I just pieced it the old fashioned way.  I really like the mitten block.

Doh!

Today I had a total "DOH!" moment.  Last night I packed up my knitting bag in preparation for Saturday morning knitting with my friends.  I packed my project and the new yarn that came in the mail for "fondling" at knitting.  Well, I get to knitting and realize I don't have my pattern.  I thought for a bit that I could wing it, but that thought passed quickly.  Hoping my DH was still at home I called and asked him to dig through my knitting basket for the pattern.  He finally found it and I had him read the 12 row pattern repeat to me.  I highly recommend, it you ever get the chance to have a man, totally unfamiliar with knitting, read a pattern to you.  It's very amusing.  At least he saved me.

Here's the yarn.  It's from Lisa Souza and is the lace weight.  It's a 2,500 yd skein in the colorway "breath of spring".  I'm planning on using the yarn for the Tread Softly KAL on Ravelry.  I think I should put a movie on as it will probably take awhile to wind this.

This afternoon I started working on the first quilt block for the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along.  There will be 36 blocks released over the next few weeks until Christmas.  The blocks are 12" and since I no longer like to make large quilts, and I really want to try all 36 blocks, I had to change it up a little.  I'm re-working the blocks into 4" blocks.  It's a bit of work and I'm having to scale down some applique and paper-piecing patterns, but when it's all done, I should have a nice little quilt to hang in my craft room during the holidays.

Here's the first block.  I'm not quite sure if I'm happy with the basket applique.  I'm kinda of "meh" about it.

Ta-da!

I started designing and piecing this quilt back in June 2008.  However, life got in the way and my quilting went to the wayside.  Now that I have a dedicated area to spend time in and create, I managed to finishing piecing most of the top.  I now need to dig in my stash to find the fabric that I bought as the backing.

Today I also selected some fabrics to use for the Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along.  Amazingly enough, I barely have any Christmas fabric in my stash.  I hope to make the first three blocks this weekend.

Another quilt top pieced together

Today I finished piecing my challenge quilt top.  I fussy cut the borders to make sure the flowers all went in the same direction.  Overall, I'm very happy with the quilt!  I think I'll call it "Garden Windows".  I really like the main fabric from the "Isabella" collection by Riley Blake Designs.  Fortunately, I don't have enough fabric for the backing or binding so I'll HAVE to make another trip to the quilt store and I know they have a coordinating print to the collection that would make a great backing.  Oh well, I think I'll survive the trip.  It turned out to be a little big to hang on the wall.  I'm not quite sure yet if I'll keep it, gift it or put it up for sale on Etsy. 

 

I woke little Ricky up from his nap when I started taking pictures.  He loves to sleep on the couch while I work in my craft room.

Another Baby Blanket

So many babies are due this year!  A co-worker is due in February.  I've been working on a little stroller sized blanket for her.  I finally finished it last night!!

Soft Stroller Blanket by Marianne Forrestal from "Crochet Today!" Nov/Dec 2008
Yarn: Ella Rae Amity - baby yellow, rust heather, khaki
Hook: 5.5mm (I)